I’ve been running Limitless365 since January 2012 when it looked like this.

When I started that ugly thing I had three goals.

1. Improve my writing skills
2. Market my in-person training business
3. Provide good fitness and nutrition information

I was 31 years old and a big part of my life centered around being in the gym. In fact, at one point I would train people in the morning, go do Crossfit, and come home to work on the blog. Then I would go do a bodybuilding workout, train more clients, and come home and work more on the blog.

I would do this 6 to 7 days per week. Exhausted most of the time but willing to push through. I lived by mantras such as no pain no gain. I wore my lack of sleep as a badge of honor.

Most nights I went to bed at midnight or later and woke up at 3 or 4am to begin training, working out, or writing. I kept this pace up for the next 4 years.

I was grinding and hustling because this is what I thought you’re supposed to do to be successful. This is how you live the Limitless Life.

I was wrong.

My free time consisted of calorie counting, balancing protein, carbs, and fats. And spending extra money on supplements and caffeine to give me an edge, and help me get through the day.

Every waking moment was health, fitness, and work.

Hat tip to my boy Nate Green for defining the term ‘fitness junkie.’ This is what I had turned into.

During this time I fucked up two relationships, over-trained, and under nourished. I started to hate working out and being in the gym – to train clients and myself. Cooking another healthy meal was the last thing I wanted to do.

I even put myself in the hospital with hemoglobin levels so low, the doctors couldn’t believe I was alive. I remember them saying, you’re a lucky one [idiot]. Most people in your condition wouldn’t have woken up one day.

I was also struggling with:

• Falling and staying asleep
• Extreme fatigue
• Difficulty concentration
• Zero appetite
• Headaches and migraines
• Chronic aches and pains
• Always feeling worried or anxious
• Feeling disconnected and alone
• Avoiding friends, family, and social interactions.

I was overwhelmed and stressed out. Most days I wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out. But hey, no pain no gain, right? #dumbass

Was I depressed?

I don’t know. But I do know I was burnt out.

There was no work life balance for me. No balance between my body, business, relationships, and personal interests.

I stopped caring about things I used to care about. People, hobbies, and taking care of myself.

THEN THE SHIFT HAPPENED

On a summer afternoon 2 years ago, I got home and took a ‘shath’

A ‘shath’ is when you start to take a shower but are so exhausted that you lay down in the bathtub. Letting the water rain down on you with your eyes closed as you try and rest.

Things needed to change. The way I took care of myself, my business, my relationships, and my personal interests. But I had no idea where to start.

I remembered a book that talked about creating a 5 year plan for yourself and working backwards. The steps were simple.

• Decide what you want your life to be like in 5 years [Long-term goals]
• Review your 5 year ‘ideal life’ and decide where you want your life in 1 year [Mid-term goals]
• Break down your 1 year plan into action steps you can take this month
• Break down your monthly action steps into action steps you can take today

In January I used Marks Build A Better Life Course To Update My Plan [it has since been edited]:

LONG-TERM PLAN

Five years from now I’ll be 42 years old. I’ll be living close to the beach in Southern California (Orange County but I’m not opposed to La Jolla). I’ll be working 4 to 5 hours per day coaching at a rate of $75 – $150 per hour. The majority of my income will come from online coaching through my 2 businesses (Limitless365 and Justin Thomas Miller). I’ll be making 12-15K per month between the two.

I’ll be spending my free time with my dogs, wife, and young kids. Leisure activities include rock climbing, art, and travel. I’ll be in the best shape of my life (mentally and physically) because I’ll be focusing on “less” but more of the “basics.” My family will be able to visit often (because I can fly them out) and I will have free time to visit with them.

SHORT-TERM PLAN

In a year, I will have close to 100K saved up and my school loans will almost be paid off (debt free). My life will have become simplified and systematic. I will be in the best shape of my life, have less stress, and feel great because my energy will be spent on doing less but more of the basics (better).

I’ll be in a serious relationship with someone who I am confident will become my wife. I will be consistently earning over 10,000 per month between in-person and online coaching.

ACTION PLAN TO ACHIEVE THIS

Action Plan #1: Earn the majority of my income from online coaching

• 1-year goal: Average 2,500 per month from online coaching/products 
• 1-month goal: Add 5 online coaching clients
• 1-week goal: Write sales pitch requesting new clients
• Daily habit/action: Review survey and calls

Action Plan #2: Get married and start a family

• 1-year goal: Have a serious girlfriend
• 1-month goal: Go on a date
• 1-week goal: Ask someone out
• Daily habit/action: Approach 1 woman each day

Action Plan #3: Get into the best shape of my life

• 1-year goal: Have high energy all day long
• 1-month goal: Eat 3 meals + 1 snack of healthy food
• 1-week goal: Make all meals for the week (research recipes)
• Daily habit/action: Make 1 meal per day

Action Plan #4: Have 100,000 in the bank

• 1-year goal Save 25,000
• 1-month goal Save 2,000
• 1-week goal Save 500
• Daily habit/action: Automatically set up savings (only spend on necessities)

I still have this and review it every few months. Editing as priorities change.

