Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Ferreira
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from Brazil and I’ve loved sports, dance, and movement since I was a kid. So much so that my major in college, back in my hometown, was Physical Education, the science of movement, exercise, and sports.
But shortly after college I fell into the trap of Corporate and went to work for the government in Brazil, being that I am from the capital, Brasilia, that’s what is expected of you if you want to make good money in my city.
A few years into corporate, I had good money, but was miserable, borderline fighting depression and completely lacking fulfillment. I knew I needed change and that my life was meant for more than just working a 9-5, paying bills, and having some fun on the weekends.
So I asked myself, in which moment of my day am I the happiest? And the answer was the gym! With that, I knew I had to get my life back to fitness.
Shortly after that, I did my first bodybuilding show and my life completely changed. I started getting sponsorships, connections, and deals and realized that the possibility of actually making a life out of fitness was real. That was 10 years ago.
Through one of my sponsors, I had the opportunity to come to the United States to compete for the first time and realized this is where I would have a promising future not only as an athlete but also as a fitness ambassador and influencer.
During the first 5 years of my coming to the US, I juggled between a job as a personal assistant to one of my sponsors and my passion for fitness and competitions. It was a great time in my life when I got to travel the world, meet so many interesting people, and learn so much from my boss who was also a great friend and mentor.
But then the itch came again. I wasn’t fully living according to my goals and calling in life.
I knew I needed to make the flip to dedicating myself to fitness and fitness only.
So I opened up my business, started doing online fitness coaching, and was fully virtual before the pandemic shut the world down.
My last chapter was about moving back to Miami after a divorce and getting myself back into the gym, seeing people, and teaching people face-to-face. In a little over two years, I can say I’ve built a name for myself in the local industry, grown an amazing clientele, and been planning the opening of my own training space in the near future.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all smooth.
I can honestly say the biggest struggles were fighting imposter syndrome and being able to step out of the fight/flight response.
The imposter syndrome came from a long time ago, while I was still in Brazil and debating moving to the US to try building my career in fitness. I had a fiance at the time and when I shared that thought with him his first response was, in a mocking voice, “Building a career in fitness? Are you crazy? Nobody can do that!”
Mind you, those were different times. Ten years ago fitness wasn’t as glamorous as it is today, not in here and even less in Brazil. So although he had some right to debate that, the way he said it really crushed my confidence and hope. And up to this day, when I’m offered a big deal or someone comes to me and recognizes my work, I’m still shocked to think “Wow, I really did build a career out of fitness!”
And my fight/flight response really came after my divorce in 2022. After moving to Miami without any promise of a job, and just renting a small room at my friend’s house, I got into severe survival mode. I got a job at a gym, started doing private personal training, and cranked up my business online. And I did that, from Monday through Monday, for two years in a row. I can count on the fingers in one hand when I did not have to wake up at 5 am to teach a client.
And I was very blessed to have given so much work, but I was doing it out of desperation, not out of love.
Being divorced and alone in a country where I have no family left me with a lot of fear of not making it.
And on the cusp of falling into severe burnout, I planned my first vacation and spent 3 weeks in Europe visiting friends and family. Reorganized my entire mindset around my business and what I want to accomplish and ditched that survival response for good.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m specialized in helping women conquer their dream bodies, but it goes so much deeper than that.
My area of expertise is building muscles, losing body fat, and molding their physique exactly how they want it.
But through my 18 years of experience lifting weights, 10 years as a professional bodybuilder, and 5 years as a full-time trainer and fitness and wellness coach, I know a woman can have the perfect body and still feel miserable and stuck in the comparison mode. And that’s where I believe my work is so important and so different from most trainers out there.
With my work, I help women stop being so critical of themselves. I help them start looking at their own bodies with more kindness and self-love. And I’m only able to do that, because I start sharing my own insecurities and struggles, and I help them see that even a professional bodybuilder, fitness model and influencer does not have the perfect body and goes through the same struggles as any other woman does.
And then I teach them the tools on how to overcome that and don’t let that paralyze them while they’re pursuing the perfect body. Because the perfect body will never come!
So my biggest achievement is seeing clients that have been working with me for the past 2 years or so, go from being extremely mean to themselves into actually being able to make peace with the mirror, finding joy in the journey, enjoying the process and being kind to themselves.
Any big plans?
I plan on opening my own training space and completely changing the way women do fitness!
Most gyms are not set up for a woman who feels out of shape and who has never worked out in her life.
Most women feel uncomfortable and like they don’t belong. Which makes them serest the gym and stop the process.
But my space will change that! I can’t reveal many details, but it will really be a game-changer for women all over the country!
Pricing:
- My brand new online 4 month coaching program is to be launched at Black Friday in November. It’s called the Beauty Paradigm Shift and on it I’ll take women over everything they need to know to change, look and feel more beautiful. The investment ranges from U$650 to U$850 a month, depending on the level of assistance and accountability needed.
- My Personal Training sessions range from U$200-U$250/hour depending on location. Available from South Miami up to Hollywood.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amandalifestyle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandalifestyle
