Kevin Smith
Walking out of a Wheelchair and Into the Gym
By David Lyons Published Oct 29, 2013
Kevin Smith is not your ordinary MS patient. He is a young man who willed himself right out of a wheelchair! Kevin’s story is miraculous and proves that with faith, hope and willpower ALL things are possible. This is his story, in his words:
I was like most young college kids at 22. I just wanted to drink, party and meet girls. Then one summer night I went to bed late after a night hanging with some friends only to wake up with my world turned upside down.
I woke up disoriented, stumbling around, my balance was off and my vision blurred. I panicked and rushed to the emergency room. After a number of tests and pokes with needles, I was told I had multiple sclerosis. I didn’t really know how to comprehend this terrible news. I thought it was a death sentence.
Doctors told me I would no longer be able to work on cars or stay out in the heat and had me start taking medication. I gave up all dreams, goals. I threw my entire future out the window.
This was not the life I had once envisioned myself living. I was given medication after medication, and nothing was helping. I was getting worse with every passing day. I began to feel more depressed, watching my old classmates starting their careers.
Everything all changed when my little brother Jeff, came down from Oklahoma. He plays football for Oklahoma Baptist University and has a rigorous weight training regimen. He accompanied me to one of my doctor visits, to help find out what we could do about my legs because they were in a constant pain, and the medication I was taking was not helping. As I questioned the doctor, my brother watched him search the Internet for what medication he could give me next. When we left my brother informed me of what he had witnessed and said “that’s it, let’s do it my way now.” I went home, got rid of my medication and got my first gym membership.
I spent hours studying workouts and nutrition. I was hooked – the iron bug had bitten me. Within months of working out and eating healthy, I had full function of my body with no pain, and I feel better than I ever have in my life! I have been symptom-free for three years.
I constantly encourage others to push themselves past what they perceive as their limits. The skinny 115-pound guy that had once given up was no more. I bulked to 160 pounds, ripped from head to toe and have been setting goals more often now than I ever have before.
Always remember to never to give up and never quit. It is truly not an option. You are capable of doing anything you set your mind to. If I, the kid that was once in a wheelchair, did it. you can, too!
I had the opportunity to ask Kevin a few questions about his workouts, diet and MS:
Kevin’s Daily Diet Intake
Since the start of my transformation, I’ve learned to watch what foods I intake and what chemicals are used to manufacture them. Once my eyes became open to that, I began to eat more fresh foods and avoid the processed readily available foods. Below are some options of what my daily meal intake consists of. Modify a meal plan that works for you with the things you like to eat in the same categories:
Breakfast – 2 bananas, 2 cups of oatmeal with 2% milk, 1 cup of various fruits, ½ cup of egg whites
Snack (small) – ½ cup of nuts (cashews, almonds, etc..), piece of fruit with few large stalks of celery with peanut butter
Lunch – 2 turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread with light mayo with a whole avocado, 1 cup fruit, 1 cup vegetable and 2 cups of brown rice, 2 bananas. For more healthy options make the sandwich into a wrap with kale or romaine lettuce or substitute tuna for turkey with spinach.
Snack – Greek yogurt with fruit, granola or protein bar, banana,
Pre-casein proteins shake 1hr before workout
Post – mass gainer protein 2 scoops, 1 cup oatmeal, 1tbs of peanut butter, half a banana with a hand full of ice and one cup of water blended for a great tasting shake
Dinner – 6 ounce salmon, 2 cup wild or brown rice, with asparagus
-6 oz. chicken breast, 2 cups of mashed red potatoes, 1 cup green beans
Snack – 1 cup blueberries/blackberries/strawberries etc. with melted dark chocolate
Bed -casein protein shake before bed
Mix variations of fruits and vegetables. Greens are your best friend; kale, spinach, broccoli etc. and avocados are a SUPER food! With fruits the brighter the color the better. Some of my favorites are black or red grapes, mango, kiwi, pineapple and raspberries. Chicken and fish are the best source for protein, limit red meat dramatically. Go for fresh fruits, vegetables and meats! HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE. Water should also be your best friend.
Kevin’s Workout
Before I hit the iron I start my workout with 15 mins of hitting the speed bag, followed by 10 mins with the jump rope to get my blood pumping and the pre-workout fully kicking in.
My workouts are in no order. I rotate all muscle groups every week to keep it new and not repetitive. I enjoy being sore from the changed up muscle group order as that makes it much more effective for me.
