Taking Action with Coach Jackson

In this episode, Coach Jackson dives deep into reframing stress — not as something to eliminate, but as a powerful signal of what you truly care about. Drawing on his own journey of overcoming crippling debt, building a thriving business, and enduring an emotional IVF journey, Jackson shows how stress can be transformed into fuel for growth — mentally, physically, and spiritually. He then walks you through a simple, science‑backed breathing technique and meaning‑based mindset shifts that turn stress into a catalyst for discipline, clarity, and purpose.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How your interpretation of stress — as harmful or helpful — fundamentally changes your biology and performance.
• Why trying to “escape” stress (through avoidance, numbing, or white-knuckling) usually backfires.
• A quick, 15–30 second diaphragmatic breathing protocol (double inhale, long exhale) that can instantly calm racing heart and reset your nervous system.
• How to reframe what you’re stressed about by asking: “What does this stress reveal about what I care about?” — turning stress into clarity about values and purpose.
• How connecting stress to meaning (family, mission, purpose) can make even hardship feel worthwhile.
• Why some of your toughest challenges might turn out to be the forge that builds your resilience, confidence, relationships, and life outcomes.
• The importance of leaning into something bigger than yourself — faith, community, long-term vision — to give stress purpose and direction.

Memorable Quotes:

• [05:45] “When you believe stress is harmful, it becomes harmful. When you believe stress is fuel, it becomes fuel.”
• [08:35] “If you didn’t care about this thing, whatever it is that’s causing stress to you, you wouldn’t actually feel any stress.”
• [11:36] “What does this stress reveal about what I care about? What my values are?”
• [26:20] “Hard times create strong people. … The ones who survive and thrive aren’t the ones who avoid stress — they’re the ones who use it.”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal — https://amzn.to/3KDfHO1
• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl — https://amzn.to/3Y6WqHI
• The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday — https://amzn.to/3KIv1J8
• Breath by James Nestor — https://amzn.to/4iFmPpM
• More about Coach Jackson’s family and IVF journey — https://action-jackson-fitness.kit.com/posts/a-25-min-shoulder-workout-why-i-m-asking-for-your-help

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This episode gives you a practical playbook to rewire how you respond to stress — so you don’t just survive, you grow. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start using stress as your edge.

Coach Jackson shares the top five game-changing fitness lessons he's learned over two decades of training — lessons he wishes he knew in his twenties. Drawing from personal experience, client transformations, and years of elite coaching, Coach Jackson outlines the strategies that truly move the needle when it comes to building a lean, athletic body that lasts well beyond your twenties.

Whether you’re just getting started or trying to make progress in your 30s, 40s, and beyond, these five principles will help you train smarter, improve your mindset, and take consistent, effective action. From ditching random workouts to mastering metabolic resistance training, Coach Jackson dives deep into what actually works — and why most people get it wrong.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why “working out” is not the same as structured training — and how to make the shift
• The secret to burning fat and building muscle in half the time using supersets and circuits
• How the Norwegian 4x4 protocol can radically improve your VO2 max and longevity
• The crucial difference between leading vs. lagging indicators for tracking progress
• How to build a mindset that sees fitness as a privilege, not a punishment
• Why training without nutrition is like owning a Ferrari with no gas
• What most people get wrong when pairing workouts with diets like keto
• The foundational training principles behind 100+ pound transformations

Memorable Quotes:

• [05:41] “Working out moves your body. Training transforms it.”
• [09:00] “Their workouts finally fit into their life instead of competing with it.”
• [17:34] “Your VO2 max is the strongest predictor of how long you’ll live—don’t neglect it.”
• [25:13] “You don’t have to work out—you get to work out.”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Apply for Coaching: http://actionjacksonfitness.com/apply
• Stronger Saturday Newsletter: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/
• 7 Secrets For Chiseled Abs (book): https://amzn.to/3Wx6JUY
• Metabolic Resistance Training Guide: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/burn-fat-with-metabolic-resistance-training/

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.

In this deeply personal and powerful episode, Coach Jackson opens up about the life-altering experience of losing his mother and the profound lessons it taught him about love, grief, healing, and personal growth. Far from his usual fitness-focused topics, this episode explores emotional strength, mental resilience, and how embracing grief can lead to deeper transformation. Through storytelling, stoic philosophy, and candid reflection, Jackson shares how facing pain head-on — instead of running from it — helped him honor his mother’s memory and live with greater purpose.

