FitCoach Teri Smart • Fit • Strong • Free

When I open my own personal gym, I'm putting a cat cafe right in the middle of it, for those who need a reason to show up even when their motivation is questionable.

I'll call it Studio C

I fell in love with strength training at the age of 46, after my last divorce.

I learned to lift weights and eat heathy. I was in the best shape of my life, eager to learn more about this lifestyle, and even pursued my Personal Trainer certification.

One day I was at the gym in a squat rack with an 80lb barbell on my shoulders, something I did regularly.

I squatted down but didn’t have strength to lift back up, and had to drop the weights.

This never happened before… I was so confused.

Over time, I continued to lose strength, which led to a back injury during a workout, making it difficult to do any lifting without pain.

Even with physical therapy, I continued to experience constant setbacks.

Strength training was such an important part of my life, but now it seemed that my body was falling apart, and I couldn’t figure out why.

I felt like my health and everything I loved was being stolen from me.

I continued to do what I could to stay healthy and strong. I refused to give up. Stretching, light strength work and focusing on mobility seemed to be my only options.

Even though I continued to eat healthy, whole foods, I started to gain weight

Calorie restriction worked temporarily but the weight came back once I ate at maintenance

I experienced severe depression, anxiety, and at times felt I was losing my mind.

I suffered physically and mentally no matter how hard I tried to live a healthy lifestyle.

My quality of life and relationships suffered as a result

I refused to accept that I was “just getting older”, and continued to fight for my health. Constantly reading and searching for answers. Giving up gas never been an option in my life. (Part 2 continued in next post)

Part 2 (because IG limits my space)

It wasn’t until recently that I learned how the loss of hormones negatively impacts womens mental and physical health

That there are estrogen receptors in almost every organ of the body including the brain and..

…as a woman loses her estrogen, she can experience not just hot flashes, but muscle loss, joint pain, anxiety and depression, and a multitude of other physical and mental health issues.

I went to my OBGYN and was offered an anti depressant for my symptoms, and told I needed to go be checked for cancer

I knew in my heart that this wasn’t right

I finally found support, had my hormones tested only to find that my estrogen was undetectable.

My other hormones had plummeted as well

I have recently started hormone therapy, and two months in I feel like I have not only my body, but my life back.

It’s going to take some work to get back to where I was physically, and that’s ok.

Losing hormones is no joke. Our bodies do not function properly without them. Menopause is not something that women can “just get through naturally”, like I once thought it was.

My situation could have progressively gotten worse and even ended very badly some day in my future. But instead, I have been given the opportunity to thrive and live again.

Feeling a little thick lately 😅

I’ve gained 10 lbs since starting HRT (hormone replacement therapy) 2 months ago.

I’m not worried about it, I can lose the weight.

What I’m celebrating is gaining back my energy, mental state, strength, ability to think, and libido (yes I said it lol).

I had no idea how far I’d fallen from the person I used to be. Over the last 4 years, as I gradually lost my estrogen and other hormones, my body and mind suffered in so many ways, as did my quality of life and relationships.

I just wasn’t myself anymore and this low level of living became the new me.

I refused to accept this societal norm of “aging” and fought for my health until I figured it out.

HRT has given me my life back, and I feel like myself again. The new explosive energy has been an adjustment… it’s been a bit of a struggle but I’ll get this.

I’m excited to live again. 🤩🥳🥰

Age 54, but identify as 32 😉

I've recently made quite a few new connections here on Facebook 🎉

So here’s a quick post to introduce myself to those that don’t really know me yet…

And some random facts that you may not know about me!

I’m 54 years old

I was born and raised in California, & have 3 brothers & 1 sister.

I gave birth to my sons when I was 18, 19, 20 and 21 yrs old. 😅

I raised my boys as a single parent.

Today my 4 sons are grown into handsome amazing young men! ❤️

I am in year 6 of the best relationship of my life with my best friend and partner.

I have a total of 9 grandchildren from ages 1 to 12. (Don’t quote me on that!)

I work as a merchandiser for a company called Electrolit, driving all over the city of Orlando to sell this very popular and thriving product into stores.

In 2013 I decided to follow my heart as an entrepreneur & attended an online business school, also known as B-School with thought leader Mario Forleo 📖

I created my first online business as a Virtual Assistant, and have also worked online as a graphic designer, social media manager and “Boymom coach”.

I live in Orlando Florida, where I’ve been for 5 years and have never felt more at home.

I am a “raver” and love to go to large EDM music festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, and the biggest music cruise in the world, Groove Cruise!

I almost always have music playing wherever I am.

I never watch TV. Only a movie every so often, where I struggle to stay awake through the entire movie 😅💤

I started my personal fitness journey in October of 2015, the day my last divorce was finalized.

I meal prep on weekends to support my own healthy living lifestyle & strength train 4-5 times per week.

I don’t drink alcohol

I’m a nerd about anatomy, neurobiology, physical and mental/emotional fitness, and will be heard quoting Andrew Huberman

Because I love the world of health and fitness, I became a certified personal trainer in June of last 2022.

I am also into nutrition, aka eating real food.

I have recently launched my own online fitness coaching business to help others begin or strengthen their own personal fitness journey.

I teach women the foundational habits of a healthy lifestyle to support their journey so they have the tools for success in weightloss, strength training, and sustainable healthy living for the rest of their lives.

