“All Natural, Nothing artificial”

Do you struggle to stick to a routine because it’s not working? But what if the reason you are exercising is the problem? The Fitness Mindset reveals why 99% don’t reach their fitness goals. Discover the values of fitness to build habits for sustainable action and training skills for peak performance!

How would it feel to have the mindset to sustain motivation?

The Fitness Mindset is a self-help guide that gives you a considerable amount of informational support. This includes exercise modalities and biomechanics; training methods, systems, routines, and variables; exercise motivation and goal setting; exercise strategies to enhance focus; nutrition and post-exercise nutrition; recuperation and adaptation; injury prevention; and the benefits of exercising that goes beyond a physical transformation. Includes over 50 color images, charts, diagrams, and more than 150 endnotes for additional informational support.

This book can show you how physical exercise can give you the ability to manage your mind, the skills to train at an optimal level to master your mind, and the confidence of a resilient mind to overcome setbacks and conquer everyday obstacles and make you strong.

Written during the COVID-19 2020-21 Pandemic, The Fitness Mindset is a culmination of 45 years of training knowledge and experience by a natural fitness veteran that combines a science-based and common-sense approach to get strong, lean, and fit.

Randy M. Herring is a fitness coach, teacher, and writer. He has survived cancer three times. He has taught at Washington State University, Spokane Community College and Gonzaga University. Randy’s academic background in exercise science and philosophy and his unique training perspective makes this book a valuable contribution to the fitness industry. His story is both entertaining and insightful.

“I have had the pleasure of being a client of Randy’s for the past two years. I’ve never met someone so passionate about fitness or so focused on self-improvement. His book, The Fitness Mindset, is written to offer a path to self-improvement for readers based on their circumstances. It includes basic workout routines and meal plans, stresses the importance of form and consistency, and enables you to be your own personal trainer. With Randy’s help I’ve been able to exceed my fitness goals despite my physical limitations. If you’re looking to begin improving yourself, this book is a fantastic way to start.” - Owen T.

“Well written book. Loved the fact that it is current and even has recommendations during COVID-19. Lots of references to scientific facts to steer you in the right direction regarding goals. If you are looking for a book that inspires fitness and health, The Fitness Mindset is for you.” - Mark Allan, Retired USAF

“A comprehensible and motivating self-help book to get into shape with some excellent information about macronutrient ranges, injuries, and biomechanics for safe and effective training. The Fitness Mindset has knowledge to get the beginner started and a lot to offer to the experienced lifter who needs to grow and add diversity to his or her workout routine.” - Llewellyn Williams, MD

“The Fitness Mindset is a great book written by a true champion of human endurance. Randy’s perseverance in the face of challenges should be a testament to all.” - Craig Ambacher, Business Owner

“I was encouraged to read The Fitness Mindset after sitting through the COVID-19 Pandemic. Randy’ steps to fitness and the mindset of how to get there is easy to understand. Chapter 4, Psychological Valuations, was of particular interest to me. The author describes his story of his lifelong passion of fitness and the extent he went to be fit by any means and anywhere he called home. Randy motivated me to get back on my bike to get healthier so that I could start feeling better about myself.” - Marie Parks, Retired

“Read The Fitness Mindset and learn how seven habits can help you train at a peak level and become unstoppable!” - Jacques Pitcher, 3x North American Masters Champion

Because YOUR mindset and knowledge are the biggest factor in making progress towards your fitness goals Randy’s book and his articles can equip you for SUCCESS!

Randy M. Herring is a mindset coach & fitness expert. He received his BA in Religious Studies and studied Exercise Science at La Sierra University in Riverside, California. He completed his MA in Philosophy at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Randy has taught philosophy at Washington State University, as well as philosophy, ethical theory, and logic at Spokane Community College, and reasoning at Gonzaga University, both in Spokane, Washington.

Randy lived and worked in Japan on three separate occasions in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s and made several visits to Palestine in the early to mid-1990s before settling in Spokane.

Randy has been bodybuilding and fitness training for nearly 50 years. He is a natural athlete and has survived testicular cancer three times.

Randy is an author of personal growth strategies of two books: The Fitness Mindset: 7 Habits for Peak Performance to Get Strong, Lean, and Fit (2021) and Reflections on Growth: An Existential Journey (2025). He is currently working on his third book: Challenging Mental Barriers.

