Meet Orlando Deral Wilson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Orlando Deral Wilson.

Hi Orlando Deral, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Reflecting on the world of fitness, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is the word ’challenge.’ One of my greatest challenges helped prepare me to impact the lives of others through fitness. That challenge? Battling through depression.

I didn’t grow up with a family that would acknowledge depression. My family would call it a ‘hard time’ or a ‘hard season.’ They’d offer solutions like visiting church and saying my prayers. Although I am a firm believer in the power of prayer, I am also a believer in personal responsibility. It’s on me to change my own circumstances. I had always understood that everything is mental and that our thoughts are extremely powerful.

But after experiencing a major loss due to a bad investment, life hit me harder than say, a Mack truck doing 90 MPH on an open freeway. At least, that’s what it felt like. I’d experienced ups and downs in my life before but always recovered. This situation, however, felt different. It was a hit to my mind, body, and soul. I didn’t realize I was going through depression. Yet, I’m sure that was a normal feeling to have after being forced to move out of an amazing apartment to sleep in a car.

I slept in various places where I felt safe enough to close my eyes despite my car doors being locked: hotel parking lots, 24-hour grocery stores, etc. All of this took a mental toll on me.

Ultimately I only ended up visiting the gym to shower and then walking right back to my car without working out. Let’s fast-forward a few years later…I slowly took steps towards getting my mind back on track, with help, of course. I started working out and quickly realized that this is what I had been missing. I remember being on the treadmill running, sweating, and imagining an amazing path ahead of me that I was running towards.

After a small injury to my knee, I looked at a spin bike… I mean, really stood back, gave it a once-over, then got on. I thought to myself… ‘This is not bad.’

Going through a depression and then having to fight it off every day until it finally left my mind and body made me stronger yet more vulnerable at the same time. I’m open to really experiencing my true feelings – not simply brushing them off. I learned that despite how hard, tough, or challenging something might be, I can overcome it with the proper help and assistance — and of course, exercise.

One last thing. Most humans, including myself back then, think we can do it all on our own. Sometimes we have a tendency to believe we can fix ourselves. Now, that part is true…but you have to do the hard work, such as reading, seeking counsel or a life coach, getting a personal trainer, or even going to a new exercise class even though you might be intimidated. I learned that there is nothing we can’t do by putting our mind to it first…and then adding action.

Everything is mental. The way I live life has to do with both my mental perception and results as a product of the mind. I was taught at a young age that you have what you say and as a man thinketh, then it shall be – meaning our thoughts will come alive. I could go on about how and what I think about this because I love and study the mind. If we continue thinking about cheesecake every day but are not wanting to eat desserts, then it is a matter of time before we’re holding a fork to our mouths eating what we did not want yet thought of so deeply. Once there’s control over the mind and thoughts, we access the power to go forth along the desired path. Even if we get thrown off that course, we can get right back on.

Living in parking lots took a hit to my sense of self-worth, made me feel helpless, and it also made it tough to gain the inability to pick back up all had a huge impact on my mental stability. Coming from having it all and being able to obtain what I wanted and then experiencing a sudden shift where everything was taken away was difficult. I was unable to reach out for help because people would say, “You are a strong healthy man, you can get out there and work and make it happen.” This was true, but when your thoughts are in a dark place, people don’t realize it’s not easy to triumph.

The Beginning

I grew up in a small college town in between Detroit and Chicago called Kalamazoo, MI. Growing up, I was in a house full of girls, being the only boy for a long time. There was my older sister, I came second and then five more girls to follow. I was already out of the house when my mother had her eighth child which happened to be her second boy, my little brother.

I was always a creative growing up. Drawing, making art, dancing and making routines to enter talent shows. Back then, we didn’t have social media, so unless you were living in New York or Los Angeles, you were confined to just entertaining your local town – for me it was the city of Kalamazoo.

After school, I would come home and the first thing I would do is sit in front of the television and watch two of my favorite tv shows – Different Strokes (starring Gary Coleman as Arnold) and a tv show called Webster (starring Emmanuel Lewis as Webster). These two little boys were on the screen and it looked like they were having fun, hamming it out. They were acting and they looked just like me. From that moment, that was the only thing I ever wanted to do – be an actor. So I performed in plays at my local church. I also played various charters on a local tv show run by my acting mentor Sidney Ellis.

Having this desire was not an easy foot. Unless you had parents or a parent that could pack you up and move you to Hollywood, it was just a dream until you were able to make it a reality. In the meantime coming out of High School I was blessed with a gift in my hands – I fell into stying men’s and women’s hair. Right out of High School, I opened my first hair salon in Kalamazoo with a partner, and I was only a teenager. A couple of years later, I opened my own hair salon in downtown Kalamazoo called Impressions Hair and Nails. It was Kalamazoo’s prime spot for people to come and get their hair and nails done, always busy and extremely lucrative. Until I decided to move to Los Angeles and pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an actor. I closed down my salon, said my goodbyes, packed up and moved to California.

