Life for Ryan before joining Club Sweat was busy! Working as an insurance agent during the day and working for the Edmonton Oilers Communications Team on games nights led to a lot of office potlucks, meals out, media room buffets, and press box snacks. Ryan says “It was a recipe for disaster”.
In the year 2017 Ryan went for a routine check-up only to find out that he had been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. He knew he had to make a lifestyle change but always felt discouraged before he started. It was always the same old me thinking “I’m young. It’s not serious. It’s fine.”
Two years later Ryan became a Dad. This became his 3rd and GREATEST job! “Becoming a dad changed absolutely everything for me! I took 4 months off from work which meant no going into the office and no hockey games for 4 months straight. Just sleepless nights and learning about being a dad. It was the best decision I’ve ever made! It also expedited my dad bod. I first noticed it one month into fatherhood after receiving our family pictures but 3 months later, I knew I had to make a change. If you can’t take care of yourself, how can you care for someone else? This is what drove me to get in contact with Dan”.
Even though Ryan lives in Edmonton, he spent his summers in Coquitlam hanging out with his cousins. This just so happens to be the same street that Dan grew up on. Dan and Ryan are also on the same fantasy hockey team and Ryan has spent the last few months trying to convince Dan to trade Connor McDavid to him. Dan is shocked that Ryan trusted him with his fitness and nutrition considering Ryan is a die hard Oilers fan and Dan is a die hard Canucks fan, but turns out they’re a pretty good team.
“Dan has been a fantastic resource. Having accountability to take action has been key. No one should ever think they should be alone in their health journey. We have support systems in many other aspects of our lives, so nutrition and fitness shouldn’t be any different.”
Since working with Dan, Ryan’s blood sugar has gone from the 20’s to single digits, most weeks without medication, just with diet and exercise. He has also lost the same amount of weight in 6 months than his son Rory has gained in his entire life.
“I absolutely feel more confident in both my body image and my ability to make healthier food choices for myself. Knowing that I can take care of myself means that I’ll have the energy to keep up with my son as he continues to grow and that means the world to me.”
