Super Nova of the Month: Louvens Remy

Nova Health Club • December 2, 2024

Congratulations to Louvens our December SuperNova!


Louvens has come a long way in the last 10 months since joining Nova’s transformation program, ‘LeanDads’. 


While most people notice his weight loss, that is only the tip of the iceberg...


His transformation goes beyond just body composition - he improved his digestion, eating habits, energy, sleep, mindset, mood, strength and injury management. 


Read the interview with Louvens below to see exactly what he accomplished and how he did it.


1) What was the ‘straw that broke the camel's back’ that made you realize you needed to take action on your health?


“It was the lack of sleep, always tired and the pain  in my lower body. The other thing was that I was always carrying the CPAP machine around like an anchor. I wanted to fix my health so I could ditch that apparatus once and for all.” 


2) How was this problem affecting your life? 


“I found it difficult to get to sleep and then waking up was a challenge. I was in a lot of pain all the time. It was affecting my personal life and I had tons of brain fog and it caused me to make poor lifestyle choices to compensate.”


3) Why did you choose the LeanDads program over other programs or continuing to do it on your own? 


“I needed a program that was holistic. I needed something that was going to challenge me and not give me an easy out. I needed to rebuild my confidence and the LeanDads program offered no shortcuts. I needed help to turn things around and continuing on my own wasn't working as I lacked accountability. As well, I was really intrigued by understanding what I was or wasn't putting into my body.”





4) What were your main goals when you started the program and how have your goals evolved since then? 


“My main goals were to fix my sleep, lose weight and have energy to participate in life in a more fulsome way.”


5) What is the bigger reason or the ‘WHY’ behind your goals? 


“The main reason WHY is that I wanted to be my best self for my wife. I felt like she deserved that. Also, we started thinking about having a child and I wanted to be in better health to be alert and helpful during that time in my life whenever that came up.” 

 

6) What are your most proud accomplishments at this point in time?


“I have a lot of things to be proud of over the last 11 months. Weight loss, consistency at the gym, eating healthier and making way better lifestyle choices. But the other day I had an emotional reaction at the gym after squatting the highest weight I've ever done. I was extremely proud of that because I was able to rebuild my lower body to be able to accomplish that.” 






7) What have been your biggest challenges or obstacles over the past year in sticking with the way ‘Future Louvens’ does things? 


“This is a tough one. I think as always, it's meal prep and food in general. My food choices have changed drastically for the better, but prepping is a chore that I don't like.” 


8) What are some of the biggest learning lessons or key habits that have helped you on your journey to achieve those accomplishments? 


“Learning about food and what it does to my health. Understanding the power of sleep for recovery and overall better health was a game changer. Key habits were understanding and building on my WHY, meal planning, eating more protein, movement and being consistent with it even if there are some down periods.” 


9) How have you been able to balance the challenge of new lifestyle habits with the challenges and stressors of life whether work, temptations etc? 


“I think the main thing that keeps me going is wanting to not go back to the old ways. I feel so much better so why would I want to feel terrible again? And every once in a while I take a peak of my old progress photos and I definitely don't want to be that person again.” 


10) What would you say to someone who is apprehensive about committing to their bigger health vision, whether it be because of fear of failure, lack of time, travel etc? 


“I would say that if you're already thinking about it then you really want to change and so what is the downside? Once you begin the program priorities line up differently and the excuses you thought were legit were just roadblocks you put on yourself to give you an out. LeanDads is extremely positive to everything in your life. Everything in life becomes much easier and better once you're able to gain control of your health. So, why not commit to becoming a better version of yourself?”

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Ask a casual runner if they’d ever do a marathon, and they’ll often shut it down with a quick “No way!” The same goes for nutrition - suggest tightening things up beyond the usual 80/20, and you’ll hear excuses like, “I need my wine, bread, and cheese,” or, “I’ll do it when....” The 80/20 Rule, if you’ve been at that level for a while can be quite comfortable yet it is a crutch that is probably holding you back. We see this often with those who practice “cheat days” - a popular reward for six days of ‘being good’ - followed by one day to indulge in low-quality food or excess alcohol. Many of these people want to get in better shape - I know dozens of people who will talk about their health and fitness goals but instead of embracing the next challenge, they seek comfort and ease. Cheat days (20% of the week) may have been a step up from where you started, but now they’re just keeping you stuck in the middle. 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That means: One or two off-plan meals per week instead of four Focusing on long-term consistency rather than weekly indulgences What do I mean by ‘focusing on long-term consistency rather than weekly indulgences’?’ Rather than thinking of 90/10 as a weekly ratio (a few off plan meals each week), consider stretching it over a longer period of time. I call this ‘extending the gap’. Example: Instead of “cheating” one meal a week, allow yourself to be on track for a solid month or two and then take a week off for vacation. You’ll get far better results this way because your body gets consistent time to function at its best before introducing something that then slows you down. The Hidden Issue With Weekly Cheat Meals Most people don’t realize that one cheat day or meal per week can sabotage their entire progress! Unhealthy food creates an inflammatory response in the body that can take up to 14 days to recover from! If you’re indulging every seventh day, your body never fully recovers. This is why I push for a longer-term approach - one that ‘extends the gap’. Extending the gap creates better results even if you are following the 80/20 rule. Imagine being locked in for 80% of a 12-week period - eating well, training hard, and staying dialed in for 10-11 weeks. Then, after that consistent stretch, you take a week-long break or vacation where you enjoy whatever you want… The main benefit in ‘extending the gap’ of your 80/20 lifestyle is that your body has more time to detox, reset and thrive rather than constantly battling inflammation from frequent indulgences.… On top of that, when you do decide to go ‘off plan’ on a vacation for example the likelihood of you ditching the plan for an entire week is very low. In essence, your 80/20 mentality with an ‘extended gap’ naturally becomes a 90/10 plan with giving you better outcomes. Cheat meals or cheat days each week only work for those who are coming from no experience with anything healthy. For those who have been around the block a few times (most of the Nova Health community), they need to upgrade their approach and this the exact method we use in our health coaching & transformation programs for those who want to break through plateaus The Bottom Line: Raise Your Standards The 80/20 Rule is a stepping stone, not a destination. It’s a solid starting point, but if you want to keep progressing - or aspire to be great - you have to push beyond “good enough.” If your results have stalled, reassess your standards If you’re still chasing big goals, stop settling for mediocrity If you want real transformation, ditch the weekly cheat mentality and “extend the gap” At the core, we all crave progress. So ask yourself - what do you truly value more? The comfort of your weekly cheat meals and drinks? Or the opportunity to reach a higher level? Growth isn’t about choosing what’s easy. It’s about choosing what matters most. Action You have 3 choices depending on where you are at in your journey: Just beginning? Start with the 80/20 however it fits for you Stuck on 80/20? Stretch the gap! Stuck on 80/20? Move to 90/10! Whatever level you are at, if you are looking for support to jumpstart progress then check out how our health coaching & transformation programs can help you!
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