I’m reporting on this for a couple of reasons. One, the book Body for Life changed my life in the late 90s, when I was in my late 20s. It was written by fitness expert Bill Phillips, whom this story is about. I lost a bunch of weight and got in the best shape of my life using the principles in that book. I do a different (half assed) routine now, but it really helped me back then. Two, I know people who claim they’ve already had covid and don’t need to get vaccinated. That can be a deadly mistake as this story shows.
Phililps, who turns 57 this month, used to be in peak physical shape as an old school fitness influencer. He made the decision not to get vaccinated after contracting covid and taking an antibody test. Although he tested positive for covid antibodies, he still got deathly ill and had to be hospitalized and put on a ventilator for a month and a half. He didn’t wake up for over two weeks. He’s being discharged now, having lost 70 pounds and now requiring a wheelchair. Phillips and his wife, Maria, are sharing his story to warn people to get vaccinated even if they’ve already had covid. A video interview with him and his wife is below and here’s the writeup.
He was once a fitness coach and the epitome of strength – now after two months in the hospital, Bill Phillips is a changed man.
The 56-year-old didn’t think he needed the COVID-19 vaccine and that decision almost killed him.
Phillips said he caught the virus the first time in January 2020. A test found he had antibodies so he decided to not get vaccinated. He caught COVID-19 again in June 2021.
At first, he and his wife, Maria Phillips, thought he had a sinus infection. Then he developed a terrible cough. He got so sick that he went to the emergency room at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood.
“If we had waited even an hour longer. Bill might have just taken a nap and not woken up,” said Maria Phillips, his wife.
Maria Phillips said her husband was intubated for 47 days. He didn’t wake up for 18 days. After two months in the hospital, the couple is getting ready to leave the hospital on Wednesday.
“Bill was so strong and independent and worked out and did all these things,” she said. “Now he’s in a wheel chair. He can’t walk. He can’t exercise. He’s on oxygen.”
Bill will be discharged from the hospital 70 pounds lighter.
“It didn’t help that I could bench press 300 pounds or run a mile straight up a hill,” he said. “I’ve been in a lot of pain and I have lost a lot, but I have gained a new outlook on life that is for sure.”
If he had a chance to do it again, he would do it differently. The Phillips are using their experience to encourage others to get the vaccine.
“That mistake came that close to costing me my life,” he said.
A quick look at Wiki shows that Phillips has given over $5 million to Make a Wish and that he’s been honored for his philanthropy. He has supplement and nutrition lines, Met-Rx and EAS, and is surely a millionaire many times over. None of that matters when he no longer has his health. I know these stories are tiresome, but we need to share them with people we know who claim they’re in great health or that they don’t need to get vaccinated because they’ve already had covid. Everyone needs to get vaccinated. Obviously being physically fit, eating well and having some antibodies is not enough. Bill and his wife Maria deserve credit for being so open about this. I also think they’re not like typical antivaxxers because they made a calculated decision based on taking an antibody test.
Left: Fitness coach Bill Phillips pre-covid
Right: Bill, 70 pounds lighter, barely surviving COVID-19 after deciding not to get the vaccine.
He’s getting discharged from St. Anthony Hospital on Wednesday with a new outlook on life and the shot. #9News pic.twitter.com/MfQKbf04Mq
— Kelly Reinke (@KellyReinkeTV) August 24, 2021
All we can do is get vaccinated, mask up and be careful. People got to understand that the vaccine is our only defense. We don’t know enough about variants or how an individual person will react to the virus. I was in line at the grocery store. The woman in front of me had a 3 or 4 year old. They were unmasked. The little boy said he wanted a mask too. Her response was “only crazy people need those”.
So sad.
And when/if her child catches this virus and god forbid dies, she will find that someone, anyone other than herself is to blame. She will cry and snot and beg for sympathy and decent humans will extend it and the only lessons she will have learned is one that was right in front of her face the whole time, wear a darn mask.
The blaming has already started. The latest conspiracy in the southern states is that it’s the *vaccinated* people spreading Covid. I swear, we are being attacked by propagandists who hate America.
