* It was time I stopped letting my Lesser Self to defeat me. My Inner Critic was suffocating me!
HERE IS MY STORY – I HOPE IT HELPS JUST ONE OTHER MAN AFFLICTED WITH ‘DAD-BOD’ STATUS!
“I’m not a good enough Dad.” “I’m not a good enough Husband.” “I’m not capable enough.” “Where did this Dad-Bod come From?”
90 Days Later – I lost 25 Pounds
Every month since September 1st, I have taken measurements over 15 different areas and took pictures in the same clothing from the front, side, and back. This has given us completely documented tangible proof of our changes.
Even when the scale didn’t budge for 3 weeks, I knew I was changing because the tape measure told the story.
With these pictures I have been paid in the emotional, mental, and physical gains. On days when I feel like I haven’t progressed that much I actually go back to my pictures over the last 3 months and flip through them to see the progression for myself. I have been paid in my increase of self-confidence more than I ever would have expected. I have been paid in strength of conviction that I can push myself further than I imagined and get the results I wanted.
THE RESULTS OF MY JOURNEY
- NThe Six (6) Foundations
- NAccess to my Before / After Photos
- NLearn how StoryAthleteGRIT gave me a Tribe
- NEmail me if you have any questions
- N I hope my Story can help others
PS: As mentioned, a friend is who introduced I to the Six (6) Foundations, so now I’m just paying that forward.
I have had body confidence issues my whole life but am proud of the results I have achieved in 3 months. Part of the “payment” of confidence gained by documenting this process I feel like I can share my results thus far. I’m not where I want to be, but I am still becoming every day, every workout, 1 percent at a time.
HERE ARE MY AFTER PHOTOS
- NI Lost 25 Pounds in 90 Days
- NI didn't go to the gym once - instead, I did GRIT workouts
- N No diet pills
- NNo special diet plan
- N I am totally against counting calories
- NStoryAthleteGRIT was the 'missing link' I could never find
“Every day I love the person I’m becoming a little more. He’s becoming stronger, healthier, smarter, and more capable with every day I complete my goals for that day. I hope to be a hero to others at some point in my life, but right now I am happy knowing that I’m a hero for the person I was 3 months ago when I started. I must first be a hero to myself before I can every expect to be a hero to someone else.”
-Mark Borst
This is my unique story! – results vary – These are mine!
“IT WAS TIME I WROTE A NEW STORY FOR MYSELF”
My (Mental) Starting Point
In my vision of myself, I have never been good enough, never been strong enough, never been smart enough, never had the ‘right degree’, and often I just didn’t feel like I belonged… Often I would wonder why my execution fell flat!
I Wanted Change
The reason to start this journey was simple to me. It’s a drum beating inside me that I do not want to follow in the same health footsteps of so many in my family before me. I don’t want to find myself abusing my health for years and then realize one day that every bad health decision I have made has compiled and compounded to leave me out of shape, unhealthy, depressed, and fighting to get a life back that I should have fought for years ago. I want to be an example for my boys, my dad, my sisters, and all my cousins. You can be your best self at any age and keep pushing harder to become even more. You don’t have to eat that cookie, that piece of cake, that candy bar, that bowl of ice cream. You’re mind is stronger than you give it credit for. There is no going back for me. The visual transformation to my exterior shell will be the bonus, but that’s not my push. I want to be stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally. I want to be a light for others around me to prove that a better you is possible. It’s won’t easy, but few things is life that impact you and others are ever easy. It just has to be worth it.
I Learned About StoryAthlete
What the hell is “StoryAthlete?” It’s not a term I had heard before. Once explained, though, it made perfect sense. Story = The Sport. Athlete = Elite Performance. Which made even more sense when I heard this phrase, “Defined by the Story we tell Our Self,” because I have been a professional at telling myself negative, self-diminishing stories for years. Now, here I am, committed to changing that.
My Lesser Self Was Kicking My Ass!
