Raw & Uncut w/ Ari Herman Part 2

In Part 2 of my raw, uncut conversation with my client Ari, we dive even deeper into his incredible journey of transformation. From battling uncertainty to completely reshaping his health and fitness, Ari shares the lessons, struggles, and triumphs that have defined his experience over the past two years.

In this episode, we cover:
✔️ How Ari went from a fitness novice to a role model in the group.
✔️ Breaking past limiting beliefs about weight, goals, and the process.
✔️ The impact of a supportive community in driving results.
✔️ Balancing fatherhood, a demanding career as a CFO, and fitness success.

This isn’t just a story about physical transformation—it’s about the mindset shifts and sustainable strategies that made it all possible.

💡 Ready to start your transformation?

✅ Book a free call to see how we can create a personalized plan for you: go.gallofitness.com/book-a-call

OR

✅ DM me the word "DESIGN" on Instagram: @spencerhgallo

If this episode hit home, make sure you’re subscribed. This is Fitness by Design, the podcast for high-performing men ready to stop winging it and start leading with their body.

For more stories, strategies, and hard truths:

Follow me on Instagram – @spencerhgallo
Connect with me on LinkedIn – Spencer Gallo
Or shoot me a text, I read every single one.

Let’s keep building your edge, one episode at a time.

Transcript

0:00

Welcome to Fitness By Design This is the podcast where we engineer optimal health, energy, and confidence for corporate men, just like you without having to sacrifice any of your career success or family time. I'm your host coach Spencer, this is part two of my raw and uncut episode of my client, Ari Herman. So sit back and enjoy the rest of our conversation.

Spencer Gallo: 0:24

Yeah, and I mean, even now, like right now, I would have to pull up your chart, but like you're sitting right at about the same weight as when we started almost two years ago.

Ari: 0:38

Call it, call it a, I think, memory, I think I was at 152 when we started, or 150,

Spencer Gallo: 0:44

sounds right. Yeah.

Ari: 0:45

weighed in at spot on 150. 0. So like literally, right where I started, and couldn't look different. You cut, like if you cut my head off, same face. But, my god, it's like night and day. Said differently. I've been wearing sleeveless shirts forever. It just happens to be whatever I, It happens to be because I'm a firefighter and can be on call, it's like what I like to, what I prefer to wear under my gear. So I've been wearing sleeveless shirts since I've been in the fire department. Which is, call it eight years now. Just ago, I went to a doctor's appointment. some woman in the waiting room, some random woman, she's the equivalent of like a dirty old man, I guess, but she said to me, she goes, aren't you cold? Now, don't get me wrong. I love the muscles, but don't, aren't you cold? in my life had anyone ever said that to me. Never. Not once in my entire life did someone say, I like the muscles. So, like, the fact that I'm getting, again, you know, a compliment's a compliment. It doesn't matter where it's coming from. Like, the fact that people are noticing it, and again, same weight, 150. Like, it's just weight in different places. It's, it's, it's frickin night and day.

Spencer Gallo: 1:59

I remember that happened and you messaged me and you were like, old people get away with so much shit.

Ari: 2:07

I think

Spencer Gallo: 2:07

You're like, if, if an old man said that to some random girl in the doctor's office waiting room, it would be like world war three. This old lady just started hitting on me at the

Ari: 2:18

Yeah, hysterical. Yeah. But again,

Spencer Gallo: 2:23

So obviously

Ari: 2:24

like, we've and we've talked about it. Sorry to cut you off there. But when we

Spencer Gallo: 2:27

no, go ahead.

Ari: 2:27

like, I think one of the things that you and I talked about when my weight was going up, and maybe I expressed a concern or two, you said. And I do remember, I don't remember the date, but I do remember messaging you being like, or maybe it was at my check in, where I said, hey, I'm finally starting to get comfortable with weight just being a number, and it being more about how I look versus what's the number on the scale. That is glaringly true right now. Again, 150, I'm at the same weight. You know, as when you and I started and I couldn't be happier with how I look and when we started, I was not happy with how I look so I think that that was also a big turning point. Maybe that's the moment where I started to kind of, you know, believe in the program. Maybe that's when the light bulb went on when you were preaching. Hey, like the scale is just a number. And yes, sometimes it helps us in terms of know, giving us information as to whether or not we're progressing how we want to, but at the end of the day, it's a number. And if you like how you look at X, it doesn't matter if that's higher or lower than when you started X is just a number and that I think is what is most obvious today sitting here at the same weight as when we started two years ago.

Spencer Gallo: 3:43

Yeah, and I, I took, I couldn't tell you a date, but I do remember, I think there was a couple of weeks in the check ins where you. So for anybody that's obviously not in my program, one of the questions on the, our weekly check in is like, how do you feel about the results on the scale? Which is realistically probably a shitty question to ask, but it's on there every week because I want to have a gauge of like, how are you feeling with where you're at? And then the next question is obviously like, well, how fucking compliant were you? Because if you say, Oh, I, you know, I feel like a fat ass. And then you say, well, I didn't follow the fucking program all week. It's like, okay, well, two plus two is still four, dude. Um, you know, like that hasn't changed. Um, but yeah, I, I think that there was a couple of weeks where like, you put like, uh, you know, a three or four out of seven. Um, and we had that conversation. I think I, I don't remember if it was just like via check ins or I messaged you or something, but I was like, Hey, like, I get it. I understand it because I've been there. But like, look in the mirror, how do you feel? When you put your clothes on, how does that feel? Because if you, if you say, I don't like the number on the scale and then you tell me. feel fat in my clothes, my clothes are fitting tighter in the wrong places, I just don't really love what I see when I take my shirt off in the mirror. That's a very different conversation than, yeah, you know what, like, that's, you're right. The number on the scale Makes me feel like a fat ass, but when I look in the mirror, I see muscle tone. I see definition. I feel good. My shirt still fit. Great. Things like that. Like

