Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Castillo . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elizabeth, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

The reality is: Fitness no longer looks the same as it did even just three years ago. Exercise science and technology have improved, and the pandemic expanded a multitude of home-workout options. Although the pandemic shut down gyms in 2020, that didn’t stop people from working out.

People are now fitter than ever, and keen to find new ways to boost both their physical and mental fitness as the world continues to deal with this ‘new normal’.

Biggest Trends I see?

Workout Types!

For example…

Short workouts and Commuting cardio- Cycling to work, fitting in an early morning class at your favorite studio or simply squeezing in a few minutes of high-quality exercise throughout the day has been on the rise, especially for people returning to the office.

Virtual reality (VR) and TikTok driving curiosity is taking the fitness world by storm.

Getting outside: Lacing up your shoes for a walk or run is making a comeback this year. There’s nothing like fresh air to boost your health.

Low intensity as the new high intensity: Workouts like barre, pilates, Indoor Cycling, swimming, and yoga are all low impact great exercises.

Opting for natural alternatives: Covid has made the entire world look at their health in a different light, I predict a more holistic and alternative approach to health and wellbeing in 2023.

Home gyms: An excellent option for people who want to get in shape without having to leave their house or go to a gym. Particularly trendy this upcoming year will be ‘all in one’ home gyms, with HD screens and coordinated equipment.

Fitness apps: They can be purchased separately on your phone or used in sync with smart technology fitness equipment like iFit and Peloton.

Wearable technology: Wearable technology is another trend that’s been around for a while, but it’s still going strong and evolving. Many fitness enthusiasts use their bands or watches to track their sleep patterns, heart rate, and more to help them stay on track with their health goals.

Other trending (and engaging) workouts include beer yoga (yes, it’s a thing!), boxing, jiu-jitsu, and aqua spin.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a weight loss expert from Miami with almost 10 years of experience in the fitness industry; 100% dedicated to helping busy women lose fat and keep it off without sacrificing their lifestyle. I know what it’s like to struggle with weight (loss and gain) and poor body image, because I had been through the process myself, both ways. At first, I was too skinny and felt awful! I was bullied at school because my legs were “too thin” and I had “no butt”. After having my first daughter, my weight reached 200 pounds and I had no confidence, again. I was lost, stuck in a vicious cycle, and had no idea how to start getting my confidence back.

During most of my life, I battled eating disordered behaviors, yo-yo dieted, secret eating patterns, suffered debilitating migraines, joint pain and endured overwhelming stress. But a few years ago, I hit a wall and was determined to find a healthy way to lose weight and manage the stress of a high-pressure lifestyle, which is common among women. That’s when I discovered the Ketogenic Life Style.

I guess you can describe me as someone who’s passionate about helping women get their “sexy back”…because how someone feels and how they present themself to the world is key…but that confidence must be present in oneself.

My approach to weight loss as a certified personal trainer has a great focus on mental health; I believe the mind and body are strongly connected. I teach women to have a new perspective of food and help them shatter all the unhealthy subconscious links they’ve created to food, that lead to self-sabotage.

In 2015, I took a leap of faith with my fitness coaching and started the Miami Warriors. It was just me training friends (and friends of friends) in a park everyday after work! However, it was through doing this coaching that I had truly realized my love of training! My amazing daughters were a big inspiration for me at that time. Every mom can knows that her kids are everything, but with working a 9 to 5 and having a 10 year old and a 2 year old- becoming a coach seemed nearly impossible. But when Camila, my oldest, stepped up to help out with herself and my other daughter… let’s just say it was a huge reason why I was able to pursue my dreams.

As time went by, I managed to transform not only my body and mind but also my lifestyle- while continuing to advance my career. I had found my passion and purpose, and kept coaching; pursuing nutrition and personal training certifications. Now, (and inspired by my personal friend/Coach, Diana Arango) I am getting certified as a Cycling Instructor. In addition to this, I’m working on a new “very low impact”, (lower body) indoor cycling training plan, that will focus 100% on strength and will be specifically designed for women.
We as women deserve to feel sexy in our own skin while also becoming our best self!

My goal is to have a party on the bike every-single-time, to be an inspiration for someone that’s trying to find their path, and to create a new tribe of strong fabulous queens.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I think I started by sharing results and developing a personal connection with people.

Believe me, I had no more than 50 followers and maybe 3 were liking my posts!

Something I learned from social media, is that people like when you document your progress.

Show your followers what you eat, when, why, how it makes you feel (supplement recommendations are very important). It doesn’t have to be fancy….and what works for you might work for someone else…

Sharing your expertise on fitness and overall health is a good way to build trust with your customers and impress potential new clients.

If you create a blog or website, you can post entries about a range of topics, from healthy eating habits to exercises that your followers can do at home. After publishing each new blog post, use your Instagram or Facebook account to share your article.

Also, instead of focusing solely on advertising your work, share occasional fun posts that people will enjoy and share with their own followers. You could share your favorite motivational fitness quotes (or fails). If you really enjoy cooking, you could share your favorite healthy recipes or tell the story of a humorous cooking disaster. Have fun and find what works for you!

Be Consistent and Restrained: (and this is something I will admit I struggle with!) Once you’ve created a strategy for how you’d like to keep your social accounts up-to-date, be sure to keep a consistent posting schedule.

Aim to share new content at least a few times per week. On the other hand, posting stories a handful of times each day will help you grow your account. Instagram Reels and TikTok are our best resources now. And you can always use trending hashtags to help promote your posts as well.

The best advice I can give? Show your TRUE personality ALWAYS! Social media offers you a chance to introduce your clients to the real human behind the professional…also, be happy (for real)! Project gratefulness and your internal value to others…let the happiness in your life reflect what you put on the screen!

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process./

Currently I’m focused on my new indoor Cycling certification and working in the construction industry. However, I do not manufacture any products. But hey, I won’t say I don’t have occasional dreams about creating a cool active wear brand… Perhaps something that will make you want to work out and make heads turn, eyes widen, and jaws drop!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @EliFromMiami
• Facebook: Coach Elizabeth