MSFC Results

Hello warriors!!!

I have been working one on one with David Lyons, doing his training methods!! All I can say is WOW!! It’s incredible!! I want to talk about David’s methods. He explains it as, getting ahead of MS!! Yes his training sessions are intense!! BUT I am making amazing improvements!! My first improvement was gaining the ability to run again!! Before David’s training, I could walk fast but that was where it ended. I could no longer run and play with my son my legs just wouldn’t move fast enough BUT a couple of weeks ago….. I ran 1/4 mile which I believed was unattainable but I did it I’m not going to lie, it was damn hard!! But I had the ability to move my legs fast, making the running motion!!

Then today I had another massive progress moment!! When I began this journey, working with David. He asked me one question “could you tell me one thing you have lost and would love to get back?” My answer was… “there’s a lot I would love to get back! But I would love to run and play with my boy and simply run up the stairs again, I constantly hear “mom come upstairs” and I would love to run up them again”

And today I felt brave and I ran all the way upstairs I literally got to the top and cried, on my knees crying with my head in my hands!! I never thought I’d be able to do that EVER again I did not find it easy, but I could do it!! And I’m confident that as long as I continue doing these workouts, I will continue to improve more and more.

I really cannot recommend David’s technique enough. It is tough!! I’m not going to lie, but nothing comes easy! The best things in life are worked for!! David is patient, understanding and very knowledgeable!! Yes he pushes me hard!! But I need this!! And there’s no greater motivation than seeing results!!

Thank you so much David, I owe my success to you!! Yes it’s me who has done the hard work, but without you David, I would never have learned your techniques and I would never have been able to begin regaining my strength!!

Warrior on guys

I’ve been working with David for almost 3 months and am very happy with the results thus far. Not only have I increased overall body strength and muscle composition, but, most importantly, I’ve been able to improve some of the MS deficit areas we identified when we first met and developed my specific plan. I’ve also learned a lot about strength training, as David’s experience as a bodybuilder and boxer gives him a unique perspective as a personal trainer. More importantly – HE HAS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS — and can relate to the issues we MSers have.

When you look at David, and learn about his bodybuilding past, you may think he would teach you about throwing weight around, maximizing weight lifted, and purely growing muscle. WRONG! His philosophy really focuses on the quality of the movement – thinking about what the exercise is accomplishing, and focusing on the muscles to achieve that objective. ONE REP AT A TIME! The mind works as hard, if not harder than the muscle group you are training. The most significant example of my success I can think of is strengthening my hamstrings. I have foot drop in my right leg and have weak hamstrings, calves, ankles and hip flexors. David and I worked on hamstring curls as part of my overall program. When I started with David, I could do 3 hamstring curls on my right leg with no weight before fatigue and inability set in. Now, I’m doing 4 sets of 10 with heavy ankle weights and ready to increase the weight again.

I like that the workouts are individualized. And, after each session he sends an edited version of the workout, giving a great roadmap to follow and use until the next training session with him. I think many people with MS could benefit by working with him and following his program.

Working with David wasn’t an easy decision, but I can honestly say now, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made!!

I’ve been working with David nearly 3 months now, and in this short amount of time, I feel stronger!! My left side is definitely my weakest side!! And even my left leg is feeling a lot stronger, which I never believed possible!! I even had a 14 night vacation, and I did a lot of walking, on the sand and lots of swimming in the sea! My fatigue has improved significantly!! And I felt stronger and I had an incredible increase of energy!! I never thought this was possible. Again, this is because of working with David!! My shakiness has also improved!! I couldn’t recommend working with David enough! David has patience, and lots of much needed understanding!! This is truly life changing!!!

I must preface this response by saying I am a Navy vet and David was, and continues to be, a JARHEAD, aka a Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Therefore, anything positive I may say about him should be magnified 1000X.

I’ve had MS since the mid 80s, relapsing remitting to secondary progressive now. Assistive devices: 2 canes, walker and scooter. An exacerbation 2007 or 2008 locked my left knee in the extended position, so bending it using my left leg muscles was impossible. I’m proactive with my MS, and over the years seen and worked with several exercise programs, physical therapists and doctors, in the U.S. as well as outside of the U.S. Unfortunately, the results were always the same. After they tried everything, and my countless hours of work, their answers were always the same, that was all that could be done and NOTHING WORKED! NOTHING HELPED!!! That knee was the reason I was using adaptive devices. The reason I was so disabled. Forget the bowel, bladder, fatigue, pain, eyesight or cognitive problems of my MS that was manageable. The leg was truly disabling me. I’m sure it sounds like a little thing, but it was a mountain.
I started working with David in January 2019, for one year, and an actual miracle happened. He “broke” my left knee, as I refer to it. David Lyons, and only David Lyons, fixed my constant locked out knee.

