Page 41 - NGA NATURALmag 2023 FALL / WINTER Issue

Fall-Winter 2023
He then asked if we had had any questions questions and I had had a a a a a a a lot of of questions questions but because of of my suffering from aphasia I just cried I I I didn’t let any of that stop me so while I I I was in in rehab I I I I regained the ability to to to talk and and walk with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cane I I I I was able to to go home after a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few months months and and I I I had outpatient rehab for for another eight months months I I I went back to to work for for the the government got married and had a a a a a a a a a son son (today I I have two sons) I I thought things were slowly getting getting back to to normal However I I I realized I I I was getting getting a a a a a a lot bigger One day while sitting in in in in my my kitchen I I I told my my wife something didn’t feel right She immediately called 911 and after arriv- ing to the the ER that’s when we found out that that I had another stroke After some time in in rehabilitation and and working for the government I I I was was asked to retire and and I I I didn’t know what was was next So So I I I I spent time writing a a a a a a a a a book A A Life of Commas: A A Soldier’s Story I I also became active in in in church and spent more time with my my family But when I I I stood in in in the mirror looking at at at myself at at at 5’5” tall and 237lbs I I I knew that I I I needed a a a a a a a change I I I started by walking and and eating better I I I thought about lifting weights and and I I I I wanted to to compete in in in in in bodybuilding but my doctor was was skeptical I I kept kept pushing this idea saround and was was introduced to to the natural bodybuilding coach Peter Fitschen I I began studying more about improving my eating habits and and starting jogging I I I got down to 201lbs and and and was was feeling free again! I I I competed in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a few Physique 40+ competitions and and though I I I was was last in in every every competition competition I I decided to compete every every year Bodybuilding made me me feel like I was home!
In 2022 after losing thirty more pounds I I won three times and was third in in the NGA Kentucky Natural Bodybuilding Chanpionships Phy- sique 40+ competition I am the only fifty percent disabled bodybuilding competitor that competes with every- one Some promoters are even plan- ning to create an an Adaptive Class for people like me 2022 NGA Kentucky Natural Bodybuilding Championships
Brady Johnson
Physique - Masters 40+ So back to my my original statement that bodybuild- ing ing ing is is is life and freedom I am feeling free free in in in in in my my my own body regardless of my my my disability Bodybuilding is is is giv- ing ing me my my life back and and a a a a a a a a purpose and and I intend to not waste a a a a minute of it! n n n n NGA NATURALmag
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