Transforming people and communities through business - More than $2 million donated to local charities
Transforming people and communities through business - More than $2 million donated to local charities

StoryAthlete GRIT: Everything You Want In Life Can Be Had, IF... You Just STOP!! Quitting On Yourself.

Undeniable Fact:

Because Of The 6 Foundations!

 'GRIT + FUEL' - Has Proven To Be The Greatest Transformation-Engine Ever Devised... 

This is NOT a solely fitness program. This is a program for people who keep quitting on themselves. Lesser Self vs. Heroic Self. Which is most people. Procrastination. Delay. Paralysis-by-analysis. Achieving fitness & Peak Energy is simply the by-product of training the Mind to sustain consistency and discipline, without giving up or quitting. Successful entrepreneurs train their Mind and Body, to optimize their Business. If someone chooses not to do something physically challenging because it's hard, well it's a helluva lot harder to build a business. So, if we're being honest, they probably won't do that, either. Start, stop, repeat (the cycle of misery) that's what the Lesser Self does. 

NOT US!

...If we have shit habits around fitness and nutrition. Then we probably have shit habits around focus, productivity, and execution. Lots of people are "thinking about getting started," not many people "actually" get started. Even less, "sustain" that execution.

The Differentiator? GRIT - (in 28 Days, you will prove that to yourself.)

Oh, and you know how Storytelling is the most critical skill in business? You'll write a ton of content that you can roll forward into your marketing and social media, to create differentiation, connection, and new relationships with your audience. 

Don't have an audience? - What the are you waiting for?

GRIT is hard to fully explain, because it transforms EVERY PART OF YOUR LIFE.

Which sounds like bullshit, until YOU EXPERIENCE IT.

Still Unsure? 

Text me your question: 360-215-7589
(Yes, that is my actual phone # - Please respect it)
    By Ryan Fletcher

    We have hundreds of transformations - (Documented) 

    What started as nothing but an experiment and a hypothesis, turned into a new way to live life...

    With everything that's happening right now, StoryAthlete members are the people who have chosen to use this time "at home," isolated, with their families, to become hard(er) to kill; mentally, physically, financially. 

    GRIT is no walk in the park. 

    It is hard. 

    It requires commitment.   

    But if you're on this page, I have no doubt that you're willing to put in the hard work and have that commitment inside of you to achieve great things. As parents, GRIT members show up to lead by example for their kids...

    Total Health = GRIT + FUEL

    In turn, their kids and spouse are inspired, too!

    AGAIN:

    We have hundreds of transformations - (Documented) 

    What started as nothing but an experiment and a hypothesis, turned into a new way to live life...

    PROOF...

    THAT THIS COMMUNITY

    Is One Of The Most Transformative Programs Ever Devised. 

    • MIND
    • ​BODY
    • ​BUSINESS
    • ​RELATIONSHIPS

    Hard(er) To Kill; Mentally, Physically, Financially

    What Are Others Already Saying About 'GRIT + FUEL? '

    True Confidence; It Wasn't Until GRIT That I Actually Started To Feel This On The Inside. Self-Care Is Critical

    Breanne Smedley is a teacher and a high school volleyball coach. Last year, StoryAthlete showed her how to turn her mindset knowledge into a product. This past week, as everybody panicked, she sold over $5K worth of her online mindset training to athletes. 

    GRIT Pulled Me Through My Darkest Times. Multiple Times Last Year, I Thought Ending-It-All Would Be The Better Option

    Nick Doria is a former veteran that has struggled with depression, but said, "I feel that sharing that with everything that's going on right now, people need to be able to know that, no matter how dark it gets, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel."

    Most Simply Stated, I Fit Into My Pre-Pregnancy Jeans! This Community Allows Me To Practice Being Vulnerable, Makes Me Laugh, Encourages Me, Holds Me Accountable

    Kristina joined GRIT after seeing the visible transformation in her business partner Breanne. 

    In 60 days. I'm Off Off The Blood Pressure Medication That My Doctor Assured Me, That I Would Never Be Able To Do

    Joe Tedesco is a member that is showing those who suffer from a drinking with a problem. That life after the booze is much better. "I can’t think of a more inspiring place to be. And honestly, I don’t think there’s another Community like StoryAthlete GRIT on the planet."

    I'd Resigned Myself To Being Chubby. Now I Have Defined Muscles. I Have Confidence. Happiest I've Ever Been

    Amanda Turner is an amazing person. "I've gone from someone who aimed low and wrote off my own potential to someone who consistently redefines and expands my capacity for success. This is a marked difference from who I was prior to GRIT."

    GRIT Cured My Debilitating Back Pain. For 8 Years It Was Inescapable. The Bulged Discs In My Lower Back Screamed At Me!

    Ian McLeod is an amazing person, but suffered from a physical ailment that affected every aspect of his life. "From GRIT, I've gone from someone who aimed low and wrote off my own potential, to someone who consistently redefines and expands my capacity for success."

    Once You Learn To Believe In Yourself, The Results Are Remarkable! With GRIT, Quitting Is Not An Option

    Adam Davidson is one of our Canadians. "All in all, GRIT has amplified my life in numerous ways. It’s a pathway to success and a blueprint to a better life. You just gotta get started."

    I Stopped Lying To Myself. Got Strong. Quit The Excuses. Prioritized Self-Care & Inspired My Entire Family

    Dani Russell is a former collegiate athlete who, after years of broken promises to herself, finally called herself out. "Of all the people that I could inspire, the most important are those right under my own roof. My husband. My kids. Myself. GRIT gives me the chance to do that every single day."

    My Old Mindset Used To Be Poison. It Was Toxic Waste. I Embraced Mediocrity. I Had To Re-Write The Script. Re-Program My Mind. Re-Invent My Character

    Mark Broady is the epitome of what GRIT is. He committed to change, and he changed. "My experience as a StoryAthlete in GRIT has made me become a better person. To the point where when I look back now, at the Mark I used to be. I’m almost disgusted."

    Over The Course Of The First 27 Days, I Lost 4 Inches Around My Waist And Hips, And I Went Down 2 Pant Sizes. I Feel Connected And Empowered

    Karis Cooper joined GRIT after two fellow GRIT members recommended it to her. "GRIT has allowed me to choose the daily actions necessary to create an extraordinary life. I am so Thankful for a TRIBE I knew I needed, but didn’t know how to find."

    I Was Sinking. Financially & Emotionally. And Not Proud Of Who I Was In 2019. From GRIT, My Wife And Kids All Said, "We Got Dad Back..."

    John Savage is our UK native. "What does Story Athlete mean to me? That word is Power. Each and every human has a Light inside them, whether they choose to turn it on or not. The power of that light, has the potential to energize cities."

    As You Can See...

    'GRIT + FUEL' Has Already Helped Countless People Around The World...

    The Question Is, Are YOU Next?

    • Thrive in the 'Isolation Economy'
    • Find joy in doing hard shit
    • ​Hard(er) to kill mentally, physically, financially
    • Use stress to your advantage
    • Connect with a community to inspire you
    • ​Inspire others who still need hope
    • Transform to become more capable 
    • No more insecurity 
    • No more lack of confidence
    • No more self-doubt
    • ​No more fear 
    • No more anxiety
    • No more going it alone' and failing yourself
    • Finally, take control and thrive!

    My Body Has Felt Amazing The Last 7 Months, Which Has Had Spillover Effect On My Mindset. My Mental Focus Right Now Is Off The Charts.

    Ryan Sloper has completed every round of GRIT since the program's inception. "GRIT has showed me what's possible. Even my wife joined March 2020 GRIT. Working out and writing contexts together has definitely brought us closer together..."

    Coronavirus. With These Rapid Fire Changes, "Typical Rachel," Before GRIT, Would Be Enduring A Panic Attack Of Epic Proportions

    Rachel Snell joined GRIT after her good friend Heather recommended and encouraged her to join. Her video isa must watch. "We have an opportunity. Yes, life as we know it is changing, but in that is an incredible opportunity. It's an opportunity to reset.

    The Realization That Within Me Is A Lesser And Heroic Self Has Helped Me More Clearly Identify Who I Truly Want To Be

    Meredith Brick, like so many other members, joined us after GRIT another member recommended it to her. "My mind has to command my body - not the other way around. My lesser self loves being comfortable and taking the easy way out. My heroic self knows, in order to grow, I have to get 'uncomfortable' and practice discipline." She continues to transform herself. 

    Before I Could Do All The Hard Shit That I Did This Past Year, I Had To Kill That Little Voice In My Head That Said, "You Can't..." 

    Jon Pakula, for all newcomers, is a man who has been ruthlessly committed to killing his Lesser Self from day 1. "GRIT gives you the formula and community to force you into transformation. You just have to Commit. Show up. Do the work, and don't quit. If you can do that. You will transform. You will Become something more. And your Life’s Story will be re-written."

    I Hadn’t Worked Out Consistently In Over 30-years Before GRIT. Now, My Day Doesn’t Feel Complete If I Don’t...

    Doug Heron is the epitome of GRIT, a man transformed. And gritty to boot. Instead of a sandbag, he used a bag of chicken feed. "If somebody doesn’t want to change, there is nothing you can to do fix it. And now, I understand it. If you want to change, you will find a way. If you are not ready, nothing will work. I was ready and GRIT was my way." 

    On Day 1, That Workout Was So Incredibly Hard For Me. But I Kept My Promise. I Haven’t Quit On Myself Since.

    Heather Compton is an unlikely hero, a person who never considered herself an athlete, but has been heroic everyday since she joined, achieving everything she thought was once impossible. "I went to the doctor recently and they asked me how often I work out. I was able to answer, “every day” and let them know I’ve officially lost 50 total pounds now."

    This “Go" or "No Go” Mentality, Combined w/ The Commitment To, Not Just Yourself, But To The Team, Is MAGIC.

    Jennifer Seidelman is a StoryAthlete who, for a long time, sat on the sidelines. Then, one day, she said, "All-in." From that day forth, she's kicked ass and taken names. "I’ve always been good at commitment to others. If I tell you I’m going to do something, I do it. Even if it’s to my detriment. Commitment to myself has always been more of a struggle."

    Back Pain. Shoulder Pain. I Had No Idea How Much My Life Was About To Change, When I Joined GRIT...

    Tim Rill is a man of great conviction. Quiet, reserved, but deeply intelligent and capable when he commits. "I have been married for 27 years. My wife and I have had a good marriage but not a great one. Communication always lacked. Since GRIT, and my new discoveries, our relationship is stronger than any other time, even before we were married." 

    New. Different. Better

    (Two Foundational Programs)

    Thrive In This 'Isolation Economy'

     Foundational Program #1 - StoryAthlete GRIT

    (Most Effective Approach Ever Devised - The Proof Is Everywhere)

    THE PROOF IS (BELOW) ON THIS PAGE

    THE GREATEST TRANSFORMATION ENGINE EVER DEVISED

    The Secret Lives In The 6 Foundations

    CJ Thomas is StoryAthlete Head Trainer
    Get ready to have more fun than you've ever had forging your mind and body. CJ, although he's 5-time rejectee from American Ninja Warrior, he did win the AthleanX Games in 2019, and hundreds of us owe him everything when it comes to our physical transformation. He programs all GRIT workouts. He just tells us what to do, we do it. No hesitation. No indecision. His entire philosophy to training is second to none, you're gonna love it. 
    The 6 Foundations / The Secret
    GRIT workouts are every day, 28-days per month. Sound ridiculous? Well, no, this is how you forge transformation fast. I know what you're thinking, "I bet a lot of people quit," right? No, GRIT consistently has a 90% completion rate each month. People are all too willing to quit on themselves but, we never quit on our teammates. The 6 Foundations prevent quitting. These "Rules of The Game," so to speak, guarantee commitment and performance. The strangest Foundation, as you will discover, "Go, No Go," is everyone's favorite.
    Focused On Total Health / Mental + Physical:
    Someone can be in amazing health, fitness-wise but be totally broken mentally. Depression, for example, or worry, fear, anxiety, do not just plague the physically unhealthy. These mental health issues, which are extremely common, especially in our current situation, are causing record number of folks to live in the state of chronic stress. Stress, faster than anything else in life, will destroy you. Stress paralyzes. Stress suffocates. Stress robs people of joy. And to think clearly and be strategic when you're stressed, is almost impossible. This is why, inside of StoryAthlete, through GRIT and FUEL, together we work on our Mind just as much, if not more, than our physical bodies. 
    Minimum Effective Dose:
    The GRIT programming methodology is rooted in science. Most workouts are no more than 20-30 minutes, which includes warmup and stretch. Some, like the 12-Minutes of Death," are just 12 minutes. Let's face it, we're busy. We don't have all day to workout. Everybody though, has 12-20 minutes. Our approach is super effective. 
    Programmed For Fat Loss / Muscle Gain:
    Again, the GRIT programming is rooted in science. When you scroll down this page, you can read dozens of stories from members, on the 'speed' of their weight-loss, as they dropped fat and simultaneously gained muscle. 
    Every Workout / Exercise Is Scaleable / And Can Be Modified: 
    Have a bad knee? Hurt shoulder? Out of shape? Not very athletic? Listen, we've heard every concern for why somebody believes they can't do GRIT. But they can. Everybody can, at the exact level they are capable. Every GRIT workout is scaleable, just like a Hurricane: F2 vs. F3. vs. F4 vs. F5. You can turn them up. Or turn them down. No matter what your fitness level is, or your limitations, you can do this. It's You vs. You. One member, for example, RPJ, who had suffered a spinal cord injury years prior, was able to complete GRIT. This pretty much eliminated all excuses because if he could do it, he proved their concern is not a physical limitation, but a mental limitation.  
    Family Friendly / Inspire Kids: 
    When you read the case studies below, from GRIT members sharing their transformations, you will hear the repeated theme. My biggest transformation has been the transformation in my relationships with my spouse and kids. Inside of GRIT, we believe, "Those who suffer together, bond together." GRIT members suffer together as a team. But also, we end up inspiring our kids and spouses, and even friends, to join us in the workouts. 
    Minimum (or Zero) Equipment Required:
    This isn't even worth worrying about. Just know, if you have some basic equipment, i.e, like a single kettlebell, you can make use of it. But if not, this program is called GRIT. Resourcefulness beats resources everyday of the week. Instead of a sandbag, we've had a member who is a farmer use a bag of chicken feed instead. No kettlebell? Use a bag books. For every obstacle or limitation, inside of GRIT, there is a solution. 

    The Psychology Of Optimal Experience

    Confession: GRIT isn't really a fitness program. It's easy to categorize it as that. And it makes sense, from a simplicity standpoint, to put it inside that box. But really, it's a program rooted in the 6 Foundations, that is deliberately designed to deliver to members true happiness. Not just weight-loss or muscle gain. Or self-awareness through introspection and reflection. But stronger relationships, with increased capacity. If you read that book, you will see how GRIT was designed from the tenets to engineer FLOW; to achieve peak mental/physical performance and maximum happiness. We don't really care if you develop 6-pack abs, our aim is to make you hard(er) to kill; mentally, physically, financially. 

     Foundational Program #2 - StoryAthlete FUEL

    (GUARANTEED: You Have Never Had This Much Energy In Your Life!)

    GRIT + FUEL = RAPID TRANSFORMATION

    A NUTRITION PROTOCOL THAT FOCUSES ON PEAK ENERGY

    Say Bye-Bye All "Diet" Programs

    Imagine Never Being Tired Or Exhausted Again - That Is Peak Energy!

    StoryAthleteFUEL Isn't About Sacrifice
    When it comes to nutrition, most painfully think about dieting and massive restriction. You can't eat this. You can't eat this. You can't eat that. These highly restrictive diets, fads, that attempt to hit short-term targets, are paths that lack a solid foundation. Which inevitably creates the yo-yo effect, loss of hope, greater despair, and a futile mindset from having traveled a doomed path to begin with. Over the last 12-months, so many StoryAthletes have lost 10, 30, even 50+ pounds. I, Ryan Fletcher, have lost 40+ pounds. Not once did I ever count a calorie or painfully restrict myself. 
    Tested / Proven 
    For the past 12-months, CJ Thomas and I researched and tested the ideal nutritional path to meet StoryAthlete demands. The proof of effectiveness, for our approach to FUEL, can be seen in the stories of our members as you scroll this page. When GRIT + FUEL are paired together, it creates the perfect protocol for rapid transformation. 
    Calorie Counting Is Stupid / Dangerous
    Every yo-yo dieter, counts calories. Don't be like them. The premise that a calorie is a calorie is a calorie is not only ludicrous but negligent and dangerous. Human biology is far more complicated than addition-and-subtraction of arbitrary units. Macronutrients (carbs, proteins, fats) matter. Micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals) matter. When you eat during the day and how often you eat matters. If you’re committed to optimizing your energy, your focus, your mental resiliency, your immunity to disease, and, the host of other lifestyle by-products directly connected to those metrics, you’re going to need more than calorie-counting to get you to the promised land. Restrictive diets that focus on "points" and calorie-counting are what fail people. 
    Chess vs. Checkers
    The truth is we live in a world that is calorie-abundant and nutrition-deficient. Your body is playing chess and your FitBit is playing checkers. It’s  time everyone started learning the rules and strategies that will help you win the game. Understand that for everything your trying to accomplish in your mind, body, business, and relationships, nutrition is the fuel that will get you where you want to go. Optimizing that fuel is the key that unlocks your truest potential.
    • PERFORMANCE IS POWERED BY FUEL
    • ​EXPERIENCES ARE POWERED BY FUEL
    • RELATIONSHIPS ARE POWERED BY FUEL
    • BUSINESS IS POWERED BY FUEL
    • ​LIFE IS POWERED BY FUEL
    Creating Super Capable Humans 
    StoryAthlete aims to create super-capable humans, across Mind, Body, Business, Relationships. To power this progress, requires FUEL. Or what we call "Peak Energy." This means the Energy Asset Assembly-Line (EAAL) concept must be understood, where Nutrition, Fitness, Sleep, and Stress are all interconnected. If one gets sabotaged, potentially, they all get sabotaged. The purpose of any assembly-line is to create efficiency. Nobody wants a "diet." People want a solution to create optimization across every aspect of their lifestyle. 
    Fast / Rapid Results
    As part of the Free (At Home) Transformation Program, beginning at the start of week 3, StoryAthleteFUEL will be delivered to our new members. First comes GRIT, then comes FUEL, then comes the phase of rapid transformation. 

