The 2 Non-Negotiable Habits That Helped One Man Lose 200 Pounds Naturally
Weight loss is never easy. For sedentary people, it means adding exercise. For those who rely on the fast-food drive-thru more than home cooking, it requires a full diet overhaul. And for everyone, it demands discipline and mental toughness. But at 513 pounds, Rick Gautier knew he had to make a change.
So, in 2023, Gautier decided to commit to a weight loss journey. Through dietary changes, lifestyle shifts, and fully buying into both CrossFit and the 75 Hard program, he lost the weight naturally without pills, injections, or extreme crash diets.
"We can all achieve greatness," Gautier tells Men's Journal. "If a person like me who weighed 513 pounds can do 75 Hard, then anyone can do it. I was the laziest person in the world, who couldn't even bathe myself properly because of my weight. Just pure hard word, dieting, and commitment."
If you’ve tried 75 Hard and failed to succeed, read on for advice from someone who’s lost 192 pounds, completed the program three times, and is about to tackle the challenge again.
Related: Considering the 75 Hard Challenge? Here's What a Personal Trainer Wants You to Know First
How Gautier Lost Weight With 75 Hard
Sometimes we need to push ourselves into discomfort to reach the best version of ourselves, and that's exactly what 75 Hard aims to do. The rules are straightforward. For 75 days straight, participants are to:
- Follow a nutrition plan of their choice
- Do two 45-minute workouts, with one being outside
- Drink 1 gallon of water
- Read 10 pages of a nonfiction book
- Take progress pictures.
Gautier was already familiar with 75 Hard, and after hearing how it had transformed other people’s lives, he believed it might just be the missing piece in his own weight loss journey. The program delivered results quickly. By the time he completed 75 Hard for the first time, he had lost 93 pounds.
His success wasn't immediate, though. It took Gautier three attempts to finish the program without bending any rules. For nearly two months, he dealt with severe foot pain and blisters, pushing through daily discomfort. The requirement of two workouts a day proved to be the toughest aspect of the challenge, especially when outdoor sessions had to be completed in snowy, rainy, or windy conditions.
"I just started by walking. At the time, I couldn't even walk around the supermarket. But, I forced myself to walk through my neighborhood filled with inclines for 45 minutes, twice a day, for 75 days straight," he recounted. "I remember my first workout like it was yesterday. I made it six minutes into my walk and wanted to give up. I started crying and told myself, 'I will always be fat and miserable. Why should I even try?' I convinced myself to keep going, because I already knew how many times I have quit before in life."
CrossFit for Weight Loss
Alongside committing to 75 Hard, Gautier also took up CrossFit. He credits 75 Hard with helping him shed the weight and stay disciplined during a cut, while CrossFit reshaped his body composition and improved his aerobic capacity.
"Once I had a grip on this concept of doing things no matter how I felt, I wanted to incorporate some resistance training and HIIT workouts," he says. "CrossFit helped me gain confidence, strength, and endurance. When I walk into a CrossFit gym, I know I'm stuck there for an hour, there is a predetermined workout waiting for me, and I will have people cheering me on to finish."
Before finding CrossFit, Gautier would go to box gyms with a tentative workout plan in his head. After about 15 minutes, he'd be ready to pack it up and go. CrossFit changed that, with structured workouts and hands-on coaching that kept him accountable and motivated him when he otherwise might have quit.
Reasons to Do 75 Hard
Committing to a program meant to test your mental toughness can feel like a daunting feat, especially when it requires a full lifestyle overhaul. But Gautier quickly experienced the benefits of fully buying into 75 Hard. His confidence improved, his mindset shifted, and momentum began to build. Once he “won” the first day, he believed he could win the next, and the one after that.
"I started choosing the harder route on walking paths. I started waiting for bad weather on purpose before starting my walks, just to prove nothing will stop me," he said.
Sharing his success, he built a social media following and was able to create a lifestyle brand called "Control Your Outcome."
"It's up to you to control your own outcome. Nobody else is going to come and save you, or do the work for you," he says. "Don't take shortcuts, and commit. It's not easy, but it is simple."
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