This long-term view has led me to make some changes to the site and to my life.

THE SITE HASN’T CHANGED, BUT EVOLVED AND SO HAVE I.

If you’ve read the site for a while you’ve noticed a shift in content. One that focuses much more on practicing the basics consistently. The 20% of stuff that works 80% of the time.

Since the blogs humble beginnings I’ve evolved. I’ve gone from a Paleo eating, Crossfit WODing, workaholic. To a recovering fitness junkie and nutritional agnostic. An average guy trying to find more work life balance.

I want to find the few things that matter most to me and put all my energy into them.

Leo Babauta, writer at Zen Habits and author of The Power of Less says.

We’re so caught up in trying to do everything, experience all the essential things, not miss out on anything important…We can’t read all the good books, watch all the good films, go to all the best cities in the world, try all the best restaurants, meet all the great people…Life is better when we don’t try to do everything. Learn to enjoy the slice of life you experience, and life turns out to be wonderful. By focusing on the simple, essential, and eliminating the rest we can do more.

The simple and essential fitness stuff

The simple and essential nutrition stuff

The simple and essential relationship stuff

The simple and essential work stuff

The simple and essential life stuff

And you told me you wanted this too.

Months ago I sent out ‘The Great Health, Fitness, and Body Survey.’ In that survey you told me exactly what you wanted.

Simple, basic, easy to put in place.

These are words that kept coming up over and over again. Below, I’ve pulled out a few quotes.

“A plan that is sustainable over time, that is easy to adopt, flexible for life’s situations, and is nutritionally dense. That helps me get moving on days I’m not motivated.”

“Simple exercise routine that can be done anywhere and stick to you for a lifetime. Simple meal plans or recipes that take less than 5 minutes. Habits and what to order when eating out, and lowering your intake of drinks are helpful. I want a guide through out the journey to becoming healthy.”

“Simple, practical, rational fitness advice that keeps me injury free. Portion control tips and a few simple go to meals for cooking. With 5 ingredients or less for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Links to a book or other blogs for more information. Routines that focus on strength, joint integrity and conditioning. Something to cover all bases.”

And when I asked you why you wanted these things your answers had nothing to do with being ripped, riding the gainz train, or having abs.

“I want to feel good about my self and have energy to live the life I want.”

“I want to love my body again. I want to oogle myself again. I miss doing fun shit that didn’t leave me wheezing for breath.”

“I’m tired of being in physical pain and feeling weak, and I know I can fix that. I’m in the process of being hired for my dream career. The path I want to take for it will involve a lot of travel and need physical strength and endurance.

“I want to do lots of bucket list things over the next 10 years.”

“I want my wife to think I’m hot. And , I want to feel like I accomplished a goal.”

And my favorite response…

“I want my wife to think I’m hot.”

HERE’S WHERE THE SITE IS GOING AND HOW IT WILL HELP YOU.

From that survey and personal phone calls with you, I’ve learned that it’s not about the health and fitness. It’s not about getting stronger, building lean and tone muscle, or losing fat and seeing abs.

It’s about the dreams and aspirations those things will get you closer to. Or what pain they’ll get you further away from.

It’s about living a fulfilling life.

One that you’re proud of. A life where you don’t feel like you’re wasting potential, missing out on opportunities, or sacrificing who you.

Does any of this sound familiar?

“I’ve said I want to live a healthier life. I want to become a stronger, healthier, more energetic person with better stamina. To eat a healthier diet. I’ve been saying this for ages, and I’ll fall in and out of periods where I hit the gym and then go back to not doing it anymore.

The biggest thing that holds me back from making this a consistent part of my life’s is how hectic my schedule gets. I’m a yes person with a load of ambitions and goals in life that I’m working hard to do.”

I’m the type that forgets to take care of my health. Until I get sick and swear, I never want to go through this again, so I’ll take care of myself!!” And then repeat the same thing again and again.”

If so, you’ve come to the right place.

But before moving on it’s important that we’re honest with each other.

• Almost nobody sticks to a diet
• Most people struggle to exercise consistently
• Most people don’t have a workout and nutrition problem. They have a balancing everything life throws at them problem.

To help you, I plan to write simple, practical, and rational fitness and life advice that doesn’t suck. Together, we’ll focus on the 20% that works 80% of the time and forget the rest.