I think it’s sadistic people trying to kill people. They must get a sick satisfaction that they can spread the virus and kill people.
And if he tried to go to a hospital today instead of two months ago there probably wouldn’t be a bed for him.
That part ^
I think that the nut-job anti-vaxers should be refused admission to any hospital that is treating Covid patients. When and if room is available, we may reconsider if they agree to a vaccine. No one should just spit in the eye of Americans who are trying to do the right thing for everyone by getting vaccinated! How arrogant that you can bitch and protest about vaccines until you are sick. Then, its a whole other story! There is no constitutional right to be free from masks and it falls within the police powers to ,mandate rules for the public safety. Get a shot or go it alone.
This is one I’ll be sharing with my sister. She’s 31 and caught COVID at the beginning of this year, still hasn’t been vaccinated. I’ve been encouraging her to do it but she lives in AZ and is surrounded by people who don’t take it seriously. At this point she’s the only one in our immediate family who hasn’t been vaccinated (the rest of us went as soon as we were eligible). Please, if you haven’t been vaccinated yet DO IT! For yourself, those who love you, and everyone you come in contact with!
Just here to say we’re not all crazy here in AZ and many of us are vaccinated and masked (I am seeing more and more masking back up lately). That said, there are plenty of anti-maskers around sadly.
I know of several people claiming “their doctor told them” if they had it, they don’t need the vaccine. And at least one of them just got out of the hospital after a 2nd round. So foolish.
Antibodies don’t last forever, it’s one unvaccinated person after a next with the same BS.
They’re so many people with illness that get into hospitals because these rocket scientists are taking up all the beds.
The antibodies in your system from having covid are NOT the Spike Antibodies created by the vaccine. If you haven’t been tested for Spike Antibodies you haven’t had the right test. Please talk to a Doctor if you are at risk and don’t know the difference.
My sister had the COVID before the vax was available. As soon as she could, she got both shots. She was tested again a few weeks ago and all the antibodies she had from having been sick were gone. They are not protection to be counted on as this dude learned the hard way.
I lifted weights in the 90s when it was very rare for women to do it. Bill Phillip encouraged women to get into the weight room and said their bodies could be strong. (it wasn’t just men) Heavily influenced me and I’m still lifting weights this many years later. It just shows how much misinformation is out there for someone like him to not know the total information. He may have really believed he was immune.
The CDC highly encouraged the vaccine after you had covid as antibodies aren’t enough and you can catch Covid multiple times. I have a coworker who is anti vaccine and recently got Covid. Believes the antibody myth. I’m now waiting for her to get it again in a few months.
That’s a good point isabella, that he also encouraged women to lift weights when it was not popular for us. I was so strong when I did Body for Life! This is why I’m also giving him the benefit of the doubt, because I knew him through his work, he’s being open and honest about what he went through, and he did get tested and thought that was enough.
Why did I read the comments on that Twitter thread? When will I ever learn?
You should read the ones in response to the story about the guy who was spewing black blood from all his holes after getting the AstraZeneca shot. That’s a good thread.
The doc I work with had COVID and continues to be antivax, even though, he seems to be suffering from long COVID. In his mind, the antibodies will protect him. Whatever. I made sure my dad, who also had COVID in March 2020, got the vaccine as soon as he was allowed and he’ll be getting the booster soon as well. COVID is no joke. With these variants, can’t take the chance antibodies will protect you.
It’s sad, because many people (not all, unfortunately) have found getting the vaccine finally gets rid of their long-COVID symptoms.
He’s someone who might immediately benefit from getting the vaccine, regardless of whether he comes in contact with COVID again.
This is interesting. I hadn’t heard this. Is there data to support this? If so, I’m TICKED off this hasn’t been blasted all over the media.
The vaccine cleared my long-term symptoms for the most part. I still have some fatigue, and I don’t know that I’ll ever feel 100% again, but it beats dying. I’m not ready to do that yet, so I look forward to getting my booster when it’s time.
