Forty ... The birthday that so many dread … Looming ominously in front of Steven Spitz, this birthday proved to be a turning point in the life of this urban professional.

“I had a high pressure job, a young child and a marriage that was heading down the road toward divorce,” says Steven. “I was gaining weight and becoming unhealthy -- obese to be exact. I was the cliché U.S. working professional juggling multiple demands of family, life, and work and heading for disaster.”

With this "perfect storm" of elements in front of him, Steven quickly realized that he had to make a change. Having achieved success as an athlete, a student, a lawyer, and a parent, he knew he had it in him to turn his life around.

“I reached a critical point and decided it was time to get back on track,” says Steven. “I knew that the first and best place to start was to take control of my health.”


Drawing on what he knew from his college days, Steven started with very small changes to his diet.

“I was a ‘walk-on’ to the college JV soccer team at Brown and did my first triathalon in September 1988,” recalls Steven. “From '88 through '92, I continued triathlon training, and did at least one race every year while attending Columbia University School of Law.”

Recalling what it felt like to have his body work for him helped Steven to stay mentally focused as he began the journey back to health.

“I cut out snacking after dinner, which I knew was bad for me,” he says. “Just within one month of doing that, I lost 10 pounds. This was encouraging, so I took the next ‘baby’ step, and started walking again. That turned into jogging, and later running.”

At the same time, he was eating healthier, and utilizing sensible supplementation with the products from his employers. Serving as the Vice President, General Counsel for Medical Research Institute (MRI) and Natrol, Steven had an advantage in understanding the right supplements to use to maximize his workouts.

“I used Pro-NOS(r), a multi-fractioned whey protein from MRI, for protein supplementation and post-exercise recovery to feed muscles,” he says. “I also supplemented my daily diet with a multivitamin, a joint support formula with such nutrients as chondroitin, glucosamine and MSM, and Natrol(r) Tonalin(r) CLA to promote body fat loss and prevent regain.”

All the while he added to his workouts first incorporating cycling, then swimming and weights.

“Before I knew it, I was doing triathlons again,” he says. “At first, I competed as part of a relay team and won in my division. Then I competed as an individual. Throughout all of this I was getting stronger and faster.”

In just about one year's time, Steven lost around 90 pounds.

“I was about 250 pounds when I started this and got down to 160 pounds, where I'm at today,” he says. “Setting goals and accomplishing them, no matter what the size -- whether finishing a workout or a race – gave me a much needed boost to my confidence. It feels good to be on this positive treadmill!”

Part of the good feelings came from knowing that he was being a good father to his daughter by getting healthy. It also came from becoming a better role model at work, and in the community.

“Ever since I started triathlons back in '88, I've dreamed of competing in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI,” says Steven. “Somehow I knew that the opportunity would come. I just didn't know when! And now, it's a reality: I'm racing the 2008 Ironman World Championship -- the event's 30th anniversary -- during my 40th year. It's a dream come true!”

Despite being a very self-motivated individual with an incredible support system in his daughter, dad, mom and sister, Steven faced many mental challenges along the way.

“The biggest "negative voice" was in my own head,” says Steven. “Too much bad self-talk with "can'ts", "won'ts", and "don'ts" overwhelmed me for a while. All that pessimism became a bit daunting. I had to do something major to break the cycle. I had to change my own mind and stop listening to those negative thoughts, much like the children's story ‘The Little Engine That Could. It's the power of positive thinking that propelled me to get healthy, one small step at a time. I think it also helped to have the support of family, friends, and colleagues.”

And while participating in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, it also helps him to give back to the world by raising funds for a cause he believes in.

“Tying my Ironman with fundraising -- or "fundracing," if you will – made me feel like I was doing something for the greater good.”

Steven is dedicating this Ironman triathlon race to raising funds for Vitamin Angels (www.VitaminAngels.org). Vitamin Angels focuses on reducing child mortality by connecting essential micronutrients, especially Vitamin A, with malnourished children under the age of 5 in impoverished areas worldwide. Vitamin Angels' "Operation 2020" is the organization's first major step to eradicate Vitamin A Deficiency on the planet by the symbolic year 2020. This year alone, Operation 2020 will reach 4.5 million children in 18 countries worldwide.

When asked how Steven defines success he had this to say, “I define success as being a good person, a responsible contributor to society, a good father, and a good role model at work. Happiness is a big part of success too, and that involves staying healthy so I can do my best at home, at work, and in the community. Looking at it from a purely triathlon-centric point-of-view, I guess I'd also define success as competing in, and completing, the Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI!”

Steven is being sponsored by Medical Research Institute (MRI), a subsidiary of his employer, Natrol, Inc. Anyone interested in donating to Vitamin Angels can do so by visiting www.Natrol.com and clicking on the "Fundracing" link at top of page or by visiting: Kintera.org.


*TONALIN(r) CLA is an exclusively licensed product of Cognis Corporation. The use of conjugated linoleic acid as a dietary supplement and/or a food additive is licensed under one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 5,428,072; 5,430,066; 5,554,646; and 6,015,833.