This new site is perfect for you if:

• You’re confused and overwhelmed with all the conflicting information out there. And feel compelled to jump from one workout and diet to the next (shiny object syndrome). In hopes of better and faster results.
• You’re hard on yourself and often self sabotage.
• You used to be in shape but are struggling to get your fitness habit back.
• You’ve never worked out before and lack confidence in and out of the gym.
• You’re smart, educated, and know exactly what to do. But struggle to do it.

This site will be different from other ‘expert’ health and fitness sites.

I realize that there are a lot of health and fitness sites and that I have to earn your trust and respect with every article, video, and newsletter that I make.

• It takes a different approach to living a healthier life then most “expert” sites. I don’t waste time debating minutia here. Like whether you should eat a banana before bed.
• I don’t just tell you what you should be doing. I show you how to do it and how to make it stick.
• Health is a broad term. Creating a healthier lifestyle involves mastering your emotions, managing stress, strengthening your mindset, and finding work/life balance.
• Simple, practical, and rational information. You get the 20% that works 80% of the time
• It’s a place you can go and expect people to identify with your situation and understand the steps needed to address it.

GET MORE PERSONAL, RAW, AND HONEST WITH YOU

I mentioned the blog Zen Habits and author Leo Babauta earlier. Zen Habits is one of the most popular blogs in the world. This isn’t because being Zen, mindful, or whatever the fuck we want to call it is awesome.

The blog is huge because Leo has done an amazing job showing us:

• How he quit smoking
• Paid off all his debt
• Got into great shape
• How to do amazing shit like run marathons
• Improved his relationship with his wife and kids
• Built a successful business
• Write books
• And more…

He showed us how to achieve big goals and make changes that most of us struggle with.

Leo and two of my favorite bloggers Nate Green and Mark Manson. Often share stories about their experiences, imperfections, and mistakes.

This is something I will be doing more of.

EXPANDING THE CONTENT ON THE BLOG

When I go out on dates I don’t waste time with small talk. I’m 38 years old – ain’t nobody got time for that.

Instead, I ask questions that help me get to know the person. Questions like, “what is your favorite thing to do in the world?”

After the girl answers she’ll usually repeat the question back to me. My answer is always the same.

I love diving deep into a specific doping and learning about it. Especially if it’s something I don’t know much about, struggle with, or find confusing.

Writing, reading about, and coaching fitness and nutrition is easy for me and I love it. I’m also pretty damn good at it.

But I also enjoy writing, reading, and having conversations about other things.

I want to dive deep [insert your own sexual innuendo here] into:

• Relationships
• Work-life balance
• Fashion and dressing well
• Confidence
• Sex, Love, and Improving Relationships
• Business & Entrepreneurism
• Food & Drink
• Travel & Leisure
• Wealth and Career
• Travel & Culture
• Learning New Skills
• Personal Challenges I Take

There are plenty of fitness sites out there. I’ll let them stick to the same boring articles everyone else is writing.

My mission is to help you become the best version of yourself. By challenging the status quo. And breaking the rules surrounding fitness, nutrition, and personal development.

I’ll do this by writing about what ever I want.

CHANGING THE WAY I DELIVER FREE CONTENT AND RESOURCES TO YOU

I also plan on creating as much free content as possible to help you build a body and life you’re proud of.

Over the next year I’ll be experimenting with:

• Facebook groups
• Changing how I email you
• Text messages and phone calls
• More video
• Free 5-day courses

This will be an experimental year for me. I’m sure I’ll fuck some things up. Please be patient.

COACHING AND PRODUCTS

Most people who become fitness and nutrition coaches are passionate about helping people.

This is me.

I’m so passionate about it that it hurts. If a client is struggling I take it personal. Often putting the entire blame on myself for not being able to help them.

This leads to me looking like this.

I’ve been an assistant coach with Precision Nutrition for 3 years. During that time I’ve seen thousands of people change their bodies and life.

This is one reason I use the same coaching methods with my personal clients.

However, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be working on my first course and plan to launch it later this year.

I don’t want to give away too much, but I’m confident it’s going to make you want to do the Kiki dance.

That’s how good it is.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT

Health is a subset of a much larger theme – Building a life that you’re proud of.

• A body you’re proud of
• Relationships you’re proud of
• Work that you’re proud of
• And more

It’s the foundation of living a fulfilling life. Without it everything else crumbles.

On October 22nd you’ll be getting an email from me that invites you to visit the new blog. A blog that will encompass that theme.

I’ll also be introducing you to the team off awesome people who will be helping me do more rad shit for you.

Until then. Sit back and relax.

Chart soon,

Justin

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Photo by Abigail Lynn on Unsplash