    Need To See MORE PROOF?

    'GRIT + FUEL' - Is Changing Lives....With A Consistent 90% Success Rate Because of The Six (6) Foundations. 

    Don't Miss The Deadline To Register!

    The "Christi" Today Is Not The Same Person I Was When I Started GRIT 6½ Months Ago. Everything Has Changed...

    Christi Fletcher is the person that this program was designed for; true internal transformation. "I have struggled my whole life with body image. In my vision of myself, I was never thin enough, never strong enough, wasn’t smart enough, wasn’t capable in so many aspects of myself. I hated the vision I had of myself but couldn’t see my way out."

    Overcoming My Own Self-Doubt Of Being Able To Commit To Something And Stick With It, Has Been Tremendous!!

    Greg Horn, from day 1 of joining StoryAthlete, became that a person who immediately inspired everyone he spoke to. He genuinely cares. "The biggest benefit I’ve seen through all of GRIT is Mental. Not that the physical transformation hasn’t been tremendous. But, overcoming my own self-doubt has been life-altering."

    THIS CAN BE YOU, TOO!

    "Change Your Story, Change Your Life"

    StoryAthlete® is not just a slogan or brand of T-shirt. It's a movement of changing the story we tell ourselves. Success is based on our belief. Our beliefs are based on the stories we tell our self. If we tell ourselves stories of self-defeat, we destroy ourselves from within. 

    StoryAthlete is a movement committed to changing that reality. We believe each of us is the Writer of our own Character-script. And, if our Character fails, it's because we wrote for our Character a poor script. By changing the story, we change the possibilities! 

    We Are Athletes In The Game Of Story & I Have Started Telling Myself A Better Story, Death To The Lesser Self...

    CJ Thomas used to think of himself, and see himself, as an underdog. This limited him as a leader. GRIT, however, changed that mindset for him in a major way. "I've been a strong person in body for a long time, but my mind has been shit. My business has been lacking. My relationships not so great, but I've changed that. Every day, GRIT is about 1% growth." 

    My Journey Of Becoming A StoryAthlete Has Been Nothing Short Of Life-Altering. It's Showed Me What's Possible.

    Ryan France is one of the authentic leaders inside of GRIT. Nobody assigned him a leadership role. He just leads by example and that inspires others. "The "Go, No Go" mentality, one of the six foundations in GRIT has given me a framework of consistency that had been severely lacking in my routines. That consistency bleeds through to all areas."

    We Have Lots More Of These!

    "If You Want To Change, We Have Proven The Formula"

    (A message from John Savage, our U.K brother, "The Choice to turn It 'On'... or Not)

    STEP 1:

    Cancel Your Gym Membership

    Save a ton of money. CrossFit is $89-$159 per month for just 2-3 days of access per week. Orange Theory is $99 to $159 per month. Gyms are cheaper, but still average over $50/mo per person and still most don't get the results they want. Further, in our current 'Isolation Economy,' gyms pose a massive health threat as virus factories. People crowded together, sweating on the equipment, all breathing and panting the same air. 

    STEP 2:

    Get Signed Up!

    To get the kind of results that StoryAthletes get across Mind, Body, Business, Relationships, you don't need access to any gym or fitness facility, nor is any equipment required. We believe fitness should not be done solo, but together as a team. Further, StoryAthlete focuses on Total Health not just fitness. Total health = Mind + Body + Relationships. According to data, loneliness, a lack of connection, and stress, all pose greater risk than obesity. We don't really care if you develop 6-pack abs, our aim is to forge total health and true happiness.

    Here's The Plan:

      What We Are Doing

    1.    We are going to get in the best Physical shape of our life - (Experience Peak Energy)
    2.    We are going to get in the best Mental shape of our life - (Defeat the Lesser Self)
    3.   Strong Mind and Body are what enable our Business and Relationships = (Harder to Kill)

    What Does StoryAthlete Mean?

    Story = The Sport 

    Athlete = Elite Performance

    StoryAthlete® is not just a slogan or brand of T-shirt. It's a movement of changing the story we tell ourselves. Success is based on our beliefs. Our beliefs are based on the stories we tell our self. If we tell ourselves stories of self-defeat, we destroy ourselves from within. 

    StoryAthlete is a movement committed to changing that reality. We believe each of us is the Writer of our own Character-script. And, if our Character fails, it's because we wrote for our Character a poor script. By changing the story, we change the possibilities!  

        How We're Doing It

      • EVERY DAY, as teammates, we execute together the life-altering program of GRIT. The 6 Foundations are what have made 'GRIT + FUEL' the greatest transformation engine ever devised. 

          The Requirements

        • Internet access, phone or computer. 
        • MENTAL TOUGHNESS: We will DEFINITELY experience challenges. We'll probably lose a few people along the way. We can minimize this though by screening for mental toughness upfront. You're going to be exposed to an entirely new way to forge your mind, body, and to make income.
        • COMMITMENT. You've got to be committed to finishing this thing through. Your GRIT teammates are counting on you, so if you're not committed to this, leave the 100 spots to those who are.

        • No experience is required.

        • No level of physical fitness is required.

        • No special skills are required.

            Important Disclaimer

          Below, you can read 30+ pages of people's transformation. 

          Each person's Transformation is unique to them.

          Their result is due to their commitment, sacrifice, and hard work.

          There are no guarantees.

          The results and transformations shared, are simply the results that members have experienced. 

          Yours are certain to be different. 

          They may be better or worse. 

          Each person is unique. 

          Having said that, the StoryAthlete approach to life that you're going to learn, is something you can never UN-LEARN. 

          You will have this knowledge forever. 

              Start Date

            Next GRIT begins on December 4th, 2022 - through Dec 30th

            Immediate Entry to The Community 

                Registration (For Next GRIT) Ends:

              December 2nd @ midnight PST - Which is when the timer on this page hits 0

              (By closing registration a few days before we begin, our Member support team is able to get everyone into the Community and orientated properly, without being rushed, to create a good experience.) 

                  FREE (Included) Add-Ons:

                • StoryAthlete MEDITATION: Everyday, if you choose, you can join others in a session of meditation. Stress. Anxiety. Fear. You are not alone. Everybody is dealing with a host of mental demons right now. Uncertainty, for some, creates the worst imaginations. Daily Meditation can help to quiet and calm those nightmares. Stop. Relax. Breathe. Part of Total Health is mental health. Part of mental health, is the awareness and recognition of our stress and tension. No one is required to join others in meditation, but there is a Group inside of StoryAthlete dedicated to just this practice.  

                    The Investment:

                  There are 3 Membership options: 

                  • Quarterly membership - (which renews every 3-months unless canceled)

                  • Semi-Annual membership - (which renews every 6-months unless canceled)

                  • Annual membership - (which renews every 12-months unless canceled)

                  Whichever best suits you, the choice is yours.

                  I will never lie to you.  

                  We reward members for the longer commitment they make because that is how we can best and highest serve people. 

                  Forever: The Challenge-based life. 

                  The 1% journey. It never ends. 

                  One year of GRIT + FUEL costs the same (or less) than a 3-month CrossFit or Orange Theory membership. And the equivalent of 2-4 sessions with a personal trainer. So not only is GRIT more effective, but less costly too. 

                  GRIT + FUEL = Thrive in This Time of Isolation!

                    DON'T MISS THE NEXT ROUND OF GRIT  - SIGN UP NOW BEFORE THE TIMER BELOW HITS ZERO, SO YOU DON'T MISS THE DEADLINE...

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                    The Greatest Transformation Engine Ever Devised

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                    Still Skeptical? More Proof!

                    'GRIT + FUEL' - In Case You're Still Skeptical To Believe The Effectiveness, I Added Another 30+ Pages Of Member Results  As Proof... 

                    (You Can Just Keep Scrolling!)

                    Joe Tedesco
                    Austin, TX

                    In 60 days. Dropped 25 lbs. Off Blood Pressure Medication. I Can’t Think Of A More Inspiring Place To Be

                    In the last 60 days, I have become more resilient by conditioning my mind to do whatever is necessary to reach my goals. I've dropped twenty-five pounds. I feel lighter, more agile and no longer have to stuff myself into tight-fitting clothes.

                    I never thought I would be able to quit taking my blood pressure medication. In fact, my doctor assured me I wouldn't, but here I am. Off the meds with healthy blood pressure.

                    And more importantly, is the family I've become a part of.

                    The relationships formed in GRIT are like nothing I've experienced. The love and support we show one another is just mind-blowing. People we’ve never even met. But together, through the pain we share in our Journey to inspire the uninspired, we form bonds like no other. I can’t think of a more inspiring place to be. And honestly, I don’t think there’s a community like StoryAthlete GRIT on the planet.

                    If I had to boil it down to just one word... GRIT is Transformative!

                    THE PROOF IS (BELOW) ON THIS PAGE

                    THE GREATEST TRANSFORMATION ENGINE EVER DEVISED

                    The Secret Lives In The 6 Foundations

                    CJ Thomas is StoryAthlete Head Trainer
                    Get ready to have more fun than you've ever had forging your mind and body. CJ, although he's 5-time rejectee from American Ninja Warrior, he did win the AthleanX Games in 2019, and hundreds of us owe him everything when it comes to our physical transformation. He programs all GRIT workouts. He just tells us what to do, we do it. No hesitation. No indecision. His entire philosophy to training is second to none, you're gonna love it. 
                    The 6 Foundations / The Secret
                    GRIT workouts are every day, 28 days per month. Sound ridiculous? Well, no, this is how you forge transformation fast. I know what you're thinking, "I bet a lot of people quit," right? No, GRIT consistently sees a 90% completion rate each month. People are all too willing to quit on themselves, but we never quit on our teammates. The 6 Foundations are what prevent quitting. Like "Rules of The Game" that guarantee max commitment and performance. The strangest Foundation, as you will discover, "Go, No Go," is the  unanimous favorite. 
                    Focuses On Total Health / Mental + Physical:
                    GRIT workouts are every day, 28-days per month. Sound ridiculous? Well, no, this is how you forge transformation fast. I know what you're thinking, "I bet a lot of people quit," right? No, GRIT consistently has a 90% completion rate each month. People are all too willing to quit on themselves but, we never quit on our teammates. The 6 Foundations prevent quitting. Transformation is simply the by-product of not quitting. These "Rules of The Game," so to speak, guarantee commitment and performance. The strangest Foundation, as you will discover, "Go, No Go," is everyone's favorite. 
                    Minimum Effective Dose:
                    The GRIT programming methodology is rooted in science. Most workouts are no more than 20-30 minutes, which includes warmup and stretch. Some, like the 12-Minutes of Death," are just 12 minutes. Let's face it, we're busy. We don't have all day to workout. Everybody though, has 12-20 minutes. Our approach is super effective. 
                    Programmed For Fat Loss / Muscle Gain:
                    Again, the GRIT programming is rooted in science. When you scroll down this page, you can read dozens of stories, from members, on the 'speed' of their weight-loss, as they dropped fat and simultaneously gained muscle. 
                    Every Workout / Exercise Is Scaleable / And Can Be Modified: 
                    Have a bad knee? Hurt shoulder? Out of shape? Not very athletic? Listen, we've heard every possible concern for why somebody believes they can't do GRIT. But they can. Everybody can, at the exact level they are capable. Every GRIT workout is scaleable, just like a Hurricane. F2 vs. F3. vs. F4 vs. F5. You can turn them up. Or turn them down. No matter what your fitness level is, or your limitations, you can do this. It's You vs. You. One member, RPJ, completed GRIT, and he had a spinal cord injury. Which pretty much eliminated all common excuses. Because if he could do it, he proved their concern is not a physical limitation, but a mental limitation.  
                    Family Friendly / Inspire Kids: 
                    When you read the case studies below, from GRIT members sharing their transformations, you will hear the repeated theme. My biggest transformation has been the transformation in my relationships with my spouse and kids. Inside of GRIT, we believe, "Those who suffer together, bond together." GRIT members suffer together as a team. But also, we end up inspiring our kids and spouses, and even friends, to join us in the workouts. 
                    Minimum (or Zero) Equipment Required:
                    This isn't even worth worrying about. Just know, if you have some basic equipment, i.e, like a single kettlebell, you can make use of it. But if not, this program is called GRIT. Resourcefulness beats resources everyday of the week. Instead of a sandbag, we've had a member who is a farmer use a bag of chicken feed instead. No kettlebell? Use a bag books. For every obstacle or limitation, inside of GRIT, there is a solution. 

                    The Psychology Of Optimal Experience

                    Confession: GRIT isn't really a fitness program. It's easy to categorize it as that. And it makes sense, from a simplicity standpoint, to put it inside that box. But really, it's a program rooted in the 6 Foundations, that is deliberately designed to deliver to members true happiness. Not just weight-loss or muscle gain. Or self-awareness through introspection and reflection. But stronger relationships, with increased capacity. If you read that book, you will see how GRIT was designed from the tenets to engineer FLOW; to achieve peak mental/physical performance and maximum happiness. We don't really care if you develop 6-pack abs, our aim is to make you hard(er) to kill; mentally, physically, financially. 

                    GRIT + FUEL = RAPID TRANSFORMATION

                    A NUTRITION PROTOCOL THAT FOCUSES ON PEAK ENERGY

                    Say Bye-Bye All "Diet" Programs

                    Imagine Never Being Tired Or Exhausted Again - That Is Peak Energy!

                    StoryAthleteFUEL Isn't About Sacrifice
                    When it comes to nutrition, most painfully think about dieting and massive restriction. You can't eat this. You can't eat this. You can't eat that. These highly restrictive diets, fads, that attempt to hit short-term targets, are paths that lack a solid foundation. Which inevitably creates the yo-yo effect, loss of hope, greater despair, and a futile mindset from having traveled a doomed path to begin with. Over the last 12-months, so many StoryAthletes have lost 10, 30, even 50+ pounds. I, Ryan Fletcher, have lost 40+ pounds. Not once did I ever count a calorie or painfully restrict myself. 
                    Tested / Proven 
                    For the past 12-months, CJ Thomas and I researched and tested the ideal nutritional path to meet StoryAthlete demands. The proof of effectiveness, for our approach to FUEL, can be seen in the stories of our members as you scroll this page. When GRIT + FUEL are paired together, it creates the perfect protocol for rapid transformation. 
                    Calorie Counting Is Stupid / Dangerous
                    Every yo-yo dieter, counts calories. Don't be like them. The premise that a calorie is a calorie is a calorie is not only ludicrous but negligent and dangerous. Human biology is far more complicated than addition-and-subtraction of arbitrary units. Macronutrients (carbs, proteins, fats) matter. Micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals) matter. When you eat during the day and how often you eat matters. If you’re committed to optimizing your energy, your focus, your mental resiliency, your immunity to disease, and, the host of other lifestyle by-products directly connected to those metrics, you’re going to need more than calorie-counting to get you to the promised land. Restrictive diets that focus on "points" and calorie-counting are what fail people. 
                    Chess vs. Checkers
                    The truth is we live in a world that is calorie-abundant and nutrition-deficient. Your body is playing chess and your FitBit is playing checkers. It’s  time everyone started learning the rules and strategies that will help you win the game. Understand that for everything your trying to accomplish in your mind, body, business, and relationships, nutrition is the fuel that will get you where you want to go. Optimizing that fuel is the key that unlocks your truest potential.
                    • PERFORMANCE IS POWERED BY FUEL
                    • ​EXPERIENCES ARE POWERED BY FUEL
                    • RELATIONSHIPS ARE POWERED BY FUEL
                    • BUSINESS IS POWERED BY FUEL
                    • ​LIFE IS POWERED BY FUEL
                    Creating Super Capable Humans 
                    StoryAthlete aims to create super-capable humans, across Mind, Body, Business, Relationships. To power this progress, requires FUEL. Or what we call "Peak Energy." This means the Energy Asset Assembly-Line (EAAL) concept must be understood, where Nutrition, Fitness, Sleep, and Stress are all interconnected. If one gets sabotaged, potentially, they all get sabotaged. The purpose of any assembly-line is to create efficiency. Nobody wants a "diet." People want a solution to create optimization across every aspect of their lifestyle. 
                    Fast / Rapid Results
                    As part of the Free (At Home) Transformation Program, beginning at the start of week 3, StoryAthleteFUEL will be delivered to our new members. First comes GRIT, then comes FUEL, then comes the phase of rapid transformation. 

                    GRIT + FUEL = RAPID TRANSFORMATION

                    A NUTRITION PROTOCOL THAT FOCUSES ON PEAK ENERGY

                    Say Bye-Bye All "Diet" Programs

                    Imagine Never Being Tired Or Exhausted Again - That Is Peak Energy!

