“I wanted to enjoy life more and be happy” - Ardian’s story

Even though Ardian liked working out and was eager to make a change, consistency and discipline proved difficult. But when he learned about the Freeletics' Transformation Challenge, Ardian knew it was his chance to overhaul his life – to lose 20 kg and build new habits. Here’s his story:

“My biggest challenge has been maintaining discipline and consistency. Although I’ve always enjoyed fitness, I didn’t do it regularly.

As for my diet, I ate big portions and was snacking at night. Sleep was typically from 2 am to 9 am and my stress was at a medium level.

Freeletics had been on my radar for many years, so when I saw the Transformation Challenge, it looked like a great opportunity.”

“My goal for this challenge was to lose 20 kg and change my mindset about food and the gym. But it wasn’t just about losing weight – I wanted to become the best version of myself, the version I was meant to be. Especially since I was planning to have kids, I wanted to build a healthy lifestyle and become the best dad possible.

I wanted to enjoy life more and be happy, to feel energized, and enjoy my summer vacation.

I knew how to portion food and when to eat, but I just needed some extra guidance and that little push. Going into the challenge, I was scared about sleep and my energy levels, but the other aspects seemed doable.

I knew if I could make it through 4 weeks, it would most likely become my routine. I had been mentally preparing for two months prior, so finishing those four weeks was crucial. I was in a “military mindset,” I had to wake up, show up, and train without questioning it.”

“Halfway through the challenge, my relationship with fitness was like 50-50. Sometimes I enjoyed it, but sometimes, I felt like that long-term discipline was still not there even though I hadn’t missed a workout.

Physically, I started to see progress, but there were days with "imposter syndrome" where I felt like I didn’t do anything. It would have been easy to go back to the "dark side," but I knew that more results would bring more motivation and discipline.

Mental changes were also there. I noticed I could watch my wife eat anything and still stick to my diet because I knew what I was eating and why. I was curious to get more educated on what and why I was eating, rather than just following the recipe and diet blindly. Sometimes I got nervous when I didn't understand certain aspects, but this curiosity motivated me to learn more and stay engaged."

“Through the challenge, a lot changed! My mindset most of all – mindset about food, mindset about training. It's ridiculous to think how I lived like this for so long, and how "fast" the transformation was!

I went into this challenge with an open mind. I wanted to experience the journey and grow with it, and that's what I did! So, I guess I achieved my goal!

And more importantly, my lifestyle is close to perfect. My challenge now is to continue on my own without the accountability of the others in the Transformation Challenge.

I plan to keep going the same way but personalize it more to what works for me. If I manage to keep and sustain that, then I'm set for life.”

“If I could start again, there’s nothing I would do differently – I would just do it again and again. If you’re thinking about starting Freeletics or something similar, just do it, just show up, and just keep showing up – it's like a marathon!”