From 410lb Gamer to HEMA Strong Founder
My story isn’t just about personal transformation – it’s about completing the ultimate hero’s journey and returning to guide others on their own quests to forge themselves into the best version of themselves.
My Hero's Journey
The Ordinary World: At 28 years old, I weighed over 410 pounds and was slowly dying. I used food, alcohol, and video games to escape reality, burying pain under humor and distractions. The constant back pain, aching feet, and breathlessness had become my accepted normal. I had failed at weight loss so many times that I’d given up hope.
The Call to Adventure: The first call came in a New Orleans pub. A stranger said something about seeing fear in my eyes. It abruptly ended our conversation, but for three months, his words ate at me, making me aware of pain I’d been ignoring.
Then came the decisive moment. My wife Denise came out of the bathroom with a positive pregnancy test. The true call had arrived: become the father this child deserves.
Refusal of the Call: For a split second, the old Chuck wanted to make excuses. “I’ll start tomorrow” – the same promise I’d broken a thousand times. Every failed diet whispered that I couldn’t change, that this was just who I was.
Meeting the Mentor: In that moment, a lightning bolt struck me. No one was coming to save me. I would have to become the person that I needed. The old Chuck had to die that day for the new Chuck to be born. This wasn’t gradual – it was a quantum leap from contemplation into action.
Crossing the Threshold: I stepped into the region of transformation. This wasn’t just about losing weight – this was about forging an entirely new identity. I experienced what researchers call “dramatic relief”: overwhelming joy and peace because I knew, without question, that I would succeed.
Tests, Allies, and Enemies: My greatest enemy was within – my old identity fighting to survive. The physical challenges were immense, but the real battle was psychological. My allies emerged: my wife’s support, a growing community, knowledge of nutrition and fitness, and most importantly, the unstoppable motivation from my daughter.
The Ordeal: The greatest ordeal was killing the identity that no longer served me – facing the shame, fear, and unworthiness. As I told James Fell: “I tell people I died that day. The old Chuck is dead. I killed him.” To which James added: “From ashes gray, a phoenix arose.” This was my death and rebirth.
The Reward: I won the decisive victory: I lost over 200 pounds and have kept it off for 18+ years. But the real treasure wasn’t the weight loss – it was discovering strength I never knew existed, becoming the father and husband I needed to be, and proving complete transformation was possible.
The Road Back: I went back to school as a straight-A student, earned my certifications, and began my journey back to the ordinary world – now with the power of transformation knowledge and lived experience. I had gained unshakeable confidence in every area of my life.
Return with the Elixir: I returned with the power to help others. I founded HEMA Strong not just to teach fitness, but to share the knowledge that anyone can experience their own transformation and forge themselves into the hero of their own story.
Proven in Battle: My Qualifications
Professional Experience:
- 12+ years personal training and nutrition coaching (since 2014)
- Subject matter expert with major global fitness brands including Stronger U Nutrition
- Founded HEMA Strong in 2017
Certifications:
- Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Certification
- American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Training Certification
- Online Training Certification – Personal Trainer Development Center
Speaking & Teaching:
- Featured instructor at Arnold Classic
- Speaker/instructor at CombatCon, Funfecht, Blood on the River
- Regular presenter at fitness and nutrition seminars across North America
- Tournament and event educator throughout the HEMA community
Recognition:
- Featured transformation story in “The Holy Sh!t Moment” by James Fell
- Trusted expert in HEMA-specific fitness and nutrition optimization
How HEMA Completed My Quest (And Can Complete Yours)
Traditional fitness fails because it lacks purpose and meaning. You go to the gym, lift weights, run on treadmills – but for what? HEMA changed everything for me because it gave my training tangible goals and real-world application.
Every strength session had purpose: to build injury resilience and explosive movement. Every conditioning workout had meaning: to outlast opponents in the ring and maintain technique when fatigue sets in. Every nutrition choice mattered: to recover faster, train longer, and preserve my body for decades of HEMA practice.
HEMA didn’t just save my motivation – it gave me a community of like-minded people all seeking to better ourselves who understood that fitness isn’t just about looking good, it’s about becoming capable, confident, and strong enough to face any challenge life throws at you – both in the ring and beyond.
A welcoming, inclusive community of 3,000+ HEMA practitioners of all fitness levels. Free from toxicity and useless arguing - just supportive people helping each other grow.
Empathy-Driven Coaching
What sets me apart isn’t just my credentials – it’s that I’ve been exactly where you are. I understand the frustrations, setbacks, and breakthroughs that come with real transformation because I’ve lived them, survived them, and emerged stronger.
I don’t just give you theory from a textbook – I give you proven strategies from someone who’s walked the path, guided hundreds of others through it, and continues to apply these principles in my own life every single day.
My coaching focuses on what actually drives results: nutrition and daily habits. Your training supports your goals—it doesn’t drive them. Here’s what you get when you work with me:
- Personalized macro targets adjusted weekly based on your progress
- Custom workout programming designed for HEMA performance
- Weekly check-ins and unlimited messaging support
- Real-time problem solving when life gets in the way
- Strategies that work with your life, not against it
I’ve been coaching online since 2014, and I’ve learned that sustainable transformation comes from building better habits, not following rigid rules. Whether you want to improve your tournament performance, lose body fat, or build sustainable strength—I’ll meet you where you are and help you get where you want to go.
The Return with the Elixir
The hero’s journey doesn’t end with personal victory – it continues when you use your hard-won wisdom to help others on their own quests.
What started as a desperate need to become the father my daughter deserved has evolved into something greater: showing her and hundreds of others that we all have the power to completely reinvent ourselves.
When I’m not coaching or speaking at events, you might find me embodying legendary characters through cosplay – Kratos, Gandalf the Grey, and Gandalf the White. These aren’t just costumes; they represent the truth that transformation means having the courage to step into whoever you’re meant to become.
I’ve completed my quest and returned with the elixir of transformation. Now I can be the mentor for others beginning their own journeys – the guide I once desperately needed but never had.
Are You Ready to Be the Hero in Your Own Journey?
Every hero’s journey starts with a call to adventure. Every transformation begins with a single, brave decision to answer that call.
I’ve walked this path. I’ve faced the trials, survived the ordeals, and returned with the knowledge and strength to guide others. Whether you need explosive power for competition, endurance for longer training sessions, or the confidence that comes from true transformation – I’ll help you forge your own path to victory.
Your quest awaits. The only question is: are you ready to begin?