Catching Up with Robbie Hogge

What's going on? Listen, James Roberts, Ike sceeto Savage.com and today I've got special guest Robbie back on the podcast. He is a former client of mine. He got shredded, he did a competition looked absolutely amazing and he recently got covid back in January of this year. 2022 and he has been dealing with some serious Long

covid, Long Haul symptoms. I had Victoria field on the podcast a few months back and she Dove deep into what she is doing to correct course with that long covid symptoms. So I wanted to pick Robbie's brain and kind Figure out what he's experienced, what, he's got going on, how that's affected his training, how it's affected his day-to-day life and livelihood because this is something that I don't know much about and it seems to be very different from one individual to

the next. So I wanted to just pick his brain on what he personally has experienced. So I learned a ton from him, I've got a lot of respect for Robbie, he's an amazing, dude, he's a hard worker, he's an athlete. He's a family man. He's just an all-around great person. So I wanted to, you know, honestly, just catch up with him and talk to him in a while and kind of pick his brain about

this long covid. And so, without further Ado, sit back and relax and enjoy the podcast on my good friend Robby. And we are live Ravi. How are you man? We are doing well, Robert. Nice to talk to you bud. How long has it been since we talked to you? And you and I were working together. But that was way back in like what year was that? It's been a long time, man. That was 2018 20 against times 18. Yeah.

We got you freaking shredded in 2018 and we've corresponding a bit since then but we haven't really talked. Yeah, since 2018. Really. No it's yeah. As far as you know having good ketchup conversation. Now I'd send you a little something here and there and order some keto bricks and leave a note went out of order and that's, you know, your basic stuff. But I know you guys are busy because I follow you all along the social media. So that, you know, let me know. You've had the big move.

Got some new place, new facility, another house. Got a kid, I mean, you're going for it. We are definitely going for man, will bring me up speaking you. What else been new in your world just to give the listeners, some context you and Work together back in 2018 we got you down then you competed then too. If I remember correctly, right? Yeah. We got together in 2018. I needed some help getting the last of that fat off and I've been leading a ketogenic lifestyle for about a year

before I got with you. Which back then all of that was pretty pretty new you know. Not most people didn't know what it was. They had quote heard something they thought but they really didn't know what it is. So I had died. Add into that, pretty heavy, it really good results with it, fixed.

A lot of things for me medically and physically and, you know, I've always dabbled in weightlifting, live in the bodybuilding lifestyle, but had never competed, and it was always something that I wanted to do. I Was preparing to compete years ago in 99 way back. And then I was in value involved in a really bad automobile accident that put My life on hold for four years. So anyway since then got back into it, needed to drop some

weight, wanted to get healthy. You know your typical bodybuilding diet never worked for me. I mean it worked but not like what I was looking for because there's so much other stuff that comes with it, you know, information the constant up and down with your weight, your body fat the whole work. So fill in the keto, found it with some research knew, I could give that a try because when I set my mind to something it It's a done deal.

So do of into that with amazing results, ended up finding you on YouTube just by chance looking up some key do stuff and that was back early on. When you were I guess living in that apartment. You doing the bodybuilding. You can pretty much find yourself most of the time, walk it up down the street filming and and dieting and, you know, the early days of your YouTube. So I've been following for a long time. That's why I feel like I know you so well. And anyway, Actor.

I decided to give you a call because I've been keeping up with you after you had started the keto brick and all of that then you help me out. Diet-wise gave me some information and advice that actually, it worked very well for me. So I was super happy, excellent results went ahead and knocked off my bucket list and did a competition did very well in the competition. And then from there went back. Went back to normal life or my normal life at that point in time was doing a lot of

ketogenic stuff. So I was doing coaching me and my wife were doing actual seminars, trying to spread the word about Quito and how well it can and you know, helped People's Health and their body image and things like that. So we did that for a good round for a couple of years and then that kind of, you know, drizzled off because keto became so

popular. So many People doing it so much on YouTube so much on Google that you didn't need a seminar anymore because you could go on and pretty much find all the information. All I was doing was taking all the real world information that I could find in my personal experiences putting it in printed handout. And then the seminars I would walk through him through the lifestyle. You know, how easy it could be how intimidating it can be, but you have to look at it a little

differently. And so, you know we did that. The bodybuilding did that, that fell off and then just went back into normal life and our normal life is always busy. We own a couple of businesses. I also walked outside the home as well. Had three kids that we were still raising that we're getting older becoming young adults and going on about their business and and so that's just where we've been living life in from there.

I have stayed in the keto realm but Have not been strict, keto for years now and the reason being for me I'm one of those that will never say that. Any food is bad. I don't believe that I think all food is good but everything in little bits you know you don't overdo anything, you can overdo key. Do you can't?

I can't tell you how many people I've talked to you over the years that the keto didn't work for them because when you broke it down into What they were doing they were still eating too much. I mean, still you can't take any more than what your body can use, you know? So I would just help them with that change, a couple things with them. And so for me I started stepping aside from Quito because I would walk around. Normally just mine, normal walk around really lean so see around

12%. 12. 10% that range fluctuate, up and down, you know. No big deal and Which is fine, but I was finding that I couldn't gain any more weight. And so, you gotta remember, Robert, I'm in my 50s now. So it's not like when I was in my 20s, you know, you're still having muscle development and growth and all of that and let's face it. I have used my muscle genetic potential over the years, so I'm only going to get so big.

So what I started doing was, I told my wife, I was like cuz she had told me. She was like, honey. Yes, you look great. But you're too lean. I, I want a little more, a little more meat on you, L'Amour bacon on there if I can't, you know, but I'm like, yeah. I'm like, okay, that's fine. You know, I'll put on a few pounds and the only way that I could do that aside from just eating and consuming tons of food. For me, personally is I started adding in more carbs.

So that's just the route I took. And, you know, it worked out and I've been happy over the last few years. I was able to put on about eight pounds, so I was a little more full still still plenty lean and I'm still strong. Actually, I was Stronger than I've ever been so much. So that for the past couple of years now my son has my middle son who's back when you and I were talking he was doing mixed

martial arts. So, you know, he was getting in the cage and fighting and doing really well at it and but he's just super lean. Well, he came to me. Because you know that really doesn't pay the bills when you're an amateur and you know, now has a mortgage full-time job doing other things and he was like you know I can't keep doing that because all it's gonna take is one wrong hit and then I'm going to be out so I'd like to get more into what you do.

