Will Adams is an IU junior who, like many, loves the gym. However, Adams fell susceptible to social pressures and fell into an unhealthy lifestyle. Bullying from his peers and the desire to get in shape ignited Adams to start to diet and work out to shed fat. He began functioning in a caloric deficit to lose the weight, and it was working. Week by week the he was losing fat and beginning to look lean. Adams took his weight from 215 down to 180 pounds, but he was not satisfied. His weight loss journey had plateaued. Adams decided to cut his calories even further and decrease his carbohydrate intake. His body began to shut down due to the lack of energy, only functioning when vital. This put Adams into what he described as “…the lowest place I’ve ever been.” His mental and physical health fell far, but he was determined to shed the little fat he still had left. At 150 pounds, Adams carried 3.3 percent body fat. For reference, a healthy, in-shape average male has a body fat percentage of  10-20%. After shedding a quarter of his body weight, Adams started to feel fatigued and brain-fogged every hour of the day. But could not bring himself to eat out of fear of his old self. He tracked every calorie of every food or drink he ingested. He stuck to his diet plan, and if he overate one day, he would restrict the next. During the heart of the rut, Adams even resorted to self-induced vomiting on occasion.

Adams was struggling to climb out of the hole by himself. An email from a fitness influencer he followed was his saving grace. Luis Young and Zac Perna sent an email to all their followers to advertise their first fitness retreat in Bali. Due to limited spots, Adams had to interview to get accepted. Young and Perna were enthralled with Adams’ story and were determined to give their help. Will came back from the trip with a drive to get healthier; he had not had one before, but no matter how many people told him to eat, he could not bring himself to do it. Adams was stagnant and not progressing. His health was declining, and all he needed to do was eat. After multiple blood tests, Adams discovered that his testosterone levels had crashed. This explained his lack of enthusiasm for social events and lack of energy in general. This was the kick that Adams decided to act on. Young reached back out to get Adams to another Bali excursion. This time, Adams was motivated. After his second trip to Bali, Adams forced himself to eat in a caloric surplus. His priorities shift straight again. He put his health over his looks. Slowly but surely, Adams began to gain weight and recover mentally.

Adams has now gained back lost muscle, healthy fat, and his mental health. Although he struggles with testosterone levels and other hormonal issues that are still lingering, Adams says, “… I’m just in a much better place overall.” With help from his family and friends, Will is continuing and sharing his journey. Inspired by his new friends, Young and Purna, Adams started to create content and share his struggles and triumphs on social media.