My husband, who thank GOD is vaccinated, caught COVID from attending a business meeting and his symptoms amounted to a cold (started with a runny nose and a headache) and fatigue. You wanna know one of the first things he said once he tested positive? “It’s a good thing that I got vaccinated”. I don’t want to imagine what additional symptoms he could have caught if he had not been.
So so true. Gabriel Iglacias aka Fluffy was on the Late Show and said he had Covid after getting the vaccine. His case lasted one day and he was fine. He made the point that he is overweight and has high blood pressure and diabetes. He said thank god for vaccines. Yes, to all these people who say God will protect me?!? God helped scientists invent a vaccine get the damn shot!
Oh Lord. If Fluffy only was sick for a day because he was vaccinated they should be reporting this on all of the morning shows and 5 o’clock news because he’s the poster child for underlying conditions. The man’s fans make an effort to keep him fluffy.
I got covid after getting the J&J vaccine and it KICKED MY BUTT. This is day 16 and I’m still a little congested and have a cough.
At the time my cousin had the first injection her teen son tested positive.
Her husband got covid and was really sick for about a month, and all she got was a fever for two days.
I lost a colleague recently to Covid. he was anti vax and had been in an induced coma for weeks. It’s sad because it doesn’t need to happen
I have several colleagues who refuse to get vaccinated. Not super happy to return to our open space next week. But now they contacted me because they think they should be exempt from returning to the office because they might catch Covid!
The audacity!!
They should be exempt from having a job if they don’t want to get vaccinated !
My husband said the second safest place for him to be is work because they are only allowing vaccinated employees in the office right now and if you aren’t in your office you need to be masked. When they make the unvaccinated return to the office they are segregating them on different floors.
I have 1 non-vaxxed coworker. We have an open office. Luckily my boss told this person they’re not back until they’re vaxxed.
My grandmother’s best friend had Covid-19 and still refuses to wear a mask or get vaccinated. On a phone call a few months ago she told my Grandma that she thinks the whole thing is “overblown” despite having already been very sick with it herself.
My Grandma had already told her about two of her cousins who were hospitalized due to Covid-19 late last year with one of the cousins coming out alive and one dying while in the hospital.
So she told her another true story: another of my grandmother’s cousins and his nineteen-year-old son were hospitalized at the same time early this year. The father survived. His teenage son? He died days into his own stay in the ICU.
My Grandma told me there might as well have been crickets chirping down the line. And yet her friend still won’t consider wearing a mask or getting vaccinated.
I’ve seen a few patients on their second round of covid, only one was in the middle of being vaccinated. I think people get covid then get careless, they think they can return to life like it’s 2019, but antibodies don’t last forever. We have to get vaccinated, continue to wear masks, and stay the hell away from each other.
I don’t get it at all. I had covid and I’m so terrified of getting it again, it was the worst experience of my life and caused a lot of trauma (I have not had an easy life, so this is a real accomplishment for covid).
I’m sorry to hear that you got it. Did you get it before or after vax? How long were you sick and what was your experience like?
I’ve never had it and I’ve been vaxxed.
Still, my family wants to see me, my cousin getting married and everyone so offended that I’m not going to the shower OR the wedding?
We’re not partying like it’s 2019, I’ve been keeping to myself still.
I’m glad he’s sharing this experience. I know a few people in this “non-vaxed because of antibodies” bucket. They’re waiting to get their vaccination because they think their antibodies level is high enough to keep from getting a bad case. It’s not enough.
We’re getting data as we go with covid. There’s antibodies but also the “memory” of the t cells and b cells when they’re exposed to pathogens. There’s an Israeli study that came out recently that prior infection does offer some resistance to Covid but scientists encourage people to get the vaccine as well because it protects against more severe disease.
That’s what seems to be playing out in US hospitals. The vast majority of the sickest patients are unvaccinated. I conjecture at least some had prior exposure.
They don’t understand the T cell/ B cell mechanisms yet but I just had my antibodies tested and my report shows two numbers – for the natural antibodies and the spike protein antibodies (that came from being vaccinated.) People who are relying on the “natural” type don’t realize that we can have BOTH type of antibodies and be even stronger.
