We want to make a change...

Let's be honest, there's a lot of misinformation when it comes to supplements and health in general. In this day and age, it's hard to know who to trust.

That's where we come in.

My Story

I’m Sammy—Cardiac Nurse, V1 Nutra Product Formulator, Content Creator, and former NuLiv Science Sales Rep. Here’s my story:

Growing up, I was obsessed with health, fitness, and sports. That was my world. Summers were spent bouncing between two or three practices a day—football, wrestling, baseball—you name it. My dream was to play Division I sports. It was all I thought about, and I poured everything I had into making it happen. Eventually, the opportunity came—not just in one sport, but all three.

As my senior year wound down and the decision loomed, I had to face reality. Deep down, I knew playing a college sport wasn’t the best move for my future. Sure, there’s always the chance of going big, but I had bigger plans. I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, become a nurse, and eventually further my education as a Nurse Practitioner.

The decision at hand:

• Take an accelerated program, graduate nursing school in three years, minimize debt, and enter the workforce early.
• Or play a sport (most likely football), take on a minor degree, and stretch college out to five years.

As much as my heart ached to play football, I knew the first option was the smarter path. And making that decision absolutely broke me. To this day, it still stings. But looking back, I know it was the right move for my future.

Nursing

I stuck to my plan and pursued my education at Bowling Green State University, graduating a year early. After that, I landed a position on an orthopedic floor at the Cleveland Clinic, only to be thrown straight into the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire hospital was overrun, and our unit quickly transitioned into a COVID unit. Let me tell you—those were the hardest years of my life.

I worked night shifts, didn’t see friends or family, and had zero human interaction outside of caring for critically ill patients. I was miserable and knew deep down... I wanted more out of life.

During that time, I discovered a passion for supplements and began diving headfirst into research. I read hundreds of studies, highlighting and annotating every page, building a solid foundation of knowledge. I was hooked—completely fascinated. Every free moment at the hospital was spent researching new supplements. Before I knew it, I had filled one binder with notes, then another, and another. I was obsessed.

But I hit a wall. I had all this knowledge and nowhere to make use of it. That’s when I decided to start creating content about health and supplementation. Little by little, I gained traction and built a following. My content began to take off, and I realized there was so much more I could do in the supplement field. But the big question was—how?

Supplements

I started following a creator named Konlan Paul, who posted educational content about supplements and built his own brand, V1. I had loads of respect for everything he accomplished—his products, the community he created, and the impact he made. I saw a lot of similarities between us and knew right away he was someone I wanted to work with. So, I set out to make that happen.

I reached out to him, asking if he’d ever thought about bringing on a product specialist. Honestly, I never expected a response, but to my surprise, he got back to me. He said he was considering adding someone and would keep me in the loop. At the time, I thought, "Yeah, that’s probably just a polite way of saying no."

Months went by, and my anxiety skyrocketed. I couldn’t stop thinking about it—working for V1 became my one and only goal. Then one day, out of nowhere, I got a message from him offering me the position. I said yes immediately—without hesitation. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier in my entire life. That same day, I told my boss I was quitting and moving to Texas. I called my parents to share the news, spent one last Thanksgiving with my family, packed my bags, and drove to Dallas on Black Friday.

1,200 miles from home. 23 years old. Didn’t know a single soul. Completely on my own.

And I didn’t care. This was my moment. It was time to take control of my life and go after what I wanted.

Texas

It didn’t take long for me to realize Texas was my kind of place. I loved everything about it—the cowboy culture, the fast-paced lifestyle. It felt like a giant playground, and I dove right in. Things started moving quickly. My content began gaining traction, and I connected with some incredible people in the supplement industry. Those connections soon led to job opportunities, and I took every one of them.

Before I knew it, I was working full-time as a travel nurse, part-time at V1 formulating and sampling products, part-time with Fitness Informant, and part-time with NuLiv Science. I was BUSY—pulling 80-90 hours a week, every single week, with no days off. It was intense, but honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Life was good. Really good. I was surrounded by hundreds of unique products, building relationships with some of the biggest names in the industry, and doing something I truly loved. On top of that, I made some amazing friends at the hospital who treated me like family—like I was their son. I was spoiled, plain and simple.

And then everything changed. My life got flipped upside down in the blink of an eye...

