Michel shares his holistic journey from financial executive to active health champion at Laurie Mischley's Parkinson's School

When Michel received his diagnosis six years ago, it was presented as a gloomy prognosis with very little hope. Rather than accepting a passive role, Michel decided to step away from a high stress career in finance and completely shift his focus toward mastering his own wellbeing. Speaking recently at Laurie Mischley’s Parkinson's School, he shared how he transformed himself from a passive passenger into an active health champion, developing a comprehensive personal toolkit to manage the condition and slow its progression. A cornerstone of Michel’s strategy is a highly deliberate approach to balancing medication. He discovered that dissolving vitamin C powder in water allows his levodopa to take effect much faster, cutting the wait time down significantly. He also implemented a protein redistribution strategy, consuming the majority of his protein at dinner. This simple change prevented daytime protein from blocking his medication efficacy, resulting in a major surge of afternoon energy that transformed his ability to stay active. Physical activity forms a massive part of Michel’s daily routine, encompassing fifty minutes of tailored weights and stretching alongside alternating long walks or high intensity indoor cycling. He even returned to boxing and plans to take up rollerblading again to keep challenging his brain with new physical skills. To keep his mind sharp, Michel also dedicates thirty minutes each morning to brain training apps. Nutrition and sleep management are equally vital components of his toolkit. With the support of his wife Beatrice, Michel adopted a Mediterranean style diet heavily focused on fresh fruits and vegetables, while aiming for thirty grams of daily fibre to support digestion. When sleep became difficult, he found excellent relief by combining evening levodopa with medical cannabis, allowing him to achieve a consistent six hours of restful sleep. Michel emphasizes that mental and emotional health are just as important as physical fitness. Through daily autogenic relaxation techniques and meditation, he managed to dissolve the deep seated future anxiety that often accompanies the condition. Embracing a positive mindset, staying connected with family, and dedicating his time to helping others through information sessions have provided him with a profound sense of purpose. By building an active daily routine and remaining a well informed generalist, Michel hopes to inspire everyone in the community to take the steering wheel of their own health journey. Watch this video presentation to learn about Michel's routine and efforts how he is managing to slow down the progression of PD