Trung Thai loves yogurt. A lot. Yogurt is his job – he’s a Packaging Operator on the Activia Probiotic Yogurt line at Danone’s West Jordan, Utah manufacturing plant. 

It’s also part of his fuel – Trung is a 50-year-old competition-winning bodybuilder. He regularly snacks on Oikos® Triple Zero Greek yogurt – another Danone yogurt brand – to help him meet the high protein needs his strict training diet requires.

Bodybuilding Journey

Trung started weightlifting in high school as a freshman, but it wasn’t until 2017 that he started getting serious. He found a coach and started training. 

And then he started winning. He has more than 16 medals, most of which are for first place in his class. 

With the goal of going pro, Trung wants to see how far he can take things on the competitive bodybuilding circuit. It’s a lifestyle that requires a lot of commitment and leaves him with minimum training downtime. He’s able to use his PTO benefits to take time off to compete. 

“I usually crush my class,” Trung says. “It’s not about winning, but I like to win. I give 110-percent of myself.”

Packing in Protein

High protein intake is a key staple of Trung’s strict bodybuilding diet. With 0% fat, 0g added sugars, 0 artificial sweeteners and 15 grams of protein per 5.3 oz cup, Oikos Triple Zero yogurt is part of Trung’s daily routine and helps him stick to his strict training diet and meet his protein goals. His favorite flavor is Salted Caramel, which helps him curb his sweet cravings and pack in the protein to help nourish his hustle.

“It’s part of my nutrition plan and feels like a cheat treat,” Trung says. “I actually look forward to eating it and don’t feel guilty.”

A Social Following

With the hope that his story would motivate others, Trung’s Instagram account showcases his training journey. A decade later, he has more than 32,000 followers. But he remains humble about his large following. 

“If I can change one person, that makes me happy,” Trung says. 

Danoner Love

Trung’s path to Danone began with love – a recurring theme in his story – and an ultimatum. The woman he was seeing told him in no uncertain terms that he would have to move from his home state of Virginia to Utah where she lived if he wanted a relationship with her. So, he moved. 

With a background in the security industry, Trung wasn’t sure he would find a job in West Jordan. He learned about Danone from his girlfriend’s brother, who had been working at Danone’s West Jordan plant for 10 years and told Trung he should look for openings. 

So, in April 2013, he applied and interviewed with human resources and a hiring manager for the Packaging Operator role, a position that’s responsible for ensuring quality control and proper product packaging. Twelve years later he’s still a proud Danoner. He’s also married and has two children with the love interest he moved across the country to be with. 

“I take a lot of pride in my work on the line and every day I learn something new,” says Trung. “I’m proud to work for a company that takes care of their employees and their families.”  

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