MS Fighter

When you’re living with MS, forget about the 30-challenge, 12-week transformations, or chasing one-time personal records. This shit is a lifetime fight. And the truth is—most people aren’t built for that. They chase quick wins. We, however, build lasting resilience. See, MS doesn’t care about your numbers in the gym, how many burpees you can do, or how shredded your abs are for summer. It cares about one thing—can you keep showing up when your body’s fighting from the inside out? For me, training isn’t a hobby. It’s not a therapy. It’s a war. It’s how I stay dangerous. It’s how I prove to myself—every single day—that this disease won’t have the final word. Long-term strength isn’t built with ego lifts or overnight results. It’s built through grit, consistency, discipline, and the ability to adapt without losing your edge. That’s what this post is about—how I’ve built a training system that isn’t just about today’s workout, but about staying in this fight for the next 10, 20, 30 years (for eternity!). If you’ve been knocked down, slowed down, or counted out—good. That means you’re still in it. Now let’s talk about how to train like it.

My Core Training Philosophy.

The way I train isn’t about chasing numbers on a barbell or sculpting the perfect physique (although I like both). Primarily it’s about one thing: staying in the fight. Physically. Mentally. Every damn day. When you live with MS, you don’t have the luxury of treating training like a hobby. It becomes a weapon—one that keeps you sharp, mobile, and resilient. But to wield it properly, you need a philosophy built for the long haul, not quick fixes. 

Here’s mine:

Strength, resilience, and adaptability comes first

Forget aesthetics. Forget gym trends. My training is built around what keeps me strong, keeps me moving, and keeps my nervous system from getting overwhelmed. Strength isn’t solely about muscles—it’s about the ability to stay upright when life hits harder than any weight room ever could. That means:

• Prioritizing compounds lifts, e.g., squats, deadlifts, presses, carries, and pulls.
• Focusing on movement quality over weight.
• Programming for sustainability, not Instagram PRs.

I’m not here to impress anyone. I’m here to endure. MS isn’t an excuse—it’s a variable. A lot of people use their diagnosis as a reason to stop. I use mine as a reason to keep going, smarter. MS is simply part of the equation. It affects my fatigue levels, balance, recovery, and sometimes, coordination. But it doesn’t decide whether I show up or not. It just changes how I approach the fight. Some days it’s 5 heavy sets. Some days it’s mobility work, light dumbbells, or boxing drills. But the mission stays the same—the tactics shift.

Although there’s so much about MS that’s unpredictable, I focus on what I can control. And there’s plenty of it:

• What time I get up.
• What I eat.
• How I breathe.
• How I train.
• How I treat others.
• How I handle adversity.

I win those battles. Daily. And by doing that, I stay mentally and physically ready for the fights I don’t see coming. I don’t chase perfect workouts or flawless weeks. I chase consistency—small wings that stack up over years. You’ll never hear me brag about a perfect streak. What I will tell you about is how I’ve trained through:

• Fatigue so bad I could barely grip a bar.
• Days where my legs felt like concrete.
• Weeks where stress made my symptoms flare.

But I keep moving. I did what I could, with that I had, right where I was. That’s the core of my training philosophy—show up, adjust, fight, repeat.

Building a Sustainable Strength Base.

Look—anyone can train hard for a few weeks. But if you’re living with MS, you don’t need a 6-week “beast mode” program. You need a strength base you can rely on through flare-ups, fatigue, stress, and life. That’s what I’ve built, and it’s why I’m still lifting, boxing, and moving 10+ years into this fight. Let’s break it down.

Why compound, functional lifts are KING

When you’re dealing with unpredictable energy, muscle weakness, and balance issues—isolation exercises and trendy circuits don’t cut it. I build my training around the big, foundational movements (e.g., squats, deadlifts, push presses, pull-ups, rows, loaded carries). Why? Because these moves train your whole body, demand coordination, build balance, and translate directly to real-life strength. If you can pick up a heavy weight, carry it across the room, and put it down without breaking—you’re ahead of the game.

A lot of people—MS or not—jump ahead to complicated routines. That’s a mistake in my opinion. With MS, every rep matters. Form control, posture, and breathing need to be dialed in. Sloppy reps aren’t just ineffective—they’re dangerous when your nervous system is working overtime. I mastered the basics first. Proper squat form (bodyweight before barbell). Bracing my core under load. Controlling tempi—slower, deliberate reps. Focusing on range of motion that feels safe but challenging. It wasn’t sexy. But it laid a foundation strong enough to build everything else on.

Yes, getting stronger means gradually increasing the weight, reps, or intensity over time. But with MS, you have to respect your nervous system.

How I do it:

• I track my Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) on every lift.
• I don’t chase personal records recklessly—I build them patiently.
• I use micro-loading (up to 5 kg at a time)
• I listen for MS warning signs, i.e., blurred vision, tremors, dizziness, numbness.
• If symptoms kick up—I adjust. No ego. No guilt.

Progress with MS isn’t linear, but if you keep showing up smart, it’s inevitable. The key isn’t going hard for a few months—it’s being able to train 30+ years from now. This means cycling heavy and light phases. Taking planned deload weeks. Swapping barbell workout for kettlebells, bands, or bodyweight when necessary. Prioritizing mobility, balance, and core stability year-round. Your strength base isn’t just about muscle—it’s your shield against MS symptoms.

