We spoke with Pete about being featured, and while his wife Suzanne said he was a bit embarrassed, once I got Pete talking about his incredible weight loss and love for working out, I got a wonderfully inspiring story!

Let’s just say this first – Pete Campanile has lost, to date, 85 lbs! He has gone from a size 42 pants, to a size 36! Wow! Gone are the days of his double extra large shirts that were getting too tight around his neck – he’s now sporting a lean extra large shirt and it fits perfectly! Pete tells me of how he quit his “corporate” job last December, and was feeling pretty lost. He had been put on both blood pressure medication and cholesterol medication that sat in his glove compartment – unused. He never considered taking them as he didn’t care enough about his health. He was in a “dark place” and didn’t know how to begin pulling himself out of it.

It was around that time that his wife, Suzanne, started taking classes at Undisputed Boxing Gym. For months, she begged him to come take classes from an instructor named “Mike Bazzel.” After some time, he finally succumbed; tired of feeling left out and not having that obvious adrenaline-high that Suzanne had after coming home from Undisputed. His first official class was at a Lululemon event in San Mateo’s Washington Park being taught by Mike Bazzel. Pete took the class and was absolutely hooked. It was from that day on that his love for working out was born. Pete is an Italian boy, growing up with deli meats, pasta, and French bread dipped in olive oil (mmm), so while he did start working out, his eating habits stayed the same. After a few weeks of Mike’s classes, he started to notice a body change – his pants were fitting differently. This of course, inspired him to change his eating habits as well. Now, instead of having at least “one helping of pasta and red meat every day” he dines on grilled chicken salads and vegetables. His workout regime consists of three Boxing Conditioning classes a week, and two weekly private sessions with Charles. He says he has pasta now about once a month, but staying true to his Italian roots, still enjoys his red wine!

Pete says he’s asked all the time what diet he’s on, and he’ll tell you with vehemence that it’s absolutely not a diet at all – it’s a true lifestyle change. One thing that has helped him the most is “paying attention to nutrition labels and being really aware of what’s going into my body.” His last visit to the doctor’s office was truly a special one – he’s in 100% perfect health – perfect blood pressure and perfect cholesterol all without medication!! Pete will credit his wife, first. As he put it beautifully, “I’ve fallen in love again with my wife, and my life.” His passion for working out and eating healthy was truly inspiring to hear.

One of the final things he said before we got off the phone was “I am so grateful to all of the instructors at UBG who have been so encouraging to me. They’ve helped me achieve my goals and pushed me to reach the next fitness level. I would not be where I am today without Mike Bazzel, Charles Wright, Brian Schwartz and Undisputed; this gym has turned my life around.”

And if you think I got tears in my eyes multiple times while talking to Pete Campanile – you’re right! What a truly amazing inspiration this man is – we’re proud of you, Pete!