Conversations with the Inspiring Sarah Strauss

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Strauss.

Sarah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am an online health coach, personal trainer, and fitness influencer. I am very passionate about helping others fall in love with health and fitness, create a lifestyle for themselves and enjoy the process! Activity, movement, fueling your body for energy and wellness is the core values of what I show people through my coaching and social media!

I started lifting weights when I was 15 and began working in a gym as a lifeguard. I quickly began to fall in love with the process myself and began diving into the science behind training and nutrition. This is also when I started documenting my journey with health and fitness on Instagram.

Getting into fitness was something that came very naturally to me, growing up with a naturopathic doctor as a mother and being in a pre-professional ballet company from 12-15. At 16, I dove into the bodybuilding world, unfortunately, I developed an eating disorder during this time, and by the time I was 18, I was working at GNC, the gym; lifeguarding, going to community college for exercise science, and competed in a bodybuilding competition for bikini.

I began to see that with consistency and discipline I could do anything. And at 19, I drove across the country from Ithaca NY to Seattle WA, where I transferred to North Seattle college, started personal training at LA fitness, did weekends doing supplement demos, started online coaching and documented the entire process on my Instagram.

As I grew as a person, worked hard, showed myself what dedication and work ethic could do; my fitness journey and mindset advanced as well. I started learning more, fell in LOVE with personal training, and as my Instagram, passions, and mindset grew, so did my online clientele.

I started traveling to more fitness expos, I fell in love with San Diego, decided to take a break from school, quite my jobs, move to California and I have never been more happy, fulfilled, motivated or excited for life as I am now.

Has it been a smooth road?
Obstacles will always come up in a fitness journey, and blatantly; in life. The most important thing is that you remind yourself that you don’t have to have everything figured out. The more that I learn, the more people I help and communicate with- The more I realize I don’t have everything or maybe anything figured out.

Overcoming an eating disorder at 15, moving out from my parents at 18, working three jobs in college at one point; it was hard, seemed exhausting, made me want to give up. But if you work hard, I truly believe you can achieve anything and learn everything that you want to.

Things will work out, as long as you stop searching for all the answers thinking they will come from one place, and focus on becoming the best version of yourself by pursuing the things you are passionate about.

You won’t have all the answers- but life can still be beautiful and amazing and you can ALWAYS work hard towards your goals.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Fit and Dedicated story. Tell us more about it.
I am a health and fitness coach, online and in person who helps people find their own passion for fitness. I believe that comes when you can create a lifestyle for yourself; so I show them what it takes to stick to something and find what works for them individually!

Direction isn’t always easy to find, so I give my clients the tools to succeed, I hold them accountable and most importantly I educate them so they can continue their fitness journey long term. Fitness and wellness shouldn’t be a chore, it should be a necessity. I help dedicated women (and men) fall in love with fitness and build a healthy lifestyle that creates real results.

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Opportunity is always out there, you just have to remember that it isn’t going to be handed to you and sometimes you need to create it.

Women especially are in a great position to show others that if you have a voice it needs to be heard. If you have a story, you need to tell it, and if you have value to give; share it.

Your life isn’t just a whirlwind of being busy- it’s a series of decisions that brought you to the place and mindset you are at right now.

Social media gives us the opportunity to share our stories, voice, and value in a brand new way because we can reach more people than ever. Half the world is using social media, and even if you don’t think “everyone” is seeing your story SOMEONE who needs to, is.

Whether you want to start an online business, get certified and coach, just support other women who need it in this community, that is YOUR ROLE. You have value to give, so own it and share it.

Pricing:

• 8 week challenge guide; workouts and nutrition guidance and education $40
• 12 week challenge guide; workouts and nutrition guidance and education $50
• One on one coaching- coaching packages vary (application on the website)

Contact Info:

• Address: 3675 Barnard drive apt 243, Oceanside, CA 92056
• Website: https://www.fitanddedicated.com/
• Phone: 6077934703
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit_and_dedicated/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fitanddedicatedsupport/?ref=bookmarks
• Other: https://sarahstrauss.typeform.com/to/SOfSwF

Image Credit:
Colton Duncan

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.