Ari: 5:24

very

Spencer Gallo: 5:34

of a mindset shift for you. And realistically that mindset shift is you don't build a house without a hammer and the scale is just the fucking hammer. Um, you know, and that's like, that's a huge piece and it's, you know, you and I talked about it and Adam and I talked about it when I talked to him, uh, in another episode is like, He lost 60 pounds. And when we talked at the beginning of 2025 about goals, he's like, yeah, I don't really have a weight goal. And I was like, bro, what,

Ari: 6:08

Yeah.

Spencer Gallo: 6:09

who are you

Ari: 6:11

I remember when you, it was either in the chat or one of our groups were at like, or maybe it was an hour check in and you told me that Adam had said that. And, you know, Adam and I basically joined, I don't know if he

Spencer Gallo: 6:22

within a month or two? Transcription by CastingWords

Ari: 6:38

feel we did a podcast with you. Like the three of us did one together, which was like a really great way to just kind of meet Adam and see how fabulous he is. And you know, he, don't, again, I don't want to throw out numbers that are wrong, but whatever the number was, I remember he was, again, just looking to lose 10, 20 pounds, whatever it was. And he, he, for the past. 20 months has always had a goal, right? Like he's here's the number I want. Here's the number I want it. And again, he, the number kept changing because he kept hitting them because he's a rock star, but you know, but there was always a, I want a number like, when you told me like maybe a month ago when we did our check in, yeah, I just chatted with Adam and he's like, he's like, you, I don't really have a number. Like it blew my mind. It's like, unbelievable. It's so fantastic. It's so great to hear. Not because people shouldn't want to hit a number. But it means that like he feels so comfortable and he trusts the program so much that hit like he just knows, hey, I'm going to continue with the program doesn't matter what my weight is, what my number is. I like how I look and I know, you know, trust the process. I follow the program. I'm gonna get to a

Spencer Gallo: 7:44

Yeah. And,

Ari: 8:12

and, and the goal is to just stick with the program, right? Um, and then I think your point about the compliance is also right there. Like. You know, did I comply? Yeah. No, I didn't. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Well, then I don't need to change your program. You just need to stick to it. Good.

Spencer Gallo: 8:34

into the ether. I have a copy of it, but like, I think it might still be on YouTube, um, for anybody that wants to find it, but it's not in the archives of fitness by design. It was an old podcast. I don't feel like rerecording the intro. Um, but that was, I remember that because when we were talking about it, that to your point, like mindset came up and like the mindset of the goal and like how you talk to yourself and. You brought up a conversation that you actually had with your wife about it, and how you basically were like, your wife's inner dialogue, you were like, I would kill somebody if they said that to your face. So why the fuck are you allowed to say it to yourself? And then Adam was like, yeah, I said that to myself. And you literally, first time that you've ever talked to this man, were like, I will fly to Colorado and kick your ass.

Ari: 9:28

I think, like, It's I guess it's I mean, you know, this is true in many aspects of life Like it's easy to get down on things but like You know if i'm not going to build myself up, how can I expect other people to you know what I mean? so like whether it's How I look how I feel whether whatever it is like jokes I may I don't know like if I don't think i'm funny who else is gonna think i'm funny, right? Like if I don't think that at work that I have the right answers Well, my boss won't think I have the right answers or the people under me won't think I have the right right? so like the first day it's not a fake until you make it but like It's a self confidence of Whatever you're talking about in this case. Let's talk about appearance like if I don't think I look good Well, then no one else is gonna think I look good right or probably not Not always true. But so anyway, so yeah, like, know having that inner that inner monologue Can be huge and can be motivating like so I like i've been so I've run a bunch of marathons in the last couple of miles. Like it sucks. I don't know anyone who's like mile 25. That's the best part. No, it sucks. Like the last part, but like you start having that inner monologue and like, you have a choice. You can start saying, Hey, you suck. You're slow. You're, you know, you're not going to PR you're going slower than you did. You're terrible. That's people get driven by that. I don't know. Or some people would be like. Pushing yourself along like chanting like dude, you've done 25 miles. You got one left. Let's go like who cares what the time is Let's just crush this one mile Like you know what I mean, and takes the same amount of energy to have both monologues like, you know I mean, it's no it's not like oh, it's exhausting to be pro yourself. It's not it's exhausting to hate yourself That's gotta be tiring. So like, you know, that's the other piece of it like that inner monologue is it is a big piece then I just kind of go back to the program like, you know, on the days where you're in a model, it's not there. We've got, what do we have like a, uh, between eight or 10 or 12 guys in the chat? Like, and there's been guys who've raised their hand and be like, Hey guys, today's a tough day. And like four or five guys will probably be like, dude, I'm having a tough day. Here's what I did to fix mine. Or here's what you've just done. You know, sometimes people are raising a hand and they want help, sometimes people just want to have someone listen to the event, but whatever it is, like, there's this community of inner monologues, if you will, that, know, if yours is not where it needs to be today, someone else will pipe in and be that inner monologue until you're back to where you need to be.

Spencer Gallo: 11:47

Yeah. So with that, I'm gonna throw a fucking huge fastball at you and see if you can hit it. I asked the same exact question to Adam and he was like, what the fuck? You could have told me you were asking that. Um, what do you feel like has been the biggest thing that you've learned about yourself since we started working together?

