For Mado van den Brand, emotional eating was second nature. “It didn’t matter if the stress came from pressure or even excitement. If I felt something, my automatic reaction was to eat,” he says.
As a busy entrepreneur living in Zaandam with his partner and dog, Mado runs a company that manages assets for an investor and supports several businesses through mergers and acquisitions. His days are packed, his responsibilities high.
“In the past, if I was stressed, I’d eat. And if I had to rely on myself to exercise, I just wouldn’t do it,” he admits.
What changed everything? Having a personal trainer at B-One.
“The fact that someone is waiting for me—that I have an appointment with a trainer—gives me accountability. And once I’m here, I move. And movement really helps with stress.”
Training became more than a workout. It became a reset.
“During that hour, I’m not thinking about work. I’m not thinking about anything else. I just feel healthy. And that makes it easier to break the old habits. On a training day, I’m less likely to reach for snacks. It doesn’t even cross my mind.”
For Mado, strength training didn’t just change his body. It helped him rewire how he handles stress.
