Inside The Mill Episode 29

The Role of Mindset & Identity in Health

In this inspiring episode, Jeff shares his transformative journey from chronic pain to renewed vitality through the Vitality Mill. Discover how changing beliefs, taking action, and community support can lead to lasting health and happiness.

Action Items:

• Take the first step towards health, even if it feels overwhelming
• Focus on progress and awareness, not just scales
• Invest in your health for long-term benefits

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Transcript

Introduction to Jeff's Journey

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome back to another episode Inside the Mill Podcast. Coach Christian here. My main man Seth. And today we got a special episode. We're interviewing Jeff from the Vitality Mill. Jeff, six years. Is that right? Since you've been with us? Six years. That's what I was trying to think, man. So 2020, right? Okay. Man, whenever you started, I think, you know, I started a few months after you. Yeah. And I think the reason we clicked so much at first was just, you know, our background in sports. And you played basketball. I played some basketball, but we both played college sports. And then you played some basketball up until you were 40? Yes. Church league, right? Church league. Yeah. So you were always an athletic guy. What was life looking like physically that made you finally walk through the doors with us? So going from an athlete and then to what got you into the doors at the Vitality Mill?

SPEAKER_02 0:48

So, like you said, I've always done athletic stuff, tried to lift things since I was at college, done all the things. But it was a couple years, about three years, I think, before I came to Vitality Mill, I was in a uh three-car, you know, pile up, little weirding. And uh at first it didn't seem like much. You know, I grew up on the farm and just toughened through, but you know, about three months in I started noticing like pain that just started getting worse and worse and worse, and ended up figuring out it was sciatica. And so I started doing all the things, you know, making sure that I could go through a chiropractor to a massage therapist, even had needling done, you know, and nothing, it would get be better for a day or two, but then nothing like it was just constant pain all the time to the point where you know I even went had the nerves in my back cauterized at one point. And that that did help, but it was still there. And my wife, there's a couple times, and I was trying to explain it to her one time, and she was always checking on me, but she said, Uh, are you hurting today? One day she said, Are you hurting today? And I said, Well, honey, I hurt every day. It's just how bad is it hurting today. So and I realized at that point I was just living with it all the time. And as an athlete, I wasn't able to do the things I had to do. I I loved, I did martial arts. I had to stop the martial arts because the kicking and stuff was just too much pain all the time. And it got to where I could kind of understand how I definitely could understand, and I put those like like major prescription pain pills away because I could see how people would get addicted to it. Yeah. Because I just wanted relief. Yeah. And then and I never got to this point, but I could empathize with people who sometimes live with pain so much that you just figured it'd be better not to even be living at the time because it hurt so much. And that's when at that time that I saw I mean I lived in the neighborhood too, like five by ten. I was driving by and I saw I told David, I saw an ad that set in on Facebook. And and then I was at home because it was totally the time. I just I said, I can I try this sweetheart. And I came and talked to you, Seth, and and she said, Let's give it a shot. And when I came in here, that was my I was like, this is the last thing, or I'm gonna have to find surgery or something because I can't live with this. So that's what brought me in the door.

SPEAKER_01 2:51

So the first thing I'm hearing is, and this is the piece that holds a lot of people back on this. What if I do snoop study, trying to figure out behaviors and why the why us crazy humans do the things we do, kind of a deal, right? And what I've what I've started to come to realize is identity means obviously means a lot. And so like your identity was as an athlete. That's how you always and so like your stories and your beliefs are as an athlete, like you continue to try to try to find a way, try to push through, try to get something. And then I think that, and then so that's our stories and our beliefs, and then our stories and our beliefs, they they start to create our actions. We so from what we believe, we act on that. And so what I'm hearing you say is like that gives us, and then we get different results from our actions from there. And so if we reverse engineer that and you just change the actions, the difference between you is is you instead of and there's a lot of individuals that are in pain that are struggling and they submit as far as they just they tap out. They they they quit. They maybe they haven't had been through pain before or physically, and so they because they didn't play sports or whatever it may be, and they think that there's no other option. And so they just they quit on themselves. And you were even with your identity of being an athlete, you almost, but you still were searching and still looking for something else. And so that's just huge as far as because I just it's it's frustrating for me because I see people every day. We just had a couple ladies walk in yesterday that were, you know, 60, 70 years old, and uh, and that's why I was telling Christian is we work with individuals over 40. And as a 40, almost five-year-old man, I think about the things I can do at 45, and then I think where would I be at 60 or 70? And how would I be able to view myself? And I would look at like, well, at 40, 45, I could do that. And so like we got to change our our direction as far as going more towards the 60, 70 year olds as well, because it's like life is short, and we get we don't get we don't get very many, we don't get we get one shot at this bad boy. It's not we don't get very many, we don't, we just get one. And so I think that if one person, just like we were talking about out there today, if one person can hear that, that like, hey, I'm dealing with pain, but that doesn't mean and through sports and through practices and through workouts, you push yourself and you kill yourself. When we get over 40, we don't have to do those things anymore to to a place of, and that's where you've changed because your back, you were very, I remember you coming in, it was very like, I gotta watch my back. And then I watch you today go through like the overhead, the the down and overheads. That's something that you have to think about, uh like because you know it's there, but at the same time, you're able to move and do things, deadlift, do things that you that you you got a new lease on life.

