Guest Testimonials: Rasmus Maack

Here at Phuket Fit we all love to hear a life changing story. How things turned around after finding new inner strength and determination whilst training with us.

Rasmus Maack

And we all love a great before and after picture too! But what about the after after?! The bit we dont usually hear is what happened when you went home. Has it really changed your life or did it just simply change a small period of time in your life?

Id like to introduce you to Rasmus Maack or Mack as he was known around camp. Mack is a bit of a repeat offender here at Phuket Fit (cue the 80s Weight Loss Success StoryMark Morrison song return of the Mack!) having trained with us several times. His journey has been pretty epic to say the least but its his continuing journey that has us all checking in with him to see what hes up to. His accomplishments have been astounding and we are very proud to share his story so all of you can see what is achievable not just in the amount of time you may be with us at Phuket Fit but what you take away with you to keep constantly pushing those boundaries.

This is Macks story in his words

I’ve actually been to Phuket Fit Training Camp three times – two times back in 2012 and then again back in February/March (2014).

I’m a Boxing/Kickboxing instructor in Denmark and my visits to Phuket Fit back then, was partly to learn new techniques, get inspiration for my classes back home and partly to lose weight. I figured that nonstop training and eating only chicken for a month ought to do the trick. And it did! – I lost 10kg both the times I was there.

The first time it didn’t last long though. I went back to Denmark with good intentions, but the everyday life and bad habits took over, and so I regained the weight that I lost. Second time was somewhat better.

Anyway, I picked up running last year (2013) with my first ‘challenge’ ever (you know, race number, a finish line etc) – a mere 10k at New Years Eve, and it grew on me.

A total of ten challenges last year including three marathons and quite a few mud/obstacle races.

I went to Phuket Fit this year because I missed the dedication, the people, the ‘feeling’, the ability (possibility) to give 110% every time and not have a care in the world besides where your water bottle is at. Also this time I knew that Crosstraining had come to Phuket Fit and wanted to improve that (getting ready for competition status next year). Last but not least, losing weight again. 9 kg lost plus gaining a lot of muscle.

Having knee and back injuries for the greater part of 2013 (but running anyway) my body felt amazing after a month of warm weather, good nutrition and excellent feedback from the instructors, and I went straight for the first challenge, and the next, and the next….

So far this year, since I’ve returned from Phuket Fit it is:

April 2014: Mountain Bike Challenge (100km MTB)
April 2014: Nordic Race, Burnout (8km obstacle run)
May 2014: Great Belt, Half marathon (21.1km)
May 2014: Race against Cancer (115km road bike)
May 2014: Copenhagen Marathon (42.2km)
May 2014: Adventure Run Denmark (10km)
May 2014: 4:18:4 mini-triathlon (400m swim, 18km bike, 4km run)
June 2014: The Great Plains Half Marathon (21.1 run)
June 2014: mini Triathlon (200m indoor swim, 12km bike, 4km run)
June 2014: All Men Race, Copenhagen (10km run)
June 2014: Ironman 70.3 Aarhus, Denmark (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1 run)
July 2014: Half Ironman, Aalborg Denmark (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1 run)
July 2014: Danish CrossFit Summer Challenge (5 WODs)
July 2014: Nordic Race, Warrior (12km obstacle run)
August 2014: Duathlon, Life of Sport (5km run, 40km bike, 5km run)
August 2014: Nordic Race, Warrior (15km obstacle run)
August 2014: Samsø (island) Marathon (42.2km run)
August 2014: DHL Relay Run (2x 5km run)
August 2014: Spartan Race: Sprint + Super (6km obstacle run + 12km obstacle run)
September 2014: Aarhus City Half Marathon (21.1km)
September 2014: RAW REBORN (20km obstacle run)
September 2014: Ironman 70.3 Kronborg, Denmark (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1 run)

Expected to enter these in the next month:

September 2014: Toughest (8km obstacle run)
October 2014: Dirty Trail (30km train run)
October 2014: Spartan Race, Beast (20km obstacle run)
October 2014: Amsterdam Marathon (42.2km run)
October 2014: Life of Sport, Half marathon (21.1km run)”

If you feel that you can’t, or something is impossible – Never give up…everything is achievable once you dedicate yourself to its possibility…

Im sure youre just as blown away by Macks accomplishments as I am and it just shows you that life is never like a straight line. It can take you in a different direction whenever you choose. If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse. This may be tough to accept, but it’s the truth. Stop making excuses for why you can’t get it done and start focusing on all the reasons why you must make it happen. The only person who can truly hold you back is you.  Its time to choose whats best for you.

