Like many people, I had hit an all time low in my life after being laid off from my job, losing interest in the things I once enjoyed, and in general just slipping off into what I refer to as a "sleep through it all" lifestyle. I had become depressed and begun to turn to food for comfort and pleasure.
The downside to these choices was becoming apparent each day with weight gain, sluggishness, and a general lack of interest in my life. The turning point came one day when I had to shop for new larger clothes and found myself having to purchase size 40-waist jeans!
That small moment in the store made me realize that what I was currently doing was not an answer to my problems, but an escape from my reality.
It was as if someone had turned on a light in my life and what I saw scared me - weekend food binges, clothes that did not fit, drinking in excess, and a general lack of self respect.
I decided to take a picture of myself, because unlike the image we paint in the mirror, pictures never lie. It was embarrassing. I couldn't believe who I had become. It was then and there that I had sworn to make a change.
I purchased a basic set of dumbbells and set up a small gym in my basement. I had no idea what to do or even how to go about putting together an exercise routine. I remember trying to do some exercises I had seen guys in high school doing, but I was weak and clueless, yet determined.
My wife saw my desire to improve so she purchased me a set of workout DVD's and I began watching them and learning the exercises. I became very interested in anatomy and started keeping a workout journal. Within the first 90 days, I had dropped about 20 pounds. It was good to see some muscles trying to emerge from my smooth featureless physique. I was hooked!
Over the next year or so I kept learning more and more about training, lifting, and exercise. After dropping another 20 pounds, my results just stopped like I had hit a brick wall. At this point, I started to learn more about nutrition and cleaned up my diet to the best of my knowledge at the time and within a few more weeks I had dropped another 10 pounds for a total loss of 50 pounds!
Although I looked good, I still did not possess the muscular physique I had come to desire over the last year. It was time to make a life change. So, I went back to school to study nutrition and personal training, but I was about to encounter a moment that would shape me forever.
One morning after a good chest workout, I went upstairs to take a shower and get ready for class. My chest was hurting, but not in the usual manner associated with working out - this was pressure as if an elephant had taken a seat on my chest. Within another 10 minutes, I was feeling very sick and I knew something was horribly wrong. My wife called 911 and within minutes I was being rushed to the hospital with a major heart attack.
A blood clot had broken loose and was dangerously close to entering my heart. The prognosis was that I had about 14 minutes to live before it would be over. I was at a loss for words and my wife was doing her best to hold it together. I decided then and there I was going to fight this pain and do whatever I had to do to make it through this! I was airlifted to a heart center where surgeons were awaiting my arrival.
The flight was seven minutes, the procedure would be six minutes, which meant we only had about one minute to spare! I remained positive, fought back the pain, and before I knew it I was being rolled out of the procedure feeling weak and tired, but with a good prognosis and that one minute to spare!
Later my doctor informed me that my attack was so massive that it would have dropped most men in their tracks. The one thing the doc felt had saved my life was my outstanding physical conditioning! That single statement assured me that whatever it took I was going to continue lifting and not live my life in fear of this moment - I was going to allow it to change me for the better!
I was back in the gym within six months and I finished my trainer and nutritionist certification during my rehabilitation. I am now a nationally certified personal trainer and own my own wellness center called "Prime" where I help others develop healthy lifestyles and learn how to become stronger, feed their bodies and live a higher quality of life!
Not even a heart attack could keep Jim from his fitness goals.
Fitness and pushing my body to exceed expectations has literally saved my life!
As I like to tell people - I am not training for the stage, a 5K or just to look good; I'm training to save my life!
I believe that every action and every choice either makes us stronger and better or tears us down. With that said, I believe everyone should lift, laugh and love what they do!
My health first and foremost! Since my attack, I'm closely monitored by my physician and he and my cardio team are always amazed at my blood work and how quickly I rebounded.
I am now in better shape and health than I have ever been! I am also motivated to see just how far this body will carry me.
Many people from my high school days are amazed at how I have seemingly turned back the clock on aging and can outrun/outperform many of their teenage children! The biggest motivation is that I am still here and still doing what I love - helping others and showing them the way to a better quality of life.
I could go on and on about what drives me in life, but it really does come down to one thing and that is being here to share my life with my family, my friends, my business clients and anyone who wants a higher quality of health.
When I look back over photos of all the amazing things I have done with and for people it really highlights for me what life is about - having fun, giving back, making a difference, helping others, health and wellness, and being there for those that need someone.
In the end, we all need someone at some point, but how many of us actually ever try to be THAT person!
I'd like to compete in the Crossfit games and see how well I can do in the Masters division.
I also plan to continue to grow my health/wellness business and hope to franchise it before I turn 50. I will continue to safely push my body to new heights and discover my limits as I grow and go.
One of the greatest things we can know is ourselves. I continue to learn every day.
I am into lifting for the long haul, so I continue to train smarter and adapt with a positive mindset and be the sterling example of what is possible at any age for both myself and my clients who look to me for guidance.
Be teachable. Be able to unlearn what is no longer valid and let it go, then learn what is relevant and put it to the test in your own life. There are no set answers in this life, only people willing to experiment then share their findings with the world.
So look for and surround yourself with people like this and you will truly be in the company of greatness.
From the Golden Era of bodybuilding, I have great respect for Frank Zane. He continues to train and be an inspiration to a generation that refuses to accept growing old and withered. We all age, but we do not have to grow old and dysfunctional.
My newest inspiration actually is of the female persuasion and a real inspiration to all fitness enthusiasts. Many of you have probably heard of Miss Erin Stern who recently won in Australia this year! She is a real go getter with an amazing attitude and physique to match!
On the male side of the fence, there are really only two words: Branch Warren. Is there anything else to say?
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