We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jenn Labonte. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jenn below.

Hi Jenn, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Shortly after turning 40, I found myself in a place I never expected to be—physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I had spent most of my adult life as a trainer, a marathoner, a triathlete, and yet, there I was, walking with my friends in a nearly full-leg metal-plated knee brace after an osteoarthritis diagnosis. My shoulder? Torn again, and I knew exactly what that recovery looked like because I’d already been through it once. My response was to let it all become an excuse.
I stopped exercising. I ate more, drank more, stayed up late, and let self-doubt consume me.

And the worst part was I felt like a fraud. How could I guide others in their health and fitness when I couldn’t even get myself together?

Then one day, I said, enough. I reached out to two trainers, yes, even trainers need accountability, and slowly built my strength back. After two more years of dialing in my nutrition I really started feeling like myself again.

When I started Jenn Lab Fit, it wasn’t just about sharing workouts—it was about sharing the reality of this journey. The setbacks, the struggles, and the moments when you feel like giving up. I had lost my confidence, but finding my way back made me stronger than ever. I knew other women were going through similar challenges, and I owed it to them to show up, to remind them that health and wellness aren’t about perfection. They’re about persistence, about meeting yourself where you are, and about creating a balanced life that actually feels good.

Life isn’t linear. It’s messy, beautiful, chaotic, and empowering all at once. We all deserve to find the best version of ourselves—whatever that looks like. And if I can help one woman realize that she can take control of her health, that she’s not alone, and that her journey is worth it, then I know I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to do.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a fitness trainer and health coach with over 25 years of experience helping women feel strong, confident, and in control of their health. My passion lies in helping women over 40 navigate the changes that come with aging, physically, mentally, and emotionally, through strength training, smart nutrition, and sustainable wellness habits.

I created Jenn Lab Fit to help women who feel like their bodies are changing in ways they don’t understand. Women who are tired of feeling bloated, fatigued, frustrated with stubborn weight gain, or overwhelmed by all the conflicting fitness and nutrition advice out there.

Through my online coaching programs, my fitness app, and my growing YouTube channel, I provide women with smart, effective workouts designed for real life, quick but powerful strength-based training that builds muscle, supports bone health, and boosts metabolism. I also provide guidance on reducing inflammation, improving gut health, and making nutrition work for you, not against you. My approach isn’t about extremes—it’s about balance, education, and sustainability.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just give workouts and meal plans—I teach women why certain approaches work, how to listen to their bodies, and how to create habits that last. I meet them where they are, whether they’re just starting or looking to level up. My coaching isn’t about aesthetics alone—it’s about longevity, strength, and feeling good in your body at every stage of life.

What I’m most proud of is the community I’ve built. The women I work with aren’t just clients, they’re part of a movement redefining what it means to be strong after 40. We lift each other up, we push through challenges together, and we prove that it’s never too late to feel your best.

At the end of the day, I want women to know this: You are not stuck. You are not broken. You don’t have to accept fatigue, weight gain, joint pain, or loss of confidence as “just part of aging.” You can take control of your health, and I’m here to help you do it—one step, one rep, and one habit at a time.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been keeping it real. In a world overflowing with clickbait, quick fixes, and trendy wellness fads, I focus on giving women what actually works—no gimmicks, no extremes, just sustainable fitness and nutrition strategies that make sense for real life.

Women over 40 are tired of being told they need to eat less, do more cardio, or follow the latest diet craze. They want honesty. They want to understand their bodies. They want solutions that fit into their busy lives. And that’s exactly what I give them.

I don’t promise overnight transformations or sell the idea that one magic approach works for everyone. Instead, I focus on education and teaching women how strength training, smart nutrition, and consistency lead to lasting results. I help them filter out the noise, break through frustration, and build a routine they can actually stick with.

Most importantly, I show up as myself. I share my own struggles, my setbacks, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Women relate to real. They don’t want perfection, they want someone who gets it.

At the end of the day, my strategy is simple: Give people real solutions, speak the truth (even when it’s not trendy), and be the coach that actually cares about their long-term success. Because that’s what truly makes a difference.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Resilience in this industry isn’t just about pushing through tough workouts or staying disciplined with nutrition, it’s also about blocking out the noise from the people who want to tear you down just because they can.

The bigger my platform grew, the louder the critics became. The trolls, the unsolicited opinions, the strangers telling me I was “too old” or “too muscular,” that my workouts weren’t “hard enough,” or that I should “just accept aging.” And let’s not forget the classic “you’re doing it wrong” comments from people who have never trained a day in their lives.

Early on, it got to me. I found myself questioning if I was good enough, if I should change my approach, if I needed to prove something. But then I realized—who am I actually here for? The ones hiding behind anonymous profiles, or the women who show up for themselves every day, trusting me to guide them through their fitness journey?

So I made a decision: I wasn’t going to waste energy on people who weren’t in the arena with me. I was going to focus on the women who are—the ones navigating busy schedules, aging bodies, and self-doubt, but showing up anyway. The ones who message me saying they feel stronger, more confident, more capable because of the work we’re doing together.

That’s where resilience comes in. It’s easy to get caught up in the negativity. It’s harder—but far more powerful—to stay locked in on your purpose and keep going, no matter what’s being thrown your way. I remind myself daily: I’m not for everyone, and that’s a good thing. If I let the noise stop me, I’d be letting down the women who actually need me. And I refuse to do that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jennlabfit.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennlabfit
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennlabfit
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennlabonte/
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@jennlabfit

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