When Fitness Isn’t Enough: My Wake-Up Call and the Health Lesson Every Man Needs
In 2018, I walked away from the gym I had poured my heart and soul into. I left London. Sold my shares. Moved to Byron Bay (East Coast Australia), chasing sun, surf, and space to breathe.
From the outside, it looked like a bold life pivot. A clean break. A midlife upgrade.
But the truth?
I was exhausted. Burnt out. Strung out. And completely disconnected from my own health.
The Build-Up I Didn’t See Coming
I’d spent years building something I was proud of, Momentum Training, a successful gym in East London with an incredible community. I’d coached hundreds of clients, created powerful programs, and built a business that mattered.
But behind all the success, I was burning the candle at both ends.
Training hard. Feeling fit, strong, and healthy.
Working long hours. Building a business I loved.
But sacrificing rest, recovery, and any semblance of balance in the name of service and success.
At the time, I didn’t see it. I thought I was just doing what it took.
But I was slowly breaking down.
The Great Escape (That Wasn’t)
When I finally left London, I thought I was fixing the problem.
Byron Bay seemed like the solution. Beautiful beaches, clean air, farmers markets, a slower lifestyle. I imagined that once I got there, everything would fall into place.
But six months in, my body had other plans.
I was sleeping poorly. Waking up tired. Struggling with energy, motivation, and mood.
Even though I was working less and training less, I felt worse.
That’s when the alarm bells really started to ring.
The Wake-Up Call
I started working with an integrative doctor, ran functional blood work, and finally got some answers:
Flat cortisol
Zero DHEA
Fried adrenals
Hemochromatosis (high iron)
On paper, I was doing everything right. I was eating clean. Moving daily. Getting sunshine. Living in a health-focused town.
But the truth was, I was operating with a system that was overloaded and out of alignment.
So I got to work:
I donated blood regularly to manage the hemochromatosis.
Pulled back even more on training, to allow my body to recover.
Tightened up my diet removing all ultra processed foods, gluten, seed oils, refined sugar, and all ultra-processed foods.
I was never a big drinker, but I stopped drinking alcohol all together.
Started taking supplements to support my body.
Still, I wasn’t feeling better.
My mind was racing and not matter what I did, I couldn't sleep.
At one point, I was taking CBD oil and THC oils just so I could sleep.
Digging Deeper
That’s when I did what most men don’t.
I kept asking questions.
I ran genetic testing and discovered I had the MTHFR gene mutation, which affects methylation and detoxification. More testing revealed high mercury levels, likely built up over years of my body not being able to properly detoxify.
Finally, I had a real breakthrough.
I bought a home sauna. Started a targeted detox protocol. Worked with functional medicine professionals. Boosted certain nutrients with smart supplementation. Rested deeper. Slowed down more.
And slowly, I began to feel like myself again.
Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
That healing didn’t just give me back my health.
It gave me back me.
What I’d Tell That Burnt-Out Version of Me
Looking back, I can see the whole story now. The invisible cost of pushing harder.
The toll of always being “on.”
The way stress quietly chips away at your foundation until there’s nothing left to stand on.
The fact that training and diet are not the solution to optimal health alone.
And if I could speak to the man I was back in the gym days then, I’d say:
👉 You can’t out-train stress. Not with muscle. Not with clean food. Not with discipline.
👉 Real health requires more than willpower, it demands awareness, space, and strategy.
👉 Just because you look the part doesn’t mean you’re thriving inside.
Why This Story Matters Now
I share this because I see so many men in midlife walking that same tightrope.
They’ve done everything right, built the body, the career, the business. But inside? They’re worn out. Uninspired. Disconnected.
They’re chasing performance… while ignoring their physiology.
Following routine… while suppressing intuition.
Outwardly successful… but inwardly lost.
That’s why we created Midlife Mavericks.
Because no one taught us how to navigate this part of life. Our mission is to teach men to pause, reassess, and reclaim their health—not just physically, but functionally. Not just for aesthetics, but for longevity, clarity, vitality, and purpose.
The Values I Now Live and Coach By
🔹 Health as a Priority Not just fitness, but real, deep, cellular health. Nervous system, hormones, detox pathways, and recovery. Proactive health lead by testing and data, not by fads, bro-science and guesswork.
🔹 Self-Responsibility No outsourcing. No waiting for permission. I became my own health advocate, and I help other men do the same. Your health is your responsibility, own it!
🔹 Curiosity & Growth Symptoms are messengers. If something’s off, we go deeper. We ask why. We dig until we understand. We don't suppress symptoms with pharmaceuticals or BS stories, we investigate the root cause.
🔹 Integrity When my life no longer reflected my values, I walked away. Even when it was hard. Even when it didn’t make sense to others. Life's too short to not align it with what matters most.
🔹 Leadership This isn’t just about me anymore. This is about guiding other men through their own transitions, so they can lead from a place of alignment, not exhaustion.
Where Are You in Your Story?
If you’re in midlife and something feels off…
If the wheels are wobbling, or falling off completely…
If you’ve tried all the “right” things but still feel tired, flat, or disconnected…
It’s not because you’re broken. It’s because you’re evolving. You just need the right map.
That’s what we offer inside Midlife Mavericks Fellowship.
Because you deserve to feel strong, clear, and energized, not just for a season, but for life.
Ready to check in with yourself?
👉 Start with the free Midlife Assessment Scorecard, it’s your first step toward clarity, connection, and a future you’re proud of.