Ari: 12:12

Then I can do it, you know, and it's not, there's a lot of its, right, like, it is pretty vague. so before you and I started talking, I was working it. So just so people understand, uh, so I'm a CFO at a private equity firm and basically the levels are like associates, senior associate controller or probably assistant controller, controller and then CFO. prior to you and I chatting, the highest title I had was controller, um, and now obviously I'm at CFO. Uh, so in work. I wanted to be CFO, like basically since I started out of college, my goal, you know, pretty early on was to become a CFO at a private equity firm, but I had never done it. You know, and like, know, you go on interviews and they say, well, you've never been to see about like, you know, how, you know, how do you know you could do it and, you know, you give them the lip service, you answer the questions, but like, I didn't know that I could do it, you know, and then putting that aside, you know, moving to nutrition, like I always said, like, hey, like. If I ever needed to lose weight, I've got the self control to be able to do it, but I had never done it. I had never been forced to do it. Put that aside. You know, going to the gym, I always said, yeah, like, you know, I could easily bench press my own weight or bench press twice my own weight, or I could always, you know, build muscle whenever I want to, or I could always get shredded if I want to. I just don't want to put that aside. I even maybe even before that, you know, I always said to myself, you know, if I ever, I could always make time to work out. I just don't, I choose not to make time, you know, I, you know, but I never done it. now like there's all these things in my life, know, whether it's because of the program, whether the program help or the program had nothing to do with it, but like the idea that I was able to do things. And I think that for me, like, that's a huge, huge confidence boost. And then when you start to see. You're doing something that you've never done before, right? So for me, let's just focus on the Gallo side of things, nutrition and fitness. I'm starting to do things that I've never done before. And not only am I seeing small results, I'm seeing noticeable results and I'm, I'm hitting achievements, whether it's lower weight, whether it's more reps in the gym, whether it's heavier weight in the gym. I mean, you know, aside. wife, she, she's been, uh, working out with the coach for, for many, many years. And, uh, we have some weights in the house. And when, when I first started with Spencer, uh, we did have the gym workouts. Uh, but you also had put together, which was super helpful early on, a couple of workouts I could do at home. So like, hey, you can't make it to the gym tonight. I need to bang out a workout. I'm not going to be able to leave that. Let's say, for example, my wife. was out. I got the two boys sleeping, so I can't leave, right? I'm babysitting in quotes, but have free time. You could bang out a workout at home. So you, which was great, you, you crafted a couple of full bodies that I could do at home with the weights that I have. Fast forward to right now, I've got, I've got 5, weights. And in the beginning, like that was great. I look at those weights now, like I can't do anything at home with those. Do you know what I mean? Like it just, again, so seeing results, right? Knowing I could do it, like it is inspiring in other aspects of my life. Like the it, the unknown and now knowing it can be done. I mean, it's just, it's motivating for everything else. Now I can prove, yeah, I can be a CFO. I can be, so whenever there's something new in life, can I, I don't know, take, take both boys on a vacation by myself. Something I've never done before. Like, I've taken one of them by myself, and they're like, okay, let's try it. Like, I've, everything else I've tried has succeeded. So like, you know, it's like, just getting the confidence of, yeah, if I put my mind to something, good things will happen. Maybe not it, but something good will come of it. That is just so empowering. So yeah, so I'd say that's gotta be the biggest transformation aside from the physical, you know, mental transformation or just, you know, if you will, uh, since I've started,

Spencer Gallo: 16:13

I love that and that the question still has not failed me. It's going to happen one of these days, but I, no, I, I do. I love that. Like I

Ari: 16:22

do anything.

Spencer Gallo: 16:23

didn't fucking learn anything. I'm like, why the fuck am I in this podcast right now? Um,

Ari: 16:29

that never gets aired.

Spencer Gallo: 16:31

yeah, yeah, yeah. The, that goes in the archives. Um, no, I mean, I think that that's, that's something that is tough to put into words though, is like, there's so many things, right? There's so many it's in everybody's life. I have it's in my life. You still have it's in your life. And understanding that there is a way to do it. And there's a, you know, to use your words, like there's a level of confidence that comes with just being like, you know what, I'm going to fuck it up and figure it out. And It's either going to go really great or it's not, but if it doesn't, I can learn something from it. You know, it's never this, Oh, you know, I've failed at this. I couldn't do this. I'll never do it again. You know, I just had a conversation with somebody, uh, yesterday and they said, have you ever been in a car accident? And I was like, yeah. And they were like, okay, do you still drive your car? I'm like. Yeah. And they're like, okay, exactly. Like just because something didn't work once or something went wrong once doesn't mean you just stop doing it. It's not like, oh, I tried a diet and it didn't work. So I'm just going to stop eating, you know, or I tried to bench press my body weight and I failed at one rep. So I'm just going to stop benching. You know, like that, that mindset just can't exist because it's when you take it from, you know, when you look at it from fitness, you're like, Oh, I can't do that. And so you stop doing it. But then when you like zoom out a little bit and you're like, you look at it from that, like car example, you're like, yeah, like, of course I still drive. Like I have to get to work. It's like, okay, so why the fuck can't you go to the gym and like still exercise and still eat right? Like it's no different than you got in a car accident. You still drive your car just because Keto didn't fucking work for you forever. It doesn't mean you can't find another nutrition system that fits into your life and works, right?

