A 78-year-old Palm Springs man will compete in the West Coast Classic bodybuilding competition, calling it a “life-changing journey.”

John “Juan” Gonzales has characterized himself as having been in a “deep depression” prior to his career as a bodybuilder. The passing of his partner in 2019 has left the man, who is now 78 years old and lives in Palm Springs, searching for meaning in his life.

He talked things over with a counselor, who gave him some pointers. Exercising was one of the suggestions. The plan was to redirect Gonzales’ attention to something constructive in the hopes of boosting his morale and giving him back his sense of direction along with his feeling of ambition.

Now, around 2 and a half years later, Gonzales has undergone a total transformation of his body as well as his life, losing over 60 pounds in the process. Gonzales, who weighs 175 pounds, will be one of the competitors competing in the major West Coast Classic bodybuilding competition on Saturday. This event, which will take place at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage, is expected to attract thousands of people.

Gonzales remarked, “I feel as though I’ve been given a fresh perspective on life.” “This trip has made a significant impact on my life.”

Josh Egli, Gonzales’s personal trainer, said that after working with Gonzales for over two years, he is still amazed at the progress that he has been able to observe first-hand and that it continues to amaze him.

Egli stated that it was not just a physical but also a mental challenge. “That’s a total about-face. Before, he looked at life with an attitude of ‘Ehh, whatever,’ but now he has an entirely fresh perspective on life in general. Now, he is accomplishing things that he never imagined he was capable of, and he is in a really good situation, mentally, physically, spiritually, and probably in every other way as well.

Gonzales, who will age 79 in September, started off by going to the gym, and as he started to find more purpose in his life, he started engaging in other things that were similarly rewarding. He started off as a volunteer at Serenity Hospice, where he said he sought ways to cheer up the emotions of other people.

In addition, Gonzales made time for other things that he had been wanting to participate in, such as going on hikes and going for runs, as well as engaging in social activities with his friends and participating in other opportunities to volunteer.

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In the end, however, he maintained his concentration on getting into what he considered to be the best shape of his entire life. After a long and successful career in the automotive industry in Torrance, he remarked that now that he is retired, he is putting in the same amount of effort as he did when he was younger, but it is more satisfying.

A portion of this involves improving his diet, getting out of the home every day to engage in physical activity, and, according to him, pausing more frequently to appreciate the wonderful things that are all around him in the Coachella Valley.

Egli expressed his astonishment at the fact that someone in their later 70s has shown such a strong commitment to enhancing their quality of life through increased physical activity.

Exercise, a healthy diet, and all of that is important, according to Egli. “It involves more than just swiping weights. The entire lifestyle it is.

Gonzales, who is older than most of his rivals and will compete on Saturday in the 60+ class, He claimed that it has resulted in more novel experiences, such as numerous spray tans to get ready for the event and waxing his body hair.

Gonzales claimed that while he was initially anxious about the bodybuilding contest, he is now prepared for what should be a thrilling occasion. He isn’t concerned about how he will perform despite not knowing.

Gonzales remarked, “I’ve experienced all the feelings. “I didn’t feel prepared for a very long time, but now I do. I’ve put in the work and am confident in my readiness.”

Though he admitted that this aspect of the tournament isn’t precisely his favorite. Showing the audience what one guy can accomplish in an endeavor to overcome loss and serving as proof that, in his words, “hope springs eternal” will be his favorite moment.

The most significant aspect of my story, according to Gonzales, is that many adults my age tend to give up on things. You’re not finished until you’re finished, in my opinion. When I first started, I had no idea how drastically my life would improve.