What is LivFit?

LIVFIT is a fitness community comprised of personal trainers providing one on one training, online coaching and nutritional information to the general public. At LIVFIT, our goal is to educate, challenge, motivate and hold individuals accountable to achieve their fitness goals. We are determined to help each client become a stronger, more confident version of themselves.

What inspired you to become a personal trainer?

Growing up in the small town of Old Orchard Beach, sporting events are what brought the community together. My family introduced me to sports at a very young age and since then, my passion for athletics has only become stronger. I was never the biggest or strongest athlete, I actually looked like a marathon runner. I had very little body fat, absolutely no muscle, which let to a lot of rolled ankles and injuries.

Instead of giving up on sports, I started lifting weights and working with a strength coach. When working with the strength coach, I had developed a strong understanding of the impact that exercise can have on the body. I was stronger, I was faster and I felt much more confident with myself. When I first started seeing results I felt unstoppable, and I wanted to help others feel the same way about themselves. That was when I decided I need to learn as much as I can about personal training and exercise science.

At what point did you realize your passion for fitness would become a career path?

Throughout college, I had studied exercise science and became a certified personal trainer. I started training my friends and some family members a few times a week for free. I wasn’t looking for money, I was looking to help educate people about health and fitness… and I needed the experience. As I continued to train, more and more people were reaching out to me for my service and without realizing it, I had developed my business as a personal trainer.

What do you like to do outside of work that contributes to your training and coaching?

There are a lot of things I like to do outside of training. I like to explore. Sometimes I find myself walking around the city aimlessly to discover new parks, trails or cool murals. DC has a lot of cool murals. I am also a very social person. I enjoy meeting new people, drinking good beer and eating delicious pizza. I know, those things aren’t the best for you, but that's why I make sure I workout!!

"I spend my day making people feel better, look better and become stronger. I just realized how important it is to do those things for myself, and it feels damn good!" -KC

How important is having a daily routine?

This is a complicated question. It is important to have a routine, as humans we crave structure of some sort. However, everyone is different. A daily routine might be too much for someone, especially if they were previously sedentary.

The most beneficial way to achieve health and wellness is to incorporate small changes into your everyday routine. This might include a daily training program, it might not. It might require you to change up your diet, it might not. First, develop an understanding of what your goals are. Once you know what you want, do something every day that will help you get where you want to be.

What are one challenge and one lesson you’ve learned from your experience as a trainer?

People are challenging. Some people are the easiest to work with than others. Identifying how to properly interact with each individual to aid in their success. Each client and each athlete respond to different styles of learning and different styles of motivation. It is always a challenge to find a clients limit, without pushing them too far or making them feel too uncomfortable.

Another challenge I face while training is helping people identify a balance between strength and mobility. Most people are looking for an ass kicking workout and overlook the importance of being able to move. As a trainer, it is important to give the client what they want(a sweaty workout), but it is MORE important to give them what they need (the ability to move). It is easy to keep a client entertained with fun and exciting exercises, but it is challenging to incorporate corrective, mobility exercises into a program without them getting bored.

You have to build a strong foundation before you start building the house, but most people don’t have the patience for that.

If you could offer one piece of fitness advice, what would it be?

Only one piece... that's tough. For the general population, I would recommend that you do SOMETHING active every day. It doesn’t have to be a crazy workout. Just get up and move! For the all of those regular gym junkies, don’t be afraid to change it up and LIFT HEAVY. I see too many women shying away from heavy weights thinking they will get bulky. YOU WON'T! The best way to burn fat and build muscle (get toned - - I hate that phrase) is by lifting heavy weights and challenging the body! It is supposed to be a little uncomfortable.