From Barbells to Battling Cancer: Naz Thomas on Fitness, Fatherhood & Mental Resilience

In this deeply inspiring episode of Common Cents The Podcast, Garrett Reed sits down with Naz Thomas, a Life Time Fitness personal trainer, former competitive bodybuilder, and stage 4 cancer warrior, for a raw and powerful conversation on health, hustle, and healing.

Naz's journey takes us from his early days as an engineering student to dominating the bodybuilding stage and ultimately transforming lives as a trainer. But his greatest transformation came after a shocking diagnosis—stage 4 metastatic cancer at age 48. With grit, discipline, and an 11-pound salad a day, Naz shifted his entire life to battle the disease head-on. He opens up about the mental reset rituals that keep him strong, the role his 3-year-old son Jackson plays in his healing, and how fitness has become a lifeline—not just for him, but for everyone he coaches.

Whether you're into fitness, fatherhood, mindset, or looking for a true story of resilience, this episode is one you don’t want to miss.

🔥 5 Highlights from the Episode:

1. 🏋️ Passion Over Plans: Naz left engineering to pursue personal training, mastering the art of balancing physical aesthetics with emotional strength and client care.

2. 🌱 Plant-Powered Comeback: After a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Naz adopted a plant-based lifestyle, transforming his body and mindset through holistic health.

3. 🧠 Mental Reset Mastery: His 3-minute "truck-to-gym" reset ritual and the power of managing mental stress are game changers for anyone in a high-pressure role.

4. 👨‍👦 Father First: Naz’s young son Jackson reminds him to take medication and even scrambles his own eggs—showcasing the beautiful intersection of parenting and perseverance.

5. 📈 Tracking = Transformation: Whether it’s nutrition, workouts, or mood, Naz preaches the power of tracking data for long-term growth and results.

   
   

   ⏱ Timestamped Summary:

• 00:00 Naz Thomas shares his journey from engineering to becoming a successful personal trainer, overcoming challenges and earning recognition in the fitness industry.

• 07:15 His transition from sports to competitive bodybuilding, highlighting key competitions and his passion for helping others.

• 23:01 Insights on body image in the fitness world and why client relationships must come before personal goals.

• 35:34 How Naz’s cancer diagnosis reshaped his priorities, training style, and dedication to self-care and family.

• 53:10 The shift to a vegan lifestyle, driven by survival and supported by family, mental strength, and purpose.

• 01:05:19 Strategies for balancing family and fitness, supporting client success, and managing stress.

• 01:24:05 His love for custom cars, funny gym stories, tracking diet metrics, and an ongoing gummy candy obsession.

• 01:37:42 A viral gummy worm gift sparks laughs and a deeper look into holistic coaching, authenticity, and personal growth.

  
  

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🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}