Man shares what 10 months of CrossFit and healthy eating looks like

Dario Cordes has shared two images of himself standing in the same flamingo print swimming trunks on Reddit. But in the second, he looks notably different.

The 38-year-old is 36 pounds lighter in the second image, achieved through a commitment to three CrossFit sessions per week and the adoption of a healthier diet.

The dad-of-one, who lives in Argentina, weighed 194lbs at his heaviest at the start of the year. Now, ten months on, he weighs around 158.

He told Newsweek that a divorce and work stress as a co-founder of a building material company led to his weight gain.

In February, he walked past a CrossFit gym, which offers high-intensity fitness programs that focus on strength and conditioning, and made some serious changes to his diet.

“I realized the best way to come out of such a situation is to improve yourself and learn to love yourself again,” he said, adding that he had always been curious about CrossFit and wasn’t a fan of a traditional gym.

“The first two months were hell,” he said. “I was always sore or in pain, but now, almost a year later, it has become part of my routine and I have learned to love the activities and the progress I see in my condition.”

Indeed, the fitness regime that involves lifting weights, running, jumping, squats, and more has been proven to boost more than one’s physical health.

Research published in Integrative and Complementary Medicine highlighted significant mental health-related findings among 1,211 participants, with 29 percent of participants using antidepressants.

Additionally, 23 participants noted symptom alleviation for mental health challenges, including reductions in anxiety and depression.

Alongside this, Cordes cut sugar completely out of his life along with processed foods like pastries and pizza.

He told Newsweek: “I have never counted calories; instead, I switched to small and frequent meals with fewer carbs and almost no bread or pastry.

“I have been concentrating on protein and healthy fats.”

Cordes, who used to drink alcohol almost every night, never goes a day without 3 liters of water. “If I ever get a craving for alcohol, I will have a 0.0% beer,” he said.

Today, he is like a new man who has a different outlook on life.

“I am highly motivated and have an optimistic approach to almost every aspect of my life,” he told Newsweek.

“I have learned how to allow myself to spend time on non-work-related things such as spending time with my five-year-old son, family, and friends.

“Physically, I’m probably in equal or better shape than my younger days and noticing ongoing progress motivates me to keep active and training.”

So far, his transformation photos shared on the subreddit r/WeightlossJourney have received a few supportive comments.

“That’s such a big difference!! Amazing job,” said one user, and another wrote: “Awesome results! You can be really proud of yourself.”

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