I struggle with asking for help because while I’m willing to seek help when I need it, I only ask as a complete last resort and frequently when I am so emotionally drained that I’m on the edge of breaking. There is a very short list of people I feel like I can go to and know that they will be there for me in whatever facet they can. I’m sure part of that comes from being a “people pleaser” and not wanting to inconvenience others. And part of it comes from being a “bit of a perfectionist” and not trusting that the “help” will be what I’m hoping for. Whatever the reason may be, I know I can not do everything by myself and need to be willing to put my shortcomings aside and ask for help when needed. My Lesser Self, in this department, has been kicking my ass for years. “Don’t ask for help. Do it alone.” Except, that is the approach that brought to this point.
I Was Tired of “Being…”
Life has a way of just breaking us down until there is almost no resemblance of the strong person we used to be. Over time, I just grew tired of being tired. Tired of being insecure about my abilities as a business owner. Tired of feeling like I wasn’t smart enough, capable enough or in shape enough. Tired of being controlled by my dad-bod image. Everybody reaches their breaking point. I finally reached mine. I wanted to become strong, independent, a force to be reckoned with. The only way to get there is through rebuilding and rewiring. When I started my fitness journey on September 1, my unconscious mind was telling me I couldn’t do the 100 burpees a day. I rebuilt my mind and conquered those burpees. In October GRIT, my unconscious mind told me I couldn’t do hill runs. I rebuilt my mind, rewired, and conquered the hill runs. In November GRIT, my unconscious mind told me I couldn’t dead hang for 4 minutes. I rebuilt my mind and defeated those hangs and a little piece of that rewired brain looked forward to doing them. Rebuilding the unconscious mind is necessary to “Become…” the heroic character I was meant to be.
4-Dimensional Transformation
Through StoryAthlete – Mind, Body, Business, Relationships – I came to learn just how interconnected each one was to the other. Three months ago, I was completely unhappy with my physical health and the vision I had of myself. The problem with being unhappy with my physical health is that it also made me very unhappy mentally. Everything in life is so interconnected. For myself, being unhappy or insecure in one area negatively impacts other areas as well. For the past few years, I knew I needed to get my physical health back. The biggest problem I faced was my negative thoughts were so strong toward the way I looked that I couldn’t get myself to start my journey to a healthier me. It’s a vicious cycle that I couldn’t see out of. The mind and body are so intricately intertwined that when you are feeling low in one area, other areas naturally follow suit.
Could 6 Foundations Be The Solution?
I didn’t know what the Six (6) Foundations were when GRIT first started as the StoryAthlete experiment. For lack of a better phrase, that’s what it was. An experiment, to test the effectiveness of the 6 Foundations. Then, as you can read, it became something much more. And the transformation that I saw, others began to experience too. Not just physically. But again, Mind, Body, Business, Relationships – all 4 -dimensions.
I Committed To The Journey
I am driven by nature. When I commit to something, I am all in. I don’t believe in putting partial effort into task that I commit to. When I started my business, I was nervous and overwhelmed but knew that failure and quitting were not options. I committed to this business and knew it wouldn’t be easy but had to give it my all. When I committed my new fitness life with the burpee challenge and GRIT, I was all in. Again, I had self-doubt and I was nervous but there was never an option for quitting. I committed to being all in and there was no going back. With FUEL, I am all in. I know that while there are a lot of unknowns at this point and I again find myself a little nervous about how to navigate it. However, I know it will be worth it and have committed to myself to be all in.
“IT WAS TIME I WROTE A NEW STORY FOR MYSELF”
Reflection + Introspection = Growth & Transformation
My reflections: The first 60 days
From Sept 1st to Oct 31st – I never imagined the Six (6) Foundations would work like this!
When I started the GRIT Foundations on September 1st, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was scared shitless… I have never done 100 burpees in a row, let alone for 30 days straight.
