By Frank Auenson

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. What followed was a surreal and almost comedic series of events involving a warm head, bad bedside manners, and a heart surgeon with a heavy accent who—thankfully—knew his stuff.

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. Thankfully, I ended up with a drain in my side, an infection full of green and black goo (don’t ask), and an extended hospital stay while they figured out how to treat both the infection and my heart. I joked about Frankenstein labs and utility closet operating rooms—but truthfully, it was one of the most intense seasons of my life.

Recovery was humbling. I couldn’t sleep on my side for 12 weeks, my chest felt awful during  daily walks, I knew something was off—months after surgery, even a one-mile walk left me feeling worse than before. A neighbor who had gone through a similar experience helped me realize that my medications were likely the issue. They were suppressing my heart rate while I was trying to exercise and rebuild strength. That conversation changed everything.

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.

The result? I didn’t just build a routine—I added to a vision and a fitness business I had already created in my mind.

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.

A year after surgery, I began offering a curated line of supplements. No synthetics. No fluff. Just raw, natural formulas chosen for their ability to support real health issues—whether that’s heart health, weight loss, or everyday vitality. Today, Stand Alone Fitness offers 25 targeted products, some bundled for even greater impact. We educate our customers about what’s in each product, what it does, and why it matters.

I didn’t start this company because I had all the answers. I started it because I had to find them. And now, I want to help others do the same—one step, one supplement, and one success story at a time.