                    StoryAthleteFUEL Isn't About Sacrifice
                    When it comes to nutrition, most painfully think about dieting and massive restriction. You can't eat this. You can't eat this. You can't eat that. These highly restrictive diets, fads, that attempt to hit short-term targets, are paths that lack a solid foundation. Which inevitably creates the yo-yo effect, loss of hope, greater despair, and a futile mindset from having traveled a doomed path to begin with. Over the last 12-months, so many StoryAthletes have lost 10, 30, even 50+ pounds. I, Ryan Fletcher, have lost 40+ pounds. Not once did I ever count a calorie or painfully restrict myself. 
                    Tested / Proven 
                    For the past 12-months, CJ Thomas and I researched and tested the ideal nutritional path to meet StoryAthlete demands. The proof of effectiveness, for our approach to FUEL, can be seen in the stories of our members as you scroll this page. When GRIT + FUEL are paired together, it creates the perfect protocol for rapid transformation. 
                    Calorie Counting Is Stupid / Dangerous
                    Every yo-yo dieter, counts calories. Don't be like them. The premise that a calorie is a calorie is a calorie is not only ludicrous but negligent and dangerous. Human biology is far more complicated than addition-and-subtraction of arbitrary units. Macronutrients (carbs, proteins, fats) matter. Micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals) matter. When you eat during the day and how often you eat matters. If you’re committed to optimizing your energy, your focus, your mental resiliency, your immunity to disease, and, the host of other lifestyle by-products directly connected to those metrics, you’re going to need more than calorie-counting to get you to the promised land. Restrictive diets that focus on "points" and calorie-counting are what fail people. 
                    Chess vs. Checkers
                    The truth is we live in a world that is calorie-abundant and nutrition-deficient. Your body is playing chess and your FitBit is playing checkers. It’s  time everyone started learning the rules and strategies that will help you win the game. Understand that for everything your trying to accomplish in your mind, body, business, and relationships, nutrition is the fuel that will get you where you want to go. Optimizing that fuel is the key that unlocks your truest potential.
                    • PERFORMANCE IS POWERED BY FUEL
                    • ​EXPERIENCES ARE POWERED BY FUEL
                    • RELATIONSHIPS ARE POWERED BY FUEL
                    • BUSINESS IS POWERED BY FUEL
                    • ​LIFE IS POWERED BY FUEL
                    Creating Super Capable Humans 
                    StoryAthlete aims to create super-capable humans, across Mind, Body, Business, Relationships. To power this progress, requires FUEL. Or what we call "Peak Energy." This means the Energy Asset Assembly-Line (EAAL) concept must be understood, where Nutrition, Fitness, Sleep, and Stress are all interconnected. If one gets sabotaged, potentially, they all get sabotaged. The purpose of any assembly-line is to create efficiency. Nobody wants a "diet." People want a solution to create optimization across every aspect of their lifestyle. 
                    Fast / Rapid Results
                    As part of the Free (At Home) Transformation Program, beginning at the start of week 3, StoryAthleteFUEL will be delivered to our new members. First comes GRIT, then comes FUEL, then comes the phase of rapid transformation. 
                    Dani Russell
                    Mount Vernon, WA

                    I Stopped Lying To Myself. Got Strong. Dropped 15 Pounds. Prioritized Self-Care. Inspired My Entire Family

                    For years, I had been lying to myself. Telling myself that I didn’t have time, I was tired, I would start on Monday, consistently feed myself a script that enabled my excuses to win.

                    But on October 4th, 2019 - It was finally time to call myself out. To get real, be honest and make conscious choices that no longer gave power to my excuses. For 170 days I have felt transformation across the board. Mind, body, business, relationships, the growth in all 4 of those dimensions has been undeniable.

                    Physically: 

                    When I started GRIT, I hadn’t really run a 5K in years. I ran a 5K in August for ImpactClub but prior to that it had been 6 years! Now I am running one every week. The first time I logged a time of around 38 minutes and then in January I broke the 30 minute mark. Every week I’m getting stronger and faster.

                    Pushing my body and empowering it along the way. I’m down 15lbs since October but more important than the physical weight is the growth that has transpired within my mind.

                    Mentally: 

                    I now know that I hold the power to the pen, I write the script. I get to decide who I am becoming. No one else gets to decide that. My mindset has grown from one that was really struggling and at times in a really negative space, to one that has really embraced the 1% journey. Every day is about taking a step towards my goals.

                    Relationships: 

                    My favorite part is that GRIT isn’t just about me, it’s about my relationships. It’s the relationships with my team, the StoryAthlete Community and more most importantly, my family. 

                    Of all the people that I could inspire, the most important are those right under my own roof. My husband. My kids. Myself. GRIT gives me the chance to do that every single day. We don’t just talk about being “healthy,” we actively model that choice and workout together.

                    5K Family Tuesday has easily become my favorite day of the week! Even on the days that I really don’t feel like running, that TIME with my family is irreplaceable. If I can workout and get healthy and strengthen my relationship with my family at the same time, what an incredible opportunity that gives us to connect.

                    I am thankful every day for GRIT and this community that has given me so much every day that I continue to show up, my mind is sharpened, my body strengthened and my relationships. Join us. Show up, press play. Give yourself the gift to become the best version of yourself and inspire others to do the same!
                    Steve Weirich
                    Arlington Heights, IL

                    I Had Left My Body Go By Gaining 30 + Pounds In Three Years

                    In 1998, my brother died in a car accident with his 4 ½ year-old son in the car. Nothing left but a tiny scar on his forehead, my nephew lived. However, the scar left on our family was deep. 

                    When I stop and think about the last 22-years my Mom has NEVER quit. Even with the loss of her son she forged ahead. When starting Grit in November my second son was born. I knew it would be a tough commitment. I was out of shape. I had left my body go by gaining 30 + pounds in three years. On Wylliam’s third day with us, November 19th, I wanted to quit Grit. Because I was tired. Exhausted from very little sleep. What forced me to forge ahead were my fellow teammates and our leader Tim Murphy. Without them I would’ve said “I’m done”. Imagine if my Mom would’ve said that to our family?

                    Body: 

                    At 210lbs, was my peak. I’ve never been at this weight before. I will never be there again. "Fat Steve" was pathetic. He got winded every time he went up the stairs. He felt his belly every time he bent down to tie his shoes. Today, after 5 months of Grit, I’m down 24lbs. I have a new hop in my step. Now is not the time to celebrate my progress. Now is the time to put the pedal down. Why? Because over the next 90 days the compound effect starts to take place. The eighth wonder of the world. I will be stronger. Leaner. More Energized. That’s what Grit will get you.

                    Business: 

                    My real estate business has exploded the last few years. Building my sales funnels. Creating context. Building proof to show the transformation. Each day I execute the necessary steps to create a recurring income stream. Will it be easy? Hell no… Grit ain’t easy. Building a business ain’t easy. If it were, all of us would do it. We in Grit nation look for the 5% who have a higher calling. This calling starts by traveling the 1% journey.

                    Mind: 

                    Our mind is the one thing always playing with our progression. Doubt. Second guesting. Fear. The I CAN’T mentality. Are all things the mind convinces us of. We, as a society, are obsessed with the end result. We see it all over TV. What we don’t see is the work people, who succeed, put into their craft. Every day the work to get a little better. Inch by inch. Step by step. Like a baby learning to walk. A baby never quits. They keep struggling. Failing. One step. Then two steps. Forging ahead because their minds don’t stop them. They only see the progression. With Grit, each day, I see the progression.
                    Jenine Kenna
                    Cape Coral, FL

                    I Didn't Want To Be Thin. I Wanted To Be Fit And Strong. I Can Now Do Hard Things That I Never Believed Were Possible

                    Relationships have been the biggest benefit overall for me. The new relationships I've forged with my GRIT teammates are priceless, and I could not go through this journey without them. But doing GRIT also strengthened my existing relationships. 

                    I'm more confident in my skin, which means I'm more confident in my attractiveness for my husband. Less insecurity means a stronger relationship. It's also strengthened my relationships with my kids. Not only because I have much more energy to play with them, but also because they love doing the workouts with me. Especially my youngest.

                    My body is stronger than it's probably ever been. I'm not at my thinnest, but I don't want to be thin. I want to be fit and strong. I look at my metrics from a few months ago to now, and it's amazing how much stronger and faster I am. When we first started, I couldn't dead hang for more than a few seconds. Now I'm almost up to a full minute at a time. Six-months ago, it took me an 60-minutes to complete a 5k. 

                    Now it takes me just over 40 minutes.

                    I couldn't have done any of this without strengthening my mind. I know now that I can do harder things than I ever believed I could. Which gives me the confidence to keep trying new things. To put myself out there in ways I would've been to afraid of several months ago. I’m no longer afraid to take on difficult challenges, because I’ve already proven to myself that I can do hard things.
                    Mark Broady
                    Lachine, Quebec

                    My Old Mindset Used To Be Poison. It Was Toxic Waste. I Embraced Mediocrity. I Had To Re-Write The Script. Re-Program My Mind. Re-Invent My Character

                    For me - it all started in the mind. Mindset is everything. My old mindset used to be poison. It was toxic waste. I embraced mediocrity. I was a self-proclaimed hedonist. A party animal. Eat, drink, and be merry! But that was just a facade. 

                    It was my mask to hide my insecurities and my fears.

                    Luckily for me, I had a trigger event in my life that forced me to step back and really look at the path I was on. After getting arrested for impaired driving, I finally realized how toxic my life had become, and swore to myself that I would never let that happen again. EVER!

                    This is where mindset was crucial. I had to re-write the script. Re-program my mind. Re-invent my character. GRIT was the secret ingredient that helped me develop the mental fortitude and discipline to make that mental transformation. I learned to identify the voice of “The Lesser Self” and I learned how to destroy that voice every day without fail. That is the power I’d MIND transformation.

                    Body: 

                    To me, this is like the bonus side-effect of GRIT. You transform all these other dimensions of your life, and as a little gift... you realize you’re now shredded and in the best shape of your life. However - don’t expect those kind of results after 60 days. It only happens if you don’t quit. GRIT teaches you how to NOT quit on yourself. Ever. So be ready to sign up for the long haul!

                    Business: 

                    Discipline equals freedom. The more discipline you practice during a month of GRIT, the more it spills over into the other parts of your life. Always going back to the shift in mindset. Discipline is a skill. Once you learn to apply it effectively - your business will benefit as a result. It all comes down to execution. What most people fail miserably at. GRIT transforms you into an executioner!!

                    Relationships: 

                    I was never an abusive drunk. I was the life of the party. I was just a reckless animal trying to have as much fun as possible. But I failed to see how it was destroying me. And my wife would tolerate it. My friends and family never approached me to say, “Mark... we think you have a problem.”
                    So I never saw a reason to stop. But when that reason finally found me in handcuffs in the back of a squad car... 

                    I woke the fuck up. 

                    The result, my relationships have never been better. 

                    My experience as a StoryAthlete in GRIT has made me become a better person. To the point where when I look back now, at the Mark I used to be... I’m almost disgusted. Who was that asshole??!! How did he get away with it for so long? Today I’m a better father, husband, brother, son, friend, employer, leader, and member of my community. Relationships couldn’t be any stronger!
                    Lou Ronayne
                    Plymouth, MI

                    I Am 64-Years Old. I Am In The Best Shape I Have Been In 25 years

                    I am 64 years old and over the years I just accepted that with age I would put on weight and not be in shape like when I was a younger man.

                    I already followed Ryan Fletcher and read his book, so when I read about his Story Athlete Grit program I was intrigued. January started a new year with new goals, I decided to join Grit to help me accomplish my goal of getting back in shape.

                    Since starting Grit I first noticed an improvement in brain fog, I always thought that I was tired but as it turns out by cutting the sugar and working out daily, I have more mental clarity. 

                    Additionally in 10 weeks I lost 11 pounds and I am in the best shape I have been in 25 years. Even though I worked out weekly I didn't achieve these results because I wasn't getting my heart rate at a level to burn calories. My workouts became the same and therefore the results remained the same without any real improvement. 

                    With Grit CJ has designed daily workouts that address the whole body. He is tricky too with results that I never expected in muscle and coordination improvement.

                    The biggest change is my daily discipline to workout, I think about it all day until I get my workout completed. By writing about my daily workout, I have gained confidence in sharing my story and clarity of what I want my life to look like. No matter what my day brings Grit has given me an anchor to release stress and feel good about myself physically and mentally with more confidence to handle any obstacle that comes my way.
                    Amanda Turner
                    Boise, ID

                    I'd Resigned Myself To Being Chubby. Now I Have Defined Muscles. I Have Confidence. Happiest I've Ever Been

                    I've gone from someone who aimed low and wrote off my own potential to someone who consistently redefines and expands my capacity for success. I am more positive, calm, and centered than ever before.

                    Body:

                    I'd resigned myself to being chubby. Now I have defined muscles. My stomach, waist and hips are noticeably slimmer. If there's a mountain to climb, I'm game. This is a marked difference from who I was prior to GRIT. I have confidence.

                    Business: 

                    I'd fallen into a rut and discounted what's possible in my future. I now have multiple exciting projects on the horizon. I love my work. I've expanded my reach, my impact, and my income.

                    Relationships: 

                    My husband and I have been doing GRIT together from the start. We are as solid now as we've ever been through twenty years of marriage. My relationships with my kids are wonderful. I have both calm and confidence which lead me to being the best wife and mother I can be. Most improved, my relationship with myself. Even in stressful times, I'm the happiest I've ever been.
                    Mike Turner
                    Boise, ID

                    My Wife I Do This Together. I Have Re-Written All My Self-Defeating Beliefs. My Tracked Metrics Are Up 69%

                    With Grit, I’m proving to myself what I am capable of. I’ve struggled with back issues most of my adult life. Grit has helped me overcome so many self-limiting beliefs about what I could do physically. I have re-written all my self-defeating beliefs, and that has had a tremendous impact on my life.

                    Body: 

                    The numbers speak for themselves. Since starting Grit, I’ve increased my strength, an average of 69% on the metrics I’m tracking. It shocks me to see that number. Every workout I have completed alongside my wife Amanda, who has increased her strength 64% during the same period. I’m so proud of both of us. I can clearly see our bodies changing, and I love that we don’t have to spend hours at the gym to get these kinds of results.

                    Business: 

                    My workday starts after I complete my Mind and Body assets in the morning. This sets the tone for the rest of my day, which has paid dividends. Grit requires you to reflect daily and write out some of your thoughts. I’ve learned to leverage those writing prompts into Business assets, which have helped me impact far more people and reach new audiences.

                    Relationships: 

                    My favorite part about Grit is that I get to do it with my wife, Amanda. We do most of the workouts together. This has brought us closer in an area of our lives I didn’t realize we were missing. So many times, when I’m getting my butt kicked by the workout, I look over and see Amanda, finding a way to get through the suck fest, and it inspires me knowing that she was so far outside her comfort zone, but gritting it out anyway. She has so much Grit, which is totally HOT!
                    Tim Rill
                    Hampstead, MD

                    Back Pain. Shoulder Pain. I Had No Idea How Much My Life Was About To Change. I'm 23-Pounds Lighter And My Belly Is 8 Inches Smaller In 4 Months Time

                    Since my downfall of the great recession, I kept telling myself if I could just get focused again, if I just stop feeling sorry for myself, I know I could be better than ever before. 

                    Even though I always had good intentions I would chase all kinds of shiny objects that ended up the same place depressed and lonely and starting over. 

                    Since GRIT I realize it’s not the daily result that matters each day, the secret is the 1% improvement. It keeps me focused, it keeps me motivated, it keeps me from chasing shiny objects but most importantly I have learned to track my results and I see how far I have come in just a short amount of time. Above all this combats fear and feeling sorry for myself and my depression of over 10 years is non existent.

                    Body:

                    I always promised myself I would never be like my dad. Stiff and complain, my shoulders are shot. My arms are so weak. I just don’t have any strength. I always told myself I will stay active I won’t depend on pills to survive and I did nothing about it but tell myself that. 

                    Last year in November, I turned 55. Eleven months earlier in January I promised myself again I would fulfill my earlier promise to myself not to be a stiff, weak old man. Come October I was at least 30 pounds overweight. My right shoulder was killing me, I knew I would need surgery. My lower back kept me in misery most of the time. It was a struggle to bend over and tie my shoes because of my beer belly. I had tried all kinds of motions and potions to keep my promise to myself but always ended up nothing changing. 

                    November 1st 2019, I was introduced to GRIT. 

                    I had no Idea what I was in for or and how much my life was about to change. I’m now 23 pounds lighter but more important than the weight my belly is 8 inches smaller. When I started I could not even walk for 3 miles straight with out a break now I run 3 miles once a week. Oh yeah my shoulder, it’s as strong as it ever was absolutely no pain at all. I do push ups and dead hangs and never give my shoulder a thought. I am better off physically at 55 then I was at 35 all in 4 month’s time.

                    Business:

                    By learning to track data and noticing what has the biggest impact and focusing on them. I spend less time in my business with better results. By learning to focus on 1 % improvement and not focus on the actual results and set back of the day but focus on the compound results of 1% improvement keeps me engaged and motivated and from chasing shiny objects.

                    Relationship:

                    I am the poster child for an introvert. Through Grit and being a part of a team that depends on me. We share our struggles and help each other. Before I held everything in and that eats at you and sooner or later erupts. Just by sharing my struggles and writing my thoughts on paper I have made amazing discoveries about myself. I have been married for 27 years. My wife and I have had good marriage but not a great one. Communication always lacked. Since GRIT and my new discoveries our relationship is stronger than any other time even before we were married. I don’t keep everything in as much I share my fears and struggles.
                    Shawn LaFountain
                    Georgetown, TX

                    9 Months Ago, My Marriage Was In Shambles. My Wife Was Sexually Assaulted. GRIT Gave Me The Tools To Become The Compassionate Husband I Needed To Be

                    Before GRIT, I told myself I wanted to workout consistently. But I never did.
                    I told myself health was important. But I didn’t act on it. When I made the decision to go all in and join GRIT, a fire lit inside me.

                    I went from passive, soft Shawn to terminator Shawn. Now, after 6 months of GRIT, I don’t even recognize the old me anymore. I lost my “dad bod” belly and replaced it with a 6 pack.

                    I have more energy than ever before. Instead of coming home and crashing after my full time job, now I have energy to pour into creating assets for my side hustle business. And it’s coming along fast.

                    On top of that, 9 months ago, my marriage was in shambles. My wife was sexually assaulted. The pain and struggles that came from that experience almost ripped our marriage apart. But the skills and perseverance I gained from being in StoryAthlete and GRIT gave me the tools I needed to become the compassionate husband I needed to be to work with my wife and rebuild our marriage.

