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Locked myself in a room writing 3 posts a day for 3 summers,

That’s a different world like Cre Summers,

I deserve to do these numbers.

– Kanye (probably)

If you wish, you can grab the N.W.A. Newsletter Playlist on Spotify here, all of the songs that have been featured in the newsletter are on the playlist.

Happy Friday, Coach J here from Anyman Fitness – and welcome to the latest edition of The N.W.A. Newsletter.

Each week with the N.W.A. Newsletter, I give you the best Nutrition, Weightlifting, and/or Attitude advice for you to start to use in your life today.

Tens of thousands of people have used this exact newsletter to gain muscle, lose fat, and become a better version of themselves…

Without any further ado, let’s get started..

N.W.A. Tip Of The Week

May 22 was a milestone day.

That day marked 12 years since I started Anyman Fitness, LLC.

I consider this a pretty big milestone because my teaching career lasted 12 years. So, after today, I will have had a longer career running a fitness business than I had as a teacher.

When I very first started AF back in 2013, it was an itty bitty blog. Nobody read my articles, other than a few friends. I had zero followers on social media.

I was just a guy having fun, writing about something I loved, something I was passionate about.

My entire “goal” of starting AF was extremely modest. In the summer of 2013, our girls were 3 and 1. We needed to get a new deck put onto the house – the deck was rotting, nails were sticking out, and the boards were warped.

We got a few quotes. And we realized we didn’t have enough in our savings accounts to pay cash. We had to put it all on a credit card.

That didn’t seem right to me. Myself and Kate were working non-stop. We weren’t spending frivolously. And we were just barely getting by, without enough saved up to make a simple home repair.

I remember thinking, “Maybe I can turn this blog I just started into enough of a revenue stream so in the future, I can pay for stuff like this in cash.”

That was it. My whole goal. To get a few clients and make a bit of extra ‘side scratch’ in my spare time so our family could afford a few, badly needed home repairs.

Fast forward 12 years, and an awful lot has changed…

Anyman Fitness has brought in over $4 million in revenue since then.

The most rewarding part of the changes isn’t financial success, although that’s certainly nice.

The most rewarding part is being home, present, and here for my family at all times. Kissing my girls and saying I love you every morning, as they walk out the door.

Being here every afternoon when they get home. Being home for dinner every night. Driving them to practices and games and never being absent during their sporting events.

Being able to make a living simply by helping other people get in shape – the right way.

It’s everything I had ever dreamed of.

]That’s the kind of stuff that hopefully will have my girls looking back at their childhood one day saying, “Man, we really had it good as kids.”

Hopefully…

Business wise, the most rewarding part is getting to the point where I see old clients I coached over 10 years ago on social media – and in real life.

They’re still maintaining their weight loss. They’re still lifting hard. They’re still gaining muscle. Even while they’re in their 50’s, 60’s and beyond now.

That speaks to the pie-in-the-sky vision for what I sent out to do on this date 12 years ago.

I was on lunch break at Central Middle School. My buddy Jack had given me the idea to start a fitness business.

I had learned by reading blogs – and I enjoyed writing – maybe I could start my own blog. I figured I could be helpful, and teach people what I had discovered about fitness.

To show them that fitness is actually simple. It’s not that complicated. You can do it. Anyone can do it.

If a normal, obese, middle school teacher from the Midwestern suburbs of Detroit can do it – then you can do it, too. You just have to learn HOW to do it so it’s sustainable and doable for you.

I sat down and Googled “how to start a blog”.

Seriously. That was Step 1.

So for anyone out there who is having “paralysis by analysis”, just get started and take action. You can figure out the rest later…

As I read the steps on how to start a blog, the first thing it said was “pick a domain name”.

I thought about it for about 5 minutes.

Anyone Fitness?

Everyone Fitness?

Fitness Made Easy?

Simple Fitness?

Then it hit me.

Anyman Fitness. It just rolled off my tongue. It was simple. And it encapsulated everything about AF.

I went onto Bluehost, bought the domain name, hopped onto Word Press and opened an account, and went about my day.

I remember being all jazzed up that day. I hadn’t done a single thing yet. Not one blog post. Not one social media post. All I had was a domain name, and a Word Press account.

But if fitness had taught me anything, it had taught me this… I would figure it out. I could learn what I needed to learn. I would suck at first, but I would get better. And if I kept working hard, eventually the snowball would happen and I’d get pretty good at it.

I suppose it was irrational self belief. Sometimes you need to trust yourself emphatically if you want to get things done.

When I sat down to write my first blog post, I made a few pacts to myself.

1 – I would never recommend something I didn’t do myself.

I hated it when people would post crazy workouts they clearly don’t do just to go viral on social media. REAL fitness is kinda boring. You do the same simple exercises over and over again, get stronger over time, and keep your diet in check.

Those were the skills I would preach non-stop.

2 – I would never recommend something potentially harmful.

That’s why I have never recommended Keto or Carnivore, or super long extended fasts. If there was even a modicum of a chance it could have a negative effect on somebody, I wouldn’t tell you to do it.

3 – I would never have a “do not eat” list.

Back then the boogeyman was sugar. Or HFCS. Now, it’s seed oils. There’s always a boogeyman. And the poison is ALWAYS in the dose. Never fear specific foods.

There’s no reason for it.

4 – Never, ever, ever follow a trend, a fad, or a gimmick.

They’re everywhere in fitness. Disregard them. What will work for everyone is the same thing that’s worked since the dawn of time.

5 – Never become a supplement shill.

‘Nuff said.

I can honestly say 12 years later, I’ve remained true to all 5 of these items. It’s paid off nicely. Life is totally different today than it was back in 2013. In all the best ways.

If you’ve ever liked one of my posts, re-tweeted something of mine, grabbed a free workout, taken one of my courses, joined group coaching, or worked with me 1:1 – thank you!

You could have chosen anyone.

But you chose me. And that is such an honor and a blessing.

I’m guessing I probably have another dozen years in me. It’s been quite a ride so far. I’m excited to see what the next 12 years brings!

———-

I currently have a few spots open on my personal, 1:1 roster for coaching.

I team up closely with my 1:1 clients and we work together on an individualized approach for success.

To learn more about this unique, “All In” experience, tap here and fill out this quick form – it will go directly to my email inbox.

Looking forward to speaking with you.

June-6-2025

N.W.A. Tip Of The Week

1 – I would never recommend something I didn’t do myself.

2 – I would never recommend something potentially harmful.

3 – I would never have a “do not eat” list.

4 – Never, ever, ever follow a trend, a fad, or a gimmick.

5 – Never become a supplement shill.

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