Ari: 18:41

Yeah, that's, yeah, sometimes we're our own worst enemy and you know, it's a lot easier said than done, but like most things we can do, I'm not saying you could run like a four minute mile, but you know, I think there are definitely goals out there that are reaches, but still attainable. Uh, and I, like, you know, when I talk to people, they'll, everyone's like, oh my god, you ran a marathon, or you run marathons, and I tell everyone, like, was one day in my life where I never ran a marathon. And, you know, it's one of those things where, you know, I'm not saying you could wake up tomorrow and run a marathon, or if you did that, you wouldn't, you know, you might be able to, but you'd injure yourself. Like that's not a good result either, but, and I mean, just about anyone, the average person, you know, whoever it is, he, she, whatever you want to call it, if they follow what I would consider to be a regular training program that is designed to help you run a marathon, if you stick to it, you'll do it. You know what I mean? Like it's, it's, yeah, one day I was like, okay, I'm going to run a marathon. I found a program, a beginner program. I started running, you know, called one day a week, two days a week, three, like yada, yada, yada. Now I run marathons. But like, it's a, it was a task to me that felt I decided, hey, I'm going to attain it. But, you know, so the same thing, like. And just because one day I didn't decide to go out and run, or maybe one day I got hurt, didn't mean I stopped. But, you know, I did things, you know, smart. Talked to coaches, talked to doctors, things like that. you know, so same thing here, like, assuming that you're, like, I'll never play in the NBA. That's an unattainable goal. It's a ridiculous goal. I'm 5'8 40, I'm white. There's a lot of things that are holding me back. I'm not good at basketball. That's probably the biggest impact, but like, I'm just saying like, there's a lot of things that would hold me back from playing in the NBA. That's a very unattainable, unreasonable goal, but you know, assuming that you're shooting for something that is not over here, you know, it's not just within reach something that's a little bit out of reach, but still attainable, that one of the greatest things is, is reaching forward and eventually getting there. And it may not happen tomorrow. It may not happen in a week. It may not happen in a month. You know, but just yeah, it's like that that mindset of like something's working It inspires you in other areas of life, and I think that that's super helpful

Spencer Gallo: 21:04

Yeah, absolutely. And I, that, I mean, that's, that's so true is like, I, my running joke is always like, Oh, set the bar so low that everything you do is an achievement. But there is like, there is that piece of like, you have to challenge yourself. And that goes way back to the conversation that we had about like people that just go show up to work to get a paycheck versus the people that show up, like, You know, you said like the highest you'd ever been was a controller. And then all of a sudden you were interviewing and people were like, well, why the fuck do you think you can be a CFO? And it's like, cause I, I think, I believe I can't. And it's, you know, just that almost blind faith in yourself to be able to do something, um, that I think kind of helps drive people. Um, you know, I, I think, you know, even tying it back to your point with, within the group, like within the community, within the guys, like you, you and Adam are, are two of the more. Vocal, I'll say vocal, not being like a bad thing, um, but like you guys are some of the most kind of engaged, uh, and, and arguably impactful, I think in that group, because you guys just show up day in and day out, um, you know, how do you feel like one, maybe this is the first time you're ever going to hear this, but like showing up as almost a leader inside of that group chat. Uh, has helped, but also like both for yourself, but for, you know, for the other people in the group, like, how do you feel like you kind of showing up as that almost leader inside of that and like showing up, talking about yourself, talking about your journey, bringing yourself into that has helped you personally in like staying motivated, keep pushing, like doing your piece of it.

Ari: 22:44

Yeah, I don't want to put words in the other guy's mouth for all I know is like they all hate me. So I don't want to pretend like that. They love me. I don't even want to pretend that they view me as a leader. Honestly. But I do think that having that group of guys there is huge from an accountability perspective. Right? Like, I can tell you I'm having an off week, but like, guys there don't know it unless I tell them. And so, you know, either I've got, I, like, just like I owe it to myself, I owe it to the group to, to show up every day. Right. And sometimes owing it to myself is enough of a motivating factor to go show up. And sometimes it's not, you know, sometimes it's, you know, it's, you know, you can make all the excuses you want. But like, if someone else is looking over your shoulder, so like having those guys there. Um, you know, or have, you know, knowing that Adam's gonna be like, Hey, Ari, what, what the hell? I haven't seen you hit a workout in a week, you know, just knowing that that's there, um, to me, it is, it's helpful and motivation, uh, you know, I, I don't, my leader, I don't know. I, I just, I feel like we've been, uh, breeds comfort. And so, like, being with you in the program so long, it just makes it that much more comfortable to be able to share things, and I think most people don't share for a lack of comfort, whether they're nervous how people will view them, they're nervous about how someone might react, they're nervous that it. not get the response they're looking for. Someone may look down on them. They may not fit in. I think that's probably a huge driver in groups as to why people don't speak out. And, know, I'm fortunate enough to be at a point in my life where I don't really care if I fit in and, you know, I hope that that's something that everyone in the group feels that it's, that it's okay. Uh, but you know, we're also, we're lucky, like the guys, whether it's. On purpose or not, like, we don't have any assholes in our group, you know, like, and I think that that's A huge piece of it, and I don't know, intentional or not, maybe assholes don't reach out to you, I don't know what it is, but like, we have a really, really great group of guys, and so, you know, them being able to show up just motivates me, like seeing Adam have his transformation, Sean has just recently posted some pics where he's looking, you know, jacked, and you know, just Jacob, Jake's been posted also more recently, you know, kind of just reaching out and, and, and being more present, it's just, you know, seeing all the guys in the group, it's great, you know, and it's. It's hard not to be motivated when you have all these guys who are rooting for you in your corner like it's You know, it's, it's sometimes when I need some motivation on a run, I'll start to think about, well, and at this point, my, my wife and kid don't come to the finish line because like, it, this is like, it used to be, they'd come in and cheer me on. It'd be great. You know, it'd be great to see them. Uh, but at this point I'm like, look, I've decided to take four hours out of my day. I don't know why you guys have to just stand around, you know, waste your day. So no one's at the finish line for me at this point. But I do think about like, what if they were there, would they want to see me like jogging across the finish line? Or would they want to see me like. Pushing everything and like running across the finish line, right? Like, how would I feel if they were there waiting? Well, same thing with these guys, right? You know, it's eight 30 or nine o'clock at night. I haven't hit my workout. You know, I think about like, okay, I could go to sleep or I could go, you know, have dinner and call it a day, but what, what would Spencer think? Or what would, you know, what would the guys in the group think? Like, if I didn't hit my workout for that day, uh, not that they would judge me, but like, I would want them to think of me as a consistent guy and I would not want them to think of me otherwise. So it's like. You know, they're there as like another kind of safety rope, you will, just in case that like inner bitch comes out and says, now you can skip a day. They're there being like, uh, so like, you know, I think that that's good too. And then, you know, the other, the last piece I'll say is that when any of us in the group and I've been there and I know I haven't been like, have had some harder times. Everyone there is so supportive and knowing that you don't have to be perfect. everyone in the group is going