I currently offer a very affordable 12 week program to do the above

I am the author of the Fit Strong and Free fitness and mindset journal.

I believe that no matter what age you are, fun should always be a big part of healthy living.

That’s a little about me...
Appreciate you reading...

I’m excited to connect with you, drop me a comment or dm to let me learn a little about you!

page pinned post about me

I recently made quite a few new connections here on Facebook …

So here’s a quick post to introduce myself to those that don’t really know me yet…

And some random facts that you may not know about me!

I’m 54 years old

I was born and raised in California, & have 3 brothers & 1 sister.

I gave birth to my sons when I was 18, 19, 20 and 21 yrs old. 😅

I raised my boys as a single parent.

Today my 4 sons are grown into handsome amazing young men! ❤️

I am in year 6 of the best relationship of my life with my best friend and partner.

I have a total of 9 grandchildren from ages 1 to 12. (Don’t quote me on that!)

I work as a merchandiser for a company called Electrolit, driving all over the city of Orlando to sell this very popular and thriving product into stores.

In 2013 I decided to follow my heart as an entrepreneur & attended an online business school, also known as B-School with thought leader Mario Forleo 📖

I created my first online business as a Virtual Assistant, and have also worked online as a graphic designer, social media manager and “Boymom coach”.

I live in Orlando Florida, where I’ve been for 5 years and have never felt more at home.

I am a “raver” and love to go to large EDM music festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, and the biggest music cruise in the world, Groove Cruise!

I almost always have music playing wherever I am.

I never watch TV. Only a movie every so often, where I struggle to stay awake through the entire movie 😅💤

I started my personal fitness journey in October of 2015, the day my last divorce was finalized.

I meal prep on weekends to support my own healthy living lifestyle & strength train 4-5 times per week.

I don’t drink alcohol

I’m a nerd about anatomy, neurobiology, physical and mental/emotional fitness, and will be heard quoting Andrew Huberman

Because I love the world of health and fitness, I became a certified personal trainer in June of last 2022.

I am also into nutrition, aka eating real food.

I have recently launched my own online fitness coaching business to help others begin or strengthen their own personal fitness journey.

I teach women the foundational habits of a healthy lifestyle to support their journey so they have the tools for success in weightloss, strength training, and sustainable healthy living for the rest of their lives.

I currently offer a very affordable 12 week program to do the above

I am the author of the Fit Strong and Free fitness and mindset journal.

I believe that no matter what age you are, fun should always be a big part of healthy living.

That’s a little about me...
Appreciate you reading...

I’m excited to connect with you, drop me a comment or dm to let me learn a little about you!

✨ What is my current fitness level, and what areas do I want to improve?
✨ What specific fitness goals do I want to achieve, and how will I know when I've
achieved them?
✨ What motivates me to exercise and stay active, and how can I leverage that
motivation to stay committed to my goals?
✨ What obstacles or challenges might I face along the way, and how can I prepare
for them?
✨ What resources or support do I need to achieve my goals, and how can I access
them?
✨ What is my timeline for achieving my goals, and how can I break them down into
smaller, achievable steps?
✨ How will I hold myself accountable to my goals, and what strategies can I use to
stay on track even when I face setbacks or challenges?

By answering these questions, you can develop a clearer understanding of your goals and what it will take to achieve them, which can help you stay motivated and focused on your journey.

I am about to release a brand new fitness journal to help not only self assess your fitness goals, but to stay on track with and actually accomplish them. If you’re interested in getting this journal for free, comment “Goals” below or just send me a DM and I’ll send you the info asap!

It can help you develop a more positive self-image and improve your self-esteem. This can be especially important if you struggle with negative self-talk or feelings of self-doubt.

Positive affirmations can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals, by reminding you of your strengths and the progress you've made.

They can also help you stay calm and centered during challenging workouts or competitions, by providing a sense of inner strength and resilience.

Finally, positive affirmations can help you cultivate a more positive and optimistic outlook on life, which can have a ripple effect on all areas of your life, not just your fitness journey

In my new Fit Strong & Free fitness journal, you will practice regular positive affirmations as an extra tool to help you develop a strong mind so that you can create a strong body.

Comment “affirmations” below or just send me a DM if you are interested in strengthening your mindset around your fitness goals and I’ll send you the details!

For example, if you believe that you're not fit enough to run a 5K, you can look for examples of people who have successfully completed a 5K with similar fitness levels to yours.

Another strategy is to reframe the belief in a more positive way, such as by focusing on what you CAN do rather than what you can't.

For example, instead of thinking "I can't run a 5K," you can reframe it as "I'm working on building up my endurance to run a 5K."

If you suspect that you have some hidden negative beliefs that are keeping you from reaching your goals, I have created a guide to help you not only discover and become aware of the beliefs that are holding you back, but to also take action to change them! Aren’t you ready to finally start achieving your goals?

Comment “guide” below or just send me a DM and I’ll get you the info on this belief changing guide asap!

It's important to take some time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings, and identify any negative beliefs or self-talk that may be holding you back.

Once you've identified these patterns, you can work on reframing your mindset and developing a more positive attitude towards your fitness journey and finally begin to make some real changes toward reaching your goals!

If this sounds like something you’d like to do but not sure where to start, I have a guide that I’ve created just for you. And it’s free.

Just comment “guide” below or even feel free to send me a DM and I’ll send you the details!