SPEAKER_02 5:26

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, and that was the thing. I think uh I think what a lot of people when they get to that point when you like we were talking about, you said the tap out or whatever it is, and it's and I understand now is like it's that hope is gone. You feel like there's no hope. Yeah, like there's nothing's ever gonna get better. This is just how it's always been and it won't if you just and and you won't. If you're like you're right, the tapping out actually feeds that, yeah, is like actually brings that to fruition. Yeah, but you know, because I mean, and if anybody ever asks, it wasn't the when I say it's not like this somebody cut your leg off that is horrible. Yeah, this is like I explained to somebody if somebody I started hitting you on the deal just like this, that's nothing for the first day, yeah, two days, three days, one year, three years, you know, it's that Chinese torture. But the hope that when I came in, you know, like okay, that every time I started trying something new, it was like, okay, this the hope that this is it. And then, but then coming in here and you guys started working.

SPEAKER_01 6:18

And that's the other side of it is it's like not only did you like you you you were searching and looking for something, so you were you were open. Your hands were open to go like, hey, I'm I'm I'm not gonna hold on to that. This is my this is my identity is around. I'm gonna be in pain the rest of my life. My my hands, I'm gonna release my grip off that and that's so my hands can be open to something else. Because the other side of it it's done is it's like you're a big piece of like our our

Finding Hope and Community at Vitality Mill

SPEAKER_01 6:42

family. Like when Jeff comes in, you know, he's he's wild enough to walk here for every like it don't matter if it's it don't matter if it's if it's the snow's out and he's got coveralls on or overalls on or however you say that. It might be the biscuit and the whatever it is. But uh that side of it is like uh you don't know how many other people that you've impacted through that or what's gonna be happened through this uh through this podcast. But then the individuals inside the vitality meal that like you can always uh it's kind of like Norm and Cheers. You don't norm Cheers was a uh show that was and there's this norm would walk in, and every time Norm would walk in, be like, Norm! And that's kind of like what we've created with the the vitality mill. It's the same thing with Jeff, is like when he's leaving, he's telling everybody bye and things like that. And so it's just powerful to to think, what if? What if you never stopped in? Where would you be? What what if you you you know you do a lot of things with the band and helping with and with the your your with your the color guard with helping with that side of it and do things and the things that you're pushing and doing things, they just imagine that that those memories you don't get to have in your daughters, all your daughters, right?

SPEAKER_02 7:45

Right, right, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

Where they can say, like that, my that's my dad who leads all this.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

Yeah. And that, of course, family was a big catalyst and wanting to find a solution. Yeah, that was my big thing because I did not I want to be that grandpa that gets down on the floor and please my kids. I want to be able to do the things, pick them up. Yeah, I want to pick them up. I want to be involved in my girls' stuff, whatever they're doing. And I'd be right, I wouldn't have been able to do all the things I've done with them.

SPEAKER_00 8:08

Yeah, yeah. And yeah, exactly. And you working out being a you know athlete most of your life, working out most of your life. It doesn't matter if I'm training a guy that just won a CrossFit competition and feels like he knows everything, or if it's a 70-year-old lady that can barely get out of her car. At the Vitality Mill, we take pride in starting everybody from the basics. If you can't squat with your body weight, then we're not gonna give you a weight before you can squat. If your hips are tight, we're gonna give you mobility. So we start everybody from the ground up to build a foundation. So take me through you being an athlete. How elementary did that feel the first week of the things that we were doing? Was it hard to release that grip of like, okay, I'm gonna trust them that they've got the they've got the plan?

SPEAKER_02 8:51

Okay, I've always had an attitude of like, whether it's martial arts when I walked in on the mat or whether it's the gym I walk in, I had to remind myself to stay to be humble. Yeah, you know, because there's people that always know more than I do. I can learn from people. I can learn from anybody really, good or bad, I can learn from people. And so when I did come in, it was a little weird because again, I've been lifting since college, just doing other stuff. Thought I knew. And so when you guys come in and start me with these light, tiny weights or no weights, and I'm having to do something like you know, swallow the pride at first because I was like, I know how to do this, but I quickly learned I did not know how to do it correctly. Yeah, and doing it correctly makes all the difference. And I've been doing things that really just been damaging, I think, my joints over time, like whatever it is. And that's a beauty thing of what you guys do. You're gonna make sure that you guys make sure I had the right base first, because there's nothing to build on if you if you don't have the right face.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

So yeah, no, that's the that's the big piece. And plus, you had you had Leno right when he got started, like so. Leno was, yeah, Leno was. I mean, we're we we take it to and we're serious about it. We started as a foundation, but that dude was like, he would not let you move forward unless you could move in the right way. He would pound it in your head over and over and over again.

