Fitness Trainer Bill Maeda Triumphs Over Stage 3 Colon Cancer
Personal trainer Bill Maeda faced a life-altering diagnosis of Stage 3 colon cancer in 2012, a revelation that emerged during an ordinary day at the gym. At 56, Maeda has since transformed his approach to fitness and health, finding himself in the best shape of his life.
While training a client in Los Angeles, Maeda experienced a sudden and alarming symptom. As the client practiced kicks against a pad that Maeda held against his abdomen, he later discovered significant blood loss after using the restroom. “Apparently, when he kicked me, the cancerous lesion that I had tore,” Maeda recalled. This incident led him to the emergency room, where immediate surgery was performed.
Prior to this shocking event, Maeda had been dismissing symptoms that he now recognizes as red flags. Despite his energetic persona, he had begun experiencing “weird bowel movements” in his 40s, which he attributed to poor dietary choices. “My diet was so god awful back then,” he admitted, noting that he often consumed excessive amounts of sugary treats. “I was eating boxes of macadamia chocolate. I mean, it was bad.”
This revelation may surprise many, as Maeda represents a segment of personal trainers who struggle with health issues themselves. “You should see the behind-the-scenes on us,” he said. “We’re like serial killers, where you think we’re just normal and we’re real and then we go home and we have this altered life.”
Maeda’s journey to diagnosis was complicated by another symptom: a persistent pain in his solar plexus that he often tried to hide while training clients. “When I would go into that position, the pain would dissipate,” he explained, reflecting on how he mismanaged the pain rather than seeking medical advice.
Despite a family history that did not suggest a cancer risk, Maeda had engaged in risky behaviors during his youth, including smoking and drug use. He attributes part of his health challenges to a longstanding neglect of sleep, believing that operating on minimal rest was a testament to toughness: “If you’re a real tough guy, you can get by on less sleep than everybody else.”
Upon receiving his cancer diagnosis, Maeda chose not to dwell on mortality. “I took it one day at a time and always assumed things would be alright,” he stated. His optimism proved well-founded, as he has been cancer-free for the past 13 years. This experience prompted a significant lifestyle change; he cleaned up his diet, prioritized rest, and adjusted his training regimen.
Transforming Fitness and Health
Today, Maeda maintains an impressive 8% body fat, a feat he achieves through a combination of efficient exercise and a more mindful approach to nutrition. “People say, ‘How do you get your body fat level so low if your diet is random? You don’t seem to have a really strict cardio or whatever program,’” he noted. His daily routine involves just 20 to 30 minutes of varied training, and he emphasizes the importance of recovery in his fitness journey.
Maeda, who serves as a brand ambassador for Go Ruck, shares his minimalist, rucking-based routines with his substantial online following. He boasts 2.3 million followers on Instagram and 1.5 million followers on TikTok, where he inspires others with his story and training methods.
Reflecting on his journey, Maeda offers a message of resilience. “I am in the best shape of my life now because I’m putting the energy into recovery from what I’m doing,” he stated. His transformation serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to one’s body and prioritizing health, even amidst the demands of a fitness-focused lifestyle.
