By: Elowen Gray
At a time when wellness feels like a commodity and inspiration is often dressed up in filters, Bobby Bland enters the conversation with something shockingly rare: substance. His book, Lucky 13: Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way, doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t posture; rather, it simply tells the truth, and in doing so, it does something remarkable: it resonates.
From his small-town roots in Rogers, Arkansas, to the corridors of corporate America, Bland has lived multiple lives: sales executive, insurance VP, restaurateur, health coach, and most recently, author. But it wasn’t until a health crisis forced him to confront the mirror, both literally and metaphorically, that he began to rewrite his story from the inside out.
Now, with Lucky 13 and his coaching platform, www.bobbyblandhealthylife.com, Bobby Bland is doing more than offering advice. He’s helping people get back to the core of who they are—one story, one habit, and one powerful truth at a time.
Rock Bottom Can Be the Foundation
There’s something almost cinematic about Bland’s journey. At 390 pounds, dependent on insulin, and battling a slew of lifestyle-related health issues, he found himself unable to even weigh in at a doctor’s office. The scale maxed out. So, he went to the post office instead. That moment wasn’t just humbling—it was transformative.
Bland could have kept spiraling. Instead, he got quiet, asked for help, and decided to surrender—not to defeat but to faith.
“I realized I couldn’t compartmentalize my life anymore,” he says. “My health wasn’t just a personal issue—it was a spiritual one.”
From that epiphany, Lucky 13 was born.
Life Lessons, but Make Them Real
Forget fluff. Each of the thirteen chapters in Lucky 13 tackles a universal life theme with gritty, grounded insight. From the Golden Rule and emotional accountability to food choices and faith, Bland unpacks real-life experiences that are relatable because they’re raw.
Chapter titles like “Do Unto Others,” “Move It!” and “Eat the Food God Grows” may sound simple, but they’re backed by personal stories of loss, redemption, failure, and renewal that hit hard. It’s not therapy, but it’s close. And it’s not preaching, but it definitely carries a message.
Each chapter closes with a “Food for Thought” reflection—thought-provoking questions designed to help readers pause and evaluate their own journey. No two readers will take away the same insights, which is precisely the point.
From Snack Lab to Soul Work
One of the more compelling chapters details Bland and his business partner Emily Amadon’s venture into health-based entrepreneurship with Snack Lab, a clean-eating grab-n-go concept he co-founded in Northwest Arkansas. Initially successful, the business grew rapidly until the COVID-19 pandemic upended everything.
It would’ve been easy to write this off as a failed venture, but Bland’s takeaway wasn’t bitterness; it was growth. “Even in the things that didn’t work out the way I planned, there was purpose,” he writes.
That resilience is now part of the DNA of BobbyBlandHealthyLife.com, where he provides health and life coaching focused on what he calls bio-individuality—the idea that every person has their own emotional, physical, and spiritual blueprint. No one-size-fits-all advice. Just real guidance for real lives.
Reclaiming Health and Purpose
Bland’s transformation wasn’t just physical. Sure, he lost 180 pounds, reversed his diabetes, and got off all medications, but what really changed was how he saw himself. He went from surviving to living, from coping to leading. And now, he’s helping others do the same.
The message? True wellness doesn’t start with your body. It begins with your belief system.
And while the coaching side of his work continues to grow, it’s Lucky 13 that’s carrying his voice far beyond Arkansas. It’s being passed from father to son, friend to friend, coach to client. It’s the kind of book you highlight, dog-ear, and reread when you need to remember what really matters.
A Wake-Up Call for Today
Let’s face it: most of us are running on fumes. We’re busy, distracted, burned out, and looking for something that feels real. That’s what makes Lucky 13 such a standout. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; it just reminds us how to use it.
Bland isn’t interested in selling perfection. He’s interested in honesty. He writes about parenting regrets, business missteps, emotional burnout, and even spiritual detachment with clarity and zero ego.
You get the sense that Bobby Bland isn’t sharing his story because he wants applause. He’s sharing it because he knows what it’s like to be on the edge and find your way back.
Not Just a Book—A Movement
At 68, Bobby Bland is proof that it’s never too late to pivot. He’s still coaching. He’s still hiking. And he’s still showing up for himself, for his family, and for people who need a push toward something better.
Through his website, he now offers one-on-one health coaching, customized Lifestyle Analysis sessions, and life coaching services that go beyond green smoothies and step counters. He talks about mindset, family dynamics, and faith.
And most importantly, he listens.
Final Word: This Isn’t Motivation. It’s a Roadmap.
Lucky 13 isn’t flashy. It’s not built to go viral on TikTok or trend for a week. It’s built to last. It’s for anyone who’s ever whispered to themselves, “I need to change, but I don’t know where to start.”
Start here.
Whether you’re burned out, overweight, spiritually empty, or just curious about what living with more intention looks like, Bobby Bland’s story offers more than hope. It offers direction.
To learn more or book a personal coaching session, visit www.bobbyblandhealthylife.com
Lucky 13: Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way is now available in print and digital formats.
Author Name: Bobby Bland
Book Title: LUCKY 13: Life Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Book Published by: Author Publications
Book Available on leading platforms:
