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This Man Changed His Diet, Lost 15kg, And Became The 5th Fittest Man On Earth

"I decided that I was going to do whatever it took to get lean and shredded" - by Scott Henderson
  • 18 Jul 2018
This Man Changed His Diet, Lost 15kg, And Became The 5th Fittest Man On Earth
Instagram/colesager35

In the CrossFit community, Cole Sager has a reputation as one of the good guys. He’s unashamedly happy whilst simultaneously fiercely competitive, living every fitness nut’s dream with his equally-fit wife by his side.

Training out of his garage, Sager has been a big name at the CrossFit Games for years, known as a ‘veteran’ of the relatively young sport, with a top 5 finish in 2016 cementing his place as the 5th fittest man on earth that year. In summary, the bloke is a legend in fitness circles, and inspiring as all hell.

Giving further context to his accomplishments, Sager recently shared a transformation post on both his Instagram and personal blog, demonstrating the weight loss, and more importantly health gains, he’s achieved since playing college football in 2012. Admittedly gaining 35-pounds on purpose on the orders of his coach (15.8kg in Australian), Sager outlined how an unhealthy relationship with food reared it’s ugly head. However his battles with food began long before his weight gain, when staying lean became an ‘obsession’ for the college athlete.

“I decided that I was going to do whatever it took to get lean and shredded,” says Cole on his website. “I went on a severe calorie-restrictive diet, did not consume nearly enough carbs, and slowly watched my performance tank. At one point my energy levels were so low that I became slightly narcoleptic, falling asleep randomly and frequently."

colesager35 View Profile
23.3k likes - View Post on Instagram
#FBF - 2012 -> 2017 _ Oh yeah, that is a real photo of me during my senior year of college. _ Nutrition is one of the most difficult arenas of life to navigate. It takes but only a small detour and you find yourself so far off the beaten path that you don't recognize anything you see. Toss in a little bit of "intentional" weight gain or loss and an unhealthy relationship with food, and you just conjured up a recipe for disaster. _ I cannot reiterate enough the importance of an accountability tool to help us stay focused on our nutrition goals and maintaining a healthy view on food. This is something that I did not have through college or my early years of @CrossFit. It was not until I joined @WorkingAgainstGravity in 2016 that I realized just how much help I needed. _ My relationship with food was my BIGGEST battle in college. _ I had such an unhealthy relationship with food that it consumed my thoughts, actions, and feelings. However, I didn't look like the photo on the left until my senior year of college when my football coach ordered me to gain 35 pounds in order to transition to fullback. _ Prior to that I was OBSESSED with becoming lean and shredded. _ I thought, "If I could just get lean like the other running backs, I would perform much better." ... _____ Full blog post at link in bio! Subscribe for more motivation and lessons I have learned along my journey! Colesager.com/blog _ Join @workingagainstgravity to unlock your full potential. It has made a world of difference for me. Link also in bio! #WAG #BeKindWorkHard 📸: @nilsericson

“My mind became so consumed that I judged anyone who was not eating how I was and was appalled at the thought of someone indulging in dessert. On a few occasions, I had such a bad craving for sugar that I snuck a bite of whatever treat was nearby, chewed it up, and spit it out.”

His relationship with food was flipped on its head following his coach’s orders to ‘bulk up’ for his final season on the football field, often eating to the point of sickness in order to reach his goal weight.

colesager35 View Profile
4,129 likes - View Post on Instagram
We each deserve a prosperous life. Yet we each hold the responsibility to find the discipline within ourselves to create that life! #BeKindWorkHard

“I do have to admit that my heart sank when I realized that I was going to be giving up the lean, 6% body fat, six pack abs I had been working so hard for,” Sager remembers. “But no matter how obsessed I was with nutrition, I was far more obsessed with achieving my goal.”

“Gaining 35 pounds was much more difficult than I ever imagined. I ate until I would vomit. I consumed massive meals comprised of the unhealthiest of foods, simply to gain a few more pounds.”

Since the intentional, albeit unhealthy weight gain, Sager has discovered CrossFit and learnt how to remain accountable with his nutrition through the use of logging tools, nutrition programs like Working Against Gravity, and consistent training.

colesager35 View Profile
3,886 likes - View Post on Instagram
The CrossFit Games. The most E L E C T R I F Y I N G competition floor I've had the grace to compete on. All thanks to this amazing community! I cannot wait to experience it again! #CrossFit #CrossFitGames @crossfitgames

“I cannot reiterate enough the importance of an accountability tool to help us stay focused on our nutrition goals and maintaining a healthy view on food,” advised Sager on his Instagram profile. “This is something that I did not have through college or my early years of Crossfit.”

“What matters most is discipline when it comes to what and how much you chose to consume. It’s a choice. You get to choose your physique.”

Now clocking in at a healthy 90kg, 27 year-old Sager is looking to smash the competition at this year's games, and his rigorous training routine and positive outlook has set him in good stead, living out his unofficial motto 'be kind, work hard'. And after an overhaul of his training, mindset and nutrition, there’s no reason the good guy can’t finish first in 2018.

Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson
Scott is the Editor of Men's Health Australia, where he oversees all editorial content of the country's largest men’s magazine. As a fitness addict, adventure sport lover, and passionate story-teller, Henderson is committed to living the Men’s Health brand.

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