After about the first 10 burpees on day one I thought to myself, “What the Hell did I sign up for?” I couldn’t breathe, my back hurt, my wrists hurt. I was terrified that I couldn’t complete this. But, I knew there was no giving up even if it took me all day to finish.
By the second Monday, I had knocked off about 6 minutes of 100 consecutive burpees… This was a real turning point that, ‘if I can push through my own negative talk and take one third of my time in a short week of exercise… how and what else was my mind limiting in my abilities!’
I carried that mindset onto GRIT the next month.
It grew exponentially.
I haven’t been part of a workout regime since my senior year of high school soccer, it felt little ackward going to the park to workout by myself.
It didn’t take long for my mind to shift and realize that I didn’t care what other people were thinking…
I knew I wasn’t doing this for them, it was for me.
That was huge for me because I have always worried what people thought of me. I never had to hang for 4 minutes in my life, and to be honest I was angry when I saw that exercise. But, this will be one of the exercises I won’t give up.
I need it!
love seeing the improvement in my mental strength pushing my time on each hang as long as I could go.
As sick as it probably is, I love the crazy tight forearms after the hang because I know it proves to myself I pushed as hard as I could. Thanks, CJ, for the dead hangs because it was a probably the single exercise that defined my GRIT more than anything.
I have always been, to my own detriment, a numbers as result person. If I didn’t see big results on the scale, it meant I hadn’t succeeded. This was the first time in my life that I have learned that pounds or inches on the scale don’t define my health improvements.
Yes, I have lost 25 pounds and 4 inches from my waist since September 1, but most importantly is how I feel about myself now.
I feel like I can take on any workout even if I must take it in small bites. Those small bites add up to big results over time in my mind and body. I’ll never be the fastest, the strongest, or the fittest person. But I can be MY fastest, MY strongest, and My fittest self I’ve even been with the right dedication, determination, and GRIT.
I’ve seen so much display of grit, determination, and even humanity from everyone in this group.
It is a safe place to celebrate your victories without people reading into it as arrogance and boastfulness. In the same way it is a safe place to show weakness and know that you’ll receive kindness and support. People sharing in others success instead of feeling jealousy. There are few places on social media platforms that these types of relationships exists.
“Yes, I have lost 15 pounds since September 1,
but most importantly is how I feel about myself now.”
I Am Familiar With Doubt
It consumes way to much of my time and causes me to question so many aspects of my life. My doubts are usually self doubt in the form of questioning my parenting skills, questioning pieces of my business, and questioning how I deal with personal relationships. My self doubt can cause some frustrations for those who believe in me most and I hate that. However, I am a work in progress and have my moments of weakness.
StoryAthlete Finds A Way
Three days into December grit, I found myself at the ER with my son and a dislocated finger 500 miles from home…
Ego Is The Enemy
Generally, I am a very laid back guy. When I am good at something, I am not afraid to let people know. I never feel like I am being cocky, but rather confident. To some, this is too much ego. Honestly, I am looking to help others in everything I do… If I know something or am good at something, I want to help you become good at it too…
I Believe In Alchemy
There’s gold in them there hills! GRIT has been gold for me, both mentally and physically. Just a few short months ago, I cringed at the thought of working up a sweat… and to do it multiple days in a week… ‘Not going to happen.’… Then something short circuited my thoughts, and all of a sudden I’m in a mild panic if can’t squeeze in my workout when I want.
The Devil Is My Lesser self
Before GRIT, I never had a context for the Devil… Yes Religion defines the devil, but I have never realized how the concept affects my life… until NOW. The little voice in my head that is always telling me to relax and take my time… The little voice that tells me I deserve a break… The little voice in my head that says “When you make it, you will have…” The little voice in my head that says “go ahead and eat that sugary snack, we will count this as our cheat day” That little voice is the Lessor Self… otherwise known as the Devil!
