Fitness results - before and after personal training

Hello, My Name Is MG…

Allow me to give a brief history of myself. My Father passed away at age 43 from complications brought on by Diabetes. This should have been a huge sign for me in dealing with health and well-being, but I chose not to see it. Throughout my adult life, I’ve always been the “big” guy; athletic and active but always overweight.

At my worst, in August of 2003, I weighed 320 lbs. I was defined by the doctor as “Morbidly” obese and diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. I was placed on medication and given a physical with a complete blood workup.

I wasn’t expecting any good news…I was correct in my assumption. In addition to my Type II Diabetes, my blood pressure was out of control and my cholesterol was off the chart. I was scheduled to start a medication plan to treat all of these problems. The biggest concern my doctors had was that I might suffer a stroke before the medicine would even kick in.

I was dying. I was killing myself. I had hit rock bottom.

Could it get any worse? Yes, I was at the top of my game and my career in radio was at an all-time high. I was the host of one of the most successful radio shows in the country. Everything was going my way and I couldn’t enjoy it. I was depressed while I had every reason not to be. I had it all…great wife, great kids, great life. Perception, however, is not always reality.

When I found out I had Type II Diabetes, I changed the way I ate…honestly. No more sugar…period. I stayed away from candy, sodas, and all types of junk food. I learned through a Diabetes outpatient program at Good Samaritan Hospital that my diet combined with exercise was just as important as taking the medication for my condition. With this in mind I set out to change myself…for good. I almost did it.

After a few months of living with Type II Diabetes, eating better and exercising minimally, I had lost 30+ lbs. I kept that up for about a year or so, monitoring my blood sugar levels constantly and feeling like I was doing ok…I wasn’t. The truth of the matter is, I wasn’t really doing anything to improve my health dramatically or my quality of living. Once again, I’d find excuses, as I had throughout my entire life on ways to not help myself. I didn’t want it, and that was obvious. After nearly 2 years of living with Type II Diabetes, my weight crept back up to 298.

At this point in my life I was really just “living for the day” because I knew my days were numbered. I was going to die. I felt badly for my wife, Gisela, who loved me unconditionally and had always reminded me that I should not let history repeat itself.

Gisela was the only person who even when I found out about my disease, said, “You can beat this. You can change it all; you have to start by believing in yourself.”

She never gave up on me…and she was right. Dammit! She’s ALWAYS right…lol.

As with most humans, it took the “catastrophe” of my medical demise for me to come to my senses. That, combined with the fact that my son, Xavier, was soon coming into the world meant I had to do something and do something fast. How was I going to function as a great Dad if I was already a burden to myself? With failing health I thought of one thing and one thing only…my son was going to live his life just like me…without a Father at a very young age.

In October of 2004, Gringo Suave and I noticed that NBC was going to air a TV show called, “The Biggest Loser”. We decided that we would “play along” and do our own version in which we’d both try to lose some weight. Mind you, this was only a joke, or so we thought.

What I did not allow to be broadcast over the airwaves was how desperate in fact I was about losing weight, about getting healthy, about saving my own life. That’s right about the time we got a call from a local personal trainer, Jason Smith. Jason met with us and assessed our fitness, or lack there of, and started us off with a nutritional program to coincide with our workout regimen. Jason then taught us how our body uses food as fuel, why we need to eat what we eat, and how our body would respond to healthy eating and exercise.

Jason Smith had built a name for himself by training people in “body transformation” competitions. These intense sessions are great because they are 12-week programs in which individuals can see results really fast. Jason gave us a 12-week commitment, of which we promised to follow through, and we did! After 12 weeks of eating healthy and hitting the gym, I had lost an amazing 42 lbs while Gringo Suave had lost an incredible 22 lbs.

At the beginning of February 2005, we started a 2 nd 12-week program. As of today, February 22 nd, I’m down 54 lbs and looking and feeling great. I received a call from my doctor who wanted to give me the results of my last complete physical. I felt good about my check-up but still nervous about what he’d say. I listened carefully as he ran down the list.

As for my “out of control” blood pressure, tests came back normal. How about the old cholesterol problems you might ask? They too came back normal. What about the big one, my Type II Diabetes? IT’S GONE! No signs, no trace, no longer there…It doesn’t even show up on the radar!

This doesn’t mean I’m throwing myself a cake and ice cream party. It just means that my body (which is just like YOUR body) has forgiven me for what I’ve done to it and I’ve gotten a 2nd chance at life.

My goal from here on out is to follow my doctor’s recommendation, and continue doing exactly what I’ve been doing. I still workout with Jason, I still eat well, and I have the energy to play with my kids. My ultimate goal is to try getting my weight down to around the 200 lb mark and find my “perfect” health zone.

I’ve taken my own experience and learned that I want to help others, like myself, who are struggling with their own battles. I want to let people know that you can come back from the dead. I’ve done it! I’m just a regular guy with an extraordinary life who wants to make a difference, change lives, and mostly have a long happy life with my family and friends.

Good luck to you and yours…I wish you well.