
WHAT THE HECK IS BACKYARD SHREDS?
THE STORY
"Let me explain. No, there's too much. Let me sum up." - Inigo Montoya
Hey, I'm Cody — glad you're here! I'm just an average joe with some dreams. My story is probably a familiar one in many ways. I hope it encourages you!
In 2023, I had a problem. Two actually.
The first problem happened when our 3rd kid was born. Okay, that came out wrong. He wasn't the problem; the issue was SPACE. Bubba needed a bedroom, so my home office needed to move. But where?
The second problem was TIME. I wanted to get in shape and start lifting weights again. (The desk job and free office snacks hit different in your 30s). But working full time plus going to the gym multiple days per week meant that my family got the scraps when it came to my time.
A home gym seemed like the way to go, but remember, space is an issue. We didn't have a garage, and deadlifting 400 lb. on the living room floor isn't exactly a safe idea (not that my wife would let me).
So I decided to build.
I wanted a garage that I could frame out an office in, but holy bank accounts, batman! The quotes I got were out of our price range. So I looked at just the square footage of the office space I needed.
A shed would be perfect.
I started my search where every red-blooded American man would: Home Depot. But their shed kits were too small, and too cheaply built for what I needed.
So I looked into pre-built options with better materials. They were closer to what I needed, but the price range started to creep up. I wouldn't have the funds to finish out the interior and put equipment in there.
I started doing the math. Even if I "over-built" it with the same building quality of a house... the cost of materials was a fraction of the price!
What if I built it myself?
I spent several months of research and planning. I found some cool shed plans online, but I wanted the floor to be bulletproof and the walls to be taller so I could have enough overhead space.
So I drew my own plans for a 12'x20' shed. After hundreds of trips to the hardware store and countless hours of Googling and YouTube, the shed took shape!
I had a blast building it.
Having never built anything bigger than a chicken coop before, there was something wildly gratifying about standing in a structure that I build with my own hands.
I had learned a ton and gained a few new tools along the way. ("We NEED this roofing nailer, babe!") My dad, some close friends, and even my 3 year-old son had all formed great memories together as we worked on the project.
Now I'm out there lifting daily, hitting new PR's, and putting the final touches on what has become a creative oasis for new ambitions and ideas.
THE MISSION
"'You miss 100% of the shots you don't take' — Wayne Gretzky" — Michael Scott
Folks like me. Folks like you.
Now I'm on a mission. I know there are other folks out there with the same problems and same goals. Folks like me. Folks like you.
The gym you want is possible.
Easier, cheaper, faster than you think.
You just need a PLAN and someone saying "you CAN do this!"
Resources I WISH I had when I started.
The mission of Backyard SHREDS is to remove EVERY POSSIBLE BARRIER standing in your way. Roadblocks that I encountered in my own journey.
- Provide the BEST designs, instructions, and planning resources for home gyms.
- Provide inspiration, encouragement and guidance.
- Build a community of BUILDERS to provide support along the way.
If I can help you move from IDEAS to ACTION — That's a win for me.
THE VALUES
BUILD. LIFT. GROW. What's that all about?
"Build a shed, lift weights in it, grow massive biceps? Right?"
Solid guess — and you're not wrong. We're definitely doing that. 💪🏼
But there's more.
BUILD
We recognize the only thing standing between us and our goals is action.
We are not just dreamers. We are doers. We are resourceful builders.
LIFT
We recognize that to gain physical strength we must lift progressively heavier things.
"Easy" causes atrophy. Winning comes through hard work.
We embrace it. We push our limits physically and mentally. We lean into the heavy lifting of life.
GROW
We are grateful for where we've been, but not content to stay there.
Our families. Our faith. Our work. Our community. Consistent forward progress.
We pursue and empower, encourage and inspire growth.
JOIN US
If that fires you up, you're not alone.
We're building a community of extraordinary people striving to live this way. We need each other. We're stronger together.
Join other BUILDERS in our community groups on LinkedIn or Facebook for mutual support and inspiration.
But before you do, go grab a T-shirt. 😉