Jose Llorens: Legally Blind And Built

Since birth my parents were concerned with my eyesight. Ophthalmologists were convinced what what I had was merely poor visual acuity that could be corrected with glasses. As a child it was difficult because, for some reason, daylight would drastically affect the way I perceived the world.

Everyday activities such as reading, taking notes, and playing sports were a struggle in certain cases. Nevertheless I continued on with my life. I never attended any special schools, and I participated on every athletic team you could imagine.

At the age of 16 I experienced a life-changing encounter with an ophthalmologist. I was diagnosed with a visual eye disorder called Achromatopsia, which is also known as day blindness. The retina of the eye is incapable of filtering out light, which explained the obstacles I had been facing in my childhood.

As a teenager, finding out I had a disability was heartbreaking. No adolescent wants to be categorized as legally blind or disabled (even if you are). The next two years of my life were miserable: Doctors telling me to visit the Division of Blind Services, and even letting me know that I would never be able to drive a car. Telling a 16 year old he can’t drive is like telling LeBron James he can’t play basketball anymore.

When I finally hit the age of 18 I was introduced by a friend to weightlifting and living a healthier lifestyle. Immediately, after only a few months of altering my lifestyle and being actively involved in fitness activities, consistent training, and proper nutrition, I felt like the king of the world.

There was no better feeling than the day when I began to see results. I started receiving complements from people, and realized that just because I have a disability doesn’t hold me back from doing anything.

My training regimen was constantly changing every 4-6 weeks to keep things interesting. I would not allowing my body to adapt to specific movements. Switching exercises, variations, and types of equipment being used was necessary, but I would continue to train 5-6 times per week. A typical week of training would look like this:

10-15 warm up before each session.

Monday: Legs/Shoulders

• Back Squat superset with Hang Cleans - 4x12
• Arnold Press - 4x12
• Straight Leg Deadlifts - 3x10
• Leg Press - 3x10 superset with Lateral Raises - 3x15
• Lunges - 3x10 superset with Front Raises - 3x15
• Rear Delt Flies - 3x12 superset with Leg Extensions - 3x15

Tuesday: Chest/Triceps

• Barbell Bench Press superset with Dumbbell Press - 4x8-10 each
• Incline Dumbbell Press superset with Incline Dumbbell Flyes - 4x8-10 each
• Decline Bench Press - 4x8-10
• Dips - 3x15 superset with Tricep Extensions - 3x10
• Dumbbell Kickbacks - 3x12 superset with Push Ups - 3x20

Wednesday: Abs/Cardio

• Leg Raises - 3x20 (different variations)
• Knee Raises - 3x20
• Weighted Crunches superset with Russian Twists - 3x15 each
• Bicycle Kicks superset with Scissor Kicks - 3x20 each
• Side Planks - 3x2 minutes each side
• Boxing/Sprinting/Cycling for 30-45 minutes

Thursday: Back/Biceps/Traps

• Pull Ups - 4x10
• Bent Over Rows - 4x8
• Romanian Deadlift - 4x8
• Lat Pull Downs superset with Hammer Curls - 3x12
• Seated Cable Rows superset with Seated Incline Curls - 3x12
• Single Arm Rows superset with EZ Barbell Curls - 3x10
• Shrugs - 3x20

Friday: Plyometric/Cardio

• Box Jumps - 4x20
• Burpees - 4x15
• Jump Squats - 4x15
• Kettlebell Swings - 3x15
• Mountain Climbers - 3x15
• HIIT for 20-30 minutes

Saturday: Rest day

Sunday: Yoga or anything active

“Abs are made in the kitchen.” There is nothing more that I can emphasize than nutrition. What you put into your body determines the results you will get. Personally I believe nutrition is 60% and training is 40% of the components needed to reach your fitness goals.

I eat about every 2-3 hours, which is necessary to build lean muscle mass, and will actually lead to burning body fat. The diet and supplementation that provided me with optimal results looks something like this:

Daily example:

• Meal #1 - 5 egg whites plus 1 egg yolk with grilled onions, peppers, and mushrooms.
• Meal #2 - Whey protein powder with a teaspoon of organic peanut butter and a banana.
• Meal #3 - Chicken breast, fish, or lean steak (8oz), 1 cup of brown rice, broccoli, green beans or any vegetables.
• Meal #4 - Handful of almonds with an apple or berries.
• Meal #5 - Chicken breast, fish, or lean steak (8oz) with a side salad (light honey mustard or vinaigrette dressing).
• Meal #6 - Post workout whey protein shake with glutamine and BCAAs.

Supplementation:

• Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein
• Optimum Nutrition Glutamine
• Optimum Nutrition BCAAs
• Optimum Nutrition Multivitamin for Men

If you ever have a doubt whether or not you can do something, think about the things I overcame. I am legally blind, and played every sport you could imagine because I believed I could. I had to find different strategies of adapting to certain environments and situations, which ultimately led me to become stronger mentally. Throughout my journey I have learned how to reach my goals and live a happier life, and I want to provide others with the right modifications and motivation so they can too succeed.

ALWAYS stay positive.  I wake up every morning, and before I head to the gym I read a motivational quote or watch an inspirational video to remind me of everything that I am capable of.  If you set your mind with a positive attitude to achieve a goal, ANYTHING is possible in this world.

Surround yourself with people who will positively reinforce your attitude, decisions, and goals. Never let anyone tell you no! I wouldn’t have a license today, if I had listened to the doctors who said I would never be able to drive.

Listen and learn. Stay a student forever. There is always an opportunity to learn from someone wiser and with more experience.

Treat everyone with respect. Whether they are a millionaire or a homeless man, never put someone down!

“Do not let what you can’t do, interfere with what you can do.” - John Wooden