My husband, family and friends noticed and commented to me how much better I’m walking. I can walk from the kitchen to the living room and across the carpeted floor unaided. Most of all, I can bend my left knee without using my hands. It’s a blessing to me, thanks to that Jarhead I thank God for everyday. If you have MS and want to maintain your physical health, or have a problem that specially MS educated and trained professionals have told you “that’s all that can be done,” or “you’ll just have to live with it,” I’d highly recommend David Lyons as your go to guy. HE GETS RESULTS.

FOCUS AND PATIENCE AND PERSISTENCE AND MOTIVATION AND INSPIRATION

I want to thank God for leading me to this amazing group. David, Kendra and the entire team at MSFC are a blessing. I’ve been training with David for about a month now and I plan on continuing. The expertise and guidance David has provided through my training sessions have been amazing. His consistent updates and redesigning of my sessions keeps me progressing consistently.

David’s motivation and positive outlook keeps me focused and committed to an ongoing 3-day on / 1 day active rest day schedule. He’s helping develop a new attitude in me. Along with more confidence and drive to stay healthy, I make the right diet choices to support progress in my workouts. I’ve discovered new confidence as now I look forward to continuing training with David.

David has helped me make permanent life changes for better health. His fitness and nutritional expertise has led to drastic improvements in my daily life. It is entirely worth the investment in myself.

I have been working one on one with David for a few months now. Early days, but I feel stronger and am starting to walk better. David has shown, through his knowledge of MS and strength training, how to “get ahead of MS” as he states. Focus and commitment are huge. He always explains what we are doing on that session and why. I can now lift my Westie puppies! They are 20 and 22 pounds. I could not lift them before working with David. I am walking better, still slow, but better as we go along.

I am very glad I am working with David, his knowledge is applied at every session. Seeing progress is the best reward for this program. Life changing.

Hi David,

I just want to tell you how blessed and motivated I am by following the MS Fitness Challenge page and watching one of your videos on FB. In short, I’m 47 years old now and was diagnosed with MS roughly 4 years ago, even though I experienced symptoms for a year prior to that. Being diagnosed with MS was a real eye-opener for me, especially when I learned that I have PPMS. This was my wake-up call to live a more healthy, stress-reduced life. I have changed my diet significantly and have been rigorously exercising at home (weight training). Like you, I’m not going to let MS beat me…I’m going to beat it. However, if it does ultimately beat me at least I’ll go down with a fight! I want to thank you for your work, on being an inspiration, and look forward to fighting this battle together.

Your Fellow MS Warrior

This is where I wanted to improve, and I just proved to myself that I definitely did! Thanks to David Lyons and team and each member who inspired me to work harder! Before joining this Group, I was lost and didn’t know much about the right nutrition and exercise. Now I’m so much stronger, leaner and my fatigue is under control. I’m positive and feel like I’m in control again. Good luck to everybody conquering their own “mountain”. We will beat MS!

Week 8, day 2 done. Work’s been busy, but as all of us with MS know, pain will happen if we do or don’t work out. I call it positive pain! Keep up the good work, fellow MSers, and thank you for taking this 8 week journey with me. Thanks, David Lyons, for your awesome mentoring and creating this group to show we are not alone. Also, giving us the encouragement to never give up! Good luck to everyone else on their next journey!

I may or may not have teared up at my last session, wonderful experience, stretching, strengthening, believing again !!

Thank you, David Lyons, and all the team. I feel stronger, and more confident. Thank you for everything. Go, Warriors!

The MS Fitness Challenge has changed my life, too! I’ve seen these changes in Tyler since he and I started the MS Fitness Challenge with David Lyons at about the same time! I originally could not hold/pull the exercise apparatus (the cable with the weight). I had to use a hook around my left wrist to keep my left hand from sliding off and crashing the weight down on the machine. It’s been truly an amazing journey so far. Very inspirational that if we work at it we can gain some little things back!! Keep going MSers, you got this!!! Every step, big or small, is a victory!

