A message from Tony

 

5 of the biggest challenges of my life! 

Autism.

Sugar Addiction.

Living with 1 Kidney. 

Caring for aging parents. 

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)   

 

Being overweight, disruptive sleep, dysfunctional mornings, feeling lethargic, and on multiple medications by 35 years of age were just a few of the repercussions of the above stated issues.   

 

Growing up in an Italian household with so many savory foods like pasta, bread, sausage, & of course…those sweets. Oh, those sweets! My life was not just about eating a lot of unhealthy food (although tasty!), but the biggest issues were PORTIONS & SUGAR. 

 

I began a healthier lifestyle with exercise and better food choices in my late 20’s, but that is when life totally turned crazy for my wife and I. Our son was diagnosed with Autism when he was 4 years old. Frustration, anger, confusion & a diminished lack of faith encompassed our lives. That led to a multitude of bad choices. My nutrition was primarily processed food, increasing amounts of caffeine, sugar intake was out of control, was on medications for my heart & acid reflux, was at a pre-diabetic state, and hearing the news I had a dead kidney. 

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THE DAY I WILL NEVER FORGET 

Life priorities totally change when a developmental pediatrician tells you bluntly that your son needs to be at “Communication Play Level 6” by the age of 6, otherwise he may not be able to fully speak and function independently moving forward. A 6 year period of uncertainty began. Day after day was consumed with working with our son on play and communication techniques. 

 

LESSON LEARNED FROM AUTISM

Little did I realize how this relates in making positive changes in any area of your life. YOUR WHY needs to be meaningful and powerful, with keeping the long-term goals in mind. In this case, the goal was to have a conversation with my son and help him achieve an opportunity to live life to the fullest. The daily grind of doing what’s right, not doing what’s easy was in full effect. I also realized that it had to start with me. 

 

Same is true for achieving goals with your physical activity, nutrition, time management, morning routine, sleep or whatever else is important to you. You may not notice a lot of change each day during the process, but you’ll reap the rewards of positive change in the long run. Honestly, these changes transition into effortless healthy habits that become a part of your everyday life…quicker than you think. 

 

TURNING POINT 

The turning point with my personal journey (& pride) was a date on the calendar marked on January 2nd, 2009. That’s when I vowed to start…JUST START, with no overthinking, toward a better lifestyle. 

 

I began to get active and learn how to work out. Managing food portions and sugar intake, “crowding out” bad food choices while “crowding in” better ones enhanced my energy and mood. Incorporating meditation, affirmations and rock-solid MORNING, EVENING, and WEEKEND routines has been a game changer mentally, spiritually, and professionally.

 

Due to these changes and creating simplified DAILY HABITS, the results are 50 pounds lighter, off medications, Acid Reflux is managed with healthy food, my one beautiful kidney is functioning at an optimal level, improved sleep, more patience, bolstered confidence levels, waking up with PURPOSE, and feel a ton younger. 

 

Today, our son is doing fantastic. He attends college, drives, works, is doing wonderful academically, and enjoys being physically active. 

 

 

HEARTBREAKING & EYE-OPENING 

Lastly, as we get older, so do our parents. One of the greatest challenges happened in 2022. My father battled sickness for 17 months and passed away two days before Thanksgiving. 

 

While my father was going through many health complications, I sat in the cardiologist's office with him as the nurse was going through all his medications. Sitting in a cold, dull, sterile office while the nurse took the next 20 minutes taking each of the 16 medications out of bag and logging them into the computer was eye-opening. 

 

The thought of all the little choices my dad made and did not make leading us to this point was heartbreaking. Much of the suffering could have been prevented.

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THE MISSION 

As stated earlier, my purpose is shifting your limiting beliefs surrounding health and wellness and help you realize aging can mean becoming stronger physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The best and most active years are in front of you!

 

Let me assist you in taking back control of your overall health. Aim for BETTER,

not perfection. 

 

Let’s enjoy the journey together, 1 tiny habit at a time. I’m grateful you are here, and looking forward to working with you soon!

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JUST START!

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Tony