Unconventional Athletes Issue 11

www.unconventionalathletes.com
They say there is no
cure Disclaimer: for Parkinson’s
disease and that you
must take the drugs,
but for me my drug
has always been
exercise!
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Can you begin by telling us how you
were diagnosed with Young Onset
Parkinson’s Disease? What symptoms
first made you see a doctor?
It all started for me back in January
2013. I knew something was wrong
with me because I know every inch of
my body.
I couldn’t walk more than 1 block
without my left leg and foot cramping.
I immediately thought maybe I was
low on magnesium or potassium, but
I knew it was more than that. A few
months had passed, and my condition
got worse. I was having trouble with
my left arm and hand. I couldn’t count
or hold money in my hand. A few more
months passed and still my condition
grew worse. I began having problems
tying my shoes.
I went to doctor after doctor, and none
of them knew what was wrong with
me. I had multiple brain MRI’s, blood
tests and physical examinations which
were all normal. But I knew something
was seriously wrong with me. It
was then I sought out a Movement
Disorder Specialist in NYC at Columbia
University. When she examined me, she
said I believe you have Young Onset
Parkinson’s Disease. I went home in
disbelief thinking she was wrong. Then
I went to 2 more Movement Disorder
Specialists after that. They all confirmed
I had Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease.
They wanted me to begin taking the
drugs immediately. Being a natural
bodybuilder my entire life, I have never
used drugs. So this was not going to be
any different! It was then that my wife
Tina had found a natural holistic healer
online who cured himself of Parkinson’s
disease within 9 months by doing a
body, mind and soul healing. The healing
for the body involves 30 minutes of
Qigong exercises every morning. The
mind part requires a positive attitude
all day long. And the soul part of the
healing requires Faith. This is called the
Parkinson’s disease recipe for recovery
by Howard Shifke. His website is: http://
www.fightingparkinsonsdrugfree.com
I was officially diagnosed on June 9 th
2015. Since then, things have been very
rough for me, and I know that God has
a purpose for me and I know that this
is his will. But I do believe that 100%
through my undying faith, that I will be
healed body mind and soul!
How hard is it to train now with a
disease that affects the central nervous
system?
Having Parkinson’s disease is like being
wrapped in a straightjacket while
someone is pushing you back and
forth and side to side. It is a Movement
Disorder so anything that involves
movement, you will have difficulty
doing, or you will not be able to
accomplish it at all! I still train 5 days
a week with weights. I do my cardio on
the elliptical because it’s kind of hard
for me to walk.
With Parkinson’s you lack dopamine, a
neurotransmitter. Dopamine is like the
transmission on a car – you can have
a brand new Ferrari with a powerful
engine and it’s gorgeous and spotless,
but without the transmission the car
just sits there.
The big difference is that I have changed
my diet. I’ve lowered my protein a lot,
by about 50%, and eat more fruits and
vegetables. Basically, I try to make my
diet more alkaline and less acidic. When
you eat a lot of steak, chicken and fish
the body becomes more acidic.
Since 1996, I had been on a high
protein/low carb diet. Although this
helped me create a beautiful body
and helped me to win many contests
and competitions as well as finding
fame in fitness, it did not help my
brain. I don’t believe this is how I got
Parkinson’s though, as I think it comes
from stress.
The 3 main causes of Parkinson’s
disease are:
1: anger, resentment, frustration
2: poor diet/ lack of balance
3: overwork, not enough rest
So I was a victim of all three. Before
I had Parkinson’s, I never sat down
and I always did a million things at
once. Now, I have trouble getting
dressed in the morning. I believe that
Parkinson’s is teaching me a valuable
lesson in life.