Miscellaneous
Meet David Lyons, bodybuilding champion, media personality and founder of a global fitness training program. Did we mention David also has MS? Through the MS Fitness Challenge among many other endeavors, David has dedicated his personal and professional life to helping people with MS of all abilities learn how to overcome their physical challenges and lead healthier lives. Questions: Welcome to Living Well with MS, David! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and anything our audience should know to get a sense of who you are? You’re the creator of the MS Fitness Challenge. What exactly is that? What are the key things people with MS are missing when it comes to fitness, in your view? Does the MS Fitness Challenge program work for people with different kinds of MS, different levels of mobility, etc.? How does your approach to helping people with MS improve mobility through exercise and strength training differ from other offerings out there? Have your methods been part of any scientific research or published studies that support their efficacy? If you could give someone with MS 3 quick hacks to fitness that would allow them to see a difference in the way they feel relatively quickly, what would these be? You established an MS Fitness Challenge as a nonprofit organization. How come? What is the difference between MS Fitness Challenge and your virtual personal fitness program, Optimal Body Personal Fitness? What’s next for you in the MS fitness space? Any new programs or ideas on the horizon to enable you to reach more people with MS? Bio: In 2006, David Lyons was hospitalized and diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 47. David, a former bodybuilder and health club owner, exercised regularly and lived a healthy lifestyle. He was devastated by the diagnosis and frustrated by the physical limitations of his condition. While in the hospital the doctors told David he would most likely leave in a wheelchair and would not return to his normal workout routine. So what does David do? At the age of 50, he decided to compete in an NPC bodybuilding competition! David Lyons, founder of the MS Bodybuilding Challenge and co-founder of the MS Fitness Challenge (MSFC) with wife Kendra, has dedicated his life to helping people with MS understand and be educated on the importance of fitness in their lives. He is the recipient of the National MS Society Milestone Award and faith based author of David’s Goliath, a book on his journey to a bodybuilding stage with MS; a speaker/writer for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; writer for Everyday Health, reaching more than 50 million visitors monthly; owner of the OPTIMALBODY fitness brand; and president/executive producer at Lyons Entertainment, one of Hollywood’s top production companies; amongst other endeavors. In 2013 David received the Health Advocate of the Year Award with Lou Ferrigno. And in 2015, at almost 57 years old, he was the only person with MS to receive the Health Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award from Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as the Lifetime Fitness Inspiration Award in Feb 2016, next to bodybuilding legend Mike Quinn at the Global Bodybuilding Organization’s International Fitness Expo. In January, 2017 David received the Special Recognition Award from the National Fitness Hall of Fame and later in the year he was honored as a Founding Partner of the organization’s Institute for learning. David is considered the face of MS and fitness worldwide and his fitness book, Everyday Health & Fitness with Multiple Sclerosis was a #1 New Release on Amazon while his MS Fitness Training Specialist certification partnered with the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) educates trainers internationally on how to work with MS clients. David has appeared on Good Morning LA, FOX News Orlando and other TV and radio shows nationwide as well as in print media, and Bodybuilding.com has released a feature on him and the MSFC. David is also the Senior Fitness Director of MS Workouts and is the Vice President of Adaptive Sports for the United Intercontinental Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (UIBFF). Lyons is a 2019 inductee in the National Fitness Hall of Fame for his work as a fitness educator. Links: Learn more about MS Fitness Challenge founder David Lyons Check out the MS Fitness Challenge charity organization Read David’s articles on Everyday Health Watch a recent interview with David Learn more about David becoming a finalist for the 2021 MS Innovation Challenge Check out Optimal Body Personal Fitness, David’s virtual fitness training program Coming up on our next episode: Join Geoff on July 12th for the 19th instalment of Living Well with MS Coffee Break, beaming to you straight from Portugal, as he welcomes Joia Lewis, a writer and former professor of philosophy who shares her OMS journey with PPMS. Don’t miss out: Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show. And feel free to share your comments and suggestions by emailing podcast@overcomingms.org.