By: Dickens Fenelon
A journey of failure, rediscovery, and true transformation by Dickens Fenelon, Founder of Get-FitStay-Fit™.
The Beginning of Discipline
“That spark grew into a twenty-year journey — from IT technician to professional IFBB bodybuilder — transforming over 1,000 clients along the way.”
I was seventeen when I first walked into a gym.
The clang of iron and the smell of chalk instantly felt like home. Back then, fitness wasn’t a business, it was therapy. Yet, like many young people chasing stability, I chose the “safe” path: a career in IT.
I worked as a software technician, a licensed insurance agent, a stockbroker, even a truck driver and security professional. Each job paid the bills, but none fed my soul. Through every transition, one constant remained: the gym. No matter how uncertain life felt, training provided a sense of grounding. Eventually, I realized: this was my calling.
From Tech to Transformation
I committed fully, earning credentials as a sports nutritionist, personal trainer, and peak-performance coach. I stepped onto the stage, competed for years, and earned my professional IFBB Pro card, a milestone I had once only dreamed of. My passion turned into a thriving business helping clients master their bodies and minds.
On the surface, I appeared to be succeeding. My Health & Fitness, Career & Finance, and Faith pillars felt like a perfect ten. But appearances can lie.
When Three Pillars Are Strong and the Others Collapse
For over a decade, I ignored a broken relationship that needed healing. Instead of facing it, I buried myself in work, advising clients to confront their struggles while avoiding my own.
Over time, success started to feel hollow. My performance dipped, focus faded, and confidence eroded. Even my stage presence, once unshakable, began to weaken. I realized that neglecting one pillar impacts all the others.
So, I made the hardest decision of my career: I stopped everything. I closed my business, stepped off stage, and spent nearly two years rebuilding my life. During that time, I gained 50–70 pounds. I looked nothing like a fitness pro, sluggish, bloated, and ashamed. For the first time, I understood exactly how my clients felt.
Those two years were humbling. My discipline evaporated, and my habits fell apart. It took a year to regain my body, and another to reclaim my purpose. But that period gave birth to something greater than muscle: clarity.
I realized that no matter how perfect your meal plan or workout program is, it can’t fix what’s broken inside. Fitness without a mindset is temporary. That’s when the next evolution of my life began, the creation of Get-FitStay-Fit™ + LevelUp-Mindset Breakthrough™.
Why It’s Called Get-FitStay-Fit™
Most people treat fitness like an event: something they do for summer, a wedding, or a bodybuilding show. But events end, and so does their discipline.
When you rewire your mindset and treat health and fitness as a pillar of life, everything changes. You stop training for occasions and start training for existence.
I teach clients to rate every pillar on a scale from 1 to 10. If you stop performing, that number drops, just like in business or faith. When your finances stall, your bank account reflects it. When you neglect faith, your peace fades. The same is true for fitness. Get-FitStay-Fit™ means building the mindset and systems to keep that pillar at a Level 10, permanently.
The Six Pillars of a Level 10 Life
Through my journey, I discovered that every area of fulfillment rests on six pillars:
- Health & Fitness – the foundation of energy and vitality.
- Career & Finance – the expression of purpose and impact.
- Faith & Spiritual Alignment – the anchor that grounds values.
- Family – the bond that nurtures a sense of belonging.
- Personal Development & Growth – the path to mastery.
- Relationships – the mirror reflecting who we truly are.
When one weakens, it drains strength from the rest. True success is about continuous alignment, not perfection, but progress.
The Proof: Real People, Real Transformation
Sumit, From Burnout to Boundless Energy
At 45, Sumit, a mortgage company owner, was drained from long hours and travel. After two years with no results, he came to me. We focused on mindset and built a plan with nutrition, training, and cardio. Sumit gained 30 pounds of muscle and lost 25 pounds of fat.
“Now I’m sharper, more productive, and can work longer without feeling drained,” Sumit says. Today, he balances all six pillars of life as a LevelUp Mastermind member.DF
Phillis, The CEO Who Found Her Core
Phillis, 50, was a busy CEO who still hit the gym but felt unfulfilled. After joining LevelUp-Mindset Breakthrough™, she shed 25% body fat and reignited her drive.
“Fitness used to be a chore. Now, it’s part of who I am,” she says. “I make decisions faster, sleep better, and walk into every meeting confident.”
Shawn, Defying Age and Redefining Performance
At 53, Shawn, a former VP of GNC, struggled with exhaustion from constant travel. With structure and accountability, he lost 30 pounds of fat and gained 40 pounds of muscle.
“Now I feel stronger than I did at thirty,” Shawn says. “My energy, focus, and passion are back.”
Phil, Building Strength on Purpose
Phil, 42, wanted to feel powerful again. We used a clean-bulk approach to build 25–30 pounds of muscle while keeping body fat around 13%.
“For the first time, I actually enjoy training,” Phil says. “It’s changed how I run my business.” Now, he treats his health pillar as non-negotiable, just like his financial pillar.
The Thread That Connects Us All
What links every client’s success isn’t just exercise, it’s mindset reprogramming. Once their internal story shifted, their external reality followed. That’s why LevelUp-Mindset Breakthrough™ is built into every Get-FitStay-Fit™ program.
We don’t just teach people how to train; we teach them how to think, make decisions, and follow through like high performers.
The Hidden Truth I Had to Learn
I once believed success was about how hard you work. Now I know it’s about alignment. You can train like an athlete and still fail if you neglect other pillars. You can hit financial goals and still feel empty if relationships or faith are sacrificed.
Everything in life is connected; when one area falls, the others suffer. That’s why Get-FitStay-Fit™ is about creating an identity rooted in balance and discipline, not temporary motivation.
If you feel like something’s still missing despite your accomplishments, know that I’ve been there. You don’t need another diet or supplement; you need alignment. Rebuild your pillars to support each other, not compete. That’s the real truth about fitness and life.
For a deeper dive into the transformations that prove this approach works, check out our next feature: Inside the LevelUp Transformations: Where Physical Performance and Mental Mastery Meet. In this article, you’ll discover how Sumit, Phillis, and Phil transformed not only their bodies, but their entire lives through the power of mindset reprogramming and the integration of all six life pillars.
Apply Now to Join Get-FitStay-Fit™ + LevelUp-Mindset Breakthrough™
This program is for the leaders ready to build the bodies, minds, and lives they deserve.
It’s for those tired of temporary results and ready for a permanent shift toward a Level 10 life.
Apply today at www.getfitwithdickens.com and start your own LevelUp-Mindset Breakthrough™.
Because when you master your mind, you master everything.
Author Bio:
Dickens Fenelon is the Founder of Get-FitStay-Fit™ and Creator of LevelUp-Mindset Breakthrough™. This performance system combines fitness, sports nutrition, neuroscience, and mindset reprogramming to help high performers excel in all six pillars of life. A certified sports nutritionist, IFBB Pro bodybuilder, and Peak Performance Coach, Fenelon specializes in helping executives, CEOs, and business owners achieve lasting transformation through his LevelUp Mindset Coaching™ programs and Dickens Coaching Academy, where he trains and certifies the next generation of transformational coaches.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and reflects personal experience. It is not medical, nutritional, or financial advice. Always consult a licensed professional before starting any fitness or nutrition program. Results and testimonials are individual experiences and not guarantees of similar outcomes.