These 8 weeks went so fast!! Thank you, Dave, for all you do! Thank you, MSers, for all your encouraging remarks!!! This has been a very uplifting experience, yet those posterior workouts I am still working on. Little by little. Love you all! God bless you!!💚

Thank you so much David! This group has changed my life! In the best way possible! 🧡💛🧡💛🧡 I am so very grateful and proud of myself and all of my positive/strong MSer friends in this group. I love all of the support in this group. #Tearsofjoy 🧡💛🧡💛🧡

Thank you very much. I gained a lot from the motivation of fellow MSers and from you as well. And am already enjoying this fitness challenge. This MSer is not going to be defeated. I am MightyStrongMS!! And thanks to all you fellow MSers too!!

Making fitness and health a part of a regular routine is hard enough, but with MS it can almost feel impossible. My online training program from my MS trainer, Jim at MSFC, gave me the confidence to take the control back for my health and fitness. My increased strength and vitality, along with the support of others who share my invisible fight, has given me my enthusiasm for life back.

So, two days in and I have been acknowledging how much sugar I was really consuming! No wonder I was not seeing the results of my hard work, that coupled with the whey proteins.

I have been doing any type of exercise I can get in, even if it was just holding a plank. My goal is to do a three minute plank! I want to do a pull up and I, for some reason, thought planks might help.

Anyhow, since chatting with you, I am beyond pumped up!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Shoot, David! Thank YOU for being who you are and all that you do for everyone in here!!

David Lyons is an angel, a Godsend to MS’ers. He amazes and inspires me daily. Jeff, you’re right up there. You keep me motivated and remind me to not get discouraged if I can’t do something right now. I’ll work on the things I can do and just keep trying. I can’t thank you both enough.

It’s nice to be with a group of people who overall have the same positivity when it comes to taking on the challenges that MS brings. Many support groups can focus too much on the negative and fail to notice or support people who are trying their best to give MS a run for its money. Made Strong! CANADA

I found David Lyons on the web offering hope you couldn’t find on any other search. He started the MS Fitness Challenge GYM forum and after adding all his exercises 6 months ago, my body started getting stronger. I am a photographer, and have had to limit my hours at work after MS, but was able to accept a 10 hour photoshoot after 3 months of David’s workouts. And I aced it! I finally bought Davids book ‘Everyday Health and Fitness with Multiple Sclerosis’ on Kindle! I can’t wait to add every idea in it to my program, and pare down my diet to the anti inflammatory diet.

During the MSFC I have gained so much strength in my legs that I’m actually able to get out of my wheelchair and use my walker again! I have gained a great deal of strength because of this challenge and I am so thankful that I have also gained energy as well. Thanks Kendra and David and all of the wonderful trainers at OptimalBody Fitness for starting this. I will never quit!

The MSFC has been such a blessing to all of us! For me personally, I have gained strength and stability and am now walking confidently without my cane, walker, or having to be in my wheelchair! I am doing things that I thought were no longer possible. The MSFC has been such a Godsend for me, as well as everyone else in the Challenge. We all have improved SO much and will be forever grateful for Dave and Kendra’s passion to start the charity and continue working to fund it for each MSFC. We are also so thankful for our amazing trainers who have given of themselves so much to teach us how to move again and strengthen our muscles so that it is now something that is possible for us! We are also thankful for our new home – OptimalBody Fitness! No matter how we are feeling, we still want to come to the gym because we know that no one there will give up on us. That, in turn, gives us the strength to not give up on ourselves either!

• Feel a lot stronger
• Walking better with better balance
• I have become both physically and mentally balanced.
• Love going to the gym!
• MSFC has been such a blessing to me!

It has been a blessing (and occasionally a curse or 3 … 😉 these last 13 weeks having the opportunity to work out with Rob on very specific MS related issues…not something the typical trainer has the time, knowledge or experience to accomplish. This program is definitely empowering to those of us fighting to find better pathways to improving the strength and mobility we struggle to maintain with this disease. My personal experience has taught me that traditional medicine and practice cannot help me, not really. Most consider this a negative but for me it has literally stripped away all my illusions and forced me to chart my own course to explore all available options. This program gave me a platform and an outlet to arm myself with hard work and knowledge in the hopes of improving my own unique circumstances. For that privilege i am eternally grateful. Thank you.

