CHEK Institute Certified Holistic Lifestyle Coach

Writer, Perspective-provider, Me

My athletic life began at age 5 when I picked up a soccer ball. Soccer came naturally to me and by the age of 13 I found myself on a path towards scholarships and expectations. At that same time in my early teenage life I developed a passion for music, and all-too-often soccer and music clashed. When I was 18, I was faced with a life-changing decision: soccer scholarships or the band. I chose the latter because it made me happy, and through hard work my peers and I found ourselves touring the world year-round and had released three albums from 2005-2011. As you could imagine, finding a good meal on the road or getting in a good work out were tasks in and of themselves. After my first year of touring and neglecting my athletic abilities, I decided to dedicate my travels to not only my music, but to my health, as well. And so my pursuit began…

In 2008, my newfound friend whom I met through touring, Chris Dillon, introduced me to a realm of health that didn’t involve commercial-grade supplements, magazine work out plans, or compacted health bars – it was Holistic Health. He suggested that I purchase Paul Chek‘s book How to Eat, Move, and be Healthy, which opened my eyes to a perspective I had never considered. The book was the important turning point/perspective shift I needed for my life.

Since I began touring in 2005, my diets, exercise programs, supplements, and weight have fluctuated drastically (skinny vs muscular)…

• 2005-2006 = 170-180 pounds
• December 2007 = 180 pounds
• July 2008 = 160 pounds
• February 2009 = 215 pounds
• July 2009 = 200 pounds
• December 2009 = 210 pounds
• Currently 2012 = 190-200 pounds

You name it and I’ve probably tried it, applied it, drank it, ate it, or administered it. I’ve gone from one diet to the next, strict to lax to strict to in-between, one exercise routine to another, from overtrained to trained just right, from being against supplements to literally packing half of my suitcase full of them when I traveled…

I experienced every sort of emotion and undertook all sorts of personalities. I was on a self-made roller coaster trying to find who I was. I often treated my dear friends, girlfriends, and family members with negativity, as I projected (and blamed) my “self” unhappiness onto others. I felt that no matter what physical changes that I made, I was still unhappy… but I just couldn’t put my finger on why! It wasn’t until this past year (2011) when I realized how often I had changed myself over the years and, more importantly, why: I was emotionally unhappy with myself and I tried to fix that unhappiness through physical means. Not only was that “solution” unrealistic, but I actually made myself physically sick, tired, and weak at various points in my life. My unhappiness stemmed from how I experienced my world, how I experienced myself through judgements, how I experienced assumed expectations, and how I experienced my family, friends, and loved ones from a young age up until present day. I kept trying to “run away” or “prove” my self worth to others, but I failed to realize that those were only symptoms of an underlying cause.

I’ve learned a lot in my pursuit, much more than I had expected to know when I first began because I’ve made countless mistakes and am constantly learning from them. Mistakes, regrets, or pain aren’t bad at all – they are our experiences telling us what not to do and it is important for us to be aware rather than ignore.

Would I have been better off without those experiences? Absolutely not. I am who I am today because of those experiences and I would not have it any other way. I can only take the best of each situation by learning from my actions and reactions.

Through all of my trials and errors I have seen a few reoccurring themes that remain constant…

Diet and exercise are important factors, but they are certainly not the whole solution. Thoughts and emotions influence diet and exercise.

The Physical Body is a representation/manifestation of the Non-Physical Body. What we experience internally (mind) will directly correlate to what we experience externally (body).

Every experience that I have been through was absolutely necessary to get me to where I am today. Life often teaches by giving the exam first and the lesson afterwards.

The most impactful pursuit to find out what does work for me, what I do want, and who I want to be, is through experiencing and learning what doesn’t work for me, what I don’t want, and who I am not.

Love myself and others no matter what – unconditionally. Truly appreciate the life that I have, the body that I have, the mind that I have, and the experiences that I have (and have had).

Change is the only constant in our lives. It can only be a benefit when it is truly accepted or embraced.

In my “tagline,” I chose the phrase (whole)istic health because I believe health is more than just eating a few salads or running a few miles every day. True health comes from within – beginning with our Spiritual Health, which affects our Emotional Health, which affects our Mental Health, which affects our Physical Health; a whole body experience. Too many dwell on physical health and appearance, while few consider who and what controls the physical body. Our Physical Health is merely a manifestation of our non-physical faith, beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and mental state.

The information shared within this website and within my Lifestyle Coaching are a culmination of my perspectives throughout the years: What it means to be healthy as I define it. I understand that we all have different definitions of health, different definitions of right and wrong, and different definitions of wants and needs so I ask that you take similar perspectives into consideration.

My words are not scripture, rather an opinion based off of my experiences and knowledge from those experiences. Take all of my words, take some of my words, or take none at all. There isn’t a right or wrong, there isn’t an I’m right or you’re wrong, there isn’t a good or bad. What exists is a perspective.

What is healthy today may be considered unhealthy tomorrow. Trial and error what works for you because you are the only one who knows how to fulfill your definition of health. Listen to your body, mind, and spirit for they yield all of the answers that you seek.

Thank you.

Happy trails,
JD Perry

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