A Decision to Invest in Herself: How Dani Castillo Transformed Her Performance Without Tracking Macros
Dani Castillo decided it was time…
Time to add some muscle mass so she could gain strength, and maybe even put herself out there and compete one day.
At just 4-foot-11, Castillo weighed between 113 and 116 pounds, and she knew getting to 120 or even 125 would go a long way in helping her improve her strength numbers and “perform at the level I wanted,” she explained.
Ultimately, Castillo knew that focusing on her nutrition, specifically on eating more, would be one of the keys to her success.
That’s when, one year ago, Castillo answered an Instagram post CBG owner Justin Romaire had put out there.
“And then he sent me a DM and asked if I was interested in hopping on a call, and I was like, ‘This couldn’t have come at a better time,’” said Castillo, a former Level 10 gymnast and a gym owner and early-morning coach since 2020.
Castillo explained to Romaire that her ultimate goal was to become stronger and fitter so she could gain the confidence to start competing. He teamed her up with Coach Amanda Jeffrey, who works with many of CBG’s performance athletes, including Anikha Greer, Bethany Flores and Hannah Black.
Where Castillo is Today
Going into CBG, Castillo knew a fair amount about nutrition already, as she had been a bodybuilder in the past who, at one point, tracked her macros.
That being said, she “didn’t want to go back to counting macros,” so Castillo was immediately into the idea of the CBG Blueprint method.
Twelve months later, Castillo has increased her food intake three or four times, and she now weighs 121.7 pounds.
She has added muscle mass and has helped Castillo improve all of her strength numbers.
For example, her deadlift has increased from 235 pounds to 275 pounds, and after being stuck at 215 pounds on her back squat for two years, Castillo can now squat 235 pounds.
Castillo said that her body also feels better now. She previously experienced multiple back injuries in the past and was apprehensive to deadlift heavy for a long time.
“Hinging movements used to scare me. So seeing my deadlift improve like this has been huge,” she said.
As a result of her progress in the last year, Castillo has just signed up with Coach Jeffrey for another 12 months.
Why Castillo Recommends CBG
When asked what she’d tell others about CBG, Castillo doesn’t hesitate: “I think that it really comes down to being held accountable. For me, accountability is a huge thing, so if you’re someone who is struggling with your eating, or if you need help structuring nutrition around your day, I would highly recommend CBG. And they teach you so much about nutrition,” Castillo said.
She added: “You shouldn’t be stressing about food. And there’s someone out there who can help you if you’re willing to invest in yourself. This really is the best investment you can make.”
Above all, Castillo credits Coach Jeffrey for helping her make that transformation possible. Coach Jeffery educates her about nutrition, providing her with plenty of food options, and teaching her how to structure her meals around her day in a more effective way.
“Amanda [Coach Jeffrey] is awesome. I just can’t say enough great things about her. She is a staple in my training…and even though we work remotely, she’s always there. She just gets me. And what she does works,” she said.
Best of all, Castillo is finally starting to gain the confidence she was hoping for to put herself out on the competition floor, hopefully beginning with TYR Wodapalooza in Miami, FL next year.