Interview : Wanphrang Warjri

Today, is the first interview post I have put up on my blog. It features Wanphrang Warjri - from the beautiful city of Shillong - aka - The Scotland of the East.   I was in Shillong a couple of months ago and I got to catch up with him. Wanphrang is a relative of mine and had a great transformation last year- From 87kgs to 79kgs- a whole 8 kgs- in 9 months! He had a drive and self motivation that was unique. I have not known Shillong to have a 'gym-culture' like other metropolitans and that makes things even harder. It was very encouraging to see him and the way he has been motivating others as well to live a healthy lifestyle.

Wanphrang, Labet and our family catching up over a good Chinese meal in Shillong

GS: Hi Wanphrang! First, tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do?

WW: Hi Gideon, I am from Shillong, Meghalaya. I am currently working in Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited.

GS : I met you when you came down to Bangalore. You had quite a transformation when I met you 9 months later in Shillong! Could you tell us what happened?

WW: First of all, I thank God for His guidance, grace and blessing that I could be what I am today. I started Brisk Walking four years ago for about 40-45 minutes, five days a week but still my weight wouldn't come down. Then I started controlling my diet and doing some of the exercises you showed me along with my walking and by God's Grace last year I could see some results.

GS: What kind of training regime do you follow?

WW: As of now, the training regime that I follow are 10 mins warm up (Brisk Walk) followed by 30 mins of jogging and then 5 mins of cooling down (walking). Then another 15 mins of exercises like Planks,sit ups, Lunges,Squats,back stretches,hamstring stretches. I do this 5-6 days in a week.

GS: What was your diet like? Do you still maintain the same diet?

WW: Before I didn't have a diet plan per se. I ate whatever I got. As of now, I have reduced salt, sugar and meat intake. I am trying to include more vegetables and fruits in my diet. I try to avoid junk or processed food as much as I can.

GS: What would be your advice to the readers out there looking to for a transformation?

WW: Never give up. The plan that worked for me might not work for others . So keep on trying new techniques and training regimes till you find what works for you and try to eat healthy food. Most of all pray to God. I would like to end this with a verse from the Bible. Proverb 16:3. " Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans". 

Thank you Gideon for your tips and help.

Thanks Wanphrang!

When I met Wanphrang in December, I was absolutely surprised by his transformation. The main key for him was he stayed consistent. He spent only one evening with our family by means of a casual visit and never in that 9 month gap did he ask me anything. He would only mention in chats that 'training was still going on' but I didn't know anything else. 

Remember, stay focused, stay consistent.

Transformation 2015

Looking at myself in past months, I realised I had put on a lot of weight and I needed to drop fat off my body fast. (Yes even we trainers and fitness enthusiasts are human and we don’t always get it right). I had done a body transformation once before. I needed another - quickly

The Status

Wt: 82 kgs. Waist size 34

Apart from these photos and stats, the problem was much worse.

• I could not focus on a plan or a program to help me in diet or nutrition
• The diet plans I was designing for me was not working well.
• My mental toughness was much lower than before.
• I was not able to stay consistent
• My pullups were at 0.

It wasn’t a body transformation only that I needed it was a fitness lifestyle transformation

My ‘WHY am I doing this?’

I did this because I could not be irresponsible to My God, myself, my family. I was heading for serious trouble and I knew it. I also missed the ability to live strong and healthy, eat responsibly and enjoy my food. The thought of not being able to do things with my family and play with my daughter was just too painful. Also the truth that I looked an absolute mess was horrible.

Setting the Goal

I had been toying with this idea for 4 months. I set my body transformation goal for December 15th, 2015. That is almost always  when the season’s goodies start coming in. I had thought of two dates before this but never made it. Now I was in the last week of October and that’s when I aimed hard for December.

The Transformation Plan

This main plan was The Aggressive Fat Loss Bible

The strength training program was Beginners Bodyweight Bodybuilding.

The plan was a unique one which promised results in a month. I am usually skeptical of such quick transformation plans, however it was from the trainer that helped me breakthrough before and I trust his work.

Action

I started with my body and fitness transformation on 26/10/2015. Though simple, it wasn’t always easy. I was heading straight into winter so some days were really really cold accompanied by extremely heavy rains. Work was erratic. I didn’t always have what I needed to maintain my nutrition. As for staying with training, I did not always feel like doing it. I was sometimes too tired. Also with a toddler at home, the timings and plans didn’t go as planned. What I had planned to finish before 5p.m, sometimes started only at 8:30 p.m.

Oh yes, this time I kept my mouth shut about the transformation. Only my wife knew about it.

Results

One month later I checked my stats again. Here are my results.

WT: 75 kgs. Waist Size 32

However I had more than a body transformation.

• I was stronger, healthier, faster.
• The shape I was looking for had finally started to breakthrough.
• I got my mental toughness edge back.
• I now could stay consistent and discipline and I knew it - I picked a program and followed it.
• I learnt a lot about my body, bodyweight training, mentality and coaching cues.

My transformation wasn’t easy. However, it was doable. My previous transformation took 9 months. This took only one. It led to a new body composition, strength, skill, knowledge and wisdom. The experience of achieving something like this is amazing. Do a fitness body transformation -  it will transform your life.

If you need help with a lifestyle transformation please don't hesitate to contact me.

Having fun, Monkeying around, Breaking Barriers and Celebrating Achievements

Training sessions should be fun. That is something I learnt from Matt Marshall or at least got it reinforced in my mind from him. Thats exactly what I did today. I was waiting for a client to show up and I decided to have some fun on the kids playground - just monkey around on the monkey bars!!

Well I know it doesn't sound too modest but I was impressed with my speed and body movement. I just ran, jumped and swung around and hung around and also found out where all I had made improvements. Movements I thought still had a long way to go just flowed nicely and......for lack of a better word happened. It was sad that there was no video and no cameras but I did feel like I made my entry into the world of bar athletes.

Here is what went down:

3 single arm Pull ups:) from a 2 second single arm hold previously.

Front levers  

Reverse pull ups 

Upside down Pull ups 

Isometric holds on parallel bars for 15 seconds

I am thankful to God for this and to all the people who kept encouraging me to push past my limits with bodyweight training I want to thank you as well. I am going to take some time out today and celebrate!!