How lifting weights helped Brenton achieve this six-pack before 50

I walk around with a smile on my face, and it starts with being comfortable, both mentally fit and now physically fit.

Brenton is now ready to enter his 50s in the best shape of his life.

He’d not worked out in over a decade before he came to Ultimate Performance.

He’d gained 30lbs since he became a father, he had a belly, and he felt disappointed he’d let himself slip to this point.

It really stung when his daughter compared him to ‘Daddy Pig’ from the children’s TV show Peppa Pig it… and when his doctor told him he needed to lose weight if he wanted to have a healthy future beyond his 50s, it sparked him into action.

‘Get a six-pack for my 50th birthday’ was the goal… and he came to U.P. to make it happen.

Even with niggling injuries, Brenton’s trainer designed a program than worked for him, taught him how to eat for results, and gave him the accountability to see his goal through.

Now he’s lost 6.6 inches off his waistline in 19 weeks, he’s turned his sedentary lifestyle on its head, and he’s got the abs that he’s so proud of.

Brenton speaks about what kept him motivated, the simple things he’s changed that sparked his weight loss, and what the secret to success is for anyone at U.P. in this Q&A with his trainer…

What were your main reasons for joining U.P.?

I’m turning 50 later this year and I’d become sad and disappointed with the way I look. I’m a dad and I work long hours so haven’t worked out in 10 years – as old as my daughter is now. I’d gained weight and was starting to get injured. My belly was big, so I didn’t feel comfortable taking my shirt off at the pool.

When you contemplate the next stage of your life and the next stage of your career, you want to go into it as strong and as fit as possible. I wanted to return to my young, athletic self and I told all my friends that I was going to have a six-pack before my birthday. That was easier said than done. I suffered from low energy and lethargy and most importantly, I had gained over 30lbs since the birth of my two kids. At my last appointment, my doctor told me that I needed to exercise and lose weight if I wanted a good quality of life going forward. So, I took his advice and followed the suggestion of a friend who had signed up for U.P. and I decided I was going to come in here and knock the walls down.

Your daughter made a comment when she was younger that stayed with you. Can you tell us more about that?

Absolutely. The last time I’d worked out was before she was born, and one day when she was about three years old, she was watching Peppa Pig, and she came over to me in the middle of the episode and started rubbing my belly and calling me ‘Daddy Pig’. I hated it, and I carried that grudge around for years. I didn’t want to be Daddy Pig anymore. About three weeks ago I took my shirt off and asked, “Who’s Daddy Pig now?” and of course, she didn’t remember.

My daughter is an awesome athlete now. She plays soccer and I coached her. One day I realised I couldn’t keep up anymore and after pulling muscles in my hamstrings, quads and calf, I struggled to kick the ball around with her.

Do you find it easier to keep up with your daughter and her friends when they’re playing football now you’ve done this program?

In some ways? Yes. It’s not just about my daughter though, it’s my entire life. Those tiny little things that I can do now because my core is strong, and my arms are stronger. I can lift and move more weight. I’m planning to go on vacation because now I can lift a 45-pound suitcase and know I won’t pull my back or hurt myself.

What was your favourite part of the program?

I came here to get results and from the first day, I told everyone that I wanted abs. My favourite part was weighing day and photo day because you can see the progress you’ve made over time. I had a good rapport with my trainer, Anna, and the achievements I’ve made have been my motivation throughout. I started realising I could move more weight than I used to be able to and do more push-ups than I thought I could. I’m a long way from where I was when I walked in here in January.

Did you find anything particularly challenging?

In the beginning, everything was hard. I left every workout lying on the floor. The toughest part for me was coming in here knowing I had injuries to overcome. I had shoulder issues, a knee problem and dizziness which made it challenging, but I had a goal and I’m competitive. I saw the photos on the wall, and I just had to be on it too. Nothing was going to stop me from getting on that wall.

And look at you now! What have been the biggest benefits?

Physically, there’s no Daddy Pig anymore. I’ve got ripped abs now so mission accomplished. Mentally, I have started to like myself. I feel better mentally. If you look better, you feel better. Now I walk around with a smile on my face, and it starts with being comfortable, both mentally fit and physically fit.

What are your key takeaways from your time at U.P.?