SPEAKER_02 10:08

I don't understand what you say at first, and then once he did it, once you once it clicked, like every time you guys are showing me something new, once at first it just feels something will feel awkward.

SPEAKER_01 10:16

Once it clicks, it's like, and that's that that's that like over and over. We're gonna do a we're gonna do a hit button that good morning. Good morning.

SPEAKER_02 10:24

Yeah, we're gonna go back over and over again. When I've helped any any young kids ever talk, I see them starting to try something and they're doing it wrong. I'll walk home like, hey, come here, and I give them ban. This is even like uh kids in high school in our college group. I'm like, come here, and uh show them like just do these first, yeah. Yeah, but but the thing is you were talking earlier about doing the overheads and the deadlifts and stuff, but you're you said something about constant thought, and it is. I have to constantly think, okay, make sure this is tight, four is tight, this is the one time you don't, then that's what it could be. But it's natural now to think through those things and just yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:55

Jeff, working with us for a while and starting to build that base, build that foundation. What did it feel like when you finally started to realize my back doesn't hurt the way that it used to? Like when you when it clicked, I'm not in pain the way that I once was, where I would wake up and just not know what it's gonna look like that day.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

What'd that feel like? Well, and you guys can talk to you. Dr. Brown is one that he's a clinic here, and he's one that I went to at the beginning. He's always been my doctor, and you know, and he you know, he I recommended coming into a place, finite place that does stuff. But I remember going into him and I I have a pain doctor and all this stuff that I can remember the day though that you're talking about where I just had the sudden realization as I was walking along, I was walking outside, and I actually started to tear out. You know, I went into Dana, my wife, and I said, I didn't hurt today. She goes, Oh, that's great. I said, No, you don't understand. I said, Now, I don't think it happened that day. I think it had been happening. It was just it had gotten so much better over time, just that all of a sudden one day I had the realization that I'm not hurting.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

Yeah, and that was just so last night I uh we went, I went and ran, and Christian knows I went and ran like uh 50 minutes yesterday and I got done, and then my IT band starts, my my my heels starts to bother me, and I've just got all these, and I've got sciatica and stuff as well. And I uh I got home and I was I was struggling. Courtney even saw me like, What are you why are you limping like that? Are you limping? And I um because I was hurting. But I went and got in a sauna, and I got in the sauna, and once I got out, I was No pain in my knee, no, no,

Realizations of Progress and Awareness

SPEAKER_01 12:23

my leg felt great. And I started thinking it's that awareness. Once you're once you become aware, like this is working, but so many people get so caught up on what the the change looks like that they think it's a a scale uh that goes down. But like once you start to become aware of just like that workout in there, I made a I pop off to Christian, like you look at that workout and you can go, like, that workout's gonna be pretty tough. Like, I'm I do not want to do this on a Saturday morning. And then once you get into it and then you're doing it, and then like you're proving to yourself and your body's uh you're from that work and all the stuff that you've done all throughout the years and the days and the weeks, all starts to compile. And the next thing you know, it's like that awareness of like, man, I'm in great shape. And it's a lot of people, it might be, hey, I'm I'm walking up the stairs and can't breathe afterwards to where now they're able to do things. And so that awareness proceeds change, but oftentimes we're not aware other than what that scale says, and that's the only way that anybody really measures their and when it comes to fitness, measures their their fitness.

SPEAKER_02 13:21

You know, one thing you were saying there, and I I don't want to anybody be under illusion that I never hurt. I mean, you know, there are times like there, it was about six months ago, I think I was in here, I was doing ball slams, and I was in a hurry. I stopped the thought process. I went, I just came down because I was trying to do it fast. And as soon as I got halfway up, I could feel, and I just dropped the ball. Yep. Now, but the difference between now and back in the past was ego, was it would take, yep, I knew, and so I stopped. But then also that instead of months of pain, months of this, a day or two of doing the evaluating my body, the machine, evaluating the machine. Well, okay, this, this, this, a day or two later, I'm back to normal because the the core that you guys have worked on, like from my core, making sure my my mechanics are good. So I can do those things now, still, and I do have pain, but the time that I have that pain is so much less ever than it ever was before. I love it.

SPEAKER_00 14:15

Yeah, and I don't want to skip over the fact either that to feel good and feel that way, it takes action. And I think a lot of people will, oh, like they're telling themselves these stories. I heard, I'm always gonna hurt. And those stories that they tell themselves, they what you focus on is what you get. So if you keep focusing on that, you're gonna find that. But with you, you knew you saw that ad, and it's scary. It's scary to come in here and go something that's out of your normal environment and to change habits and patterns and behaviors that you've always done. It's scary to get out of that, it's uncomfortable. But you taking that leap is what got you to where you're at here. And we didn't even touch on this, man. But like you came in with you know a lot of back pain. You held the deadlift record in the gym for a while. Like your trap bar deadlifting 400, almost 500 pounds. It's impressive, man. But it was all because you took the action and you took that uncomfortable step to feel better. And because of that, it rewarded you.

