We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Owens a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

I think the best advice I’ve given to clients is to remember it’s about “progress not perfection.” There’s so many quick fix and extreme diets that work well in the short term. However, most of us gain the weight (if not more) back when we realize it’s not sustainable in the long run.

I tell my clients, “we are human, not robots.” Life happens…obstacles that we don’t expect come up. But if at the end of the day, we can work each day at giving/improving a little bit more, that progress will add up into some seriously amazing results.

Look for progress in all areas, not just the scale weight. Maybe measurements are improving, clothes fit better, you’re getting stronger, you have more energy, you’re happier, you’re more confident, you’ve conquered emotional eating, etc. These are all amazing signs of progress and heading in the right direction.

Emily, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For so many years, I struggled with severe body dysmorphia and disordered eating .
Growing up, I was a very active and athletic child. From the time I could walk, I was involved in a variety of sports. I grew up in a family that prioritized health and healthy eating.

However, I was a very tall child and the uncomfortableness of being taller than my all friends morphed into a complete hatred for my body, and I began to take it out on my weight.

At an early age, I began to develop disordered eating and severe body dysmorphia. As early as 11 years old, I turned to extreme diets and workout regimes in an attempt to “fix my body”.

For most of my life, I avoided photos, dressing rooms, bikinis, shorts, etc. I skipped outings with friends/family because they involved food or drinks…

My weight roller-coastered as I went through cycles of restriction and bingeing…

I was unhappy and knew I had to make a change.

I knew the struggles I had gone through my whole life with fitness, nutrition, and body image. I also knew my heart was in health & fitness, and I wanted to not only change my life, but to also change others’.

So, when I graduated from Purdue University, I moved to Colorado to study at the National Personal Training Institute. I wanted to learn the science and knowledge behind health and fitness so that I could heal my mind and body, and help others to do the same.

When I completed Personal Training School, I became a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. I went on to receive my Fitness Nutrition Specialist and Weight Loss Specialist Certifications.

For a few years, I trained at a local gym, and have since founded my own Online Fitness & Nutrition Coaching Business. I help hard-working women lose weight, tone up, and build confidence without sacrificing a life of confidence.

It has been the most rewarding experience! There is a light in someone’s eyes when you see that you’ve helped them fall in love with themselves inside and out. That feeling is irreplaceable and every single person deserves that experience!

For every obstacle I have faced, there is also someone’s life that I got to help change! So to each and every one of you who feels like you’re struggling and need some help knowing where to start….I am here for you! I care about you and your goals, and I WANT to help you reach them.

There IS a way to achieve your goals without restriction, without endless hours of cardio, and without hating every minute of the journey.

Let me show you how!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The pandemic and global shut down during 2020 showed me my resilience and potential in this industry. I had been working at a big-box gym prior to the pandemic, but was so unhappy. I didn’t agree with certain aspects, and felt I could help so many more people in an even greater way if I just went off independently as a trainer.

But I was too scared…

However, when the world shut down, I was out of a job. Gyms were completely closed and my future in this career seemed uncertain. Then, my gym went bankrupt and laid off hundreds of employees (including myself). I didn’t know what to do.

After spending lots of time and money on this career, I was so defeated. I didn’t want to give up, but I also wasn’t sure what to do. I felt like I was at rockbottom.

Then I stumbled upon a business coach who helps personal trainers enter the online coaching space. I decided to give one final shot to this career. I invested all the money I had into this program, spent months building my business and getting my systems in place, and then in January 2020, I launched my business.

It changed my life. This is now my full-time job. I help so many people live happier & healthier lives, I work from home, and I’m my own boss. I’m so thankful for the hardships because they put me on a path that led me here.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Standing out amongst Fitness Influencers and large weight loss companies/programs out there is incredibly hard to do. However, I knew my education and experience would prove to people that they could trust me to help guide them on their fitness journeys.

So I spent months creating lots of content that was educational and valuable. I posted on all my social media platforms to gain trust and awareness in what I was doing. I did online masterclasses to teach, educate, and get to know people within my target niche. I posted client transformations and client testimonials. Overtime, my reputation started to build. Word spread and referrals came in. My business started to grow.

I care tremendously about my clients and their journeys. I think having a coach that CARES makes all the difference in the world and helps you stand out amongst the crowd.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emilykowensfitness.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.k.owens/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emily.owens.372/
• Other: Facebook Public Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/844685309718274

Image Credits
Black sport bra/smiling professional photo: Jason Espinoza (photographer) Pink sport bra/red leggings photo: Ethan Herrold (photographer)