Spencer Gallo: 26:57

Um,

Ari: 27:20

know each other, but we know each other. Uh, I don't know how else to describe it, but, uh, maybe when we, uh, when we eventually have that Gallo family fitness retreat, we'll, uh, eventually I'll get to meet face to face. But, uh, then, the chat is great.

Spencer Gallo: 27:35

Yeah. Yeah. And that Adam and I actually had that conversation. He said the same thing. He was like, Oh, like I've never met Ari, but I know in my heart of hearts, like if Ari ever called me and needed something, like I would be there and I would show up. And I said the same thing. I was like, yeah, I'm like, if, if Ari ever texted me and was like, Hey, shit's going down. I need your help. My first response would be looking at my wife and going, is there any reason I can't drive to New York city right now? And it's just like that, like. You know, and that's, you know, I, I joke, but like, you're two and a half hours for me. Like, you know, it's a train ride to get to, to where, you know, like you and I could meet up. Like, there's no, there's nothing preventing us from doing it other than like, just scheduling it and doing it. I say that, and I'm sitting here recording this podcast in Philadelphia with a long sleeve t shirt on, and you're in New York city with no sleeves on, and it's the same fucking temperature and it's cold.

Ari: 28:33

It's,

Spencer Gallo: 28:34

It's 20 degrees outside.

Ari: 28:36

Yeah. You know, fun. You say that I, wife, my wife's name is also Ari. For those of them, I guess, you don't know. Uh, it's Arielle, but she's gone by Ari for forever. Uh, say that like, if they needed something, I we'd be there. I, you know, Adam said that you said like, how I view my friends. I don't have like a huge group of friends. I probably about. Call it a dozen or so and you know, my wife's got friends that she's known since high school and all that She's got all these friends and you know it really came up for the wedding like who we inviting and she had this long list and I had this shorter list and she Was like what like what's like do you not like do something happen? I mean like you were popular in high school I did something happen I'm like like I've got what I consider my friends are people who if I sent them a text and said hey I need your help These are guys or girls, but you know who would literally reply back when and where that's all I need, you know I don't need 50 friends 60 80 100 friends who like, you know Some oh my my back is hurts, but my wife needs something with a dog Like no, like I just need you know, ride or die friends who you know, I send the text They'll come and same thing, you know for them, you know, they say hey I need help And to your point, like, that's why, you know, that's, I think what is so great about the family, like Adam, you're like, did anyone of these guys need help? We'd all be like, okay, what can we, what can we do, whether near or far? What can we do to help?

Spencer Gallo: 30:10

Yeah, I, I think I said it with Adam too, is like, I just, in my head, And I always picture that scene from the movie, the town where Ben Affleck storms in and he's like, I need your help. And we're going to hurt some people. And Jerry Renner just goes, whose car are we taking?

Ari: 30:23

going? Yeah. Yeah. It's like, I can't tell you whatever it was. It's like, I can't tell you what we're going to do. It's going to be illegal or something. to hurt some people.

Spencer Gallo: 30:34

And we're going to hear it to people.

Ari: 30:35

he, he, he pauses. He looks at him, and you can see the wheels turning and all that, yeah, like you said, who's car. It's so good! Like, that's what it is though, right? Like, that's, that's what you need, that's it.

Spencer Gallo: 30:46

Yeah. And I think, um, no, should I just had something else? Oh no. I was going to say is, um, you know, something that even like, it may seem. stupid and maybe it's a terrible business decision and fucking if it is go off in the comments and I'll tell you people to go pound sand. But like when we run challenges inside of the community, I give you guys free coaching. Like that's part of the deal. Like if you show up and you bust your ass in a challenge, I'm going to get, I'm going to keep coaching you for free for a certain period of time. And that's what you win. And that has, you know, a cash value because you don't have to pay for a certain amount of coaching. And the last challenge that we ran. We set it up that there were, well I set it up, that there were four top prizes. So, you know, one week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, from fourth to first place. And I remember you and our, you and Adam, as fucking usual, came in first and second place. So, a combined seven weeks of free coaching between the two of you. And both of you, unprompted, messaged me. And you were like, Hey, is there anybody in the program that's like kinda struggling right now that could use these? And I was like, what, like, what, what do you mean? And you were like, well, like, like I'm, I'm going to keep working with you regardless. Like I don't need the free weeks. Like, is there somebody else that could benefit from like having this, these, these extra weeks? And I sent both of you two different people. And I said, I, I'm not going to be part of this. You figure it out with them. And if you guys are cool with it and you agree with it, you send me a group message and I'll set it up. And both of you did. And you both gave. multiple of those winning weeks to somebody else in the group that that frankly like needed it and both of the people that you gave them to subsequently have had messaged me shortly after him and like that meant a lot because like I was really struggling and that like kind of helped give me that bump where it was like somebody else was there helping support me and like that's something that again like maybe that's a terrible business decision and I don't fucking care but like that's something that like I don't I feel like you don't see that a lot in An online fitness community where nobody actually knows each other. We don't all train in the same gym. Like nobody has ever met in person. And you guys are just like, I'm going to help that guy out.