Where I live in Canada (which is a Covid hotspot right now), has low vaccination rates, but guess what? You can have a big wedding, no problem ! There have been two outbreaks at two recent weddings. Also a basketball tournament where teens traveled from all over had a huge outbreak. Why is this sh*t being allowed? Why are people acting like the pandemic is over?
I live in BC and a bunch of kids who were allowed to go to a summer camp nearby caught covid as well as a number of staffers who either weren’t vaccinated or had had only one shot. What on earth was the camp thinking opening up to 200+ kids, many of whom are still too young to get vaccinated??? I desperately hope none of them get seriously sick or God forbid die.
I really don’t understand any of it. It’s like everyone has given up and just doesn’t care anymore. I not only wonder what on earth the camp was thinking but also what on earth were the parents thinking sending their kids there ??? Stupid, stupid, stupid.
I am gonna guess you’re in AB or SK – hello fellow prairie peep!
Is it just me, or is there a disproportionate amount of anti-vax rhetoric coming from fitness experts and hairdressers? I swear, this is a thing. I’m not setting foot in a gym or hair salon for a while.
It’s because their livelihood relies on being in close spaces with other people. If ppl too scared to go to the gym or hair salon they’re out of business.
But then they resist masks or any other precautions too (like regular free testing).
The fitness industry trainers are mainly anti vaxx from what I’ve seen shared online. They think because they workout and take a ton of supplements their are invincible. A lot of them push high protein/low carb which isnt great for your immune system. All this protein in horrible on your body and many of these body builders are dying young because we need carbs(fruits, veggies). Just protein and fat for long term isn’t good at all. Most trainers know how to get you to look a certain way but don’t actually know much about health IMO. Glad he made it but I’m so sick of this industry spreading lies and people believing them
Because they have muscles.
I’ve noticed this too. And I’ve noticed a lot of “only fat people are dying from Covid.” Honestly, this is the South and obesity is so high and it probably *looks* like that since the ICUs are therefore occupied with obese people. Seriously, a mom on our school page said that the kids didn’t masks, they needed mile runs everyday. So Bill Phillips coming out like this is very very very helpful.
I would disagree with your characterization that he is not a normal anti-vaxxer, that is he somehow a step above because he did research.
They all do research, they all believe whatever reinforces their worldview.
They are all morons.
The predominant science and the stark numbers involving deaths- as in the unvaccinated are something like 97% of the cases that are hospitalized and end in deaths.
He chose to ignore that.
He thought his body was too good and his lifelong pursuit of health would protect him.
And he’s an idiot.
This is fair
Yesterday, I had a lovely guy at my local gas station/repair shop, a guy I’ve know for years, leaning in to my car (they pump the gas, not self-serve) (Freudian slip, originally wrote as self-sever) to chat. I put my mask on and explained, “I’m being careful.” And he v jovially started telling me not to worry, that if I was vaccinated (as he is) all would be fine. I know he meant well, but I was thinking, I’m not taking medical advice from my car mechanic…and also, stand back…
I was supposed to run errands but ended up coming home, I just can’t sometimes w people… And I just still don’t understand the cavalier attitude toward this thing. No one scoffs at cancer, so why this? I mean, I know, it’s been so politicized, but even w such hard clear life-changing evidence right in front of people, they still can’t reset their thinking? It’s a kind of collective madness…
100% agree with you. Being vaccinated is good but it’s not 100% protective against the virus. I was invited to a BBQ a few weeks ago but declined. I don’t care if everyone there is vaccinated (though I know some were not plus there were kids there who can’t get vaccinated yet). No party or social event is worth catching this virus. People are in such a rush to get back to “normal” that they are ignoring what the experts are saying.