                    Listen, whatever reason that voice in you’re head is giving you right now about why you can’t do this, tell it to shut the fuck up for a second. Instead, take a minute to listen to that heroic part of you that wants something more... That wants to become who you know you can be. All you have to do is show up. Every day. And do the work. And you WILL transform. I am the proof.
                    Ron Nedd
                    Glendale, CA

                    After Just A Few Days Of GRIT, I Started Sleeping Better Than In The Past 20 Years. 7-8 Hours Of Solid Sleep A Night

                    Before GRIT I had sleep problems. That's been going on at various degrees for 15-20 years. I couldn't tell you when the last time was that I had a restful night sleep. After just the first few days of GRIT, I started sleeping better than in the past 20 years. 7-8 hours of solid sleep a night. I wake refreshed and rested and have energy throughout the entire day. I don't get tired or crash in the mid-afternoons and don't need to take breaks. With the exception of maybe 1 or 2 days per months, this has continued to do well throughout the past 2 1/2 months. Seeing how effective the workouts have been, I now look forward to each day's workout and plan to continue despite whatever may come my way.

                    Mind: 

                    Before GRIT I'd have any periods during the day where it was a struggle to do deep work and get things done. Mid-afternoon when my energy faded, I couldn't focus as well. Since my sleep issue has resolved I no longer have those energy dips or crashes. I don't lose focus or get 'foggy thinking'. As a result, both my productivity and confidence levels have gone up. I'm tackling more things and learning more skills and don't get worried by the day-to-day events. I'm more focused and able to keep myself on track.

                    Business: 

                    With GRIT and the VDA 2.0 program going simultaneously, I've changed my view regarding my business. I'm no longer in the business of working to make money to get by or to solve problems. I've expanded my view of my business so now my focus is on building new and stronger business models than the one I've had. I have no doubt I'll succeed and get what I want. This is a long-term build not a quick-fix and I'm okay with that.

                    Relationships: 

                    The stability from the other transformations has allowed me to shift my position in relationships to one where I'm responsible for the relationship and for the other person. I don't need other people to provide stability for me. I can be there to provide stability for my family, my friends, and those around me when they need it. But I also have a group of like-minded people I get to interact with everyday, whether I leave my house or not.
                    Heather Compton
                    Barnhart, MO

                    On Day 1, That Workout Was So Incredibly Hard For Me. But I Kept My Promise To Myself. I Haven’t Quit On Myself Since

                    I’ve had massive transformation in all four areas we focus on since beginning GRIT.

                    Mind:

                    I almost quit on day one of GRIT in October, before I even started. I was up against an obstacle that normally would have knocked me off track: I needed to do a workout and I didn’t have a babysitter. I promised myself I wouldn’t quit that day. That I would follow the name of the program, summon some GRIT and figure it out. I did those hill sprints with 2 kids in the double stroller (roughly 100 pounds total) and my 9 year old running next to me. My four year old said “Mom, are you crying?” I was.

                    That workout was so incredibly hard for me. But I kept my promise to myself that day. I haven’t quit on myself since, and here I am, six months later, still going strong.

                    Body:

                    My weight loss journey began with me at 239 pounds. By the time I found GRIT I had lost nearly 40 pounds through diet changes but I had not started to exercise at all. I was getting smaller, but definitely not getting stronger. I couldn’t even walk up the stairs without getting winded.
                    After the first 28 days I actually gained 3 pounds but the difference in my before and after photos was night and day in the way my body looked. By the end of month 2 of GRIT I was able to run my full 5k without stopping, something that took me 6 months to accomplish when I had trained for it years before. By month 4 I was able to go 8 miles and was training for a half marathon.

                    I went to the doctor recently and they asked me how often I work out. I was able to answer, “every day” and let them know I’ve officially lost 50 total pounds now. It was such a validating moment.
                     
                    Business:

                    This is going to sound counterintuitive but the biggest business transformation I have made since joining GRIT was to let go of my business. I shut down my handmade jewelry business because it no longer served who I was. I had been unsuccessfully clawing to keep it going for several years at that point. GRIT, and the knowledge that I do hard things now, gave me the courage to finally let it go. Now I’m writing a memoir with private coaching from a NY Times Bestselling author and inspiring other women change their own lives by cultivating GRIT. I wouldn’t be living those dreams had I not found the courage to let go of an outdated one.

                    Relationships: 

                    My relationships with my kids have definitely improved over the last 6 months. We workout together all the time. They see me working hard and know they can work hard at things too.

                    My husband and I are actively searching for a small farm, which has been our dream since we’ve known each other. We had been putting it off forever, citing all the reasons we couldn’t or weren’t ready. We hired an agent two weeks ago and have a backup offer on a property we are in love with (cross your fingers for me that deal works out). We no longer function in “can’t”. Now we figure out solutions to get us to “can”.
                    Nick Doria
                    Staunton, IL

                    GRIT Pulled Me Through My Darkest Times. Multiple Times Last Year, I Thought Ending It All Would Be The Better Option

                    For me, it pulled mine through my darkest times. 

                    I had multiple times last year where I thought that ending it all would be a better option. Crazy because up until today I haven't shared that with anybody.

                    I feel that sharing that with everything that's going on right now people need to be able to know that no matter how dark it gets there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

                    Writing has no doubt saved my life this past year. I couldn't talk to others about it because I wasn't even sure of what the fuck was even going on in my head.

                    So, how will I talk to someone else about it. You name the negative emotions had it all of them. It was through writing that helped pull me through a ten-year bout with depression.

                    I couldn't bury my self into work or muscling through shit because I couldn't move.

                    Will I say that I have beat depression completely no, but I have learned the warning signs for me. Then I learned how to deal with them for the most part. Once it's on paper or on a screen it's out of my head. If I want to think about it then just read what I wrote if I don't then don't read it.

                    That's really cleared a lot of space in my head.

                    Then once I was able to start moving I started doing the 12 MOD workouts. Hard as shit when you haven't moved really at all for 7 months but I knew right then and there I wanted to be harder to kill. I never wanted to be in that position ever again and I would and will be damned for it to happen again.
                    I haven't finished a whole grit challenge as of yet which does frustrate me but it's not been because I've given up.

                    Sometimes shit happens that we can't control or our priorities change and we have to adjust.

                    What I can say for the grit challenge is it kick started me getting back to the motivated, sit back and watch me do it attitude that I had when I was 19.
                    That mind set had me reach all of my big life goals at the time.

                    Military: check
                    College paid in full: check
                    Got my dream car at 21: check

                    The support from this group is second to none I have never met any of you guys (in-person) but all of you have been more supportive then even my own family at times. For that, it's very hard for me to put into words what this community means to me
                    Greg Horn
                    Anahola, HI

                    Overcoming My Own Self-Doubt, Of Being Able To Commit To Something And Stick With It, Has Been Tremendous

                    I always thought I would forever be a lower body athlete only. I ran track for many years and have played rugby for several years and speed has always been my strength. I allowed my lesser self to convince me that push-ups and upper body workouts just simply were not for me. GRIT has helped me prove my lesser self wrong. I have noticed a tremendous difference in how cut, defined and strong my upper body is. My wife particularly loves how good my upper back looks.

                    Mind Transformation I’m Most Proud Of:

                    The biggest benefit I’ve seen through all of GRIT is Mental… Not that the physical transformation hasn’t been tremendous. But, overcoming my own self-doubt of being able to commit to something and stick with it has been tremendous. I can’t believe that it’s been almost seven months on this journey. I took the month of November off from GRIT because I knew I had an event where I’d be off the grid for a long weekend and wouldn’t be able to post, so I didn’t want to let my teammates down. Sure enough, I watched my Lesser Self creep back in and make excuses about why I didn’t need to workout every day because my teammates weren’t depending on me. Other than that, I’ve been committed to this journey and overcoming the obstacles my Lesser Self has tried to throw in my path and stuck with this regimen longer than anything I’ve ever attempted. Even in my athletic career there would be breaks where I would totally take off and do nothing because my Lesser Self told me I had ‘earned it.’ Now I know I was just selling myself short. This ability to keep going and keep saying yes has blown me away, and I’m not giving up on it. It’s changed my life because I know that everything worthwhile requires the consistent self-discipline to keep going and continue doing the little things each day to get me where I want to go. GRIT is helping me get there, 1% at a time.

                    Business Transformation I’m Most Proud Of:

                    I stepped into a new role in December in vacation ownership sales and wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew I needed to change and so I took the bold leap into that change. Because of this work and this community, I knew that I would be able to take on whatever came my way. Because of the amazing habits I have developed through this community, I blew away my superiors with how quickly I learned and took to the brand new role. I realized everything in life is made better when I am in AP mental and physical state, which is exactly what grit does for me. That peak state has allowed me to jump in and quickly rise to the top of my sales team. This community has also helped me realize that there will be plenty of setbacks, plenty of mistakes, plenty of failures, but as long as I continue and keep fucking moving forward. The results will follow.

                    Relationships Transformation I’m Most Proud Of:

                    Being a part of this community has helped me be more vulnerable and real with my wife. I know there are times when it is OK to cry, when it is OK to be afraid, and when it is OK to have doubt. This community has reminded me that we all have those challenges, but what is important is how we move forward. For me to be an example with my wife and with family and friends in the community, I realize it’s important to be vulnerable and real about where I am at the struggles I have and then also taking the bold decisive action needed to address those challenges. That’s what I’m most proud of in my relationships, is becoming that example for those around me of how to push through adversity and constantly get stronger and better. I regularly have folks reaching out to me now asking about the workouts I’m doing and asking about my opinion in business and health because they see me as an example of what it means to live the challenge based life along the 1% journey.
                    Eric Verdi
                    Frederick, MD

                    Immediately I Knew GRIT Was Different Than Other Programs. It Didn’t Promise To Lose 30 lbs In 30 Days. Or Anything Like That

                    Starting on Oct 4th, I decided to go ‘All in’ on GRIT. I didn’t know what it was or how it would transform me. I went into it knowing that it was "some sort of exercise," but didn’t know the how behind the curtain.

                    It didn’t matter. I’d sat on my ass for too long saying that I’m gonna work out next week. Next week. Next week. Those weeks became years and that once fit body and mind turned into a tire and laziness. A short run with my sons left me out of breath. Exercise was hard.

                    Immediately I knew GRIT was different than other programs. It didn’t promise to lose 30lbs in 30 days. Or anything like that. It was just to focus on 1% improvement each day. Improve in life. Improve in health. Improve in workouts just a little each day.

                    The biggest thing about GRIT is that you get a ‘team’ a ‘squad’ of 7-9 teammates and you guys are like your own group within a larger group. You become tight. You love each other. You push each other. You support each other. 

                    And you NEVER let your teammates down!!!

                    That is the #1 reason has been great is the ‘doing it for others.’ You can easily disappoint yourself, but you NEVER want to disappoint others.
                    These last 6 months, I transformed… MENTALLY and PHYSICALLY... I’ve lost 8 lbs. But probably 16lbs of fat and gained 8lbs of muscle. I have more energy. I play more with my sons and also the teams that I coach.

                    Mentally, I’m ‘tougher.’ Working out everyday is only 20% physical. It is 80% mental. Your body is tired. Your body is sore. Your mind wanders to what you COULD be doing. So you have to overcome the ‘what if’ of not working out and JUST DO IT…

                    After a month you become stronger mentally… YOU DID IT!

                    Then after 2 months, 3months, 6 months there is NO more wanting to quit. You can’t let yourself down.

                    You start with 'I can’t let my team down' and evolve to 'I CAN’T LET ME DOWN!'

                    That is the biggest transformation for me!
                    Mike Simpson
                    Pleasanton, CA

                    My business is booming! 'I Can't' Is A Phrase That I Could Easily Say Before Starting GRIT. Now, My Mind Has Been Sharpened And Those Words - I Do Not Even THINK

                    'I can't' is a phrase that I could easily say before starting GRIT. Now, my mind has been sharpened and those words I do not THINK. I feel like I can do anything that I put myself to. I am not intimidated by lack of resources. I find a way because I have fit a workout in every day in the busiest time of my life!

                    Body: 

                    My strength is up and my fatigue is down. I have lost almost 10 lbs and I treat my body better so that I can get a workout in each day. When I know I am going to workout, I eat healthier.

                    Business: 

                    My business is booming! and my stress is also high, and these workouts help to ease my stress. After working out I feel more relaxed, and focused.

                    Relationship: 

                    One of my biggest doubts before starting Grit was the time it would take away from family. I love including my son into my workouts. We have definitely bonded by including him. He has so much fun and that makes me so happy. We will look back on this time and talk about all the workouts I included him in.
                    Danny DeGrie
                    Black River, NY

                    I Was Able To Battle My Fears, Anxiety, And Other Issues Through The Writing Assignments Found In GRIT

                    Thru GRIT, my body changed, as I lost 5% in body fat and gained 3% in lean muscle mass. Overall, 10lbs lost.

                    I was able to battle my fears, anxiety, and other issues through the writing assignments found in GRIT.

                    Relationships with my friend and family have improved because I worked and improved myself. I found a new sense of commitment through the team structure inside GRIT.

                    No Business, although, I've found that as I improved my well-being, my workplace interactions changed to the positive.
                    Remy Fortier
                    Union City, CA

                    After 3 Weeks Of GRIT, I Woke Up One Day And Said: “I’m Done With This FAT SHIT.” I Haven’t Looked Back. Down 35 lbs

                    The most visible results are easy to see. Back in July of 2019, I 35lbs heavier than I am today. I’ve lost 11 inches of body fat from all over my body. I am stronger than I’ve ever been to before. I have improved my coordination. All the muscle gains in my back, neck, and shoulders have relieved chronic back pain that I’ve suffered with for the last 20 years. I have muscle definition in my arms and legs. I have a smaller waist, firm legs and arms, and my favorite? A brand new butt!

                    Mind:  

                    This has been the most significant transformation for me. I started with a mindset of “I’ll just try this out, I know I won’t be able to finish, but I’ll try.” I was totally wrong of course. I didn’t know what I was capable of, now I do. I truly deep down believed that I was not athletic. I never played a sport, never worked out before in my life. I had accepted I would always be fat. I’d tried a few times, but I never had the will power to keep going. Doing GRIT every day has forever changed that LIE, the part of me that thinks “I can’t” is gone. My new belief is “I can push through pain, I do hard things.” After 3 weeks of GRIT I woke up one day and said: “I’m done with this FAT SHIT.” I haven’t looked back.

                    The other LIE I was telling myself, "I am alone." In GRIT we are never alone, having a team at my back was new to me. I'd never had a cheering section, I've never had to be accountable to a team of my peers either. Many days it has been the Team that has stood between me quitting and pushing through to the next day. 

                    Business

                    The business transformation has been an unintended side effect of GRIT. It’s a little like pulling back the curtain in Wizard of Oz, like, “Oh! This was the secret all along!” I didn’t know that mastering self-discipline was the key to unlocking new levels of productivity. Or that physically sweating releases me from stress-paralysis. I look at projects and challenges with a new clarity of the steps needed to succeed.

                    Relationships: 

                    I was working out every day like a champ when my fiance Mike said to me, “I wish you would be just as committed to your family as you are to GRIT.” Huge slap in the face for me… I saw so clearly. Learning to handle my GRIT commitment NO MATTER WHAT taught me how to stick to something / anything I commit to, no matter what. When I put my family in that same commitment it changed our relationship. Mike and I are closer, more intimate, and fighting less. My daughter asks me every day if I’ve worked out yet. I’m setting an example and showing up for them. They have new respect for me and our connection is stronger than ever before.
                    Jenny Hones
                    Enumclaw, WA

                    At 60, Most People Slow Down To "Retire." Not Me. I Wanted To Turn It Up

                    I’m an empty nester that will be 60 in six months.

                    It’s an age where most people slow down to “retire.” However, I was a stay at home mom and worked part-time as an interior designer.

                    With the kids finally gone, I thought I would go out in full force. Why not right? I figure I have at least another 20 years in me. But, when the time came I just didn’t have the energy. My fire was dimming fast. The forever changing technology was confusing and my confidence was waning. GRIT was a community that encouraged me to show-up for myself.

                    Body: 

                    Weight has never been an issue for me. I was probably too skinny. But what I didn’t realize was I was very weak. When I joined GRIT, I could barely get through the easiest exercises. I realized my lack of energy was due to weakness. I gained ten pounds and feel great, with much more energy.
                    Mind: With the gain in physical strength, my mindset improved too. Having a supportive, non-judgemental community with the desire to live our own life to our fullest has really strengthened my mindset. I now feel I can do what I want to do. Age is just a number.

                    Business: 

                    I am clueless about business. The group has taught me much more than I ever expected.

                    Relationships: 

                    I’ve had strong relationships and have been with my husband for 40 years. But, with the kids gone, I needed to work on our relationship for the next phase in our lives. Seeing my transformation, my husband has joined me! As a couple, we will grow stronger together.

                    StoryAthlete is not a competition between you and others. It’s a community where you can grow to be the best you. In this day where we have difficulty trusting anyone or anything, I can attest that the community is real, the people are real and the results are real. Ryan Fletcher is the real deal and he’s got a heart of gold. If I can do it at my age, so can you. We still have a lot in us.
                    Adam Davidson
                    Grimsby, Ontario

                    Once You Learn To Believe In Yourself, The Results Are Remarkable. With GRIT, Quitting Is Not An Option

                    GRIT to me, is many things, but if I had to choose one word it would be:
                    Commitment. Commitment to your teammates, commitment to your goals and most importantly, commitment to yourself. Without commitment to yourself you have nothing. And that’s what GRIT does. It pushes you to continue on. 

                    With GRIT, quitting is not an option.

                    And once you learn to believe in yourself, the results are remarkable.
                    I’ve experienced change in all 4 life quadrants since going through the monthly GRIT challenges.

                    Body:

                    This is an easy one to quantify and of course the most noticeable to anyone visually. I’ve gone from 30% Body Fat to hovering around the 20% mark.
                    My muscles are more pronounced. I’m stronger. My postures better. And I even have the start of abs coming in at the sides of my stomach. For someone that’s lived most of my life with a pot belly lol that’s pretty fucking exciting.

