Motor city makeover: three regular guys from Detroit go in for some serious bodywork

Men's Fitness, June-July, 2004 by Amy Eckert

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, Men's Fitness cruised into Detroit looking for a few guys in need of an overhaul. We found three average Joes--a groom-to-be, his older brother, and a newly single guy--and went to work turning them into above-average Joes. We set them up with MF fitness editor Adam Campbell, fashion editor Warren Christopher, stylist Laurie Schechter, and trainers at Life Time Fitness, where they got the spa treatment at the LifeSpa and Salon, an Aveda Concept Salon. Then they had to follow through on the, uh, less relaxing stuff--namely, sticking to the diets and running through the workouts every day for 12 weeks. Here's how they fared.

Eric Morais

Age: 36

Occupation: Senior account executive

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 177 pounds

The Challenge: Blessed with a trim frame, Eric had never dieted or worked out regularly in his life. But at 36, he's worried that his "unhealthy lifestyle will catch up to me." What does he need? "A kick in the ass."

The Result: Eric lost three pounds of fat, while he gained three pounds of muscle.

THE TUNEUP

Nutrition: "Eric was tall and skinny, but he had a gut," says Adam Campbell. "He needed to add muscle and lose fat." Campbell prescribed a 2,800-calorie diet that allowed Eric to maintain his weight without leaving him hungry, helping him lose 2% of his body fat. Cutting hidden sugars was key. "I used to drink orange juice by the gallon," Eric says. "I never realized how much sugar was in it."

Fitness: Sean Gladwish, the personal-training department head at Life Time Fitness in Troy, Mich., noted that "Eric's cardiovascular health measures in the superior range, and it's all genetic." He recommended Eric focus on weight training to build muscle. Eric started out slowly by alternating upper- and lower-body strength-training workouts three days a week. He still struggles with finding time to hit the gym, but Eric's setting his sights on a six-pack.

Style: Since Eric is single, Christopher found clothes and accessories that would allow him to go from the office to a date seamlessly, like a tailored windbreaker with flat-front black trousers. Schechter shod him in black loafers, which he says are now his favorite pair.

EVEN EXCHANGE:

Eric traded in three pounds of fat for three pounds of muscle.

Mike Vogel

Age: 32

Occupation: Marketing manager

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 203 pounds

The Challenge: "I get drowsy after lunch and am exhausted by the time I get home from work." No wonder. With a demanding job and a 2 1/2-year-old at home, Mike hasn't time to plan meals or work out regularly. He plays soccer weekly and golfs, but doesn't do anything in between.

The Result: Mike lost 10 pounds of fat and gained five pounds of muscle.

THE TUNEUP

Nutrition: Campbell devised a 2,000-calorie daily diet that had a balance of 33% carbs, 33% protein, and 33% fat. Mike sacrificed his favorite--pizza--but he doesn't miss it. "Most of the unhealthy foods I cut out make me feel terrible when I eat them now." Mike's body fat has since fallen nearly 4%, and he needs a belt to keep up his pants.

Fitness: Ryan Mollica, the personal-training department head at Life Time Fitness in Rochester Gills, Mich., had Mike work out 30 minutes a day--performing either resistance or cardio training--to keep his metabolism and energy high, and reduce his body fat. Mollica also got Mike to hit every major muscle group twice a week. "I would often be too tired to play with my son," says Mike. "Now my energy level is high no matter what time it is."

Style: With his dark brown hair and hazel eyes, Mike would be the perfect guy to show off one of the new colors this season: dark khaki green. The shirt, tie, and suit are all in the same Khaki, which is perfect for business meetings.

STRESS MANAGEMENT:

Once chronically tired after work, Mike now has energy all day long.

Jeff Vogel

Age: 28

Occupation: Senior account executive

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 210 pounds

The Challenge: "I work 10-hour days and eat lots of high-carb, high-sugar lunches with colleagues," says Jeff. He wants to lose weight and tone up, but the clock is ticking: Within five months, Jeff is getting married.

The Result: Jeff lost six pounds of fat and gamed one pound of muscle.

THE TUNEUP

Nutrition: "Jeff has to eat out a lot, and I knew that wasn't going to change," says Campbell. "So I recommended that he learn to make good choices." He suggested Jeff pay particular attention to carbs when eating out. "I told him not to worry if he ate a hamburger, but to cut out the bun and fries and ask for a side salad instead."

Campbell's goal was to cut out sugar and refined carbs to keep Jeff's insulin levels low. When insulin is high, the body doesn't burn fat. Jeff paid attention. His waist has shrunk from 40 inches to 36.

Fitness: Like his older brother, Mike, Jeff had an average overall fitness score. Mollica felt the key to keeping Jeff motivated for weight-loss training was to work around his sports schedule. The answer was high-intensity, short-duration intervals on cardio equipment. How did Jeff find the time? He convinced his buddies to play sports as opposed to playing cards and drinking beer. "Now I'm able to play basketball for two to more hours straight," says Jeff.