The biggest lesson for me is the nutrition side of it. It’s about eating better. I’m now eating veggies that I haven’t eaten in 10 years and I’m going to keep on doing that. The other key takeaway for me is movement. Before U.P. I wasn’t moving. I’d come home every day and sit down to have a snack. I’d have dinner and then more sugar before going to bed. Now I go for a walk after work every single day, and since this program started, my wife walks with me four or five times a week and push each other to go further. What started as 10,000 steps, became 13,000 and then 16,000 steps. I feel so much better for it.

I went to the doctor in October 2023 due to the latest knee or calf injury and he said losing weight would help but most important was for me to lose belly fat. He suggested I go for a walk every day when I got home from work. At that point, I weighed around 182 lbs. When I saw him again, my weight was 185 lbs, and the last time I saw him I weighed 190 lbs. I was ashamed that he kept telling me to get better and every time I walked in, I was heavier. I’ve got a physical coming up soon and I’m looking forward to when he sees my weight on the chart and asks what happened, and I’ll lift my shirt and tell him “I walked, so now I have no belly”.

Amazing! How instrumental was your trainer in helping you achieve your goal?

Training with Anna was fantastic. Our personalities matched really well, and she was able to adapt all the exercises to account for my injuries. She recommended a sleeve for my knee which made the hack squats better. If we exercised and it caused me pain, she’d find an alternative way for me to work out that didn’t stop me from progressing and hitting my goals but also didn’t lead to injury. I came in with a shoulder problem which meant lifting my arm in a particular way caused a lot of pain. I had knee issues dating back to my childhood, as well as former torn quad muscles and pulled calves, and I was dizzy all the time. So together, we tried different machines, different angles and positions and ultimately, we got to the point where we could start maxing out and going higher and faster so I could stay on track to achieve my goal.

She was very diligent in setting up my program which included tracking proteins, carbs, fats and calories. We also targeted a minimum of steps for me to achieve each day. Each session was well thought out and worked the entire body. In my trainer, I found both a cheerleader and a coach. She motivated and cared about my well-being throughout the program. I am proud to say that I have accomplished all my goals.

What gave you the drive to keep training despite all your injuries?

I’m competitive. I loved the wall photos because you could find someone who used to look like you did and see their transformation and how long it took them to achieve it. That’s when you start to think, if they did that in 15 weeks, I could do it in 14 weeks, and that becomes the competition. Life is about goals and sometimes people miss the fact that if you don’t set a goal and know what you want, you’re just not going to get anything. When I walked in, there was an empty spot on the wall, and I told everyone that’s what I’m here for. If I hadn’t got there, I’d be very embarrassed and disappointed so that gave me an extra push and that bit more momentum when I didn’t want to lift the extra weight or go for another walk. The wall was a motivation for me. I want to be the inspiration for the next person who walks in and help them think that they can achieve it too!

With that in mind, would you recommend U.P. to others?

Absolutely! I’m already telling everyone about it. I thought the U.P. app was phenomenal; you get addicted to knowing what your protein is, what your calories are, and how much carbs you’re taking in. That’s the best part about this entire program because ultimately what you guys have created here matters. And it gets results, but it gets results because you can track it. I always tell people, it doesn’t matter what your goals are, if you can’t track them, it’s not going to happen. I love the fact that you could track everything. I’ve lost 6.6 inches off my waist and none of my old clothes fit anymore so now I need a whole new wardrobe!

That’s great to hear. You’re a financial advisor – what makes this program worth it for you?

I always say health is wealth. Every time I meet with someone, I talk about making good investments. I’m turning 50 this year and my investment is in myself. You can’t take money with you, and you certainly can’t enjoy the latter part of your life if you don’t feel good and you can’t stand up and bend down to pick anything up. I look back now and think that this was money well spent because I accomplished my goal. I am more fit today than I was before I had kids. I feel great and am no longer lethargic. The aches and pains went away, and my core is strong. I no longer have late-night cravings or the need for sugar and processed carbs. I’m turning 50 and I’ve probably never looked better in my entire life. I’ve never felt better in my entire life. The results of the program are priceless.

Brenton is fit and feeling great ready to turn 50, and you could be too. Get in touch with Ultimate Performance to start your transformation.

Like these results? Send us your details in the form below to receive information about our programs