SPEAKER_02 15:07

So somebody beat me. So now I gotta look at that. Danny didn't count.

SPEAKER_00 15:17

So when we've talked, man, you said you believe God uses the vitality mill to give you hope. Yes. That's a big statement. Kind of take me through what is that what does that mean to you? I mean, I'm a firm believer.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

I mean, I believe in in Jesus and Christ is everything to me and my family. And that's my my thought thought. I mean, to me, my witness and serving other people is the only reason that I'm actually here on earth. I mean, it's my kids, I'm first to them to serve them, my wife, and then my kids to serve them and then serve the people around me. And I so when I walk into vitality mill, what I'm saying uses I God can heal and he can heal instantaneously to do that, but God also uses other methods to do that. And so coming in here to the vitality mill, you know, I see people who actually care and walk through the process not not sensational things we're talking about, like this is how God made your body, this is how it is. And if it were just information that I were coming in for if it were just workouts, that's great. This place will provide that. But it's more than that when I say God gave me home here because I started making friends here. I had a few people I do and then you guys, and so then it became a brotherhood of the people that I know and other people I see out there. I like because I sincerely I want the absolute best with everybody that comes to this gym. I want them to succeed in everything that turns in whatever way that is. I want them to succeed. And but when I walk in here, there are days I don't want it to work out. I don't want to do this. But I know that there are people here in our gym who want to pray for me. Actually, I know you guys are praying for me. So that's why God gave me hope in a place that I think it's not just a place you're going to work out because I don't like going to many places by myself. Yeah, but to come in a place that I feel like it's family when I walk. Yeah, it's hope. It's it's this is this is where I uh I mean it's not just and it wasn't just physical going. I think there's a there's a bond meaning for brotherhood something that you can't.

SPEAKER_01 17:06

Yeah, God puts the right people in the right place at the right time. And so I mean that's been our big I mean that's how Christians here, that's how we're all like as far as just the and with that though, is it still requires action.

SPEAKER_02 17:17

Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:17

So like with you, it's like you could have you could have leaned and said, like, hey, got it on my own. I'm gonna I'm gonna figure this out on my own, whatever. And it's just like once you just go like, hey, I see this, let me just let me just see what it's all about and then and just be interested in and explore, just be curious of what it is. And I think the more people would just be curious, what they would do is see that one, we'll let you come in for a couple of weeks for uh 30 days and try it out and see if it's something, if you don't like it, and then we'll we'll we'll free you because we know that we have something that's different, and we know that when the individuals come in, one you already said it. I know with Christian and Isaac, is like we're gonna care for you on a whole nother level and we're gonna make it to where we care about your results just as much as you do. And so a lot of times you'll let yourself down and you'll you'll not do the things that you know you need to do. But when you have other individuals that care about your results and you told them that you were going to do this, I'm gonna show up on Wednesday, I'm going to plug my food in, I'm gonna step on the scale and put it into the app. You tell someone else you're gonna do it that cares about your results just as much as you do. What happens is you create that leverage and that accountability that you need. And a lot of individuals are doing the whole gym thing and the weight loss, the pain management, whatever it is, they're doing it on their own. And then they, next thing you know, that they don't follow through with those mobility exercises. They don't go for the walks, they don't do the things they need to do just because they don't have the other people's eyes on it. And so I think the other story is, and this is what I wanted to hit on money. Like the money it's gonna cost me. It's like if Jeff could look back and look at the money that he spent, but then also look into the future, and we don't know the future, but I have a pretty good feeling that like he's going to be a grandpa that's active, that's able to do things, that's able to go on vacations with his whole family and be able to do the adventures and do those things. If you put a price tag on that, the the price isn't even, but that's what we get focused on. It's like, oh, it's gonna cost me a lot. But it's like, okay, well, what it's gonna give you though.

SPEAKER_00 19:19

Yeah, people could hear you talking about, I'm gonna, I'm gonna bounce off that. People could hear you talk about the money thing and be listening and kind of roll their eyes. But Jeff right now is probably in the most expensive season of his life. He's got four daughters, very close in age. They're all in college now. They've all graduated. Two have gotten one's about to get married. One has already gotten married. Yeah. So, you know, colleges, weddings, all of those things for a lot of people, and I've had conversations with a client, they go, hey, bro, I gotta cut this. Yes, this is the first thing that I'm cutting. Yeah, dude, if you cut that, you couldn't be able to do the things that you needed to for your family, for your daughters. And so for you, what is the thing that kept you going, hey, this is a non-negotiable? I've gotta be able to still do this and I'll still trust in God and still find a way to be able to take care of everything else.

