Today we’d like to introduce you to Byron Paredes.
Hi Byron, 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?
From a dark time five years ago being at my lowest, I decided to change my life and not be a victim of my failures. I decided I wanted to get in the best shape of my life and I had no idea how to do it but it didn’t matter how long it would take but I was determined to make happen.
I had no idea where this journey it would take me, I promoted 2 times from my job in two years moving me up in Finance (Private banking/ financial advisor) I helped people get promoted too, I just remember I wasn’t afraid of pushing my limits because I wanted to keep improving myself. By the time it was 2019, I had decided to make up for a business that my father created and it failed (Clothing Brand) I promised him I would make up for it, and I started to learn the appeal business and start a clothing brand on my own.
That Journey took me to my best shape where I had lost close to 50lbs and after many seeing me transform I started helping people for free to lose weight and change their lives towards a better future. This whole time I was building a team for this clothing line and I started to develop a new set of skills.
This leads to 2020, upon my launch Covid took place and one of my clients from my Book of Business had to shut down his Gym in Atwater Village/ Silverlake do to the lockdown but after six months of not been able to operate (you could imagine what happen if you don’t eat after six months) So I decided to help him keep the Gym alive while I was launching the clothing like with my team. Crazy enough I didn’t know I was helping people with their mental health because they were so grateful I build the courage to give people a sanctuary during those hard times and I fell in love with the community.
I helped the owner run the gym for 6 months and made the gym survive, after learning the business the owner offer me to buy it. Not in a million years did I think this would be what would God have ready for me, and I went ahead and took the leap of Fatih (Quit the stable corporate after 7 years and gamble everything during the most risky times to go in business) I became the owner March 2021 of now called “LM Fitness Center” the Initials of my clothing Line Leaner & Meaner.
I promised to become the best culture and we would figure out how to do it together, and I can honestly tell you we are in our way. We truly care about people’s well-being, we are givers and we mean it and somehow we continue to be blessed through many different ways. Life is about feeling happy and successful and that is exactly what we offer to anyone looking for a life-changing moment.
LM Fitness Center is Home!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No way! I didn’t know that is different working in Finance is different than being a business owner. Consistent trial and Errors. And not because the intentions are bad but because of the lack of skills but as you manage to survive you learn the ways that would help you strive.
We don’t know what is like to be in business normal, we started during covid and I can tell you Omicron last winter was the most nasty thing we had to deal with. Mask policies super controversial at a Gym, we had to make an Outdoors gym and modify our indoors to make it open air to make people feel safe.
The previous gym name had left a sour taste in the community, so rebuilding that trust has not been easy. But it’s ok we don’t like easy anyway.
Also as a start-up, standing out was the only thing we got. Not giving in to the methods everyone else in the industry was super challenging because you’re trying to stick to your own beliefs that actually are good for people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As a Fitness Center people think of a Gym and working out, which most society wish they can do it as a lifestyle (look good/ feel good) but they can’t seem to achieve that. That is because most of us are sold on the concept that Happiness comes from all the Comforts of life.
In reality, true Happiness comes from knowing what we are capable of doing and look for the next difficult thing to do. That is when you start living your best life, so it is very clear if you not at your Healthiest you’re not at you best. If you’re not at your best then you can’t give your best to everyone around you.
We don’t offer memberships, we provide the client’s journey “we want to know what is important to you and make sure it happens” (this can be weight loss, gaining muscle, gaining confidence, getting stronger, etc).
We understand speed wins, the faster you can get to your goal the better. Why Coaching is the way you get to anywhere faster because you will learn these things from someone that’s been on your journey.
From our Fitness, we specialize in Coaching for: Training, Nutrition and Build the Accountability mindset.
We have added 2 more components to the Equation with our New Health Club “247 Health Club” which focuses on Recovery and Wellness.
Yes, you can say we do it all at this point and we keep getting better because we want to provide our members an opportunity to live their lives to their absolute best.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is different for everyone. My success comes down to fulfilling a bigger purpose in life and give it my absolute best to make everyone around me better as long as I’m in this earth.
Happiness is determined by the success we achieve within.
My Personal Success are four aspects:
1) Being in Peace with God, my family, and loved ones.
2) Having something to eat, somewhere to sleep and have to enemies.
3) Provide jobs where my vision is so big other’s visions fit in it.
4) Continue to impact lives as much as I can for as long as I can.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lmfitnesscenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lm_fitnesscenter/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lmfitnesscenter
Image Credits
Carlson Cheng & Robert Bermudez