This was a new beginning for me. I started a new career in a hair salon in Inglewood, CA and eventually working in several salons before opening my own salon/photography studio.

After being in Los Angeles for some time, I booked several co-star roles, commercials, small parts in movies at the same time trying to bring in enough money to live. I saw an opportunity to invest in some properties in another state – not knowing this was the beginning of falling on my face and heading toward being a functioning depressed person. After investing, which was the wrong time unbeknowst to me, I lost everything due to the marking crashing around 2007/8. This was the beginning of my homeless journey.

After encountering these major setbacks, l found myself going to the gym daily, but only to shower. After months of the same routine, I slowly got back into working out. I realized I became stronger physically as well as mentally and soon after the exercise helped me to overcome feelings of helplessness and those feelings were converted into feeling empowered which lead me to the beginning of my fitness journey.

As I continued to pursue my physical fitness and mental healing, I discovered the love for indoor cycling which made an enormous impact on me from both a mind and body perspective. Always focused on growth and knowledge, I quickly moved beyond student to pursuing my own certifications as a Fitness Trainer and Cycling coach. This new career path clearly was one of my callings – as I began coaching at various studios and fitness clubs throughout Los Angeles, such as 24 Hour Fitness and other boutique studios and soon after going to Equinox and as of late, a new high-end fitness social club called HEIMAT.

Today, I am a certified personal trainer, as well as a certified group fitness and cycling coach – holding certifications from Schwinn, Spinning / MadDogg and Stages cycling as well. Throughout Los Angeles, I have emerged as one of the most sought-after Cycling coaches, Fitness Trainers and Wellness experts. I have built a loyal following based on my ability to connect with people and help them achieve and exceed their potential both physically and mentally. I teach cycling, strength, high-intensity interval training, running, hiking and other modalities. Also, helping those through my life coaching kills.

Coaching people through their fitness journey will always be a part of my life. Just as acting and writing will always be a part of my life. Bringing you up to date, I am working on a special romantic comedy sitcom with my co-star/co-writer, and we working hard to get this amazing show out into the world for all to enjoy. Also, stay tuned for my, and my co-writer’s first book about relationships, love, self-development and making it in this world when everything is up against you – which is to be published between 2023/2024.

“When people ask how you are doing, you should get in the habit of saying, I’m amazing. Even if you are not feeling amazing if you repeat it enough times… you will!”

“I believe that wellness involves the mind and body. When our hearts and minds are not in sync, we can fail to achieve our full potential in our life, career and relationships. My goal is to work with people to optimize each aspect of their lives to reach the greatest potential and fulfillment.” – Orlando Deral

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I believe in the power of words – you have what you say. I would think and remember speaking out of my mouth “It would be cool when I become a successful actor/entertainer to have the story of being homeless and overcoming that.” unbeknownst to me, I spoke my fate. I lost everything and there was a period of time where I had to live in my car, sleep on people’s couches, shower in the gym and eat a few red beans and whatever else I could get from the salad bar at the grocery story for $1.25. This was not only a physical struggle but also a mental one as well.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an actor, writer, and certified fitness coach. As an actor, I work daily to pursue my career – auditioning, being creative every opportunity I get – just the same as a writer.

As a fitness coach, I train multitudes of people. I help people see past their potential – way beyond where they put a limit on themselves. This is something I am proud of – when my clients/students come up to me and tell me how much I impacted their lives and not just physically but mentally as well, in the most positive way.

Helping people that are stuck in becoming unstuck is something I am proud of.

Booking my first co-star role is also something I am proud of.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
As Your Life Optimization Coach, I believe that wellness involves the mind and body. When our hearts and minds are not in sync, we can fail to achieve our full potential in our life, career and relationships. My goal is to work with people to optimize each aspect of their lives to reach the greatest potential and fulfillment.

As Your Personal Fitness Coach
As your Personal Coach, I will create an individualized strength training, cardio, flexibility, core strengthening and resistance training workout plan to help you maximize every workout. As your trainer, I will also help you achieve your fitness goals faster. My program is designed to work from the inside out. Feeling better on the inside will complement how you look on the outside. Your time is Now!

As Your Group Fitness Instructor
As a group fitness instructor for HEIMAT, Equinox, corporate and private events, and at boutique fitness studios, I teach a variety of HIIT classes including Cycle, Strength Training and Running / Hiking. Click here to view my schedule to experience one of my classes!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.optimumperformancecoach.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theorlandoderal/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orlandoderal/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theorlandoderal

Image Credits
Orlando’s character (Bloody Shirt Guy) is in an altercation with Christian Slater’s Character (Alex) In this scene in “The Forgotten” TV Show, ABC Network. (Last photo)