In late 2024 this 6’ 204-pound 40-year-old guy was diagnosed with prediabetes. The diagnosis felt like it came out of nowhere for me, especially since between Thanksgiving and Christmas I had rowed 200,000 meters on a machine. Needless to say, I was confused.

I took two weeks to muster the gumption to get a continuous glucose monitoring system. I also got to work with my Kettlebells.

[I followed a program for a month, got sick, then started the Kettlebell Axe] after finally recovering.

I did swings on Mondays and Thursdays and jerks on Tuesdays and Fridays. I started with 28kg for both movements but quickly moved on to the 32kg bell.

I lost 18 pounds by week 13. My bodyweight was 186 pounds, and I was using a 36kg bell, 42% of my bodyweight. I was swinging it for 6 reps for 20 rounds and doing 22 rounds of jerks with 6 reps.