Dad you know the body building stuff you know can we train together? It's like awesome because we used to train together all from one anyway. So he started training with me specifically so he could grow. And that's what we've been doing past couple years. I've been working with him too. In him, we did the gym together every day. We've just been enjoying

enjoying life, you know. All these years, I've been trying to get my oldest son into it and he's one of those that says never you know, there's no way in the world. I am gold set there and torture myself every day doing the stuff that y'all do. Yeah, he liked it but he didn't want it for himself. Robert, I'm happy to say that in this past six months, he finally came to me and said, dad because he's gotten older. Now Now you know he's in his upper 20s. He's like hey I need to do

something now. I'm like what you mean? He's like my pants are getting a little tight. So yeah laugh with them and said, all right. Well you know what I suggest so let's just start. So I've actually I started working with him as well and he's done very well. He enjoys it, he's hitting it every day I can see his body is changing because now think about this he's in his upper 20s with new beginnings.

Yeah, so it's incredible to see his body change and even my his younger brother, he would tell me he's like that, you know. Dakota is going to be huge. He's going to be big like you because he's naturally big and he's naturally strong. And now for the first time in his life, he's lifting some weights and I'm like, no, it's a great thing to see that change. So I've been working with him, I've worked with my youngest son as well. And I've worked with lots of

people. I've had quite a few people over the last couple of years that I helped train. That's just what I love to do. I do it for free because I love to see people change their bodies, change her attitude, change her health, and all of a sudden figure out that, hey, this is something that I can do forever, and always school do

is, is benefit them. So that's what I'm basically been doing that and, you know, working full time, we still run our farm, we still have our business at my wife is that every day. Running. And that's, that's the gist of it. I'm just like you, I'm just not on social media. We are doing any and everything and have been running 100 miles an hour for years now and I totally respect that man.

I feel like, you know, being busy like that being intense, being living with intentionality is where it's at man. So like you don't have to be on social media by any means because what you're doing on a local level is incredibly admirable. I feel like I feel like social media is great. It connects people from all over the world. There's so many relationships. I've benefited from as a result of social medium, but I don't

ever look to social media. And I feel like one of the downsides of social media is that oftentimes excludes people from being the best that they can be on a local level. And I really thought that tooth and nail like I've tried to double down and plug them even more to my local community because I'm super passionate about, you know, my neighbor, my next door, neighbor, the person. Yeah. Absolutely. Do you like doing something nice

for them? That will never gain Instagram recognition, but that's not why you should do things right the first place. So what? No doing locally me and I mean, hats off to that for sure.

Yeah, we definitely enjoyed it and you know, Robert I decided years ago because, you know, I was doing Social Media stuff and throwing stuff out there all the time and I realized, you know, it's all consuming because you have to spend a lot of time to do it and I'm like, you know, I'm in my 50s now and there's so many people out there to do this and they do this way better than I do. I don't need to do that.

I'm just going to focus on what's around me and help people that I can physically, touch and talk. To and have relationship with. So that's when I got off of the social media. Now, once again, I do still get on there and you know, check on stuff and you know, watch your videos and some other people's videos that I've been following for so long just to keep up with y'all's lives and seeing you know, the awesome things you're doing.

But other than that I don't I don't waste my time with doing it myself. I couldn't tell you the last time I've updated my social media, I have no idea. It's probably been at least a year or more You know, every now and then you'll throw a picture on there or something just to say, hey, and that's about it. So I'm pretty much I just tend to deal with the who is in front of me that I can actually make a difference in their life, because that's what I enjoy so

much. You know, if I could figure out how to literally get paid to do that, I would help people every single day from sunup to sundown, but at the same time, one is a real thing and you got to have to make money to pay your bills. So I do that as well. Yeah, totally respect that man. What with you being? In the space, kind of like behind the scenes for lack of a better word because you're not putting yourself out there socially all that much, but you seen it all and you've worked

with people on a local level. What do you see things? Like, what do you see, things trending? Currently? What are some frustrations you've had? What are some things that you're in agreements agreement with like, where do you see the keto? Low carb carnivore. Nutritional space going, so to speak, man. I'll tell you. Um, all right. Well, so when we were first, when I first First got into this. So that would have been around 17 somewhere in that timeframe.

It wasn't a whole lot out there. And what I saw and I'm pretty sure you may agree. Michael speak for you. I think you may agree the progression from 2017 to 2022 was like a jet going off. It was super fast, lots of information. A lot of people jumping in lot of advice, you know, a lot of so-called Guru's, I don't know how you can be a guru and just something, you know, something only being around for a few years.

But anyway, all of that stuff and I will tell you I started getting disgusted with it as a whole and and this is why there are so many people that were I guess they started out well-intentioned. But they were misleading as well. Yeah, a lot of I think people the normal regular person that has been struggling with body image issues for their whole life.

It's much deeper than just a diet plan, you know, and and I don't think they were taking that into consideration and then you come out with what I would call, I don't know what you call them, but I was calling the the keto police. They're screaming and hollering on social media that you can't do this and you can't do this and you can't eat that.

And you and I'm well I'm like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, that doesn't make any sense because Robert what I had found with people that I work with, you know, they will say, well, I thought you, this is our statement. Oh, I thought you can't eat that or you can't do this, or you can't do that. And I'm like, hold up. Who told you that? I mean, number one, you are an individual, and what works for me in the Back way that I do, it doesn't mean that it's going to work for you because your body

is set up different. Your your training schedule is different. Even if you have any your new Christian, your nutritional requirements are going to be different. You're going to be allergic. You may have food allergies that I don't have and vice versa. You may have some other underlying health shit. If you issue, scuse me that are going to make a huge difference in the way that you respond to this.

So I was seeing that a lot of hate, a lot of attacks videos, Jean, it videos of of influencers calling other influencers out. And I was like, you know what? That's ridiculous. People need to sit back and take a dag on break and just breathe because it's just another diet. Let's be honest, but it's a diet that works for me. It's a diet that works for you, Robert.

That's a diet. That's worked for countless other people since it's pretty much gotten popular and it's not a diet to me or to you, it's a lifestyle. But for other people, it may just be a short-term diet that can make a huge difference in their life. And for all the, the hate and the complaining and calling people out and all the information that is worn with each other. You'll get a recommendation from this person. Then you get a recommendation

from this person. That's the exact freaking opposite who you supposed to believe, you know. So that's what I was seeing. That was discouraging that was another thing reason I just went ahead and step out of the social media part. I'm like, you don't want to get That and battling back and forth with people. I just want to take people as an individual and I want to show them what may work for them, and it may take us a while.

It may take three, four, five months before we finally figure out what food groups work for you in this lifestyle, but I know the work for you. Oh, and let's not let's not forget older clientele older folks like myself it changes the keto lifestyle when I started in 2017 my body doesn't react to seeing now in 22 as it did in 2017, just because now, I'm in my 50s. Where's before?