Oftentimes when we feel stuck, we are waiting for something magical to happen. We wonder when the winds will change in our favor. We do this instead of embracing the present and admitting the change we need to make. What is keeping you from stepping forward?

Thanks for reading

Tor

Masayuki Inoue Becoming the inspiration!

Weight Loss Succcess Story

I’ve been looking forward to writing this article for some time now as Masayuki, or Masa as he is affectionately known to all is not just another story to me but became a very good friend and source of inspiration to me on my own journey.

I remember the first time I saw Masa. He was a neighbor of mine in the early part of me arriving here in Phuket although we never really knew each other then other than a passing hello. I remember thinking that although he was a big guy I was impressed by the fact that he brought his own wake board to Thailand with him and respect for not letting his size hold him back from doing something he was obviously passionate about.

Before - After Weight Loss

I continued to see Masa around Phuket Fit camp grounds and he kind of became this evolving charachter to me. I would sit and watch in amazement as on top of taking part in classes I would see him take part in his own training making sure to be constantly pushing forwards. The craziest to me watching him put on jogging bottoms and a hoody on top of the 2 or 3 T-shirts and singlets he would usually wear in 40 degree heat and drag a weighted car tyre around the camp for 10 laps or so turning him into a human sponge of sweat!

As happens quite frequently over here, injuries creep in and Masa started to get bad knees but rather than let that be an obstacle, he walked around itor rather rowed in this case. I began to see Masa in the same place whilst stretching or doing my own training. Id watch him drag out a rower, prepare for about half an hour taping himself up, stretching himself out and carefully selecting music and preparing electrolytes and proceed to row for what seemed like an hour and it was really around this time we properly met. Wed talk and joke whilst he prepared and I asked him what he was doing on the rower. 10k hed casually reply and off hed go. The next week Id ask the same thing. 11K was the casual reply this time. The following week Im not sure where my head was head but I asked if I could join him and there began our friendship and tortuous few months of ever increasing rows. 12k, 13k, 14k, 15kPushing each other every day right up to the point of us doing a 22k half marathon row taking over 90 minutes!

Masa was quite the popular guy of camp. Extremely approachable and polite with an almighty sense of humor and always had time to stop for a talk and inspire many others on their similar journeys so it was my privilege to be able to sit down and talk with him about his life changing journey.

Just seeing this amazing before and after photos should be enough to inspire even the most jaded person. Many of these shots taken wearing the same clothing before he lost the weight. What a transformation! Especially in the size of the smile!

Masa, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a chef from Denmark. My mother is from Finland and my father from Japan. I turned 31 whilst in Phuket.

How did you find out about Phuket Fit and choose to train there?

A good friend of mine was talking and planning training Muay Thai up in Chang Mai and I thought it sounded like an awesome idea so I thought well if he can do it then so can I!. I felt leaving home and doing this whilst immersed in the culture would help me and give constant reminders of why I was there so that I would never slip backwards.

How long have you been at Phuket Fit?

I arrived on October 22nd 2013 and was originally due to go home May 18th 2014 but after seeing how far I had already come and with help from Phuket Fit team I was able to extend my stay until July 9th.

What were your goals?

My main goal was obviously to lose weight but most importantly to get my health back. Most people these days only start looking after themselves when its too late or they have already had health scares from their Doctors. Well I didnt want this to happen to me. I was just so tired of simply not fitting in to society anymore or at least not feeling as though I was. I was tired of being the big guy when it came to family or friends or whatever social events I was attending. There was always a smile on the mask but sadness behind it. But mainly what hit home most was my sister saying to me that my niece needs her uncle in her life for at least another sixty years! Family is the most important thing in life and I want to be around for them for a long time to come!

Your visual results are just incredible! What was the final result after all your hard work?

I actually lost 30% overall mass. On day one I stepped on the scales at 154.6kg  and today I am leaving at 108.2kg so a 46.4kg drop (thats just over 7 stone for you Brits reading!) My goal after a while of being here was to see if I could hit the 100 pounds mark and I did it with a few weeks to spare!

What are you most proud of?

I was extremely happy to hit that 100 pounds loss target but really I am not proud of myself at all for getting into this condition in the first place. I feel awful about doing this to myself but I guess I can be proud of the fact that I didnt back down from when I first decided to come to Thailand to train this way. The best feeling that I have from all of this is that I made my parents proud of me for achieving this and following it through. I wont say followed through to the end because I am still continuing this journey but I will never allow myself to fall back to old habits. This is now my new way of life.

Did you face any setbacks on the way?

