Joel Sundell’s Transformation Story: Overcoming Life’s Challenges Through Fitness
From skepticism to success—one man’s journey to a stronger, healthier life.
At 40 years old, Joel Sundell had been through his fair share of life’s challenges.
A former Army veteran with 11 years of service, Joel was always an active person. But like many of us, life’s obstacles sometimes get in the way of maintaining good fitness habits.
Between the stress of his wife’s breast cancer diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, and the pressures of work and family, Joel’s fitness and mental health weren’t a priority. That all changed when he saw a picture of himself with this shirt off in the summer of 2022, weighing 193 pounds at the time with little muscle. He didn’t like what he saw.
"I hadn’t realized that I had let myself go, and I was pretty embarrassed," he says. "I knew it was time for a change."
A Wake-Up Call: Needing a Change
Seeing that photo pushed Joel to make a decision: he and his wife would enter the Summer Shred Challenge in 2022.
Initially skeptical of the Xtreme Shredded 8 (XS8) program’s ability to deliver real results in just 8 weeks, Joel and his wife went all in and were pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
“I felt like we both did well,” Joel says. “I no longer felt insecure in my own skin. It was truly a life-changing experience for me.”
Despite their success, Joel’s journey was far from over. He still had a few bumps in the road in the coming years.
Overcoming Life’s Obstacles: Staying Grounded and Focused
Shortly after the 2022 Summer Shred Challenge, Joel’s wife began struggling with alcoholism, and his mother was diagnosed with diabetes.
"Following Dr. Jim’s programs and the support I received from friends at the gym kept me grounded,” Joel says. "The combination of those things kept me away from alcohol and really saved me emotionally."
Despite his challenges, Joel stayed committed to his fitness journey, learning to balance his sweet tooth and making better nutritional choices along the way. “My diet hasn’t always stayed on point, but I’ve learned and improved every step of the way,” he says.
Taking on the 2024 Summer Shred Challenge—And Succeeding
Though he was sticking to the fitness lifestyle pretty well, Joel still had work to do.
By January 2024, he weighed 215 pounds and could barely fit into 34-inch waist pants. So he set a new goal: give the Summer Shred Challenge another go and do even better than 2022. “I wanted to do it for myself, and as an example for the rest of my family,” he says.
The challenge became the motivation he needed, and by the end of it, Joel was down to 178 pounds—thanks again to the XS8 program. His strength also skyrocketed: his one-rep max bench press went from 205 pounds to 315 pounds, and his squat max jumped from 255 pounds to 405 pounds.
"Dr. Stoppani’s programs were my first introduction to science-based workouts,” Joel says. “I plan to continue improving, maybe even compete in a men’s physique competition.”
Joel’s story is proof that consistency and following a structured, proven fitness plan pays dividends in all areas.
"If anyone is skeptical and thinks it’s not possible, like I did at first, they need to try it for themselves," he says. "It takes commitment, but the results are real. It’s just a few bucks for a program that can boost you into a lifetime of better health."
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