Whether you're navigating the loss of a loved one, dealing with emotional challenges, or seeking a deeper connection to your own purpose, this episode offers guidance and hope rooted in real life experience and timeless wisdom.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why suppressing grief can lead to long-term emotional damage
• How writing his mother’s obituary became a healing turning point
• The power of reflection and storytelling in processing pain
• Why facing emotional discomfort is essential for personal growth
• The role of Stoic philosophy in navigating grief and uncertainty
• Three key Stoic principles that helped Coach Jackson heal
• Why living your values is the best way to honor someone you've lost
• How grief can be a catalyst for deeper love, clarity, and transformation

Memorable Quotes:

• [02:11] “You can't outrun it — you can only confront it.”
• [10:27] “Writing turns grief into gratitude, and gratitude into healing.”
• [20:23] “Life isn't happening to you — it's happening for you.”
• [26:49] “Instead of that being morbid, it should become motivating.”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Apply for Coaching: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/apply
• Stronger Saturday Newsletter: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/
• 7 Secrets for Chiseled Abs (book): https://amzn.to/48sKVRu
• Gloria Bloore Obituary: https://kishfuneralhome.net/obituary/gloria-bloore/
• The Daily Stoic — Three Stoic Ideas: https://youtu.be/qMNMyLm57VA?si=rUgzhNtnBh19irEY
• The Daily Stoic — Memento Mori: https://youtu.be/fq8lGTBF1PE?si=WKHDL_NovOQnBGMY
• The Dead Moms Club (book): https://amzn.to/42HNKdL

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.

In this deeply personal episode, Coach Jackson opens up about the 18‑month journey following a major nose surgery (to correct a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, and a collapsed nasal valve). What began as a quest to simply breathe better evolved into a masterclass on patience, identity, resilience, partnership, and the power of process. With raw vulnerability, Jackson shares how this medical setback became a catalyst for growth in his physical health, mental state, and marriage.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why strength training becomes vital medicine when your mental health is challenged
• How being physically fit going into trauma or surgery accelerates recovery
• The way a supportive spouse or environment can dramatically change your odds of success
• Why learning to love the process (not just the outcome) is one of the hardest—but most freeing—lessons
• The dangers of ignoring symptoms like fatigue, snoring, or sleep disruption (a call to get checked for sleep apnea)
• How to navigate non‑linear healing, setbacks, and identity shifts
• The mindset of “life happening for you” instead of “to you”
• How Jackson’s own struggles—with surgery, IVF, grief, business shift—have become pillars of his philosophy

Memorable Quotes:

• [05:46] “The mental fog sort of lifted … I was no longer the angry, bitter, annoyed, and frustrated man‑child roaming around the house like a caged lion.”
• [11:23] “Fitness isn’t about looking good when things are easy—it’s about being resilient when things get hard.”
• [24:50] “Healing isn’t linear. … It’s often years until you’re 100% back to normal.”
• [35:15] “If you’re walking through hell, keep going. … The point wasn’t just to survive that ordeal. The point was to evolve, to get better.”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Apply for coaching: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/apply
• Stronger Saturday Newsletter: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/
• Photos from surgery & recovery: https://www.instagram.com/p/C6dmLjOud9x/
• The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday: https://amzn.to/3KJ7CHd

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.

In this episode, Coach Jackson brings on his long-time friend and movement coach Nicolette Amarillas to dig into how posture, pain, coaching mindset, and connected fitness all intersect. They explore why most people overlook movement mechanics, how to navigate setbacks and consistency, and how a tool like Tonal can be a powerful asset — if you use it intelligently.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why posture and movement mechanics matter more than you think — and how flaws can cascade through your body
• The difference between tension from strength vs. tension from weakness
• How to self-assess pain and know when to seek out a professional
• Strategies for staying consistent over months and years — even through life’s disruptions
• What to look for in a movement coach or trainer (questions to ask, red flags, etc.)
• Nicolette’s favorite and least-favorite Tonal exercises, and how to get more out of your machine
• How connected/“connected-fitness” tools like Tonal change coaching — what works and what doesn’t
• The meaning of “action” (in training and life) — and how to turn commitment into momentum

Memorable Quotes:

• [03:07] “Posture … is not just sitting straight upright … how you begin and end movement will influence how you move.”
• [19:54] “You need to be honest with yourself … pick a number of days you actually can do — even if it's just two.”
• [45:38] “Taking action every single day starts with listening to your body … Where am I sore? How do I feel?”
• [48:42] “You have to be accountable … you have to do it for yourself … you tell yourself you’ll do this — show up for that.”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Nicolette A. Wellness (website) — https://www.nicoletteawellness.com/
• Nicolette on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/nicolette.amarillas/?hl=en
• DIAKADI Body — https://www.diakadi.life/
• Tonal — https://tonal.com/
• Apply for Coaching with Coach Jackson — https://actionjacksonfitness.com/apply

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.

