The Rise of the Anti-Influencer: Why Being Real Is the Only Way to Win

Go Ruck Yourself (Seriously)

Rucking is walking—just harder. You throw weight on your back and go. I do it almost every day, usually 50 pounds. Sometimes more. I started with a CamelBak backpack, then a cheap Gold’s Gym vest, and now I use a Wolf Tactical weighted vest. It’s not about what you wear. It’s about moving. Sweating. Showing up. Alone.

I ruck solo, no podcast motivation, just dirt and time. You’d be amazed how much clarity you gain walking with 50 pounds strapped to your chest in 100-degree Texas heat. Some people do yoga. I do rucking. Go ruck yourself—I did.

What Is an Anti-Influencer? (And Why We Need Them)

Honestly, I hadn’t even heard the term until recently, but I like it. An anti-influencer is someone who posts without pretending. Someone who doesn’t filter out the truth. Think of it like Deadpool—still technically a hero, just not the polished kind.

Don’t get me wrong. I believe in mirror neurons. I believe in the power of seeing someone else do something and thinking, “Maybe I could too.” But I’m not standing on a mountain yelling inspiration down at you. I’m out there, still walking, still rucking. Like a lizard in the West Texas desert. Sun-powered. Drenched in sweat. Unbothered.

My Journey: 90 Lbs Down, No Filters, No BS

I didn’t follow a fad. I didn’t buy a program. I didn’t hire a coach. I walked. I counted calories. I quit drinking—over two years ago now. That’s it. That’s the story.

At one point, I looked down and saw the scale flash “250.” That was enough. I didn’t need a motivational video. I didn’t need Shia LaBeouf screaming “Just do it!” in my face. I just decided it was time.

It started in the mountains. At night. Alone. I was filming the Milky Way, dragging around a car battery to keep my camera powered. That’s how it began. That’s how the fat started melting off. One walk. Then another.

Bucked Up, Rucked Up, and Still Standing

After I posted one of my progress photos, Bucked Up reached out. I’m a brand ambassador now. But I didn’t do it for that. I didn’t ruck to get noticed. I did it because it worked.

That’s the irony of the anti-influencer life. You stop trying to be seen—and suddenly people start looking. But if nobody ever had, I’d still be doing the exact same thing. That’s how you know it’s real.

The Power of Real Progress Pics (vs. Instagram Fakery)

Filters are why people can’t track reality anymore. That goes for calories, finances, and fitness. You don’t count your drinks, your shots, your bank balance—because you’ve been trained to ignore what’s real.

I saw 250 lbs on the scale and decided it was done. I made the call. I started walking in the mountains, at night, with a car battery on my back powering my camera so I could film the stars. Alone. There was no audience.

But there was progress. And that progress was real. No apps, no gimmicks. Just momentum.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need Permission—Just Persistence

Persistence is everything. Turns out, yeah—you can polish a turd. You just need the right kind of pressure.

How were the pyramids built? Doesn’t matter if aliens helped or not—those stones still moved one at a time.

You want to build muscle? Cool. What’s muscle made of? Protein. What’s a pyramid made of? Stone. You wouldn’t build it out of paper, would you?

So take your stone. Take your sweat. Take your steps. That’s how I did it. That’s how anyone can.

And if nothing else—go ruck yourself.

Seriously.