via Grunt Style
“The trick is my shoulder, right? I’m getting old. The ligaments…”
Nathan Freihofer, 26, chuckles. Nate’s on the phone from his car, presumably at the parking lot of his local gym, giving us a peek into the life of a fitness creator who’s no stranger to putting his body through the ringer. I personally witnessed Nate do 111 pushups “like butter” on the floor of a San Antonio convention center, with a crowd rooting him on. From the grit of the Army to the grind of the pull-up bar, he’s not your average gym rat. He’s currently on a physical mission, chiropractic appointments and all, to beat David Goggins incredible pull-up record, 4025 reps in 24 hours. In doing so, he’s raising and donating $1 per pull-up for eating disorder awareness and veteran assistance. He recently broke a personal record, chalking up a grueling 1201 pull-ups during a 3AM workout.
“Yeah, did some David Goggins-type stuff,” Nates says about his journey. Nate has amassed 6.6 million followers on TikTok and 587,000 followers on Instagram, following his fitness journey and side quests. And if you think that’s just bravado, think again. Nathan’s got the scars, the stories, and the slightly skewed spine to prove it.
He’s also one heck of a nice guy, genuine and affable to the core.
“Keep inspiring others Nate!,” one follower writes on Instagram. “You’ve brought me motivation to start hitting the gym. And as a hard gaining I’m seeing progress for the first time ever after about 3 months of consistency! Thank you for sharing that all is possible💪”
Nate is also a proud Grunt Style brand influencer. He recently dropped a t-shirt collab with Grunt Style featuring his therapy cat, George, with proceeds benefiting veterans. You can check it out on his Grunt Style collection page, along with some of his other favorite Grunt Style items.
Use code “BROBIBLE20” at checkout on Grunt Style for an additional 2o% off your order!
SHOP NATE’S GRUNT STYLE COLLECTION HERE
So let’s get to know Nathan Freihofer a little better, eh? I talked to him about his journey, giving fans and followers a peek inside his backstory and multiverse.
Just give us a little bit of your biographical background. I know who you are, but just talk through a little bit of your journey in life, yourself and your service leading you up to this moment in time.
So just kind of like holster, bang, holster, bang. Go for it. Whole shebang awesome. Was born in Virginia, kind of near outside Quantico. My dad was an FBI for a lot of years and then moved up to Northern Kentucky, kind of near Cincinnati area, and then lived there pretty much my whole life. Middle school, high school, and then did college up there. When I was in college, I was doing the ROTC program up at Xavier in addition to my biology major, regular schooling stuff. So did that for four years and then commissioned in Field Artillery. Went to Fort Sill in Oklahoma for FAA Field Artillery BOLC (Basic Officer Leader Course). And that was a six-month course. When I was doing that, they had a Ranger School tryout, so me and some other buddies did that. That was like, wow.
BOLC was like 16 weeks. Twelve to 14 of those weeks were also the Ranger School tryout. I got a slot in Ranger School out of that.
I was supposed to head to Ranger School after BOLC, but before I got to my unit, I broke a leg during the tryout. I didn’t want to quit that. So I took a sock and duct-taped my leg together and just kind of finished out the tryout. So ended up getting a slot. I did some old David Goggins type stuff, then went to the doctor.
I didn’t know much about the Army at this time. I’m not sure how the Army works, so I thought, ‘all right, they’ll just postpone Ranger school for me for three months’ or something like that. I’ll be good to go! They’re like, no, we actually just take the slot away. So sorry, but you’re on your way to your first duty station. So that’s where I went to Fort Stewart in Georgia, and then that’s where I did my service.
After I broke my leg, in Georgia, that’s where I started the TikTok stuff. I got bored, so started making videos. I didn’t live near where all the other officers lived. They lived 30 minutes away. So my day consisted of just PT, going to work, I’d work out. I didn’t have an Xbox or anything like that. So instead of playing video games, I would just make videos because I was bored.
I did that throughout the entire time. And then when I got out of the Army, I was kind of like a job to just continue making videos. So that’s what I did. I ended up coming out to San Antonio for work with Grunt Style and did a little cameo on Vet TV and all that kind of stuff. And then now I do this full time, still do this kind of stuff, and then make a lot of fitness content, and then also a lot of veterans, kind of military humor stuff.
How did you make that transition, though, from being an active service member to being a social media influencer? And you know, becoming a face for the veteran community on these platforms.
Yeah. So, well, to be fair, I had the platform before I got out. So I already had a decent following and got some revenue from that. But when I was at Stewart, I didn’t have many people that I really hung out with. It was kind of like people from work, but other than that, I didn’t really do much else. So I started doing these videos as a fun way to keep me occupied. And then by the time I had left, I had kind of built up a platform. I knew I could take a risk and try to do this full time. And so that’s what I ended up doing. And it’s been working so far. Yeah.
