Hard training has a new meaning for me.

When I was 13 years old, a family friend gave me a box of bodybuilding magazines. I never imagined that the man who inspired me so much, Arnold Schwarzenegger, would one day become Governor of California.

I participated in my first bodybuilding competition in 1984, at the age of 16. Since then, I have competed in about 40 shows and have won titles such as Mr. Philadelphia, Mr. Pennsylvania, Mr. Physique USA and, in 1993, Mr. North America.

I was at the top of my game, preparing to turn pro, when my body started giving me trouble. In 1994-95, he had problems with balance and leg strength. I was working out with my friend one day and I told him that I had looked on the internet and thought that I might have the disease, multiple sclerosis.

He just laughed and said, “Paul, you don’t have multiple sclerosis, you only squatted 550 pounds!” So I laughed too; there was no way he had MS. However, in the back of my mind, I realized that I was squatting on a Smith machine; that didn’t require me to balance.

As my health continued to decline, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. I was still going to compete a year later, but I lost my sight. This caused me to fall into a deep depression, and with MS, this also brought a lot of stress. Because I was feeling so bad, I asked the doctor to prescribe antidepressants, sleeping pills, and medicine for muscle spasms. The drugs made me feel more tired and down, and my MS progressed to the point where I had to be in a wheelchair.

I sat in my wheelchair for a long time, feeling sorry for myself. Then I met my future wife, Judy, and she told me that she had to accept my MS. I told her that she didn’t want to and that she hated it, but she explained that she had to do something besides depress me. I wasn’t sure if I could do it, because the doctors told me that she had primary progressive multiple sclerosis. That’s the worst kind; you don’t improve.

I decided not to believe the doctors and went back to the gym to start working out. I found out which muscles are primarily affected by MS: the core muscles (abdominal, hip, and back muscles). When these weaken, it is like a flower with a brittle stem that falls over when the wind blows. That was me, and that’s why people with MS are always looking for something to help them balance. I also learned about core muscles by watching my son, Tyler. When he was only 7 months old, he had the strength in his legs to get up and stand up, but I had to hold him up so he could keep his balance. When he was 11 months old, he always used the sofa for support while walking, like I had to. Then I realized that for a baby, the core muscles are the last to develop, and in a person with MS or other neurological conditions, they are the first to disappear. Before he could walk, Tyler was balanced on his knee. I thought, “What a great way to exercise; do it on your knees and it challenges your balance. You don’t have to worry about falling!” I also found that by building up new muscles, he was able to stabilize me and walk better.

The average person activates about 60-70% of their muscles throughout their life, a bodybuilder about 75% (they are much bigger), but a dancer or gymnast activates about 90% or more. I said to myself, “Wow! If I could harness those muscles, it would be like having a spare tire for your car.” So the way I did it was by challenging my balance with a Swiss ball or by standing on air cushions. Both strengthen the core.

In 2001, I moved to California. When I went back to the gyms I realized how inaccessible they are for a person in a wheelchair. Sure, maybe the restrooms and parking lot are accessible, but rarely is the equipment. I applied for a job at Club-One, even though they did not have wheelchair accessible equipment. When I told the manager about my mission to help the disability community, he was very receptive. That’s why I decided I wanted to work there.

During my interview, the fitness manager asked me if I knew what core training was. I wasn’t that familiar with it at the time, so I tried to make a joke: “Sure, hard training. I’ve been doing it for 20 years.” She didn’t laugh, but I got the job anyway.

I started training people with disabilities, but realized that many people with physical disabilities did not attend the gym because the equipment was not accessible. I decided to do something about it, and in 2002 my wife and I opened Accessible Fitness, a fully wheelchair accessible gym located in Santa Clara, California. We specialize in working with people of all ages and fitness levels, and not only are all strength stations wheelchair accessible, but so is the cardio equipment.

Now I help people young and old to get fit, lose weight, have perfect abs and others who want more strength and muscle so they can get out of their wheelchair more easily.

“My life is different now because I feel through exercise, I have regained control of my life and I no longer have to give in to this thing they call MS. I am inspired by the people in my gym every day and I am back to competing for everyone” . that he has some kind of physical challenge.”

I am no longer in a wheelchair and will be competing this year in the Mr. America competition. Even if I have to use my cane, I am there, win or lose, to represent people who have physical disabilities like me.

For a long time I asked myself: “Why me?” But then I realized that this is my calling, my passion in life.