You know, I was in my 40s, there's a difference there, and so those are things that we have to remember, but there are so many out there that were just basically saying it's my way or no way. And I'm sorry, I don't agree with that about anything. There's 10 different ways to, you know, to process an animal if you will put him in your fridge rater, my way might be a little quicker, but the next person might might be more efficient, you know, I'm just

saying. There's Always a little something we can learn from each other. That would be an angry with each other. Yeah, completely agreement. I feel like I've always said, you know, there's more than one way to skin a cat. I mean, I was able to get lived for competitions long before I discovered keto. So to say that that's the only way to do. It is just inaccurate and I just have no desire to feed into all the negativity.

I mean, I like the way I do things, I feel like my way is been proven to be effective for countless people, I'm passionate about it, I'm excited to share that. But yep, that's been my whole Journey. I just want to document what I found to be true for myself and others. And you can take that or you can leave. It doesn't matter to me, you know, don't do as you choose but I can I can deliver that message in a way that's not, you know, - isn't it? Yes, that's a rocket way towards others.

And then the day like I feel like, you know I've been in the space for quite some time now and I feel like if anybody has looked at my content from the beginning as you have one thing, I appreciate people saying about me is that I've been consistent in my messaging from the beginning and I feel like that's something that Yeah, man. Don Yep. Yeah, but let me tell you something, Robert, you have been willing to learn over the years. Correct? No, totally. I mean, what good is it guy?

Shut my mind out to other possibilities. Exactly. But that's what you see in the overall Market. It is my way or no way and that has turned me off to certain people that I had started years ago. Kind of you know just like with you following and seeing what they were saying and try and some of the stuff that they had said and I've cut them off another words, I don't watch their stuff. More because it's I'm not into that.

I think that there are multiple ways to do something and the the gist of the ketogenic lifestyle does have a set style of parameters, but for every individual, it can be adjusted up or down in either direction so that's how I look at things. No, I totally agree men. I feel like I feel like at the core, the ketogenic diet and lifestyle is, is pretty simple. Like people really try to overcome that Yang's. I mean, I can get into The weeds, I can finesse the

details. I can get things dialed in for the individual and Peak for a very specific Moment In Time, 100%. Right. But I feel like there's been this massive shift of over complication and people wanting to Rebrand or redefine the diet in a way that best suits their marketing style, which to me is just, yes, bullshit. You know, that's what it is. Nope, that's totally what it is. It is one of sent the marketing style to earn them a little bit, more money from videos and

products that they sell. Yeah, yes we're speaking the same language there. Um, I'm curious. What has changed between your 40s and your 50s with regard to your nutrition. Let's see. I've always been heavy meat eater anyway now, I mean, that's just how grown up, you know, that's the staple of my diet during the Summers. When there are lots of fresh vegetables coming out of the gardens and stuff like that.

And during that time, I'll be honest with you, I could be vegan during the summer because I love fresh garden, vegetables of all types but I love my meat to but at the same time and you it's something about going out in this, the garden that we have, picking all the stuff that you got fixing up a meal, at the end of the evening and my wife and I both sometimes, they look at each other and go, you know, I could eat that around the clock. I mean, no meat involved at all,

and it's just so good. But for me, I would say between my, my 40s in my 50s, I have to Again, more carbs did before, believe it or not, you would think it would work, the opposite that as you're getting older, you'd want to take can less to maintain your, your overall size that your body would get used to it. But it's like my body requirements requires more. So I eat a lot of sweet potatoes. I've been incorporating amounts of rice back into my diet. You know, that'll be one time

during the day. Most of my day is going to be just meat. You know, I lots of eggs, you know, I have, we've got a small farm, so I have a freezer full of all pastured meat. So I've got all the meats at my

disposal. I've got all fresh fish at my disposal around here from locally and so that's the staple of my diet, I probably eat more carbs now Based on my body, then what I was doing definitely doing what I was doing five years ago and that came at the encouragement of your wife because she was wanting to put a little bit more body fat. You said, you know? Shoot look, my wife is so funny.

My wife, like when it comes time for your body building shows because I still follow, all the bodybuilding shows, I'm always wanting to go to local stuff, local events. I just never had the time so TV, you know.

I'll put it on and watch the highlights and from all the different channels and You know my wife and I were having a conversation one day about bodybuilding, you know, and I'm I am objectively looking at my body and you know making comments and seeing what this needs to be changed. I need this muscle group to stand up a little bit more. I need a little bit leaner in my lower ab area.

I'm going through all of this stuff and she made a comment about needing a little more, a little more meat. I'm like, what sounds like really you should? So, you don't know, I'm looking at her.

And let me tell you why this is from all the years of social media, it has been impregnated into my brain since I was a little kid when I used to get the muscle building magazine, when I was a child and in the very back of it as show, that little cartoon of the skinny, dude, on the beach with this, you know, beautiful girl. And then the big bodybuilder comes over and kick saying in his face and takes the girl from. Okay, I know that.

From okay, so from my childhood that's what has been ingrained in my head to have a certain body image and that's what I have always enjoyed that image. I like that immature and I'm thinking okay the girl in that little magazine skit left with the big muscle dude you know ABS legs the whole work. So in my mind I'm thinking and now today social media, everything is ripped to shreds and that's what everybody wants

and likes. So I'm having this conversation with my wife and I'm like, so seriously you want me to add some body fat and I'm thinking she's lost her? Freaking mind? Yeah, that's what I'm thinking and she's like, yes, I want more meat on you. She's like you know all of this is fine for the stage but she's like I'll be honest with you it's uncomfortable laying my head on your stomach. Yeah it's funny. Like Christmas tree. I never thought about that.

Yeah, crystal says the same thing, whenever I'm shredded for a show. Like that's how I like to. Like, I like looking that really, you know, like that excites me, but then, like, when I'm That Lean Crystal, doesn't like how she looks next to me because like, I look like, I look emaciated when I'm at my best when I'm wearing clothes. Because, I mean, we're natural bodybuilding. You wearing clothes, and your 3% body fat. Like you don't fill out a medium teacher.

You look sick. You look small. They think you're sick. Exactly. Exactly. So like I get it but it's just totally flies in the face of what people that like you and I how we think it's like okay they want more body fat and then Our mind that's more attractive. You know. It's kind of interesting. Yep. That's that's what I've always thought. I thought, you know, the leaner and the more shredded and the more volume of so I could make my muscles.

I'm thinking as a dude. Oh yeah, my wife she's gonna flip. You know what I'm saying? This is will be awesome and the whole time. She's looking at me like I'll be so glad when you're done with this diet. Yeah, it's I see ads all time where it's like a memes. I guess. They come where like they'll be what guys think they're Going to happen. When I get shredded in Jackson, they're thinking, they're going to have all the women. But what reality what actually happens is.

You got all the guys hitting on you like oh man. What, what exact supplements you taking. What's your lips are you doing? You're exactly right, man. Let me tell you and hey, while you know, why would on the subject? Let's be really honest. I don't know about you but for me, you know, I deal with some body dysmorphia issues and I have since I was a little kid.