Ari: 33:09

Yeah, I mean, I, I remember we don't have to say definitely I would prefer not to mention names. No, I don't mean Adam. I meant the people that we that he and I both help. I prefer not to mention names, but, um. The person who you, I don't know who Adam helped, but the person who you told me to reach out to, um, I think I'm not right. It was right around Christmas time. Right? Like it was around the holidays. If I'm, if I'm not mistaken, maybe Thanksgiving,

Spencer Gallo: 33:37

Yeah. I think it was, I think it was in December time. Yeah.

Ari: 33:40

Yeah. So like, I remember, you know, so like you said, I chatted with this guy, um, and he was, he was like, wait, what? Yeah. He was very taken aback, but extremely grateful. And I'll be honest. And, you know, I don't, I'm not taking credit for anything that he's done, but like, I've noticed like, uh, maybe not a turning point, but like, he's been showing up and, you know, like I'm noticing PRs from him. I'm noticing he's active in the chat and like. You know, I don't know what it was, but like, I'm, I'm thrilled that like he's part of the group, I'm thrilled that he's, you know, whatever, you know, able to do it. Um, yeah, it was, it was, uh, overall, I think it was just a fabulous win, um, for the whole group. Like just, you know, the competitive side of it is obviously brings us together. Some gift giving is always not like that also brings people together. I just, it was, it was great. And, you know. The feeling of like you wanting to give back to us by giving us these free weeks was obviously appreciative, appreciated. And you know, it's not lost on me that, like you said, that that is money out of your pocket. Um, and then being able to kind of pay it forward is just, I don't know, it's just goodbye. I don't know everything. Like, it's like the world goes around like that, right? Like pay everyone, if everyone's paying everything forward. Like everyone's gonna be a lot happier. Like, you know, politics aside,

Spencer Gallo: 35:03

Yeah, I think that, you know, I think

Ari: 35:33

we win when we all win type of mentality. But it's just Yeah, it was, it was a great, it was a lot of fun. It was a great program. And you know, the fact that there were more than just four winners, I think is also a great, a great outcome as well.

Spencer Gallo: 35:50

that, you You know, as we are way over our time schedule to start to kind of lean into wrapping this up, I, you know, I think again, terrible lawyer, if you had to go back and kind of envision who you were to, you know, two years ago and that person was standing in front of you right now and they were like, I don't know, I don't know if I want coaching. I don't know if I, if it makes sense. I don't know if I should do it. Like, what would you. Tell that person, like if they were like just skeptical and like not sure if this was going to work, maybe they've, you know, in your situation, like maybe they've talked to other coaches that were like, you have to do this, this, this, and this, or they followed those other programs or done those other things, like realistically, like what, what would you say to somebody? That's just like almost feeling burned out by fitness and doesn't really know if this is the right step.

Ari: 36:46

Yeah, I mean, it's easy to say, you know, just do it. Although I saw a great. recent podcast about Nike about the mentality of just do it whereas like if it if they would have gone with do it it would Have felt more of like a command versus just do it which feels like yeah, okay It's bad, but just do it like it feels more like encouragement But anyway, that's that's need to get over there But like it's super easy for me to say hey the advice is just do it because you know that like you're gonna take my word like They don't know you, then they don't know me. Like, okay, so who am I to say, just do it? Um, so, again, that's like a very easy, the most basic, just sign up. But I think the other piece of it is, um, being open to be honest in the program, I think, is the most key. And I don't even mean, like, within the chat.

Spencer Gallo: 37:35

Yeah.