SPEAKER_02 20:06

What what solidified it for me that yes, they were just we're gonna keep doing this, is I mean, because everything Dana and I do is a discussion with each other because it's it's our money. Yeah. And so I sat down with her after that first year, but it came time to ring new. And I said, sweet, I knew I know it's expensive, more expensive than and there are cheaper places I could go. But what are your thoughts? And she goes, need to sign back up with them. She said, Because you know we love you, Dana. Yeah. Because you know, she was like, You need to do this because this she goes, look at I see the difference between what you were and what you are right now. Yeah, with with your physical, you can do these things, they're keeping you accountable, you're right here. She's you can go do those other things. Yeah, you're right. And if you have to, you know, it can, but she goes, we can find a way in what she says well, it's fine.

SPEAKER_01 20:54

Yeah. And that's the power of um, I can speak for myself and I can speak for Christian and and with uh Jeff as well. That's the power of having uh a spouse that wants the best for you and and sees the bigger picture at the same time will will push you to where Jeff could have easily been, you know, his servant side of himself and look into the future and go like, well, need I'm gonna put myself on the side and and and even though I've seen results and I feel better, I've I've I've learned a little bit. So I'll just do it on my own, kind of a deal. And then having someone who will say, No, you need to do this because they've seen how much it impacts you. I think that's a big a big piece of it, as well as having, because I've seen it all the time where I get spouses that come in and it's like, well, they'll they'll sign up and then they'll go home. And the other spouse will be like, you need to call them back and cancel that. Like you can't do that. And it's just like I couldn't imagine like my my wife wanting to to improve and wanting to get better, physically, wanting to do something that's gonna uh in, you know, that and then going, nope, can't do that. Sorry, money's more important here. And and I get it too that I get the money's up. But where I I think that it was uh Michael Landing that said, Well there's a will, there's a way.

The Value of Investing in Health

SPEAKER_01 22:06

Remember that commercial that it's like, where there's a will, there's a way. And if you want to do it, you'll God will open the doors to figure out how to get through it. But and if it's aligned with what he what he wants, and he wants us to be, you know, like I say it all the time, he's giving us dominion over every area of our life. He wants us to steward what we have and be able to pour into others. And the the more you feel better, that impacts every other area of your life. It impacts how you show up for your kids, how you show up for Dana, how you show up in your career, how you show up across the board and in the church, everything that you do. So yeah, you can go to a place that has equipment, you know, and be able to do things.

SPEAKER_02 22:43

You can look up exercises online. I mean, there's been times that we've done stuff, and I told Christian the stuff when I did that one challenge. I said, I put in all the details of myself. I want to get to this, this, this, and I do chat, you know, spit out. I was like, hey, and I showed it to Christian. I thought, yeah, buddy, this is almost exactly what you told me to do, only confirming to me, you know, that this is the right track. This guy, yeah, this guy and you guys, you do your work, yeah. You know, you know, and so anybody can go to someplace. The information's out there, yeah. And I would rather somebody at least do something. Yeah, but but the fact that we come in here is not just equipment that you guys are providing. You're paying for more than just equipment, paying for people who are gonna watch you. I mean, I I teach or I tell people all the time and they ask, where do you go? I say, I go by telling them it's for people 40 and over, even though you guys still you know work with people younger. Yeah. I said, but 40 and over, I said, you know it's the right gym for you when you walk in that day and say, What's hurting today? Yeah. Because then they care, and it's like, okay, well, your shoulders give you a little problem right now. Well, let's not exasperate. Yeah, you know, let's uh let's do something else.

SPEAKER_01 23:43

That's the first question is well, is like, how do you feel today? And so like so, like if you don't feel good, then like what we could do is we'll we'll drill you deeper and deeper into uh a hole if you're like didn't get good sleep and then we're trying to put an intense workout on you or whatever it may be. I think the other piece of it is our client, you're not paying us for the visit. You're paying us for results. And that's the difference between what the vitality meal does and a another class or what boot camp or whatever, as far as that stuff goes, is like, oh, I bought 24 sessions. And it's like, yeah, you bought 24 sessions, but what we're trying to do is actually get you a result that will last you long term that, like you talked about with your daughters going through college. I take this as like, this is a college class that you can build a new skill set and a mindset that, like, when when we're, you know, whatever happens with the the vitality mill in the future or whatever, you're 70, 80 years old and going to uh to a gym or whatever it may be. You're able to do the things because you've got that mind-body connection. We've taught you the right ways to do it and you've done it the right way that you can get those results as whenever you want, because you now you know how to do a kind of deal.

SPEAKER_02 24:54

Right. And you know, here one thing I I do love is I mean, you're not gonna come in and maybe you're not gonna come in and see like a uh like a Jim Bro type of deal or give I mean you're not having people there, I mean like what what you're seeing is people the difference here is it's not all about aesthetics, it's about functionality. Yeah. I mean, we can do things at as we get older here. I'm 50 now, and I do things I see from my friends, some of my friends and people that are 50 that they can't, you know, uh do certain things. And I want to be able to, I see they're the inspiration I guess from some of these people that are here are 60, 70 years old that come in. I'm like, I want to be able to do that when I'm you know 60, 70 years old.

