Ten years ago, Mary Champion was unrecognizable to herself and her loved ones. She was nearly immobile and had been diagnosed with several autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis, systemic lupus, and diabetes. She was taking 32 pills and two shots a day, had gained nearly 100 pounds due to her steroid prescriptions and lack of mobility, and was struggling both mentally and physically. Mary, 70, is now active, has restored mobility, and feels healthier than ever — and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences with taking her health into her own hands.
Growing up in Memphis, Mary was an avid runner, which helped her stay fit while training to join the Army at a young age. During her time in the military, maintaining fitness was mandatory. Mary thrived when remaining active, utilizing distance running to ensure she passed the military fitness requirements. Despite her high levels of fitness, Mary began experiencing symptoms like numbness in her legs after running and was eventually diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
Her physical symptoms took a downward turn after the birth of her second son when Mary began running a 105-degree fever- which, as a retired Army nurse, Mary knew was much higher than a typical fever would ever be. After lots of tests and unanswered questions, Mary was eventually diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), another debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by lesions in the brain that reduce physical function. The medication she was prescribed for her autoimmune conditions caused Mary to be lethargic and made it difficult for her to maintain her fitness. “I decided I needed to get some normalcy back into my life, and what I was doing at the time was not helping me to get any better,” Mary remembers.
Mary consulted with WellnessMD and found that doctors there helped her find solutions to regain function for good without the need for constant medication. In 2016, Mary began receiving infusion treatments at WellnessMD and immediately saw improvements in her physical symptoms associated with her autoimmune disorders. Additionally, she changed her diet, focusing on whole fruits and vegetables and clean protein sources. “The improvements I have seen over the last eight years have been astonishing. I still have the lesions in my brain associated with MS, but my physical symptoms have completely healed,” Mary says. She lost over 70 pounds, started lifting weights, and all her diseases are in remission.
After her experience finding wellness, Mary returned to school for her master’s degree in nutrition. In 2017, Mary opened BetterLifeTraining (BLT) Fitness + Nutrition, a gym offering personal training, nutrition consultation, and other services. “I focus on whole-body health, not just looks. If you follow the right fitness and nutrition, the looks will come. I look and feel better than ever at 70. I want everyone to know that with the right knowledge, they can find wellness, too,” Mary says.
Learn more about Mary and BLT Fitness at BLTfitnessandnutrition.com.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
