LIFESTYLE AUTHOR
Sam Hacker
PHOTOGRAPHY
Courtesy of Neal Bendesky
THE TRANSFORMATION OF A LIFETIME n In 2015, a simple question changed Neal
Bendesky’s life forever, marking the start of his fitness transformation journey.
B
eing asked if you’re Santa Clause can bring up many mixed emotions. For Neal Bendesky, it was his
pivot point. On October 12, 2015, a young boy innocently mistook 57-yearold Bendesky for Santa Clause. Bendesky, who had been working out at Orangetheory Fitness, was wearing a 5X red pullover after working out at his home studio in Arizona. “That instant transformed my life,” Bendesky says. “I’ve never been the same.” Within the past seven years, Bendesky has shed over 199 pounds. With the help of Orangetheory and keeping his goal in mind to run the Statesman Cap10K, he totally transformed his life and body. Bendesky first moved to Phoenix for an executive sales position for an indoor football team, with one part of his job consisting of recruiting corporate
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