Charles Katon-Bringing it P90X style everyday with Cerebral Palsy

Like most people I have to work out and dieted many times in my life, every time I failed and I just gave up.  Then like 8 months ago something tragic happened to me,  I lost my grandfather to cancer. My grandfather and grandmother mean the world to me. I have cerebral palsy which means I have some brain damage so I can’t walk on my own.  I use crutches when I walk.  My grandparents told me I could achieve anything I wanted to through hard work for it,  They raised me to be a hard worker and all my life I did all I could to make them proud!  So as you can tell my love for both of them is strong and after my grandfather’s death I felt lost and depressed.  I felt as though my life had no meaning. I was in this state of mind for 6 months.  Then one day I said enough was enough. I was sick of feeling depressed so I decided to change things. I was going to do something to give my life meaning and make me happy again; I decided I was going to get in shape!!  By doing so I would gain self-confidence and maybe it would give me the courage I needed to talk to women.  My whole life I have never truly had a girlfriend. There has only been a few women I have loved in my life both times I let them slip through my fingers because I could not tell them how I felt. I often lie awake at night regretting I did not tell them how I felt.  The other reason I want to get in shape is that is the fact that it would help me gain more independence in my life; I would not have to depend on others to bring me places and do things for me.  So the next day I went on Facebook and looked up some personal trainers or people that looked ripped and I found someone.  He’s a beachbody coach and I told him my story and he introduced me to a guy named David, who works out and has cerebral palsy just like me!!!!!!!!  I was excited to talk to him!  David told me about p90x and this group he’s in called Staying Fit Family and said I should join so I talked to Scottie Hobbs the creator of the group and joined and Scottie became my coach. That’s when my life changed!!!! I got p90x and started motivating people in the group every day!  I finally found something I am good at and that I truly enjoy, something that gives my life meaning. I am not going to lie, p90x is hard. At times I feel like giving up but I remember why I am doing this and how I want to make my grandfather proud so I fight through the pain every day and I don’t let my disability slow me down.  I change my workouts so they worked for me, and I push myself to my max every day. Its worth every dollar I put into it because I feel better than I have ever in my life, both physically and mentally. I know my grandfather would be proud!  If I can change my life around and bring it to every workout I do, anyone can, no excuses! Everyone has the ability to change their lifestyles they just need to want it bad enough so to whoever is reading this get to work!!! Fight through the pain!! And give it your all every day, you won’t regret it! Who knows, one day you might change someone’s life like I hope I did yours. It’s one of the best feelings in the world and makes all my hard work worth it.

-Charles