Personal trainer AJ Mihrzad once struggled with his own weight-loss challenges and severe back pain. After catching a glimpse of himself in the window of a fast-food restaurant, he decided it was time to make a change. Mihrzad pursued an undergraduate degree in exercise science and nutrition and a master's degree in psychology, striving to learn about all the factors that contribute to fitness success. He tried working at a corporately owned gym, but felt compelled to follow the road less traveled or treadmill less frequented. Mihrzad created LifeFuel Fit, where his focus on three major aspects of health— exercise, nutrition, and mindset—helps others achieve the same confidence, energy, and fitness level that he himself has obtained.

Mihrzad hired a team of trainers and nutritionists to assist him in this mission. The nutritionists provide dietary guidance, the trainers lead highly varied workouts designed to efficiently tone muscles and burn fat, and they all hold clients accountable for their results. Patrons lose a monthly average of 10–12 pounds of fat, or the amount of butter needed to sculpt a soulmate for the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Knowing that everyone takes a different path to fitness, Mihrzad also established LeanBuddy, an app that leads customers through their weight-loss journeys from the convenience of their smartphones. For a full month, users receive a daily email filled with the challenges and dietary recommendations they should take on for that day. Once they complete the instructions, they report back on the smartphone app, then receive personalized feedback from a team of fitness coaches. By letting participants complete challenges on their own time, the program can often produce more dramatic results than other more demanding regimens.