Patrick Magno, from San Diego, California, recently won the grand prize in a fitness competition after he managed to lose 49 pounds and get into enviable physical shape in just three months.
After a medical exam revealed that he was 30 per cent body fat and at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, Patrick Magno decided it was time for a drastic lifestyle change. He was a social worker and had to remove children from broken homes, abusive parents and other harmful situations for a living, a job that he says had a severe effect on his lifestyle and overall health. So he quit, proposed to his girlfriend of six years and set his sights on improving his health so he wouldn’t end up like his father, who had to deal with the terrible symptoms of diabetes.
“I couldn’t even recognize myself,” he said. “I was embarrassed. I was disgusted. I was ashamed that I had let myself get to this point.” So when he learned about Bodybuilding.com’s 250k Challenge, a contest that has entrants transform their bodies with the help of grueling physical workouts, meal-plans and supplements, for the chance to win a substantial sum of money, he decided to go all in. ‘hey said they would give tons of nutritional meal plans, options, workout guides and fitness advice absolutely free of charge, and offer a $250,000 (£190,000) in prize money. It sounded a little too good to be true,” Magno remembers.
Photo: Patrick Magno/Bodybuilding.com
The ambitious man completely overhauled his diet, swapping junk food with tuna, brown rice, eggs and skinless chicken, fruit and some dairy, and started using the Bodyspace app and the Kris Gethin 12-week muscle-building guide. When he wasn’t working hard in the gym or eating, Patrick was “researching articles on the website day in and day out and absorbing it all like a sponge.” By week five he was already seeing some impressive results and despite feeling tired and sore all over, he just kept pushing on. “The more results I saw, the harder I pushed. The harder I pushed, the better I became,” he says.
Photo: Patrick Magno/Bodybuilding.com
After three months of hard work, Magno’s hard work paid off, as he went from 30 per cent body fat to just 6 per cent, and transformed his overweight frame into that of a bodybuilder. He won first prize in the 250k Challenge and secured a prize of $100,000. “I remember feeling miserable when I took my “before” photos. My belly was hanging over my pants. It didn’t help that I had been eating and drinking way more than necessary,” he said. Looking back, I was lost and in a very dark place and right now, I am the happiest I have ever been. I accomplished something I never thought possible. I’m very thankful for the struggles I went through because I was able to overcome so much – physically and mentally – than I ever imagined.”
Photo: Patrick Magno/Bodybuilding.com
Patrick says that in order to understand his transformation, you must first understand his motivation. “As men, we want to protect our family and have the financial stability to treat your fiancée or wife occasionally,” he told Mail Online. “When you want something that bad, You’ll sacrifice hours of sleep, force yourself to overcome bad habits and temptations, turn down outings with friends, all so you can achieve your goal.”
Photo: Patrick Magno/Bodybuilding.com
He is now pursuing a career as personal trainer, so he can help other people seeking a healthier lifestyle.
