1431-1432: Fit2Fat2Fit – Drew Manning’s Mormon Story

Today I am honored to share the story of Drew Manning – author, TV star, and founder of the viral brand, “Fit2Fat2Fit.”

In part 1 of Drew’s story, we will discuss, among other things:

• His upbringing in Mormonism
• LDS mission in Brazil
• Marriage & pornography use in a Mormon marriage, followed by the LDS church addiction recovery program
• Infidelity & divorce
• Learning about problematic church history & the 2015 LGBT+ exclusion policy
• The Fit2Fat2Fit story & Drew’s mission to bring empathy to fitness

Part 2 will cover:

• Healing after a divorce
• Discovering meditation
• Finding new wisdom outside of the church
• Spirituality through psychedelics
• Fit2Fat2Fit and the identity crisis that followed
• Drew’s beliefs around God and an afterlife as a post Mormon

Part 1 Show notes:

• Fit2Fat2Fit: The Unexpected Lessons from Gaining and Losing 75lbs on Purpose by Drew Manning
• Complete Keto: A Guide to Transforming Your Body and Your Mind for Life by Drew Manning
• Loving What Is by Byron Katie
• Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
• Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
• The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel

Part 2 Show Notes:

• Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal 
• How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
• The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz

Part 1:

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Part 2:

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Part 1 Timecodes:
6:30 Growing up in a large Mormon family
17:08 Guilt and shame as a teenager
26:00 High school peer pressure
30:43 Rebelling in college then preparing to serve a mission
38:07 Drew’s mission in Brazil
42:20 Attending college and adjusting to post mission life
45:02 Shame parade while preparing to get married
58:03 Drew’s temple experiences
1:02:12 Drew’s fear of admitting his faults
1:03:52 Pornography use in a Mormon marriage
1:10:03 Drew’s affair
1:20:22 Addiction recovery program through the Mormon church
1:27:13 Meeting life coach Kathryn Dixon and realizing his worth
1:30:45 Growing as a person after finding wisdom outside of Mormon teachings
1:34:26 The history of shame and context that led to Drew’s poor decisions
1:45:43 Drew’s exwife Lynn gets in trouble at church for her LGBT support
1:50:26 Learning about problematic church history
1:55:08 The 2015 policy of exclusion cracking Drew’s shelf
2:04:02 Fit2Fat2Fit and Drew’s mission to bring empathy to fitness
2:09:01 Parallels between Drew’s life and business helping people lose weight
2:12:29 Drew’s philosophy on life

Part 2 Timecodes:
5:41 Moving to heal in Hawaii
9:40 Contemplating staying or leaving in the church
11:58 Finding new tools like Meditation
14:26 Positive affirmations
17:00 Gratitude list
18:35 Getting out in nature
19:42 Podcasts and books helping Drew transform into his higher self
23:49 Finding new and better wisdom than church teachings
29:05 Views on parenting
31:11 Drew’s identity and morality without the church
38:28 Developing self love after living life in a shame spiral
42:32 Spirituality through psychedelics
47:45 Ayahuasca and why Drew thrives off of having psychedelic experiences
57:42 Costa Rica inner child experience
1:06:13 Fit2Fat2Fit and the identity crisis that followed
1:18:53 Diet, losing the weight, Keto and recommended exercises
1:26:31 Dealing with emotions when losing weight
1:35:58 Privacy telling parents about divorce, affair, and leaving the church
1:42:24 Pretending vs authenticity
1:48:27 Drew’s beliefs around God and an afterlife as a post Mormon
1:52:14 Purpose of life and Drew’s words of advice for people in a faith transition