                    Mind:

                    Not as apparent to the onlooker but the results are just as pronounced.
                    GRITs given me a purpose every day. No matter what I do, I know that I’ve at least built a body asset toward the 1 % journey. Even if my day wasn’t as productive as I would have liked, I still get my ass up and do something.
                    The funny thing about that is, once I get my workout in, I feel good and it leads me to being more productive. It’s like a secret “stacker” pill that fills you with motivation to do more and more.

                    Before GRIT, it was easy to get in a rut and hard to get out of it. Now, I let it guide me towards productivity. At first, the daily writing assignments can feel daunting and even stressful. 

                    Some days, words will flow like water and you’ll write long epics, other days it won’t come as easy. But I find that the writing assignments are just as important as they force you to self reflect on your daily journey and help you build the most important muscle of all: Your brain.

                    Business:

                    As a Real Estate agent who also does side jobs to supplement my income, I need all the help I can get to push through the day. While you’d think these daily workouts and writings would drain your energy they actually do the exact opposite. I never have better energy or more ideas flowing through me then when I’m coming down from a workout. GRIT can amplify your thoughts and perspective in a myriad of ways.

                    Relationships:

                    On the surface, It may not seem like it, but this is probably the most important asset of all. Nothing can kill your motivation or zest for life quicker than relationship issues. With GRIT being a mood enhancer, it’ll only benefit those closest to you as no one likes to hang around an “eeyore,” lol. 

                    I’ve noticed, my mood is infinitely better since making workouts part of my daily routine. Even better...my girlfriend does them with me! As the saying (that I just made up) goes: "Those who workout out together, stay together." Working towards a better life with a loved one, makes the journey much more enjoyable. 

                    All in all, GRIT has amplified my life in numerous ways. It’s a pathway to success and a blueprint to a better life. You just gotta get started. One foot in front of the other. Nothing worth having comes easy, but if you push through the pain, I promise you won’t regret it. 

                    I know I don’t.
                    Breanne Smedley
                    Vancouver, WA

                    True Confidence; It Wasn't Until GRIT That I Actually Started To Feel This On The Inside. Self-Care Is Critical

                    Through GRIT, I've achieved a daily confidence in myself that has allowed me to feel comfortable in my own skin. Not only through daily movement and exercise, but through showing up for myself every day.

                    I'm a high school PE teacher, volleyball coach, former collegiate athlete, wife, mom, co-business owner. You'd think A.) I Am really confident to be able to do/be all of those things and/or B.) I should be confident because I'm active all the time/fit/naturally "thin".

                    It wasn't until GRIT that I actually started to feel this on the inside. I bet on myself, and I came through for myself. No more waiting around for the motivation, banking on my will-power that ebbs and flows, or making promises to myself that I couldn't keep.

                    I feel confident, and I now have faith in myself and my word.
                    Pam Compton
                    St. Louis, MO

                    The ‘Pam’ Before GRIT Was Outwardly A Very Confident Person. But Inside, Was A Hot Mess. I Was Working On The Courage To Go To The Doctor For Medication For Depression

                    The ‘Pam’ before grit was outwardly a very confident person. Running a business in the beauty industry with a medical background and a cancer survivor. She looked very self assured, but inside, was a hot mess. The turmoil inside her head was probably an F4 on a tornado scale. Fractured relationships, struggling with self-love and above all, overweight, well, obese really.

                    Mind before / after 

                    Sad and depressed. I was actually working on the courage to go to the doctor for medication for depression. I have been on antidepressants before and had managed to be free from needing them for about 13 years. Feeling better than I have in the last few years. I don’t feel a need any longer for an antidepressant . I am not obsessing about situations that are beyond my control. I am able to find the happy even when faced with the possibility that my income will be curtailed.

                    Body before / after: 

                    I was 208 at the start of GRIT. I was reluctant to have my picture taken with members of my family. I had a BMI of 31. I was unable to lose weight even though I worked out and tried to eat healthy, my weight was going up. I have lost 9 pounds and 10 inches. I am feeling loads better and though I still do not love to workout, I do find myself looking forward to it. Wait. What? That would be a BIG about face for me.

                    Business: 

                    My business has been pretty rock steady over the last year and although I know I am headed toward a mandate to close my doors, I am choosing peace over panic.

                    Relationships: 

                    My relationship has never been better with my husband and my family. I have learned to accept that they are where they are and insist that they do the same for me. It did not take long for my family to support my efforts here within GRIT at all.
                    Ian McLeod
                    Lake Tahoe, CA

                    GRIT Cured My Debilitating Back Pain. For 8 Years It Was Inescapable. The Bulged Discs In My Lower Back Screamed At Me!

                    Before GRIT, I felt vulnerable. Like I was at the mercy of chaos. Now, I’m the one behind the driver seat. I take the initiative to shape the outcomes of almost every interaction. Perhaps the best example of this is a phobia I use to have about public speaking. Now, instead of shying away from public speaking, I seek it out. I confront challenge and am no longer allowing fear to guide me through life.

                    Body:

                    GRIT cured my debilitating back pain. For 8 years it was inescapable. The bulged discs in my lower back screamed at me! They were inflamed, pissed off, and relentless in their pursuit to alter my active lifestyle. One that I’m endlessly passionate about. Big mountain snowboarding, rock climbing, surfing, skydiving. To me, these sports are more of a religion than anything. And I almost had to give them all up. This was the advice of many doctors, along with heavy narcotic prescriptions and recommended surgeries. Turns out that the best of western medicine minds were wrong about my condition. All I needed was the support of my GRIT teammates to keep me accountable to my daily strength training. After 60 days, with increased core strength, my back pain was gone.

                    Business:

                    Before becoming a StoryAthlete, I was lost in my business. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. Where my next transaction was coming from, how to get it, and when would it come? These were all daily challenges that made me fearful. Now, I have the courage to seek out my own answers. To do deep research to reveal the answers that I need, to be the financial provider to my family.

                    Relationships:

                    One thing that has become clear about anyone who participates in StoryAthlete and Grit is that our positive results vary far and wide. My results are different from my fiance’s. And your results will be different than mine. The powerful thing is that we inspire others to become better more confident people. More resilient and more fulfilled. This type of thing is contagious. Seeing my Fiance become happier, healthier, and more capable is perhaps my biggest joy and positive result coming from this community.
                    Kristina Smedley
                    Seattle, WA

                    Most Simply Stated, I Fit Into My Pre-Pregnancy Jeans! This Community Allows Me To Practice Being Vulnerable, Makes Me Laugh, Encourages Me, Holds Me Accountable

                    I couldn’t wait to start GRIT when my midwife gave me the green light at my 8-week postpartum appointment. Of course, I was absolutely out of shape, felt like I had no muscles, and would have to modify exercises while my abs and body continued to heal. But I couldn’t wait to join the community and take on the challenge!

                    Now I’m in the middle of my third GRIT round and I’m really proud of my transformations so far.

                    Body: 

                    Most simply stated, I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans! It feels so amazing to put these jeans on and feel so great just three months after having a baby. Now I’m working on toning, building muscle, and being able to do exercises without scaling!

                    Mind: 

                    Prior to GRIT, I would have said that I prioritize self care and show up for myself. Now, with GRIT, I know what it truly means to show up for myself, to have integrity to my commitments to myself, to take care of myself so I can take care of others.

                    Business: 

                    I’m experiencing (not just being told) that inspiring others truly is a business. And the best part is that it builds a business that I’m proud of and love working on! The Principles, Training, and Experience within this community are showing me what’s possible for our business and helping me build it every day!

                    Relationships: 

                    The StoryAthlete Community is second to none. This community allows me to practice being vulnerable, provides support, makes me laugh, encourages me, holds me accountable, teaches me about others, and teaches me valuable business lessons. It doesn’t matter what I need, I can find support here in our StoryAthlete community!

                    As I continue to write the story of my life and grow as a mom, wife, leader, and woman. I rely on StoryAthlete every single day and am thankful to be part of the journey with all my teammates here!
                    Mark Borst
                    St John, IN

                    I Wanted To Change, I Didn't Know How. GRIT Was That Spark I Needed. I'm Down 40 lbs Of Fat. Gained 15 lbs Of Muscle

                    As each year was passing, being in my mid-forties and having the stereo typical 'dad-bod," I knew I wanted something to change every time I passed the mirror.

                    So, for the previous 18-24 months before GRIT, I had been yo-yoing with healthy eating, trying to do yoga, meditate daily. I was getting more limber, but sweating was a rarity in yoga. I would start for a month or so with clean eating, fall off and say, "I'll start again tomorrow," or "on Monday," or "the 1st of the month," etc. 

                    I wanted to change my habits but honestly, I knew better than to join a gym because I knew I wouldn’t stick to it. And while I knew I wanted to make a change, the lack of accountability or peer pressure was a limiting factor for me. I haven't been part of a workout regime since the Fall of 1990, my senior year of high school soccer. 

                    Reflecting on my GRIT journey it is hard to pinpoint one particular benefit, as it has been a full suite of benefits starting with the mind...

                    Mind: 

                    My mind is becoming calloused! I am able to see past a struggle with greater ease because I now have realized that my mind is always looking for the easy way out instead of capitalizing on the best opportunity. I now use my Heroic self to battle my Lessor Self!

                    Body:

                    The physical aspect of GRIT has been fantastic. I have dropped 25 lbs. of total weight while adding lean muscle mass to my frame. Only an estimate, but I would guess I lost north of 40 lbs. of fat and added 15 lbs. of muscle mass. I have a belt I bought my sophomore year in college, it is now to big for me! I’m down about 3-4 inches in my waist!

                    Business:

                    In my business, these last six months I have been able to make some significant changes. I pivoted my RE brokerage and doubled down on my investment company. This was a long time in the making but having a clearer vision of what I want my legacy to look like helped make the final decisions to move forward as I have.

                    Relationships:

                    At Home, I have been more present with my wife and kids making sure that I limit my distracted time at home. I have found it empowering to be able to leave my phone in my car, or on my desk for hours at a time when I am actively with my family. In a similar way, when I am with clients, partners or associates, I am listening to them vs calculating what I would say next. Being present has let me capitalize on a few opportunities that I may have let slip by not being 100% present!

                    To sum up how I might describe GRIT to an outsider. It's Training of the mind and body while empowering growth in business and relationships!
                    Paula Molnau
                    Woodbury, MN

                    I've Never Felt More Healthy, As Strong, Or Energetic. I’m Down By Over 25 Pounds And Several Inches.

                    I've learned to own and rock where I am at in life. No more cheer leading and putting everyone before me. I realized I need to be my own #1 fan first.
                    Because of GRIT, I now have a workout mentality, something I never dreamed I'd have.

                    Mind: 

                    Before GRIT, I looked at being an empty-nester as the end of so much. Now, I realize it is the beginning of unlimited new chapters of my life.
                    I didn't exercise or move my body consistently BG, (Before GRIT.) I hated the idea of running, going to a gym, or organized work out-groups. Let's be honest, I hated to do any kind of exercise. I'd tried walking, Zumba, Jazzercise, various fitness videos, yoga, pilates, and other things related to fitness. NOTHING would inspire or motivate me to stick with it beyond a week.Yet, I was lethargic and stuck.

                    Body:

                    AF, (After GRIT), I've worked out consistently for 6 months. I discovered the athlete in me that is inside of all of us waiting to found. Now, when I wake up, instead of dread and excuses, I get a GRIT workout done with focus and intent. I now sleep through the night, don't have mood swings, have no aches and pains, and take no meds. My blood levels, blood pressure, and heart rate are excellent. I am stronger and can do some things my kids can't.
                    I've never felt more healthy, as strong, or energetic. I’m down by over 25 pounds and several inches. A side benefit is after 30 years, I'm nearing what my body looked like at age 28.

                    Relationships:

                    The relationship with my husband has gained new life. We had some struggles over the years. It had become complicated with adult children living at home. Soon to becoming empty nesters, we reversed the direction it was heading, because of my growth since being in GRIT #1. My body visibly changed, as did my mindset. Living and interacting with me 24/7, he witnessed how GRIT had impacted me. Wanting the same growth, he joined in. Now in his second month, he is rocking it too.We are proof of the saying, "A relationship is either growing or it's dying." 

                    Never having exercised every day, I didn't consider myself a work out person or someone who had the ability or mindset to. It was for those "other" people, not people like me. Although I wanted to be like those others to have a sense of commonality and have that connection, I was afraid of the unknown associated with working out, apprehensive, and dreading it. 

                    GRIT changed everything.It gives you growth, power, control, community, and so much more. GRIT = Transformation
                    Richard Price
                    Monroe, NC

                    Then Somebody In The StoryAthlete Community Said Something To Me That Was Simple And Profound. "Don’t Stop, Just Keep Going." A Monster Shift In Mindset 

                    A few years back, when I was fat and out of shape, Fletcher turned me on to a book - the WOD bible. You can get in on Amazon for a few bucks. It’s a series of cross-fit style workouts that you can do at home with minimal equipment. I jumped on that train, and in less than a year, I was in the best shape of my life.

                    Mind:

                    One of the workouts in that book is 100 burpees. For anyone that doesn't know, a burpee is a move that combines a squat, a pushup, and a vertical leap into one fluid moment. Doing 100 is a bit like doing 300 total reps, and my first attempt took me somewhere around 40 or 45 minutes with long breaks every 6 or 7 reps.

                    By the time GRIT came around, I had it down to about 16 or 17 minutes, and I assumed that was as fast as I would ever be. Then somebody in the StoryAthlete community said something to me that was at once simple and profound.

                    Don’t stop, just keep going. 

                    That same day, I cut my time to around 12 minutes. That’s a 25% improvement that came from one thing: a shift in mindset. “I can do this” vs. “I can’t do this.”

                    That might sound simple. It might even seem trite or cliche - but I’m here to tell you that when you get past the words and make the shift, it’s a fucking monster.

                    Body:

                    Since then, my time for 100 burpees has dropped to consistently under ten minutes, and it continues to drop; my best is under eight. I’ve completed the Spartan Trifecta, I’m signed up for it again this year, and I’ve run several foot races. Today, I’m in the best shape of my life, far better than a year ago, and it just keeps getting better.

                    Business: 

                    But GRIT and StoryAthlete are about more than my body. 

                    I began to understand that I was capable of more than I thought, not just in my workouts, but elsewhere in my life. Across the four quadrants of StoryAthlete, I started to see that my assumptions about what I could and couldn’t do were no more correct than my assumption I couldn’t do 100 burpees in less than 15 minutes. At work, for example, I finally launched the property management division that I’d be contemplating for years. The problem, as I had previously seen it, is that I didn’t know how to do it. The truth is, I’m still learning, but the solution to the problem was just to get started and not fucking stop. Now I’m implementing our operations on a small level and building out the process to work at scale.

                    Relationships:

                    Along with my business, GRIT has led me to better relationships. With my kids, for instance, I’ve learned to tolerate behavior that used to drive me nuts. There was a time when I’d lose my mind over little things like chocolate milk dripped on the counter and not cleaned, the toilet not flushed, or shoes were not put away. If nothing else, the pain of GRIT workouts has taught me that “this too will pass,” and I’m able to let such things like that wash over me. I’m able to more calmly reinforce why it needs to be done instead of just raising hell about it.

                    So yeah, my body and my health are better. My business is better. My relationships are better. And I chalk it up, for me at least, to my mind being better. 

                    This shift in mindset I’ve acquired through the daily practice of writing coupled with intense daily exercise has been a game-changer. And I’m never going back to the way I used to play.
                    Rex Hunter
                    Gotha, FL

                    When I Started GRIT, I Was Pushing 230 lbs. By The End of This Month, I Should Be Right At 200. I See This Time Of "Social Distancing" As An Opportunity To Focus On Me

                    Too much doom and gloom. Has the virus affected me? Of course. Businesses shutting down, long lines at the grocery store. These are things that I can't control. What I can control is the data being input into the old noggin. 

                    And you can too!

                    The GRIT program that I have been participating in is more than me just jumping around. I'm on a virtual team of four to eight people who are hold each other accountable every day. We post our results, and our thoughts for the day. You miss a day, you are out. Consequences? Sure. You miss the workout or posting, you are out of the team for that month. There is recognition for MVPs for the month, too. 

                    Relationships:

                    Why is that part of GRIT important? For me it motivates me to show up for my other teammates. I want to support my teammates and they support me to be my best.

                    Body:

                    When I started GRIT, I was pushing 230 pounds. By then end of this month I should be right at 200. Aside from weight loss, there is endurance and significant strength increases.

                    I wear a Fitbit and physiologically I see improvements in my resting heart rate from 70 BPM down to 59 BPM. I am sleeping better too. I'm still getting six to seven hours of sleep but my REM and deep sleep times have increased dramatically.

                    Mind: 

                    What do these improvements mean to me? Better mental attitude to do more during the day without the 3pm crash.

                    A better mental attitude has helped me increase my business. I can do more throughout the day and my thinking is clearer. No brain fog. I see this time of social distancing and the "isolation economy" as an opportunity to focus on me. To continue to improve my health and strengthen my mind. I can't control the outside world but I can control the way I react to it.

                    Let's all look forward to better days and come out on the other side better for it.
                    Karis Cooper
                    Vancouver, WA

                    Over The Course Of The First 27 Days, I Lost 4 Inches Around My Waist And Hips, The Scale Dropped 4lbs, And I Went Down 2 Pant Sizes. I Feel Empowered

                    Before GRIT, I felt like a Professional Exercise Yo-Yoer. For the past 2 decades, workouts have been mentally exhausting in a way I didn’t quite comprehend.

                    In June 2001 I graduated from the University of Oregon and left my Tribe, women who I had sweated and laughed and cried with for 5 years, we pushed our bodies in ways I didn’t know were possible, we shared thousands of memories, we spent countless hours in the treatment and training rooms, we got dirty and wet in the throws pits, and built bodies of Wonder Women and developed insane levels of mental resilience. This is all we knew and then we were thrown out into the world! Friendships were all of a sudden different, workouts felt like they lacked purpose, food as fuel was altered, and overnight the decision to exercise was resting on my Shoulders ALONE, it felt confusing and isolating.

