Cycling for health & family

When Michael Lottamoza, 59 of Toronto learned two years ago that his vibrant 24-year-old daughter Michelle (Mickey) had multiple sclerosis, he changed his lifestyle. “When Mickey was diagnosed, I went through stages of depression, denial and feelings of helplessness,” he says. “But finally I realized I need to be strong for my child, so after doing my homework on the disease, I began to channel my energies into being healthy so I could be supportive. To do that, I needed to get (and stay) in shape.”

Up until the diagnosis, Michael’s fitness regime had been inconsistent, going to the gym but quitting after a couple of months. After he learned of her disease, he embraced a healthy lifestyle. He quit smoking and started working out at the gym three or four times a week. “I signed up for bike tours and got friends to sponsor me to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Now I cycle to work from my west-end home to downtown every day, even in winter and I dragged my older daughter Teryn, 27, into it too. We’re kind of obsessed with it,” he explains, laughing. They participate in MS bike tours five or six times a year.

At the gym, he concentrates on strength training in the legs as well as upper body for more efficient cycling. “Now it’s part of my lifestyle,” he says. “If I miss two or three days at the gym, I get edgy.” He and Mickey recently discovered both have a gluten intolerance so switched to gluten-free and organic foods.

A dream comes true
Michael’s dream to take his two daughters in September on a week-long cycling tour through Poland, where his parents were born is about to come true. With the winning prize of $1,500 from BOOST® Meal Replacement, “I will have a chance to introduce my daughters to their many cousins, aunts and uncles and they’ll get to know their roots, while having a healthy vacation,” he says.

For Michael and his daughters, the journey in dealing with MS is far from over, but Michael’s attitude is that the journey can be as active and healthy as possible. “I now take my health seriously. Taking care of your health is like maintaining a house. If you don’t maintain it well, where will you live tomorrow? You need good health to help someone else, especially your child.”

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BOOST® Your Body Strength
Resistance exercises that include lifting, pushing and pulling help build muscle strength for activities such as the long distance cycling Michael Lottamoza does. Here are four ways to boost your body strength and stay strong and active:
1. For muscle strengthening in the legs, climb stairs or ride a stationary bicycle.
2. For muscle strengthening in the upper body, try weight lifting with simple objects such as canned goods.
3. For both upper and lower body strengthening, swimming is an ideal activity. Take along BOOST® Meal Replacement for complete nutrition on-the-go.
4. Household tasks such as vacuuming, grass cutting and gardening also help build overall body strength.

Stay Strong, Stay Active
BOOST® is a complete meal replacement rich in nutrients that helps you stay strong and active so you can keep doing all the things you love. BOOST® meal replacement provides complete nutrition with 26 essential vitamins and minerals and 10g of protein to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit BoostNutrition.ca