In this episode, Coach Jackson dives into one of the most powerful — yet underutilized — tools you have for change: becoming your own advocate. He argues that the inner critic many of us live with effectively keeps us stuck, and walks through a practical, 5‑step framework to shift that internal relationship. When you stop sitting across the table from yourself and start sitting with yourself, everything changes — especially your momentum, confidence, and consistency.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why self‑criticism often wins (and how our hardwired negativity bias plays a role)
• The “prosecutor vs. advocate” metaphor and how to move from one side of the table to the other
• Coach Jackson’s 5‑step framework to build self‑advocacy:
   1. Catch the critic
   2. Flip the script
   3. Celebrate your wins
   4. Set up your environment for success
   5. Gain perspective via psychological distance
• How to practically apply methods like the Five Second Rule, self‑talk in the third person, and pre‑logging your meals
• Why criticism isn’t always harmful — when used at the right ratio and with insight

Memorable Quotes:

• [03:53] “Your car is going to go where your eyes go … If you look at the problems, the challenges … those things are going to expand.”
• [10:07] “Criticism actually drains you, where advocacy fuels you.”
• [24:33] “Each and every single time … I’d hang up the phone … and I’d blast the song ‘All I Do Is Win.’ … I would anchor the win into my body.”
• [46:44] “If you slide your chair across the table … the day you decide to fight for yourself instead of fighting against yourself … that’s the day you stop being stuck and you start becoming unstoppable.”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• The Best of Harvey Specter
• Good by Jocko Willink
• Chatter by Ethan Kross
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
• All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.

Most people think they’re training hard—but if you're not applying progressive overload and deliberate practice, you’re just working out. In this episode, Coach Jackson breaks down how to actually make consistent, measurable progress in your fitness (and beyond). From lifting smarter to mindset mastery, you'll discover the true formula for long-term transformation. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned lifter, this episode gives you the clarity and tools to stop spinning your wheels and start seeing results that last.

Progressive overload isn't just about stacking weight plates—it's about training with intention, tracking your performance, and getting just a little bit better each week. Coach Jackson shares personal stories, practical methods, and his 3-step system to apply these principles to your workouts—and your life.

In this episode you'll learn:

• The true definition of progressive overload (and why most people get it wrong)
• 13 different ways to apply progressive overload beyond just lifting heavier
• Why deliberate practice is the secret to elite-level progress
• How to track your workouts for real, measurable improvement
• The difference between random workouts and intentional training
• What makes workouts actually harder over time (and why that's a good thing)
• Why ego lifting sabotages progress—and what to do instead
• A 3-step action plan to break through any fitness plateau

Memorable Quotes:

• “One gets results, the other just gets you sweaty.”
• “They don’t have 30 years of experience. They have one year of experience repeated 30 times.”
• “The workouts don’t get easier. You get better.”
• “Progressive overload will change your body. Deliberate practice will change how you think.”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson: https://amzn.to/3K78Hs7
• Blog: Progressive Overload: The Real Reason You’re Not Seeing Gains: https://action-jackson-fitness.kit.com/posts/progressive-overload-the-real-reason-you-re-not-seeing-gains

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.

At 55 years old, Jeremy Keith achieved what many people believe is impossible — losing 34 pounds, dropping 12% body fat, gaining muscle, and sculpting a shredded six-pack… all in just 16 weeks. In this inspiring client success story, Coach Jackson sits down with Jeremy to unpack the mindset shifts, strategies, and lifestyle changes that made this transformation possible.

