Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristi Davis.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story includes so many twists, turns, and bumps in the road (as I’m sure many can relate). I grew up in Northern Virginia with my fun loving family of five. My parents worked full-time while raising three very active kids. We lived in a tight-knit community where no matter where you went, you ran into someone you knew. I’m your typical type A first born who has everything planned out (all the time) but I absolutely never imagined that something so tragic could happen to my family. I was a freshman in college trying to navigate my new world when everything came crashing down. On September 25th, 2006, I received the worst call of my life, it was my Dad’s voice telling me my younger brother died. That was the moment my life forever changed and a moment that has shaped me into who I am today.
When you reach the lowest point in your life (at least I hope it was), you choose a way to try to dig yourself out of depression and help with the pain. We all have our chosen outlets (good and bad) – alcohol, drugs, a job, faith, a relationship, a friend, etc. I chose fitness or you could say fitness chose me. I desperately needed an outlet, something to help me deal with the pain and get away from it all. That outlet became the gym. I didn’t want to go to therapy but I had so much anger, resentment, and sadness that I had to get out some way, somehow. I found release by sweating it out. It was the only time I could escape into my own world and just leave everything behind. It was my relief and something I absolutely needed to get me through those extremely dark and sad days. Fitness saved me and it allowed me to feel again and start coping with the unbelievable loss I just experienced. I started to sweat the stress and I continue to do so to this day. That is where my business Sweat the Stress comes from.
Today, life looks completely different. I am happily married, building a business, and a new mom to my little boy Ricky, who is named after my brother and my husband’s father. My husband lost his father, whose name was Ricky as well when he was thirteen years old. It’s so special to us that our first born is named after two very important people in our lives who aren’t able to be with us today. We cherish every moment with our loved ones, life is too short not to.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road and there continues to be many struggles every day! I took a pretty scary step in 2017 when I quit my 9-5 job and since then I’ve become a mom and have been trying to balance building a business with the new responsibilities of motherhood. Those are two huge changes in my life that both happened around the same time! Some days are just downright exhausting and I just can’t do it all and that’s ok. My first priority is my son, so I plan my work around our daily schedule (I’m lucky he is great napper!) so I can be there with him for all those precious moments that go WAY too fast. He is my inspiration. When I look into my son’s eyes, I not only want to provide for him but I want him to know that with hard work, your dreams can become reality and you can do what you love.
One of my biggest struggles has been pushing past my insecurities and developing the confidence to build a business and help others. My love of fitness came from the greatest loss in my life and this realization has both held me back and inspired me all at the same time. Do I really want to share this with others? Do I want to make a career out of something that came from such a dark time in my life? Some days the answers to those questions are unclear but one thing I do know is that I didn’t find happiness in my 9-5 job sitting back and letting life pass me by. I have so much more to give and a fire in me that keeps pushing me down this entrepreneurial path.
If you are starting out on your own journey and discovering what it is that makes you happy, my advice is to get out of your own way. I say that with love! Sometimes the one person holding us back from our dreams and goals is ourselves. That’s hard to admit but it’s true. How many times have you told yourself you aren’t good enough or you don’t know enough? Those thoughts are the ones that stop us! I’m not where I want to be yet and so many aspects of a business are new to me, but I’m learning as I go and doing the best I can. You don’t have to have all the answers, you just have to be willing to try. So go out there and change the world in your own positive way and don’t let anyone or anything stop you!
what should we know about Sweat the Stress? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I have my own fitness business, Sweat the Stress, which includes many different aspects. I am a certified NASM personal trainer, group fitness instructor, online coach, and a fitness/mom blogger. I specialize in helping other women achieve their goals in a way that works for them. Whether you are local to South Florida or live miles away, I can help you! I train one on one, teach group fitness, and have an online accountability group for those that need to work out on their own time but still need support. I also love to write so I share my post-baby fitness journey, new mom experiences, my career journey, fitness tips, workouts, healthy food finds, and more on my blog www.sweatthestress.com.
There is something powerful about working out in a group setting, the motivation, and energy that comes from it is like nothing else. I started a neighborhood Sweat the Stress Saturday outdoor fitness class that I absolutely love! Our world has become very digital so it’s important (and good for the soul!) to take a break from the screen, bring the community together, and do something good for your body. I love to give back so I incorporate charity fitness classes into our Saturday workouts to support great causes and help others who are in need, such as St.Jude’s Children’s Hospital and a local autism nonprofit called Puzzle Peace Now.
While I love group fitness, I’m also a huge fan of at home workouts for those that have a hectic schedule. Or like me, plan your workouts during nap time and cross your fingers you have time for a quick shower before your little one wakes up! That’s where my online accountability group comes in, I love seeing the dedication other moms in my group have to a healthy lifestyle. Whether it’s a 5 am workout or a workout done with the kids, they continue to push through despite the many obstacles they face each day. I love ALL fitness, you just have to find what works best for you.
Sweat the Stress is my brand and it’s what I stand for. My mission is to help others sweat the stress to be the best version of themselves, to use my passion to empower others, inspire change, and to make a positive impact. I am proud to stand behind a brand that helps change lives in a positive way and empowers women to go after their goals. What sets Sweat the Stress apart from others is the story behind it. A piece of my heart broke when I lost my brother and there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think of him, Sweat the Stress has given me purpose and a positive way forward. My hope is to help others who have gone through hard times and show them that fitness can not only have a positive effect on your physical body, but on your emotions and mental health as well.
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Learn as much as you can, don’t be ashamed to ask for help, and don’t forget the value of hard work. It’s a journey that comes with many ups and downs, failures, success, and changes. I started out in a 9-5 job thinking that would be my lifelong career and here I am seven years later building my own business in a completely different field. You never know where your journey will lead! Most of all, don’t give up on your dreams and don’t be afraid to take chances. It’s YOUR life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sweatthestress.com
- Email: sweatthestressfitness@gmail.com
- Instagram: @sweat_the_stress
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sweatthestressfitness
Image Credit:
Melissa Gritter Photo
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