19900 Rose Street, Lynwood, Illinois 60411, United States
"Helping you build the best version of YOURSELF"
"Embrace who you are and Love what you have" Regina Sams
In today's society especially with the influence of social media, many people want to look like someone other than themselves. The millions of waist trainers sold every year, billions of dollars spent annually on cosmetic surgery only confirms this statement. I started my journey in fitness in 2005 as one of those women who wanted a bigger butt, smaller waist line, and perfect hair like I would often see on tv and movies. I fell in love with fitness through admiration of "perfect bodies" not realizing my body was already perfect for me. I was out of shape and overweight being 170lbs at my heaviest. July of 2013 we lost my grandmother to cancer. Shortly after in December of 2013 I lost my best friend, my mother to Sarcoma Cancer. This was the worst year of not only my own but for all of my family. I went through stages of depression, suicidal thoughts, and isolation. I dropped down to an unhealthy 115lbs. I would lie to many people about why I lost so much weight because I didn't like talking about the loss of my mother and grandmother. I had to remain strong for my son, as most children watch our every move. In 2017 I suffered a miscarriage at 5 months, which could've been a turn for the worst. Losing myself once before due to the loss of my mother and grandmother I decided to take a different approach after my miscarriage. I reached out for help from Fitness Pro Vicki Counts and she coached me for my 1st Figure competition. By far the most difficult mental challenge in my life. I learned that pain can become something beautiful if directed appropriately.
Although I have been training for 5 years part-time, I started Build Your Own Body Fitness™ LLC in June 2016 to help others build the best versions of themselves without the shortcuts. To help both women and men learn to love themselves as they are and embrace every imperfection. To educate those who lack knowledge in fitness and health. Most important to teach others how to direct negative energy into something positive.
I‘ve fought obesity, I’ve fought to gain weight and maintain it, I've lost a child and my mother, I'm a mom, I'm a student, I'm a business woman, and most important I'm human. I know what it takes to achieve a healthy mental and physical state even with life's many distractions!
Owner/Health Coach
Regina Sams
LOUIS CLAYTON
"Your Health is Your Wealth"
I started my journey one day after waking up from a nap to my daughter's laughing hysterically. I asked, "What's so funny?"
One of them showed a picture of me while I was sleeping. Kennedy said I looked like a whale. The next day I woke up on a mission. I was 270lbs dealing with sleep apnea, acid reflux, shortness of breath, lack of energy, and back pain, all with having a weak immune system. I went to the health club and started working on bettering myself that next day. I started to study and do research. I dropped to 225lbs. People started asking me if I could help them lose weight. Of course I said, "Yes!"
I slowly started helped others reach their goals. At the time I was cutting hair and someone told me I should open my own gym. I did just that. Nine years later I am here writing my story.
Lou
Certified Personal Trainer
Gabriela Garcia
"How Bad do you Want IT?
I never imagined Fitness would be something that I would grow to love.
Growing up, I was always a chunky kid with the nickname “Gorda” (Fat). I struggled with self-inflicted weight issues throughout high school and part of my early years in adult hood. I disliked my weight, the way I looked, how it made me feel, and didn’t see the beauty
I never imagined Fitness would be something that I would grow to love.
Growing up, I was always a chunky kid with the nickname “Gorda” (Fat). I struggled with self-inflicted weight issues throughout high school and part of my early years in adult hood. I disliked my weight, the way I looked, how it made me feel, and didn’t see the beauty within myself. My self-esteem was horribly low, almost nonexistent, and I didn’t love myself overall. Nothing was worse than being told that I should accept myself the way I was, and I should be comfortable in my own skin and weight, but I knew that wasn’t me. Getting comfortable with being fat was something I refused to settle for and was fed up with it physically, mentally and emotionally.
I began my journey in 2010 weighing 250 pounds. At the time, I wasn’t taking it seriously. I was ‘that’ person who went to the gym for 20 to 30 minutes and drove to McDonalds afterwards. I had no clue what I was doing or knew anything about fitness. With my minimal efforts and inconsistency, I miraculously lost about 25 pounds. I drifted away from the gym by the end of 2012 and it wasn’t until 2013 when I picked it back up.
In the beginning of 2013, I planned a trip for October of that year. My starting weight was 222 pounds. It wasn’t until June of 2014 that I became consistent with my eating and workout regimen. This time around, my approach was research, consistency, and having a realistic goal. To my surprise, I lost 40 pounds between the beginning of July and October. I continued to fight for my weight loss. By the end of Summer of 2014, I weighed in at 169 pounds. I was in awe and never thought I would see that number on the scale!
Gabby
Personal Trainer/Group Instructor