Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Mabry.
Kristin, before we jump into specific questions about your practice, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in a small town called Watertown, located in Connecticut. Growing up, my mom was a single mom working three jobs and had four children. My dad has lived in Florida for as long as I can remember and my brother and I would go visit every summer. I was the youngest of three older brothers, so I learned how to grow up and mature quick. We were all very much involved in sports. I played softball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, and cheerleading. I stuck with cheerleading throughout my life since the age of four. From Pop-Warner, high school level, all-stars, and working for UCA traveling to states to help others learn and teach cheerleading. I helped coach since the age of 15 and I then became a state safety judge for the state of CT once I was no longer cheering. Put, sports were always a huge part of my life, but my diet growing up was still fast food since my mom was very busy and we all were very active. The weight caught up to me eventually and I was bullied throughout my middle school years on my weight. It’s something I have always been very self conscious about and in the back of my head. I am a perfectionist, so I have always been very hard on myself, always striving for more and better.
After two years of college and receiving my Associates Degree in Science, I felt lost at what to do or where to go next. The thought of college debt and just starting my life at such high debt, I couldn’t do or understand it. I fell into a depression because I felt lost, stuck, weak, and not good enough since all my peers were going to school, living the college life, and getting their degrees they went for. Sports was always my escape, but now the gym became my escape and therapy. I dug deeper and deeper, wanting to be skinnier and skinner, and soon dropped to the lowest weight I have ever been at 85 pounds at age 21. I developed a severe eating disorder, over-exercise addiction, depression, and anxiety. I lost many of my friends along the way, but one day I decided I wanted to better myself. That I could no longer live like this anymore, so I made the change to better my health, not just on the outside, but on the inside too. As a female, your hormonal levels are VERY important. I grew a huge passion for holistic health and exercise in the RIGHT way.
Everything flipped for me when I got into a relationship with now a great friend here in California. I visited him for a bit and decided it’s all or nothing, so I packed my things, loaded my car up, and moved across the country, traveling for five days. Once I got here, he knew my goals and continued to help me achieve them. I started eating more, eating better, training for my purposes and saw how much my mind and body were changing. I always loved helping others and put everyone before myself, but this time it was for ME.
Then, it CLICKED. To become a personal trainer and want to help others, especially women who feel lost, stuck, depressed, over-weight, under-weight, and want to become the best versions of themselves. I have been a CPT now for three years, and love the entrepreneurship, the feeling of helping others achieve their goals and to love themselves internally and physically. The way I coach is not to just changing your body to look the way you wish, it’s much more than that, I focus on the physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual change.
I currently train out of Self Made Training Facility, West Covina, which is a private facility. I am working on growing my own personal apparel brand to spread women empowerment and self love. My brand is called Lioness Athletics and my message is uplift women to feel empowered physically, mentally and emotionally in all aspects of their life. It’s not just a brand for fitness apparel, but lifestyle as well. In today’s society it can be very hard, especially for women to feel accepted for who they are and what they look like. We ALL have a gift, something unique about us, that makes you, YOU. Embrace yourself, love yourself, and help uplift one another instead of picking on each other because that is only a reflection of yourself. It’s called Lioness because a lioness symbolizes power, strength, wisdom, growth, and leadership.
I am continuing to chase my dreams out here in California as my family is back on the East Coast. I know with hard work, dedication, and consistency, I will get there, and so can you. I encourage you always to follow your dreams and don’t ever look back. Failing and hard times are all apart of your journey and your learning/growing experience. The one’s who do not become successful, are those who quit.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
What’s worth accomplishing if there was no struggle in the process? Of course, it’s been VERY hard at times. I have wanted to quit, give up, and beat myself down because starting at first, was not easy. Good things take TIME and you have to be patient enough always to remember your end goal and your WHY.
I have struggled very much financially here in California, living on my own, no family around me, no familiar faces around me, and not knowing where to start with my business since I was not from the area/state. Even so, I remained consistent and did every little thing from giving out free sessions, going around the mall, coffee shops, and cars presenting my business cards in hopes of gaining clients. I started at a gym called Threshold Headquarters, where I grew myself and my business, but wanted more. That is when I took the leap of faith and joined Self Made.
Even still today, there are ups and downs throughout my life, but I am always grateful for where I am now and who I have become, still becoming. Struggling is the whole part of your life’s journey, so never be afraid to fail sometimes, because that’s where the most growth happens.
Please tell us about your practice.
I am a Certified Personal Trainer in person and online. I specialize in women looking to grow their glutes, shed body fat, gain muscle, or just wanting to better their health and put themselves first. I am most proud of my success in my personal training business. Even though it is still very much the beginning, I am excited to see what is to come and where this journey takes me.
What sets me apart from others is my knowledge of how the mind and body work. I am NOT in it for the money, but the goodness of helping others and being their trainer, friend, one to come to when they need to talk. I am always there for my clients in and outside the gym and form a special relationship with every single one of them.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t start over because this is how my life is supposed to play out. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, even if you mightnot know the reason in the given moment. There have been may learning lesson along the way that have help shape me into the woman I am today.
Contact Info:
- Phone: (860) 417-9370
- Email: kristinmabrytraining@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristinmabry
Image Credit:
Jacob Luevano, Jonathan Perez
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