It is never too late to change your life for the better. Just ask Alex Linares.
Driven by a desire to break free from his past and create a better future for his two children, Linares turned his life around from drug addiction to health promoter and burgeoning entrepreneur. Today, the Rochester resident is a proud father, chef, personal trainer, and founder of the recently launched A1 Protein Cakes, a clean, whey-based product line promoting healthy living.
Born and raised in Rochester, Linares’ early years didn’t indicate the struggles he would face later in life. His drug use started after the tragic loss of his mother when he was 19. Stricken with grief, he was prescribed Xanax as a way to cope. However, what began as a means of dulling emotional pain quickly escalated into a full-blown addiction, as partying and recreational drug use led him to OxyContin and eventually heroin.
“I made a lot of poor choices in my grief,” Linares said. “It was a decade of bad decisions.”
Over the next several years, Linares’ life deteriorated. He became homeless after his father, overwhelmed by his son’s heroin addiction, kicked him out of the house. Couch surfing and wandering, he spent 10 years with “nothing in my name. I didn’t have a home. I didn’t have a car.” He even found himself living on the streets in Detroit, holding a “homeless” sign at 8 Mile during the brutal Michigan winters. But even in these dark moments, something within him refused to give up.
“I knew I had to make a change,” Linares said.
Slowly, he began the process of making amends. He got multiple jobs to earn money, yet despite these efforts, he remained homeless.
In a moment of clarity, standing on a street corner in the freezing cold, Linares realized his life was worth more than the path he was on. Afraid of dying and trying to survive another winter in Detroit — and aware that he had outstanding warrants — he turned himself in to Hazel Park police. After a few days, he was transferred to Oakland County, where he was sentenced to four months, and then transferred to SHAR Macomb, a private nonprofit organization offering inpatient treatment. Linares said the three months he spent at the rehabilitation center gave him the structure and purpose he needed. During this period, he began to envision a better future for himself and his children — Noah, 5, and Liam, 3.
“You have to want it. It has to come from yourself,” he said about recovery. “And maybe I had a lot of fear because I knew there was more to my life than this. And I looked at my kids and knew I wanted to do more for them.”
Linares, 34, is now drug-free, works full-time as a chef and personal trainer, and has a growing business that grew out of his recovery.
As part of that recovery, Linares discovered the power of fitness. He began going to the gym, where he fell in love with powerlifting. The gym became a place of solace and empowerment, offering a new kind of high — one based on strength, discipline and self-improvement. This shift sparked his passion for health and wellness, leading him to become a personal trainer.
However, Linares’ newfound dedication to fitness came with its own set of challenges.
As he immersed himself in bodybuilding, he began using pre- and post-workout drinks loaded with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and high levels of caffeine. While these supplements initially boosted his performance, they wreaked havoc on his body.
Last spring, he suffered a terrifying medical episode where his heart flatlined for 23 seconds.
“My heart was beating so fast. It was skipping beats. I felt winded. So I went to urgent care and then the ER,” he said. After being revived in the emergency room, Linares knew he needed to make another change. While no specific diagnosis was determined, he realized that the artificial supplements and high levels of caffeine were taking a toll on his health.
Determined to find a healthier solution, he gave up all pre-packaged supplements and researched natural alternatives. His quest for better nutrition led him to develop his protein mixes using clean, whey-based ingredients sourced from Pure Choice Farms in Wisconsin. He created the foundation of his burgeoning A1 Protein Cakes line with just three natural ingredients.
“I found a clean, grass-fed whey protein, and from there, it all started,” Linares said. The slogan for his brand — “I lift weights and bake cakes” — captures the heart of his dual passion for fitness and healthy eating. In addition to protein cakes, Linares bakes whey-based cookies and cakes, offering a healthier alternative to traditional snacks. Each cookie provides 17 grams of protein with no added caffeine or supplements.
Linares’ products can be found at a pop-up store at Eclipse Gym in Rochester and online for deliveries. He continues to build his brand through social media, sharing his journey and promoting his healthy lifestyle. He even launched by-appointment classes in food prep and training.
More than just a business, A1 Protein Cakes represents his commitment to leaving a positive legacy for his children.
“I want to leave the knowledge of a healthy lifestyle and strong body,” he explained. “And I want to leave them a stable future.”
More about A1 Protein Cakes can be found on Facebook or Instagram at @A1_proteincakes.
