Howard Shokler joined the Pavilion in 2004, and at the urging of his friend Ed Rothenberg, began playing in a basketball league. “I’d never really played organized basketball, but Ed welcomed me in and taught me to play.”
Now I play every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and have developed some great friendships. “It’s fun and great exercise. In fact, we’re recruiting more guys at the moment.”
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Howard is no stranger to hard work. He started his first business at the age of 19 and grew it into five locations over 17 years. When he married and was expecting his first child in 1994, he made a switch, selling those businesses and starting a new business with a new franchise in Cincinnati – Penn Station. He now has six locations in Greater Cincinnati.
But over the course of building his businesses, Howard noticed that he had picked up some bad habits, and some extra weight. Thanks to an honest conversation with his best friend Scott Casuto, Howard asked Scott to help get him back on track.
Scott is a physical therapist, and his plan was strict,” says Howard. “I had to drastically change my eating habits, do no less than 30 minutes of cardio each day in addition to strength training, and I had to check in each Friday.”
Howard tracks his progress diligently as well. “I track everything – how much activity I get, what I eat and how much sleep I get each night.” Those changes have translated into a 40-pound weight loss since February of 2013.
His family has benefited too. “My wife [Susan, also a member] has lost some weight and my daughter has adapted her eating habits,” Howard notes.
Of his success, Howard says it all comes down to discipline and accountability. “If you can make the mental shift, you can do anything.”