Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Keith.
Ryan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I still remember the look on my wife’s face when I told her that I wanted to quit school, throw my textbooks in the trash and start my own personal training business. She was holding our first child, then two-month old. I was surprised at her calm reaction at first, but then she put her down for a nap and came back with the reaction I was originally expecting. Good thing I came prepared with a notebook full of mission statements and business plans!
I have been a personal trainer in the South Bay for over ten years. I was 20 years old when I got my first personal training job. Fitness and nutrition have always been a passion of mine and it seemed a good fit for me. But when I got married, the pragmatic part of me knew that I would need to find a more stable job. So, I decided to pursue a career as a firefighter, similar to professions of most of my brothers who I’ve always admired. While still working as a trainer on the side, I went to school and got my Associates in Fire Science and entered the Fire Academy. While in the academy, I often found myself dreaming of what it would be like to own a personal training company. I thought of company names, workouts I would do, and what my gym would look like. It was then that I had the huge realization that I could do what I enjoyed most as a profession and it could be a very real way of earning a living for my family. I really wanted firefighting to work out, but I knew deep down that it just wasn’t for me.
I worked as an EMT for a year just to make sure that I was making the right decision, but I knew that I couldn’t keep it up too much longer. I needed to follow my passion for personal training. So, in my spare time away from work and school, I started diving into research into forming your own company and finding out what it takes. It didn’t matter that I missed out on sleep, I was feeling happy and productive for the first time in my life. The only thing I failed to plan was the timing on when to tell my wife the big news – I would recommend waiting until your newborn’s nap time to tell your wife that you’re about to make a major life decision!
Has it been a smooth road?
Sometimes I think that it would have worked out a lot better if I had started my own business at a younger age. Now that I have a family with another baby on the way, I often find it hard to find balance and time. Family is the most important thing for me. But in order to provide a good life for them, I need to be the best trainer and business owner that I can be.
That’s why I feel so lucky that I truly enjoy doing what I do. I always look forward to going into a boot camp or a workout session. I get excited about coming up with workouts and I get great fulfillment in seeing results in my clients. The road to building Let’s Go Fitness was an uphill climb, but it’s helped me to have more perspective and have the conviction that I’ve made the right choice. I can truly say I love what I do for a living.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Let’s Go Fitness story. Tell us more about the business.
When you read what our clients have to say about Let’s Go Fitness, there are common themes in why they choose to join LGF. What sets us apart is that we are not a typical boot camp. We specialize in semi-private group training of six or less so you never get lost in the shuffle but don’t lose out on the high-impact fun of a boot camp setting.
All our workouts are specifically designed with everyone’s goals in mind. Because of our specialized boot camp setting, our clients are pushed to their limits but never beyond it. In our full 60-minute class we also offer nutrition guidance, group stretching instruction, body composition monitoring, a customized workout program for non-coached days, and access to our exclusive social media support group.
I’m interested in what your goals are. I want to help our clients achieve their personal goals through fitness. Whether it’s looking great for summer or having more energy to chase your toddler around, it’s important for me to help people have a better quality of life beyond the gym.
One of the things that I’m most proud of is the sense of community and family at Let’s Go Fitness. Our clients have been able to see so much success through accountability to each other and support from their social media group. It’s awesome to see how they support each other and are so involved with the success and progress of other boot camp participants. There’s something to be said about the bond that’s created by doing hard things together that leads to lasting friendships.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
There is always going to be “the new thing” in fitness. When it comes down to it, exercise, a balanced diet, a good night’s rest and managing stress has always been keys to overall wellness. We want our clients to build a lifestyle of health and most times that is not a one-time event.
I believe the reason why Let’s Go Fitness has been so successful is because we don’t steer away from these core values of health and fitness. Balance has always been the key and the way to lose weight and see results will never change. There is no quick fix. It takes hard work and dedication to see results.
Pricing:
- One Week Trial – 3 Sessions Free
- Two Week Trial – 6 Sessions for $14
Contact Info:
- Address: 2101 Artesia Boulevard
Redondo Beach, CA 90278 - Website: letsgofitnessla.com
- Phone: (310) 245-1382
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @letsgofitnessla
- Facebook: Let’s Go Fitness @letsgofitnessla
- Twitter: @letsgofitnessla
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lets-go-fitness-redondo-beach-3
Image Credit:
Lin & Jirsa
Leenie photography (applies to picture with ball)
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.
