Natural Mr. Universe John Heart

This fall marks 25 years since John's very first client signed on. It's quite fitting that one of the most awesome testimonies and before/after pictures would come in this month for you to view...enjoy!

 "In September 2009 I attended a bodybuilding show to support my friend Aaron Greenlee. He had been training with me occasionally about a year prior.  He did very well in the show and the improvement he made that year was remarkable.  He had been training with John Heart.

 Shortly afterward, while in the gym, Aaron and my girlfriend suggested to John Heart that I compete. John gazed in my direction, squinted his eyes, pursed his lips a bit, and said, “See me at Foothill Gym on Monday.”

 I went.  I considered myself rather “svelte” considering that as a young football player I weighed in at 265 lbs.  After being told to strip down to my underwear and while standing center-stage in the mirrored aerobic room, I was “examined” by John and Aaron and learned that I was not all that “svelte” after all.  “He’s got relatively good balance and enough muscle for an old guy.  It’ll take a lot of cleaning up, but he’s got potential”, was John’s remark.  Well, the die was cast – I was “in”.

What was to follow was the most disciplined, self-focused, and intense athletic experience I’ve had since playing offensive guard for the U.C. Berkeley Golden Bears back in the 70’s…and, the most rewarding!

 After committing the following efforts to Jesus Christ, the work began.  Visit after visit to Foothill Gym consisted of me standing, brief-clad, while John sat a distance away staring at me.  Just as I figured that I better cough, snort or give an “ahem” because I figured he had fallen asleep, he’d say something like “…add ½ cup of brown rice to meal number three”, or, “…increase your cardio 10 minutes every other day”, or, “…begin doing incline dumbbells to bring up your pecs”. 

 I was blessed to be under the tutelage of the great Bill Pearl “back in the day” and there is a certain similarity to John & Bill’s style which was unmistakable – one of “authoritative nonchalance”, a kind of “do what I tell you and don’t hurt yourself trying to reason it out, you’ll be just fine” delivery.

 Well, I did do “just fine” under John’s direction at every point.  I competed in my first bodybuilding show, the Iron Man Naturally, one month after my 56^th birthday.  I placed 2^nd in my age group, and even more rewarding, I placed 3^rd in the novice class – above men decades younger than me!

 Wow!  Thank you for everything John.  For the things you taught me and the patience you had with me - it will never be forgotten.  You are truly the “Yoda” of your craft.  Congratulations on your 25 years of coaching, teaching, and inspiring others.  I pray God keeps you around many more years – us old guys need you!"

 Most respectfully,

 Ned Vessey, DC



A note from John--

Thank you Ned, for the well-wishes as well as the great testimony. It's been a pleasure helping you achieve your goals. Your results are phenomenal, and your prayer is received!

Here's one more picture of Ned as he tore up the stage.......................

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Lisa! Lisa!

-Lisa trained very hard with the weights with intense and brief routines that had her heading for cardio or home after only 30 minutes.

-Her strength tripled on most exercises and she actually shrunk right out of the clothes she was wearing at the time this photo was shot.

-While her short-term goals have been reached, Lisa will continue to progress with the routine and eating plan I gave her for months to come.

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Lifestyle Interrupted!!!

Carolina's a single mom who has totally changed her lifestyle. She was dissatisfied with the direction her body was going in and committed to making it all change. Which she did.

--Carolina trained with weights only 2X per week

--Cardio was done as needed and varied from 3X-5X per week

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Natural Miss Universe!!!

-Her diet was based on calorie control with emphasis on organic and natural food sources. Very few supplements were used. In fact, the only thing she used regularly was whey protein powder as a meal replacement when she couldn't get to food.

-Overall Lisa lost only around 15 lbs. but went from size 6/8 to 2/4 and her increase in muscle and loss of inches has been dramatic.

-Great job Lisa!

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--Carolina's dedication to the diet was the big key...she refused to screw it up and made great progress as a result

--Her main changes occurred over 3 months' time

--The most impressive thing here is that Carolina worked a full time job, exercised regularly, had a social life, and continued to be a great mom while achieving her goals!!!

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Lala Naidu approached me about training her for competition. She had her heart set on training for all of the events that would qualify her to be able to compete in the Natural Miss Universe.

As a local business owner her days were scheduled and very regimented (I don't have enough fingers to count how many times clients believed that they would be able to diet harder once they are on "spring break" or once a major project is over at work, only to find that they did much better when their schedule demanded that they prepare food ahead of time).

Almost six months to the day from our very first workout, the results below were achieved and she was declared Natural Miss Universe!!!