Get Inspired By Teammates
There are 6 Foundations that were discovered while developing GRIT: Default-YES vs. Default-NO; Intensity vs. Check the Box; Suffer Together vs. Suffer Alone; Go, No Go vs. Random Check-Ins; Metrics vs. No Metrics; Integrity vs. No Integrity
Don’t Harbor Anger
I Don’t Harbor Anger… A lot of people get so upset about the seemingly smallest things… I have never understood it!
Don’t Break The Chain
Since September 1st, I have done some sort of workout and context everyday, Starting in mid August I stopped drinking alcohol, not to say I will never drink again, but I have no desire to indulge for ‘ordinary’ occasions. Same with sugar, I have been doing a pretty good job at avoiding added sugar, corn syrup, the crap sweeteners… as well as fried and processed foods. The results of this combination has produced a mind and body that I have not realized in years.
I’m able to think more clear, and see more opportunities that I may have overlooked and missed with the cloud over my head.
I’m able to physically do more, both my stamina and my strength have increased significantly… all because I have stayed consistant.
Our Words Have Value
Sharing your insights are an invaluable tool for yourself as well as others. It is through that sharing that you can learn from others and they can learn from you. In all aspects of life, sharing your perspectives can lead to helping others grow. You don’t know when your life experiences that you share can impact someone’s life in the same way that I have learned and grown from the perspectives of others.
There Is No Finish Line
For most of our young lives we are told to avoid pain, and when x happens your struggle and pain will be gone forever… and you will have have reached the pinnacle… The end… And now you are successful! What a lie we are all told, probably by marketers! What I have come to realize the last few months… The journeys in life is when I had the most growth, the most success and the best memories. Stopping and enjoying the journey of getting 1% better daily is what life is all about… Not some pinnacle end. I don’t want to get to the end, because if we are not growing we are dying!
Commit To The Process
Once I set my mind to things, I usually commit to see it through. Life’s successes are interwoven with the commitments we see through. Whether it be in a relationship, health, or business life is a series of commitments. You get out what you put in and it takes time. You must be willing to commit to the time, effort, frustration, happiness, anger, and any array of emotions that are part of that commitment. There have been so many people in my life that are full of excuses of why things don’t go the way they plan. The problem is, they don’t want to commit to the process it takes to make things go the way you want. It’s not easy and isn’t instantaneous. But what are the other options? You keep pushing or give up. I’m no quitter and refuse to give up on the process of succeeding in life.
I Need To Stop Worrying
I have never been one to worry about things I can not control! Yet, I want to control everything I can! LOL. What I found is that by controlling my own mind, I have far less concern or need to worry about what others are doing.
I Push Through Fear
Fear is a natural response to difficult moments in life. Yet, I know fear is an illusion… And we are react differently to fear. Some avoid it, and other lure it in… I probably land somewhere in the middle. I equate Fear to RISK. Normally the greater the risk causes higher amounts of fear. When it comes to business, I am a risk taker… and of course I have doubts and fears but i am willing to head them off at the pass. Fitness in my forties has been more of a challenge to get over my fear of failure… But in GRIT I have proven to myself the fear of fitness is also an illusion!
I Embrace Small Wins
As I started noticing the results of my lack of focus on my health and wellbeing, my first thought was… “I have never had six pack abs, so how am I at forty+ going to get to that point?” So, when I realized that there is no magic pill or instant results, I started paying attention to the small wins, the 1% gains. I have learned to not pay attention to everyone else’s wins or gains, but instead to look at my one progress from one day to the next… All of a sudden, I looked up and noticed the difference that 2 or 3 months can do when you add them up 1% at a time! Small wins equal huge gains!
Struggle Forges Character
No one every promised life would be easy. No one said life would be fair. No one said life would be free of struggle. The question is, “How do you respond in the face of adversity?” That response creates your character, integrity, morals, strength, and the core of you who you are. Every struggle I encounter provides a learning opportunity to take with me through life as I encounter the next struggle.
