ThanksToSarno
Peer Supporter
I am grateful to report that last month, I competed in my first powerlifting competition. If you would of told me this would happen a year ago i would of laughed in your face and told you it is literally impossible
I had minor back pain my entire adult life that always seemed to come and go for no reason. Around 2013 to 2016 it started to get progressively worse to the point i started to research on the internet and seek medical help. I had ceased all physical activity besides some light cardio and was doing PT every week for over a year. The medical diagnosis was damning: Hernaited discs, DDD and some other very scary diagnosis that i have since forgot.
They convinced me something was wrong, very wrong and that I was fragile. The worst part is i didn't even know what i had done to deserve this. "Oh maybe you lifted too much when you were younger" or "Its probably from sitting all day". Seems everyone had their own theory that they just randomly would pick that could make some logical sense.
I had given up most of the things i loved, stopped traveling and always had to baby myself. I used my back as an excuse to get out of many things. My character begin to change as well. I was becoming more timid and afraid.
Early 2016 I was really becoming frustrated. I had grown sick and tired of living in a cage. I knew something had to change. I'm a young man 32 years of age and i refused to believe this was my future.
I began to flirt with the idea of surgery and pills as the next step.
Luckily, I never made it that far before reading Dr Sarnos book in around Feb or March of 2016. I had actually known about the book for about a year before reading it. I just couldn't believe that reading a book could heal back pain. It took me quite a while to come around to the idea.
That started the journey. I would sit in a coffee shops for hours and read and journal every idea in the book.
I took Sarnos advice to heart.
I ceased all PT and begain excersing again.
I started slow. Real slow. I gradually built courage and started to see what i read in the book was true.
I've lived this journey every day since going further. Inch by inch. Centimeter by centimeter
Finally, I'm living my dream of powerlifting. Here is a video of my first meet, I deadlifted 385lbs, Squated 292lbs and benched 220lbs:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbbFCWCFZz4/?taken-by=brandonbb2323 (Instagram post by brandon hall • Nov 13, 2017 at 5:08am UTC)
This is only the beggining of my powerlifting journey, I plan on going much further.
All thanks to Dr. John Sarno. I owe you my life. I'm sad you passed away and i never got a chance to shake your hand, but you have changed the world in the most meaningful way.
There is a 0% chance i would be doing this if it were not for your work.
I should also add I consider TMS one of my greatest gifts. Its forced me to look at life in an entirely different way.
I had minor back pain my entire adult life that always seemed to come and go for no reason. Around 2013 to 2016 it started to get progressively worse to the point i started to research on the internet and seek medical help. I had ceased all physical activity besides some light cardio and was doing PT every week for over a year. The medical diagnosis was damning: Hernaited discs, DDD and some other very scary diagnosis that i have since forgot.
They convinced me something was wrong, very wrong and that I was fragile. The worst part is i didn't even know what i had done to deserve this. "Oh maybe you lifted too much when you were younger" or "Its probably from sitting all day". Seems everyone had their own theory that they just randomly would pick that could make some logical sense.
I had given up most of the things i loved, stopped traveling and always had to baby myself. I used my back as an excuse to get out of many things. My character begin to change as well. I was becoming more timid and afraid.
Early 2016 I was really becoming frustrated. I had grown sick and tired of living in a cage. I knew something had to change. I'm a young man 32 years of age and i refused to believe this was my future.
I began to flirt with the idea of surgery and pills as the next step.
Luckily, I never made it that far before reading Dr Sarnos book in around Feb or March of 2016. I had actually known about the book for about a year before reading it. I just couldn't believe that reading a book could heal back pain. It took me quite a while to come around to the idea.
That started the journey. I would sit in a coffee shops for hours and read and journal every idea in the book.
I took Sarnos advice to heart.
I ceased all PT and begain excersing again.
I started slow. Real slow. I gradually built courage and started to see what i read in the book was true.
I've lived this journey every day since going further. Inch by inch. Centimeter by centimeter
Finally, I'm living my dream of powerlifting. Here is a video of my first meet, I deadlifted 385lbs, Squated 292lbs and benched 220lbs:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbbFCWCFZz4/?taken-by=brandonbb2323 (Instagram post by brandon hall • Nov 13, 2017 at 5:08am UTC)
This is only the beggining of my powerlifting journey, I plan on going much further.
All thanks to Dr. John Sarno. I owe you my life. I'm sad you passed away and i never got a chance to shake your hand, but you have changed the world in the most meaningful way.
There is a 0% chance i would be doing this if it were not for your work.
I should also add I consider TMS one of my greatest gifts. Its forced me to look at life in an entirely different way.
Last edited:
). This video was taken about 6 months after i finished reading John Sarno's book in 2016. The first few months after reading i returned to light weights and dumbbells. I still didn't think I'd ever do big compound lifts like the squat or deadlift again. It was hard to imagine since picking up my clothes presented a challenge at times.
