Our Story ~ by Frank Aueson, Founder

In 2019, while working on my master’s degree, I underwent elective triple bypass surgery. It wasn’t triggered by a heart attack or an emergency—just a stress test that raised enough concerns for the cardiologist to recommend a heart catheterization.

Just when I thought I was mentally preparing for open-heart surgery, life threw me a curveball: my appendix ruptured that I had been living with for 2 weeks. Everything in life was put on hold. Recovery was humbling—I couldn’t sleep on my side for 12 weeks, and months after surgery, even a one-mile walk left me feeling worse than before.

I stopped the meds and felt the difference almost immediately. But I also knew that ditching prescriptions cold turkey wouldn’t be a long-term solution. I needed something better—something natural. That’s when I began diving into supplements, researching everything from organic compounds to plant-based alternatives.

Stand Alone Fitness was born not just from my personal health scare, but from my belief that we are surrounded by enough resources to take control of our fitness and well-being. I created it for people like me—those who don’t love gyms, don’t want gimmicks, and do want honest, effective solutions backed by real research and real experience.