So for me, if I can't even When I, when people will tell me, I have obtained, a certain look like when you were helping me and get on that stage, you know, I know to others. That's the, the best and most unbelievably unbelievabl that they have ever physically, seen me.

But I'll tell you, every time I would look at myself, even before going on stage, when you're standing from the mirror and make sure you practice in your poses and all that stuff in my mind, I don't know how it works for you. But for me, I Still literally see pounds of like what I thought was flab hanging off of my body. I it's been. I know it was in my mind. I know it wasn't wasn't what wasn't actually in the mirror but Robert in my eyes I could physically see it.

It was craziest thing and I do. I have struggled with that all my life. I don't know if you have any similar experiences with body dysmorphia or not, but it when you look in the mirror what you see in your Rain is real even though it's not real 100% man. I feel like you know to some extent anybody that competes in a sport like bodybuilding or figure or Physique in which you are judged on a subjective.

Measure by a panel of Judges who may be looking for something one day and something else the next day. Like when you're in that sport, there's going to be some degree of body dysmorphia that accompanies.

It simply because you're trying to Visualize what the perfect potential of your body is capable of and if you are an athlete in the sport, you're likely going to be your own worst critic because you want to bring a level of perfection that you feel capable of and that's just going to come with some degree of body dysmorphia meant now, whether it's a healthy degree or an unhealthy degree is going to be dependent upon the individual and you know, right? Right.

Right in there. But I feel like anybody that can beat some sport is going to have some degree of that, no matter what? Yeah. Yeah. Always considered thought the same. I've always figured hey, these. I'm, you know, this can't be just to me. I'm pretty sure these guys, when you hear them talk about, you know, they need to spend it. I'm talking professionals, you know, Olympia stage, they'll be second or third, even the Olympian himself, he'll get obviously.

Yeah, next year, I need to work on this and this, and this and I'm thinking old that is incredible that how they physically look, and he's complaining about these things.

That I have no idea how he makes it better but so it's not just me. Even at that level they have that same thought process and I guess that's what drives us to want to stay in the gym to want to do those crazy crazy excessive cardio runs and you know the extreme endurance events and I guess that's what drives us to do that. But in all of that, I have enjoyment sweating and suffering a little. I just like that, you know what

about you totally, man? I mean, you got to have A healthy relationship with them and you've got to be realistic. You have to have enough self-awareness to know what you're standing and you want to make it a healthy Sport and

lifestyle through. And through me, there are definitely competitors at take it to an unhealthy level, and do absolutely try and chronically restrict and diet for far too long because they're just, you know, fixated on that shredded look and that's obviously, not healthy long-term and there's people in the complete opposite and the spectrum that are morbidly obese and you feel that that is healthy and acceptable

and totally sustainable. Nimble and totally fine and they're not doing themselves any favors either. So, I mean, you kind of have a healthy relationship with it and there are extremes on both ends of the spectrum. So really have enough stuff, awareness to know where you lie on that spectrum is key. Yep, absolutely.

So, you know, hopefully, we'll all get it straight and keep our minds clear and just focus on the gold, you know, have fun that should be your goal every day, whether it's in Fitness or work, you know, working around the house, whatever it is in, just enjoy the moment because, you know, we never Ever know when are moment or numbers called up, so you better enjoy the moment every day? Yeah, 100% man.

Well, you emailed me a few weeks back and you wanted to chat about your experience with long covid and that piqued my interest. Because I do, honestly, don't know too many people that have dealt with long covid. I've been fortunate enough to not even have gotten covid throughout this entire pandemic, which I find kind of

interesting. I'm not really sure why, because I would possibly, would have been this point, but I Victoria fuel on the podcast a few months back and she is like one of the brains behind metabolic Health Summit. She's an amazing individual. She's been struggling with long covid. She has gone through all kinds of the rigging muru with like testing and just, you know, analysis to figure out what the issue is, how to fix it. So, it seems to be incredibly individualized.

Some people get it and doesn't FaZe them. Some people get it, they don't even know. They have it, some people get it, and they suffer with long covid. And for people, Like Victoria and yourself who are living a healthy lifestyle doing everything, quote, unquote, right? It's kind of piqued my interest as to why your body is responding the way it is. So yeah, kind of break that down for me, man. Yeah, you know, I'm not one to really get sick and I hadn't been sick in two or three years.

So you know I didn't worry about any of the code that stuff. Yes, I knew it was real. Yes, I knew it was out there. Care. You know, to me it's just like it was, you know, like an allergy or flu, if you get it, you get it. If you don't you don't didn't know anything more than that. Other than all the craziness that was taking place around world and I thought, you know, this is ridiculous but it is what it is. So I never stopped working the job.

I had at the time was still considered a central. So we went to work every day. Nothing changed for me. Living my life. Getting it done. Never had a problem. My wife had gotten covid. Earlier on and the only reason we knew that is because she lost her taste and smell and back and that was right before it was publicly known literally less than 30 days, I think before it was publicly known about covid. So we know that she had it. I never got people around us have gotten sick, I never got

nothing. So, you know, I'm just going about my daily routine working every day, working out every day, just getting it done. And to the point where I told my son, Train with everyday, my middle son Thunder. I told him, I was like, hey, Seth rho C is advertising his, his body challenge. I was like, I saw it last year and I almost entered and I was like, but I was too busy. I knew I really couldn't commit. I was like, but guess what?

This is the time when I'm thinking about going ahead and clean it up, leaning out and go on ahead and get ready for the shows will be coming up this summer. So I'm going to use that as a stepping stone into another body building. Addition and he was like, all my sounds great. So, on the Sunday night before. So I got sick on the 18th, the Sunday night before that I did all my pictures. All my, all the information for his stuff, took pictures of me in my underwear, showing all the

my before. So they can track over the eight weeks for your Afters. And and when I looked at his last year stuff, I said to myself, I'm told my son, I was like, you know what? Based on what I see. I'm pretty sure I can do pretty good in this because I can get lean is crap. So let's give this a go and be pretty fun just to do that. Anyway, and I said, then I'll go ahead and finish up and start competing the summer. I'd like to do at least one more show, so that was on Sunday, sit

on my paper works. And then all my my pictures went to work on Monday. Everything is perfectly fine. Hit the gym. Perfectly fire came to work on Tuesday, within an hour of being at work. All of a sudden I started having some drinks. Image in the back of my throat. No big deal about an hour after that, that drainage turned into, it felt like about 200 degree are coming out of my nose, and I knew something was wrong. I just knew I'm like, all right, let me be smart about this.