SPEAKER_00 25:35

I want to be able to do what they're doing, you know, and so for sure. And and speaking on results, you know, we're always trying to find ways to push you guys to be better and create avenues for that. And this is the second year that we've done it, our annual DEXA scan that we do with the 90-day challenge. And, you know, what after a while, what's new becomes normal, and what's normal becomes numb. And so you signed up with us and you were in that time, you know, 2020, you're you're motivated, you're I'm gonna track everything, I'm gonna eat my protein, I'm gonna dialed in. But then over time, life hits, things happen, your focus starts to shift a little bit. And so you ended up taking action, you're like, Trisha, I want to drop, you know, I want to drop some body fat, I want to put on some muscle, I'm gonna invest into this challenge. And this is, you know, six years into being with us. And man, you invested into that challenge and you won that challenge. You've lost the most body fat percentage and gained the most muscle mass combined from all the guys. And man, just speak on that. What made you after a while go, I'm gonna take action on this and invest into myself to do this challenge? And I know we had that conversation the day of.

SPEAKER_02 26:32

Yeah, I even told you I was like, I don't know. It's not about winning. Yeah, whatever. I was like, I was like, I gotta do something because I didn't really get that money back. But I I sometimes you guys maybe haven't some people in the room, but you ever know that your checking account is low, so you just don't look at it because I don't look at it. Well, yours being a business, it's it's not real, exactly. You know, you just don't look at it. I don't want to look at it because then it's not real. No, no. So I knew in my head that I'd gained a little, I wasn't it wasn't horrible, but I gained some body fat. I gained some weight. I wasn't where I thought it would, you know, I kept telling myself I was a certain weight, but I just wouldn't pull the scale up. I just I'm not gonna look. Yeah. I'm sure it's water weight, I'm sure. Yeah, you know, all the stuff. But then when that came around, I was like, now my daughter weddings coming up. I want to make sure, you know, and I need to make I need to do something. I can tell something. And it was just easy to little things I was making choices of, you know.

SPEAKER_00 27:27

And we had a talk too about the DEXTA scan. I told you the benefits. Hey, yes, it's gonna tell you your body fat percentage, it's gonna tell you your visceral fat, it's gonna tell you your bone density. So

Investing in Health: The Journey to Results

SPEAKER_00 27:36

there's a lot of lot of data that yes, we could easily put on the the blinders and cover our eyes and and not look, but and that was the scary part. You're like, man, I don't know if I I want to necessarily know. I'm like, man, if what we don't know, we can't change.

SPEAKER_01 27:49

And so you took action and that's the majority of men they don't want, they don't want to get to the facts, and then so like we lean on our feelings. And so, like what you just were talking about, it's like I feel like I'm at 200 pounds. Yeah, yeah, I like I feel like, and so it's like, okay, well, if you feel that way, then you can you the focus that you have, continue to do what you do, and then that's gonna get you a the different fruit, different result. But once you get to the facts, then you can see, you know, that's why I gotta do my blood work every month. I've got a company I go through where it's just a you know a monthly fee and they send it to me. And but it's it's I can look at and go like, okay, well, this number is here. Let me change some things over the next month and just see what that does. And so our minds are happiest when we see progress and stuff. But so many, so many individuals don't want to just get to the facts. But once you get to the facts, it starts to then everything changes because now you can look at your feelings and go, like, okay, well, my I'm like where I'm at. The facts are are great. I need to continue to do what I'm doing, or I don't like. And that's what with you, you saw some things probably that were like, yeah, I don't really like that being heavier than that. I want to drop this, I want to do this. And so the decisions you make now are aligned with the the the your feelings of like, well, I don't want to feel this way, so my focus needs to be more on cutting out those those those snacks here and there and running to the store and grabbing this or whatever it may be, it gives you a different result.

SPEAKER_02 29:08

One of the things that when I did that DEXA scan, one of the things that worried me was well and I would have no idea. Yes. I mean the the visceral fat, I guess, was high. And again, I mean, I didn't feel like I've never felt like I was horribly out of shape. Like I'm never be like, oh yeah, I was way out of shape. Yeah. But he showed me the visceral fat, he's like, this is getting concerning. Like I can't remember it was like four or something like that. Yeah. Around the the visceral fat. And I was like, what does this mean? And he was like, Well, when it gets above this, we get a little concerned because that's the fat around your organs. Yeah, and I was like, oh wow. But just doing the challenge and sticking with the stuff then, then we drop way down on that and back into a green zone. Yeah. Which that made me in 90 days, too.

SPEAKER_00 29:51

If you just being intentional about it and just shows, you know, how quick you can make that shift and get back on track.

SPEAKER_01 29:56

It all adds up. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:58

Jeff, you're you're a super, super humble guy. So you wouldn't say this, man, but you are genuinely one of the, and I say it all the time, you're one of the most encouraging, nicest guys that I've ever met. Me and Brett talk about it too. But where does that come from? Was it was it how you were raised? Was it you being the man of God that you are? Where does that just that encourage, man? You're all the time, you don't even know somebody. It could be their second day, and you're you'll go, good job. Almost like you're a coach in there, but you're just super encouraging and just, man, you know, some clients, you know, we will get newer people and until they get comfortable. Sometimes that energy can suck the life out of a coach and a trainer, and you try to meet them where they're at. But man, whenever you come into the gym, I know I'm about to be uplifted. I'm gonna have a better day because I'm around Jeff. So where does that come from, man? First of all, I would have better days if you guys didn't make leg exercises.

