Devon Hickam changes beer to Abs to win the 2019 All Access Challenge series

Devon Hickam never saw him press. Maybe you can tie. He caught himself wishing that the beer was actually six packs. He told himself that he would do it. When he stumbled upon the All Access Challenge series online, he took the opportunity to make his words a reality.

Hickam thought it would be interesting to try, and the financial incentives were good, but he never thought he would win. The bottom line is to win or lose, he needed to find happiness, let go of the work he hated and create a better life for his family.

“I would wake up in the morning just being afraid of the day,” he says. “Throughout the pursuit of work, I imagined ways to avoid my work. I felt so trapped, I would have dreamed of getting into a car accident so that I would not have to go. My wife is a psychologist, and she knew that I once was an optimistic, laid-back guy, and that person she knew disappeared. She was the one who insisted that I was not trapped and that I could change my life. ”

Hikam’s success illustrates the importance of supporting you around when you undergo a transformation — especially your significant friend. Shortly after he started the competition, his wife jumped on board with him, and they lost a total of more than 80 pounds in four months.

“My wife and I had to be creative in order to spend time together. We started driving and working to compensate for the time we donated to be in the gym, ”he says. “It was useful for us to go through this together. We cook food together, take responsibility for each other and encourage each other to continue in the same spirit. ”

All the sacrifices and lifestyle changes paid off. He lost a total of 41 pounds and reduced body fat by 15 percent. The best part for him, however, is the knowledge that he has set himself a completely new career path, as well as the fact that he is now setting an example to his son.

“He’s not quite drowned yet, but it seems that the sky is the limit,” says Hickam.

This is his story.

Snapshot: Devon Hickam

• Height: 6 & # 39; 2 "
• Weight: 200 pounds.
• Location: Spokane, WA
• Occupation: student physiotherapist

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Age: 31, Height: 6 & # 39; 2, Weight: 241 lb., Fat: 31.4%

Age: 31, Height: 6 & # 39;, Weight: 200 lbs., Fat: 15.1%

What did life look like before this transformation?

Life was unbearable. I walked the career ladder I hated. I lost a huge part of my personality because I did not go in for sports and did not go in for sports, like my whole life. For four years I was completely sedentary and no longer recognized myself from the inside or outside. Binding to my shoes made me think, and every night after work the bar called me by name to handle it. Wherever I went, I needed to have a beer in my hands, I was on the path of alcoholism, and I was not the father or husband I wanted to be. I could not play with my son for more than a few minutes before I had to take a break to have a beer.

What made you decide to make such a huge change? Was there a moment aha?

All the dissatisfied disappointment finally boiled over in December 2018. I could no longer walk the path. I remember one particular moment before Christmas, when I played with my son. After about 30 seconds, I was tired and told him that I could no longer play with him, because I needed a beer. His expression ruined me. I decided that my life needed a complete revision and had to go in a new direction. The next day, I quit my job and entered Eastern Washington University to pursue a career in physiotherapy.

How did you achieve your goals?

I started by learning about workout plans and nutritional information on Bodybuilding.com. For the first couple of days, I spent hours looking for and writing down an attack plan, before I got into Jim Stoppani's workout program “Shortcut to Shred” and a diet inspired by Paleo. Despite the name of the program, there are no shortcuts, no magic formulas – I worked a lot and remained disciplined. Logging into the Challenge site and viewing photos and publications of everyone on social networks also helped in motivation. There were definitely times when it was really hard, and I found inspiration from everyone else.

What supplements did you use while traveling?

How did the diet plan guide your conversion?

I was always so busy that I ate during walks between classes, so for convenience I began to mix all my vegetables in the morning. I would fill my Vitamix with full cabbage or other dark green vegetables and mix it with water. I would drink a glass and fill my thermos bottle with the rest. It was so convenient to just eat a couple of packets of tuna and drink a big drink of mixed vegetables.

Here is the main diet that I followed. In the last four weeks, I wanted to build muscle, so I added complex carbohydrates (half sweet potatoes or some rice) twice a day, ate only cod and green beans for my protein and vegetables, and increased my protein from 4 to 6 ounces per meal.

What did your workout and cardio regimen look like?

I followed the label to Shred for sure. When I finished, I did it again. I also added some extra cardio sessions, because I like to run. Depending on how much time I had, I usually ran 30-45 minutes before the workout and usually 30-45 minutes in the evenings. I like to mix my cardio with a good workout on a bike, because all cardio bikes are a bit different in resistance. I try to maintain a heart rate of 150 to 160 beats per minute in training with a frequency of up to 180 beats per minute. I also love to try swimming on weekends when I can find time that seems amazing after long weeks of hard training. I do at least one hour of intense cardio every day, even on weekends.

What was the most difficult aspect of your journey?

The hardest thing was to learn to balance everything in my life again. I made changes everywhere, not only in health and fitness. I had to learn to manage and balance, being a college student, exercising, preparing food and adjusting my social life, as well as being a husband and father. It made me overestimate all the priorities in my life, and the family was always number one. Instead of going out with friends, we began to spend family evenings on weekends. We invited friends to cook healthy food and share our new lifestyle with them. The initial setting was a shock, but now it’s just a normal part of our life, and it’s not difficult anymore.

What does it mean to say that you won the 2019 All Access Challenge series?

In a sense, it is still surreal and difficult to put into words. But I am on top and proud! It's nice to know that all my hard work has paid off. The victory in this test gave me so much confidence that I would continue this way. Old, before this ordeal, I almost gave up. Personal failures seemed endless. This achievement kindled my fire again and gave me confidence and a smile. I feel capable of anything.

If you could say something to someone seeking a serious transformation like yours, what would it be?

Three words: it's worth it. All the hard work, pain and suffering at the beginning disappear as you move forward – and it is worth all the effort. The way I feel emotionally is 10 times better than the way I look outside. I never realized how depressed I was, and I did not know how unhappy I was until I came to the end of the test and experienced new highs. Even before I learned that I won, I was the happiest in which I was, I do not know how long. Too long.

How did Bodybuilding.com help you achieve your goals?

When I started, I had nothing but the knowledge that I wanted to get in shape. I did not lift weights regularly from the school football team that was 12 years ago. For me, having all the plans available on Bodybuilding.com — with nutrition, workouts, and a tracking application — was important to my success. Videos about how and why you are doing something were especially helpful when it came to learning the correct form. I could not have done this without Bodybuilding.com and all the resources it provides. I was just a normal guy, and now I have the tools for success that will be with me for the rest of my life. Bodybuilding.com led me to the water. All I had to do was drink – and I drank it!

What are your plans for the future for a new, fit yourself?

I plan to become a hybrid bodybuilder and endurance athlete. I will continue to climb and bodybuilding while training for triathlons, such as the Ironman, and for competitions on the obstacle course, such as the Spartan Race. I am excited to try new things to push myself. Because I feel I can do anything, I want to do everything!

Interested in embarking on your own journey of transformation? Check out Bodybuilding.com All Access to find the perfect plan to help you get started.