Welcome to Triber Tales, our ongoing blog series featuring Bari stories told from our clients’ points of view. These are tales of hard work, dedication and a whole lot of sweat; these are a testament to the mental and physical potency of getting addicted to your workout and having a strong, close-knit community at your disposal. This week, we’re turning the mic over to Triber (and uber talented personal strategy coach) Gabe Nies.

I’m a cut-to-the-chase, bottom-line, type–A kind of guy.

For years I battled with getting and staying in shape. There is nothing better than eating rich food, drinking great wine and having fun in NYC. Unfortunately, all of that fun manifests in extra weight and affects my mood and energy.

As a life coach, it’s absolutely necessary that I am quick in my mind, that my energy is pure and that I walk the walk.

I’m not a stranger to the gym or running along the Hudson, but I found that I was getting bored during my workouts. I am naturally large-framed and tall, and I tend to bulk when I do “regular” workouts—which I don’t like.

Who wants to do what everyone else is doing? Who wants “regular?” I don’t. I want the best. I need unique insight and smarter strategies to get me better and more effective results faster.

After hearing about Bari for a couple of years from a friend, I decided to try it out because I saw my friend’s results. I made a few appointments with head trainers Michelle and Lindsey. They took my measurements, did an overall (and area-specific) body fat test. They asked me exactly what I wanted. So I told them.

Here is what I listed as my goals:

• Lose body fat (in general, but particularly in very specific areas)
• Tone up and look leaner
• Be inspired
• Be excited about (and obsessed with) my workouts
• For people to notice a transformation
• Look better naked

Now, the workouts.

Holy shit.

I’ve been to challenging classes and had great trainers before but nothing like this. The workouts were fun, included unique cardio, sculpting and core workouts. I’d never moved like this before.

To be 100 percent honest, they worked me out to the point of complete exhaustion. I get lazy sometimes, but I had my trainers in my face encouraging me to complete every single move correctly as they were designing my body and correcting problem areas. For every push back I gave them, they pushed right back—which is what I like. After all, if we could do this on our own, why would we have the results we have (or lack thereof)? Sometimes we need smart help!

We decided to do another body fat/measurement analysis after three weeks.

I went from over 17 percent body fat to a low 14 percent body fat. That’s nearly 4 percent body fat reduction – IN 3 WEEKS!

What?

Michelle was reading the inches I lost, and I was looking at myself in the mirror with my shirt off as she was taking my measurements, feeding the numbers into the computer and I almost didn’t believe that in such a short amount of time I could ACTUALLY SEE what the results were from working out only three to four times per week.

Needless to say, I’m a Bari Triber for life. Thanks, guys!