Ari: 37:36

being honest to yourself, but also to you, what I think the most, beneficial is the wrong word, but the key to success. Right. Like if you were, you know, you can put you, I, I could put in any weight that I want, you know, on weigh ins granted. I've got a scale now that does it, but like I could type in whatever way that one I could suck my gut in for progress check ins. I could lie about. What macros I'm eating. I could, you know, eat stuff and not put it in. You would never know, right? Like, know, eventually you might be like, Hey, are you like, I don't know. You you're eating a thousand calories and you've gained seven pounds. Like, but you know, maybe, but like the reality is like, there's no way for you to know, right? So aside from just do it, I think that that's a decision that everyone's going to get to on their own. The advice I'd give is if you are going to do it, owe it to yourself to give it your best shot. You owe it to yourself to be honest with yourself and with. Spencer you because that's the only way that it's going to work. You know what I mean? Like you can check off that you do into the gym, like, or you could skip it and not tell Spencer like, but if you're not going to do it, there's no point in signing up. So being honest, being straightforward, being vulnerable not easy, but. You know, that's really, you know, the best way forward. And, you know, so for anyone who's thinking about the program, obviously I'm a huge proponent, obviously I'm a huge fan of, of Spencer. And, you know, I've only have we worked for the past two years, I'm signed up for this year. We're going to keep going, like we're going forward. You know, we don't have goals, but we have goals, right? We don't have goals, but we have goals. you know, so obviously it's easy for me to say, do it. I think more importantly is. owe it to yourself to do it right. again, that means, you know, following things, doing some things that are hard. That's okay. Doing things that are hard. You'll feel great afterwards. I've never once, I've said this in the group before, I've never once gone to a workout where I didn't want to go. And after the workout, I've been like, that was a waste of time. I always feel great. I'm always. Proud of myself for check, you know, for doing my to do list, excuse me. I'm always, even if I don't hit PRs in the gym, I like just going to the gym, getting it done makes me feel good. I don't know if it's endorphins. I don't know if it's like checking a list, whatever it is, it feels good. So I've never been disappointed for doing it. so, you know, I, like I said, I think it's the honesty, the openness, the drink all the Kool Aid and pour yourself some more and drink even more Kool Aid. Because in a worst case scenario, if you like, at least then you could step back after 3, 6, 12 months, whatever it is, and really evaluate, did this program help? I'm not telling you that it will, although I firmly believe it will, but least you could then look back and have an honest assessment as opposed to, Hey, it's been 6 months, I haven't seen results, but I really don't follow the program. I'm like, then you wasted your money, Spencer's got more dollars in his pocket, but like, are you really at that point really able to evaluate? Did this or did this not work? like, so, you know what I mean? Like, dive head into the pool, drink the Kool Aid, in a worst case scenario, I don't even know what the worst case scenario is, but, know, like I said, you owe it to yourself, even dispenser, you owe it to yourself, to be honest, and to dive head in, because, know, it's only going to be that much better.

Spencer Gallo: 41:09

Love that. And then this may be like a very similar question, but If you, you know, for you, like just reflecting, looking back on the last almost two full years together from where you were to where you are now, like we kind of already touched on it throughout the episode, but like, how do you, how have you felt? Over the last two years and ultimately, like, how do you feel sitting here right now, like on this podcast saying like what you've gone through the journey that you've had the results that you've had, like, how does that feel for you in terms of the last, you know, two years from signing up being like, if this dude gives me a Fucking five day a week or five, five meals a day plan to like now being like, I look and feel fucking awesome. And I weigh the exact same as when I started, like, how does that feel for you?

Ari: 42:07

It's great. Too small, but like, is that too short of it? Like it, it feels awesome. And like, it doesn't just feel great because I like how I look. feels great because like, I know what I went through to get there. I know, You know, no one sees, I shouldn't say no one. I didn't see results the first week. I didn't see results the first month. I don't know when I started to see results and when I say results, I don't mean numbers on a scale like we've talked about, I didn't start noticing that I looked better, I don't know when that was, but there was definitely a point where I started to notice it. And now it's, it's obviously glaring. so, you know, I. Looking back on it, like, I feel great. I don't know when it happened, but like, I don't know, it's, uh, I kind of lost my train of thought there, but like, I just, I, does, I feel great. And I, yeah, shoot. Oh, well, that's on me. Terrible answer. Just feel great.

Spencer Gallo: 43:07

No, I think that that, I mean, it's, it's, it's short, but like, I think that it, it really does. Like it just, it hits, it hits the mark, right? Like it's, you know, you've shown up for two years and you've put in the work and there were

Ari: 43:22

you where it is. I'll cut you off there. It's the reason I feel great is, is sorry, is not just because I see results. The reason I feel great is because holding myself accountable and I'm putting in the work. And I think that even if I didn't look or even if in my head I don't look as good as I think I do, it doesn't matter to me because I know that I'm, I'm doing what I need to do. knowing what I need to do to keep myself healthy, to keep, you know, to hopefully extend my life, to hopefully make myself the dad that I want to be from a physical perspective with my kids. that energy up. I'm putting in the work, I may not wake up tomorrow, but I know that I've done everything I can to make sure that I do. And I'm doing everything I can to make sure that I'm that fit dad for my kids so I can keep giving them piggyback rides that we can keep. Wrestling before bed so that we could, you know, so I could keep carrying them so that I could keep carrying that heavy backpack when we go on trips because, you know, they've got 47 snacks that they want to bring or that I'm still, you know, that I'm doing what I need to do to be that fit firefighter who now can. Carry everyone in the department out of a, of a building or can carry that 350 pound victim. I'm doing what I need to do to be where I want to be, as opposed to just thinking about, God, it'd be nice to be able to do that. again, there's things out of my control. Like I said, I may not wake up tomorrow, but at least I know, at least I'll know it wasn't because I didn't do what I had to do. I'm doing everything I need to do. And that is what I think feels the best. It's the doing is what feels good, not just the results. You know what I mean? Like doing things feels good. And that's something that I never, like, in my head I always thought that going to the gym would be another chore. You know, I gotta take out the trash, I gotta wash the dishes, I gotta do the laundry. And I just, okay, so now I've added one more thing to my to do list. it, it's quite, it's quite the opposite. It's not something that I, in quotes, now need to do. It's something that I make time for and want to do, and that's a result that I never thought I'd see. Okay.

