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Man loses nearly 50 pounds for New Year's resolution, hopes to inspire others

Whether you've stuck to your diet and exercise since the start of the year, like John Kavich, or if you've fallen off, it's not too late to try again.

AUSTIN, Texas —

An Austin man who has lost more than three dozen pounds since the start of the year is now looking to inspire others with their goals. 

John Kavich said whether you've stuck to your diet and exercise since the start of the year like him or you've fallen off, it's not too late to try again. He hopes his story serves as motivation.  

Kavich makes working out look like a piece of cake but says it's anything but. 

"It's not easy, no," he said. "Your life is going to get in the way." 

Before the start of the new year, Kavich said his health wasn't his biggest priority. 

"2023 marked probably the worst shape that I had been in my adult life. And with that, I knew that I wanted to establish some healthier, long-term goals," he said.

Kavich said he used to work on unrealistic timelines, trying to get in shape for big events like weddings or a special trip. 

Once those quick deadlines would come, whether he would meet his goal or not, he said he wouldn't stay on his fitness journey any longer. 

Now, he's taking a new approach that has worked for him, and he hopes it works for others. 

He has stuck to his resolution and has lost more than 45 pounds. He also admitted not every day has been perfect. 

"There are days when you're going to wake up, and you don't want to go work out. But just showing up is a step in the right direction," Kavich said. 

If you tried to lose weight for your New Year's resolution and it got too overwhelming, don't be afraid to readjust and try again. 

"I think a lot of times, people feel discouraged when they haven't achieved their big picture goals in a, you know, sort of a predetermined timeline," Matt Ryan, owner and fitness director of Heavy Mettle Fitness, said. "That can kind of give you the mindset that you're not capable of achieving those goals. And that's when you see folks get discouraged." 

Ryan works at the gym where Kavich goes to exercise. As a fitness director, he said it's all about being patient with yourself and being consistent and having discipline. 

"In some ways, those are uncommon skills. But you don't have to be an uncommon person to develop those skills," Ryan said. 

While you shouldn't compare yourself to the success of others like Kavich, stories like his may serve as motivation. 

"Set realistic goals for you to be able to hit and be able to feel confident and happy about the progress that you've made thus far," Kavich said. 

If you keep with it, you'll start to feel better and the results after will be the cherry on top. 

"The easiest way to get started is just to put one foot in front of the other and get started on it," Ryan said. 

Heavy Mettle Gym offers private personal training, but you can also take little steps on your own like opting for the stairs over the elevator or going for a daily walk. 

Being consistent with those little things can make a big difference. 

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