(By MARISSA GREENE)

At the young age of 14, it took Zachary Duck just one look in the mirror to realize that he was not only unhappy with his mental well-being but also unhappy with his physical health.

“My siblings and I grew up in a very sedentary household. Almost all of my family were, at one point, overweight,” Duck said.

Weighing in at about 208 pounds during his freshman year at Coppell High School, Duck was motivated to replace his unhealthy lifestyle of video games, Taco Bell, and drinking Mountain Dew with a lifestyle of exercise, healthy eating, and sports.

“I realized that my old habits weren’t something I wanted to keep doing. It didn’t make me look good. It didn’t make me feel good,” Duck said.

During his freshman year of high school in 2014, Duck joined the football team as a defensive lineman as well as visited his gym on a regular basis.  Through both of these new hobbies, he was not only able to lose weight but also make connections with others along the way. One of them being Sam McCoy.

Through common interests such as watching weightlifting competitions, “Dragon Ball Z” and powerlifting, McCoy and Duck quickly became not only gym partners but lifelong friends. 

“I feel that because of the things we had in common we were both able to hold each other accountable sticking to a healthier lifestyle,” McCoy said.

Duck kept track of his fitness journey through social media outlets like Instagram, where he posted progress pictures as well as videos whenever he met a new personal record. Through these achievements, he got the attention of fitness apparel brand Iron Rebel. In early 2018, Duck officially became an ambassador for their brand.

“Learning how to market myself with Iron Rebel was really cool and exciting. It was also eye-opening to realize how I could turn this hobby into a profitable lifestyle,” Duck said. 

Although Duck has accomplished many goals such as losing weight and practicing a healthier lifestyle, there are still obstacles that he continues to face today.

“I still face a lot of obstacles. One of them is getting over my body image from previously being overweight and the way I look sometimes. There are also moments where I struggle with motivation and staying consistent with working out,” Duck said.

One of the ways Duck overcomes these challenges is through the support of his sister, Lisa Duck, who he feels has been with him through this journey since day one.

“In his youth, Zach’s growing self-awareness gave rise to his own inner flame for change. He made up his mind to get out of his comfort zone and grow. He thrives in practicing a healthy lifestyle and I see how he inspires the friends and family around him. I’m proud of him, to say the least,” Lisa Duck said.

Now, at age 20, Duck focuses more on high-intensity powerlifting exercises such as squats, bench press, and deadlift. He plans to enroll at Austin Community College in the fall semester of 2020 to achieve an associate’s degree in kinesiology. His goal is to become a personal trainer as well as specialize in sports rehabilitation in hopes of motivating others on a path to better health.

“If you are looking for the right time, start now.”