I was recently on a Zoom call with our Mace Fit coaches and I shared something I don’t usually talk about with people outside of my family. It was well received and I was encouraged to share it publicly. So here we go. On June 5, 2018 I was in an ambulance heading for the Emergency Room & Cardiac Unit. My heartbeat was crazy,my pulse way very high, and it wouldn’t come down. They ran me through a battery of heart tests and several cardiologists were callled in. No one could figure out what had happened. They shot me with some kind of drug that dropped my heart rate extremely low. I was hooked up to a several types of monitors. They wheeled into a room and told me to try to get some sleep. I guess they thought I couldn’t see the monitors, but I could. My heart rate was dropping. When my heart rate reached a dangerously low level an alarm would go off. I knew I might go to be with the Lord that night, knowing this could be the end. I prayed to God that if He wanted to take from this life I was ready, but I asked Him not to make my precious wife a widow. My prayer was answered. Come to find out I had a genetic heart problem that had not been previously diagnosed. The cardiologists said with my clean lifestyle, plenty of exercise, healthy eating, and good sleep habits that this never sould have happened. Now I found out I also had major blood pressure problems. The readings would shoot up to around 200/100 which could bring on a stroke or cerebral hemorrhage. For the next three weeks or so these episodes kicked in repeatedly. My wonderful wife was there by my side through it all. I knew I could still die at any moment. Needless to say I prayed a lot! When I went home I had updated my will right away. The doctors said they wanted me to exercise, and at first that was only doing short walks in shaded areas. I did end up in the ER again on Dec. 21, 2018 with the same problems, but not as severe as the first time. Many things changed for me. I had lost almost all my strength, but I knew the Lord was with me. Gradually I was able to do a few reps of bodyweight squats, some light work with bands, and some Mace Fit. The things I did to get strong with barbells now were out of the question. No more holding my breath to create intra-abdominal pressure No more 1 RM lifts More extended time under tension No more explosive lifts Any of these could put me back in the ER or the morgue. The absolute best type of training I could safely do was Mace Fit. Here I could get my cardio and build strength safely. The breathing was rhythmic in the exercises. This has been my main type of training ever since. The cool thing is I can still do pullups, dips, and can do some light deadlifts with out the old breathing technique. Yes, I am entirely sold on Mace Fit. I know how it helped me come back to a healthy life again. God has been so good to me! Unless you have been at the point of death, knowing the end could be in a matter of hours, minutes , or even seconds this email might not be something you can relate to. I hope you never have to find out firsthand. Coach D