My Story

The Ultimate Hard Gainer

Ever since I was young I was skinny. 

Really skinny. 

You might be thinking

'But Jesse?! Isn't that a good thing??'

Well, lets take a look

I would have to consistently wear overly baggy clothing to avoid being called names and tried to wear jeans as much as I could to hide those stick like chicken legs.   

No matter how much I ate nothing changed. In fact I would actually get sick and start to lose more weight! It seemed I was cursed with a super fast metabolism. My friends and family kept saying. "Oh don't worry, when you get older it'll slow down and then you'll start gaining the weight and muscle."

Fast forward till I was 15 years old. I got sick. 102 degree temperatures, cold sweats, no appetite, lay in bed all day kind of sick.

After a few weeks of this on and off I had enough. I literally begged my mom to take me to the hospital. 

Now when a 15 year old WANTS to go to the hospital that usually means somethings not right.

Since it was late in the evening we went to the Emergency Room. They took my weight right when I was admitted and my mom's face turned white as a ghost.

I had weighed roughly 98 pounds!!!

The doctors found out the reason why I got so sick and couldn't seem to gain weight.

That is when I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.

 I was severely dehydrated the doctor told me if I would have waited till Monday and went to my primary care doctor I wouldn't have made it. Thats how bad it had gotten. 

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America states:

The immune system usually attacks and kills foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms. Under normal circumstances, the harmless bacteria in the intestines are protected from such an attack. In people with IBD, these bacteria are mistaken for harmful invaders and the immune system mounts a response. Cells travel out of the blood to the intestines and produce inflammation (a normal immune system response). However, the inflammation does not subside, leading to chronic inflammation, ulceration

After being released from the hospital I struggled for years. Every few months I would build a tolerance to the medication and get to the point where I'd wind up back in the ER. In a couple weeks I'd get back to my normal weight of  around 120 pounds with a new medicine. 

 But that wasn't enough. I wanted to live a healthy lifestyle, I just wanted to be normal.

I was in denial for a long time, I knew I had this illness; however I still did and ate things I should have known better not to.

I would get super competitive when working out with my friends,  push myself too hard and wind up back in the hospital.

I got anxious and depressed. Shutting myself off from the outside world. Staying in my room with the blinds shut playing video games all the time eating junk food, fast food, soda pops, energy drinks. 

The epitome of unhealthy foods and sedentary lifestyle.

Eventually I got back into the swing of living. Things started looking up. I came to terms with my illness and found myself again. Trying to find that balance and self control between the Mind, Body, and Spirit.

Eating better and exercising moderately I started to gain muscle.

At my best in my early 20s I weighed 140 pounds and still wanted to get stronger.

For every milestone accomplishment that I overcame I got a tattoo signifying my unrelenting Hawaiian spirit. Every triumph marked on my skin. Each tribal design an earned badge.     

Fast forward another year or so and all those gains. All those steps forward, all the progress I had made; came crashing down around me.

My chronic illness caught up with me. I had gotten almost to the point where I was when I first got diagnosed. One day my girlfriend, who is now my wife; found me laying face down on the floor almost passed out with another temperature of 102.3

She and my mom rushed me to the hospital ER. I had lost over 25 pounds and sat at 115 lbs. 

We then decided it was time to try surgery. I talked to the surgeon and the plan was to remove the inflamed part of the intestine and my colon. There I was laying in the hospital bed 25 years old and facing one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. Do I deny the procedure and risk getting worse? Or do I agree to remove the inflamed section and have to poop in a bag for the rest of my life? 

Oh and by the way, how Crohn's works. Even if they removed the part that's inflamed there is no guarantee that it won't affect the healthy tissue later in life. Meaning there is no cure.

I decided to go on with the surgery. That choice saved my life. The surgeons found out that I had developed diverticulitis in addition to Crohn's and my intestinal wall could have burst. To be safe my appendix was also removed.

Luckily they were able to reattach the healthy tissue during the surgery and I did not need a ileostomy bag.

Its now been 12 years since I was diagnosed with Crohn's; almost 3 since the surgery. I thank God everyday, but guess what 

 This is only the beginning  

Everyone has a choice

I had decided to not give in. Every time I look in the mirror I see my inner strength. I see what and who I know I am.

In August of 2016 I made a choice. I had seen the infomercials for beachbody before, heck I had even tried P90X before and couldn't finish it. 

BUT NOT ANYMORE 

I reached out and took the reins of my life and signed on as a Coach on Team Beachbody and want to help you reach your goals; whatever they may be. But first I must ask you  

Are you going to let the hand you were dealt dictate your life?

Or are you going to DECIDE right here, right now, to DO something about it.

A healthier, stronger, happier you IS possible.

If you work for it

And Never Give Up!

Whats holding you back?

As your Coach we will continue to grow on our journey.

Not just in fitness, but in life.

   

If that video got you pumped up I'm looking for people interested in getting in the best shape of their lives to join my team. Team RISEN.

Contact me for more info

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