David Lyons
David Lyons was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2006 at the age of 47. A bodybuilder and former fitness center owner, Lyons chose to fight MS head-on through bodybuilding. He founded the MS Bodybuilding Challenge in 2008, and in 2009, at age 50, he competed in his first bodybuilding contest with MS, winning a Most Inspirational trophy. He was presented with the Milestone Award by the National MS Society for his accomplishments. In 2012, Lyons and his wife, Kendra, a registered nurse, created the MS Fitness Challenge to support people with MS in their efforts to stay as fit as possible, overcome limitations, and keep their bodies moving. The cause also educates trainers on fitness for MS.
In 2013 Lyons received the Health Advocate of the Year Award alongside fitness icon Lou Ferrigno.
In 2015, bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger honored him with the Health Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2016 Lyons received the Lifetime Fitness Inspiration Award from the Global Bodybuilding Organization, an international fitness federation, and in 2017 was acknowledged by the National Fitness Hall of Fame (NFHOF) with a Special Recognition Award. Later that year, he was asked to be one of the Founding Partners of the NFHOF Institute for Education, and in 2019 David was the only fitness expert with MS to be inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame. Lyons has been named the Most Dedicated MS Fitness Expert worldwide by Global Health and Pharma and Global 200 from 2019 to 2024. He was voted among the Top 100 Healthcare Leaders by the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare in 2020/2021 and named to the Top 10 Most Influential Business Leaders to Follow by Fortune Magazine in 2022. David was voted to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from Social Health Network in 2023.
Lyons is the author of David's Goliath, a faith-based autobiographical story of his journey with MS, and his fitness book, Everyday Health and Fitness with Multiple Sclerosis, a #1 New Release on Amazon is for anyone who wants to get in top shape while battling physical or emotional obstacles to getting started. He contributes to many health and wellness publications and is an Executive Contributor to BRAINZ Magazine.
David is engaged in many fitness initiatives for MS, including being the author of the MS trainers’ courses for both the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) and the MedFit Education Foundation; and speaking on MS and fitness nationwide.
Lyons has created a unique fitness website for the MS, chronic conditions, and aging communities under his OptimalBody brand called the OptimalBody Training Program. This interactive platform educates and trains people in his one-of-a-kind Training Methods that create neuroplasticity, muscle fiber activation, and brain-to-muscle reconnection. OptimalBody has been voted The Most Comprehensive Fitness Program in the world from 2021 to 2024.
Click here to read all of David's articles on SocialHealthNetwork.com.
