We were lucky to catch up with Tony Arreola recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tony, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
I dragged my little Payless shoes to the liquor store. I didn’t want to go, but I was seven years old, and I didn’t get a vote. I crossed the street to avoid the 18th Street cholos gathering in the corner. My head is slumping down. Why me? I reached in my pocket, wishing for money. But my Mom gave me food stamps. I hated food stamps. I was so mad at my Mom. Why did she do this to me?
I saw my Mom work tirelessly—day in, day out. Despite the odds, she never missed work. She showed up with a strong attitude. She made me make my bed. Even though I argued, nobody would see it. She made me do my homework. She made me eat my vegetables, even green beans. Despite our humble and sometimes violent surroundings, my mother controlled what she could control.
And she never complained.
She did her best, regardless of the situation. I tried to do the same. I wanted a job, but people wouldn’t hire a kid, so I collected cans. My teachers told me to focus, so I focused on my studies. My Mom warned me about gangs, so I never joined.
But that day in South Los Angeles, with food stamps in my pocket, holding my six-year-old brother’s hand. I had enough. I didn’t know why I was so angry back then. But I know now.
My mother never did anything to me. Instead, her stoic behavior taught me to control what I can control. We kept our little apartment clean. We made our beds. We never missed school. We controlled what was controllable.
Control what you can control.
Despite your current situation, your ongoing struggles, your current state. Join me in taking a lesson from my Mom. We have a myriad of behaviors to choose from like sleep, healthy food, water, attitude, education, and spirituality.
Control your controllables.
I yelled at my Mom when I returned with the milk. I told her I would never buy anything with food stamps again. She took the milk. All while nodding without judgment.
I regretted yelling at my Mom. Instead of yelling, I should’ve thanked her for teaching me such a crucial life lesson.
Life isn’t always going to go your way.
“Control what you can control.”
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I started my personal training business to live my fittest life –
AND help my clients to do the same…
But 20 years ago, I didn’t have the right approach to make a healthy lifestyle permanent. Basically, I was an idiot.
Why?
My diet, exercise, and lifestyle required.
NON-STOP MENTAL EFFORT
And since I’m only human…
It was impossible to maintain while staying happy, healthy…
And you know – I have a life outside of working out (let alone eating right).
I KNEW there had to be a better way to get fit rather than ‘try harder.’
There was 🙂🎉
Now, in 2023 alone, I’ve completely automated my fitness and helped hundreds achieve the same results.
Plus – I don’t spend nearly as much effort getting fit.
And my clients get the same great results.
(sometimes even better)
So, what exactly makes permanent fitness POSSIBLE
With Just One-Action-Per-Day?
Fitness Automation
Installing Fitness Automation creates Effortless Fitness
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Last week, at Ironman California, at mile 60, riding my bike at 21 mph, I started throwing up. Then came the coughing.
Finally came the tears.
Mixing tears, vomit, and Ironman is a recipe for disaster.
Then the freezing rain and wind came.
Great, just great.
I pedaled lightheaded to the aid station.
Then, a familiar sound.
Ambulance sirens.
For the second time in 3 weeks.
The day was going perfect until it went perfectly wrong.
But this a problem and a common mistake people make with fitness.
They assume they must be perfect, eat ideally, and stick to the program.
Or … nothing.
The wrong mentality to make fitness stick.
I called Courtney and told her to meet me at the medical tent.
I pedaled to mile 93 on the bike after swimming 2.4 miles.
My temperature was 93 degrees, and I was experiencing hypothermia.
No wonder I couldn’t feel my feet, feel my purple fingers, and see straight.
Hypothermia…
Correction: Hypothermia with a broken heart.
The medical staff provided a heater, hot broth, and a warm blanket, and over the next 30 minutes, I gradually improved.
I regained color, and my vision cleared.
Then the nurse said those unbelievable words.
“You can keep going if you’d like….”
My eyes lit up.
Like the scene in “Dumb and Dumber, “You’re telling me there’s a chance?”
Even though the medical team drove me 19 miles, I had a chance.
Most would’ve just said, “That’s it for me.”
But not me.
It doesn’t have to be Perfect; it’s not All or Nothing.
I’m not racing for the World Championships, today, the best I can do is finish.
“They’re going to let you run? Okay, go. You’ll feel better, and one more thing. You better finish.” Courtney was shocked when she saw me come out of the medical tent.
And I was off.
Welp.
One mile in, I knew I was in trouble.
I was already walking in a world of hurt.
Freezing and exhausted, with only 25 miles to run.
Is there such a thing as only 25 miles?
I played a game of survival.
Run, walk, but don’t stop.
It worked.. for 12 miles.
Then the icy rains came back, then thunderstorms.
My body shook violently.
I only wore my TBP onesie.
No gloves, no rain jacket, nothing.
My body finally shut down.
It was over.
Something weird happened when I gave up; I wasn’t sad.
It was my first DNF (Did Not Finish) in my racing career.
My expectations were for perfection.
That didn’t happen.
But on this day, I gave it my best.
I looked for the little wins, the big and the little lessons.
To be successful in fitness, you don’t have to be perfect.
It’s not all or nothing.
It’s about showing up and doing your best on that day.
Consistency matters more than perfection.
Precisely what I teach my clients.
Aiming for fitness perfection only needs to complete failure.
I didn’t get my medal, but I earned the lesson of a lifetime.
I’ll be back.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Life was amazing… Then came COVID.
Boom.
My gym shut down and my income is now zero.
With a wedding coming up, I needed to build an online coaching program yesterday.
The problem was I had already tried and failed to do this on my own…
Enter NPE.
We came up with a strategy, a price, and leveraged proven systems.
And the rest, as they say is history.
Over 14k from the initial launch and months over 24k.
The online coaching program I built allows me to travel, share my passion, and scale my business.
I’m beyond grateful for the year the life I have built.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://totalbodyproject.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tony_the_trainer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalbodyproject
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyarreola/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgXX9aVvQ3A5pY2ARBbSt-A
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/total-body-project-irvine