Thanks ME. You just helped me realize I’m nervous too about a party this eve. They’re doing it carefully, outside etc. but I don’t know everyone who’ll be there, and I know at least a few of the people have been flying, in red states, etc. So I’m declining. I feel bad, but I just think we all have to do what feels right and our real friends will understand. A good friend got breakthrough covid, was sick for a month, and still can’t taste anything, she’s relatively lucky I know, but we still don’t know enough to take unnecessary risks…
@ Sue Denim
Better safe than sorry. It’s just a party. I felt bad not going but I knew it was the right thing to do. Nothing is worth catching this virus.
Certain people go on about the mortality rate of this. Im not afraid of dying of covid. Im afraid of brain damage, and heart and lung damage. Or having limbs amputated.
Don’t forget the clotting and stroke risk.
Amen, I’m oddly much more afraid of living with it. Quite a few of my husband’s coworkers got Covid in 2020. They survived, but the ones who got sick enough to be hospitalized did not come out the same way they went in: one now has to carry an inhaler and take pills to regulate his heart arrythmia; one can’t stand up for long periods of time because it’s too taxing; and the sickest one hasn’t been home since September 2020. They finally got him out of the acute hospital and into a rehab hospital a couple of months ago, and we recently found out that he had to be readmitted and vented again. It’s really sad.
Meanwhile only a handful of these guys are now vaccinated (including my husband, thank God) despite the glaring examples of Covid’s effects right in front of their faces every day.
My niece is a long hauler. She’s in her mid 30’s, vegan and very healthy – prior to Covid. However, she now refuses to get vaccinated as it might affect her “fertility.” I think I may have lost it on her with that disinformation. My other niece told her she can’t meet the new baby until she’s vaxxed. A position I totally agree with. I love my niece but I just want to hit her upside the head and snap her out of this nonsense.
Exactly! As soon as I read the symptoms, I thought, I don’t want to live through or die from covid, because it all sounds horrible.
I revered Body for Life back when, and it gave me added impetus to keep weight lifting in my routine. Decades later I co-Admin a huge fitness group on Facebook. I didn’t share his story there because we still have so many members who are a bit smug with the mindset that eating ‘clean’ and exercise will save them through this world health crisis. It just defeats my spirit. And takes all my neutral self controlley scroll on by super powers to not get into a huge futile fight about it daily. I wish him consistent progressive healing. It took humility for him to be so open at such a vulnerable time.
Exercise and “clean” eating will save them – if paired with the vaccine. Otherwise, they”re sitting ducks
I have a relative who is vaccine hesitant. She keeps saying that she’s nervous about it because she hears all these stories of bad reactions and she can’t afford to take the two days off (she absolutely can). All of the rest of us are vaccinated because half of us have unpredictable at best immune systems. She knows she won’t be invited to Thanksgiving dinner if she isn’t fully vaccinated and yet she still won’t get it. I’m so furious at all of the misinformation. She’s not even a MAGAt. She masks and is pretty obsessive about hygiene.
I don’t know whether sharing this story with her will make it better. I’m wishing for the best recovery possible for Phillips and I’m grateful that he shared his experience and is using that to encourage others to get vaccinated. We need everyone we can get.
My husband and son both got their vaccines on Fridays because they were worried about reactions. None of us had reactions.
Has anyone mentioned that she could probably afford a couple of days off for the vaccine a lot easier than weeks off in the hospital?
Right!? I’ve seen several articles about people who just hadn’t gotten around to getting it because they were “busy” and then bam, 2 weeks in the hospital.
Both my MIL and FIL got it in the spring and definitely think they have lifetime immunity now and see zero need to get vaccinated. They were never going to get vaccinated in the first place though and have said it wasn’t that bad so of course it’s being overblown by the media. Tons of people in that family have gotten it and since they aren’t dead that means it’s just the flu. They also are trying to encourage us to not get our children vaccinated when they are finally eligible. Two boomers who have no kids at home, ok. My FIL already had mental health issues so god knows if having covid has made them worse. We haven’t seen them since December of 2019 and rarely speak so I have no idea how he’s doing and until they decide to stop being morons we still won’t be seeing them.
