Jay Galvin, 46, of Los Angeles, is a celebrity personal trainer working with some of the hottest names in Hollywood like Lil Jon and Evan Ross. Yet Jay wasn’t always a master of his craft. Like many, he spent his twenties staying out late and eating out all the time. In five years, his weight catapulted from 165 to 235 pounds. A conversation with a cancer survivor turned into a cherished years-long mentorship that changed how Jay looked at diet and exercise forever. Read about his physical transformation and why he doesn’t stress about the 30 pounds he gains and loses every year.
MY WEIGHT GAIN started in New York City, while I was building a business. I created a private concierge service for the entertainment and financial industries. It took off and was featured in many major publications. My business clients were some of the biggest names in the world. The nature of my work meant I was constantly partying at the hottest clubs, bars and lounges. I was also dining at the city’s most recognizable restaurants, and that’s how I slowly started gaining weight.
When I first launched my business I was 22 years old and weighed 165 pounds. Five years later, I weighed 235.
The weight gain impacted me mentally. I was depressed at times and felt self-conscious. I also felt helpless. At the time, I kept on eating a poor diet, because I didn’t understand nutrition. Looking back, I set myself up for a lifestyle that was extremely unhealthy.
The Legendary Mentor That Changed My Life
EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN I met Dave Crupi. When he told me his story, it changed my life. Dave was an artist, a musician, and an amazing bodybuilder. He’s also a cancer survivor. Dave was diagnosed at age 60 with stage 4 clear cell carcinoma in his lungs, kidneys, lymph nodes, and bones—a total of 17 tumors were in his body. Dave’s doctors initially said he had only two weeks to live. Yet eight weeks later, Dave was cancer-free.
I wanted to learn everything I could about his healthy habits, which helped him as he battled cancer. This was the turning point that inspired me to get healthy and lose weight. Dave became my mentor on the journey, taking me under his wing.
As a fitness and nutrition expert, Dave explained how certain foods from my diet had unhealthy ingredients and could be the catalyst for disease. So I did something simple. I started reading food labels and didn’t buy any product at the grocery store that had any of the list of ingredients he warned me to avoid. He also taught me about calories and how to use those numbers to reach my weight loss goal.
Instead of eating big portions, a typical meal consisted of a predetermined amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. For example, a dinner plate would have 50 grams of protein like steak, along with some broccoli, and one cup of white rice. I’d also add seasoning and healthy sauces. Overall, my weight loss involved following a balanced macronutrient diet, with my entire caloric intake less than my caloric burn rate that day.
Dave also showed me that I was doing my gym workouts all wrong. He broke down different types of workouts, and explained the importance of timing in exercise, the recommended weight I should use, and how planning for each season helps with my weight loss goals. For me, winter was the best time to build muscle. When I wanted to cut or shred for more definition, I found spring and summer as the best times to do it.
During these two specific phases, my diet shifted between a caloric surplus for muscle gain and a caloric deficit for definition. When I’m cutting calories, I specifically omit seed oils, gluten, and refined sugars.
As I got adjusted to my new routine, COVID happened and gyms shut down. However, a private gym in Sherman Oaks allowed Dave and I to continue training there. We’d train for five hours a day, and Dave continued to teach me everything he knew about health.
How I’m Paying It Forward
I WENT FROM 235 pounds to 189 pounds in 4 months. That’s a total of 46 pounds down.
Before and after of Jay
I felt amazing, healthy, confident and grateful! With the knowledge Dave passed on to me, I was also able to help my parents get healthier. They had been dealing with cholesterol issues, bone issues, blood pressure issues, pains, and aches. Within 3 months of taking better care of their health, my parents’ bloodwork improved. This accomplishment made me feel better than what I did for myself!
Sadly, in May 2024, Dave passed away years after his cancer diagnosis. But his legacy lives on. Through him, I learned how to help others. His work also inspired me to create an entirely new path for myself as a personal trainer. My goal now is to help others as I was helped in the health, wellness, and fitness space. Most of all, I want to keep those I work with on Earth longer.
Why People Should Not Obsess Over the Number on the Scale
MY ADVICE TO people who want to lose weight is to contact me! All joking aside, it’s important to understand nutrition. If you want to build a house, you can’t just throw down some wood and screws and say it’s built. You need an architect to measure everything correctly. Your body is the house, and the macronutrients you eat are the measurements. Do the research you need to do to understand your body. We only get ONE body.
Also, don’t be scared of weight fluctuations. Gaining weight is not a bad thing as long as it’s healthy. Every winter, I gain 30 pounds but it’s not just fat. Remember that a scale doesn’t know how much of the weight comes from fat, muscle, and water. It’s an arbitrary number.
My most important piece of advice? Don’t give up–keep going!
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, MS is the associate health & fitness for Men’s Health and has previously written for CNN, Scientific American, Popular Science, and National Geographic before joining the brand. When she’s not working, she’s doing circus arts or working towards the perfect pull-up.
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