People say I have an insatiable drive to serve others. When I was 18, I enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Nine years later, I took a break to spend more time with my wife and children, and I joined the police department.
In 2008, I reenlisted and served in Afghanistan. That’s when my patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED).
I spent the next seven months in a wheelchair or on crutches. I was told I may never walk again because my heel completely separated from my foot in what’s known as a calcaneus fracture.
After several years of treatment, I was able to save my foot and now I can walk. It’s not as completely functional as it used to be, but it works. My convoy driver, who had the identical injury, wasn’t so lucky – he had an amputation.
Life After the Military
In 2015, I was officially medically retired from service. I went back to police work, but I couldn’t be part of the SWAT Team like I used to before. Instead, the department created a training position for me, and eventually, I was able to go back on patrol.
Over time, I became overweight, gaining 40 pounds.
My life’s work as a soldier and police officer had been about taking care of others, including my family, my community, and my country. I realized I had to take care of myself, too.
Discovering a Culture of Positivity and Change
There was a guy in my department who was losing a lot of weight. One day, I asked him about it, and he told me his secret: Herbalife Nutrition shakes. I didn’t believe him at first, but then his wife Carmen, who was a nutritionist and personal trainer, gave them the thumbs-up.
He brought me to a nutrition club, and although I felt uneasy and skeptical at first, the people there were just so friendly and welcoming. I wondered if it could possibly be real, but the more I spent time at the nutrition club, I saw how supportive and genuine everyone was, and I knew it was exactly what I needed in my life at that time.
The club’s owner, Lance, was a retired firefighter who would later become a mentor to me. Being in public service, he understood where I came from and the insatiable passion for giving back to the community.
The Start of a New Chapter
Within a month of using the products and working out, I lost more than 20 pounds*. Today, I’m at my ideal weight and I’m going to start focusing on building more muscle and thinking about competing in a fitness or bodybuilding competition.
Herbalife Nutrition is more than a selection of products. It’s the hope and community I received when I was at my lowest. There’s a heartbeat behind everything they do.
I realized that if Herbalife Nutrition worked this well for me, then I could inspire others, too. My wife Mariel and I took an interest in the business opportunity, and we now own three nutrition clubs in the state of Oklahoma.
I eventually retired from the police department to devote more time to these clubs**. And what’s great is that the driver of the convoy during the IED explosion years ago became a business partner in one of my clubs.
The Opportunity to Continue Helping Others
My work with Herbalife Nutrition is an evolution of my desire to serve, to be part of something bigger than myself. There’s a culture of positivity that lifted me up when I needed it most.
What I would advise anyone who feels like there’s no hope and no place to go is that your past doesn’t determine your future. You are in the perfect place; you are where you are for a reason.
Back then, I was facing some perceived limitations. If I had allowed these beliefs to hold me back or close me from seeing the possibilities in front of me, then none of this would have happened.
Focus on what’s in front of you and take those opportunities that come with an open mind and an open heart.