I was diagnosed with MS over ten years ago. I was so glad to hear that a gym specially designed for disabled people opened. I was pumped to start the MS fitness challenge and my trainer Eric Middlestead is great. Since working with Eric I have noticed I have more energy and I’m able to stand for longer periods of time. My foot doesn’t drag as much when I walk either. Also the support from the staff and other fitness challenge participants has really helped. I can’t wait for the next challenge.

First of all, my balance is so much better. I was never able to walk a straight line without losing my balance and now, on most days, my balance is great. Before starting the MSFC I was quite weak. It was not uncommon for me to take a break at the top of a small flight of stairs and to my amazement I can now run up the stairs. This may not seem like a big deal but when you try to race an 8 year old daughter to the top and legitimately lose every time, it’s amazing to beat her. Funny, the first time I won, my daughter was so excited for me even though she lost. That was priceless.

I feel so wonderful having strength. The left side of my body was so much weaker that I had to spend extra time just strengthening that side but it has paid off.

Another thing is my eating. I was not able to eat much when starting. Maria worked hard on a nutrition plan with slowly adding in healthy protein and getting rid of milk products and eliminating gluten. This took about six weeks and now I am eating healthy and enjoying food finally.

This challenge has given me back the confidence I didn’t know I lost. I have never felt comfortable attending any of my husband’s military events. I was worried about what people might say about him having a wife that walked weird sometimes or why I wasn’t there at some events. I am now able to stand and walk strong next to him ( most of the time! ).

The best for last is… I can play with my kids and it’s not just board games anymore. My son is very athletic and loves the game of baseball. He has played since he was 4 and this game has really been our life for the past 9 years. I really have never been able to get out there and practice with him. So one night I was feeling good and thought we could toss the ball. Well, that turned into a backyard baseball game. It was my daughter and me vs. my son and the dog. At this moment I realized that I was actually playing with my kids instead of watching them play.

This challenge has given me the chance to become a better mother and wife. MS does not run my life anymore. My sister does the MS run every year in my name and her team is called Team Lindsey: Kicking multiple sclero-ass. I feel like this challenge has given me the boxing gloves to kick it.

Thank you again for the opportunity to participate in the 2015 Denver MS Fitness Challenge. Thank you to Colorado’s Pro Gym for the use of your awesome facility. Thank you to Polar Products and to all of the vendors who sponsor and support MSFC events. And a special thank you to Stephanie Campana who trained me, pushed me and laughed with and sometimes AT me. She taught me how to exercise and work out properly and to push myself well beyond just the first few reps. You are ALL an inspiration.

The benefits that I obtained by participating in the Challenge include:

• Improved physical strength with key areas in lower and core body
• Improved overall body fitness
• Improved balance – I may not be walking on a tight rope yet but I am more stable on stairs, ladders and while walking in general.
• Increased endurance and abilities during daily activities (noticed and acknowledged by my family)
• I can walk farther without getting fatigued or experiencing foot drop
• I can work out longer and harder
• I recover more quickly after strenuous activities
• I no longer have to always plan my daily activities based on my anticipated fatigue be it from overheating or from too much activity
• I am more emotionally and physically stable
• I am able to run very short distances – I used to run a lot pre-MS

For me, remaining active and in motion are the best ways to manage and stay ahead of my MS symptoms and challenges. As a result of the MS Fitness Challenge, exercise and regular activity are part of my lifestyle.

I can’t stress enough how meaningful it is to have support from both those with MS and from those without it.

So far I am loving this challenge, the first couple weeks were a self adventure of learning and over coming more than a few fears. I grew up playing sports and living in gyms, MS took a lot of that away from me for more than a few years, including hope. I started this challenge not knowing what my body would allow or how many barriers I had inside my own mind keeping me from truly living.

My trainer JJ is an outstanding person, extremely knowledgeable, great personality, motivates, remains patient yet pushes me, walks me through everything… I couldn’t have asked for a better guide in all of this. He’s been very accommodating with my having a meniscus tear, labrum tear and spurs on the rotator cuff as well has MS limitations.

Overall I am far stronger both mentally and physically, my balance has improved greatly, I’ve lost undesirable weight, added muscle, improved body tone, stronger legs, arms and body. Mentally I’m sharper, my fatigue issues are somewhat decreased, nerve pain has subsided a bit, my general mood has improved and I’ve been able to chase some of the MS ghosts that haunt a person out of my life.

Basically, it’s changed my life and I feel as though I’ve gotten back 15 years of my life that were taken from me. Some MS issues persist though I’m far better now than when I started and have the confidence back that I was lacking and needed to keep fighting MS. I’ve decided that I will continue and expand upon this foundation and live to show others that MS doesn’t have to dictate a persons life entirely, we can take back control and live well with MS.

