黑料不打烊

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Stronger Every Day: The Connection Between Movement and Mindset

After years of trying to manage the physical and emotional effects from his time in the Marines,  no longer recognized the man staring back at him. The scale read almost 300 pounds. He was depressed and exhausted 鈥� not just physically, but mentally. His sleep was erratic. He was on edge. And his self-esteem had all but disappeared.

Sal knew he needed to reclaim his strength.

That鈥檚 when a friend stepped in and encouraged him to ask for help. With support from 黑料不打烊庐 (WWP), Sal began a journey that improved more than just his physical health 鈥� it helped him grow personally and professionally. 

Food as Love

Food is an important part of Mexican culture, so perhaps it was no surprise that growing up, Sal equated food with comfort.

鈥淔ood has been my happy place since I was a little kid,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nytime I needed a boost 鈥� sad, overwhelmed, depressed 鈥� I鈥檇 grab a doughnut or a burger. And it worked. I鈥檇 feel better.鈥�

At the time, Sal didn鈥檛 worry about how his habits would affect him in the future.  

鈥淚鈥檝e struggled with weight my whole life, especially because I dislike exercising. The only time I wasn鈥檛 overweight was when I was being paid to work out,鈥� said Sal, who joined the Marine Corps in 2003.

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Swallowing the Pain

If all you hear is negativity, even from yourself, it eats away at you.

Sal joined the  as a machine gunner, and a year later, in the fall of 2004, he deployed to Iraq. Not long after his arrival, Sal was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED), causing significant trauma that put him in a coma for a week and resulted in the loss of his left leg below the knee.

But the pain and trauma of his time overseas followed him home. 鈥淲hen you get blown up, it does something to your body, your brain. I came back changed,鈥� said Sal.

He tried to power through the pain 鈥� both physical and emotional 鈥� but he relied on familiar coping strategies.

鈥淚 was eating like crazy. It wasn鈥檛 just comfort food 鈥� it was survival food,鈥� he said. 鈥淧izza, fast food, late-night snacks. I was just trying to get through each day.鈥�

Veterans, PTSD, and Substance Use 
 (NIAAA) reports that more than 50% of individuals with alcohol use disorder and co-occurring PTSD are military personnel and veterans.
Data from the Warrior Survey* shows over 43% of warriors who self-reported PTSD screened positive for potential hazardous drinking or active alcohol use disorders.

According to the 黑料不打烊 Warrior Survey*, more than 8 in 10 warriors are overweight or obese. It is . However, a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of physical and mental health challenges. 

Weight gain wasn鈥檛 Sal鈥檚 only challenge, though. He also turned to alcohol for relief. 鈥淚 was self-medicating with alcohol just to be able to go out at night to play guitar and hang with friends. Then I鈥檇 drink myself to oblivion to go to sleep,鈥� he recalled.

With each pound gained, feelings of self-doubt, depression, and questions about the future started to creep in. The pinnacle came when Sal looked down at the scale and read 298 pounds.

鈥淎t 250, I could still do a lot athletically. But nearly 300? That鈥檚 when I knew something had to change,鈥� he said. 

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A Prescription for Better Health

Sal鈥檚 moment of clarity came during a vulnerable conversation with a friend. 鈥淲e were talking, and I said, 鈥業 wonder if I have low testosterone,鈥欌�� Sal recalls.

His friend encouraged him to get checked and even recommended a physician. Sal agreed. He was soon shocked to learn that his hormone levels were indeed out of balance. 鈥淢y testosterone was that of a man nearly three times my age.鈥�

The doctor also told Sal he was prediabetic and urged him to make changes to his diet and physical fitness.

Sal was not enthusiastic.Erik And Christine Schei

Changing how he ate and forcing himself to move didn鈥檛 sound like fun. But he was a father now and being present for his family motivated him.

鈥淎t the end of the day, I realized I was going to feel better. But I began to have a lot of anxiety and depression over how to get to an ideal weight,鈥� he recalls.

According to the 黑料不打烊 Warrior Survey*, more than 8 in 10 warriors are overweight or obese. It is . However, a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of physical and mental health challenges. 

Weight gain wasn鈥檛 Sal鈥檚 only challenge, though. He also turned to alcohol for relief. 鈥淚 was self-medicating with alcohol just to be able to go out at night to play guitar and hang with friends. Then I鈥檇 drink myself to oblivion to go to sleep,鈥� he recalled.

With each pound gained, feelings of self-doubt, depression, and questions about the future started to creep in. The pinnacle came when Sal looked down at the scale and read 298 pounds.

鈥淎t 250, I could still do a lot athletically. But nearly 300? That鈥檚 when I knew something had to change,鈥� he said. 

Veterans, PTSD, and Substance Use 
 (NIAAA) reports that more than 50% of individuals with alcohol use disorder and co-occurring PTSD are military personnel and veterans.

Data from the Warrior Survey* shows over 43% of warriors who self-reported PTSD screened positive for potential hazardous drinking or active alcohol use disorders.

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A Prescription for Better Health

Sal鈥檚 moment of clarity came during a vulnerable conversation with a friend. 鈥淲e were talking, and I said, 鈥業 wonder if I have low testosterone,鈥欌�� Sal recalls.

His friend encouraged him to get checked and even recommended a physician. Sal agreed. He was soon shocked to learn that his hormone levels were indeed out of balance. 鈥淢y testosterone was that of a man nearly three times my age.鈥�

The doctor also told Sal he was prediabetic and urged him to make changes to his diet and physical fitness.

Sal was not enthusiastic.

Changing how he ate and forcing himself to move didn鈥檛 sound like fun. But he was a father now and being present for his family motivated him.

鈥淎t the end of the day, I realized I was going to feel better. But I began to have a lot of anxiety and depression over how to get to an ideal weight,鈥� he recalls.