Ryan Brock dug himself out of depression, divorce, and over 70 unwanted pounds!

We all know the saying: “When things are going hard, things are going hard”. But when a tough one actually becomes unbearable, a real circumstance, these words are harder to apply than they once seemed.

Ryan Brock was either about to “start,” or committed suicide when his ex-wife announced that he wanted a divorce. After four years of working together, having pledged to help raise her son at home while she worked in the Air Force, Brock was devastated to hear her say that the relationship was over. Depression and suicidal thoughts followed.

“I wanted to fight for our marriage, although she told me that it was all over,” he says. “But after a while I thought:“ Why should someone fight for you when you can't even fight with yourself? "

When this switch clicked in his mind, Brock removed his self-pity and put on his sneakers. After he built a fitness base, running eventually turned into strength training – something that was uncharted territory for him. His food was another area he was involved in in the children's steps.

“For the first few months, I ate what I usually ate — the usual“ terrible ”foods — but in half the portion sizes,” he says. “I lost 40 pounds this way. But as soon as I gained 205 pounds, I found myself on a plateau that lasted two months. ”

Then Brock adopted the “eat less, move more” approach and realized how important nutrition is to achieve his goals.

This is his story.

Snapshot: Ryan Brock

• Height: 5 & # 39; 7 "
• Weight: 172 kg.
• Occupation: Texas Correctional Officer
• Location: Fort Hood, Texas

Social links:

• BodySpace: (still waiting)
• Instagram

What did life look like before this transformation?

One word summarizes: lonely. When our marriage changed for the worse, I avoided controversy and allowed myself to develop destructive habits of overeating and not moving. Of course, before I was not the most healthy, but made it worse. When we divorced, I returned home and lived in my parents' house. I had to start all over again, as a teenager, right after high school — no career, no love life, no place of my own, and it’s not going anywhere. Depression affected me. I was thinking about suicide. I led a desolate and isolated life.

Was there aha! a moment for you that made you decide to change?

I remember the night very clearly. It was March 25, 2017. I had just been on the phone with my ex-wife after a month when he begged her to negotiate our marriage with me. She said the damage was done. I wanted to commit suicide because of these words, and I cried for at least an hour in my room.

When I went to wash my face, I ended up in a mirror … without a shirt. I have never been so big in my life. I hated the way I looked, hated the way I thought, and hated the hand that the world gave me. A spark flashed in me, and I decided that the best way to return my wife was to lose weight. I wanted to show her and myself that everything can be done when you strive for it. Whether it's a personal trip to fitness, a broken marriage, or even a broken car, people often think that they are too far away to return from pain and weakness. It was not me.

How did you achieve your goals?

My first day of training was the night I wiped those tears from my face. Angry, I moved away from my reflection in the mirror, walked outside to our small acres of land in the village, put in my headphones and ran. It lasted about 10 seconds. It was absolutely pitiful. In high school I was a swimmer, and in taekwondo there was a black belt. I used to be active with my friends. But now I could not even run more than 20 steps without gasping. So, I started slowly and did 20 minutes of cardio per day to the best of my ability. After creating some stamina, I visited Bodybuilding.com for guidance on lifting.

What was the diet plan that guided your conversion?

What did your training look like?

What aspect of travel was the most difficult?

Patience. There were times when I did not see changes, but all the others saw. For a few days I wanted to give up and got sick from a stricter meal. Sometimes I ask why I do this at all. It would be much easier to stay at home and do nothing every day. But I neglected my body and chose terrible habits for so long that it took so much time and effort to correct these habits. Patience is a quality that you must have in this life.

How has this transformation changed your attitude towards yourself and relationships?

It made me realize that everything, including relationships, requires a lot of work, and it also changed what I believe in what I deserve. I need someone who inspires me to be the best, who I can be in any way. They don't have to be gym lovers, but if this is your chosen lifestyle, you need someone who wants to live a long and healthy life with you, make the right food choices, stay active and, most importantly, support your goals and dreams.

If you could say something to someone who wants to make a serious transformation of their own, what would it be?

First of all, find people with a similar mind and a strong work ethic. This can be a friend or personal trainer. Secondly, find your spark. Mine was depressed after my divorce. The anger and despair that I felt grew into a fire that I would never put out. Whatever makes you rise and go, focus on that. And last but not least, do not give up! The hardest part is to keep moving forward.

Do you have future plans with fitness?

Currently, my goal is to achieve 10 percent body fat. Man, this is difficult. Food should be more strict; exercise should be in place. I thought about perhaps doing personal training to show people that if a guy like me can achieve their goals, then anyone can. Still thinking it over!

Who was your support system throughout this conversion?

Casey, Rodolfo, George and all my friends helped me cope with depression and told me to look up when the world collapsed. They listened when I needed ears, had a shoulder to cry, and a voice of reason when I was on the verge of ending my own life. My parents have always loved me, no matter what trouble I face. I also owe "thanks" to my colleagues. I know they hated hearing about my workouts and calling themselves a fat sack of potatoes, but they have my back. And of course, I have a God who always creates a new day with new beginnings for me.

How did Bodybuilding.com help you achieve your goals?

I went to Bodybuilding.com to learn how to lift weight. I have never played sports in my life, even as a teenager, so I had to learn the correct form and which exercises to isolate certain muscles. They also helped with ideas of cooking and proper nutrition. I love reading transformations from people from all over the world. It's great to see what lit their fire. It inspires me daily!