“Follow a balanced diet, engage in regular exercise, read printed material frequently, and pursue continuous self-education.”

Read how Randy got started on his fitness journey!

Randy weighed 115 pounds at 15 years old. He was too intimated to join his local gym so he trained at home with a barbell and dumbbell set. He lifted weights every day three times a day to get strong and build muscle. But that was a mistake. After 6 months, he only put on 10 pounds. He was still thin for two reasons. One, he didn’t eat enough. And two, he exercised too often. Read Randy’s detailed story here (originally published in July 2002): Gaining Weight With A ‘Fast’ Metabolism.

Randy invested in a weight gain diet mail order from Universal Bodybuilding. He worked as a dishwasher for a local restaurant. He ate burgers and fries or French dip sandwiches and cherry pie during his breaks. Randy followed this weight gain diet for 8 months. He ate six frequent meals every day that were evenly spaced out about 3 hours. His first meal was at 6AM and his last meal was at 9PM. Randy ate meat and cheese, gorged on desserts, drank lots of milk, ate a lot of bread, and consumed nightly protein drinks.

Randy gained 55 pounds in eight months. He tipped the scales at 180 pounds and his waistline ballooned from 27 to 36 inches. But he felt confident about himself because he transformed the skinny kid that he once was into a more confident and stronger kid.

To lose the fat he gained, Randy saw a training mail order program in Muscle Builder Magazine. The mail order program featured a picture of a bodybuilder’s inspiring powerful-looking physique whom Randy was unfamiliar. It was Arnold Schwarzenegger. He invested in Arnold's diet and training program to lean out. In 4 months, Randy lost 25 pounds.

In Randy’s first serious year of training and investing in two training and nutrition plans, he gained 30 pounds of lean muscle training at home. He weighed 155 pounds at 16 years old. Randy was stronger, more confident and had a better physique. He joined a local athletic club within a few weeks.

“LIFE IS CHANGE. REFUSE TO BE STAGNANT. ALWAYS STRIVE FOR SELF-IMPROVEMENT.”

Randy’s second transformation occurred over 40 years later at 56-years-old. He lost 17 pounds in the first 16 weeks and 25 pounds in one year. Randy went from Fat to Fit in One Year Naturally (Steroid-Free for Life) and without caffeine and muscle enhancing supplements.

A year after Randy’s second transformation, he had a third recurrence of testicular cancer. He continued to exercise through 10 weeks and 40 bags of aggressive chemotherapy from November 2021 to January 2022.

The side effects of chemotherapy changed Randy’s body’s chemistry, physical condition, and appearance. Since he has no testicles and because he had an elevated prostate coupled with blood clots, Randy’s doctor took him off Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT).

Because Randy has no balls, he cannot produce testosterone. And because he couldn’t take TRT, his body had to regulate itself on estrogen alone because that is the ONLY hormone that Randy's body produces naturally.

Chemotherapy and a lack of testosterone made Randy lose his hair, get softer around the belly, get soft skin, experience countless hot and cold flashes, get blood clots, and have a significant decrease in cardiorespiratory and muscular endurance.

But Randy fought back! To counteract this change in his body he had to adjust his training variables.

Overcome setbacks and obstacles!

After 23 days of chemotherapy, a few days after losing his hair, and finishing a 6-hour chemo session, Randy put his strength to the test and deadlifted 315 pounds for 2 sets of 10 reps!

60 days post-chemotherapy recovery without TRT, Randy hiked to the top of Mt. Sentinel in Missoula, Montana. The hike took him over an hour longer to complete, but he did it!

A few months after hiking Mt. Sentinel, Randy ran the Missoula Half Marathon without TRT, except testosterone deriving from his adrenals with a value between 40-80!

Can a man live with low testosterone? YES! Can a man workout with low testosterone? YES! Can a man make physical improvements with low testosterone? YES! Does a man want to live without a necessary amount of testosterone? No, of course he doesn’t. But Randy lived without TRT for 10 months. And he made strength gains and physical improvements with the only testosterone his body could produce through his adrenals, which was below the “normal” range!

Bodysport.com features the full inspirational story of Randy’s courageous battles with fitness as his weapon to keep moving forward.