MEET THE FOUNDER

Hi Everyone,
I am a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Purdue University MSc graduate, PPSC Functional Kettle Bell Trainer and a Strength and Conditioning Coach.

At home I am father to two beautiful boys, and husband to the Owner/Founder of Carmel & Reyes PLLC (powerhouse attorney) Brigitte Reyes. I am also a J pouch recipient, Irritable Bowel Disease Warrior, and someone who has faced adversity in more ways than I can count.

I have had the opportunity to serve my community as a firefighter/EMT for 5 years. Provide service to this country as an Army Medic for 8.5 years, ending my term of service in 2018 as a Staff Sergeant. I Most recently spent 2019-2023 working for the United States, Department of State Diplomatic Security Services Operational Medicine Unit.

Though all these achievements and opportunities to serve have been fulfilling, it was the challenge that brought me to my knees in 2020 that I have felt the greatest triumph over. After my time in service and during the infancy of my first son I was deep in the throws of battle with Ulcerative Colitis. My son being in the NICU did no justice to this, as the stress of his 33 day stay only exacerbated things further. For a year I failed biologic, after biologic, steroid, after, steroid, and every variable treatment that was attempted. I withered to 147lbs, was anemic, and bordering on organ failure when Dr. Paul Charron saw fit to remove the diseased organ, and some other surrounding infected areas. After my third emergency hospital stay the surgeon had seen enough. I underwent three subsequent abdominal surgeries over the course of a year. Two of these surgeries required me to have an ileostomy bag between them. Dr. Charron said “had I not known I was operating on a 32-year-old, I would have assumed I was operating on a 80 year old person” this is how degraded my organs were at the time of my emergent surgery.

During these surgeries I struggled deeply with a feeling of loss of self, I had always been healthy, and fit. Now I wasn’t, and for the first time I questioned if I could look after my family if something were to happen. I felt diminished, and suffered from self-image issues, having to first have the ileostomy, and then carry surgical scars and scar tissue throughout my abdomen for the remainder of my life.

I do not tell this story for anything other than to say that through all of this I have gained such an understanding for those who are beginning their journey in fitness. I know firsthand what Functional Fitness training can do, to give you back your life. I know what it is to start over from nothing. Though the process is long, we strive only to be better one day at a time and be our best version of ourselves TODAY.

I consider what happened to me a challenge, and a great triumph as I have worked very hard to regain a semblance of myself once again, be strong for my family , and my sons once again and be comfortable in my own skin! When I say Every B O D Y Belongs. I truly mean Every B O D Y Belongs. Please consider how I might be of service to you on your journey, and if you read this far thank you for taking my story with you.