So I happened to be back by office. I called over to our office and told him, hey, not feeling. Well, I think I may be coming down too cold. Just want to let y'all know. I'm just gonna go ahead and go home and I'll come back tomorrow. And they immediately said, nope, do not come back tomorrow from you. Got to take at least seven days off to see how you're doing, and then we'll go from there. So do not come back. So, that's what I did.

I came home by 10:00 that night, I was in bed with 102 plus degree temperature and that's where I stayed for ten to twelve days. Temperature wouldn't break the temperature would not break for longer than Maybe an hour and a half or two, and then it would hit again with a Vengeance and this went on for ten days. Minimum. I think a couple days after that, it's been a while now and it was so bad that when I would wake up in literally felt like my eyes were going to melt in their sockets.

So unbeknownst to me, my wife was really concerned because once again I have been sick in years. I don't lay. Well, I was bedridden didn't do anything. I couldn't do anything. She was starting to worry because she said, she could tell that my breathing wasn't right. Well, I wasn't aware of that because I was going to church literally. So she had gotten one of those Parks Summoners whatever they call them. You know, for like you go to the doctor's office, they put it on your finger.

So you can see how much oxygen you have and unbeknownst to me. My oxygen was getting low and she was communicating back and forth with her doctor. Was freaking incredible. And so she he was telling her what to watch for what to do for me, and I'm just fluid. And any time I wake up, they're dumping fluids in me and dumping supplements. Every supplement known to man to help.

I talked to three different doctors at three different times during this journey and they put me on Tamiflu they put me on different antibiotics, Alan day, I think, three or four. For I felt so bad that I thought, you know, my brains not going to be able to handle this much longer. I remember thinking that it's just too hot.

And so, the doctor, I talked to him that day I requested I was like, listen, I want the monoclonal antibodies because I know, for fact, from watching this stuff beforehand and monoclonal antibodies were helping people Robert mammal. Heart fill the, the doctor told me. She said, I'm sorry, mr. Hogg, you're not going to qualify. I'm like, how am I not gonna qualify? I'm freaking dying. Here's what I feel like and she said, because you don't meet the

requirements. You are physically too healthy. Well, I'm like crazy. What? Physically too healthy and the reason being they said that point. What's that? And you've been bedridden for days at that point. I've been bedridden for days. Yeah, that was day three or four and she said I was physically to healthy and this is why I'm not obese. I didn't have diabetes. I didn't have any underlying health concerns where they thought was going to put me in intensive care in the hospital.

Those three things negated me from getting if I would have been severely obese, if I'd have been a heavy smoker, but I've been an alcoholic. If I had diabetes for My Own Self Indulgence is of food. I would have qualified. And let me tell you, man, it pissed me off. I'm bad. I'm like, hold up. I have spent my life trying to be healthy for me, my wife and my kids and my community just so you can always do and go and help and for me to be told that I don't qualify.

Just set me off but there's nothing I can do. So crawl back in bed and that's where I stayed. And then finally somewhere in that ten, eleven twelve, day range, finally broke fever came down, stay down in the midst of all of that. I got a little worse to the point to where my actual physician made a house call that doesn't happen in this day and age. He came to my home and check me. So it all worked out all of that you know getting better but it was still it was a Couple of

weeks after the fever broke. Before I finally started thinking I was going to be normal. And then that is when this long covid stuff started hitting And it has not stopped, and that's been since January the 18th, I've been suffering with it through to this very minute and what is the crazy? What are some of the symptoms of that? Because I feel like long. I don't even know how you would Define long code because it seems to be a myriad of symptoms depending on who you are.

Yeah, okay. So long covid, basically is defined as anyone after having covid and the fever breaks. Is now long no longer in their system, but they're still suffering from side effects of coded. And if it lasts more than a month, they are calling it long covid. There's reports now people that have been suffering with it since it first onset. So they're people that are have long covid.

Now for two years, So, for me, this is when I realized something was wrong, I woke up standing in our walk-in Pantry looking at the shelves. And when I woke up, it's literally like I woke up and I'm looking and I'm looking around like, where the heck am? I then I realize I'm in the pantry. I'm like, why am I in the pantry? Because I'm thinking, okay, maybe I'm supposed to be getting something and then I realize I don't remember anything. So I walk out, I go get back in

bed. From there, I started having these early. These are the symptoms that I'm personally affected with confusion. I was finding that, I'd be in the middle of doing something and could not figure out how to do the simplest tasks while I'm doing something so confusion memory loss. All the time. Dizziness like literally on the edge of vertigo, you know, when you get vertigo or if you drink

too much and you get the spins. So it's like the spins are just getting ready to kick off but it doesn't kick off. That's the worst. So I get that Odo. Horrible absolutely horrible elevated would call tachycardia or something like that. Your heart just takes off for no reason. And it's like beating 150 beats a minute for nothing, like you're just sitting there. Like I just try to run, you know, a three minute mile.

Out of nowhere, breathlessness has been one of the biggest things, the breathlessness even carrying on a conversation, I will start to almost hyperventilate. I have I've learned how to control that. Now even while we're doing all this talking now I am subconsciously thinking of my breaths, my breath rate uncontrollable tiredness, I call it baby narcolepsy never would have dreamed in all of my years, I'm not a napper.

I'm not somebody takes a nap. Not somebody sleeps during the day because if the Sun is up, I got stuff, I'm doing. That's just me, that's my attitude. In the living room, with my wife. We're talking. I tell her. I was like, man. I just for some reason. I just feel so tired. That's all I remember saying. She told me, I literally passed out. And was like that for about 45 minutes, and I woke up and like, what just happened. She's like, yeah, you passed out. Like, I've been drunk of fit.

The liquor and passed out one of those just uncontrolled. There's nothing I can do about it. So the like baby narcolepsy episodes, they have been cold, current ohms, sleep daily. Now, and there's nothing I can do about it when it hits. And when I say nothing, there's nothing. I just go ahead. And get myself halfway comfortable and even though I try to fight it, it's anywhere from 15 minutes to two and a half hours and there's nothing I can do.

So with that, then at night time, for some reason, I have insomnia can't sleep at night, time won't allow me to sleep. It's the craziest thing I've ever experienced, Robert. And let me tell you in all of that, I've told quite a few people I had to had to eat a lot of pro. Because I'm the type, that is always what I see with my eyes.

If somebody I told my doctor, if somebody that look like me with my lifestyle, My overall health exercise lifestyle and mentality, if they would have come up to me and told me that they aren't working because of this this this this this and this I would have called BS. It's like there's no freaking way. That's just you just Want to work. That's exactly what I would have said to them. I'm just being honest, I would have said that to them, get out of my face because you just

don't want to work. You just want to be a logo on society. Well, let me tell you, I've had to eat crow. Because there is absolutely nothing I can do for what I'm experiencing and I described it the best way I could to another professional. I've talked to so many doctors during this timeframe and I said the best way I can describe this to you, you take a trench coat and you make it out of cement and you put my arms in it and it hangs down to my ankles and you zip it up.

