Accountability with Austin

Austin Dotson is an individual with a story of triumph and survival. When you are first introduced to him via social media you instantly see someone sharing parts of his life from fitness to even his adorable daughter. What you might not know is that those two parts go hand and hand with who he is today and where he is giong. 

Let’s get to know a little bit about Austin “Dotty” Dotson

Background – Who is Dotson’s

Austin grew up in Carso, California and always had a competitive love for athletics, mainly taekwondo and football. Both are sports that require the individual to push their physical limits. He played football at Carson High School and immediately after went to Golden West Community College where he would later transfer to Sacramento State University with a full ride scholarship. Graduating with his degree in communications and playing professional arena football for two years and then life happened.

“ I had tunnel vision from there and I didn’t know what to do”

He went from life panning out exactly as he wanted to being in a situation where he didn’t recognize who had become. “ This is totally not what I do,” said Dotson as he spoke about being a loan auditor after he was done playing football professionally. Working 10 to 12 hours days in a position and for a company he knew ultimately weren’t meant for him had adverse effects on who he was becoming. It was a domino effect because without the presence and structure that football required of him he started to venture out and participate in things that he shouldn’t have.“ It caught up to me, you know and I went to jail twice,” said Dotson as he reflected on his excessive drinking and recreational drug usage. 

He mentioned both drinking and drugs because they were a coping mechanism for his depression. Many people take to so many different forms to cope and it is his hope that others realize those two things are sometimes early signs and triggers and to be self aware. 

“This really changed my life and it gave me perspective”

Everything changed for him and got even worse. He lost his job and went into a huge state of depression. But the hope of being a better role model for his then one year old daughter changed his outlook on life. “And so if I couldn’t change my situation, I can myself and maybe changing myself will help my situation,” said Dotson. He knew it was time to make an inner change because his close friends and family all had high hopes for him and he thought he was letting them down. He knew he could and would be better, but he just had to start. For Austin just like in sports, getting in the zone was more mental than anything. 

“You screwed up and made mistakes, but those are all in the past.”

In 2017 on January 3rd Austin looked himself in the mirror and promised to be accountable for all that he has done and what has gotten him into this point in life. “ I looked at myself in the mirror and said you would never be like this again,” said Dotson as he explained how he dropped all his bad habits and those individuals who were around him during that dark period of his life. Austin understood the power of your friend circle so he made sure to get rid of anyone who came in his life at a point that encouraged or motivated him to be the opposite of his best self. 

“That’s where my real fitness journey started”

After losing it all he started over with a gym membership. “ I had to figure out what was right for me and I was dedicated to the journey,” said Dotson. It was in the gym that he not only regained his love for fitness but understanding the power he once had when it came to his will, dedication, and discipline. Within three weeks he started seeing his abs which excited him and then fast forward to six months later his body was completely transformed. He said it was even in better shape then all the years he played football. Austin said, “ I was stronger and faster.”

“I knew from that moment I had an opportunity to change somebody’s life”

A new realization was had by Dotson as he saw that other people needed motivation, encouragement, and support. This is why he isn’t your typical fitness professional. “Through all the smiles I know others are going through stuff,” said Dotson as he hopes his story and what he has overcome can inspire others. He doesn’t just want you to see another fitness instructor and expert doing work and training other people, he wants you to see someone who has been in your shoes and in the places you have been or currently at. Through his fitness business he said his life purpose is to help people and motivate them to change their lives.