Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Fonseca.
Hi Victoria, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Founder of VFIT. I’m a Certified Personal Trainer, Glute Training Specialist and Holistic Nutritionist. My fitness journey started in college, with me feeling shy, intimidated, and insecure. I always admired women who were fit, constantly in the gym and conscious of their health. I thought that just wasn’t me since the gym always terrified me. Once I would muster up enough courage to go, I would tuck myself away in a corner on a cardio machine to avoid any attention. I was extremely intimidated by the equipment and anyone who looked like they knew what they were doing. I wouldn’t do certain exercises in fear of embarrassment and I just felt very incapable.
One day, I went to the gym with a written workout and forced myself out of my comfort zone. As awkward as it felt doing the exercises and using new machines, I felt so much more empowered! I didn’t break a machine, make a scene, or die like I thought I would. I felt powerful, capable, and although I had so much room for improvement, I was excited about the progress I knew I could achieve. After just a few months of consistency, a complete shift happened within me; I was dedicated to become the very best version of myself. Exercise improved my self-image, my relationship with myself and others and gave me the confidence to know I was capable of rising to any challenge, fitness-related or not.
After college, I was working for a corporate insurance company on Wall Street. I wasn’t happy and felt very unfulfilled. I knew deep down inside that my passion was fitness. I wanted to help others experience the shift I had. I left my financially secure job for a $20 per hour, 5 hours a week personal training job at an all-women’s gym, and I couldn’t be happier. Empowering women to take up space, step into their power & discover their mental and physical strength is so fulfilling. I became so dedicated to assisting, motivating, and supporting women in their fitness journeys that I felt obligated to build something of my own.
That’s when VFIT was founded; an in-person and online fitness community for like-minded women who are dedicated to becoming their best self and willing to put in the work to achieve that. Since then, we’ve empowered numerous women to manifest positive lifestyle changes, unlock their potential, and achieve their fitness and health goals with optimal results. VFIT is so honored to share this powerful, transformative experience with women.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Life has no smooth roads, but I’ve learned the most from the challenges I encountered. When I left the corporate world for the fitness industry in 2019, I took a huge risk. I had massive amounts of college debt, no idea whether or not I would be a successful personal trainer, and just left a $60k salary for 5 hour, $20 shifts a week job. That wasn’t enough to pay for groceries, never mind the cost of New York City rent. However, I didn’t want to chase a paycheck, I wanted to chase my passion.
I had to pick up a second job at a coffee shop in order to make ends meet. I would quite literally run from one job to the other, work all day, and go weeks without a day off. I was determined to pursue my dream at all costs. Eventually, my hours were increased at the gym and I was teaching multiple classes and working with numerous happy clients. The time I spent training was the highlight of my day. I enjoyed it so much I would have done it for free.
When COVID hit, everything changed. The gym I worked for closed and I was devastated to stop training. My living situation changed and I needed to find a place to live as soon as possible, I couldn’t afford living in New York without a roommate. After exploring my options, I had settled for Miami, which I had only visited for the first time that year. I had to find an apartment, pack up my life, and move 1500 miles away in the matter of two weeks. It wasn’t easy but did it.
Moving to a new state, where you have no friends, no family, and no connections was one of my biggest challenges. I put my career before my comfort and stepped completely into the unknown. I was eventually hired at a high-end gym where I would work 70+ hour weeks and never saw a paycheck over $300. A few months of this work had me feeling drained, uninspired, and unhappy. I felt like a hypocrite as a trainer, promoting a healthy lifestyle when that was the furthest from the life I was living. I had passed out from fatigue, crashed my car in exhaustion, lost my appetite, and worked so much that my personal relationships were failing. On top of it all, I was almost evicted from my apartment. The stress of not being able to afford life was crippling.
Knowing my worth, I quit my job and committed myself to growing VFIT. I knew in order to provide quality service for my clients, I had to start living an example of good health. Since then, VFIT has transformed the lives of so many women by teaching the importance of taking accountability for your own health and wellness. We support our clients throughout their journey with us, providing them knowledge and insight beyond the time we physically work together.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about VFIT?
VFIT is a health and wellness organization that offers a variety of services catering exclusively to women. Our holistic approach to training focuses on helping our clients achieve sustainable, long-term lifestyle changes that go beyond the physical act of working out. This includes habit formation, improved sleep, nutrition, mindset, mental health, and a more balanced relationship between work and personal life. VFIT specializes in strength and hypertrophy training, providing customized and personalized fitness programs, 1:1 sessions, holistic meal plans, as well as mind, body & soul alignment, in-person or virtually. VFIT believes in a flexible training approach that prioritizes our clients needs and goals because we understand every client’s needs will vary. Together, we discover what keeps our clients showing up consistently and turning fitness into a way-of-life instead of it feeling like a joyless chore.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Books that have inspired me to live a better life and be a better person are “The Power of Now & A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle; “You are a Badass” by Jen Sincero; “The Passion Test” by Chris and Janet Atwood; “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho; and “Loyalty to Your Soul” by H. Rondal Hulnick. All of these books helped me make the decision to pursue my passion and continue persevering when life became tough. Podcasts I listen to for daily motivation, inspiration, and knowledge are “The GARRYVEE Audio experience;” “Holistish;” “Spiritual Shit;” and “The Chalene Show.”
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: WWW.VFIT4.ORG
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriafonseca/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vfit4/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/vfit_4
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