The 10 Most Inspirational People in Health and Fitness
Everyone has been through hardships in life. Everyone has a story to tell. And when it comes to going through difficult times, the story doesn’t always have to have a sad ending. For that reason, I want to showcase 10 most inspirational people in health and fitness.
For a lot of people, fitness is a great way to take control of their story — physically and mentally. The gym becomes an outlet for self-improvement, a place where they can go put their mind at ease while pushing through their physical and mental limits. Overcoming hardships is a daunting task but one that can be accomplished through dedication and consistency — two traits that tend to be fostered through exercise and healthy eating.
The 10 most inspirational people below changed their life thanks to fitness while motivating others to use movement as a way to cope with obstacles and disabilities and find themselves again. The stories below are in no particular order (but they will inspire you).
Top 10 Most Inspirational People in Health and Fitness
Below are the 10 most inspirational people in health and fitness.
10. Nick Scott
First on our list of most inspirational people is Nick Scott. Nick was a 16-year-old athlete on his way to football practice when he suddenly found himself laying in a hospital bed after rolling his vehicle five-and-a-half times. The accident resulted in a broken back and damaged spine, causing him to become a paraplegic. Depression slowly set in and as the days passed, Nick found himself tipping the scale at over 300 pounds.
Nick decided to get back in the weight room and work on his strength. In 2005, he made the decision to get into wheelchair bodybuilding. The bug bit him and he continued to follow his passion until he became a wheelchair bodybuilding champion. His journey didn’t stop there. Nick decided to speak to the public about what he went through to inspire and motivate others. He since has authored a book called Journey, and been the subject of the documentary Perspectives: The Nick Scott Story. Nick is also the founder of the Wheelchair Athletics Foundation and the Wheelchair Bodybuilding organization.
9. Jason Lester
Next on our list of most inspirational people is Jason Lester. At the age of twelve, Jason Lester was hit by a car. He suffered from a paralyzed right arm and many other injuries. Who knew that years later, in 2009, he would be named the best male athlete with a disability and receive an ESPY Award? After this life-changing event, Jason started hitting the gym and trained to become a triathlete and world-class endurance sports champion.
Lester also authored the book Running On Faith to tell the tale of how he triumphed from his tragedy thanks to his belief in God.
8. Jillian Michaels
Celebrity personal trainer Jillian Michaels wasn’t always the health specimen she is today. In fact, she was a 5’2”, 175-pound twelve-year-old who was picked on at school. As a kid, Jillian suffered from ADHD as well as polycystic ovary syndrome. Then, later in life, she battled with her own sexuality until one day, she realized it was OK to be gay.
No longer carrying a burden on her shoulders, Jillian was able to fully be herself and truly earn her right to be on our list of the most inspirational people. She decided that fitness was her passion, jumping in and making a huge splash. Jillian went on to author several best-selling books and produce super successful exercise DVDs. She was also the first female trainer on the reality series The Biggest Loser, a show dedicated to changing the lives of the contestants by helping them adopt a healthier lifestyle.
She later starred in her own spin-off show, Losing It With Jillian. Most recently, Jillian was the host of Spike TV’s hit show Sweat Inc. — a show with the premise of finding the next big fitness program. Jillian has helped millions of people reach their health and fitness goals around the globe.
7. Melissa Stockwell
A U.S. Army Purple Heart recipient (the oldest military award that can be awarded to people for serving the country), Melissa Stockwell is overcoming the loss of a limb caused by the explosion of a roadside bomb during her deployment overseas.
This war veteran turned a tragedy into a passion to accomplish anything. Melissa is an above-the-knee amputee as well as a Paralympian and para-triathlete and deserves to be on our list of the most inspirational people. She was part of Team USA at the 2008 Paralympic Games, where she broke records during the 100-meter freestyle as well as the 100-meter butterfly swim. Her passion for exercising and determination to not let her disability win has helped her create a new, brighter future for herself.
6. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Most of you probably know him as the 38th Governor of California. No? How about “Ah-nold”? The Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, needs no introduction. It’s no surprise he made our list of most inspirational people.
Born in Austria, Arnold didn’t have the best upbringing and was abused by his father. As if that wasn’t hard enough on him, he was also born with a bicuspid aortic valve (an anomaly of the heart). He later had surgery to get his aortic valve repaired.
His love of bodybuilding started at a young age and led him to move to the U.S. in 1968. This move didn’t come easy, as Arnold spoke very little English and didn’t have a lot of money. These difficulties never discouraged him, and his determination ultimately led him to win the Mr. Olympia title an astounding seven times and the Mr. Universe title four times.
Arnold made his way into the film industry. While he appeared in over 35 movies, he is mostly recognized for his role in The Terminator. In 1977, he won a Golden Globe award. And his career didn’t stop there, as he got into politics and became the Governor of California, holding the position from 2003 to 2011. To this day, Arnold is a huge activist for health and fitness. He also has his own international annual bodybuilding show, the Arnold Classic.
5. Steve Shaw
Longtime powerlifter Steve Shaw was in his mid-forties and on a mission to break records. Quickly finding out that the more he ate, the stronger he became, Steve ultimately stuffed his face with anything he could find to put on mass. Eventually, at a colossal 346 pounds, Steve’s health started to deteriorate. He was diagnosed with diabetes and fatty liver disease.
This avid lifter decided to change his lifestyle and take back control of his life. Steve lost an astounding 108 pounds by removing unnecessary carbohydrates and sugars from his diet as well as changing his workouts to include more daily volume and cardio. In doing so, his blood sugar issues disappeared. His new healthy habits almost completely cured him from his diabetes.
Steve is definitely one of the most inspirational people and is still on a mission to build a better body, and he also teaches others how to live a healthy life. He is the editor-in-chief of Tiger Fitness, a fitness and nutrition website.
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