Death to Diesel

By Michael David Maley

In 'Death to Diesel', I offer a raw, firsthand narrative of my formidable journey, from confronting the shadows of cancer to overcoming the trials of heartbreak and homelessness. While the crux of my tale extends beyond mere physical fitness, this book captures the remarkable transformation of my physique against all odds. Regardless of where you stand in your personal battles or how many candles grace your birthday cake, this program holds the promise of success.

Many fitness books flood the market, often penned by individuals blessed with youth, ideal genetics, or an already sculpted physique. 'Death to Diesel' diverges from the norm, presenting a candid chronicle of my ascent from a frail 130-pound individual on the brink of death to a pinnacle of health and vitality at 47. I've meticulously detailed the straightforward steps that sculpted new habits and rebuilt my physique post my life's most daunting challenge. I'm eager to unveil these strategies, confident in their efficacy.

Reflect on this - if I could surmount the hurdles of cancer, endure three arduous years of chemo and radiation, grapple with homelessness, and heal from heartbreak to emerge stronger than ever, envision the heights you could reach by embarking on this journey with my guidance, starting now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael David Maley
• Release date: Sep 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005054991

Michael David Maley

Michael Maley is an active father of three young men, a veteran, entrepreneur, certified fitness trainer and enthusiast, author, public speaker, marital consultant, business coach, CBT therapist, NLP Master Practioner, and multi-certified Life Optimization Coach.With more than 25 years in the business and fitness industry, he created multiple successful marketing start-ups and retail businesses. Michael has contributed and/or written dozens of articles for various blogs and publications.As a survivor of Stage 4 cancer, Michael is on a mission to help as many as he can change the way they think about life’s obstacles and find the beauty and opportunity in life’s challenges. Whether it’s families, individuals, corporations, or acquaintances. He uses life’s “second chance” along with his Stoic Christian philosophy to encourage, challenge, and motivate his clients while leaving little room for excuses or shortcuts.Michael believes that if people would keep an open mind to the larger picture they will be able to realize their own unlimited potential while finding happiness along the way.When he's not with his children, working out, or reading, you can find him rooting for his favorite football team, the Buffalo Bills with his loving and beautiful girlfriend, Kari.Michael volunteers coaching at-risk young men, teaching them core responsibilities and values that help them set goals and look to the future in an effort to rise above their environment and situation and on to a happy, healthy, and successful life

Book preview

Death to Diesel

By: Michael David Maley

Table of Contents

Preface

Part I: The Physical

Chapter 1: Setting the Foundation for Transformation

Chapter 2: Progressing to Phase 2 - Establishing Baseline and TDEE

Chapter 3: Elevating to Phase 3 - Cardio and Weight Training

Chapter 4: My Weight Training Program

Chapter 5: Nutrition

Part II: The Metaphsyical

Chapter 6: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Embracing Your Worth

Chapter 7: Embracing the Freedom of Changing Your Mind

Chapter 8: Transforming Tragedy into Transcendence

Chapter 9: Navigating the Narcissist

Chapter 10: Unpacking Triggers and Emotions

Chapter 11: The Power of Perception and Imagination

Chapter 12: The Essence of Friendship: A Choice and a Blessing

Chapter 13: Navigating Unhappiness: A Language of Resilience

Chapter 14: Shaping Your Emotional Home for a Fulfilling Life

Chapter 15: Who Hurt Me

Chapter 16: The Power of Prayer and Gratitude

Chapter 17: Conquering Anxiety

Chapter 18: Navigating the Path Back to Fitness After Illness or Injury

Chapter 19: Embracing the Preciousness of Time

Chapter 20: Thank God Life is not Fair

Conclusion

Preface

Don't give up. Don't ever give up.--Jim Valvano

If you're here, chances are life's trials have dealt you a heavy blow or pushed someone you care for to the brink. You've found your way to me, or this book, and that's a positive step.

In life, true worth emerges after facing adversity head-on. The obstacles you now confront grant you the extraordinary privilege of not just recovering, but growing into a resolute and formidable version of yourself.

Embrace this journey with enthusiasm! I am genuinely excited for what lies ahead for you.

Remember, the struggles you're enduring today are just chapters in a story that, in time, will amaze even the skeptics.

How can I be so sure?

Allow me to share my own tale of resilience:

A mere three years ago, I found myself stripped of my company, my home, my beloved partner, my possessions, and my financial stability. She took everything she could lay her hands on, wiping our accounts clean and vanishing with my truck. That alone could have easily been the tipping point for a descent into despair or worse.

A fortnight after becoming homeless, broke, and transportless, I landed in a hospital bed. For eleven days, I was battling excruciating pain and fading in and out of consciousness, and then I received the news: Stage 4 cancer.

Picture this – alone, heartbroken, and grappling with a crisis of this magnitude. Grieving over my breakup wasn't a luxury I could even afford. I had to summon the strength to fight for answers and my very survival.

Lonely nights in that hospital room were filled with tears for the absence of my partner, my prognosis, and thoughts for my children. I faced fear, isolation, and profound sadness. I wasn't just sick; I was wrestling with the specter of dying alone.

Physically, I was a shadow of my former self – a once-muscle-bound 6' tall man reduced to a mere fraction of my weight. I had lost my physical strength, my vitality, and my ability to even walk.

Breathing became a struggle, and the pain was unrelenting. Morphine's touch barely grazed it.

The hospital environment amplified the hardship – interrupted sleep, incessant beeping, and the presence of others' struggles.

Amidst this seeming abyss, a glimmer of hope held me. A voice, a presence, guided me to endure, to rise. I clung to prayer, and even though I was physically alone, I sensed a divine presence assuring me of survival. Encouragement replaced hopelessness, and I began telling anyone who would listen that I would conquer this trial, that my love for them transcended these challenges. While friends and family saw a bleak situation, I was infused with the peace and confidence in the mercy of a higher power.

The subsequent three years saw me embarking on an arduous journey – aggressive chemotherapy and a life-saving stem cell transplant. Medical science played a pivotal role, but let's not underestimate the difficulty. Cancer and its treatments are relentless adversaries. There were moments when the cancer and the chemo seemed determined to break me.

In those dark moments, I found myself in the pit of despair, teetering on the edge of giving up. Tears flowed, and my thoughts grew dark. I grappled with the possibility of never waking up again. Through it all, I held onto prayer. My pastor, my parents, all joined their prayers with mine. Every sunrise became a triumph.

Meanwhile, my ex continued to plunder what little remained for her drug fix. Material possessions vanished – clothes, tools, toys belonging to my children. She even propagated lies about my cancer diagnosis being fake, denying my struggle. Paradoxically, her actions, however grievous, turned out to be a blessing. I don't bear hatred; I recognize the tragic sway of addiction. I grieve for what was lost in her soul.

Her choices led me on a path of recovery that she may not even comprehend.

Years have passed, and her presence has faded. The shame she bears for her deeds may be her lifelong burden. My wish for her is peace. And, if she reads these words, my offer to help her find her own path to healing remains open.

Amidst this narrative of heartbreak and hardship, an indomitable spirit emerged – mine.

This tale encapsulates the essence of my 48 years