RICKY GONZALEZ
Tampa, Fla. native Ricky Gonzalez wasn’t always the picture of robust health that he is now. He moved to Houston at age three, and was physically active thanks to his father’s love of sports and physical conditioning.
“But his happy days on the field were short-lived. As a child, he suffered from Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a debilitating form of muscular dystrophy that left him immobile from the neck down and confined to a wheelchair, a condition that lasted nine months.
When Gonzalez was diagnosed with the disease at age six, the future didn’t look so bright. “At the time, there was no cure for what I had,” says the now 24-year-old wellness consultant. “The only option available was rehabilitation through fitness and nutrition.”
Gonzalez began the painful rehab journey to regain the muscle he had lost. Rehab meant not only engaging in physical stimulation, but having to relearn basic motor functions as well. “It was very difficult to go back to my old life, to force myself to learn basic things, but I knew with hard work and plenty of sports here was a chance I could bounce back.” And bounce back he did.
One-and-ahalf years after being diagnosed, he was able to complete a 5K race in support of muscular dystrophy. His father, who Gonzalez says is one of his biggest inspirations, was by his side every step of the way.
Once he had regained control over his body, he never looked back. Continuing his intense dedication to sports and exercise well into his teen years, Gonzalez entered and won the 2005 Mr. Texas Fitness contest. The victory marked the beginning of a successful modeling career.
Gonzalez soon turned his sights to the world of personal training. He spent five years working as a trainer at various gyms before becoming the manager of Excel Gym in Katy, a position he credits for launching his fitness career. “I learned early on not to take things for granted. I would emphasize the importance of taking care of your body. Everything on the job would become personal because I knew how it felt not to have your body.”
Personal training helped Gonzalez pay his way through college, completing a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in global business administration from the University of Houston. He then made two appearances on the “Debra Duncan Show,” where he shared his inspirational story. “The experience was definitely a career highlight.”
He currently trains five times a week, including cardio training and weightlifting. “Each day I work two or three body parts. I don’t have a set routine. I just listen to my body, and I work whatever feels fresh. If something feels sore, I’ll work something else.”
While he doesn’t have a set diet, Gonzalez takes a similar pragmatic approach to his nutrition. “I make sure I drink plenty of water and take in a large amount of protein. I get most of my carbs from fruits and vegetables and I make sure to limit my starch intake.” As for what he doesn’t eat, he makes sure to stay away from mechanically processed foods.
Gonzalez now works for Definitions Wellness USA, an international oil and gas health and safety company that emphasizes incremental changes as opposed to a radical overhaul.
“I always tell my clients you’re going to get out of your body what you put into it. The goal isn’t to get ripped, it’s to improve your life by being more active and more conscious of your health. You don’t have to be a fitness extremist to make small changes that will improve the quality of your life.”
—Adam Castañeda
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