From decades of frustration and “spinning his wheels” to finally unlocking lasting consistency, Jeremy shares how he overcame business travel, hotel gyms, restaurant temptations, and a busy family life without falling into the all-or-nothing trap. His story is proof that with the right systems, accountability, and perspective, you can get into the best shape of your life — no matter your age or schedule.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How Jeremy redefined consistency and made “always something” his mantra
• The mindset shift from “diet mode” to a sustainable lifestyle
• Practical nutrition guardrails for eating well while traveling
• How to navigate business dinners, drinks, and hotel gyms without derailing progress
• Why “sacrifice” is the wrong word — and how to reframe it as choice and opportunity
• The surprising ripple effect his transformation had on his kids and family
• The role of friendly competition and community in pushing past perceived limits
• Why getting the right coach can turn hard work into life-changing results

Memorable Quotes:

• “From all or nothing to always something — that shift changed everything.”
• “Whatever limits we’re putting on ourselves are usually lower than what’s really possible.”
• “I’ve been given the tools to reshape my life in a way that’s very livable.”
• “These weren’t sacrifices — they were deliberate choices that brought me to this point.”

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.

If late-night snacking or mindless munching is sabotaging your fitness goals, this episode is your tactical playbook for breaking the cycle—no willpower required. Coach Jackson dives deep into five no-nonsense strategies to eliminate snacking by changing your environment, mindset, and habits. Drawing from client success stories and his own experience, he reveals simple yet powerful tactics to regain control of your eating, stay in a calorie deficit, and finally get lean without feeling deprived.

This isn’t about restriction—it’s about smarter choices. Learn how to outsmart your cravings, restructure your surroundings, and adopt habits that actually stick. Whether you're snacking from stress, boredom, or routine, these five methods will help you stop snacking for good—and start seeing real results.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why most snacking isn’t about hunger—and what to do instead
• How a simple “pause” can interrupt emotional eating cycles
• The secret power of brushing your teeth to avoid nighttime cravings
• How to re-engineer your kitchen for effortless willpower
• Why single-serving snacks are your secret weapon
• How to use locks and barriers to build discipline without trying harder
• The role of smart swaps in ditching high-calorie indulgences
• How to turn your eating habits into a sustainable lifestyle

Memorable Quotes:

• [07:14] “You’re not hungry. You’re avoiding an emotion.”
• [10:26] “Surf the urge—cravings rise and fall like a wave. Ride it out.”
• [17:33] “Brush and floss right after dinner. That’s your commitment device.”
• [40:58] “Healthy swaps let you scratch the itch without crashing your progress.”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Stronger Saturday Newsletter: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/
• Indistractable by Nir Eyal: https://amzn.to/479oyj8
• KSafe Lock Box for Snacks: https://amzn.to/3IMGbvf
• Refrigerator Lock: https://amzn.to/4lJkivn
• Single Serving Pistachios: https://amzn.to/3J4in5Y
• Yasso 100-Calorie Ice Cream Bar: https://amzn.to/4lJkivn
• Quest Protein Chips: https://amzn.to/3GNEsoW
• Legendary Foods Protein Pop Tart: https://amzn.to/3GXrXXU

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.

In this raw and deeply personal episode, Coach Jackson peels back the curtain on a year filled with setbacks, health scares, and emotional struggles — and how those obstacles became the wake-up call he desperately needed. From IVF and family illness to burnout and excuses disguised as life circumstances, he lays out the brutal truths that stopped his momentum and the steps he’s taking to get back on track.

You’ll hear how Jackson reframed his toughest year into a setup for a stronger comeback and how you can do the same. He introduces the mindset of Action Jackson vs. Little John, shows how to channel dark energy productively, and gives a tactical system for creating real change in your health, wealth, and relationships.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why life’s punches often reveal your real mindset
• The difference between real reasons and convenient excuses
• How to reframe a tough season as a setup for success
• Why dark energy (like anger or frustration) can fuel short-term progress
• The power of naming your alter egos and knowing who’s in charge
• How to create momentum with “non-negotiables” across health, wealth, and relationships
• Why simple action beats productivity porn every time
• The one question to ask when motivation is gone: “What if there’s no later?”

Memorable Quotes:

• [05:18] “Rediscover the fire that once made you dangerous. Let go of comfort and recommit to your standards.”
• [09:29] “Reflection without responsibility is just mental masturbation.”
• [14:20] “You take action and then you feel motivated.”
• [20:53] “Stop asking, ‘Why did this year go this way?’ and start asking, ‘What if this year was exactly the kick in the ass I needed?’”

Mentioned In This Episode:

• Subscribe to Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/
• Apply for coaching: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/apply/
• Follow Coach Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/actionjacksonfitness

Sign up for Coach Jackson’s email newsletter Stronger Saturday: https://actionjacksonfitness.com/subscribe/

This is the new playbook for getting lean without losing your mind. Ready to take action? Hit play, grab your notebook, and start showing up like the 1% who actually get results.