Now, I haven't always been creating online fitness programs, appearing in publications, and helping hundreds of men and women transform their health and fitness.
Growing up, I was just your typical kid from a small town who had big dreams of making it to the NFL.
Even though I was a naturally gifted athlete, I had nothing given to me.
In high school, I struggled with a few football coaches that believed that I had little to no chance of making it the NFL and really didn't want to help me get there.
Maybe you can relate to a time when someone doubted you and you wanted to succeed not only for yourself, but to prove them wrong as well.
Well, that was the case for me.
Despite my coaches’ doubts and skepticism, I was determined to make my dream of joining the NFL a reality.
During the off-season, I competed in track and field events to further enhance my athletic abilities.
In my senior year of high school, I actually became the national and state champion in the discus throw.
And because of this, I was offered a track scholarship from the University of Iowa.
Even though it wasn't the Division 1 football scholarship I wanted, the Iowa track and field coaches told me that I could try out for the football team after my freshman track season.
So, I decided to accept the scholarship and joined the Iowa University track team.
During my freshman track season, I became the first and only discus thrower to become the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Freshman of the Year.
I also became the US Junior Champion in the discus throw and earned 4th place at the world junior championship for that same event.
My freshman track season created the momentum I needed to have a solid try out for the Iowa football team.
After just one week of football practice, the legendary Iowa football coach Hayden Fry gave me a full football scholarship.
During my college football career, I went on to be a 2 year starter, All American, and All Big Ten Fullback my senior year.
Entering the draft, I was also rated as the nation’s number one fullback by CNNSI and number three by Mel Kiper.
I felt like I was on top of the world because I was watching my childhood dream of becoming a professional football player finally coming true.
However, a few weeks before the NFL draft, my glorious dream had transformed into a living nightmare.
Because of some shoulder injuries I sustained during high school and college, NFL teams flew me in for MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays to fully examine my shoulders.
Unfortunately, their team doctors discovered that I needed to have surgery on both of my shoulders. I was absolutely devastated.
It didn’t take long for this information to spread through the league. And when it did, my draft stock plummeted like a thirty ton anchor being dropped in the ocean.
Watching my name fall from the “best available list” was a hard pill to swallow.
I felt like all of my hard work and preparation had all been for nothing.
Because of my injuries, I was only getting offers to sign as a free agent.
Even though I was looking for a long-term deal, I decided that a lousy contract would be better than no contract at all. So I ended up signing with the Minnesota Vikings and played with them for my whole rookie season in the NFL.
Playing with my shoulder injuries was a challenge, but I did my best to stay strong.
After the season, the team rewarded my efforts by paying for surgery for both of my shoulders.
I stayed in Minnesota, rehabbed, and trained during the off-season.
Unfortunately, I wasn't ready to come back and it really showed in my play.
But being the stubborn, "no excuse" type of guy I am, I didn't want to go on injured reserve so I ended up being cut by the team.
After leaving the Vikings, the New Orleans Saints signed me for the remainder of training camp and I stayed with the team for the first part of the season before being cut by them as well.
At this point, I was beginning to become very frustrated with the NFL.
I went home to Indianapolis for a while to clear my head and think about my next move. It wasn’t long until I got an offer from the Atlanta falcons to play the rest of the season. I did and after the season, they agreed to resign me for another year.
However, there was a catch; they wanted me to stay in Atlanta to train and then play in NFL Europe during the spring.
I felt a little weird about the situation, but I decided to just go with it.
I'm glad I did because playing football in Europe turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
In Europe, I played in front of a wide array of fans in their country's soccer stadiums.
The fans blew whistles and were very enthusiastic about every game.
I had a blast!
Even though I wasn’t playing in America, I still felt like I was fulfilling my childhood dream.
I was really blessed for being afforded the experience.
After I came back to the US, I went into training camp tired, but excited. I played well in the preseason, but because of numbers, Atlanta decided to cut me.
They flew me down to have me back for the playoffs, but for whatever reason, they decided not to re-sign me.
The next year, they asked me to come to training camp, but being tired of the uncertainty and volatility, I rejected the offer.
That was the end of my football career.
After leaving the NFL, I knew that I wanted to go into an industry that complimented my personality and unique experience as a professional athlete and international track athlete.
Even though I didn’t reach the level of success that I desired in football, I was fortunate enough to train with some of the best strength & fitness coaches in the NFL. I knew that the fitness secrets and techniques I was given in the NFL could make a huge difference for a lot of people.
So, just weeks after leaving the football, I started my career as a personal trainer.
It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Today, I’m one of the most successful and sought after personal trainers in Dallas, Texas.
Over my 10 years as a personal trainer, I’ve trained police officers, powerful executives, expectant mothers, and several professional athletes.
I’ve even trained a contestant from the TV show The Biggest Loser.
Let me tell you the story.
Back in 2009, I was introduced to The Biggest Loser contestant, Abby Rike.
After Abby was initially voted off of the Biggest Loser TV show, she came to my gym in Dallas. She asked the fitness director for a specific type of trainer; and after reading and learning about me, she asked me to take her on.
We trained together for about 7 months in order to get ready for final weigh in on the TV show's finale. Because of Abby losing her husband and two young daughters in a car accident, and she had a stress fracture in her lower leg; we had many emotional days in the gym.
After our training, she lost a total of 100 pounds at the show's Finale weigh in. It was extremely gratifying to see her happy and I felt like we achieved a true victory.
For me, helping other people achieve their fitness goals has become a huge passion of mine.
To be honest with you, that’s the reason why I became a personal trainer and created The J Plan.