Daniel Gomez

My First Client: A Journey of Change, Trust, and Transformation

This post is very special to me. It’s about my very first client—someone who also happens to be a close friend. He wasn’t just my starting point as a coach; he was also one of my biggest challenges.

Comfortable with his lifestyle, not particularly motivated to change his eating habits, and definitely not eager to talk about diets. Getting him to consider a shift in nutrition felt like pushing against a wall. But I cared. Not just as his friend, but as someone who truly believed he could feel, train, and live better if he made a few meaningful changes. Then something clicked. I was just starting my own competition prep, and as I committed to my goals, he decided to commit to his. That shared momentum gave him the push he needed, and gave me a powerful sense of responsibility that shaped my growth as a coach.

Since this was my first official coaching experience, I knew I had a lot to learn. So I listened—closely. To his goals, his struggles, his wins and setbacks. I adapted the plan as we went, making sure it worked not just on paper, but in real life. The first few weeks were great. He was shedding fat, staying strong and building motivation as things were moving. Then suddenly the progress slowed. I had a gut feeling something was off. After a few questions I found that he was adding bites and snacks, which he thought weren't a problem. All this meant is that the strategy we had in place just wasn’t working anymore. Instead of ignoring it or pointing fingers, I sat down with him and we had an honest conversation.

With a renewed mindset, a new meal plan, and a clearer understanding of the goal, he got back on track, and the results followed. Over the next couple of months, the changes became undeniable. People noticed. He noticed. And more importantly, he began to understand the connection between food, performance, and how he actually felt. Skipping meals made him feel sluggish. Eating off-plan foods temporarily gave him more energy, but also disrupted progress. For the first time, food wasn’t just about calories or macros, it became about function and consistency.

Despite having a gym background, he had never applied his nutritional knowledge in a consistent way. This was the first time he truly felt the difference that food choices made, not just in his physique, but in his energy, focus, and discipline. It hit him hard: he could’ve made far more progress over the years had he taken food seriously sooner.

As we closer to the end, we talked again—this time about what comes next, He told me he didn’t want to “stop” dieting, he just wanted more flexibility. A few more calories, the occasional social meal, a bit more freedom. That’s exactly what I had hoped for from the start. I never wanted this experience to end like most crash diets do. leaving you burnt out, bitter and despising healthy eating. I wanted to educate, empower, and allow him to walk away not just with results, but with tools and habits he could carry forward.

Now as of writing this post, three weeks post-diet, his weight has only fluctuated by about a kilo. That tells me he’s not just maintaining his results; he’s maintaining his habits. And that makes me proud. Proud of him, for the effort and resilience he’s shown, but also of myself. For sticking to my values, learning from the process, and guiding my first client not just toward a result, but toward a real change in lifestyle.

This was more than a transformation. It was proof that when coaching is personal, thoughtful, and honest, it works.

Weight lost: 13kg/ 28.6lbs

Time frame: 16 weeks/ 112 days