When you look at Huey Robichaux, it's hard to imagine that just 14 years ago, he was 135 pounds heavier, had just suffered a heart attack and had to undergo two surgeries to clear blocked arteries. Today, he is just 10 pounds heavier than he was in high school, has the vital signs of a teenager, is stronger than ever and is about to turn 72 years old.

"It's a lifestyle. Without health, you have nothing," Robichaux said. Robichaux is a retired Iberia Parish school bus driver, but he also owned two meat markets in New Iberia and as you can imagine, he ate plenty of meat at that time.

"I used to see that stuff (meat) clog up my sink. I had to call Roto Rooter to unclog my sink. And, I had to call the doctor to unclog my arteries," Robichaux said. "Now, I don't eat no meat at all. I eat fruits and vegetables, mostly raw and some protein powder."

Advertisement

Now, in retirement, Robichaux has devoted about five hours a day to exercise at Baron's Health Club in New Iberia. He said that is harder than losing the weight.

"It's hard to maintain because you have to do this everyday," he said. "It's a 7-day a week job."

Robichaux goes to the gym six days a week beginning around 1:30 p.m. Once there, he does about 40 minutes of some type of cardio exercise, alternating between machin-es to get about 20 minutes on each. Then, he lifts weights.

Next, he "takes a break" by going into the steam room and sauna before getting ready for his aerobics class.

And finally, Robichaux said, he finishes with his "cool down" - a one mile run on the treadmill. On Sunday, day seven, Robichaux said he does push-ups and other exercises at home.

While Robichaux's personal health accomplishments may seem miraculous on their own, his biggest accomplishment may be what he was able to do for others like 60-year-old Joe Collins and 69-year-old Elijah "Ray" Lewis.

Both men have been exercising with Robichaux for at least 10 years and both of them have lost a considerable amount of weight.

"I was a border line diabetic. My blood pressure was through the roof, my cholesterol was high," Collins said. "They were about to bury me. I used to have chest pain all the time. I went to a heart doctor who said 'you have about 50 percent blockage.' "

Collins said that doctor put him on a medication that had side effects he didn't like, so he decided to do something about the pain in his chest and his overall health. He decided to join the gym and started an exercise routine. He was taking it slow until he met Robichaux.

"I thought I was doing good walking five miles a day. Robichaux said, 'you got to step it up,' " Collins said. "We got up to 22 miles a day."

Lewis joined Robichaux and Collins around the same time and explained just how far the three would walk. He said they would walk from Baron's Health Club on Old Jeanerette Road to the old Martin Mills in St. Martinville and back.

"We figure that's 30 miles for sure. We would walk some and run some," Lewis said.

Collins said when he first started running with Robichaux, "it felt like someone was putting a hot knife in my chest. Then, about a year later, it went away."

Today, Collins and Lewis still are living a healthier life which includes eating healthier and plenty of exercise.

Collins said he has lost 85 pounds and Lewis has lost 97 pounds. Collins said he makes two juices a day, putting broccoli, celery, tomatoes, carrots and apples into the juicer.

Lewis hasn't gone too extreme with his diet.

"I just don't eat stuff like pigs feet and boudin," he said.

Lewis and Collins said they are not the only ones who have been inspired by Robichaux.

"We could sit here all day and tell you all the people Huey has helped," Collins said.

"I'm here, this is what I do. I try to do this for myself. When I see someone who needs my help, I help them," Robichaux said. "I tell them, I can tell you what to do, but I won't do it for you."