Every day was a struggle for Richard McKeever. The most mundane of activities such as getting out of bed in the morning would shorten his breath. But Richard was in denial about his health. “As a male Maori, it was expected for me to be on the heavier side,” he explains. “My size was culturally accepted but I didn’t like how I felt and hated seeing photos of myself.”

Discouraged and uncomfortable, Richard felt weighed down in mind, body and spirit. “Just to live a normal life was a battle for me,” he says. “I found myself saying ‘no’ to things more often than not as I didn’t have the energy or feel comfortable enough to try something new.”

It took eight months for Richard to say ‘yes’ to Isagenix®, with his negative headspace and scepticism getting in the way of the life he desired. “I started on the 30-Day Weight Loss System,” he shares. “I organised the program to fit in with my 16 hour work days, planned my meals and was all in from the beginning. I was ready to make a change.”

Richard didn’t let his busy work schedule get in the way of his goals and his dedication began to show. “It’s crazy how your health affects your quality of life,” he says. “I was sleeping better, waking up before my alarm and ready to take on the day. My clothes started to loosen and I was beginning to think about all the things I wanted to do but never could because of my weight.”

An incredible 58 kgs lighter, Richard is now part of the 100 Pound Club and his weight loss is a testament to his hard work and strong mindset. A big believer in goal setting, Richard’s mindset has completely changed since embarking on his health journey. “Setting goals is an important part of my life now,” he says. “I am always moving forward. I’ve learnt that there’s only one way to fail and that’s to quit but quitting isn’t something you’ll see me doing!”

Propelling forward, Richard’s new-found enthusiasm and zest for life is evident, inspiring everyone around him. “The greatest change to my life during this journey is that I now say ‘yes’,” he says proudly. “I now have the energy and confidence to enjoy things that were previously out of reach with my former body and mindset. “I love hiking, kayaking, travelling, running, dancing, lifting weights and spending time with friends and family. I’m truly grateful to now have these moments.”

Weight-loss results depicted here should not be construed as typical or average. In a study performed in 2012 by University at Chicago researchers, subjects lost an average of 4.1 kg with an average of 0.9 kg of the loss from visceral fat after 30 days on an Isagenix System. The subjects also had a greater level of adherence and had more consistent weight loss from week to week compared to subjects on a traditional diet. Always consult your GP before making any dietary changes or starting any nutrition, weight-loss or exercise program.