SPEAKER_02 30:46

So that would be great.

SPEAKER_00 30:48

Yeah, you do have some pushback on that.

SPEAKER_01 30:49

We have to have conversations about, but you know, you like that less back pain.

SPEAKER_00 30:53

That's a whisper.

SPEAKER_01 30:54

We throw jabs back at him. Shut up and squat.

SPEAKER_02 30:58

Yeah, shut up and RDL. I don't know. I don't want to say anything comes from me. I just I'm I feel overwhelmed sometimes with just I want everybody to feel loved the way I think God loves me. And that's unconditional as far as that I love you. And I want the best for you. So that means that I love you, and maybe there's some things we need to do and change. But when I see people in here, I see somebody that is coming in and doing the work to change. And I know that scourging that can happen sometimes to people when you start and maybe you're not seeing the results you think, or you come in. It's scary to come into a new gym or to a new place. And um, if I can be that one person or somebody that you know lift somebody up that day that they feel if somebody can just I grew up with Mr. Rogers. I grew up with Mr. Rogers, me too. I grew up with and there was never an episode. Twilight cargan something. Exactly, yeah. I never if you ever watched Mr. Rogers, you never left her wondering if you were a special person. And so it's kind of a delicate goal of mine. I mean, my mom and dad always encourages uh certain other people, but my goal is always been I want to be that person that way that people meet me, that they walk away feeling better. Yeah, that they not that they even if I have a conflict with them, yeah. They still walk away, knowing that I actually care about them still. You know, and so I want to be that person, I want to be that quote Mr. Rogers to people that that they feel loved and appreciated. And that when I walk in a room, I make it better, not worse.

SPEAKER_01 32:22

Yeah. So one of the things you said, and we talked about that today in our Bible study, but one of the things you uh you just said is this kind of the same thing that I think about with Reg is like you showing up and and regardless of your problems, regardless of your emotions of the day, regardless of the the how you feel, you're always showing up uh and it's almost like you're walking into the, you know, like Notre Dame, when they walk onto the uh they walk onto the field, they'll they'll slap, be a champion today, right? And it's almost like you you walk in, and when you walk in, you you you hit the tap up, you tap it and you bring the energy. And I think about like how many people that you've you were able to do that for that maybe were just starting out, that they they saw that light in you, and then it's like, oh, this is this is actually a pretty cool place. Like, like because and it made them come back and it made them continue to show up and that they're they're a uh a member now and they're part of our family now that they they did continue to show up just because you brought that because like Christian said, there are people that come in here and we get rid of them. Like we gave you yeah. I mean, like if they if you're negative and you're not going to all you're gonna do is complain and stuff, you're gonna bring the energy down. And once you once you do that, like like we can't.

SPEAKER_00 33:36

Most people don't want to stay here.

SPEAKER_01 33:38

Yeah. Yeah. And it's gonna just be transparent. It might be individuals with us talking about our relationship with Christ that they it's gonna, it's gonna, and like and I'm cool with that. Like if it's like I'm good, we're but we're gonna be and we're gonna serve and we're gonna take care of people and we're gonna help and things like that. And if you don't agree with what we do things, then that's like kind of talking about that middle of the funnel that's just eliminates those individuals. Like, that's probably not your place. But if it is something that you're looking for and you're wanting to get better and you're wanting to have a solid foundation and you're wanting to build relationships, but more importantly, on any all that is you're wanting to get results, then then the vitality mill is probably your place. And I would just I would just have you like, I don't know if we're ending this right now, but it sound feels like we are. If it is one of those things that you that you are on the fence and you're just not sure the the reason why we do some of the things that we do inside the vitality mill, like stretch you, for example, it may be that you're dealing with pain and you're struggling right now and you don't think that working out is for you, then we can we can point you over towards the stretch you and we can get you in there where where we help individuals get to the root of their pain. And then by doing that, now you start to get some relief, and then it starts to flow into now you can be able to work out and stuff. So a lot of people will call and go, like,