Word in healthcare is that both hospitals and insurance will modify care based on vaccination status. Hospitals triage patients by outcome. If you have multiple patients and you have to choose who gets access to care based on availability of the treatments, they give it to the people with odds of better outcomes…in this case…the vaccinated. For insurance, they’re discussing denying claims from healthcare facilities, etc. for unvaccinated based on “responsibility”. If their is something available to help reduce or eliminate risk such as a vaccine and you choose not to take it (assuming you are able to take it, some people are advised by their doctors against it for various health reasons), but assuming you can take the vaccine but don’t…insurance companies are discussing not paying medical bills due to Covid.
I work as a nurse. I see it every day. It’s no joke. People need to mask and vax, and shut the hell up. Do your part.
I wanted to add you wouldn’t believe the multitudes of people I’ve seen on SM that are getting it and saying they are so happy to get it over with and get natural anti bodies. It’s sick.
Guess he was one of those selfish people who thought he was too young and far too healthy for covid to touch him. Some lessons are the hardest to learn.
There’s a lot of people like him.
Funny, i had covid last year and couldn’t wait to get the vaccine this year! Mind boggling that folks think antibodies or previously having it protects you – what?!
I don’t care how much money he’s given to charity. I don’t care if he’s not a usual antivaxxer. I have ZERO sympathy. He decided to fcuk around and find out. We’ve known for a long time now that people can get COVID twice and get really sick the second time.
He’s one of the people whose stupidity is causing the shortage of ICU beds. He’s one of the aholes contributing to the continuing spread and mutation. He’s so fcuking smart about fitness, he should have cared enough to do everything he could do to protect his health.
Agree
Some people insist on learning the hard way.
Quite a ways to pay for a stupid, arrogant mistake, but I’ll give him that he’s admitting he screwed up and is urging others not to do the same. I have far more respect for people who admit they are wrong than the ones who hold out until the bitter end stubbornly.
I just watched the clip, and was a little taken aback at how Bill’s wife Maria made it all about HER. At first I thought, well maybe she was vaccinated and had tried to convince him to do the same, but at the end of the clip the newscaster said Maria herself didn’t get vaccinated until she saw her husband intubated in the ICU.
There are a million ways life can throw you for a loop and destroy your well-laid plans. That’s why marriage vows include the words “for better or worse, in sickness and in health.” Yes, it sucks that Maria has to deal with a husband who’s now disabled and whose chances at recovery are uncertain, but HE’S the one who can’t walk, HE’S the one hooked up to oxygen. It was really off-putting to hear her sobbing about how “This has been so painful for meeeeee…” And I cringed when Bill apologized to her because she was laying such a guilt trip on him. Ugh.
I was also taken aback at how self-absorbed she seemed while discussing how he almost died. It’s like his suffering was an afterthought. He seemed contrite and sincere.
Yes, that I felt so sad for him when he apologized and blamed himself.
Two family members refuse to get the vaccine. One had COVID earlier this year and assumes she is safe. The other assumed she was safe because no one had gotten it in her family. Well the rona finally paid them a visit. The reasons for not getting the vaccine shift with the wind. The latest talking point seems to be “severe adverse reactions” like what Melanie posted above. Perhaps your neighbor had underlying health issues. Or did you personally perform the autopsy, Melanie? I think the only way to overcome this is to get rid of Fox and other conservative focused media. They are spreading misinformation and people are gobbling it up. If you have someone in your life who dies, get their computer and/or phone and start compiling your evidence then sue the crap out of whatever or whomever the person was following for advice. It’s the only way to end this.
Melanie has been banned for her bullsh-t
Thank you! I came back to respond to her comment and it was gone.
Thank you CB!
I’ve now lost 6 people close to me from Covid. My husband, myself and oldest stepson are all vaccinated. I’m so scared my youngest step son is going to get it from the idiots not taking this seriously. He’s only 9 and can’t get it yet . I’m not one for living in fear all the time but this is a novel virus. Meaning we haven’t seen it before and are still learning. “Colds ” used to kill people all the time before we understood and treated them. These conspiracy idiots take what we have for granted because the people before them sacrificed and yes, died from now curable disease. Ugh
How many more examples do anti-vaccers need until they get that this is serious?