We were lucky to catch up with Lish Danielle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lish, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The story that would make the most sense would be how I started my own fitness business; however, that never seemed risky. In fact, elevating in my career was the next logical step after this cannon event in my life.
In 2015 I became pregnant with my third child while houseless and struggling to transition into the fitness career from insurance sales and hospitality. I had been having a very hard time caring for my small family, no government assistance outside of health insurance and subsidized daycare. On top of that I was housing family members that were not working in my modest 2 bedroom apartment. Despite having two children under the age of 5, I decided the only way to release myself of the burden of providing for a family of 7 was to quit all my jobs and give up my home. The original plan was to head to NYC and pursue modeling and performing arts (a consistent side hustle of mine). I was going to give it a go for a year and then come back for my kids regardless of what my financial circumstance became.
The true issue presented itself immediately. I didn’t have a support network. It wasn’t the industries I was in or the lack of hard work (16 hour days and I thought I was being lazy.). I couldn’t make good out of a family that took advantage of my kindness; a boyfriend that secretly hated me; an absent co parent; friends that were more concerned with drama and gossip; let alone employers that loved my sales numbers but couldn’t afford to give me a raise. Pennies became penniless as I was charged exorbitant fees from framily to help me in my most vulnerable time. My “boyfriend” threatened to displace me anytime he got upset with me. My mom kicked me and my kids out because I left my cat’s litter box messy before going out to work from her house.
Therefore, 2 months into my for lack of a better term, sabbatical, I found myself pregnant and boy was I embarrassed. I had been doing odd jobs for change to get to NYC, one of them was doing braided styles for kids and I met a woman that was visiting from Baltimore. We became somewhat acquainted and when I realized I was pregnant and the drama that would ensue… I packed up my kids and headed to Baltimore Maryland. A place I had never been.

I had a job interview lined up before I got off the Greyhound and got the job on my 3rd day. Each challenge that popped up required me to think fast of solutions because it was just me and my nuggets. I had to let my guard down some and actually found it very easy to do amongst strangers. I found resources easier than in my home town, and for the first time in a long while my hard work set me apart in the best way. Employers wanted to keep me comfortable because I was better than anyone they’d hired so far. Not going to lie, it wasn’t all awesome, I went through some trauma there too. Within in month, the young woman I was paying rent to stay with began to show erratic behavior and became very jealous of the fact that I would not prostitute with her. Not working a conventional job she wouldn’t baby sit even though she’d be home with her kid anyway. Actually nothing I did seemed to be enough for her. I had to resist taking on everyone’s fear and agenda, and this is why I grew so much.

I began my fitness studies in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) and while pregnant consumed everything I could about the human body. I arranged an adoption for the child I was carrying on my own. Yet, I felt like I had solid sounding boards from my co workers or even just strangers on the street. Baltimore is deemed “Charm City” for a reason; no one is without a traumatic event and no one is ashamed to share.

I passed my Group Instructor certification right before I had the baby, and was back at it 1 month postpartum. I got fitness jobs in DC and got even more exposure to the industry and some of the best mentoring I’d ever received. The affluence was not one sided or rather beholden to one race. I saw so many successful people that looked like me, not to mention all the native Pittsburghers that I met in the DMV whom I wished were in the Burgh with me.

I found myself by running away with $150 in my pocket and two kids. I cried so much but I also healed so much. I suffered a lot and experienced such intense loneliness when I had to send the kids back up north. However, I hadn’t had solitude in years and my creative mind came out of hiding. I ran away from people whom I felt I couldn’t escape, only to learn why they are drawn to me in the first place.

The biggest thing this risk brought about were boundaries within my family and professional life. I think they all understand I will leave and thrive without them. To be an entrepreneur is first about selling yourself and I learned that it doesn’t matter where I go, someone is always buying.

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?