My Story Is Being Written
My story is mine and mine alone. No one can tell my story but me. I’m the only one who gets to control that pen. It is through the telling of my story that I can impact others and create another aspect of myself. Everyone is many things in their lives. I’m a husband, father, son, brother, friend, entrepreneur, and a dozen other things. However, there are millions of people across the world who are all those things as well. What sets me aside and makes me different? It is my story. The story of the interwoven pieces of all of those aspects of my life that have made me who I am and who I continue to become. It is in learning to share my story and my message that I can take another step towards the person I am meant to be.
Perfection Leads To Failure
Seeking perfection is the quickest way to failure for me. Expecting perfection from myself is a daunting and unattainable prospect. If I set unattainable and impossible goals the end result will be to let myself down and therefore I fail before I give myself the chance to succeed. Life is a series of lessons to learn from to find clarity in the ways I can reach my ultimate vision that I have for myself now and in the future.
My Code Creates Consistency
My code makes me who I am. It keeps me true to myself and on target for success. If I didn’t follow the code I set for myself, I ultimately lose. Whether that be in my business, family life, or health. If I leave life up to chance, I run the risk of failure. I have always followed the code I set for myself in business. I do what I say I’m going to on time if not earlier than promised. The fitness code is a new addition. For the past few years I’ve been telling myself, “I need to get back in shape. Well, it’s Wednesday and this week is already a loss because I didn’t start on Monday. I’ll start next Monday.” For how may weeks did I tell myself that? And why is Monday the magical day?! Why could I only start on a Monday? I hadn’t developed my code for fitness. Now, with little push from others, I am creating my code. Exercise is a default yes even when it’s the last thing I want to do. Every day I get up in the morning I know I have a workout. I may not like the workout planned but it’s not an option. It’s decided and complaining and procrastinating won’t change what is going to be accomplished. The code keeps me accountable.
Me, The Inspiring Character?
I have never considered myself an inspiration, but this heathly living journey has me thinking. People ask what I do, where I started, and how I got to the point I am currently at they are surprised. They want to know how I did it, what are the steps to getting there. First and Foremost, I have been an inspiration to my own desperate self… Yes I can follow through on a long term commitment! I have also been an inspiration to my Wife and Kids… Well, if dad can do this at 46, why can’t I at 13 and 17! So as I keep inspiring myself to keep moving forward, my immediate family is also seeing the rewards… I’m hoping to start to reach more people so we can change the dad-bod stereo type!
Cultivating True Fans
In my personal life, I have many true fans. People that support me through thick and thin, are there for a sounding board, and willing to provided me with honest (if even critical) feedback. However, when it comes to my business, this is where I need to make a more conscious effort. I know I can reach a lot more people if I share my story of my business on social media, but there’s always a fear that no one cares. I need to find the power in myself to push past that fear. I know I am drawn to stories people share and makes a business more personal and makes me want to follow the story. Developing those true fans in my business will only make my business stronger and more impactful. Congrats everyone on completing this step in the journey! On to the next step!
90 Days Later – I lost 25 lbs and almost 4” from waist
My reflections: The first 60 days
From Sept 1st to Oct 31st – I never imagined the Six (6) Foundations would work like this!
As I reflect on the past 28 days of November GRIT, I can’t help but be proud of myself. I’m proud of the physical, and mental results I have had over these 28 days, 60 days, 90+ days.
STEP 1
I WANTED TO CHANGE
In my vision of myself, I have never been good enough, never been strong enough, never been smart enough, never had the ‘right degree’, and often I just didn’t feel like I belonged… Often I would wonder why my execution fell flat!
STEP 1
THE 6 FOUNDATIONS
Like you are right now, I was beyond skeptical, but having tried everything else and still not getting the result I wanted. Terrifyingly, I committed to the process of GRIT, the Six (6) Foundations, and to my teammates!
STEP 1
I TRANSFORMED
The Six (6) Foundations are what guarantee the ridiculously high (90%+) Transformation Rate (TR) that StoryAthleteGRIT members are experiencing. You just have to show up. Transformation, happens.