My journey through Andy Frisella’s 75 Hard and Live Hard program is well documented on my instagram.  However I have compiled much of my story here as I think it speaks to a wider audience when presented all in one place.

I have successfully completed 75 Hard 4x, and Live Hard once.  My experiences are below trying to put into words one of the, if not the most significant journeys of my life. 

I woke up one morning in mid 2015 and could hardly walk, and no one knew what was wrong with me, much less what was going on.  After many tests and many months it was determined I had Rheumatoid Arthritis that had been misdiagnosed, Gout, and my Testosterone level was at a literal zero when tested.  I was able to heal but relied heavily on medication to get around and live a semi normal life every day.

This sums up the recovery but it was long, and painful, as we had to quit treating one to treat the others.  It was worth the struggle but at the time the chronic pain I was experiencing I had no desire to chronicle.

This Excerpt if from August 13th, 2019

I was asked by my wife and a few friends to share my reasons and a bit of the history behind my journey, so that maybe it would inspire some others who are struggling. 

This program represents an ending of a painful journey and a beginning of a new life for me. 

For 3 months you have seen me post a progress photo every day, and several when I finished. 

I took the weekend, enjoyed myself, let my back heal (pulled a muscle in my neck and shoulder the last week of the program.)  And not quite ready to start Phase 1 yet but that is coming soon.   

That being said, I do have to work out every day to maintain the following changes that happened on #75Hard 

In my excitement I forgot to post a few stats.

13 lbs down (even though weight loss was not the goal),

8″ off my waistline from a 42″ to a 34″, added 4″ on my chest!

Down over 50 pills a week, completely off my RA medicine! 

Doc want’s a review in 8 months to compare bloodwork and weight, BMI, Etc. before making permanent changes in the remaining meds.

If you believe something strong enough, you can achieve it.  And I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

August 9, 2019  Day 75 of Round 1

So many emotions right now!  I feel incredible!

I did not know what would happen when I started 75 days ago.  I know what I expected to happen, and what I was looking for.  I found it, and so much more.

I am the same man I was when I started but so much stronger, and confident!  Over the course of this I found that purpose I was looking for, found some discipline I didn’t know I had, and found some drive that I didn’t even know was there.

75 days, 159 workouts (added some on days I felt I coasted through one), 6.5 Books, Hours of thinking, all my yearly goals set in Jan accomplished (had to set new ones about a month in), more growth that I can even explain right now!

Completing this program is one of the best things I have ever done.  Finish it, keep it challenging you till the end, and it will change your fucking life!

Thank you @andyfrisella, you didn’t do it for me, but I needed it more than even I knew!

Thank you Doll for putting up with me and always being there to kick my ass when I needed it!  Damn it felt good when you asked if I had done everything, to say yes every damn time!!

May 20th, 2020   Final Day of Live Hard

Tonight I finished the most challenging thing I have ever completed solely for myself.

So many changes I can not even start to list them all. 

Physically I am still off the RA meds, over 2500 pills not taken since I stopped them, healthier that I have been in years and feeling great!!

The most meaningful are the mental leaps such as my ability to see the world through the eyes of someone who is truly in control of themselves.  I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter what life throws at me I can make it through it and come out a winner!  This program has truly made me antifragile.

While it’s very much a personal journey, those of us fortunate to have a significant other in our life know that without their support, while possible, this would be much harder. 

I am lucky that @dezarieanderson shares a common vision and we support each others goals even when we don’t participate or agree with them (not the case with this program.)  The fact that it’s important to the other is enough.  She was right there by my side the whole time, even when skeptical at first she was supportive.  Later as I changed and my commitment level became apparent she started talking about me differently to others and to myself.  And I loved it, one of the best parts of this entire program is altering her perception of me in a positive direction.

I want her to be proud of me and she always has been, supportive, and believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself, and yet, while I worked through this year and leveled up, in a manner of speaking, she started treating me even better.  Wish I could explain it better but that will have to be enough for now.  I am truly blessed to have this awesome woman by my side.

@andyfrisella I thank you so much for the time you take to share your vision with the world, it has truly helped me change my life this year.  Your dedication is valued and appreciated.

For everyone that asked, followed, and believed in me thank you. 

And to those of you who secretly hoped I would fail, well here we are and you with no more excuses.

So excited to be getting started on the next chapter of my life!  Moving from the training phase, to lifestyle consistency.

Phase 3 Day 30 Complete!

March 17, 2021   2nd time completing 75Hard

Well I’m done, Now what?

Thank you@andyfrisella for creating this program and the difference it has made in my life over the last couple of years.

Goals are fun, the journey is the destination, hard work pays off…….Insert all your motivational sayings here.

What atters is where are you going now?  If I want to go to LA from New York I don’t fall in love with the plane.  I use the plane, I appreciate the plane, and enjoy the trip while I am on it, but if I don’t know where I am going when I get there, what is the point?  Getting back on the plane solves nothing, that bird has flown, for lack of a better term.

It is absolutely critical that you enjoy your successes for a bit, feel good, relax, reward yourself, but before you ever get to the finish line, know where your next destination is.  Have your next goals set and in writing, so once your celebration is over you can get right back at it.

More than a day or two for a major goal reward is too much, more than an hour or two for a minor one is too much.

We are defined by our journey, not our destinations. 

Progress is fundamental to growth!! 

That being said, I am 30lbs down, and feeling great!  Mentally I have put some new habits in place for my new lifestyle, and my goals are all set for the next year, down to the day!

First time through it was all about completing it and simply accomplishing something big.  This time through it has been about altering life choices long term, using the discipline to create healthy habits, both physically and mentally!

If you have never done this program I encourage you to work honestly 1 time, if it’s not for you then so be it but those who have not done it are not qualified to judge those who have or the program in general!

Jan 8, 2022   4th time completing

“It’s always day 74”  This was my mantra this time around. 

Each time has been different, each time has been challenging, each time I have grown.

This time I am pushing for a physical change (verb tense intended, finish reading.)

On day 55 of the 75 day I did 3 45 min workouts (one was always weights), I “rested” on the weekends with only 2 and no weightlifting.  That’s a total of over 200 workouts completed.  And starting December 1st I deadlifted  everyday.

I learned many things, weight loss is not a goal for everyone.  It was for me when I started, but I learned about overall health, macros, and body fat percentages, especially after December when I almost stopped losing. 

I did however pack on a ton of muscle and change the composition of my body, it does not reflect all the time in pictures but I look and feel different and am 3x stronger than when I started (turns out I prefer this to the weight loss.)  My goal is still a “six pack” but I know it will do it by body fat percentage and not weight loss.

My business has been stagnant for the last few years, not to say it has been awful, it hasn’t, but it has not grown as much as I wanted it to. 

I quit making excuses, and I thought I had already stopped that.  Turns out we tend to justify our actions or lack thereof every day.  I no longer accept anything from myself less than massive action.

My story matters and I have an incredible team of people around me starting with my lovely Bride @Dezarieanderson.  New friendships have been forged, some old ones dissolved, some are still pending approval.

My Ego was holding me back.  This always seemed stupd to me, but in order to accept the fact that I was worthy of the position I played I had to humble myself focus on what I was good at and fucking listen to those around me.  More on this later.

I could write a book, and probably will, but not right now. 

Right now I am going to enjoy my break with my lovely bride and then hit it again with a fucking sledgehammer, find out what I am truly made of!

Thank you @andyfrisella for this program, you have changed many lives over the years, the one I care about most is mine.  Your teaching and program helped me unlock who I truly am, and for that I will be eternally grateful. 

I earned my callouses and wear my #75 Hard tattoo with pride,  and I will always earn that right every day.