Today we’d like to introduce you to Stormi Knight.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Before I got started into my fitness journey, I was studying to go into criminology and was volunteering at the VA hospital. I never planned to go into the fitness industry. It wasn’t until I broke my leg, was met with doctors that predicted I would never be able to be active and have difficulty walking in the future. Disappointed with their response, I chose to take matters into my own hands; I switched majors so I could learn more about the body, and gain the knowledge I needed to not only build myself up but also to help other students take their power back through fitness.
I switched my major to kinesiology, volunteered at the athletic department, and became involved with the biomechanics program. In doing so, it ignited a true passion for me to help others in finding their strength. I decided to run free boot camps on campus and at parks. I wanted people to feel challenged and empowered and always raise that standard for themselves.
From there, I decided to become a certified personal trainer worked at a corporate gym, worked at a CrossFit gym, and worked at a private celebrity gym then went to train high-end clientele privately on my own.
At the time, it was very fulfilling to help others reach their goals. I felt a shift happen where I needed to focus and do more for myself, so I decided to compete in a local powerlifting competition and won 1st place. I competed in a few CrossFit competitions, I felt like I found a new strength about myself and something I could bring to the table to help others with their fitness.
From that, I began looking at fitness communities to be a part of, to grow and thrive on a level where people thought like me when it came to helping others. I did a lot of research on many companies and the communities they were building. I went through quite a few companies, and then I found 1st Phorm. I did research on them and the athletes they had, the community they had was something I wanted to be part of. I knew I had to try and apply to become an athlete, I promised myself I would commit and be dedicated to my craft gaining more knowledge to become better, networked at the fit expos and other communities to make connections with people.
There was one moment I will never forget that changed me. I was at the Fit Expo in Los Angeles networking, and I was approached by a woman trying to recruit me for a supplement company she gave me an offer and I respectfully explained to her that I’m trying to become a 1st Phorm athlete. I will never forget how this woman, a stranger insulted me and tried to embarrass me in front of a whole crowd of people. She said, “I will never be a 1st Phorm athlete. They will never pick me up or consider me.” Afterward, she stormed off, and I looked around while everyone looked at me. I took that moment and used it as momentum to grow be better so no one would ever feel it’s acceptable to ever disrespect me. From that point I knew I was going to have to do whatever it to become undeniable. Then in 2018, after applying to become a 1st Phorm Athlete-I got chosen to become one of the newest athletes. I was on cloud 9. I worked hard prior to that moment, and having that experience I felt like I could grow and level up to add more value.
I was able to grow as an athlete, as a creator, and a collaborator. I started to work with different brands and really grew. As soon as I started catching my stride, it immediately came to a halt.
One morning, I woke up and I knew something was different; I was struggling to get up.
At first, I thought I was ridiculously sore from training hard, but as time went on. It was getting more difficult to move. I started getting severely ill. Food was making me sick, and I couldn’t train. I went to the doctor to get checked out. The first few doctors dismissed me and said I just needed to accept the reality that I’m getting older. The others wouldn’t even examine me because they wouldn’t take me seriously. The last doctor tried to explain to me that it’s all in my head and at the point I lost it. I demanded that he draw my blood, he finally listened, and as I waited for the results my health challenges accelerated. Within less than two weeks time I dropped 25+ lbs fast, the day-to-day was becoming difficult.
After getting the results back it showed that I was dealing with for autoimmune disease. Relieved to have found a clue to what was going on, I was hopeful that I could find a solution despite the challenges. As time went on I was plummeting fast and I was fighting depression because of all the pain I was going through. It was hard trying to begin to explain what was happening to me, so I didn’t say anything in the beginning. I was extremely frustrated because I just signed on with 1st Phorm and I was battling a health condition that doctors weren’t so informed on, my life was changing fast and it ended up affecting a lot of my relationships with family, friends, and work opportunities. I felt like I couldn’t catch a break but I knew I had to work through it because I had to keep trying, no matter how much pain was in I was determined to make it through. Focusing on finding the root cause so I can get better and continue on with my purpose.
Eventually, I went to work with a functional medicine physician who helped me to take a holistic route with my health. I was able to find some relief and slowly started getting better with medicinal foods that helped to heal me, changing my environment and mindset so I could get better and focus on helping others going through the same thing. I began rebuilding myself, I knew things would get better, and I started feeling like I was catching my stride. I started working with other companies as a creator, owning shares in a company, begin building my own app, and working with more online clients, something I was looking forward to expanding so I could reach more people.
Then, recently things completely changed in a drastic way. I was getting ready for a running event; I trained hard for it and was excited to compete. The day before the running event, I ended up back in urgent care. I knew something wasn’t right. My health had taken a bigger hit than before and I felt like I couldn’t recover. I couldn’t move well, and every time I moved I knew I needed to go to the doctor right away but I was motivated to still show up to the even competition, not give up, and never feel sorry for myself.
As I begin the journey again with my health, things may be challenging and unknown at the moment. But no matter what, I will continue to thrive. The priority and mindset is always to get better, heart is filled with gratitude for another opportunity to make my world better by changing my thinking, to be more effective and efficient to solve more problems. This has helped me to propel forward to continue my mission of helping others and continues to fuel me.
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?
Everything that I have been through has never been easy. I have always struggled, failed many times, and wanted to quit most times. When your health is compromised and slows you down, it alters the mind, facing that is the scariest thing. I’ve struggled mentally, when I tried to get help from professional people they would be dismissive and that put me in the darkest place I’ve ever been.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I like the diversity and ability to make new connections, and the opportunities are endless. I dislike the overpopulation of homelessness.
Contact Info:
- Website: pillar.io/stormiknight_
- Instagram: stormiknight_
Image Credits
IG @photomarktoo
