gary's story
We all have our reasons for getting fit. It may be to lose weight, to prevent illness or just to feel good. Some of us even get on a fitness plan because we get a wake up call that changes our lives. That’s exactly what happened to Gary Salmirs, the CEO and founder of “Ironwill.”
In his late thirties, Gary was forty pounds overweight, out of shape and his cholesterol level was off the charts. He enjoyed evenings out with friends, and often that meant eating and drinking more than he should. He’d feel awful the next day and would head to the gym to work it off, but he’d be right back where he started. He’d also tried many different diets, but never stuck to them. In short, Gary was in a rut and was digging himself in deeper and deeper. Then one day his world came crashing down.
While at home one night, Gary got a sharp pain in his stomach which got worse as the night progressed. It got so bad that he ended up in the hospital. After numerous tests the doctors discovered that he had a blood clot in his portal vein, a crucial blood vessel to the liver. Although other blood vessels were supplying blood to his liver, he was told that his portal vein would never open up. He was also in jeopardy of losing his spleen. Gary knew he was in trouble.
This was his wake up call. He realized he needed to get healthy so he could be around for his wife and three children. He decided to get on a wellness program, only this time it would be for life. No more fad diets or half-hearted attempts at fitness. As soon as he got out of the hosptial, he met with a nutritionist who customized a program he could follow. He also started to run. It was slow going at first, but pretty soon Gary completed his first 5K race. That led to a 10K, a half marathon and a full marathon, and ultimately to his first Iron Man Triathlon. He’s been competing in triathlons ever since, and is in the best shape of his life. His cholesterol level has come way down, his blood tests are all normal and most importantly, the clot in that vein has dissipated, something doctors said would never happen.
Although he alone made the change in his life, he realized there were many people along the way who helped him achieve his goal of good health. He knew he wanted to do the same for others. That was the driving force behind the Ironwill Wellness Program. Together with his team, Gary is committed to helping people change their lives through good health and nutrition.