Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am an art historian and the curator of prints, drawings, and photographs at UW-Madison’s Chazen Museum of Art. I grew up in rural areas of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, and I love nature and spending time outdoors. Birds are my favorite animal. I enjoy cooking and baking, which goes hand-in-hand with a passion for eating delicious food.
Why did you choose Recursive?
When I moved to Madison in 2019, I had been training at a CrossFit gym for a couple of years, and I really liked it. I dropped in at Recursive and found it offered similar workouts and that the coaches were welcoming and knowledgeable, so I became a member. About a year later, I decided to try out Recursive’s Nutrition Program because I wasn’t meeting my fitness goals through workouts alone. I weighed more than I wanted to, and I felt tired and stressed a lot of the time. I had tried dieting on my own, but I only lost a few pounds and quickly gained them back.
What was the biggest struggle you’ve had the last few months?
Returning to work on site. Working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic gave me a lot of extra time and flexibility. Now that I have to work on site again, I have struggled to get to the office on time while maintaining my exercise and nutrition plans. I had forgotten how much time it takes just to prepare for work (including packing a healthy lunch and snacks) and to commute to work.
What is your biggest accomplishment since starting your commitment to a lifestyle change?
Years ago, I trained as a competitive rower. As my fitness improved this year, I decided to get back into the sport. I trained to compete on a team at U.S. Masters Nationals, where I was fortunate to race with some truly talented athletes and win two silver medals.
How has Recursive changed your life?
My priorities have changed. Balancing exercise, nutrition, and rest has become the foundation of my daily and weekly routines. I feel stronger both physically and mentally. As a result, I have more confidence in myself and my ability to manage challenges that come up at work or in relationships. None of this has been easy and it’s an ongoing process; but making a commitment every day to live my best healthy life has been rewarding.
Name 1-3 things you have lost using Recursive’s Nutrition Program.
I lost 45 pounds!
Name 1-3 things you have gained using Recursive’s Nutrition Program.
I gained a lot of knowledge about the nutritional value of different foods and which foods to eat, how much of them to eat, and when, in order to support my short-term and long-term fitness goals. Both my aerobic capacity and strength-to-body weight ratio have improved dramatically. I recently squat cleaned my body weight and it felt amazing.
Nutrition Stories – James Wehn