The Beginning of the End?

Someone I loved more than anything in the world was diagnosed with cancer. Not just one of the most beloved people in my life—the most important person. And it nearly broke me. Suddenly, supplements weren’t on my mind anymore. All I could think about was how to get back home to be there for them.

Around that time, KJ mentioned that remote work with V1 might be possible soon, and I didn’t hesitate. I took him up on it, packed my things, and got an apartment in Cleveland, just five minutes away from some of the best cancer treatment facilities in the world.

It’s crazy how much perspective shifts when the life of someone you love is on the line. You quickly realize what truly matters. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the truth—one I’m sure anyone who’s been through this can relate to. Life is fragile, and it’s so easy to take it for granted. You never know when things might change in an instant, so if you’re reading this, please—hold your loved ones close. Tell them you love them. Because you never know which day could be their last.

And lastly... F*ck cancer.

The Birth of GOATED

Not long after hearing the diagnosis, I felt this deep urge to create a platform focused on educating others about overall health—hoping that maybe, just maybe, we could help prevent someone else from facing something like this. That’s where GOATED comes in.

I shared my vision for GOATED with my now-good friend, KJ, and he was all in. Together, we knew we could combine our knowledge and help guide others toward healthier lives through supplements, diet, and fitness.

And you better believe we’re going to dedicate the rest of our lives to doing just that.

That’s my story.

Sammy Stoll

My Story

The Beginning: A Turning Point

My journey into the world of supplements began during a challenging time in my life. As a sophomore in high school, I tore my ACL—an injury that could have derailed my athletic aspirations. However, it became a turning point. Determined to recover quickly, I threw myself into physical rehabilitation and bodybuilding. Defying the odds, I completed my rehab in just three months, a remarkable achievement compared to the standard eight-month timeline. During this period, I discovered Jay Cutler’s YouTube series, which inspired me to dive deeper into the fitness world.

Transformation and Early Experimentation

By my senior year, my commitment to fitness had paid off. I transformed from a tall and lanky 160-pound, 6'4" teenager into a shredded 195-pound athlete. This transformation earned me the title of District Player of the Year in basketball. With a newfound passion for fitness, I began experimenting with every pre-workout, protein, and fitness supplement I could find. Over the next three years, I delved into more extreme experimentation with PEDs, including SARMs and oral steroids. While these took a toll on my mental and physical health and are not a route I recommend, they gave me valuable insights into supplementation and the effects of various compounds. During this phase, I competed in a local bodybuilding show and placed second in my division.

Education and Industry Experience

I pursued higher education at Grand Valley State University, where I majored in Exercise Science and Business. My final college internship, required for graduation, turned into a career-defining opportunity. I secured an internship at Nutracap Labs, a supplement manufacturing company in Georgia. Within two weeks, I was offered a full-time position as a brand developer. I spent six months in Georgia during 2020, learning the ins and outs of supplement manufacturing—from production lines to formulation and sales. This hands-on experience laid the foundation for my future endeavors.

The Birth of V1 Nutra

Amid the global COVID-19 shutdown, I conceptualized my own supplement brand, initially called KJ Performance Nutrition and later rebranded as V1 Nutra. Our first product launch on November 16, 2020, was a resounding success. We sold out 150 units of pre-workout and 150 units of protein within a week, fueled by my growing TikTok following of 30,000 (which has since grown to over 500,000). During my time at Nutracap, I launched my first "loaded" V1 pre-workout, which sold over 500 units in under three minutes. The success caught the attention of Nutracap, who offered to buy my business, but I declined.

Scaling V1 Nutra

After six months at Nutracap, I decided to focus solely on V1 Nutra. I moved to Texas and secured my first warehouse, allowing me to scale the business. By year three, we were generating seven figures annually. Today, six years into the supplement industry, I have done just about everything, from formulation to marketing to scaling a brand from the ground up.

Giving Back and Expanding Horizons

Currently, I serve as the CEO of V1 Nutra and the VP of Growth for Inspired Nutra. I am also Co-Founder of "Goated Lifestyle," where I share my knowledge and experience to educate and inspire others in the fitness and supplement space. My journey has been marked by resilience, innovation, and a commitment to helping others achieve their goals through supplementation and fitness.

Konlan Paul