WHY I CAN HELP YOU?
I went to high school in Overland Park, KS, where I was state champion in the shot put and discus and Junior Olympic National Champion in the discus throw. I graduated from The University of Arkansas in Exercise Science and Education.
While at Arkansas, I won two individual Southwest Conference championships, earned three All-American titles, and set school records that stood over 42 years. In addition to my degree, I've completed certification requirements as a NASM Master Trainer and a Certified CrossFit Trainer (L3).
I'm the father of two adult children and have a wonderful Wife of 12 years. I was introduced to a barbell over 50 years ago and have been in the fitness business since 2002. I started teaching group fitness in 2002 and became a full-time trainer in 2004. Since 2006, I've owned a boot camp, three CrossFit gyms, a Pilates Studio, and a men's health clinic.
WHERE IT ALL STARTED
1988-1995- All work, no training except for a lot of hot wings and cold beer
2001- Began my career as a professional trainer and group fitness instructor
2012- I couldn't lunge or squat due to knee pain
2014- I suffered a cardiac arrest and traumatic brain injury and was disabled for six months
In 2015, I had a total knee replacement
Even though I was running a gym and coaching competitive weightlifting and fitness, I had to have my wife perform simple tasks such as anything involving stairs, including taking out the trash and moving the laundry. I didn't want to go anywhere because walking down the stairs and getting in and out of the car hurt.
How I Got There?
At the top of the list was an unstoppable desire to not live in pain and continue to look for solutions.
I learned that the same workouts that broke me in the first place would not heal me.
I adopted a complete mobility and stability program emphasizing full range of motion. Full range of motion means squatting to full depth and lifting weight overhead.
Am I all the way there? Of course not, but I'm always looking to bring lifestyle, exercise, and nutrition concepts to make my 64-year-old body move enthusiastically in the gym and out playing with family and friends. Remember, you got this regardless of what stage of life you're in.
I've been in the health and wellness industry for 20+ years - working at various fitness centers, personal training, and owning three brick-and-mortar fitness businesses.
Through it all, I have never found a more energy-providing, stress-relieving, endorphin-releasing, motivating experience in my life, other than focusing on flushing the body of inflammation through nutrition and lifestyle, on joint strength before traditional strength work and heart rate monitored long and slow cardio.
TODAY IN 2024
I work out every day. I lunge, run up and down stairs, squat to full depth without pain, and can do the tasks without pain that seemed impossible only a few short years ago. In other words, leg days are awesome! I even threw my name in the hat for an online fitness competition where I was able to do pull-ups, burpees, and toe-to-bar after building my base strength back in my shoulder after shoulder surgery.