Many Ninjas have overcome some incredible obstacles on the way to health and hotness. We believe that telling your story will inspire others to triumph over their own challenges.
MEET IAN.
Cura te ipsum
In the fall of 2011, I weighed 101 pounds. At 5’ 10”, I strongly resembled National Geographic photos of political refugees escaping famine. I would get headaches, my bowel movements were frequently diarrhetic. At the worst I would get winded walking up stairs. I would wear two layers of shirts to make me look larger. I could never find pants that fit. I hated the way I looked.
Others would ask how I could eat so much and never gain weight. “I wish I had your problem” I constantly heard. I always thought: ‘I wish I had yours’. I was sick. I didn’t know why, and more importantly I didn’t know what to do about it.
At first, I thought my solution was to simply exercise. I tried 90 day programs. How was I supposed to look like the guy to the left of Tony Horton when I couldn’t even do 10 pushups? I got a gym membership and worked with a personal trainer. Nothing was working. I felt skinny and frail around the mesomorph body types. I was embarrassed. I became discouraged.
Around 2012, I contacted a Doctor of Oriental Medicine. I didn’t have health insurance, but I was so desperate I started treatment with him anyway. We cleansed my system and then began to rebuild my weakened body from the inside out. Unfortunately, my finances kept me from continuing treatment, however his alternative approach to heath had my interest piqued.
As I couldn’t afford healthcare, my only option was healing through diet. I began to educate myself learning everything I could regarding health and nutrition. I taught myself basic food science. I learned about body types and Trophology. I dug into Chinese medicinal philosophy. I learned how our body processes food. For most people it’s a mystery what happens below their collar bone; yet our gut is a magnificent, under-appreciated organ. Fear is a byproduct of what is unknown. I feared my gut because I didn’t really know it.
By the summer of 2013, I had corrected my diet and put some weight on. I looked less sallow and pale and had more energy, but there were still fitness goals I hadn’t yet achieved. I wanted to bench and squat my goal body weight of 135lbs.
Then I befriended a co-worker who was a “hard-gainer” like myself. He had made excellent gains and definition through working at a gym called Mark Fisher Fitness. He spoke with such enthusiasm I was encouraged to stop by. When I did, I knew I was in the right place.
From my first session I felt welcomed and grounded. I never once felt judged for my differences. For the first time I started to see tangible results, it was the ‘gym of misfit toys’ and I fit right in. In the year and a half I’ve been with Mark Fisher, I’ve gained over 20 pounds. I can rep out 135lbs in both bench and squat. I also achieved a goal I would never have considered possible when I did a plus double-bodyweight deadlift of 275lbs in The Dragon Lair!
‘Cura te ipsum’ translates to ‘Heal Thyself’ and I think that’s the responsibility of all of us to our best selves. Once we begin healing ourselves only then can we begin to heal others. I don’t look the way I want to yet, but I feel the best I’ve felt. And under the auspices of our wonderful family of trainers I feel confident I can begin working on my next set of goals: bench 162, weigh 150. Maybe deadlift 375?
Are you ready to begin your journey to health and hotness?