Sure there were many hurdles along the way but hurdles are there to be jumped. Carrying a heavy load will take its toll on your joints and I suffered quite a few times with problems in my legs, ankles, knees, shins etc but I always had great trainers at Phuket Fit to adjust certain exercises so I could still take part in the class. One of my favorite trainers Jenna Barney Barnard always kept me motivated and even the times when I didnt feel like it she would order me to do it anyway so I was always pushed but never dangerously. Right at the start of my journey I injured my tricep and chest  trying to do a pull up  which meant I could only use the cycles there so that there was no impact at all. I would spend up to 4 and a half hours a day just using the bikes so I never stopped working. Also coming down to my last few weeks here on the night of my Birthday. Ironically giving myself a very rare treat of ice-cream, on the very first spoonful I bit into a chunk of chocolate which completely shattered one of my teeth so I had to cut back on training for my final few weeks due to getting dental surgery! Perhaps it was meant to be though as dentists in Thailand are about 1/8th the price of Denmark!

Do you have any advice for those that might be thinking of following this same kind of journey?

Well, hopefully I wont get sued by Nike here but Just do it! Dont think of any of the what ifs or let fear creep in and stop you. Its an adventure! If you put in the effort then people are going to be cheering for you the whole way. Put on your blinkers and DO NOT take your eye off that goal. My main rule was Dont cheat on the street! and never ever look at the back page of the menu!

What was your training regime?

Well I originally came with the intention of losing weight through Muay Thai but I was realistic with myself at the start. I knew I was too big to be doing proper Muay Thai to begin with so I promised myself to lose some weight first to take off the load and then revisit it later on. Phuket Fit had so much to offer on the program schedule though that I had no fear of not finding anything to do. I didnt want to get bored of doing anything so I really mixed up my training and tried to keep momentum going forwards. I did a big mix of classes which was the Bodyfit, Cross training and Yoga and then did my own thing during the middle or end of the day that was in the form of either rowing, weighted tyre drags, exercise bike or the indoor weights gym. I tried to do something 3 times a day but just listened to how my body felt. Even then though Id most likely tell it to shut up and train anyway!

What was your most memorable moment?

Its all been one big memorable moment really but I guess things that stick out are, walking up Big Buddha hill for the first timeand also for the last time! Those of you that have climbed it will know what Im talking about. the hill that never quits!

Did you prepare yourself before coming out to take on such a big feat?

Sure! AbsolutelyI think I hit the gym about 8 times in the months leading up to me coming over but celebrated the hour of intense training by rewarding myself with pizza and Coca Cola! I should have prepared more I know but I actually felt selfish for leaving everyone for such a long time so with all the people I left behind there were goodbye dinners etc and right before I left I had a huge going away party with a live band. I guess my mindset was still stuck in old ways and having big blow outs was a way of saying goodbye to my old ways.

Weight Loss Challenge

What was your favorite exercise?

Rowing I would say was my favorite exercise as I used to be a rowing coach but over here at Phuket Fit what started out as my worst and least favorite exercise turned into my most likeable! Running was not something I was built for. Certainly not back then and not even now. Im never going to be a runner but the more weight I lost, the easier it became and because I couldnt really do it before it made it that much better and meaningful to me that i could do it now without any problems.

What have you learned from all of this to take home with you?

Hopefully that this has changed my mindset and lifestyle forever. I didnt come here to do all of this and go back to bad habits so I hope my stubbornness for being good stays with me now. Also as I hope to go back to being a chef when I get home that all of the knowledge of nutrition and what works with food and doesnt work translates into my career and that I can create tasty and nourishing good healthy food. Just because its healthy does not mean it has to taste bad!

Are you hoping to come back again?

Right now Im really looking forward to going home and seeing my family and friends and surprising them with how I now look but yes one day I would really love to come back even if its just for small holidays. I am responsible for my transformation but immersing yourself with surroundings that remind you every minute of the day why you are here is what made all the difference.

Masa, thank you for your time, your friendship and for becoming inspiration to all around you including myself. Be very very proud of yourself. I know I am of you

Team Canada! Husband and wife Sarah and Duane Bradbury team up for weight loss!

First, tell us a little about yourself. Who you are, where youre from, how old you are, what you do back home?

Sarah Jean Bradbury is a 36 year old Administrative worker from Toronto Ontario.  Duane is 37 years old and is an Agile Coach (software development) working for the Canadian Government.

How did you find out about Phuket Fit?

D: Reading about the success stories of extreme weight loss is what really made up our minds on coming to Phuket Fit.  Seeing the before and after pictures of others that had achieved amazing transformations had a real impact on me.

What first made you want to come?

D: A few months before we set off I had a dream that I was in Thailand training and losing weight.  As soon as I woke up I told Sarah that we were coming to Thailand to train!  We didnt know how we were going to be able to do it, but we pulled it off and were on that plane here before we knew it!

