The Airline Pilot Who Fixed His Headaches by Learning to Read His Own Meals

Tyler flies across the country for work and used to fight headaches and low energy every trip. He spent three months learning nutrition with Coach Brian and built a system that travels with him. Here is how he packs, eats, and reads hotel food differently now.

Tyler is an airline pilot who spends much of his life in hotel rooms, airports, and different time zones. Headaches and low energy sent him to Coach Brian. Three months later he had a nutrition system that works at home or anywhere he flies.

Tyler's Wake-Up Call: Headaches and Low Energy on the Road

Tyler dealt with headaches and low energy before he started working with Brian. He suspected his nutrition was the cause but had no real plan to fix it.

He had heard of calorie tracking and macros before, but he never figured out how they fit together in an actual meal.

Learning to Track: Macros Instead of Guesswork

Tyler and Brian did not start with tracking. About two months into working together, Tyler asked to start tracking his own food.

He learned to spot when a meal was too heavy in fat or too light on protein by looking at it, instead of guessing after the fact.

Reading Hotel Food Like an Instrument Panel

Tyler used to treat a hotel breakfast omelette as a simple protein source. Brian showed him that a three-egg omelette made with oil can carry 40 to 50 grams of fat, well above the 10 to 15 grams of fat and 50 grams of protein he was aiming for.

Now Tyler checks what is in free hotel food before he eats it and adjusts his other meals that day to balance it out.

Tyler's 5-Day Trip Packing System

For breakfast on the road, Tyler rotates between hard-boiled eggs and yogurt. These are options he can grab fast in the morning.

He packs his own sandwiches for lunch, built around a real protein source. For dinner, he plans ahead for one restaurant meal he wants to enjoy and adjusts his other meals that day to make room for it.

Small Swaps at Home That Made the Difference

Tyler did not overhaul his kitchen or throw out his pantry. He kept eating food he liked, in better portions and better timing.

He added a few new staples: PB2 powdered peanut butter and egg white wraps used as pancakes. He also started making a hot chocolate with chocolate protein powder, hot water, milk, and a little whipped topping. It gives him about 20 grams of protein a cup.

Referred by a Friend Who Lost 60 Pounds

Tyler heard about Brian from his friend Clay, another pilot who lost more than 60 pounds working with Brian. Clay's results convinced Tyler to reach out.

Tyler says having someone to answer his specific questions made the difference over trying to learn nutrition from books alone.

Tyler's Advice: Get a Coach Instead of Going It Alone

Tyler says trying to fix his nutrition on his own was not working. He calls himself his own worst accountability partner.

He tells other men not to wait. Reach out for real coaching instead of trying to piece it together alone.

Listen to Episode 27 of Driven For Health for the full conversation between Brian and Tyler.

Common Questions From This Episode

What health problems did Tyler have before working with Brian?

Tyler dealt with headaches and low energy, especially while traveling for work. He suspected his nutrition was the cause but had no real plan to fix it.

Did Tyler lose weight working with Brian?

No. Tyler was already at a healthy weight. His work with Brian focused on energy, headaches, and building a nutrition system he could run anywhere.

How long did Tyler work with Brian before he started tracking his food?

Tyler and Brian did not start with tracking. About two months into working together, Tyler asked to start tracking his own food.

What did Tyler learn about hotel breakfast food?

Tyler learned that a three-egg omelette made with oil can carry 40 to 50 grams of fat, well above the 10 to 15 grams of fat he was aiming for. He now checks what is in free hotel food before he eats it.

How does Tyler pack food for a 5-day work trip?

Tyler rotates between hard-boiled eggs and yogurt for breakfast. He packs his own sandwiches for lunch and plans one restaurant meal he wants to enjoy for dinner, adjusting his other meals that day to make room for it.

Did Tyler have to change his diet completely?

No. Tyler kept eating food he liked in better portions and better timing. He added a few new staples like PB2 powdered peanut butter, egg white wraps, and a protein hot chocolate.

How did Tyler find Brian?

Tyler's friend Clay is also a pilot. Clay lost more than 60 pounds working with Brian, and his results convinced Tyler to reach out.

What is Tyler's advice for other men?

Tyler says trying to fix his nutrition on his own was not working. He tells other men to reach out for real coaching instead of trying to piece it together alone.

Read more of Brian and Tyler's conversation on the Driven For Health blog.