Brad McLeod is a former Navy SEAL turned fitness expert, life coach, and author, best known for his work on SEALgrinderPT.com. With a distinguished military career and a passion for physical fitness, Brad brings a unique perspective to his writing, blending his experiences as a SEAL with his expertise in training and conditioning.

As the founder of SEALgrinderPT, Brad has dedicated himself to helping others achieve their fitness goals, drawing upon the principles of mental toughness, discipline, and resilience that he learned during his time in the military.

His writing reflects this ethos, offering practical advice, motivational insights, and actionable strategies for improving both physical and mental performance.

With a focus on functional fitness, endurance training, and mindset development, Brad’s articles provide valuable guidance for athletes, adventurers, and anyone seeking to push their limits and reach new heights.

Whether he’s sharing workout routines, nutrition tips, or personal anecdotes from his SEAL training, Brad’s writing inspires readers to embrace challenge, embrace discomfort, and embrace the journey of self-improvement.

Outside of his writing and coaching work, Brad remains an active participant in the fitness community, constantly seeking new challenges and opportunities for growth.

Whether he’s tackling an GORUCK Star event, leading a training seminar, or sharing his knowledge through podcasts and interviews, Brad continues to inspire others to pursue excellence in all areas of their lives.

Connect with Brad McLeod on SEALgrinderPT.com to access his latest articles, training programs, and resources for optimizing performance, unlocking potential, and becoming the best version of yourself.

Brad McLeod
SEALFIT Coach
Underground Strength Coach level 1 certified
Tallahassee, Florida

Education:
Graduated from San Diego Mesa College (Selective Studies) in 1988.
Graduate from the University of Georgia School of Environmental Design (1993)

Pastimes:
When I am not working out I am spending time with family, mountain biking and spending time in the woods with my dogs.

Favorite college football team:
Florida State Seminoles

Facebook: facebook.com/#!/mbradmcleod
Linkedn: linkedin.com/in/bradmcleod

My ultimate team mate and soulmate – Ashley McLeod during a CrossFit team competition in Jacksonville, Florida.

Brad graduated BUDS class 132 (May 1984) and served at SEAL Team 4.

Question: What was life like for you in the Teams?

I traveled a lot and was training to shoot, dive, climb, and parachute every week. Never a dull moment. I was very fortunate to work with many great operators who had served overseas in numerous combat zones. I tried to learn from them as much as I could with on the job experience.

Question: Did you have a family then?

No, I was a single guy.

Question: How much did you weigh going into BUDS? What were your PST scores?

I weighed 170 lbs (what I weigh now) and my PST scores were the bare minimum to get into BUDS.

Question: What year did you get out of the Navy and why?

I finished up my contract in November 1988 after 6 years. The Navy was going to pay for my education so I enrolled at San Diego Mesa college.

Question: What made you come to the conclusion that you wanted to be a SEAL? When you decided, did you have people doubt you and if so how did you deal with that?

I read the book “Men in Green Faces” by Gene Wentz. That was all it took as I knew at that moment I would become a Navy SEAL.

People doubted me but I did not care. I really wanted to be a frogman and serve this great country.

Question: How long did you train prior to BUD/s? Also, did you swim a lot?

I trained about a year or more for BUDS but did not train the right way as I lifted weights in a bodybuilding gym (with mirrors and air conditioning). I did not ruck at all and rarely ran. I did not swim much to prepare. I made a lot of mistakes.

Question: During BUD/s, I’m guessing that there were times that you wanted to quit. How did you develop the mental toughness to push through it and complete training when so many others didn’t?

I wanted to quit many times. My “why” was really big. When your “why” is big enough you can over come any “how”. I wanted my family to be proud of me and to stop being a loser. I wanted to win and turn my life around.

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