                    Body:

                    February GRIT Round 1, was 27 days, and now I am 18 days into March GRIT Round 2. There is 'No Choice' to whether I work out and write, everyday whether I feel like I want to or not, I do it! My GRIT Tribe is counting on me.

                    Over the course of the first 27 days I lost 4 inches around my waist and hips, the scale dropped 4lbs, and I went down 2 pant sizes. I can see my arm and ab muscle definition again and I feel more at home in my clothes.
                    I love the feeling of stronger muscles, improved cardiovascular endurance, and increased flexibility. My mind is more resilient, my skin is smoother, and my digestive system is more on track.

                    I feel empowered to meet my food choices head on! I am more aware of how my Lesser self is sneaky and will sabotage my efforts. With each passing day my Heroic self has a louder and more convincing voice: I eat more sauerkraut, salads, soups, and I take my immune boosting supplements daily (Vitamin C / Vitamin D/ Vitamin A/ Oregano Oil/ Kick Ass Immune Booster/ Probiotics).

                    Mind: 

                    I have become more verbally confident and have felt more at home in my own body. My business emails and correspondence have become more fluid. Writing and exercising everyday has allowed me to put my self care back on the map, creating increased confidence and the ability to command my emotions at a greater level, allowing me to lead my employees and patients more effectively.

                    Relationships:

                    I am a more present mom and wife. Filling my cup has created an increase in energy and abundance in my life. I am able to FEEL the day at a deeper level, leading to more Joy and love within my relationships. 

                    GRIT has allowed me to choose the daily actions necessary to create an extraordinary life. 

                    I am so Thankful for a TRIBE I knew I needed but didn’t know how to find. As a GRIT tribe we empower each other to shine our own unique light, allowing each one of us to be liberated from our fears, and become a beacon of hope for those suffering in the darkness.
                    Wayne Purser
                    Edmonds, WA

                    I Went From Being A Couch Potato To Making A Commitment To Work Out 28-Days Per Month. It's Something I've Never Done. But I Knew I Wanted To Change My Life And My Lifestyle

                    I committed myself as I changed my attitude about exercising; I changed my Mindset. I went from being a couch potato to making a commitment to work out 28-days per month. It's something I've never done before. But I knew I wanted to change my life and my lifestyle.

                    From day one, I knew GRIT would open my eyes to see life differently. It's allowed me to believe more about my character. Who I am, where I want to go, and who I want to become. 

                    By committing to working out 28 days per month, I have seen significant changes in my body. Not just in losing weight but gaining muscle and having self-confidence in the way I look. I've taken control of my high blood-pressure by changing my diet and exercise.

                    My commitment to a routine has helped me structure my day in my business. With the new confidence, I have in the way I look and how I feel, I'm able to have a better positive Experience with my clients.

                    I've committed to myself to participate in GRIT, whereby doing so, I have a better relationship with myself internally and externally. My friends and family have seen that my confidence has grown since I've joined GRIT.
                    Christi Fletcher
                    Kennewick, WA

                    The "Christi" Today Is Not The Same Person I Was When I Started GRIT 6½ Months Ago. Everything Has Changed

                    To express how GRIT has impacted my life is difficult to truly express for me. I’m not a person with a gift of gab and I don’t generally share my thoughts and feelings freely with others. I suppose that is an area that GRIT has impacted me to some extent. 

                    Writing my thoughts daily is somewhat liberating and therapeutic. This group of incredible people from all walks of life and backgrounds is non-judgmental and supportive without the feeling of being “fake” supportive. If that makes sense.

                    Mind: 

                    If I were to compartmentalize the way the 4 areas of GRIT have impacted me most, I would have to start with the mind. 

                    Christi today is not the same person she was when starting GRIT 6½ months ago. I have struggled my whole life with body image. In my vision of myself, I was never thin enough, never strong enough, wasn’t smart enough, wasn’t capable in so many aspects of myself. I hated the vision I had of myself but couldn’t see my way out. It has sadly caused countless arguments between my husband and myself. 

                    My transformation of mind has been immense. 

                    I don’t find myself looking to others to validate me and my abilities. I know that I am so much more capable then I have given myself credit for. I don’t need to compare to or compete with others. I have realized that I am who I am, take it or leave it. Some days I am stronger mentally than others, but that’s part of the transformation of becoming who I am meant to be. 1% at a time I will take those wins and bank them. I am who I am, I am becoming who I am meant to be, and I am continually transforming.

                    Body:

                    My body transformation is measurable as well. 

                    From September 1, I have taken weekly measurements and pictures to prove to myself that I have made great gains in my physical appearance. In 6 ½ months, I’ve lost 20 pounds, and over 37 inches in the 15 areas measured. I fit into clothes I haven’t for years and am actually looking forward to swimsuit season on the boat. In addition to the weight loss, I am much stronger and still underestimate my changes because they happened over such a short time.

                    Business:

                    In my business, GRIT has shown me the importance of time management. And the importance of using the time I have in the most effective and efficient way possible. It helped me establish the routine I use every day. I am able to accomplish more in 3-4 hours than I did in 6-7 hours previously by not spending so much wasted time on parts of my day that weren’t necessary.

                    Relationships:

                    My relationship with my husband has been impacted as well. We have done almost every workout together for the past 6 ½ months. Working together towards our common physical and mental goals has brought us even closer together than we were before. Being able to do these workouts at home has allowed us to not have to take turns going to the gym. Instead, we set aside time every day at home to do them as a team.
                    Tom Fletcher
                    Kennewick, WA

                    202 Days Later, I Haven’t Missed A Workout; I Have Lost 48 pounds. Down 8 Pant Sizes. YES, 8! And My Relationship With My Wife, Christi, Couldn’t Be Better

                    It was just 202 days ago, that I was “Fat Tom!” I was lethargic, had low energy, and would rather sit on the couch and have a beer then go outside and exercise. 

                    It was a single challenge that changed my life. 

                    My brother, Ryan, was at my house for a labor day weekend playing on the boat, when he challenged me to 100 burpees per day for September. The rest is history. Since then, GRIT has evolved into something much more than doing burpees. As member, Keith Molnau put it, "What Ryan and CJ have put together is a working machine."

                    Body:

                    Today, 202 days later, I haven’t missed a workout; I have lost 48 pounds. I have lost more than 4” from my shoulders and chest. I have lost more than 6” from my hips and waist. And Down 8 pant sizes. YES 8! All because I took control of my life, by working out less than 45 minutes a day. I’m so blessed I had my beautiful wife, Christi, by my side since day 1. The transformation for us has just become a way of life.

                    Mind:

                    The biggest change in my mind is the Default Yes mindset. I have always been a determined individual but didn’t always have a Default Yes mindset, so at times would never enter the game. That is in the past; I live the StoryAthlete Challenge based life that strives to challenge myself to do hard shit becoming my best self.

                    Business:

                    The transformation that occurred across body and mind, has provided increased performance in my businesses, both in the public and private sectors. The benefits of that increased performance is evident in both our home-based business and in my day job as a government executive. Everything I do in business is now for the greater good of the organization, customers, or nation.

                    Relationship:

                    “Fat Tom,” thought he had a wonderful relationship, and by many standards, I did. However, the change in my lifestyle to cut sugar, workout daily, and document my journey has improved my relationships more than I would have ever expected. “Fat Tom” was tired and lethargic, which translated to short and cranky to those I loved the most. 

                    Today, I’m full of energy. 

                    My relationship with my wife, Christi, couldn’t be better. How can it not, she doesn’t have to look at “Fat Tom” anymore, much the opposite. I’m in the best shape of my life and can't wait to see what the next 202 days has to hold for our family.
                    Jay Brown
                    Omaha, NE

                    GRIT Is The Way To Not Play Small In This World. The Huge Difference Is, You Are Not Doing It By Yourself

                    The change I have seen with GRIT are the workouts push me harder than what I was doing in the gym. I was getting results before, but I feel I'm getting in better shape. Doing the extra burpees, going after a F5 workout, and beating my own times. This is what is pushing me harder and becoming a better person. 

                    Mind:

                    Finding my voice and talking about my struggles I have found difficult over the years. GRIT is a great platform to make me think and get my words on paper. To see others that are doing the same, and finding inspiration in what others are writing.

                    CJ Thomas, the GRIT trainer, had a post a few days ago that I loved. Called "Nobody Cares". The section that spoke to me was:

                    "And still the whisper persists, “Nobody cares.” No, not every post is gold. Yes, sometimes I do hear crickets. But even if it were true that nobody else cares, the fact remains that I’m still inspiring myself. Creating something out of nothing is always a win. Weaving thoughts into a lesson is a victory. Turning the mundane into meaningful provides power. Shaping a story into a sculpture is my art. And making it public for others to enjoy or judge adds strength to my spirit."

                    Some will tell you to do affirmations or watch the movie "The Secret". I encourage anything that will help you stay positive to become the best version of yourself. The difference is, you are not repeating affirmation and hoping to manifest a good outcome. With GRIT you are strategically defeating your lesser self, by inspiring yourself. Doing the hard shit that others don't do. The bi-product is by sharing this in turn can turn the light on for someone in the darkness.

                    I have a quote that I have loved since hearing in on the movie Coach Carter. 

                    "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. You playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us: it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

                    GRIT is the way to not play small in this world. The huge difference is, you are not doing it by yourself. Imagine how many we can give permission to, to shine their own light.
                    Carley Dutchess
                    Seattle, WA

                    I Didn’t Expect Writing The Daily Posts To Be So Therapeutic. I Can Better Notice My Own Toxic Thinking Patterns

                    I’ve been at this for 18 days. I tend to hibernate in the winter, not keeping up a healthy exercise routine. 

                    I committed to GRIT knowing that the accountability of others would push me to exercise daily. I also struggle with low self-confidence and have seasons of not believing in myself. I ultimately signed up because I hoped a more fit, energized body would help my mind to be more confident. 

                    I always feel better in the summer and spring months when I spend more time outside hiking, and biking. I hoped GRIT could help me in building more confidence in myself year round.

                    Business:

                    I am extremely grateful for the timing I committed to GRIT. I am a healthcare worker and in the midst of the stress and isolation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, it has been an ongoing constant - that I must invest this time to myself.

                    Mind:

                    I didn’t expect writing the daily posts to be so therapeutic. It has been a space for me to reflect about my daily life, and to connect whatever the daily context is to myself. 

                    The daily contexts all relate back to building character traits that are important to me, for example, communication, discipline, and the importance of learning new skills. Writing a response to the context and being in online conversation with the group of a wide variety of people has helped me to get outside of my own head, and to better notice my own toxic thinking patterns. I think this is because I am consciously taking time each day to reflect about a theme that is relevant to becoming the best I can be. 

                    I am also reading the posts written by each of my team members and in doing so seeing different perspectives. Again, I think this helps me to be less in my head, less self-centered.

                    Body:

                    The workouts themselves, felt foreign to learn at first, but especially after the first week, (at which point, I’d learned all of the exercises) I’ve definitely gotten into it, and can see improvement in my form and speed already. I definitely feel less sluggish. I definitely still have long days, where after work the last thing I want to do is the workout! BUT, I always feel better after I do it. 

                    Relationships:

                    The accountability of this group has kept me honest to my commitment to myself, and for that I am grateful.
                    Jon Pakula
                    Buda, TX

                    Before I Could Do All The Hard Shit That I Did This Past Year, I Had To Kill That Little Voice In My Head That Said, "You Can't..." 

                    Everyone has that voice…

                    That voice in your head that tells you to stay comfortable…

                    When you try something new...that voice tells you...You Can't…

                    Eventually that voice becomes your primary voice and you become Stuck…

                    Stuck in a life of Comfort...a life of just being…

                    Day in and Day out…

                    You tell yourself...I want to be better...I want to become something more…

                    I want... I want…

                    BUT…

                    And then here comes the excuse...the story you tell yourself on why you can't do it…

                    It’s too HARD…

                    I don't have enough TIME…

                    Excuse...Excuse...Excuse…

                    And that is the world most live in...Stuck in their box of comfort…

                    Afraid of Change…

                    Afraid of Pain…

                    Afraid of Discomfort…

                    You Lie to yourself and tell yourself...I will start tomorrow…

                    Yet...tomorrow comes and you still don't do SHIT…

                    STOP IT…

                    The Story you are telling yourself is a LIE...

                    Somewhere along the line you have accepted that story and I’m here to tell you that’s Bull Shit!!!

                    If you want to change you must change the STORY you are telling yourself…

                    You must Become HEROIC and KILL YOUR LESSER SELF…

                    You Must BECOME...

                    You can be more...do more...become something you have told yourself you would never be able to become…

                    You must DECIDE and COMMIT…

                    GRIT gives you the Formula and Community to Force you into Transformation…

                    You just have to Commit...Show Up...Do the WORK...and Don't Quit…

                    If you can do that...You Will TRANSFORM…

                    You will Become something MORE...and your Life’s Story will be Rewritten…
                    John Savage
                    Marlow, UK

                    I Was Sinking. Financially & Emotionally. And Not Proud Of Who I Was In 2019. From GRIT, My Wife And Kids All Said They Got Their Dad Back

                    What does Story Athlete mean to me? That word is Power. Each and every human has a Light inside them, whether they choose to turn it on or not. The power of that light, has the potential to energize cities. Thousands of people though, choose to walk away from the door that, if opened, they would discover the hero that, if he/she was let loose on the world, they would be unstoppable So, yes, Power is the word I use to describe StoryAthlete. We all have it.

                    Only some, though, choose to open the door...

                    Body:

                    The body transformation I’m most proud of is not just being able to keep up with 18 year olds at football, but they struggle to keep up with me. I was never fearful of doing GRIT. I missed one Grit. Never again. The strength that resides in me, is a direct result of training every single day, it’s scary. My endurance. My strength. My power. Their all explosive.

                    Mind:

                    The Mind transformation I’m most proud of is thinking, “Can I really press publish?” Not that I thought people would judge me for what I was admitting to, but my story’s were all poorly written. I wondered whether I would ever have the stomach for it? 

                    To inspire others through story is incredible. But what I realized more than anything, I’ve been writing all this time to inspire myself to become bigger and better. Likes on my face book page don’t matter. It’s what I do with my words that matter.

                    Business:

                    The business transformation I’m most proud of, I once was in a perpetual holding pattern almost scared of success. I’ve gone from causing my young family huge financial strain, to acting upon the words I’ve written, and my life has completely changed. Not necessarily financially just yet, but I know where I’m going because John really doesn’t get a say. It’s already been written...

                    Relationships: 

                    The biggest relationship transformation I’m most proud of is reconnecting with my wife and two out of three children. It wasn’t as if I lost them. They love their Dad my middle child especially. But I was sinking. Financially. Emotionally and not proud of who I was in 2019. The me though, that wrote every day, finally started to come out and play. My wife and kids all said they got Dad back...
                    Cole Turnbull
                    Coeur d'Alene, ID

                    I've Dropped From A 36 To A 34 waist. My Man Boobs Are Shrinking. Same With My Gut And Love Handles

                    My biggest transformation in GRIT has been the development of the "default yes" mindset. For years, I've told myself that I'm going to lose weight, and get healthy only to quit on becoming my best self, weeks in. GRIT makes you move. I no longer have to make the decision if I want to work out or not today. 

                    The answer is ALWAYS YES.

                    Body:

                    My body has transformed. One regret I have is? I didn't get my body mass, or body fat, tested before I started. I don't know exactly how much weight I've lost but I've dropped from a 36 to a 34 waist. My man boobs are shrinking. Same with my gut and love handles. 

                    All from 30 minutes (or less) of YES everyday.

                    Mind:

                    My mind has also seen great improvement. I spend far less time dreaming now, and much more time doing the hard shit. I now crave challenges as often the mountain may seem tall, but with 1% improvement each day I'll be there before I realize it.

                    Business:

                    My business has also benefited from default YES. I'm no longer afraid to climb the mountains to get where others won't dare to go by becoming harder to kill.

                    Relationships:

                    My relationships have also benefited. I have more energy for my family at the end of the day. I often take my daughter in her stroller on our 5k run. She climbs on me for added weight during push ups, and I have more energy for my wife. We had been trying for a baby since July, and the first time she got pregnant right off the bat. This go around it didn't happen like that. I was often exhausted at the end of the day. No energy for baby making. After GRIT built my energy up... Bam it happened within 40 days of starting 

                    GRIT HAS TAUGHT ME THAT I CAN DO HARD SHIT (DEFAULT-YES). I WOULD HAVE QUIT ON MYSELF 5 MONTHS AGO, BUT I WONT QUIT ON MY TEAM.
                    Brandon Mendoza
                    Salado, TX

                    I Was Tired Of Being Fat And Out Of Breath From Tying My Shoes. My Self-Esteem Diminished, And Another Vicious Cycle Of Eating For Comfort Would Occur

                    Before joining StoryAthlete, I struggled with "tomorrow" syndrome AKA "Someday Day" or "Lazy-man" Syndrome.This syndrome caused me to be overweight with high blood pressure and sore joints. When I would try to sleep, lying on my back, my arms would go numb. This then caused me to not sleep as good, which then caused me to not have energy, which then I wouldn't exercise. 

                    This cycle was a negative chain reaction / vicious circle. My excuse for not working out was, "I never had time to exercise," and "I am too tired." I knew I needed to work-out, but I was "busy" and chose to do other things in place of working out, such as surf Facebook and avoid the inconvenience with "more important" convenient things.

                    Mind (enough was enough):

                    That's why I joined StoryAthlete. I was tired of being fat and out of breath from tying my shoes. My self-esteem diminished, and another vicious cycle of eating for comfort would occur. It was embarrassing. My clothes were getting tighter, my belly would pop out, my legs were swelling up with fluid, and I was seeing friends pass away from cancer and diabetes.