Spencer Gallo: 45:35

this in the last time that we had the larger group chat was like the bucket list conversation, but it's like looking back, like, you know, it's not to be gruesome, but it's like tomorrow. Isn't a guarantee for anybody, like you're not guaranteed to wake up tomorrow, but when you go to sleep tonight, can you realistically say to yourself, like I showed up best that I could today to make sure that if you don't wake up tomorrow, you don't. You know, you're not, you know, whatever faith you're in, like you're not sitting there for me, like you're not knocking on heaven's gate going. I didn't do everything that I possibly could to, to be here today. Um, with that, to lighten things up as we finish up, uh, two things. First question. Uh, and I don't know how we managed to go for an hour and a half and not bring this up yet. How many pints of ice cream have you eaten in the program for the last two years?

Ari: 46:34

Dude, it's, uh, there was a time, and I mean this seriously, uh, I was eating, uh, call it

Spencer Gallo: 46:43

by CastingWords

Ari: 46:48

two, five cups of ice cream on a daily basis. I've, uh, I've slightly adjusted. I don't know if you've noticed, I've slightly adjusted just because I had some blood work done and my cholesterol is a little bit higher than I want it to be. Not alarming, but just more than it was the last time. And like, okay, probably something I can cut out and stop doing it. But there was I would say at least a year period where I was having a pint, literally a pint, two, two and a half cups, 360. Calories called 32 grams of protein, which, by the way, the fact that I can quote that to you off the top of my head is still mind blowing, but a day, that was, at a minimum, I was literally planning my meals knowing that, okay, I gotta say 350 calories and about 30 grams of protein. for ice cream every single day. It might have been more than a year, but at least a year. So far as pints of ice cream as I had, it could be in like the four to 500 number. And that's not, that's not an unreasonable exaggeration that like that, that could be true. So yeah, a lot of ice cream, a shout out to a favorite day. It's a target brand. It's like Halo Top, but probably about half the price, and it's delicious. S'mores is my favorite. Um, they make a great mocha chocolate fudge something or other, and then also peanut butter chocolates. Those are three of my favorites.

Spencer Gallo: 48:05

They're, they make a, is it maple bourbon pecan or something

Ari: 48:10

Yeah.

Spencer Gallo: 48:11

it's that's, I had never had the favorite day. I'd never even heard of it until you brought it up one day in the group chat. And like the next day I posted a picture in the group chat of me at Target with a basket with like six pints. And I was like, are this is your fucking fault.

Ari: 48:28

Yeah, yeah. Uh, it's I didn't know about favorite day either. I was a big halo top guy But halo top is like eight bucks a pint or something like expensive and then one day I was randomly in target I was like, oh it's half the price And like at first I was like, oh half the price may not be as good. No, it's just as good like flavor wise just as good

Spencer Gallo: 48:51

Yeah. I think the biggest thing that I've noticed is like, Halo top, you can like open it up and like eat immediately. The favorite day I've learned, like, you got to let it sit out for like five minutes to your point. Like flavor is fantastic. Texture is great. And it, yeah, it's cheaper. Um, so, you know, with that, I obviously do want to wrap up because we've been going for an hour and a half. Um, So I just want to open the floor to you, you know, is there anything that we haven't talked about anything that you want to touch further on anything at all that you want to bring up and say, uh, kind of as your final parting words for, um, you know, being on the podcast today.

Ari: 49:30

Nah, I got no final word. We've covered a ton. Uh, I'll, I'll end with, guys, anyone who's listening to this. If you've listened to the full 90 some odd minutes of this, that, and you aren't already a Coach Spencer client, like, do yourself a favor. Like, He's got great programs. He'll work with you in terms of pricing and flexibility. You only want to do it for three months. You want to start at six months. I think you and I might've started a three month program or maybe it was a six month program. I don't even remember. It's been so long. Like now I'm just signing up year to year, you know, literally full 12 months and 12 months, but like do your stuff. Like if you've spent this much time listening to somebody you don't know and someone who you're considering joining. his program. Just do it. Like, just do it. I, you won't regret it. Again, show up, be honest, follow the program, you're not going to regret it. Like, I can't think of a reason not to do it. know, so those of you listening, appreciate the long listen, but just, you've been waiting long enough. Now's your moment. Now's your, you know what I mean? Now's your moment. Go hit him up on Instagram or hit him up on Facebook. He's in both. I don't know where else you are, but like, just go to his bio, click the link like I did, fill out a questionnaire. He'll reach out. He's an Eagles fan. I don't hold it against him. Like, come on, let's just join. It's fun, and I look forward to those of you guys who are not already with him. I look forward to seeing you guys in the community because I know that we'll be chatting soon.

Spencer Gallo: 50:53

And with that, uh, I'm the only person in our group chat that still has a team in the playoffs. Oh, what? Watch what you want to say. Um, But yeah, man, I love that. I appreciate it. Um, more than you, honestly, I think we'll ever know. Um, so with that, to wrap up, to finish this episode, which we'll end up, you know, at this point, part two of the episode, uh, if you want to start to get results, like Ari, you want to be in the program and just get to know Ari and Adam and the other guys in here and truly see, see those results when you put in the work, uh, and you don't know where to start, just. I'll drop the link in the show notes. You can book a call with me and ultimately just see if we can get a game plan in place for you. If you're really not sure about jumping on a call, cause you're like, Hey, I've listened to this dude talk for this long and I really don't fucking like him. Just shoot me a DM on Instagram, uh, at Spencer H Gallo and just say the word design and we can just have a conversation and see if it makes sense. Um, But with that, you know, your health doesn't have to compete with your success. It can truly fuel it. And if Ari's story has inspired you in any way, shape or form, please just, you know, reach out to Ari myself, uh, you know, come join the Gallo fitness side of things and see if there's anything else that we can do for you. So thanks for tuning in to today's episode of fitness by design, and I will talk to you in the next episode.