That's what I feel like I am encased in a trench coat of cement and there's nothing I can do. It's like every step is a struggle, every breath is a struggle. Every thought is a struggle, there's no energy, even though your hearts racing, 150 miles an hour, you still don't have energy to do anything. And so there's so many different things that have come and gone from this my blood pressure. Now, one minute Sky High. One minute is normal. One minute is below normal by a

lot. Next minute its sky high. This is a non never-ending battle that's taken place. So do you so like you feel like I'm like a million bucks that, you know, random times. But the Dare, do you feel like you're in this trench coat at all times? I have never felt better. Then about on my good days. Robert, I am 75% of what I used to be. That's a good day. So I might have two good days in a row at 75%. So on those two days, my butt gets up gets out and tries to help and be the husband.

I'm supposed to be, Around here, do everything that I can do because I never know when the it's like a light switch was cut on, and I'm going to go 100 miles an hour because I know at some point unexpectedly, the light switches go get cut off and when it cuts off, I'm done. And so my pattern would I have been tracking since January is. I might have one day to where I feel, okay, for about six hours, you know, Are okay for two days.

But remember, my okay is only about 75% of what I used to be and so I'll do everything that I can do. I will try to catch up, try to help my wife, trying to do stuff around the farm. You know, all of these things that I have to do. I try to do and then all of a sudden, it's like somebody reaches over while they're laughing and clips, this light switch of Life off. And I am now bound to the couch or the bed because because I just can't, I can't do it. I can barely open my eyes.

I can barely breathe, but when I say that I'm not struggling to breathe, I have plenty of air but it's like, it takes everything in me to to say though, your lungs. Let him go fill your. That's how tired that's the amount of overwhelming. Tiredness, that consumes me so much. So that not only with that overwhelming tiredness. The Fusion and the, the not being able to concentrate Robert, I can't drive.

I still can't drive a car. I've tried to drive and the first time I realized something was wrong. Was, you know, like about three weeks after I had gotten sick and I hadn't been out the house, really? And they, my boys are like, hey, come on, let's write it right up to the store with us. I'm like, great. So I jumped in the vehicle with them. I didn't make it 300 feet and I had to tell them to stop because I knew knew something was wrong. It's like mad chaos in my brain.

I could not handle the incoming information. From everything that my eyes were seeing. It's like it was overwhelming a computer if that makes sense. That's what was happening. So I started trying to just drive myself from here to my mailbox and back, you know, we live out in the woods. I've got a lot of property so it's a half a mile to my mailbox and back prop. So I drive down there and back. Down there and back.

And so I was trying to build up, I was looking at this therapy getting my mind used to doing things the for - I can drive is about 20 minutes that's 20, maybe 30 minutes. But when I do that Robert, it is a sacrifice for the next 24 to

48 hours. Because if I drive up to the grocery store, just to feel halfway normal and buy groceries, and come back, while my wife's at work, the next 24 to 48 hours or so. I'm going to be housebound because I'm not going to be able to literally function because of I don't know if it's the I don't know if it's anxiety I don't know if it's information overload for my brain.

I told my wife when she was asking me what happens when you're driving I was like babe it's like this, we don't Robert you and I don't think about driving we get the car, we started with put it in gear we buckle up, we go down the road, we'll carry on conversations heck we text where you listen to the radio? We talked their family with holler at our kids. You don't think about the driving process, it is 100% autonomous. It just happens in your brain. You don't have to think about

when I'm in a corner. Now, if I set behind the driver's seat, I have to think about my hands are on the steering wheel. Turn the key, put it in Drive, look around. What is this car doing? Watch your speed, you play as your foot on the accelerator. Don't forget to break all of this is going. On. It's like it's the first time I have ever set in a car every single time I sat in a car it's like the very first time. And I can't explain that.

So I was given all this information to my main doctor. The one that's been awesome and all of this and he told me he's like, Robbie the best way we can describe what is going on with you, because we've seen some crazy stuff with this covid after effects. He said your brain is literally mimicking, like you have had a massive stroke without the physical side effects of like, being paralyzed and, you know, the paralysis stuff that comes with.

He said that's the best way we can describe what's going on in your brain. And so now, this is what the research has found since covid has hit, they have taken now and they have actually dissected the brains for the suit on the way you can find out. It's kind of like the injuries at football players have, you know, they finally, they die. They dissect their brains, and they see all of this internal damage in the brain. This is what they had found was

covid patients that have died. When they've opened the brains update of had severe ditions kind of like what I have. They have the exact same style of brain injury. The little black spots that are in their brain every well and also one of the scientists that I had watched he was on YouTube, he's on there so he's legit with all his credentials and people are using him for information. He said that they have found in some extreme cases that there is cell growth in the brain that

should not be there. And Don't know what it is yet. So this is some of the things that have happened to people that have contracted covid and are having very severe symptoms.

Now I'm not going to say my symptoms are severe by any means because there are a lot of people that are way worse off than I am. I had seen video biographies of people that are posting stuff so people know what their families are going through of people that are bound in wheelchairs now that their life is totally upside down. So, you I'm not going to say that mine is bad but just mine's not good for what I'm used to if that makes sense.

So what gives you, you know, someone who's used to freaking put into work every single day without excuses? Like what gives you hope now? Like what are you excited about? What do you, what are you leaning on? What are you looking forward to? Like what what gives you hope and positivity for tomorrow? Jesus, I'm gonna be really honest with you. That's what does it?

I wake up every day and when I open my eyes, generally, the first thing that I will say out loud, or thinking in my brain, just thank you, Lord, for another day and maybe taste today is the day that I'm going to be totally normal. And if not, it's okay, we will get through this together. That's just me. Are you doing anything like medically or physically or any type of like what was the treatment protocol? You get working right now, okay?

So told you a story about the antibodies, Not only was I refused, it had gotten so bad. I told my wife, I'm like, look, I'm done. I'm going to travel to Florida or Texas because you can literally walk in the door and those States because they're, you know, good states with good values for people. And you can pretty much Open the

door and get those. So, I went ahead and did some research, and I'm like, all right, I'm gonna go get these antibodies, I'll start Florida, went on the website, the State website, get some information figure out what I need to do, where I needed to go a little behold, there was a thing on the website from the state of Florida from the governor himself literally wrote us. This little paragraph apologizing, for people that wanted to come to their state,

to help with their health and you know, deliver better lifestyles. Blah, blah blah. He apologized that the monoclonal antibodies, the way it was set up in their state had been shut down by the US government and they were no longer allowed to give out monoclonal antibodies. So their entire Center was shut

down. So I couldn't go to Florida found out, I couldn't go to Texas and I had a friend that lived in Texas, and then he confirmed for me, they had shut it down in Texas to because him and his family had got sick right after I did and she's me right before I did and his entire family, just walk in off the street, they got the monoclonal antibodies, and he was back to work within three days and none of them had any long-term side effects.

