The "Freshman 15"

My adventure really began in my freshman year of college. It was here where I learned the value of working out and of eating well. I learned this through trial and error. Like most freshmen, the college fast food restaurants were what I lived on. Mmmm, Panda Express. After almost two semesters of eating fast food, staying up late and getting up early for my morning classes, I found myself at a sluggish 180 pounds standing at a tall 5'6, about 12 pounds heavier then when I started college. On a BMI scale (although I do not go by this scale 100%), I was bordering the overweight and obesity line. I knew there needed to be a change, but I didn't know what to do. I felt trapped in my body and that there wasn't anything that I could do to fix it. 

The Podcast That Changed My Life

As someone who loves the world of MMA, I would visit MMA news websites regularly. One of my visits to the internet led me to a video podcast of MMA nutritionist, Mike Dolce, and UFC commentator, Joe Rogan. The main topic of the podcast was nutrition in MMA. What really shocked me was the Dolce Diet approach to nutrition and weight cutting, eating earth grown nutrients and not having to dehydrate yourself to make weight. After this first podcast, my views on nutrition changed. What are "earth grown nutrients?" I knew that I was not eating the right foods to fuel me through my day. I was working out hard at the Recreation Center at Texas State University, but I wasn't working out functionally. I saw little gains working out hard 3 times a week for almost 3 hours. I researched more about what the Dolce Diet says about nutrition and exercise. Through this research, I took charge of my life, starting with the foods I put in my mouth. At the end of my sophomore year in college I had lost 30 pounds through nutrition, beginning to understand what functional workouts look like, and through my new-found martial arts gym, Diaz Martial Arts. 

Here I am as a 175 pound freshman in college (Left) and currently at 142 pounds

Diaz Martial Arts

It has always been a dream of mine to enter the Octagon. Ever since I viewed the Ultimate Fighter Season 10, I dreamed about fighting professionally. But I had no knowledge of how to even get started. As part of my workouts my freshman year, I would go and hit the punching bag for 45 minutes to an hour, thinking that I was becoming a fighter that way. I did this for three semesters, yet saw no fight in sight. I was frustrated during school because I had no outlet where I could see results and progress. After venting to my then girlfriend, now wife, she pushed me to find a gym in San Marcos, Texas. I called a gym number that I saw on the back of a truck, Diaz Martial Arts. I thought, "I like Nick and Nate Diaz, maybe they are affiliated with them." No, not at all, although I get that question a lot now. I scheduled a private lesson, so they could assess my skill level. Diaz Martial Arts was more than I thought a gym could be. They had TKD, BJJ, Hagana (very similar to Krav Maga), and what caught my eye especially: Muay Thai and Kickboxing. I've been a loyal member of the gym for three years now, and am a part of the Diaz Martial Arts Fight Team. The gym helped me develop discipline and gave me an outlet for all my pent up energy, so I could focus more on school. Since my time at Diaz Martial Arts, I placed 2nd in my division of the International Kickboxing Federation 2014 Summer World Classic and recently walked away Champion of my division in the 2015 Summer World Classic.

What is #GetOnnit?

The Joe Rogan Podcast with Mike Dolce also introduced me to Onnit. I heard about the company at the same time as the Dolce Diet, but my journey with Onnit didn't start till around my junior year in college. Joe Rogan endorses the company on his podcast and I eventually decided to try their flagship product, Alpha Brain. Onnit is a "Total Human Optimization" company. This means they put out the best quality supplements they can, the highest quality food products, and the finest quality workout equipment. Through my journey with Onnit, I have been involved in each of these categories, using their Shroom Tech Sport and their Hemp Force Protein Powder (Super Yummy!), and purchasing kettlebells and steel maces. This company has helped me develop my knowledge of functional, unconventional training and is teaching me how to optimize our human bodies through nutrition and exercise. My relationship with Onnit has led me to become certified through the Onnit Academy as an Onnit Academy Foundations Trainer.