Weight Loss Story - PhuketFit

How long have you been at Phuket Fit and how much longer are you planning on staying?

S: We got to camp on our 5th Anniversary, February 14th, and are staying for 3 months.

Did you set any goals for yourself while training here?

D: We both wanted to kick start a new, healthier lifestyle to continue at home.  We also wanted to up our fitness level and lose as much weight as possible. Also, as odd as it may sound, I wanted to be able to fit in public seating.  I would love to go to a hockey game and not ‘overflow’ the seat.  Larger people would understand this.

How did you do at meeting those goals?

S: I think we have done really well!  Our bodies have completely changed!  Together we have lost 60 pounds and gained a lot of muscle!

D: Most importantly we have learned about a different, healthier life style that we can try to replicate back home.

What accomplishment have you achieved while you were here that you’re most proud of?

S: When we first arrived I could not do 4 burpees in a row.  I did 75 the other day (50 straight!)

D: I am proud to see how we have progressed along the way.  The other day we redid a previous workout from when we first started working with our personal trainer and smashed our first times.

What kinds of challenges of setbacks did you face along the way?

S: When trying to lose weight the numbers can be daunting.  You think youve had a fantastic week of exercise and were eating really well you think youve lost 3kgand you are up 500g. Progress pictures and really looking at how your clothes are fitting can be a better indicator of how your body is changing!

Do you have any advice for someone who might be looking at TMT for fitness or weight loss?

Sarah Weight Loss ThailandS: Phuket Fit is a great place to get a good mix of Fitness and Muay Thai. Coming into this adventure I had not done a minute of Muay Thai but figured if I couldn’t pick that up easily I could always fill my time with Yoga and Fitness classes. Reaching our goals had a lot to do with having the grill on site and knowing that the choices we had would be healthier options than what we could find on the street.

D: It is nice to be in an environment where everyone is there to reach a goal (even though it may be different from your own). It can be very encouraging and inspiring.  I enjoy TMT because you just don’t have the fitness classes but also Muay Thai.  I really enjoy Muay Thai training but when it is so much fun is it still a workout?

Which classes did you attend and what did you find the most exciting or challenging about them?

S: We started out just doing Muay Thai for the first month. We were then matched up with an amazing fitness trainer and started doing personal sessions with her and that is when we really started to see our fitness grow.

D: We are now doing fitness privates, bodyfit classes, Muay Thai privates and are walking up the Big Buddha hill as many times as we can. Each session pushes us in different ways.  In Muay Thai you have to have your brain turned on to know which move to do next, in Bodyfit it is a different mental challenge to keep myself moving and not to rest!

What surprised you the most about Phuket Fit?

D: How friendly all the people are! Everyone has their own goals and they seem to want to help the next person achieve theirs.  There are no outcasts here!

Tell me about one fun memorable thing that happened to you during your time at Phuket Fit.

S: There are so many to choose from!  The beach Muay Thai class on BBQ Beatdown day was pretty fun and memorable – during the swim break before leaving I got caught in a few big waves and got pretty pummelled.  The next day my trainer was asking me about it, she was asked if she ‘knew Sarah, from Duane and Sarah’ like we were a t.v. show!

How would you recommend someone prepare before coming to Phuket Fit?

D: Break your goal down into smaller to do items and slowly complete each one and chip away at the mountain.  Also ensure you are serious about your goals because it is a true journey, and will last a life time.  We took 1 month to adjust, the next month is to kill the old habits and the 3rd month to form new healthy habits to bring home with us.

S: After you arrive go at your own pace!  Listen to your body.  We came from a cold climate and tried to jump right into it.  We needed to take time to adjust to the heat and time difference and get over our jet lag! Know that everyone has their own pace and as long as you are constantly pushing yourself out of your comfort zone your fitness will improve!

What are your favorite and least favorite exercises you encountered at Phuket Fit?

S: I have liked doing bag work with the Muay Thai trainers.  A good mix of cardio, Muay Thai and lots of laughs.  There is not a lot of enjoyment to be had when dragging a weighted tire around camp at 2pm on a hotter than hot day!

What tip did you learn at Phuket Fit that youll integrate into your life back home?

D: We hope to integrate so many things into our lives back home including regular exercise and healthy eating habits

Do you think you’ll come back to Phuket Fit?

S: We have been thinking of plans on how to get ourselves back here since week 4! We will be back as soon as we can!

Since the writing of this article, recently back in Canada Sarah suffered a very serious leg injury. All of us at Phuket Fit wish her the speediest of recoveries and wish her well. Also thinking of Duane who no doubt will be running around like a headless chicken after her! Luckily he is now more than fit enough to be able to do this! Best wishes to the both of you!