So with that being said, I have since then signed up for and I had been accepted in a monoclonal antibody study down here, local hospital in my area. And so I had to pass all the pre-screening in and get accepted into the study. D and that starts in July. So I'll be going down in July, receive a monoclonal antibody treatments because they are finding that people are having good results with long-term covid with that. So we're going to give that a

try. Also, I had just started, but I had to stop because of an inner ear issue. I went down last week to the Hampton Roads hyperbaric treatment center. Hyperbaric chamber has been used right now for long code, Long Haul, To help with their symptoms and what they have found is that Under Pressure? You below sea level with 100% oxygen, for at least an hour. They are finding that they are able to Super saturate at a

cellular level. The mitochondria in your body, which is helping to alter the side effects and correct, some of the side effects that people experience in LeBlanc covid. So, you know, They did tell me the doctor down, there said look, we're seeing great results. She said, I'm not going to promise you anything, but I just need you to know. People are having good results. You might be that one, that it doesn't work for, but you should

definitely give it a chance. So, I did, I actually went down there last week, you've got to do a minimum of five in a row, it takes five in a row. That means once a day for five days to get that super saturation of oxygen into your cells. It takes Five days in a row to accomplish that and then you continue on from there as you get more into the benefits of it. So I went down and signed up for 10 days which means which meant

lead in my family. Leaving my wife, moving into a hotel and walking back and forth to the treatment center every day. Because remember, this treatment center is over an hour from my home. So it's nothing that I can drive and it's a two-hour process when you're there. And I can't ask somebody to give six hours of their day for 10 days in a row. For me, I just can't do that. So I went ahead and went down

got a hotel. I was a 1.2 miles from there and I just figured I'd walk doctor treatment and I walked back to the hotel and I did those treatments and after the first day of treatment whether it's a placebo effect or not, I don't care Robert, I'll take the sibo every day of the week after my first day of treatment, the very next day I walk three and a half miles. I went down into the gym at the hotel and for the first time Life. I woke up and said, I want to lift some weights for the first

time since I've been sick. I said that I haven't said that since I've since I was sick, I went down to the gym there, and I did a little small work out towards the end of the workout. I felt myself getting used to a little bit dizzy and I'm smart enough at this age to listen, most of the time, sometimes, I don't, but I did listen to my body. I'm like, okay, I'm going to stop right now. I don't need to overdo it because I have not touched a weight. Actually really don't work out.

Out at all, since January 18th. So I stopped when a breakfast went up to the hotel and rested for an hour before I had to go to my treatment. I had already walked one mile that morning on my own, because I just felt so good before I worked out. And then I walked through the facility, 1.2 miles, then I walked back, 1.2 miles, I did have three and a half miles on the second day after one day of treatment. And lifted weights, I never got sleepy. I've never Passed out.

I never got confused. I never had on a cement blanket while I was there after the initial treatment. So Robert. I don't know if it's going to be a fix-all cure-all, but I know that after one day, I felt like

a new man. Yeah. After my second day of treatment after my second day of treatment, I had problems with my inner ear, on my right ear, because, remember, you're going to depth and you have to Relieve that pressure coming out of being under pressure under sea level and your ears have to clear when I was younger. I used to dive and it used to take me a while to get the depths and you should take me longer than normal to get out of that because of my ear took forever to clear.

Even today if I fly my right ear gives me problems when we're coming back down. And so I've always had an issue with it. Well my right ear decided not to cooperate with two days in. Row at depth totally locked up. Would not clear and had a small rupture so they stopped my treatments. Told me that I had to be seen by ENT immediately. They saw me yesterday as an emergency and he verified that yes, I blood inside my ear canal everywhere. They had to go in and clean that

out. They had to cut my ear set of tube in place and now I'm healing from that. So I'm just waiting for this ear to get back to normal and the doctor told me that I can, as soon as I feel better, I can immediately go back and finish my treatments, because once he found out what I was doing, he's like, oh, absolutely sun, go

down there and get this done. He said, I want you to feel better, so that's where I'm at. Right now, the only other things I have done on my own is, I've tried walking, like I said, I've got a half a mile driveway, one way. I've tried to walking And I got to tell you, it's a half a mile down and a half, a mile back by the time I get back. Robert, I literally feel like I have like that day that you ran a marathon without really practicing for it.

That's what I feel like that. That's how that's how bad it is. I just can't. Even though I want to with every fiber of my being, I just can't. It's out some beer. It's been, and I remember when you were sending me pictures, You with a weighted vest. Dragon chains from telephone pole, telephone pole. Yeah, that that is not going to

happen right now. Now I will tell you that day that I was worked out after the first treatment if I would have been home if that facility would be, you know, just a few miles from me and I could drive back and forth. That's the first thing I would have done, I would have tried that and so even though it hasn't been ignorant on my part and so that treatment is basically just you going to depth and oxygenating the cell. That's what that's what it is in. Its Irony right?

Yes, Dad. That's a simplistic form for something that is very complicated. They say that it helps the mitochondria to heal. It also they use hyperbaric chamber specifically for our people that dive and get the band's. Everybody knows about that. It's the exact same chamber that they use, but what they specialize at chamber in for now and that's why it's in most hospitals.

Is they use it for severe burn victims because Causes increased blood flow, it causes so growth, it causes new skin to grow more easily and she said, they see blood vessels. It can it helps the cause new blood vessel growth. She even said it had something to do because I don't really understand this themselves stuff. I know, lots of people use them for things and go get them.

I don't really understand that. It's a, you know, it's above my capacity of thinking, but she said, it also does something with the stem cells. In your body. So it is definitely something to look at for varying forms of treatment. Then when you go in there and look at all the different things that they can treat with it, I'm like what that why doesn't? Why wouldn't the insurance pay for this? Well, they want insurance

doesn't pay for this bug. It's all out of pocket is 100% on you as an individual and it's not cheap, but I'm at the point in my life to where my health is more important than the dollars. And that's why I'm doing it anyway because I have got to get back to where I am a viable, human being in my family structure and not what what I've been feeling like since January is just a literally, a leech because I haven't been able to add anything even though I know that's not the case.

But for me man, I'm so independent. I'm so used to being the man of the household and I'm not saying that in a mean way, that's just my family structure. And for me not be able to do that. Let me tell you something, Robert you know how degrading it is to have to call your 70 year old mother to drive you somewhere. That's cool castration, that's what it feels like. Yeah, I mean I'm just telling, you know, man, that's how it hit me.

