So, who am I?
Say hello to young Marco, I had a great upbringing but was an anxious and insecure teen. I was incredibly self-conscious about the way I looked and felt too. I didn't know what anxiety was at the time but I sure felt it. (A commonality amongst many kids).
For a frame of reference, I was very short and small/frail. Going into my FRESHMAN YEAR of high school I was:
- 5'3"
- 13 years old
- 100lbs soaking wet
- Hated most things about myself (you can see it in my "smile")
The bullying started in 6th grade but followed me till the 10th. It was the whole 9 yards: name-calling, fights, getting my face slammed into a water fountain, bully circles, being completely emasculated, etc. I would wake up and be nervous to go to school because of what I knew I would endure.
It's sad but... I felt like I couldn't tell my parents any of this. I was seriously nervous about what they would think of me. "Am I just a loser?" or "How am I going to make any friends?" are questions I asked myself TOO often.
I remember vividly waking up one day and looking at myself in the mirror before school and saying... "enough is enough". The only way I was going to change the situation I was in... was to literally change myself. Physically and Mentally. This is when I found fitness and decided to take my first "progress pics".
I was nervous, but I went up to the most jacked kid in my grade and asked "What do you do? I'm trying to look like you". Thankfully, he took me under his wing, brought me to the gym, and showed me the ropes. The rest came easy.
Between P90X 3 (Tony Horton the OG) in my downtime and getting into the gym... I finally started to see some results. Let me tell you... I was hooked. The glimmer of potential I saw in the mirror began to shine a little brighter.
Then came jiu-jitsu, my second saving grace. I knew I needed to learn to protect myself, so I asked my parents if I could attend. My confidence and ability to handle physical altercations began to skyrocket. The path of torment began to diminish.
So I kept going... I kept training jiu-jitsu and got my blue belt. Ended up joining my highschool powerlifitng team and placing at districts! I was feeling more and more confident. Things were 100% looking up. At this point I knew fitness and wellbeing was going to be a huge part of my life.
Then graduation rolled around (circa 2017). Excited for college and at my peak physique. Going from living my entire childhood in SRQ to moving to Orlando to study at UCF (GKCO!). Nervous once again but ready for the change.
In all fairness, college hit me pretty hard. I started to lose sight of everything I had worked for.
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It was at this time that I was really struggling mentally and physically again. Issues with eating, anxiety, and depression started to creep back into my life.
Flash forward 2 years, I lost everything
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- My girlfriend at the time left me
- I stopped weight training and jiu-jitsu
- Absolute peak depression and anxiety
- I had no idea who I even was anymore
So I did the same thing my younger self did. I looked in the mirror and promised myself I would never look or feel like that ever again.
I cut my hair and shook off the dust, it was time to take care of myself again. Covid hit at the same time so quarantine lifts were what I had to endure. I had also started therapy a few years prior and I would not be here without it. You have to talk about what's going on in your life. It works wonders.
Then I met my best friend, he pulled me out of the darkness I was in and helped me find who I was again. He introduced me to his friends and they all became like family. It goes to show how important it is to have a great support system in your life. Seeking out true friendship was pivotal in helping me along my path to healing.
Between the support system I had, my family, my friends, and the gym. I started to understand what happiness was again. The shades of my life were no longer grey and bleak. I started to feel whole once more.
Then I blinked... and a lot happened.
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- I graduated from UCF in 2022 with a degree in clinical health sciences.
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- Went to Europe for a month and explored.
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- Started a corporate sales job doing inside sales for an HR company.
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During my 9-5 I realized I was not making the impact I wanted... at all. 75 to 80 calls a day was not on my bingo card for a career. It paid the bills, so I stuck it out. I knew I desired more though... I also knew that I loved fitness and wellbeing more than anything. So I did what any sensible person would do...
I QUIT!
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I immediately started studying for my Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification from the NSCA. I completed the exam in April 2024 and passed (with so much gratitude). I knew I wanted to start training people and show them what fitness can do for them, as it did for me.
A few months later and a few more tattoos, I am doing everything I've ever dreamed of.
- I've taken back control of my life
- I've locked back in
- I've proven to myself you. can. do. anything.
I look back at my younger self and wish I had someone like who I am in the present to guide me. To help me communicate my challenges or navigate my hardships. Little did I know I had it in the bag this whole time. My journey is far from over but... moral of the story:
Bet on yourself.
No matter where you are in your journey, I am proud of you and what you have accomplished.
That's It!
Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my story and see where I'm coming from. The goal of this website and program is to combat bullying and help you look within to make you the best version of yourself! It takes a lot of courage to speak up, but I'm here to help. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to fill out an application or email me!