                    Body:

                    Since joining StoryAthlete GRIT, my most significant improvements have been with my body and mind. I have lost 18 pounds, I sleep better, and I feel good about myself.

                    Business:

                    I developed consistency and discipline in my daily routine and learned to share my story. I learned to love the process of becoming vs. being. It takes work. A lot of work, but I learned to embrace it and love it. The results speak for themselves.

                    Relationships:

                    The StoryAthlete community is my community of ride or die companions whom I travel with on the 1 percent journey. The 1 percent daily improvement that has changed my life in the last 141 days.
                    Doug Heron
                    Elwood, IN

                    If You Want To Change, You Will Find A Way. If You Are Not Ready, Nothing Will Work. I Was Ready And GRIT Was My Way

                    I lost fifty pounds in the six months before I heard of GRIT. Losing weight was not my goal. I had already lost it. The problem was, when I did push ups, the loose skin was hanging down several inches. I hated that. I had no “guns”, my biceps were tiny. I have to admit, without the photos, I wouldn’t have been aware of any gains at all, but, I noticed in the mirror the other day, I look like an athlete again.

                    Body:

                    One of my daughters commented the other day about one of my workout videos, “Wow, I never would have guessed that you could do that many pushups.” It’s been a long time since I looked at my reflection and thought that I looked fit. I can’t wait til summer this year. I won’t be wearing a shirt very often. LOL

                    Mind: 

                    I hadn’t worked out consistently in over thirty years before GRIT. Now, my day doesn’t feel complete if I don’t. So much so, that there hasn’t been a day that I have missed. Which is so strange to me. Before, if I was “busy”, there wasn't anything that I couldn’t put off until tomorrow. And that mental determination has carried over into other areas. I get more done at work. I make calls to friends and family, that I would have pushed off before. I am more organized and more than that, I am more focused on whatever it is that I am doing.

                    Business: 

                    I touched on this but, I used to be easily distracted. I hate to think of how many hours I have wasted reading the sports pages. I mean really, who cares what team Tom Brady signs for or what record was broken last week. That doesn’t affect my life at all. Instead or needing a distraction, now I am able to focus for ten times what I was able to before. I can’t hardly believe how much more productive I am now. 

                    I would say that, by itself, makes GRIT worthwhile but that isn’t true. I have discovered that each area of my life is not separate. They are all intertwined. Improve one, improve them all.

                    Relationships:

                    I now realize that the old saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can not make it drink” is so true. If somebody doesn’t want to change, there is nothing you can to do fix it. And now, I understand it. If you want to change, you will find a way. If you are not ready, nothing will work. I was ready and GRIT was my way. 

                    And, I have changed.

                    Keith Molnau
                    Woodbury, MN

                    The System That Ryan And CJ Have Put Together With GRIT Is A Working Machine. I’m So Grateful That I Was Open To Trying Something New, And Said, “Yes, I’m ALL In...”

                    I had made some News Year’s Resolutions with good intentions. But by the end of January, I wasn’t seeing any results. My wife Paula encouraged me to join StoryAthleteGRIT in February 2020. I noticed a huge transformation in her as she had been with GRIT for 6 months or so prior. Well, I knew what I was doing wasn’t working, and I saw the results she was getting, so I said, “Yes, why not. I’m ALL in”. 

                    The one word I would use to describe my experience with StoryAthleteGRIT is TRANSFORMATIVE.

                    Mind: 

                    The system that has Ryan and CJ have put together with GRIT is a working machine. You show up, push play, and do the workout. I’m not going to lie – it’s a bit challenging at first, especially the first week. But there’s different levels to the workouts, and once you make it through the 1st week, its starts to become habit forming.

                    One of the fundamental premises of the program is to strive to make yourself 1% better each day. I love that. Make yourself just 1% better each day. And as I work my way towards retirement in 5 years or so, the thought of making myself stronger – just improving myself by 1% each day or each week is something I’ve decided I owe myself.

                    Body:

                    Physically, I can already see the results. I’ve lost about 12 pound so far, and I can definitely feel a huge strength gain in my body in such a short period of time. I have a lot more energy, and I feel strong. It’s surprising how quickly I’ve gained strength, because I had hip surgery 10 years ago, and didn’t do the therapy afterwards to strengthen my hip flexures. That was 10 years ago. But now, with only about 45 days so far with GRIT, I can now really sense that I have gained a substantial amount of strength and mobility back in my hip and my entire body.

                    This past 45 days of GRIT has truly been physically transformative, but I didn’t expect how it would also be so mentally transformative. With the workouts, I feel that I have more energy each day and am also more self-aware. The mindset of making yourself better by 1% each day, in mind, body, relationships, and business starts with the body. 

                    I’m so grateful that I was open to trying something new, and said, “Yes, I’m ALL in.”
                    Jesse Grumdahl
                    Golden Valley, MN

                    I Was Afraid Before Starting In November. I Did Not Think I Could Keep Up Or Do The Workouts. My Mind Ran Rampant With Worry - But There Is No Reason To Worry

                    I started GRIT in November and completed it, completed December, had to sit on the bench in January for a minor surgery, completed February, and will complete March. I was afraid before starting in November. I did not own kettlebells, a sandbag, or resistance bands. I thought I was going to get run over by these crazy athletes and fail. 

                    I did not think I could keep up or do the workouts. My mind ran rampant with worry, but there is no reason to worry about keeping pace with people with more experience. It is me against me.

                    Body:

                    GRIT has allowed me to reclaim my body and make gains in strength. I do not care to look like Baywatch star. I want to be lean and strong. I want to be able to play with my kids and have them see the importance of focusing some time on their bodies. They have noticed the difference in me, which makes the hard work rewarding beyond words. 

                    Mind:

                    Doing the daily workouts and context has strengthened my mind. It encourages me to push and do things I was scared of doing. Projects for work are doable, just start. I know that I can do hard things. It is a realization no one can teach you. You have to discover it. This is the most important gain of GRIT.

                    Business:

                    Within my business, I have pushed ahead with things I have wanted to do for a long time. It has given me the resolve that I can do it and will do it.
                    I am so grateful to be closer to my kids both in time spent and the quality of our relationship. I was worried about work too much before. If I am worried about overcoming something, it will stress me out. If I am confident about it, the stress level goes way down. Everyday is a chance to grow patience and being confident that things will work out. GRIT grows my positivity and that builds confidence.

                    Relationships:

                    The great unforeseen advantage about GRIT, and it is huge, is the community within it. Both within the individual teams, and the community as a whole, there is tremendous support for growth and overcoming challenges. It is like nothing I have seen before. It is that good.
                    Meredith Brick
                    Sedalia, MO

                    None Of This Happened Overnight. It Took Incremental Work Each And Every Day. Through This Process, I Have Experienced The Joy In The 1% Journey 

                    I have completed 3 GRIT monthly challenges and am on my 4th round. I have learned a lot about myself and from the GRIT community since deciding to commit in December of 2019. Here are some notable changes I have experienced:

                    Body: 

                    I have lost 9 pounds and have reduced my body fat percentage from 35% to 24%. Each month as we progress through each benchmark workout, I feel myself getting stronger because I am able to push harder with each passing week. I have noticed and felt my biceps, triceps, and shoulders become more defined and lean. I have noticed inches lost off my legs and the ability to see my powerful leg muscles with more definition each month. My pants and jeans fit looser and all of my large t-shirts are just that - too large for me now. Another telling sign is on my belt. I used to go to the third hole but now I pull my belt all the way over to the fifth hole! None of this happened overnight. It took incremental work each and every day. Through this process I have experienced the joy in the 1% journey required to make any sort of lasting change.

                    Mind: 

                    An important lesson I have learned is that when my body feels pain it’s my mind’s duty to control the situation and keep pushing through the pain. My mind has to command my body - not the other way around. The realization that within me is a lesser and heroic self has helped me more clearly identify who I truly want to be. My lesser self loves being comfortable and the easy way out. My heroic self knows in order to grow I have to get uncomfortable and practice discipline. I have been better at letting my heroic voice command my body to go through the movements and tasks required to get better every day.

                    Business:

                    I have felt more confidence in my own voice and in the frameworks that drive my life, business, and career. The daily principles we must write about in GRIT has challenged me to see where each principle applies in my life and then start to put it to practice if I haven’t yet. I have pushed myself to create and maintain a consistent writing routine. 

                    As I have started writing and sharing my stories to my personal and business Facebook, I have felt courageous and connected to my friends, family, and community.

                    Relationships:

                    Month 1 of GRIT ,I was on my own, struggling through the grueling workouts on my own. I made it through and inspired my wife on the way. The very next month she wanted to jump in with me and she’s been doing the workouts with me for the past 3 GRIT challenges. We get to do them at home, we cancelled our gym membership, and we both have become more confident and stronger through the process. I am proud of myself and my wife for making a commitment and sticking with it. We have never worked out together before. In fact she refused to workout together. She is more of a Zumba, Body Pump, group workout kind of gal. I’m more of a Crossfit, weight lifting, stair stepping sort of gal. She was always intimidated by the intensity of my workouts while I was flustered by the coordination required when I joined her routines. Thank goodness for GRIT! We spend 10-30 minutes each day forging our bodies together and have forged another facet of our relationship that makes us stronger together!
                    Rachel Snell
                    Oglesby, IL

                    Coronavirus. With These Rapid Fire Changes, Typical Rachel, Before GRIT, Would Be Enduring A Panic Attack Of Epic Proportions

                    Six months ago, I leveled up. 

                    I never dreamed I'd be in the place I'm in, six months in therapy, single, (still) struggling at both jobs, and now I workout every day, write every day, & share my story every day!? And topping it off, is a crazy time. Something I don't recall seeing in my lifetime. The most significant changes I remember in my lifetime are 9/11 and the recession of 2008. I'm sure there have been other crises along the way, but those render most significant in the forefront of my mind.

                    In recent history, I remember several illnesses; swine flu, bird flu, Sars, & Ebola to name a few. 

                    I don't recall any of those illnesses setting off the panic that Corona virus is spreading like wildfire. With businesses making drastic changes or completely shutting down, stores shelves extremely bare and sometimes empty, I struggle to imagine what's ahead. It's surreal driving through the few towns on my way home, empty streets. No cars, no people. It's a ghost town compared to the bustling streets. People going to bars or restaurants have vanished.

                    Mind: 

                    Previously, I would've been panic-stricken, grasping at straws to make any possible sense of the world I'm currently experiencing. I believe I landed here, in the StoryAthlete community, with perfect timing. Yes, I still have struggles and obstacles to overcome. However, I've noticed a distinct difference in the way my mind is functioning. In only 18 days! Traditionally "allergic" to change, I'm seeing things in a different light. At my primary job, things have evolved quickly, grab & go/drive thru to drive thru only to 8 pm closing. Then came today's development, we're closed completely for an entire month as of 2 pm. We weren't closed a full month when they did our remodel in 2018!

                    With these rapid fire changes, typical Rachel would be enduring a panic attack of epic proportions. Don't misunderstand me, I'm still trying to wrap my head around what's happening. I almost cried earlier just looking at my alarm clock & feeling SAD that I WOULDN'T be setting it for 3 AM Sunday morning. That was a new experience for me. I also had a moment of panic worrying about not working one of my jobs for an entire month. I haven't worked only one job over 13 years!

                    What can we do when the entire world as we know it shifts? Lean in, embrace it despite the 6 foot rule. Hug that change like there's no tomorrow!
                    Why? We have an opportunity. Yes, life as we know it is changing, but in that is an incredible opportunity. It's an opportunity to reset. It's an opportunity to reflect on what's important in life & refocus with a refreshed perspective. It's an opportunity to renew our bond with our family, our neighbors, & ourselves as we help one another through.

                    Together, we traverse the unknown.

                    I'm seizing this opportunity to focus on myself in my free time. I will complete my works workouts. I will clean and organize my apartment. (Trust me ... it's a disaster.) I will focus on creating a budget and a plan to kill the debt monster. I will work to improve my cooking skills rather than do what's easy & call it a day. I will allow myself time to meditate and journal. I will spend some time in nature, going for walks and beginning to plan the best possible use of my little garden space.

                    Embrace this opportunity to nurture yourselves and curate a new normal.
                    Jennifer Seidelman
                    Portland, OR

                    This “Go” Or “No Go” Mentality, Combined With The Commitment To, Not Just Yourself, But To The Team, Is MAGIC. I'm Happier. Basically, I’m Kicking Ass And Taking Names!

                    I’ve always been good at commitment to others. If I tell you I’m going to do something, I do it. Even if it’s to my detriment. Commitment to myself has always been more of a struggle. I tend to put other people’s needs ahead of my own which has led to many broken commitments to myself.

                    With GRIT I’m different.

                    This commitment is to myself and the team. This commitment is NO MATTER what. No excuses. No rationalizations. No ifs, ands, or buts. Just do it.
                    This “go” or “no go” mentality combined with the commitment to, not just yourself, but to the team, is MAGIC.

                    Mind:

                    I have worked out when: I was so sick that I did nothing but sleep, lay on the couch watching TV and workout. I was moving from my apartment to my new house. On Christmas and New Years. When I traveled on business for 9 days of 10, with 14 hour workdays. I had to modify the workout because I have knee issues and can’t do all the exercises. Even on those days, I just plain didn’t want to. 

                    Body:

                    The commitment, to myself and to my team, has made me stronger - mentally, physically and emotionally. I look better. I have muscle definition again - yay! I’m “shopping” in my own closet because I’ve dropped two sizes (and am working on number three). I’m sleeping better. I’m eating better. I rarely drink alcohol now. I’m more productive. My energy is WAY higher. I’m happier. I’m enjoying my friends and family more. Basically, I’m kicking ass and taking names!

                    All because I didn’t quit on myself or my team. There’s just no way I’m going to let them down.

                    Relationships:

                    In the past, I haven’t been good at asking for help. GRIT has made me realize the power of asking your team for support. There were days I knew I’d quit if I didn’t tell my team I was struggling. On the days that I wanted to quit, I turned to them and let them know I was struggling. My team lifted me up. They gave me support on the days I needed it and a kick in the ass on the days I needed one. I know these people want to help me and want to see me succeed. They’re committed to me and I’m committed to them. And in supporting me they grow as well.

                    I’m proud of myself. 

                    I’ve been an athlete before. I’ve trained hard before. What I didn’t do was train smart, which lead to injury, and train no matter what. In GRIT I do both. The training smart has helped me not overdo it so I can keep going instead of getting sidelined. The “no matter what” has made all the difference in my mindset.

                    And let’s face it, mindset is what it’s all about.
                    Sean Tjia
                    Toronto, ON

                    Less Than 8 Months Ago, I Didn't Feel Good About Myself. I Felt Sluggish, And Said "No" To Anything My Partner Suggested We Do Together Being Active

                    Less than 8 months ago, I had a "Dad-Bod" and I didn't have any kids! I was upwards of 150+ lbs. with a "Shelf-Belly", you know, a belly where when I sat slouched, I could put stuff on there! And I looked like a Snake that ate a Rat, because I've always been kind of skinny and scrawny. I was in "A" shape, just not in any good shape. Most of all, I didn't feel good about myself. I felt sluggish, out of breath, and said "no" to anything my partner suggested we do together being active.

                    Body:

                    Now, I am Stronger and much more Capable! I've worked out for the longest period ever in my life! I've lost over 10 lbs., which is a lot for my body frame. I'm probably the Strongest I've ever been and in the best shape of my life! I'm Capable of doing so many physically active feats and movements I never thought I would be capable of! Most of all, I feel good in my body, and improving with each and every day! I don't have the Shelf-Belly anymore. I don't have a Dad-Bod anymore. And I don't look like a snake that ate a rat!

                    Mind: 

                    For over two decades, I avoided stress. I avoided challenge and struggle. I resisted Life. As strong as I imagined myself to be mentally, I was also just as weak in so many other ways. I didn't have consistent habits that would lead me to become a better person. I was drifting in Life. Life happened -To- me.
                    Now, I feel so much Stronger and Empowered. My Mindset of Life is that it happens *For* Me. I Choose how to frame what happens in my Life! And I seek to Challenge myself. To push myself further than I would've before. Like choosing to do 50 extra burpees non-stop!

                    Relationships: 

                    I realized that I resisted and said 'no' to my Beloved Stephanie, anytime she suggested we do something active. Like going out for a walk, bike-riding, or dancing. I was Default-NO. I was too focused on myself, and the hassle of moving my sluggish-self. I didn't see how I consistently let her down, by turning her down, over and over again. I didn't notice how her Light dimmed, each time I said "no" to her.

                    I'm not sure what happened, for me to realize how I was, was affecting her. I just knew I had to change something. 

                    Mainly, I had to Become More Active. And now, I don't Default-No. Now, I say "Yes!". We have a better and stronger relationship. We're both actively working out, getting fit again, getting better again! She's relating to me differently because I've related differently to myself, my body. Our lives are more balanced. We continue to strengthen our relationship each and every day. We put in the work 1% every day!
                    Jonathan Hughes
                    Oakville, Ontario

                    Terrified. I Didn't Think I Could Handle A Round Of GRIT. I Thought I Would Die. I've Had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome For 30 Years. But, I Have Inspired My Family

                    This is my first round of GRIT and I am 20 days in. I haven't lost any weight but I have lost at least an inch on my waist (one notch on the belt!). Do I want to lose weight? Absolutely. My body has changed in the 20 days - weight loss will come if I stick with it and change up my eating habits.

                    Mind:

                    I didn't think I could handle a round of GRIT. I thought I would die. I've had chronic fatigue syndrome for thirty years. I'm much better than I was twenty years ago but I have to pace myself. I don't feel better after exercise; I feel worse. Sure, I've had to modify the workouts - but I've completed every one of them - even the abomination known as the Cupid Shuffle. It is the perseverance that I am most proud of. I haven't worked out twenty days in a row in over 20 years.

