Today we’d like to introduce you to Shan Charles.
Shan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started at an unhealthy, insecure, and a defeated 291 pounds. September of 2016, at the tail end of an unhealthy relationship. Struggling to find my purpose. Working as a General Manager, not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel. Just living life yesterday by yesterday. Never looking forward too much anything.
Fast forward November of 2017, at an unhealthy 275 pounds and making excuses and or reasons to why I am still so heavy. At this time, I was lonely, depressed, full of anxiety. I still had no clear vision or goal in life. Just trying to survive was the idea. Just trying to get by. Just trying to live up to the idea of what I was previously known as.
I had lost my identity. January of 2018, I decided to make a drastic change. Moving back in with my parents in somewhat rural Breaux Bridge Louisiana. The decision to move was made because for some reason, I just knew I had to spend some time with my father. Even though leaving a vibrant city like Los Angeles for such a small town made no logistical sense, it later proved to be a major role in my drastic weight loss transformation.
I moved away from my parents 2 1/2 months later. The environment became toxic. My mother, father and I were doing our best to love each other through those rough times. Uncomfortable questions and situations from the past were finally brought to light. To see my father cry for the first time because he loved me, that’s the only image I have when I think of him when I’m battling life.
I met a beautifully encouraging woman while visiting Houston one weekend. And like any ridiculous love story, I visited every weekend for 1.5 months! Eventually moving to Houston after finding work so I can be closer to her. Before leaving Louisiana, I asked my father if I should go, my mother was evangelically against it, and I understood why. But for my father to tell me that I needed to follow my heart, that’s something I will never forget. He had not met her yet, but he said he never seen me so excited about someone or something, and gave me 100 dollars along with his blessing.
The very same woman my father believed would change my life, well, she actually did. I can’t give myself all the credit in the world for losing 100 pounds, and getting down to a last recorded 10% body fat. I just got engaged to her on September 3rd, 2020. My beautiful last shot at love was the backbone, the liver and the eyes. Not only did I lose 100 pounds, but she lost 65 pounds along the same journey.
One thing we pride ourselves on is going against the grain. Doing what we believe will work best, even if it is deemed as unconventional. We stumbled upon the idea of intermittent fasting. We asked a trainer if they thought it was a good idea, and it was automatically shut down. At that moment, I knew that was what we had to do. No one should shut down an idea without wanting to understand your why.
Well, 100 pounds, abs, and being compared to Thanos later. I am here to say that intermittent fasting played a major role in my transformation! A long with the offer to play for my home country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in FIBA and possibly the Olympics.
Was the road easy? Hell NO! 2019 was a tough one! Lower back injury, knee injury, shoulder nerve pain, knee gave out while walking, and my father passed away. And did I mention I was not able to run for 3.5-4 months?
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
If I were to say losing 100 pounds was an easy accomplishment, I would be setting you up for failure! I would be lying to you!
In march of 2019, my father, the same man who gave me my blessing to take a major risk at love, my Father passed away. That rattled me. To this day, I believe I am not the same man. But my father’s death did not cripple my desire for change in my body and mind. It did not shut me down. The passing of my father was a transfer of energy. the mental breakdowns and unexplainable anger happened for sure! three months later, injuries took over. My body began breaking down. I did not understand how to properly train, recover and eat. This was a blessing in disguise. During these three to four months of not being able to run or even jog, I learned how to properly eat! I finally took the time to introduce myself to other means of cardio outside of simply running. I started to become a study bug for health and wellness.
The thing about me is, life can be hard as hell. Life can truly have me at my neck and against the wall, but for some reason I will find a lesson in it all. Life has thrown so many haymakers my way. Being kidnapped as a teenager still has its residual effects on my life. With all the new found confidence that comes with being healthier, now there’s a greater emphasis on what people cannot see. 2019 was the year of learning my body, 2020 is me discovering who I am when no one is looking. Who am I when I am scared? Who am I when I am brave? And this is scarier than attacking a number on the scale. This is my newest challenge. And it feels a lot harder than dropping 100 pounds!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a motivational speaker who specializes in training the mind as the body follows. I care about how the mind responds to challenges. How my clients feel vs what they want for themselves. We all want a better life but is a better life attracted to us?
Online, I am known for losing 100 pounds with a new ripped physique. I am known for having the mindset of a champion.
As a motivational speaker, what I am most proud of is knowing that I do not know everything. As a company, the way I decided grow is to learn, apply, adapt, and innovate. I learn from my clients. That is what I am most proud of. My clients open my eyes to life outside of my unintentional bubble of understanding. I am proud that my company grows as my client’s progress. I am proud that the strength of my company relies heavily on the commitment of not only myself, but my winners and champion minded clients.
My training method is known as very HIIT influenced. With a focus on your goals, not just the esthetics. What we will do during training sessions will always challenge your idea of how strong you are. I strive to challenge my clients during every session. With my ” How to Master Your Workout” approach, my clients leave every session feeling like the super hero of their own insecurities and self-limiting thoughts. Change the mind and the body will follow.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I wanted to make everyone smile, laugh or feel good. I remember refusing to walk across the stage at my 5th grade graduation unless my mom brought my friend a blazer to wear. My friend came to graduation in a t-shirt and jeans, and I knew that was not right! Even as a child, I knew when I could step, and when I could that I should. That was me in a nutshell.
I played basketball primarily. Classically trained on the piano, and was very involved in church. My mother was a very successful daycare owner in West Los Angeles, as well gospel singer/evangelist in the Caribbean. Father a civil engineer and project manager.
I was interested in nature. I loved being outdoors. I always enjoyed visiting someone’s home just to enjoy living like them for a little bit. I was always intrigued by anything that was different than what I was custom to.
K-5:
– Struggled to fit in. One of very few African American kids at a predominately Caucasian Elementary school. (Overland Elementary School for Advanced Studies) my nickname was “shan the monkey man.”
6-8th grade:
– my first introduction into the gang lifestyle.
– began to excel at basketball and sports overall
10th grade:
– family moved to Florida from Los Angeles in the summer leading up to my sophomore year of high school.
Sumer of sophomore to Junior:
– Kidnapped from Tampa to South Carolina.
Pricing:
- $25.00 1 Personal Training Session ( 1 Hour)
- $90.00 4 Personal Training sessions (1 Hour)
- $180.00 8 Personal Training sessions (1 Hour)
- $50.00 Virtual Training 4 week Customizable plan
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yourmanshan.com
- Phone: 7135452385
- Email: yourmanshan@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/yourmanshan/
- Facebook: facebook.com/yourmanshan
- Other: youtube.com/yourmanshan
Image Credit:
Photographer: Instagram : @playtimephotog
Clohtes: @fableticsmen (I am an ambassador for fabletics men)
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