TOP 3 SUBMIT YOUR FIT WINNERS

Johnell Winston

Mesa: Alma School/US 60

In this thing we call life, there’s a moment when we as people “wake up”. Some never do, but for those rare few it can happen at any moment. It could be when they graduate, when they fall in love, or even when they get a job. For me, it was a random doctor’s appointment in early August 2024. My doctor asked me a simple question as I got off the scale, weighing a devastating 502lbs. She said, “What age do you want pass away at?” I replied, “68 sounds good.” Her joking response sent a chill to my heart. She said, “If I can get you to 68, I’ll be the world’s greatest doctor.”

At that moment, the lights turned on and Johnell finally woke up. I’ve played sports my whole life and have always been an active guy, until I wasn’t. I would halfheartedly go to the gym in the year 2024 on and off but never stuck with it on a consistent basis. I came home from the doctor’s appointment, looked at my almost 2-year-old daughter Nala and realized I can’t just do it for myself, but I HAVE to do it for her. I have to be the greatest Dad, and that starts with being around and still being here. At the age of 30, I often thought my prime had come and gone and I could only hope to slightly improve my health long enough to be around for early big moments. That wasn’t good enough – I needed to be around for ALL the moments.

January 4th, I headed to the same EōS that I had had a membership to for years. I walked in, headphones on, hopped on the stationary bike for 30 minutes, and then hit the heavy bag for 30 minutes. That one hour helped my mental so much that day. I realized I was scared and uncertain. I decided to take that fear and uncertainty and use it to fuel my beginning. The hardest thing in life to do is to start; so many books are never written because the author never started writing. So many businesses have never been created because the owner never started planning. The list goes on, but I knew in order to finish my goal I must START it.

From that day forward, I got better and better at this fitness thing. I started buying the right groceries: 93% lean ground beef, ground chicken, zero net carb tortillas, sugar free drinks. Slowly but surely, every day I worked at it. I went to the gym every single day in the year 2025. Didn’t matter if I was sick, hurt, broke or just didn’t want to go, I still went. I became a mad man, obsessed, so much so that I started working out at my desk job in Downtown Phoenix. I would, and still do, shadowbox at my desk all day. On my lunch break, what started as a one-mile walk has shot up to a two-mile walk. My daily calorie intake for the year was 1,500, and I was burning on average 3,200 (thanks, Apple Watch).

I had a goal that by the end of 2026, I would be 280lbs. Here I stand today, January 2nd 2026, at 284lbs. Can you believe it? The only reason I believe it is because I was there every step of the way. But you know who else was there? EōS. I couldn’t thank this gym enough for what it’s given me. If I had a thousand mouths, I wouldn’t be able to say thank you enough. What started out as only cardio morphed into weight training and cardio, then it morphed into weight training, cardio, and boxing, then it mega-morphed into weight training, cardio, boxing, and proper eating.

Not every person will have that grand “waking up” moment, but I thank my stars and I thank EōS fitness that I did. Winning this would be phenomenal, so I can show my daughter that she too can fly. I’ve already won in life and I’ll keep on winning for myself, for her, and for all of you that haven’t gotten the chance to wake up yet.

From 502lbs to 284lbs

Taneasha McNair

Glendale: 59th Ave/Thunderbird

I’m a mom. I’ve raised kids while building a life, a career, and carrying the mental load that so many women quietly carry. Somewhere along the way, my needs kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list. Then COVID hit, and like many, I spiraled. The isolation, uncertainty, and loss of routine took a toll on my mental health. Depression crept in quietly, and my body followed my mind.

Add perimenopause into the mix, and suddenly what used to “work” didn’t anymore. Sleep was inconsistent. Energy was low. My body felt unfamiliar. Motivation was gone. For a long time, I thought I was failing. The truth? I didn’t need more motivation. I needed discipline — and grace. My turning point wasn’t dramatic. It was quiet. I decided to stop waiting to feel ready and start showing up anyway. Not perfectly. Not intensely. Just consistently.

I trained even when my mind was loud. I showed up even when the scale didn’t move. I rested when my body asked for it. I fueled myself instead of punishing myself. Discipline didn’t mean being hard on myself — it meant respecting myself enough to keep promises on the days it would’ve been easier to quit. Over time, my body responded. My strength came back. My confidence followed. My mental health improved. And most importantly, I rebuilt trust with myself.

This version of me isn’t just leaner or stronger — she’s steadier. I’m proof that fitness in your forties isn’t about chasing your old body. It’s about building a new relationship with yourself. One rooted in consistency, patience, and self-respect.

If my story shows anything, it’s this: It’s never too late to come back to yourself.

Nia Garcia

Phoenix: I-17/W Bell Rd

At over 280lbs I was miserable, sick, and felt like a passive participant in my own life. I was often too tired and worn down to play with my son or participate in activities with my family due to weight and size limits. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and finding no successful form of treatment, even after trying a number of medications, I realized that something needed to change or else I wouldn’t be around to see my son grow up. I began small, with minor changes to diet and walking more during the day. Those small changes compounded and became daily habits. After having lost a total of 150lbs, I started working on building muscle and strength. I began educating myself more on diet and training, and started dedicating more time and intention to my time in the gym.

Now, in 2026, I am training for my first bodybuilding competition!! I have found peace and happiness in the gym and in the process. I have learned how to maintain consistent discipline. And have found a place of happiness. I have been able to participate in life again. My son and my husband love going to the gym with me and we have found a sense of closeness in each of our individual wellness journeys. For the first time in my adult life, I feel strong and healthy. I still struggle with some medical conditions, like hypoglycemia and Celiac disease, which make my path more complicated. But it makes me proud to see how far I’ve come in spite of my challenges!