We were lucky to catch up with Kaitlin Mazzei & Lyndsey Crofoot recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kaitlin Mazzei &, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
It was 2015 when the two of us teamed up as personal trainers at Crunch Fitness. It was fate, really. Our shared passion for fitness immediately clicked, and we knew we were destined for something great. We both quickly saw success at that gym and became the top personal trainers in our region. We were more than coworkers, we were teammates. We recognized the skill sets one another had and balanced each other well. Having someone to bounce ideas off of, problem solve, and learn with was a game changer.
Owning a business together was always a dream, you know? We pictured ourselves owning a gym, and running it just like the one we started in. Little did we know that our destiny had something different in store for us – an online venture that went way beyond fitness.
Here’s the thing: When we were personal trainers, we noticed a big problem. People were fixated on one piece of the puzzle: working out. Sure, we loved helping people lift weights and get stronger, but it wasn’t enough. We wanted our clients to truly understand what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle. We wanted them to become self-reliant, not dependent on us forever. You know the old saying? “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.” Well, that’s the philosophy behind FORMTraining, our business. We teach people, women specifically, how to live healthy, for life.
When clients enroll in our program, we create a personalized process that fits their lifestyle like a glove. They follow this system and can rely on it to get lifelong results. We tackle stress, educate them about nutrition, find activities they enjoy, and help them restructure their habits. We cover all bases, because we know that true health is a package deal
Our goal was to give our clients real results, not just give them our time. When the idea came to us, we were confident that this holistic approach would make a lasting impact and allow us to help even more people. Going online was the game-changer. Suddenly, location didn’t matter anymore. We could assist anyone, anywhere in the world. Friends and family who wished we could be their trainers? Well, now we can! Plus, we were offering so much more than just workouts. Our clients needed guidance throughout their entire journey, and now we’re there for them every step of the way. Let’s face it – there’s only so much you can accomplish in a single hour. Back when we were in-person trainers, we barely had time to touch on sleep, stress, or nutrition, let alone provide a comprehensive plan. But now? Now we’re opening new horizons and leaving no doubt that our unique approach to health and fitness is transformative.
Kaitlin Mazzei &, 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?
Funny enough I (Kaitlin) got into the fitness industry through my partner Lyndsey. We met in 2015 shortly after I lost a significant amount of weight and changed my lifestyle. At the time we were both working at a restaurant together enjoying the busy and chaotic NYC lifestyle. We clicked instantly. We became close friends and eventually she learned more about my weight loss journey and newfound passion for fitness. Lyndsey was already working at Crunch Fitness as a group fitness instructor, and she was in the process of getting certified to become a personal trainer. She mentioned that the gym was looking for more female trainers for their new location and landed me an interview with the fitness manager. I got certified, and the rest is history.
It’s not easy to pick just one thing we are proud of, but if we had to, it would be the remarkable dedication our clients bring to their program. We truly understand the struggle of taking action on seemingly unattainable goals and breaking free from the comfort of familiar yet unproductive patterns.
When women choose to work with us, they’re not just embarking on another run-of-the-mill diet or weight loss program. They’re making a profound decision to embrace their journey towards becoming the very best version of themselves. It’s about letting go of false beliefs and unhealthy habits that have held them back until now. Exercise and nutrition serve as the vehicles on this transformative path.
Here’s the thing we want the world to know: Our brand, FORMTraining, isn’t just about health and fitness. It represents the courageous women who take full ownership of their lives, no matter how tough or daunting the process may seem. We’re here to support them every step of the way, providing guidance, encouragement, and a community of like-minded individuals.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
We are two ambitious souls, that decided to dive headfirst into the crazy world of entrepreneurship. Once you do that, you better be resilient. We’re on a mission to make a real difference, helping women transform their health and rewrite their identities. As important as our mission is, it has been (and still is) a wild ride through the ups and downs of our journey as owners of a kickass holistic health and fitness company.
Building and growing our business hasn’t been a walk in the park. Nope, not even close. We’ve stumbled, faceplanted, and made more mistakes than we can count. But hey, we wear those mistakes like battle scars because they’ve taught us invaluable lessons along the way. There were moments when we doubted ourselves, questioned our sanity and wondered if we had what it takes to make this thing work. But we didn’t, and still don’t, let self-doubt win. The universe seemed to be playing a cruel joke, testing our limits but deep down, we knew we couldn’t walk away. We had a purpose, a huge one, to help women permanently change the course of their health. And that purpose, is what fueled our fire when things got tough. Every stumble, every doubt, and every desire to quit only made us stronger. With each mistake, we learned and grew. Failure became our secret weapon, turning setbacks into steppingstones towards success.
We believe that being in the exact field we are in has helped us be so resilient throughout our journey in business. In the realm of weight loss and building muscle, resilience is key. It’s not a linear journey. There will be setbacks, plateaus, and moments of doubt. But it’s the ability to bounce back, adapt, and keep pushing forward that separates the successful from the stagnant. Just as a weightlifter learns from failed attempts and adjusts their technique, a business owner learns from mistakes and pivots their strategies. When you hit a plateau in your weight loss journey, you don’t throw in the towel and call it quits. Instead, you reassess, tweak your approach, and find new ways to challenge yourself. The same applies to building a business. In the gym, those last few reps burn like hell, but you push through because you know it’s necessary for growth. Similarly, building a business often means stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks, and venturing into the unknown.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
This is a lesson we’ve both had to unlearn and we also help teach our clients to unlearn. It is a common trap that can hinder progress and growth, whether you’re building a business or pursuing weight loss. The “all-or-nothing” mindset. It’s this idea that everything must be perfect, flawless, and a resounding success. The pressure is immense, the fear of failure is real, and the need for control can be paralyzing. It can show up as rigid, extreme thinking. You believe that you have to stick to a strict diet plan or exercise regimen with zero room for flexibility or enjoyment. If you deviate even slightly from this perfectionist approach, you might feel like a complete failure. Guilt, shame, and that dreaded yo-yo dieting cycle become all too familiar.
This was something we have both struggled with and unlearning it was necessary if we wanted to succeed. Instead of expecting flawless decisions and foolproof strategies, we try and focus on progress, growth, and learning. We tell ourselves it’s okay to take risks, explore new opportunities, and make necessary adjustments along the way. That’s how we truly evolve and succeed in building our business and our bodies. Embracing a more balanced mindset, one that allows for growth, self-compassion, has given us both the courage to take imperfect action.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/606959237220982/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitbythepound/ https://www.instagram.com/crofit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaitlin.mazzei.1/ https://www.facebook.com/lyndsey.crofoot
- Other: Shopify: https://formtraining.myshopify.com/