At Legit Fit LLC, we understand that true fitness goes beyond just the physical aspect. We believe in addressing the well-being of individuals by taking into account all aspects of their lives. Our approach to fitness goes beyond the traditional gym experience, as we provide customized workouts and virtual training sessions tailored specifically to the needs and goals of our clients.
In addition to our personalized training programs, we also offer a range of online programs that allow individuals to access fitness resources and guidance from the comfort of their own homes. This is particularly beneficial for those who may have limitations that prevent them from attending in-person sessions or for individuals who prefer the convenience of working out on their own schedule.
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do at Legit Fit LLC. We have established partnerships with public schools to promote the importance of fitness and wellness among students. By integrating physical activity and healthy habits into the school curriculum, we aim to instill a lifelong love for fitness in the younger generation.
Our target market primarily consists of individuals aged 30 to 75, with a specific focus on mothers and those with chronic conditions. We recognize the unique needs and challenges faced by these groups and have developed specialized programs and support systems to cater to their individual requirements.
When comparing our services to corporate gyms such as Planet Fitness and Crunch, it becomes evident that we stand out due to our holistic approach to wellness. While these gyms may offer low-cost memberships, they fail to address the broader aspects of well-being that are essential for achieving true holistic fitness.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I am a multidisciplinary coach who focuses on mobility and longevity, therefore my goal is to make every ability successful. At first I became known as the woman performing “elder abuse” because I worked with mostly older adults. I had yet to earn the respect of my peers.
Aesthetic driven training on the east coast made my body very appealing however; I had always been small framed. I believe it took people a while to respect my work on my own personal body. It took a while for younger clients to understand my approach as well.

I focus on longevity which entails behavioral change, lifestyle adjustment, and injury prevention. Most people in a panic for aesthetic change hurt themselves which drops adherence and disrupts consistency. My clientele speaks for itself though, where I personally won’t have a lost 50lbs story…my clients have the results to back up my work. I have helped people on the brink of knee replacements who now jump for me. I depend on word of mouth, not advertising. This way instead of someone having misconceptions about what I can do for them, The people who seek me out know exactly what I expect of them and what to expect of me.

Due to the amount of trauma I have gone through, I tend to utilize movement and wellness as a way to heal. I desire to share that with anyone that wants to learn. This means I am quite involved in my community as a trauma first responder. I hold weekly trauma informed movement classes, I go into the schools when a student or teacher dies, and I offer support services for those who are doing some of the toughest community work to ensure their resilience.

Lastly, incorporating made a huge difference. It allowed larger platforms like newspapers and best of lists to boost my reputation. I had to make sure everyone knew I was a brand, not just a personal trainer. This put me out in the forefront and allowed me to network with people definitely above and beyond my pay grade.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

As a Gemini person I could probably have been anything I chose. The issue is making the decision. I would say that fitness most fits my musical theatre background and is as diverse as any cluster of roles I could play. No day is ever the same. No class is ever the same. No client is ever the same. It’s awesome and it gives me the opportunity to be versatile and problem solve. I am constantly communicating and figuring out ways to communicate more efficiently. My website has allowed me to connect to people internationally and is an effort of creative love on its own.

Yet, I do realize that my first love is being a creative and performer. I used to want to be the “Black Tina Fey”, I wanted to write for SNL and be a comedian. At one given time my personal regimen was motivated by the desire of becoming a stunt woman. The arts have never left my life.

Only issue I ran into was having 2 kids by the age of 22. Theatre doesn’t pay the bills, but If I could go back, I’d have left for NYC right away. But I got pregnant while taking birth control, so it’s safe to say regardless of what I wanted to become, I was meant to be a mother. Fitness and my business allow me to be the best mother I can be.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.legitfitllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legitfit_llc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegitFitbyLish?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: @legitfit_llc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVU2kjbkzQUPrLSuk3JGPA

Image Credits

Alaina Webber, Matt Katase of Brew Gentlemen
Elliott Rose Hutchins Daughter
Suzanne Columbus client
Erin Gatz Client
Braddock, Braddock Hills, North Braddock, Cold Case Police Detectives
Amy and Gabby Yearwood, Emma Clement, Brett Fraizer Group participants