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

Kylie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

Hi, my name is Kylie Ross, and I am a recovering food junky. My journey has taken me through many levels of highs and lows. I reached a point of depression from being in various relationships that made me feel defeated and lonely, so I turned to food and more food. My highest weight was 400lbs!
Can you believe it?! I couldn’t, but I grew accustom and only changed my dress size, but not my lifestyle. Due to other underlining health issues, I turned to bariatric surgery.
After surgery, I went through much needed therapy to ensure that I was ready for the journey I was about to embark. After losing 75lbs from the physical adjustments of my recent surgery, my cravings came back; my emotions started taken over again (the little voices came back telling me, I cannot do this and it would not last).
I turned to the gym and started walking and listening to my music, then I got a Personal Trainer. She turned me onto Group Fitness classes and I LOVED IT! I was welcomed immediately and made to feel accepted for the first time in a long time, if ever.
Because I craved the energy and power that I felt in class, I wanted to be that source for others as well. This led me to instructing!

Kylie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I currently offer limited Personal Training sessions for individuals with long-term goals, Small Group Training, Bridal FitCamp, and Bariatric Health Management Support. Small Group Training is a hybrid seasonal program that comes with weekly nutrition tip, various fitness formats and exclusive access to recipes and other resources that will recreate a healthier lifestyle with group encouragement.
Bariatric Health Management Support is for those exploring, preparing for, or already had surgery and needs support in exercises, foods, supplements, and group conversation with like-minded individuals. Who better to assist than those who have experienced it. There are many ups and downs with this method of weight loss. I introduce exercises that will help offset and prevent common conditions from the surgery, such as acid reflux.
Bridal FitCamp is a premier fitness and meal prep program that is scientifically designed to achieve certain goals in as little as 6 weeks for brides on a strict timeline.
All of our programs comes with accountability and tools to successfully maintain your newly-achieved goals. They are all developed strategically to accommodate our clients and removing all excuses.
We also offer our own line of VRoK FitGear, which includes waist trainers, wraps, Sauna leggings and shorts and more!

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach and Group Fitness Instructor in many formats. I have developed a bootcamp-style format, known as LeanUP Bootcamp. Other formats includes: Mossa Power, Zumba, Zumba Gold, Silver Sneakers, Mixxedfit, Step Aerobics, Cycle, Rebounding and Yoga. We are well-equipped in training others with a desire to build strength, cardiovascular strength, tone and lean up. We believe in continuing education in order to stay abreast of the latest studies and practices for optimal success.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn that my emotions and desires do not matter when it comes to my clients. I had a moment when I conducted group check-ins for a prior program and I recorded the sessions. When I reviewed the recordings for quality trainings, I quickly realized that I mostly mentioned “I” and “my feelings and thoughts on something”, rather asking and effectively listening to my clients to make adjustments needed.
I immediately make the necessary changes to listen to my clients and respond according to with my desires and emotions becoming a topic.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vrokfitness.net
• Instagram: vrokfitness
• Facebook: VRoK Fitness
• Linkedin: VRoK Fitness
• Twitter: vrokfit
• Youtube: VRoK Fitness

Image Credits
Photos taken by Michael Wright, Owner of Elite Mindz Media and Films Makeup by VanCrystal or VanSessions Model: Daryellis Alvarez