I’d like to thank MSFC for providing me with such a great opportunity, it’s opened up doors to me that I didn’t think possible, given me the confidence and proof that anything is possible if we just try and put in the work. Hopefully we can work together down the road and beat MS for all of us with or affected by it. Anything I can do for the MSFC, it’s sponsors or for the cause of beating MS, please let me know, I’m in this fight to the final bell and beyond.

I came into the MS Fitness Challenge program just days after I lost my balance and fell in a grocery store, injuring my back when I hit a display board on my way down.  My back was extremely sore and I thought about not starting the challenge, thinking that I couldn’t possibly get the full effects when I was in pain.  I was feeling sorry for myself because one more time Multiple Sclerosis had taken a bite out of me.  For the last year I have been getting weaker, more fatigued, less sure of my balance and I had to start using a walker instead of the cane.  I knew I needed to give this program a try so I met my trainer Brian, told him of the fall.  Brian showed me how to do squats to strengthen my legs and core, which in turn helped a great deal with my back pain.  He showed me strengthening exercises using weights and machines.  I thought for sure I would be too sore to ever come back to the gym, but I did come back the next day and 3 more times before we met again the next week.

I had been feeling sorry for myself because the symptoms of MS were increasing in my body; weakness in my extremities, balance issuers and fatigue, just to name a few.  But in the gym I felt power start to come back to me.  Every time I did the exercises Brian had shown me I felt like it was a victory for me.  He had encouraged me to do two sets of ten for each exercise.  I know that doesn’t sound like much but it was all I could do at first and I did struggle to complete them. But each time at the gym I started getting a little stronger.

Every time I meet with Brian he has me  do a little more.  When I come back without him I do those exercises plus I’ve been adding more thanks to the other trainers, they always ask me how I’m feeling and if I need any assistance.  Nicki, Stephanie, Matt and Robin have all been a great help to me, especially Nicki, she has been there more than once when I had a question about a machine and she takes the time to show me how to get the most from it in the safest way possible and if it’s even the right machine for me.

I feel stronger and more confidant in my mobility with the walker, and have been trying to use just the came at times.  My energy level is improving.  I was able to walk in the MS Walk in Denver last week…it was hard but I made it.  Brian kept telling me I could do it and he was right.  A year ago I would not have had the strength to walk in this event!

I am so thankful to Dave and Kendra for the opportunity to get strong again in spite of having Multiple Sclerosis.

I want to thank MSFC again! I am stronger than I have ever been. I didn’t write back because I was afraid that after I stopped the challenge, I wouldn’t keep to the program. I’m proud to say I’m still hitting the gym 3x a week.

One thing that my trainer, John Switzer, had me do that I hated the most was hanging ab lifts. He started me out on 20 reps. I’m pleased to say I came to terms with that particular exercise and I now do 2 sets of 40 every M, W, F.

Since training with him I took little tidbits of advice that changed my life. No exaggeration. My balance and coordination are much better! It seems silly, but he trained me how to walk up steps without tripping. Drive the heel down when you step.

There were exercises that I dreaded. Not because the weights were too heavy or I was too sore. It was an embarrassment factor. The first day I met John I did walking lunges and I would lose my balance, needing to grab on to someone or something. I was frustrated with myself. We did it again on our last day together. I stared at that gym floor like it was my own personal Green Mile. I lost my balance only once. That was success. Now, every leg day I challenge myself to do those lunges. I don’t fall over anymore.

Another thing, when I go to the gym and I want to quit because it seems too hard, I hear John’s voice say, “mental toughness.” That was something he would say to get those last few reps out of me. It worked every time.

Some days I get up and look forward to the gym but usually I don’t want to work out because I’m tired or it’s too hot or place excuse here. But I’m so happy I did when its over. It’s like being baptized with sweat. I feel like I’m beating this thing. I’m becoming a new and better version of myself.

I really want to thank MSFC again for giving me this opportunity and matching my personality with John Switzer. He was a great trainer. He didn’t go soft on me but was encouraging at the same time.

I am stronger than I was when I started. I lift, squat, lunge, run and do those damn ab lifts. But on a personal note, I feel good about myself. I’m proud of what I can do and how far I came and how far I’ll go. Its thanks to MSFC, John, and my own ‘mental toughness.’