Chris King - Stark Naked

I decided to represent Realize a Healthy California
(RHC) because I want to support creating a healthier California through naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic doctors are integrative medicine specialists who focus on preventative and natural solutions for chronic illness. RHC supports improving access and availability of naturopathic medicine to all communities across California through their programs and services. RHC is launching a mobile clinic program to bring naturopathic healthcare and education to underserved communities across California. This will be a fully funded program to serve people with free doctor visits and hands-on health education.

Chris King is one of the coaches at the Stark Irvine location. He holds his Master’s Degree in Kinesiology and numerous training certifications earned over 8+ years of coaching. Prior to working with Stark, Chris worked as an Exercise Physiologist with Santa Ana College where he conducted fitness testing for hundreds of firefighters and police officers across Southern California. He has worked as a strength and conditioning coach with the Orange County Fire Authority, with the United States Marine Corps, and as a performance coach developing youth, college, and professional basketball players. 

Chris got into the world of fitness as a result of personal tragedy. At 14, Chris started to experience massive internal bleeding that was found to be the result of several ulcers in his stomach. After months of treatment, and 2 hospital transfers, Chris underwent his first major surgery to remove the entirety of his colon. Medication had solved the ulcer problem only to kill off another organ altogether. More months followed, during which Chris was forced to leave the hospital AMA, deal with an ostomy bag, and make up all the school work he missed while fighting for his life. Finally, after almost a year, Chris underwent his second and third major surgeries to reconnect his digestive system so he could be once again “normal”.  

Now, Chris is stronger than ever and is a beacon of what the right mindset can do.  

“I hope that by doing this competition I can raise awareness as to what is possible when you set your mind to something. By all rights, I should have died at some point in the hospital. You are only a victim of circumstance if you look at it such. Change the angle you look at things and use your ‘tragedy’ as fuel. You are where you need to be, make the most of it.”