Ashley Evans and Brendan Roche were over the moon when Roche scored a dream vacation to Maui in early 2023 through his job. However, their excitement took a hit as they realized they were not exactly in their beach-ready shapes, just two months away from the trip.
“We were all set for a ‘swimsuit’ vacation, but we were far from ready to flaunt it on one of the most gorgeous beaches on Earth,” says Evans.
The initial thrill turned into a dose of embarrassment for the Houston couple. Feeling a bit self-conscious, Roche confesses, “We went from being excited to being embarrassed.”
The realization hit them hard, and they decided to turn things around. Their motivation? Looking good on the beach. They kicked off a healthier lifestyle, incorporating better eating habits and exercise into their daily routine.
Initially spurred by the impending Maui trip, Evans and Roche soon discovered that the benefits of their newfound healthy living extended far beyond just shedding a few pounds.
“Sure, the trip to Maui got us started, but now it’s the results and the overall feeling of being healthy that keeps us going every single day,” says Evans.
Check out their journey:
Meet Ashley Evans and Brendan Roche, a couple whose weight loss story is as relatable as it gets.
The pandemic wasn’t just about Netflix and chill for them; it fueled their weight gain. Roche spills the beans, “During lockdown, we went big – not in a good way. Ordering heaps of food, staying indoors, and my work-from-home setup made it a super sedentary lifestyle. It was like treating ourselves to a feast at every meal.”
They were caught in a loop of excessive sleep and naps, struggling to find the motivation to prioritize their health. It all changed when the prospect of a Maui trip came up. Dusting off a forgotten bathroom scale revealed Evans at 225 pounds and Roche at 260. That was the wake-up call they needed.
Looking at each other, they made a pact to kickstart their weight-loss journey right then and there. No more excuses, just a shared commitment to a healthier life. 💪✨
They kicked off their journey with small changes to their diet. Living with type 1 diabetes, Evans was well aware of the right foods for her. “We went back to the basics, opting for healthier choices over the not-so-good ones we used to make,” she shares. “”This is the way I should have been eating throughout my entire life.”
Out went all the junk and ultra-processed foods, replaced with healthier alternatives. Alcohol was out of the picture. Their focus shifted to whole foods like vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and nuts, bidding farewell to chips, cookies, and donuts. Even when opting for takeout, it was all about salads and smoothies.
Roche emphasizes, “We didn’t follow any mainstream diets. We just aimed to eat less and eat better.” As a homemaker, Evans had the time to prepare tasty yet healthy meals. She gave their favorite dishes a healthy twist—instead of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, they enjoyed peppers stuffed with steak and cheese, complemented by mushrooms and onions.
She decided to make some tweaks to her diet, cutting back on red meat and swapping out white potatoes for sweet potatoes, and white rice for cauliflower rice. “These small changes allowed us to still enjoy our favorite foods,” she explains. “When you prepare meals at home, you have the ability to regulate the ingredients that go into your dishes.”
While she’s not a big fan of extensive meal prep, she does like to chop up veggies ahead of time for quick additions to salads and egg dishes. Instead of cooking in large batches, she now prepares just enough for each meal. “I used to cook as if I were feeding a family of six, and we’d end up with leftovers that we’d eat for days,” she says.
For him, the biggest challenge was late-night snacking. However, he managed to switch to healthier options and surprisingly found that he no longer craved salty snacks as much.
Initially, they found it tough to adjust to these changes, especially in the first month. But as they saw the pounds dropping off, it became a powerful motivator. They both lost an impressive 40 pounds each before incorporating exercise into their routine. Importantly, they weren’t depriving themselves; they were simply enjoying healthier versions of the foods they love.
Shedding those extra pounds not only made them slimmer but also amped up their energy levels. Instead of frequent naps, they were now powering through from 7 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. at events during their trip. Evans proudly reflects, “Reaching our fitness goals made this trip way more enjoyable. Imagine how different it would’ve been otherwise!”
They decided to spice up their fitness routine by adding treadmill walking and strength training. This 34-year-old couple, Ashley Evans and Brendan Roche, joined Life Time in May 2023, just before their Maui trip. Despite past gym memberships falling short, they decided to give it a try, having maintained a consistent diet for two months.
Starting slowly, they spent a month covering a half-mile on side-by-side treadmills and doing basic weightlifting exercises. As their fitness habit formed, they expanded their activities. Brendan embraced a more intense weightlifting routine and discovered a passion for pickleball, playing seven days a week. Working from home as a software sales engineer, he enjoys both the exercise and the social aspect.
Ashley initially focused on cardio but noticed significant changes in her body when she introduced weightlifting. Engaging with various gym machinery, she enjoys the empowering feeling of getting stronger among men. She lost about 70 pounds, now weighing 153 pounds, and achieved non-scale victories like touching her toes and doing pushups. Managing her diabetes, she cut her insulin intake in half, attributing it to dietary changes.
Brendan lost 50 pounds, reaching a weight of 208 pounds. His fitness goals include putting on lean muscle and gaining strength, with recent success in bench pressing 225 pounds. Beyond physical changes, he experienced a boost in energy levels, rediscovering his passion for activities he had abandoned.
Their weight-loss tips are straightforward: keep it simple with consistent small changes, celebrate achievements together, make the healthy option the only option, and focus on progress. Their story is not just about weight loss but a journey of rediscovering energy, passion, and overall well-being.