                    Business:

                    I've created over thirty pieces of content so far between GRIT and StoryAthlete. These will be used as emails, blog posts, podcasts, and facebook posts. By the end of my first round of GRIT I will have enough content to launch my first Facebook group!

                    Relationships:

                    My family looks at me differently. The first week I got a lot of 'hey dad, did you do your workout today?' Then it turned into admiring my consistency. Yes there has been some laughter over my inability to jump or do all the moves smoothly. My wife encourages me every single day and has joined me for the last week and a half since our local gym closed. This week my sons are eager to tell me about the workout they did each day. My eldest son turns 18 tomorrow. I've never been able to connect with him on a physical level. Until now.
                    Andrew Slobodian
                    Winnipeg, MB

                    Down 43 lbs. I'm Forever Changed. But My Biggest Transformation Has Been In My Relationships With My Wife And Kids

                    At the the end of each GRIT round, I report my results by using using this exact line:

                    Body:

                    “Let’s start with the least important results, the tangibles.”

                    Weight: 
                    Oct 4 - 302lbs,
                    Nov 1 - 288lbs, 
                    Dec 1 - 279lbs,
                    Dec 30 - 275lbs, 
                    Jan 31 - 266lbs,
                    Feb 29 - 259lbs

                    Because it really is the least important. Yes I’m almost 50lbs lighter. Who doesn’t get excited about that?!? But the biggest thing is what the confidence and increased energy allows me to do. And you’ll see the benefits of that in the ones below.

                    Mind: 

                    At first, it felt like I was just putting words down, but not actually believing what I said. Then, I started to dig deeper and truly put some thought into what I wrote. The next phase, became the full on bullshit exposure. I started seeing a pattern of me saying “I have not done this”, “I want to do this” “this is just not me” and I just thought, “Fuck, this poor me shit is getting old and annoying to write about.”

                    The last couple weeks have been the beginning of a new belief system for me. I’m now looking towards the future of what “I can do” and what “I am going to do.” Once you start to tell yourself something long enough, your mind starts to focus on and think that way. The old lesser me use to think about all the things that went wrong and how it’s made shit harder. The new heroic self on the other hand, has been indoctrinated to believe it can do whatever it wants.

                    Now I’m not talking about grand fantasies. I’m not jumping in and making the NFL or NBA at age 34. But what I can do is day by day, 1% by 1%, grow as a person in Mind, body, business and relationships. And every time I do that, I’m one step closer to learning a new skill and/or acquiring a new asset.

                    Relationships:

                    My relationships with my wife and kids has seen the biggest change. Shedding myself of my lethargic brain, expelling built up stress and energy into my high intensity workouts and my self reflection through daily contexts have allowed me to do this. All of this is what GRIT forces you to do.-
                    Writing has become my release valve to life. I write when I’m happy, when I’m sad, when I’m angry, when I struggle and everything in between. Writing, even if it is just to yourself, has endless benefits. And one of the biggest ones for me, is that it exposes the bullshit.

                    I keep a daily journal. Some of that stuff makes it into GRIT or IODs for others to read. And others don’t make it to the light of day. Regardless of where I write it, I always do a weekly recap of all my writing to see where my head was at. And it’s amazing to go back and read the bullshit excuses that come up.

                    My latest weekly recap exposed that my impatience with my kids is not primarily created by them, but is actually created by me. Reading it all back I could not help but notice all my points related to, “I was trying to read, trying to work, or trying to do something else, and they just kept bugging me to do something with them.” So Andrew, who’s fault is it then? Who is always doing something else and not paying attention to them? Can you blame them.
                    Fuck, it is me.

                    If I was not writing this all down, and reading it back, my mind would just keep repeating the narrative that it’s the kids just bugging me, and ignoring the real cause. And I wouldn’t have know what is at the root of the issue.

                    Business: 

                    This one may not seem as clear and obvious as the other 3 are to some, reading this, but to me it’s actually crystal clear. I can’t show you at the moment the ROI data as it pertains to my business. But what I do know is that I’ve been setting the foundation for whatever future I build. Each and every day, GRIT forces me to learn a new skill or to grow and expand on an old one. Each day I move the needle, get the ball rolling 1% by 1% each day. Until that one day it gets so big, and becomes so unstoppable, that I can do whatever it is I want. 

                    And that, I am so proud of.
                    Ryan France
                    Cedar Park, TX

                    The "Go, No Go" Mentality, One Of The Six (6) Foundations In GRIT, Has Given Me A Framework Of Consistency That Had Been Severely Lacking For Almost 20 Years 

                    My journey of becoming a StoryAthlete has been nothing short of life-altering. And when I say that, there is so much more that has transpired than meets the eye.

                    Body:

                    When I first started StoryAthlete GRIT, I weighed about 180 pounds. Fast forward more than six months and 201 consecutive workouts later and I weigh, you guessed it about 180 pounds. Now, the skeptic would say, well that means you've made no progress. But I know that couldn't be further than the truth.Within the first 30-days alone, I gained five pounds of muscle, while shedding fat. It's only compounded from there. I've developed definition in places I never know muscles were supposed to grow.

                    When I was in college, training as an athlete, I was almost twenty pounds heavier than I am now. 

                    But I honestly believe that I am in better shape today. And we are talking almost 20 years later. In the book, Spartan Up, Joe De Sena talks about the difference between "show muscles and go muscles" and that's what GRIT has given me, the type of mental and physical "Go Muscles" that I need to compete in the game of life. And with that comes a confidence not only in the way I look but more importantly in the way that I feel and the way I am able to execute.

                    Mind: 

                    The "Go, No Go" mentality, one of the six foundations in GRIT has given me a framework of consistency that had been severely lacking in my routines. That consistency bleeds through to all areas. 

                    Transformation in anything, truly, is simply the by-product of not quitting. 

                    Business:

                    Through GRIT, in my business, I've developed what is called "Command Presence," the mental confidence that I am capable of handling whatever is thrown at me. And that's so important right now, with all of the uncertainty in the economy and the direction of commerce.

                    Relationships. 

                    Above all though, the biggest impact I've experienced with GRIT is with my relationships. With friends and family. Recently, a friend of mine commented to me that, "I had her running 5 miles twice per week." Another told me that "I had he and his wife back in the gym, working out together."

                    Truth, I did no such thing. They did. 

                    All I did was show up and shine my light in a certain direction. 

                    The other day, my daughter Madeline came up to me and asked if she could borrow my phone. Thinking nothing of it, I said yes. Then I walked around the corner and I found her recording herself putting my son through a workout. I can't tell you how rewarding it has been to see other people taking action and making better decisions in their lives, and with their health, because I had the courage to "Go First."

                    Summary: 

                    The decision to take ownership of my mental and physical health six months ago has had a huge effect on my quality of life. It's shown me what I am truly capable of and what's possible for my life.
                    Ryan Sloper
                    Bristow, VA

                    At 38, GRIT Has Shown Me What's Possible. Even My Wife Joined March 2020 GRIT. Working Out And Writing Contexts Together Has Definitely Brought Us Closer Together

                    My body has felt amazing the last 7 months, which has had spillover effect on my mindset. My mental focus right now is off the charts. I’m sometimes getting more shit done in a day than I was in a whole week 7+ months ago. I’m connecting dots faster than ever. Seeing and sometimes predicting the future. Even during a time of chaos like the pandemic we’re living through right now. My mind is in PEAK shape. Faster. Stronger. Sharper. And prepared for any shit storm that comes my way.

                    Body: 

                    Grit has shown me what’s possible. Down over 20 lbs, having energy for days. That there are no limits but the ones my mind creates. I’ve learned to become indestructible. Terminator! That’s who I Strive to Become!! Before GRIT, I worked out a good amount, but never every damn day for 7 months straight. Funny thing is I’ve never had the results that I currently have now at 38 years old. Stronger than ever. Down to 175 pounds, from nearly 200. Damn near close to my weight when I was playing college ball. I have three kids, a wonderful wife, multiple businesses, and I’m in the best damn shape of my life.

                    Business: 

                    Remember Trump’s Campaign slogan, Make America Great Again. Whether you love him or hate him really doesn’t matter. His slogan at least provided me some inspiration to create a slogan for my latest GRIT Campaign.
                    GRIT….Make Business Fun Again. No matter the problem I’m ready to solve it with a smile on my face. Research it. Analyze it. Dissect it. Spot an opportunity out of it. And execute against it. 7+ months ago I would literally be buried in a mound of shit seeing no way out. Business is back to being the game I love. Not just something I show up too.

                    Relationships: 

                    All of my relationships have done a complete 180. Why? Simply put it’s much easier to get along with someone that’s happy all the time. That person being ME. GRIT has brought me out of a two year slump. Having a child in 2019, getting no sleep for months. Recovering from an Achilles Tendon tear in 2018. I’m no longer the grumpy person that wasn’t much fun to be around. Now I wake up trying to figure out who I should reach out to each day. Who haven’t I connected with in a while? Who can I help? What relationships do I need to repair? This is still work in progress, but that’s what the journey is all about. Oh….and even my wife joined March 2020 GRIT. Working out and writing contexts together has definitely brought us closer together.
                    Chris Reese
                    Rocklin, CA

                    I Lost 37 lbs (Most Of This Was In The 1st 90 Days) And 7” Off My Waist. But What I'm Most Proud Of Is Becoming A Great Husband And Father Again

                    After 5 months of GRIT, I have made tremendous headway in becoming who I want to be. GRIT has been transformative to me across all 4 dimensions of life Mind, Body, Business, and Relationships: 

                    Mind Transformation:

                    I have forged an incredible mindset that enables me to do the harder things I used to avoid. Doing the GRIT workouts has given me a healthy addiction to callousing the mind by way of physical exhaustion. Until I experienced it through GRIT, I didn’t realize how empowering it is to reach your limits and push even further. Exhausting oneself physically provides the immediate feedback from the “Lesser-Self” (self-preservation mechanism) for us to quit. And because that signal to quit is soooo immediate and strong, when I push beyond it, I feel like I just won a medal at the Olympics. 

                    The best part is that this power of callousing the mind transcends beyond fitness into the other 3 dimensions of life – Body, Relationships, & Business. It enables the leveling up across the board. Fitness without the mindset just isn’t the same. It all starts with the mind. 

                    At 44 years old, those lbs don’t come off as easily as they used. In a 7-year hiatus from any consistent exercise, I made multiple ½ hearted attempts at getting back into working out. I had gym memberships, have running shoes, an elliptical trainer, squat rack, weight bench, multiple kettlebells, punching bags, jump ropes & bunch of random other apparatuses and equipment collecting dust in my garage. Every 12 months or so I would try to dust it all off and “Get serious” but never made it past a few workouts. The mindset is everything!

                    Body Transformation:

                    In 5 months, I Lost 37 lbs (most of this was in the 1st 90 days) and 7” off my waist. I am probably in the best shape of my life despite having not worked out in over 7 years prior to GRIT. My abs are even showing themselves, something that I never had in my 20’s or 30’s. The things I can do again because of GRIT makes me feel young again. My cardio fitness, strength, flexibility, and even my speed are all better than they have ever been. Prior to GRIT, I was looking for the coziest spot to sit and do nothing when my workday was finished. Now, I have enough energy to get up before the crack of dawn, bang out the prescribed daily workout, put in 8-12 hours of work, & still play & roughhouse with my lil man.

                    Relationships:

                    I am a husband and a father again! A total lack in mindset & fitness made me lazy Physically but also with regard to my relationships. With my wife, I had a total lack of effort & communication. Rather than talk something out or share my life, I grew more and more introverted, kept things to myself, & ignored or hid from arguments. 

                    Basically, I wasn’t doing anything to make the person I chose to spend my life with happy. And my one and only Child? I had grown short with him at times. I hadn’t taught him to throw a ball or even shoot a basket & we stopped going to parks riding bikes. 6:00pm would roll around and I was “resting my eyes” until bedtime. This was not how I envisioned my life. Being a husband and a father is not enough. I want to be great! My wife and I are happy. My son gets my full attention. Wrestling, playing catch, & building forts. Not watching me sleep in the recliner.

                    Business:

                    I have enhanced many skills & developed new ones. Because of the current pandemic, work and business is totally disrupted. This will forever change the way we do business. Having the correct mindset, renewed health, and healthy relationships in my life is allowing me to not dwell on the circumstances but rather to focus on the opportunities. I have already begun to modify my real estate businesses accordingly and I am developing new income streams as well, GRIT being a huge part of that. I’m not a natural salesman. I can only sell something I believe in. GRIT has transformed me in so many ways, I have absolutely no hesitation or guilt in being an affiliate and promoting GRIT to anybody. In developing this new stream of income, my eyes have been completely opened to online marketing & copy writing. I feel the potential is endless!
                    Ulrich Inge
                    Somerville, MA

                    StoryAthlete Ulrich Knows How To Get Hit, And Keep Coming Back. StoryAthlete Ulrich Finds A Way To Help Self AND Others!

                    Since doing GRIT I’ve lost about 15 pounds. My energy levels, most noticeably though, have been consistent throughout the day, and I have greater mental clarity.

                    Mind:

                    This is the transformation I’m most proud of since becoming a StoryAthlete.
                    My capacity to endure transitory anguish. My capacity to lean in when times get hard. My capacity to feel the resistance and do something anyways. Sometimes I crash and burn, but majority of the time I reach the other side of an obstacle. With more to give. The transformation is best captured with what happened after Corona made headlines.

                    “Virus reaches American shores. Pandemic! Stay home! Infection rate accelerating…”

                    What would Ulrich do 5/10 years ago? I would go in my cave. Lick my wounds and go quiet. I’m talking deep seclusion with a heavy chest and the need to sleep 12 hours a day because the inner conflict is making me tired.
                    But 3 weeks ago, I jumped into action. I called family and friends. I called financial institutions. I researched the current available information. I reviewed my finances and evaluated my vulnerabilities. Then I leaned in some more…

                    I organized a community playlist with songs that touch people’s hearts. Friends and family from across the country contributed. Each time you listen to a song you’re connecting with another human being. Then I hosted 7 days of Facebook live to hold the space as people adjusted. Then I brought food to friends who were low. Then I took two days to reset. The difference is massive. 

                    The old Ulrich focused 100% on himself - “How will this affect me? How will I handle this? Where will I get more money?”

                    StoryAthlete Ulrich focuses on community and leadership. He rejects fear. Destroys doubt… and demands peace and kindness in all contexts. StoryAthlete Ulrich knows how to get hit, and keep coming back. StoryAthlete Ulrich finds a way to help self AND others. In one word what does StoryAthlete mean to me? 

                    Anti-Fragile.

                    Let’s say you ship a package. If it’s fragile, it breaks with the slightest pressure. The sticker you put on the box, “Fragile” If it’s robust, it’s sturdy and can handle abuse. You don’t worry about it when shipping. There is no label for this time of package.

                    But Anti-fragile. 

                    This package wants the be tested. It wants to be challenge. It becomes better, faster, stronger the more pressure is placed on it. The more you kick it around the more kicks it can handle. 

                    On this box we write, “Please abuse. 
                    Please attack. 
                    Please challenge. 
                    Please throw around.”

                    Anti-fragile

                    That’s what I have become. That’s what a StoryAthlete is. We’ve prepared for the Challenge-based life. We seek out ever greater challenges. Not because we’re masochists, but because we’re anti-fragile. We understand, that a crisis builds those capable of handling crisis. A pandemic builds individuals capable of thriving during pandemics. War builds people who can handle the despair and suffering of war. 

                    My package reads, “I’m a StoryAthlete. Fuck with me. I dare you.”

                    Relationships:

                    I feel more connected than I’ve ever felt in my life. I used to go through life with this nagging thought in the back of my mind, “These people don’t know me. Are they really your friends?” I used to go along to get along. Stay quiet to keep the peace. Keep ideas to myself if it seemed others couldn’t handle them. This ruined me. I felt alone and isolated. My chest was caving in on itself. 

                    Each day I chose to be silent, I died a little inside. 

                    Then the IODs started. 

                    Then the daily workouts started. 

                    Then the transformations became noticeable. 

                    Soon I found my voice and people didn’t run away. They were drawn to the message. They had similar experiences. They wanted to go deeper. I showed the world my essence and they responded in kind. Now I’m surrounded by people who I know won’t run away when they see me. I can be what I am, be clear about what I am becoming, and stand tall with my shoulders back because my IODs have thin the heard and I’m surrounded by kindhearted badasses.

                    'GRIT + FUEL' 

                    We Have Lots More Of These!

                    "If You Want To Change, We Have Proven The Formula"

                    Next GRIT starts Dec 4th, runs through 30th
                    Deadline to register:
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                    00 Years 00 Months 00 Weeks 00 Days 00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds
                    This Crisis Is An Opportunity For All Of Us!
                    Mind. Body. Business. Relationships.

                      The Fact:

                      Because Of The 6 Foundations!

                       'GRIT + FUEL' - Has Proven To Be The Greatest Transformation-Engine Ever Devised... 

                      We have hundreds of these of transformations. 

                      What started as nothing but an experiment and a hypothesis, turned into a new way to live life...
                      The Success of living 'The StoryAthlete Way,' was developed over two year period, to solve my own frustrations with health and fitness, and more widely tested over the last 6 months, to create results beyond expectation...

                      The evolution of the journey have been well-documented on the StoryAthlete podcast. 
                      EARNINGS / INCOME DISCLAIMER: We don’t believe in get-rich-quick programs. We believe in hard work, adding value, and serving others. And that’s what our programs are designed to help you do. As stated by law, we can not and do not make any guarantees about your own ability to get results or earn any money with our ideas, information, programs, or strategies. 

                      We don’t know you and, besides, your results in life are up to you. Agreed? We’re here to help by giving you our greatest strategies to move you forward, faster. However, nothing on this page or any of our websites or emails is a promise or guarantee of future earnings. Any financial numbers referenced here, or on any of our sites or emails, are simply estimates or projections or past results, and should not be considered exact, actual or as a promise of potential earnings – all numbers are illustrative only. If you have questions, email support@storyathlete.com
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