BOB WILLS

THE COMEBACK

"I WAS A FRACTION OF A HAIR

FROM NEEDING A PACEMAKER PUT IN.

THAT’S HOW CLOSE I WAS LAST YEAR."

Images captured on Friday August 11th, the day before Bob competed in the 2023 8th Annual IPL Southwest Grand Prix in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Grand Prix was Bob Wills’ return to the stage after a 2-year absence. Bob had a heck of a journey with health and recovery during this time. He was able to return to the stage in August and was an absolute inspiration! At the Grand Prix he earned an Inspiration & Transformation award. He also competed in Pro Masters Athletic, placing 4th and Pro Masters Sports Model, placing 3rd.

"It was a long, slow process to get back up to speed on my workouts, as I had moved little for most of 2022."

BEN YOSEF: First of all congratulations to you for an amazing comeback at the Grand Prix a few months ago. Congratulations as well on this cover and thank you for being a part of IPL Press Pass and sharing your story. How are you feeling about your return to the stage in 2023?

BOB WILLS: Thank you, Ben! It was an honor and a privilege to take part in the first PRESS PASS, and then making it on the cover of INSPIRE. I never pictured that ever happening, especially in the beginning of 2023 when I slowly began exercising again.

It has been amazing to watch how the league has grown while I was away. There are so many great competitors, with so many great stories. I didn’t think that I could ever be part of that again, at least on stage. At best, I thought that I could judge or maybe expedite again.

It was a long, slow process to get back up to speed on my workouts, as I had moved little for most of 2022. I had to take baby steps, which goes against every fiber of my being. But this was a necessity. Once I began working out consistently again in the beginning of 2023, I dropped from over 20% body fat to 15% body fat as part of a weight loss challenge. At that point, I began entertaining the idea of doing the Grand Prix show. It seemed like I was making significant progress as the first deadline approached, so I signed up for the show, along with my wife Jen.

"If I could have quit, I would have. At this point, I just became happy to be returning to the stage."

After I signed up, I thought I had made significant progress to get where I needed to be for the show. But I hit a plateau and only dropped 1% body fat over the next 6 weeks of prep. I got very discouraged as I was losing muscle, not fat. If I could have quit, I would have. At this point, I just became happy to be returning to the stage. I may not have been where I wanted to be, but I had come a long way since the beginning of the year.

Over the next six weeks, I ended up dropping another 2.5% body fat, down to a more respectable 11.4%. I was so grateful that I could return to the stage AND compete against a great group of guys. Plus, it was great to share the experience with my family, my wife who also competed, and my daughter who cheered loudly for us in the audience. Overall, it was a great experience, and I was so glad to have been a part of it.

BEN: It was definitely exciting having you back on the IPL stage, especially considering the road you traveled to return. You shared quite a bit of detail on PRESS PASS regarding the health challenges you faced. And I encourage everyone to not only watch the one-minute highlight video, but also your complete PRESS PASS interview. But for those who have not yet seen those videos, what can you tell us about the health challenges you faced? And again, you spoke to this on PRESS PASS, but how important was it for you to do well on stage at the Grand Prix versus just being grateful to be there at all?

“…I began experiencing a mysterious decrease in heart function…I was struggling to walk 15 minutes around the block or catch my breath after a set.”

BOB: Sure. One thing that I failed to mention, to add some context to my recent challenge, is that I had a heart attack in 2008, at the age of 43. I had a 90-95% blockage in the “widow maker” artery, which is one of the main arteries in the heart. When it happened, I thought it was just acid reflux. If Jen hadn’t called 911, I wouldn’t be here today.

Not only did I survive the heart attack, I only had minimal damage to my heart. Even my doctor is amazed to this day. I don’t look like a person who had a massive heart attack in the past, and most people can’t believe it when I tell them.

In late 2021, my doctor found some lumps in some of my lymph nodes, prior to my last show. There was a concern that it may be lymphoma, so I had a biopsy done shortly after the show. Luckily, it was benign, and I was grateful for that!

Then, in early 2022, I began experiencing a mysterious decrease in heart function. After my heart attack, my heart was functioning at 45%. I was told it isn’t as scary as it sounds because my heart wasn’t at 100% before the heart attack. However, the decrease took my heart from 45% to 25%. While I used to do 2½ – 3 hour workouts without batting an eyelash prior, I was struggling to walk 15 minutes around the block or catch my breath after a set.

"I may not have been where I wanted to be at the time, but I had made tremendous strides since the beginning of the year."

I had numerous tests done on me over the course of the year and was told that everything was fine. If everything was fine, why am I feeling this way still? It was a scary time. During this time, the doctor was tinkering with my medication, to no avail. The doctor tried one last combination and told me that if this didn’t work, he would recommend a pacemaker for me.

I didn’t notice any change in how I was feeling, so I went to my next appointment ready to schedule an appointment for the pacemaker. I wanted to have it done before the end of the year, so it wouldn’t cost me anything. To my surprise, my doctor told me that I had a slight increase in heart function and wasn’t a candidate for a pacemaker. My doctor suggested some light exercise and to lose some weight. This began the long journey back. Still to this day, the doctor doesn’t know what exactly caused the decrease in heart function.

Up until Peak Week, it was mostly about just being grateful to be at the show. I may not have been where I wanted to be at the time, but I had made tremendous strides since the beginning of the year. However, during the days prior to the show, my mindset shifted, and it became about competing and doing well at the show, rather than just being happy to be there. Going forward, it will only be about competing and doing well!

BEN: Incredibly powerful story, my friend. You are truly an inspiration. How are you feeling today? Are you still able to train the way you want to in the gym?

"I can train up to the level that I like and need to train. I am grateful to be alive and to have my health back!"

BOB: These days I am feeling great. My heart function has returned back to where it was prior to the decrease. My doctor is amazed. Now, that I am back to almost full strength and heart function. I can train up to the level that I like and need to train. I am grateful to be alive and to have my health back!

BEN: That is fantastic news. I am so happy to hear it. Bob, thank you again for being a part of this league and community. And for being so open and sharing your story. I am excited to release it as I am sure it will impact, inspire and resonate with many who read it. Any final thoughts for INSPRE Magazine?

BOB: Thanks Ben! I am grateful to say that I received another clean bill of health the other day from my doctor. No further issues with my heart function. I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing league and community. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story. It has been an honor and a privilege. If you are a fellow competitor or a future competitor, I look forward to hearing the next amazing story. Your story! INSPIRE