MEET THE FITNESS REBELS
Chase Rojas
Name: Chase Rojas
Anytime Fitness Title: O2i, Owner to Inspire
Anytime Fitness Location: Roanoke, Stephenville and Keller, Texas. Hurst, Texas – COMING SOON!
My weakness: I believe preparation and confidence can turn any weakness into strength. I do have a fear of not living up to my own expectations, and not having the impact I know I am capable of making on the world.
What keeps me motivated: Someone telling me I cannot do something is usually my ultimate motivation. I am also extremely motivated and inspired by fitness newbies when they have their “light bulb moment.” There is nothing like seeing someone’s hard work beginning to culminate into something great.
Working Out Sucks, but: being an Inspiration doesn’t! It all starts with one step. After the first step, it’s just one foot in front of the other. Being an inspiration to someone is an extremely gratifying feeling that can propel you to places you’ve never imagined possible. Embrace the opportunity to inspire!
I feel my best when: I finish what I start.
If I could tell the world one thing about exercise and fitness it would be: If you fall, get back up! Success is not measured by the amount of times you fall, but by the number of times you pick yourself back up.
The hardest thing I have ever had to overcome in my life: has been Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease. You’re probably wondering what the hell Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease is, right? Only one out of every 1,200 children are diagnosed with this condition, and let me be the first to say…it sucks! It’s a part of my life I haven’t even shared with some of my closest friends.
When I was five-years-old, my parents noticed I limped when I ran with the other children (even with my major limp I was still the fastest kid on the playground). My father would ask me if my legs hurt, but fearing that I would have to stop playing with the other children, I always told him I was fine.
Once the limp and pain became too much to bear, my parents took me to a doctor who diagnosed me with LCPD. I was essentially a real, live Forrest Gump. They fitted me with extremely uncomfortable leg braces, which forced me to walk awkwardly. Even at a young age, I was very fearful of being different. I worried about whether I would be able to play baseball or play outside with my friends. I was concerned people would look at me differently.
My mother and father still tell me how incredibly strong I was given the challenges I faced. The years went by and the braces stayed on, rubbing my legs raw day by day, but I refused to give up. I refused to be treated differently, even though I was.
When I was seven, much to the dismay of the other parents, I was voted onto my city’s all-star team. They viewed me as different, and saw me as a threat to their children. My parents have always been my biggest supporters, and they made sure that no one was going to take success away from their son. After lots of arguing at a parent meeting, my family persuaded the others parents to let me play with their children on the all-star team.
When I was nine, the elementary school decided to build handicap ramps wherever there were stairs, and made sure everyone knew the ramps were for the handicapped kid with braces on his legs. Even at nine, I distinctly remember thinking I didn’t want any charity and I definitely didn’t want to be treated differently than the other kids. Once the ramps were completed, I refused to use them. I would rather be in pain and walk funny up stairs than walk up a handicapped ramp. The school was not very happy. They complained to my mother that I was not using the ramps they had built for me, but I refused to be treated differently.
When my leg braces were removed at age 11, the doctors told me I would have chronic leg pain for the rest of my life. They also warned me that I would likely require hip replacement surgery in the future. I will be 29 in a few months, and I still have extreme hip pain. Sometimes I can’t get out of bed. Sometimes I wake up screaming because the pain is so bad. I don’t complain, however. I realize life doesn’t give any of us a mulligan. The only option we have is to put one foot in front of the other in order to overcome the fear and pain that stands in our way.
Once my leg braces came off, my family relocated in order to give me a fresh start. I very rarely talk about it, but I truly believe the small successes of my childhood—in spite of the challenges—changed my personality forever and made me the man I am today.