Before I chose myself
If you’d asked me a year ago about self-care, I would’ve laughed and changed the subject. I’m a middle-aged Nashville woman with two kids, a busy job in the crazy 12 South neighborhood, and a calendar that never breathes. Between car lines, late emails, and helping my parents on weekends, my own health kept slipping. “I used to take care of everyone else except me.” That was my line. I said it so often it felt like a joke. But it wasn’t funny…
I tried to fix myself. I promised myself at least a dozen times that I would start eating healthy and I would get back to regular exercise. I downloaded three different fitness apps. I joined a gym off 21st Ave, went twice, got busy, and never got back. I attempted a couch-to-5K plan along the Greenway, then summer humidity hit and I quit that too. I did a strict no-carb week, then crashed at a birthday dinner. Every time, I’d fall back into the same pattern: Take care of everyone else first, then try to squeeze in my own health needs “when things calm down.”
In Nashville, things never calm down.
I searched for a personal trainer in nashville several times, but never called anyone. I told myself, “I should already know how to do this.” That mindset kept me stuck. I kept putting it off under the guise of “needing to do more research.”
Funny thing about searching for more information – you can literally ALWAYS find more info, and you never feel like you know enough.
Here’s when my personal lightbulb finally went off:
I finally realized that puttering around looking at endless options and ideas was wasting the precious little time I had to actually be DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF.
The day I finally asked for help
It wasn’t dramatic. One Tuesday I climbed the stairs to my office and felt winded. That scared me. I typed personal trainer nashville into my phone at lunch and promised myself I’d talk to one real human before the day ended. That’s how I met Kavious, a personal trainer who works with busy adults and parents around town in a small training studio near Belmont.
He didn’t pitch me a miracle. He asked me about sleep, stress, time commitments, and what I’d tried in the past. We talked about my medical histHe said, “We’ll keep it simple, and we’ll make it fit into your week.” Simple sounded different – and VERY appealing!
I scheduled two sessions to start.
What I tried before (and why it always failed)
- All-or-nothing diets: Great for a few days, then I’d hit a work crunch and swing by the drive-thru for some comfort food.
- Random workouts: I bounced between classes at the Y and YouTube routines. No progression, no plan. (That also means no progress 😫)
- Jogging: Nashville heat and humidity won.
- Perfection rules: If I had a bad a day, I scrapped the whole week and told myself I’d start over on Monday.
Kavious explained my real issue: inconsistency, not lack of effort. I thought I needed more willpower, more secret strategies from my Instagram gurus.
But what I really needed was a system that I could actually DO on my busiest weeks.
Kavious’s plan: Simpler, clearer, kinder
We met in a private consult room of the personal training studio for our first session. He brought a calm voice and an understanding smile. The plan:
- Two 45-minute strength sessions per week with Kavious.
- A 15-minute “minimum” workout for crazy days when my schedule got away from me (squats, hinges, push, pull, core).
- Daily step target I could hit around 12 South and Green Hills.
- Simple vegetable and protein targets for each meal (No banned foods, yay!)
- One check-in message every Friday with wins, misses, and the next week’s adjustments.
Nothing fancy. In fact, it felt almost too basic. But for the first time, the plan respected my life instead of fighting against it.
Nutrition was just as simple. “Palm of protein each meal,” he said. “Add a fist of carbs around workouts. Drink water. When you eat out, build your plate like that and you’re good.” I didn’t overhaul my pantry; I learned to build plates I could repeat.
By week three, I noticed I slept better and didn’t dread my workouts. By week four I felt strong during workdays, not drained!
The roadblocks we planned for (and beat)
- Kid chaos: When practice times changed, we used the 15-minute minimum. Two sets of the basics still counted.
- Work travel: He sent bodyweight substitutions I could do in a hotel room.
- Family weekends: We booked Friday morning sessions so I hit the week’s minimum before life got loud.
- Motivation dips: We tracked strength wins (like push-up progress) instead of only the scale.
Results that actually mattered to me
I didn’t chase a reality-show makeover. I wanted more energy, fewer back twinges, less belly fat, and a fitness routine I could keep. Three months in, my jeans were looser, my shoulders sat taller, and my doctor liked my numbers. I can carry Costco groceries without stopping halfway up the stairs. I feel proud when my kids see me block off time “for Mom’s workout” and shrugged like it was normal—because now it is.
And the scale? It moved, slowly and steadily, because my food habits finally stuck. That happened when I stopped trying to fix everything all at once, and focused on one more meal built right.
Kavious taught me that the only thing we can do is the next right thing. The next workout. The next after-dinner walk. The next smart decision when the stress eating urges strike.
How my Nashville personal trainer changed my life
- Clarity: No more guessing. I always knew today’s plan and what I am supposed to do. (Confession: I love not having to think for a change!)
- Accountability: Workouts cemented in my schedule. Consistent friendly nudges throughout the week.
- Progression: Real improvements, week over week, tracked on paper.
- Flexibility: Our workouts can be at the gym, at home, or over Zoom when I travel. (Plus, I love that I can just pay as I go, I don’t have to buy a big package.)
- Permission: To dedicate space in my own calendar for me and what I need.
The biggest shift? I stopped bargaining with my week. My own stuff used to be the first to go when I got busy. But now, my calendar has my training slots, and I treat them like non-negotiable meetings. 💪🏼
I still take care of my family. I still work. I still have deadlines. But now I take care of me, too. (I kinda want to cry as I wrote that.)
If you’re searching for a personal trainer nashville and wondering if it’s worth it, ask yourself this:
What would change in your life if consistency finally showed up?
When will you stop thinking about what you know you SHOULD do, and actually DO it?
How will you feel a year from now if you do what I do?
P.S. You totally can!!!
FAQ: Quick answers for Nashville folks
Q: How often should I train with my coach?
A: Most busy adults do well with 2 sessions per week. Add a third session when life allows.
Q: Can I do this at home without a full gym?
A: Yes. Bands and dumbbells cover 90% of what you need. If needed, your trainer can bring extra equipment to your in-home workouts.
Q: What if I haven’t worked out in years?
A: That makes you…pretty much just like everyone. If you had been consistent, you wouldn’t need our help! We will meet you where you are.
Q: Do I need to follow a special diet?
A: You need structure, not punishment. We’ll work together to teach you to build consistent meals.
Q: How soon will I see results?
A: You’ll likely feel better almost immediately, see strength gains in 3–4 weeks, and notice body changes a few weeks after that.
Q: What do I do to get started?
A: Drop us a note, and you and our director Dan will find a time to talk. He’s kind of a genius at setting people up with just the right coach. So click or call first, book a chat next, and soon you’ll be looking at the new you!