Extreme Fitness is my heart and soul.  It is everything I believe, everything I’ve learned, and everything I am.  I grew up like most people into health and fitness…overweight!  After struggling with weight issues through childhood, I decided to make a change in my life.  I was raised to put my heart into everything, no matter how small the task was.  Go beyond the standards.  Slowly, I began to raise my own personal standard.  My parents taught me that the only limitations in life are the ones we set for ourselves.  It was this limitless mindset that pushed my siblings and I to achieve high ranks in Martial Arts at very young ages.  When it came to fitness, weights were pointless and boring.  I had to take it a step further.  After watching the Men’s Gymnastic competition during the ’95 Olympics Games, I saw what REAL strength was. In our garage, my brother and I built a set of gymnastic rings out of chains and PVC pipe.  Fitness became a way of life and therapy.  Before celebrating my 20th birthday, I had completed the Los Angeles Marathon, and several sprint Triathlons, 5k’s, 10k’s, and Mud Run’s without ever having a gym membership.

I was always fascinated with our Military.  I knew I wanted to be a soldier.  Of course, I had to be the best.  After 2 years of attending Citrus Community college studying Health Science, on September 7th, 2001, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  Upon completion of Recruit Training, I was sent to San Diego’s Naval Special Warfare Center for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (Bud/S).  It was at Bud/S that I learned, first hand, what the human mind is capable of.   I also learned that attitudes are infectious.  Attitudes are very powerful and a negative attitude breeds mediocrity.  With a positive attitude, you can move the world.  After 5 years of traveling the world, awesome people, and humbling experiences, my enlistment was up.  I was aboard the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while becoming a father to Jasmine Isabella Castaneda on June 15, 2006.  After missing the birth of my only child, it was time that I go where I was truly needed, home.

Within 6 months of being home, Extreme Fitness was created.  With the help of my brother, the support of my Dad, and the constant supervision of my Mother, I developed training structured like no other.  It encompasses strength, endurance, speed and power all at once and in every workout.  With over 100 exercises, workouts are never duplicated.  Students never know what they will be doing, how long they will do it for, or what’s next.  It forces your mind to let go of structure and prepare for the unknown.  Tears are shed, obscenities are yelled, and mental breakdowns occur.  Collapse is not uncommon.  The struggles of life make us who we are.  How we deal with obstacles develops our strength and sharpens our wits.  Extreme Fitness provides physical obstacles.  Once our students realize they can overcome the most difficult physical obstacles, they know they can overcome mental obstacles as well.  They begin to handle every aspect of life with the same undefeatable attitude.

Extreme Fitness Nutrition is founded on the belief that special diets do not work. What does work is living a healthy and active life style that you would enjoy throughout life. That is the key to living healthy. My goal with Extreme Fitness Nutrition is to educate rather than instruct or command. I spend time getting to know everyone so that I can accommodate their lifestyle as well as body type and nutritional necessities. I show them the right way to eat and live healthy by learning the type of foods they normally like to eat and teaching them how to make healthier choices from those foods. I ensure that our clients, not only, achieve healthy results soon, but learn to make healthier choices that continue throughout their lifetime.

I, personally, understand the mental struggles most people have undergone and continue to undergo with weight issues. I have been on different diets most of my life. The first diet that I ever experimented with was given to me by my mother when she told me to stop eating bread. I was 8 years old and already worried about what was going into my body. Through childhood and early adolescence, I struggled with weight issues and continued to battle food until I began college at Southern Illinois University in 2003. After many years of being overweight, trying diet after diet, and dealing with self-consciousness, I learned the secret to achieving health, fitness, confidence, and a body I was proud of! Living in America, we all see the hundreds of ways to lose weight, feel good, and live healthy. ÒFor three, easy, payments of $49.99, you can achieve the perfect body without breaking a sweat in this 8 minute workout!Ó The secret was not on T.V. The secret was, in fact, not even a secret, but the truth that many of us avoid. Hard work, desire, dedication, discipline, and commitment will never be sold in a box. I made the choice to step out of my comfort zone and work like I've never worked before. I found the discipline within myself to do what I put off for so long. I made the decision, not only to help myself, but to help as many people as possible. I wanted to study nutrition and lead by example.

I attended a figure competition and was amazed by the way the competitors on stage were able to sculpt their bodies. Within the year, I was competing on the very same stage as those I had once envied. Since my first show, I have continued to progress in my personal health and fitness as well as my education and knowledge of nutrition. Currently, I am a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach whom has happily aided many people in achieving their health and fitness goals. Along with my degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from SIU, I have continued my education and will be attending culinary school to better aid my clients as a Personal Chef. My passion for helping achieve fitness goals continues to grow every day. I am ecstatic to be fortunate enough to help those who rely on me as well as the Extreme Fitness Nutrition staff. We can not be categorized with today's fitness industry. We are not a corporation looking to profit from empty promises and false hope of results. We take pride in being different because we value truth and honesty. We believe in friendly support and making your goals our goals. That's what it takes to make a difference.