Exploring Life & Business with Lizbeth Reyes of BFITT Online Coaching

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lizbeth Reyes.

Hi Lizbeth, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in San Jose, CA. I am a December baby who was born in the mid-90s. I was an only child for eighteen years and raised by a single mother. My mom and I would constantly move because she could not afford to rent or buy a home. We lived in many garage units and single bedrooms. We never had the opportunity to have our own space where we could have friends and family over. It was embarrassing to share that with any of my peers because I was afraid of being judged. As a kid, this motivated me because I wanted to have a home, a nice car, and live a life where my mom did not have to struggle and work so much. My mom always told me to get good grades and stay in school because that is how you are going to make it. As I got older, I learned about all these different careers and universities, but I couldn’t see myself doing all that. I was more interested in performing arts, film, music, and TV. In fourth grade, our teacher had us create a book and in the “About the Author” section, I wrote that I would become an actress one day. I said I would stay in school, study hard, and try my best to achieve that. When I looked back at this in high school, it reminded me that even if I did end up going to college, I would not be wasting any time.

In 2013, I graduated from Mount Pleasant High School. Then, I attended Evergreen Valley College in the Fall. I was never a full-time student and I had switched my major like four times. I ended up being there for five years. Every year I got to a point where I wanted to give up. I would break down, cry, and tell myself I can’t do this anymore. So I began to focus on the possibility of moving to Southern California by transferring to a university after graduating from EVC. I had always dreamed of moving to Los Angeles because I still wanted to pursue acting and film. Focusing on this goal helped me get through the last year of community college. I was determined to follow my dreams and begin a new chapter in my life. After graduating from EVC, I received an AA in Sociology and transferred to Dominguez Hills State University. In May 2021, I finally completed my college education and earned my BA in Sociology.

I have lived in San Jose my whole life so moving to SoCal was life-changing. I ended up in Long Beach, CA and it is still home for me today. People are really nice, loving, and very open-minded here. I admire all the small businesses, the artwork, food, and how it’s dog-friendly everywhere you go. I love it here. I have met an amazing group of individuals who I call family. We call ourselves the Dream Team and we support each other’s dreams and goals. Without them, I wouldn’t have had the courage to quit my job, start my own business, and follow my dreams.

There is so much that I want to do! Now that I have completed my college education, I can focus on working on the next chapter of my life. I do see myself trying new things like swordsmanship, archery, mixed martial arts, and dancing. I also see myself creating a nonprofit organization for pit bulls. I want to dedicate it to my five-year-old Pit Terrier named Jameson. Then, I plan on pursuing an acting career as I continue to grow my online coaching business. I still want to help men and women through their fitness journey because I love seeing my clients win every day!

I am excited about the future. My spouse and I just had a baby in June 2021. Our son is a month old now and we are going to show him the world. We want to show others how life does not stop after you have kids. People often mentioned how we were going to have to stop doing what we love or that we will physically let ourselves go. If you are miserable and unhealthy, kids will see and feel that. You have to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually so that you can raise kids in a healthy environment. This is us breaking generational curses!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Throughout my journey, I have always been an introvert. Growing up, I felt like there was something wrong with me because it was hard for me to break out of my shell. I constantly had this fear of speaking up and saying what was on my mind. I always had so much to say, but giving my own opinion or idea about something just seemed so foreign to me. People would often think that I was always upset or bored. They would ask and I would say no, but it was hard explaining why I wouldn’t speak. Some believed that I found them intimidating because I would not say a word around them. How crazy is that! It wasn’t until I got older that I learned about the power of being an introvert. I looked at myself differently after making this discovery. It has allowed me to apologize and forgive myself for thinking that there was something wrong with me this whole time.

As you know, we’re big fans of BFITT Online Coaching. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
BFITT online coaching offers custom-made workout and meal plans that clients can utilize from the comfort of their home or local gym. The goal is to meet the client’s needs based on their fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle goals. Our mission is to demonstrate how people can truly become the best version of themselves through fitness and more. I believe that it is important to stay active so that we can take care of our bodies from illnesses and injuries. Being active does not necessarily mean you have to lift weights or run, this can be achieved by joining a dance class, practicing yoga, or taking a walk every day.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
The brand BFITT was created by Santiago Cisneros. He began teaching boxing at the beach on Saturday mornings in Long Beach, CA. Santiago created a meetup page to get people to come to his class. At first, it was Santiago and I boxing together on Saturdays and his class started to grow over time. Santiago continues to teach boxing at the beach and he currently teaches weight lifting classes at Self Made Training Facility in downtown Long Beach. Santiago believes in the power of building and being part of a community. His goal is to have a community center where he can continue to teach, provide educational courses and resources.

I am grateful and blessed to have Santiago in my life. He taught me everything I needed to know about living a healthier lifestyle and the power of being part of a community. He allowed me to take over the online coaching for BFITT and it has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. I never saw myself coaching others in fitness, but Santiago knew that I could do it and learn a lot from it.

Thank you, Santiago!

Contact Info:

• Email: lizbethreyes94@gmail.com
• Instagram: itsliiiiz
• Other: bfitt_onlinecoaching

Image Credits:
Santiago Cisneros (IG: santiagocisneros_) Rachel Hernando (IG: gems_original_photo)