Why I Got Into Fitness and Coaching: My Story

Hey Fitness Fam!

You all know me as "that kettlebell guy" on social, but a lot of you may not know much about who I actually am and why I do what I do.

I got into the fitness game a little later than most (not saying your 20s is late, but compared to some, maybe). I never played sports as a kid and wasn't very athletic. I was always just the skinny kid. The crazy part is, I looked around at a lot of people in my life and realized they weren't really that fit or healthy. I didn't grow up knowing about health or fitness, and it just didn't show up in my life until later. Here's my story.

The day I decided to change

I wasn't always into health and fitness. I didn't start lifting, or thinking about lifting or food, until my mid-20s. But I remember the exact day I decided to make a change: the day I realized I didn't want to end up like so many of the men in my family.

Heart problems run in my family

Heart problems run deep in my family, especially with the men: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and all. And while you can't fight every bit of your genetics, you can control how you treat your body. I watched my dad and my uncles struggle with their health, and I told myself early on that it wasn't going to be me.

Picking up the weights at 25

So around 25, I picked up the weights for the first time. It didn't take long before I was hooked, and when I say hooked, I mean addicted. Yeah, I know what you're gonna say: that can't be healthy. But honestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with being addicted to something that's good for you, especially if you're not going crazy with it and just love it.

Either way, I didn't want to miss a single day in the gym, and I soon found myself in a group of more experienced lifters who taught me all about exercise and training. Within a year I'd gained about 20 pounds of muscle (maybe more), felt stronger than I ever imagined, and started bringing some friends along too.

The moment I knew this stuff works

I didn't have any formal training back then, just a handful of books, some advice from gym buddies, and my own trial and error. But when one of my friends asked me to help him with his diet and training, and he lost 50 pounds following what I was doing, it hit me… this stuff WORKS.

That's when I decided to go back to school for Exercise Science. I graduated with a degree in Health and Human Performance and loved every minute of it. The idea that just changing your diet and exercising could completely transform how you look, feel and move blew my mind.

Before Instagram was a thing

This was all before Instagram or online coaching was even a thing. Back then, I was just the guy helping my friends lift, eat better and look better. But the deeper I got into it, the more I wanted to see how far I could take this and reach as many people as possible.

I'd seen too many people I was close to not take control of their health. I didn't want that for myself, and I didn't want it for anyone else. Even if I only helped a handful of people, it would be worth it.

You can't make someone change

Honestly, it still sucks sometimes, watching people you care about throw away their health for convenience, comfort and a sedentary lifestyle. You can't force anyone to change, though. Sometimes people have to see how bad it's gotten before they make a change for themselves.

That might sound brutal, but it's the truth. Everyone knows they should exercise, and everyone knows sugary drinks, sweets and fast food aren't doing them any favors. I'm not saying you have to be insanely disciplined, never eat anything "fun" or train every day, because you can and should enjoy life. But for the majority of your week, just make good choices. It's really not as hard as people make it out to be.

Where I am now

Fast-forward to now. I'm 42 years old, in what I think is the best shape of my life, and doing my damnedest to help as many people as possible realize how easy it is to completely change their life (and health) just by making better food choices and picking up weights at least 3 times a week.

It's not that hard, and it doesn't need to be complicated. There's also no quick fix or shortcut, so anyone telling you there is, is full of it.

Find what works for you

The best piece of advice I can give anyone: find what works for you. I love kettlebells, and they're easy to stick with (plus they're convenient and make me feel amazing), so that's what I do. Pick something you enjoy, DO IT, eat right, and make healthy lifestyle choices most of the time. That's it.

You only get one body, and it's a PRIVILEGE to be able to move it and keep it running at its best. You don't want to look back and ask, "Why didn't I take care of myself?" So don't spend your life running at half capacity when you can live it strong, capable and fully able.

Want to work with me? Apply for 1:1 coaching, start the Kettlebell Training App free for 7 days, or read more on the Meet the Coach page.

– Adam