Mentally, just I'm like her. Now we're talking one day and she's like, you know, just call me anytime this and I was like, Mom, let me tell you something. I really appreciate you. I love you. Thank you for everything you do. But do you know how demeaning it is for 53? Year old man to have to call his 70-some year old mother to get a ride to the store but it's just horrendous for me. I'm not saying everybody else for Yeah.

Well, I mean, shoot, man, you and I talked like when we were working together Way Back in the Day, 2018 like we are conversations branched out far beyond just macros and then we talked about everything and I feel like I've got a pretty good handle on you. I feel like we have very similar values and, you know, just how we how we operate how we think. So, I know the type of person that you are to know you, well enough to know that this is a hard time for you, for sure.

But at the same time I can't think of Any, anybody better to do it, man? I mean, you've got the right, you've got the you've got the run out, you've got this Outlook that. Hey, look, this is not gonna be what defines you and I feel like so many people that have hard thing to them whether it's long covid or something else. Entirely. Yeah. That becomes their defining factor. And this is not going to be your defining factor and I have no

doubt. There's not going to be a defining Factor. Yeah, don't take this conversation as a woe is me conversation. Don't take this conversation. Station as I'm just whining and crying. All I wanted to do in this. I immediately thought about you and I thought, you know what, he has such an audience that is based on health and family and being the best that you can be. Let's get this out there. Just in case there's somebody that are struggling with this.

The a they don't understand it themselves and that be they still look totally normal. And there they think that people think they're lying or they think they're going crazy because of all the different things that are popping up that they just can't explain. And I'm here to tell them you're not crazy, you're not making it up, it is real. And if you go on be long, Cobra judge, research sites that are out there and look at all the symptoms that they have.

Now, officially accepted improving, every symptom that I have told you about is listed on there somewhere. It's like one or two hundred thing. That they're seen. So they're not crazy, just continue doing the best that you can find a physician, that will a work with you and actually believe you. Because there are so many positions right now that are scared of this because they don't have the answers.

I'm just very fortunate that my personal physician will tell me to my face Robbie. I don't have a freaking clue. This is new to all of us but we will try to Work out something that's all I want man give me the truth. Be honest with me. Don't try to be as me into something that you don't even know what you're talking about. Just be honest that you don't know either and we're going to we're going to work together real.

Well, you know. Yeah. I think I think just complete transparency honesty from people that are undergoing, the symptoms have the symptoms people that are at the medical professional level and helping mitigate those symptoms like just transparency from all all fronts. Is always the right, answer my opinion. Yes, absolutely man. Well I want you to overcome all this. I want to last time we spoke way back in the day, we started to get like a duck hunt going on man.

We gotta get you feeling better. Yeah, work at him, going to go. We gotta go, shoot some ducks. There's a lot of life left to live, man. We gotta get you feeling optimal again. Yeah, I'm ready. And, and not, not only that, I just want to be able to finish the gold that just 48 hours. Before me getting sick that I had set. So that is my goal.

You know, I did one my wife, I'm doing one more show just to give her the heads up. So I want to get back to where I'm supposed to be. I'm going to now, have to work a little harder because I have been totally sedentary since January. I am heavier now than I had them. So I've added another five to six pounds on this Frame, that I will tell you is pure fat, that's all it is. I've only got four of my ABS remain in out of all of them that were there.

So, you know, I'm going to have a little extra work to do, but that's okay. I have been physically way worse than this before. So this is still a pretty good frame to start with. So I'm going to be okay getting back to where I want to be for show. But overall I just want to get back to being able to live my life, help others, as much as I can. Be an inspiration to my boy. Voice and to just, you know, to Louisville my wife as much as humanly possible.

Because Robert I'm going to tell you, man. You got that little one. By the way, congratulations on your little one that you have. Thanks, man. But you're going to you're going to blink your eyes and they're going to be walking across the stage graduating from school. And then you're going to blink your eyes and they're going to be in their upper 20s. So the only thing I can tell you is enjoy every single day as much as you can. Daily brush off the mistakes because you're going to make a

bunch. But the one thing that can overcome all of that is love with Robert. Love your wife as much as humanly possible. Love your child. Love your neighbor, love your employees because the good word says and love overcomes all other sin. So just remember, love is the key. That's all I want to do, man, I just want to love because life is too short, not to do that.

Amen to that, man. I feel like there's There's a lot of there's such this weird stigma against love like the whole people, a people look at like what it is to be a man, be tough. Be like, you know, a leader in society and they they put they put so many of the wrong things on a pedestal feel like it's truly admirable to have somebody that showcases that that love and the desire to be the best version of themselves that they can for others.

And that to me is just exponentially, more impressive, more, you know, quote-unquote, manly or Whatever you want to call it, but that theory is is is the direction, people should go. And I feel like, you know, and what little I do know about Jimmy just in what we've done working together and, you know, communicating over the years like you, you are, you are showcasing that on every front,

man. And I feel like there's a lot a lot of inspiration that you put out there a lot of lot of direction that you've impacted people in ways you don't even realize. So I mean all this, all this shit that you're going through now man, I just makes your story that much better, that much more inspirational, that much more transformative and Powerful. So, you know, if anybody can do it, you can do it. And I'm just excited to see the Journey. Keep On unfolding, man.

Well, I appreciate you, bro. I really do. And I will, like I said, I'm just waiting for this year to get back to where I feel like it's semi-normal and I'm going to be going back down there, finish my treatments and I'll give you a shout and let you know whether I'm dragging them change back up down that driveway or not, or or back at back in the gym, you know, starting my pre-contest stuff.

So, I will definitely keep up with you and let you know and you and Crystal or traveling through this area and you need somewhere to stay definitely holler at me. If you're in Virginia, because we got a spare room, you welcome to it. The the animals wake up in the

morning. So there's plenty of reaches out there hollering screaming so you don't have to worry about bringing along Claudia. Hey, would likewise man if you ever find yourself in Northwest Arkansas, you definitely let me know brother and definitely, keep that fish. There's ever anything I can do for you, man. You got my number brother yard Robert. I appreciate you man. You're awesome individual and Almost look at you like, how do you now 30?

Okay, I'll guess I almost look at you like, you know, my boys, you're so close in their, their age. I think you're to over do two years older than my oldest son. I've been following you for so long. It almost feels like you're an adopted son of mine. Yeah, I know that sounds weird, but that's just how it is. It just seems like that. But well-known, let's tell the same such, man. I mean, I'd love to get a workout in with you. I love to go hunting with you.

I mean, like, I just love to keep in touch with you brother. All right, Robert, we will definitely do that and thanks again for letting this information get out there. Appreciate you man. You bet man? Take care of me. All right, Robert, have a good one.