VITAL STATS
Name: Ronald Giorgione
Age: 29
Height: 6 ft.
Weight Before Barry’s Bootcamp: 225 lbs
Current Weight: 188 lbs
Waist size Before: 41 inches
Waist size Now: 32 inches
Home Base: San Diego, CA
Occupation: Currently active duty in the Navy
BIO
Born and raised in Las Vegas, I moved to Hyde Park, NY for culinary school at the Culinary Institute of America, where I earned two AOS degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts. I then moved back home to Vegas to pursue my Bachelor’s degree from UNLV. While going to school and working full time, I was laid off. This led to my enlisting in the Navy. I spent 2 years in Pensacola, FL for training and schools, then deployed twice (back to back) with the USS JOHN C STENNIS to the Persian Gulf. I then transferred to San Diego, where I have been for almost 2 years.
HOBBIES
Running, yoga, Barry’s Bootcamp (lol), cooking, baking, spending time with my family and friends
Q: ANY QUIRKS OR FUN FACTS YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
A: I think saying that I was born and raised in Las Vegas is surprising enough to most!
Q: HOW DID YOUR BARRY’S BOOTCAMP JOURNEY BEGIN?
A: My journey began in the spring of 2013, when one of my friends dragged me to a class after I mentioned that I wanted to get back into shape. After that, I managed a couple classes here and there. Then my papa passed away at the end of August and I went through a rough patch. After attending two weddings back to back and not feeling happy with how much tighter my suits were, I started back at Barry’s. Within 2 months of Barry’s, yoga and an unhealthy diet of counting calories, I dropped from 205 lbs. to 185 lbs. Then came the slew of holidays and birthdays, which led to me driving home to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving, Christmas, my Nana’s birthday, my dad’s and my birthday. After all the celebrating and not working out, I started to quickly pack the pounds back on. Once the weight started returning, I let the downward spiral continue over the new year, all the way until the anniversary of my papa’s passing. I went home and saw my family. My nana and my dad both mentioned how much bigger I looked.
Once I returned home, I knew I needed to make changes. First I had to organize my life to get back on track. So over the month of September, I started my diet and organized priorities at home and at work. Then I started attending the 5 a.m. class with Miss Kellie Hinkle. I had taken a class of hers earlier in the year and really liked her energy and empowerment. This was crucial since I was planning on working out before work. I knew that if I didn’t go in first thing in the morning I would find an excuse to not go later. I needed an instructor who was going to make me want to come in to get a body beat down that early. Kellie not only fit the bill, but has surpassed it. When I started the 5 a.m. with Kellie there were about 10 people total in class. Then as word quickly got out about her motivating and positive class, we now have classes where every treadmill is taken and the floor is being taken over!
Q: HOW HAS BARRY’S CHANGED YOUR MENTAL OUTLOOK?
A: Barry’s has not only helped me reach my body goals but it has provided an opportunity to connect with people I never would have met. Through them, I have found an amazing group of friends, a new outlook on diet, and a positive, healthier outlook. Not to mention the classes are fun and so tough that you end up giving your instructor the death glare once they announce the next floor exercise or tread run. But since it’s fun and fast paced, that time flies by. Next thing you know, your body is beat and class is over but you walk out feeling energized.
Q: HOW HAS YOUR BODY CHANGED ASIDE FROM WEIGHT LOSS?
A: Barry’s instructors have helped me change and challenge my body to become healthier and more mindful of the fuel I feed it. To focus on the strength and progress that comes with pushing the buttons on the tread and to run faster with a higher incline, and holding that run or sprint longer than you did yesterday. Measuring your success by moving up to the heavier set of dumbbells, because your old weight is too light. Not by counting calories or by weighing yourself everyday. That is how Barry’s has changed my body and how it operates.
Q: HAS FITNESS CHANGED YOUR LIFE IN OTHER UNEXPECTED WAYS?
A: Having committed to the 5 am class, I met an amazing group of people. We all work out in the mornings and we have been such an amazing, uplifting influence on each other. Through them, I found the support and motivation of a family. That “FitFam” has helped me stay on track with my fitness goals, introduced me to new goals I hadn’t thought of, and surrounded me with such positive energy from people who are at peace with themselves and the world around them. I take other instructors’ classes and find that every one of them challenges me in a different way and pushes me when I need it and gives me that death glare when we both know I need to back off, as to not injure myself. I don’t think I could have gotten to this point of happiness and contentment, had I not made the choice to wake up at 4am.
Q: HOW HAS YOUR TRANSFORMATION AFFECTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR LOVED ONES?
A: It has made me feel more confident, but also my body feels improved. Losing so much weight has inspired a few friends and family members to make some changes of their own. They come to me now with questions on diet/food and types of workouts.
Q: DO YOU FOLLOW A PARTICULAR DIET?
A: Before I started getting off my butt and trying to make a change, my diet consisted of fast food, take-out, lots of booze and repeat. Before I started out committing to working out, I wanted to start to fix my diet. I cut out a lot of processed carbs and sugars and counted calories. I continued this diet once I started attending Barry’s. About a month in, I was talking with another amazing Barry’s instructor, January Newland. I learned of her Sugar Detox (JanuaryWellness.com). I signed up because I wanted to give my insides a break from all crap I had put into my body. Working with her and learning more about healthier food options really got me excited! The 2-week detox was not as hard as I thought. The hard part was controlling my cravings as I made a wedding cake, cupcakes, and other desserts for friends and clients. My roommate however, loved it because she was my taste tester. Today, almost 4 weeks after I finished the detox, I have incorporated some more things back into my life, but I am exercising moderation and quality control. After the holidays, my plan is to complete another detox (don’t think I need to explain why on this one, ha).
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR HEALTH GOALS?
A: My goals are simple. I am not one who is trying to grab the biggest gains or largest muscles. My goals are to be healthy and fit. I want to get into the best shape I can be that will benefit my running and the rest of my life. With that, I’m not worried about my weight, but focusing on Fat Loss! In high school, my PR for my 1 mi was 4:50 and my 5K (Central Park Invitational in Huntington Beach 2002) was in the 15 min range. I would like to train to get as close to those times again as I can. And if it’s possible, beat them!
Q: WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO OTHERS WHO ARE DAUNTED AT THE PROSPECT OF MAKING HEALTHIER CHANGES?
A: Don’t weigh yourself or count calories! I have seen so many others, myself included when I first started, get hung up on calorie and scale numbers. Working with January, I learned to focus on what I was putting into my body and how that made me feel; before, during, and after my workouts. One week into her Sugar Detox program, I ran my first ½ marathon. Minus a tight IT-Band, my body never felt so good running!
Follow Ronald on his fitness journey:
Twitter: @r_giorgione
Instagram: @r0nr0n22
