James Pease: From Rock Bottom to 2025 SS8 Challenge Grand Prize Winner
At 37, James Pease turned his health around, dropping 43 pounds and winning the 2025 SS8 Challenge Male Grand Prize.
When James Pease looks back on where he was less than a year ago, it’s hard for him to believe how far he’s come.
“I was so sick and tired of being miserable and always feeling like crap—not only physically but emotionally as well,” says the 37-year-old husband and girl dad (he has one daughter). “I was failing. Failing myself and my family. I was overweight, tired, and had no drive whatsoever. I never wanted to go and do anything, and I was so over it.”
James had tried on his own for a year to get healthy, but it wasn’t clicking. He lost some weight, but he knew he wanted—and needed—more. “My wife and kid were one of the biggest driving factors for me," he says. "They deserved the best version of me I could be. I needed help, and I was really, truly ready for it.”
That’s when he saw a post about Jim Stoppani’s coaching service. He jumped on it. On October 15, 2024, James weighed in at 230 pounds. That’s the day he now considers the true start of his fitness journey.
Building a Foundation
James’s early goals were simple: show up on the days he was supposed to, hit his macros, avoid ego lifting, and start learning the basics of nutrition and training.
“I was missing so much basic knowledge on just existing as a healthy person—it was truly mind-blowing," he says. "To be honest, it was overwhelming at times. But I wasn’t alone, I had my coach. She helped me with exercise form and helped me understand nutrition on a deeper level. I really had no idea what the heck I was doing before.”
His coach emphasized consistency and sustainable habits. “She told me it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and we wanted to build maintainable habits," James says. "That was truly groundbreaking for me. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could truly make a difference in my appearance and the way I felt.”
Supplements, Recovery, and Lifestyle Changes
Once nutrition and supplements were dialed in, James started hitting his stride.
“My early morning workouts are fueled with Pro JYM and Pre JYM Plus , which was the perfect combo," he says. "I’d have Pro JYM as my first breakfast to stop the hunger pains, then power through with Pre JYM Plus. No stomach ache or bloat—just hard lifts and gains. After my workouts I refueled with Post JYM and Iso JYM . They gave me that little boost to get through the rest of my day.”
But it wasn’t just about training and protein. Recovery became a major focus. “A few months into my journey, fatigue hit and sleep wasn’t coming as easy," he says. "I hopped on ZMA JYM to help me recover quicker and sleep deeper. Within the first week, I noticed deeper sleep and my muscles were more relaxed. Small things make a huge difference.”
Lifestyle changes were equally important. “In the beginning," he says, "my lifestyle was out of control. I ate too much and drank alcohol way too often. It took a few months to stop drinking. It was tough to let go, but I wanted more health and less booze. Moderation is key for me.”
Committing to the SS8 Challenge
By summer, James was ready to push himself further.
“The SS8 Challenge came up, and I told my coach I wanted to do it and really commit," he says. "I’d done a few in the past but never full out like this time, and I’m telling you, it was absolutely amazing—hard, but so awesome to have completed it and gotten serious results.”
The payoff was immediate—and personal. “My daughter told me my belly was a lot smaller! That was the biggest win of the challenge right there," James says. "After hearing that from her, I knew I’d already won. I finally started to feel proud of myself.”
By the end of SS8, James had dropped nearly 43 pounds, weighing in at 187 pounds. “Every damn day I wanted to quit, but I just looked at my heavy photos and thought about my wife and kid and what they deserved from me,” he says.
Then, another payoff. A huge one: James won the male Grand Prize of the SS8 Challenge, with a $10,000 reward plus an all-expenses-paid trip to Hollywood forthcoming.
The Biggest Lesson Learned
Reflecting on his transformation, James is clear: the hardest thing he had to overcome wasn’t the diet or workouts—it was himself.
“It doesn’t matter who’s in your corner supporting you," he says. "It’s still just you. You’re the only one who can change you. And it’s terrifying and hard, but it’s also amazing. No one else can make you do one more rep, push harder, get your steps in, or eat less. We are in control, and it’s power. Use it!”
James leaned on the JYM Army , his coach, his friends, and especially his family. But ultimately, he says, “I earned it. Today, I’m confident—and it’s awesome because I earned it. My family has never seen me at my best. Heck, neither have I. But I’m so much closer now, and I will get there.”
Related Articles
-
Steve Weiger’s Journey to Becoming the 2017 New Year’s Challenge ChampionHow an overworked 47-year-old dad transformed his life with a JimStoppani.com workout challenge.
-
Amanda Day’s 6-Week Transformation: Female Grand Prize Winner of the Shortcut to Shred ChallengeShe lost weight, gained muscle and strength, and won $10,000—all while balancing family life and fitness.
-
From Overwhelmed to Inspired: April Adkins' Transformation in the Shortcut to Shred ChallengeHow a widowed mother of five lost 15 pounds in 6 weeks with the Shortcut to Shred Challenge.
-
How Jesse Webb Transformed His Body and Mind with the SS8 ChallengeAfter years of poor habits and self-doubt, he used the SS8 Challenge to transform his physique, confidence, and future goals.