The Role of Cycles and Phases.

If you treat every training week the same—you’re setting yourself up to fail. Especially when you live with MS, your nervous system needs time to build, recover, and adapt. The secret to long-term strength is knowing when to push, when to pull back, and when to shift your focus. That’s where training cycles and phases come in. I don’t just train aimlessly. I train in strategic waves—built around what my body needs, and what my mind can handle. There are 4 phases I rotate through:

#1 Foundation phase. Master the basics.

• Focus on technique, stability, controlled volume.
• Lighter weights, slower reps, strict form.
• Prioritize mobility, balance, and mind-muscle connection.
• Build the base that everything else stands on.
• If I’ve had a flare-up or time off—I always restart here.

Why? Because if your foundation’s weak, your strength’s an illusion.

#2 Strength phase. Controlled intensity.

• Focus—gradually increase loads, lower reps, tighter control.
• Compound lifts stay heavy—3 to 6 reps.
• Prioritize rest, recovery, and nervous system management.
• Cut out junk volume and flashy movements.
• Track RPE closely and leave 1+2 reps in the tank on bad days.

This is where you build the armor—without breaking yourself.

#3 Resilience phase. Build work capacity.

• Focus—volume, conditioning, mental toughness.
• Use circuits, loaded carries, boxing drills, sled pushes.
• Moderate weights, higher reps, explosive movements.
• Push through discomfort, build grit, and get used to staying uncomfortable.
• Keep sessions shorter and intense—manage MS fatigue carefully.

Resilience isn’t about being comfortable—it’s about being unbreakable.

#4 Deload & recovery phase. Recharge.

• Focus—drop weight by 30-50 %, reduce volume.
• Prioritize movement quality, flexibility, and mobility.
• Increase rest days.
• Light cardio, mobility flows, bodyweight work.
• Reassess, reset, and get ready to start the next cycle stronger.

This isn’t weakness—it’s strategy. Rest is how you stay dangerous.

Why I don’t follow rigid schedules? Because MS doesn’t care what your calendar says. Some weeks, I’m a machine—hitting PRs, crushing circuits, feeling unstoppable. Other weeks, fatigue slams me like a truck. I adjust. If I’m strong—I lean into it. If I’m struggling—I dial it back. If I’m in survival mode—I move, stretch, and recover. The mission stays the same, but the tactics flex with the fight. This isn’t quitting. It’s knowing how to fight smarter.

Handling Setbacks and Flare-Ups.

Let’s get one thing straight—they’re going to happen. If you’re living with MS, there’s no avoiding setbacks, flare-ups, or tough days where your body just won’t cooperate. But here’s the difference…some people let those moments define them. I refuse. This isn’t about pretending everything’s fine—it’s about how I fight through it. And you should too.

First of all, expect the setbacks and plan for the fight. A lot of people treat setbacks like personal failures. I treat them like tactical pauses. They’re part of this life—like getting hit in a fight. When it happens, you’ve got two choices:

• Stay down and feel sorry for yourself.
• Get up, regroup, and swing again.

I always choose the second option. I’ve learned to expect them, to plan for them, and to build my life in a way that allows room for bad days without losing sight of the mission. Here’s how I do when a flare-up hits:

• Drop the ego down. If I can’t lift heavy, I won’t. I’ll stretch, walk, hit light dumbbells, or do some shadow boxing.
• Prioritize recovery. More sleep, better nutrition, mobility work, cold exposure—everything that helps my system calm down.
• Focus on what I can control. My attitude. My breath. My mindset. My routine. These don’t get to slip, no matter what.

It’s not about giving up. It’s about adjusting the strategy without surrendering the fight. Additionally, I use these setbacks as data, not defeat. When MS symptoms flare-up, I don’t just get frustrated. I ask why.

• Was my recovery off?
• Did I push too hard too soon?
• Was stress or poor sleep pilling up?
• Did I ignore early warning signs?

Setbacks are information. I learn from every one of them—tweaking my program, my diet, my habits. That’s how you keep evolving while staying in the fight. Here’s one rule I live by—no zero days. Even on the hardest days, I do something:

• A mobility routine.
• Breathing exercises.
• A 10-minute stretch.
• A short walk.
• Cold shower.
• Shadowboxing in my living room.

This keeps the chain alive. It reminds me that I’m still in control, even when my body feels out of sync. MS might land a few hits, but I’ll never stay down.

You Don’t Break. You Adapt.

Here’s the truth they don’t tell you in the brochures—living with MS is a fight. Some days you’ll be strong. Some days you’ll feel wrecked. But strength isn’t about never getting knocked down—it’s about refusing to stay there. Every setback, every flare-up, every frustrating day is just another test. And you don’t fail unless you quit. I’ve built my body, my mind, and my life around one unshakable principle—you adapt. You overcome. You keep moving. This isn’t weakness—it’s tactical. It’s survival. And it’s what separates MS fighters from the rest. That’s this life. That’s this fight. And if you’re reading this, you’re already in the ring with me.

Now it’s your turn—drop a comment and tell me how you handle your bad days. Your routine. Your mindset. The little things that keep you moving when MS tries to drop you. We fight better together. Stay dangerous. Stay standing. Stay fighting.