Encouragement and Community: Building a Supportive Environment

SPEAKER_01 34:53

well, your prices, you don't have any prices on your on this and on that. And it's like, if you judge us just by just by the the the price, and you look at Planet Fitness 999 or whatever it is, and then you look at the vitality mill and you compare us to $9.99, that's not fair to you. Like, we're doing you a disservice because you're never going to get to experience what Jeff got to experience and be able to see, like step in and go, like, now look at all I can do. Look at all that I've been able to show up for and make an impact on. And so that's what I would just if speaking to that person right now that may be watching this that knows that you need to do something, kind of like Jeff was talking about with like putting your hands over your eyes and don't want to look at the numbers as far as that goes, is just like rip that band-aid off and know that you are uh you're in the right place. And maybe I'm speaking directly to you, or maybe something Jeff or Christian said speaks directly to you right now, that take that leap and let's just let just see what happens. And that's the thing is we're not gonna lock you into a long-term contract. You're looking at the dude that makes the decisions on all that stuff. And like I think Jeff will testify to this too is I've worked with you, we've worked with you. Like, it might be that, hey, I can't do all this right now, but I can make a couple paper or do this. And like, we will work with you to make it happen if you want to be here. But a lot of people just don't want though, they don't, they don't, you don't if you don't ask, you don't receive. Yeah, yeah, just say like, because like that's what and I say some outlandish things, and people can have all kinds of judgments on me, but but by my heart and how much I care, you want you you there's not gonna be anybody that could say any different. And that's one of the things I've made a clear, like, yeah, I'm gonna make an impact on everybody that steps in, regardless if they like me or not, they're gonna know that like, and those guys at the vitality mill really did care about me and I I should be there.

SPEAKER_00 36:39

Yeah, one of the things I always say about the vitality mill is once you've experienced it, you can't unexperience it. And so that's why I want to close it out and pass it over to Jeff. From your experience, someone was who you are six years ago, afraid to make that decision, somebody that could be listening or watching this right now, and they're just unsure if they want to take that leap. What would you tell them? I take take the leap.

SPEAKER_02 36:59

Because again, hope was the biggest thing that was missing. So I think that's where people give up when they lose hope. And I promise you, if you come in here, take the step. It could seem overwhelming at first, but take the step because you will find hope. If you you work for it, you have to do the you have to put in the work. If you work for it, you will find hope, but you also find family that's here. Um, like I said, six years, I've been here a long time. And and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. It's like but keep stay involved. Come here, just try it.

SPEAKER_01 37:28

That's the thing, is I think is is like you said have hope, but a lot of times it's just show up.

SPEAKER_02 37:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 37:33

Just just like just show up and we'll figure it out. I mean, we've this the people who've walked in here that I've looked at and gone like, I don't know how we're gonna be able to do this. And like, and then but again, the right people in the right place at the right time, and then we work through it. And it's it's it may be that they're walking on a cane and they're barely do the little basic things, but it's it's a lot to them and it pushes them. And then like I think about that, like Andrea, like walking in, like the first time she walked in, and it's like she had severe sciatica, like Jeff, and but she wasn't moving, she was sitting at desk, and she's doing all these negative, all these things that weren't serving her as far as helping with the sciatica. And she comes in and she's on a cane, and then like three weeks later, I swear to you, like three weeks later, she's talking, she's walking in with no cane and she's she's working on her her uh her mom's garden and stuff, and like she's able to start doing things that she loves to do again. And so there may be something that's been taken away from you that you're not able to do anymore. And on the other side of you just walking through the door and experiencing and being curious of what it is that we do here, it could open up that door, that next door for you that you can start to uh get back to living the life that you love again. And um, that's ultimately what we want to uh help you do here at the Vitality Mill. And we've got a great uh I've I've surrounded myself with awesome individuals from from Christian and Isaac, but from also uh Jeff and and you name them. We got hundreds of clients that it's like a family, and it's like we're not going for thousands of clients. That's not what we're going for. When you walk in, you're gonna it's sometimes it looks like we're not even in business. Like I you can drive by every once in a while and be like, is that place open? But that's why we we created it like that is that we didn't want to have thousands of thousands of individuals. We wanted to have those those 20% that need our help and that are gonna show up and just just be curious. And so it's it's worked so far.

SPEAKER_02 39:20

So I appreciate both of you guys. And don't get discouraged though. Also, if you start coming in, especially I'm gonna preach anybody that's sciatic. I just I mean it feels like that's you can't go away. You can't get away from it, you know. But don't get discouraged if like a week or two weeks, but it's just it will get better. Yeah, you strengthen they strengthen you come in and they help you strengthen the things around it. And then, like you said, she came in without the cane then. And I do want to add one more thing. Um, I don't think you guys realize how influential were you guys are very open, like you guys love family too. And a couple of times you you know, a couple of my daughters have come in before Jesse, and that girl now, because it came in here and learned different stuff and saw some of the stuff you guys are doing, she's now going through school to become an athlete trainer. That's what she wants to do. She's passionate about that. And she got to yeah, assist with the OSU women's basketball team this last year. She's doing all these things now, I think, large part because this is where she got introduced to working out to weights and stuff. Yeah, that's awesome, man.

SPEAKER_00 40:14

Yeah, yeah. Anytime we have conversations like this, it's just always it's just a reminder of how grateful for I am for for Seth or all of you guys at the Vitality Mill and just this place. So we love you, man. We appreciate you. And thank you for taking some time to hop on this with us. It's gonna impact somebody. Yeah. So for another episode Inside the Mill Podcast, see you guys in the next one. Appreciate you.