I’ve also been working with Grunt Style. I ended up making a whole line of clothing with them. So I do stuff on the side for them. So that’s been really cool. And then, like I said, just making a lot of videos. The TikTok is dying down a little, so I’m trying to pivot to Instagram, YouTubem and Facebook, and it’s more like a sustainable way of income. Going to a whole new platform is pretty hard, I guess.
You’re becoming an ambassador for all these different veteran causes, right? And you’re using your platform to be an advocate and voice. What’s that experience been like for you? It’s such a unique position to be in.
Yeah, it’s definitely humbling. I mean, I say all the time – there are so many more people that have done so much more than I have. And then for me to be in a position where I can kind of talk and help some of these people and then connect them with the right places, it’s definitely humbling. I like it. I mean, I definitely enjoy doing it. I have a passion for helping people struggling with eating disorders, mental health, and stuff like that. So for me to share my journey and my story through, you know, fitness and all that kind of stuff and then see that have an impact on people, it’s pretty cool. It’s awesome to see.
Do you have a specific moment or story that stands out to you where you really saw the impact that you’re having on individuals?
Yeah. I’ve talked to a lot of people, I was actually just at Comic-Con in San Antonio, and there was a person that came up to me and we were talking for a good bit. And I could tell he was struggling with some stuff. He said that he was struggling with rehab and then found my page. Ge was going through a really tough time. But he said that like, after watching my videos and watching my stuff, it gave him like, a little hope to keep pushing through. Now he’s doing well. I think he was a year and a half sober. I was able to connect him with other people in his area. It was cool to see. So those are the moments that make it worth it.
Yeah, absolutely. Are there specific veteran causes that you’re passionate about, or that you focus a lot of your efforts on?
Definitely the mental health side. I talk about that a lot. So I’m passionate about trying to connect with people struggling with those kind of things, and then any sort of rehab centers. There are many people, many veterans, who struggle with drug abuse, homelessness, and stuff like that. So I try to get involved in any way I can with those kind of organizations. And then, I’ve also, like, been able to talk to people that are dealing with eating disorders, which is a pretty big issue within the military community. And so I’ve been able to talk to a lot of people about that and then connect them with the right places, too.
had a cousin who served in Afghanistan and unfortunately, he passed away due to an overdose in California. My goal is to help veterans in any way possible, whether that’s providing them with housing, assisting them in returning to school, or connecting them with programs that can guide them back onto the right path, especially those struggling with PTSD. Every day, 22 veterans are lost to suicide, and I believe it’s crucial to pay more attention and provide support to them.
That’s powerful stuff. And you mentioned your work with Grunt Style. Your shirt for George is now out! Can you talk a little bit about that?
So I partnered with Grunt Style. We made this new shirt. It’s like a joke. So I have a therapy cat, his name is George. So we made a shirt with George in a tank and it’s kind of like a joke. But then also part of the proceeds are going to be donated to the Grunt Style Foundation. It’s kind of like a cool way for us to, you know, give back. And then also, you know, have like a cool shirt to kind of commemorate George.
Go buy it over on Grunt Style for $27.99, it’s going to a great cause!
@_itsnate #greenscreen GEORGE SHIRTS NOW LIVE
Besides the George Tank shirt, which is fantastic, can you share some other items from your Grunt Style collection that you’re excited about?
Sure! There are several other designs that I really like, including a humorous one that says, “I don’t f***ing care” with the cartoon bear and others with motivational quotes like “Embrace the suck” and “Do the work.” These resonate personally with me, reminding me to persevere through challenges. There’s also a shirt that says “Remember Everyone Deployed,” which I think is an important message to spread.
Reminder: Use code “BROBIBLE20” at checkout on Grunt Style for an additional 2o% off your order!
SHOP NATE’S GRUNT STYLE COLLECTION HERE
You’ve also included some silkies in your collection. Could you talk about those?
Absolutely. The collection includes both standard tan silkies and American flag silkies, also known as Ranger panties. They’re versatile and comfortable, perfect for various activities or just lounging around.
via Grunt Style
Where do you find yourself wearing your Grunt Style clothes the most?
I wear them pretty much everywhere, but especially at the gym. I’m a simple guy, and once I find clothes I like, I stick with them. You’ll often find me at the gym, grocery store, coffee shop, or just hanging out with my cat.
Have you had memorable experiences being recognized in public, especially in relation to your clothing line?
Yes, I get recognized quite a bit, especially at fitness expos. People from all walks of life approach me, from fitness enthusiasts to military personnel from various branches. A common question I get is, “Where’s your cat, George?” I wish I could bring him along, but it would be too overwhelming for him.
Even though you are no longer wearing the uniform, how does your service still motivate you today?
I joined the military because I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself, and that desire hasn’t changed since I’ve left. I’ve met incredible people and learned about the internal and external struggles that veterans face. With my platform, I aim to raise awareness and provide support to those who need it. I believe that continuing to serve in this capacity is just as important as my service in the military.
I feel like that’s another calling of service that you can do that’s just as important as what you were doing on the inside. It’s a long winded answer, but, yeah, like I said, I just want to serve in a capacity that I can with the people I feel like I’m part of.