Transformations Series: Andy Kraft

Move over Optimus Prime - we have a new transformer in town! His name is Andy Kraft and he has a double fitness transformation story. Not only did Andy lose a significant amount of weight, but he also turned his body into a lean, mean, fighting machine!

In high school, Andy prospered as an avid athlete. Captain of the football team and a multisport player, Andy's high activity levels gave him the ability to eat anything he wanted - and he loved it. Soon after graduating high school, however, his activity levels began to change, but his diet continued unabated. He then began adding unhealthy habits to his diet, including beer and several whole pizzas a week! His lack of activity and his diet of eating anything with no abandon was finally starting to catch up to him.

After experiencing a bad breakup in 2010, Andy decided to step on the scale. Weighing in at 235 lbs., he felt depressed and had difficulty determining his path in life. Andy did everything he could to hide his body. By wearing lots of baggy shirts, long sleeves, and jeans, Andy kept most of the people close to him from noticing how much weight he had gained.

It wasn't much later that Andy felt like he had truly hit rock bottom. Living in his parents' basement, playing video games, and drinking until one morning was not a sustainable lifestyle. One night, as he gazed at his refection in the mirror, he took a long hard look at himself. Then he said, "Enough. I will change, no matter what it takes." So began Andy's fitness transformation.

"I was getting ready to take a shower when I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn't even recognize the guy looking back at me anymore. I was overweight, unshaven, and pale. I had no muscle. In that moment, I promised myself I would change."

Browsing the web for dieting and exercise tips, Andy's days were spent in bodybuilding forums and finding inspiration from 6 Pack Bag athletes. Combining the knowledge he gained online with just a Bowflex, stationary bike, and Netflix helped him lose nearly 60 lbs. in just over 3 months! His commitment to changing himself and the fact that he never once cheated on his diet clearly contributed greatly to his impressive results.

Andy attributes most of his weight loss to the fact that he meal prepped 100% of his meals for an entire year. He invested hours a week cooking and carrying his meals everywhere in his 6 Pack Bag.

After losing all the weight, though, Andy still wasn't satisfied. Looking in the mirror again, he realized that he had lost a lot of his muscle and had dropped under his high school weight. Thus began his bodybuilding quest to transform his body yet again.

Andy continued to educate himself online and eventually ditched the Bowflex for a gym membership. His new friends at the gym educated him about bulking and cutting, which gave his fitness transformation the edge it needed. Continuing to take his prepped meals with him, Andy was able to maintain a strict diet, which allowed him to gain several pounds of lean mass.

"Plan the details. The less surprises you have, the less stressed you will be. Life will throw every excuse at you, so be stronger than the excuses."

Recently, Andy competed in a Men's Physique show and plans to continue working on his body for another competition in April. Since the first show, Andy has also connected with other body transformers who have had similar experiences. He befriended one woman in particular, Kelsey Neeley, who won both her class and the overall competition. She has been incredibly supportive and a great inspiration to Andy, whose future 2016 plans include competing again as well as taking some time off to build mass and more deeply explore functional fitness.

One fitness transformation is a huge accomplishment. To transform yourself twice is an enormous feat. Andy's motivational yet relatable story, made possible through his avid meal prepping and strict workout regimen, is an inspiration to us all.

For Andy's fitness transformation to truly take hold, he made it a routine. Create your own routine to see where your health goals can take you, and find inspiration in our Fitness Transformations Series and How to Meal Prep Guides. To find the right 6 Pack Bag for you, browse our meal management bags, gym backpacks, sports duffle bags, and gym totes.