Fitness is about more than just reps and routines—it’s about resilience, empowerment, and transformation.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting the incredible stories of women who have not only transformed their own lives through fitness, but are now using their experiences to uplift others.
From battling addiction to navigating motherhood, overcoming loss, and redefining what it means to be strong, these coaches prove that fitness isn’t just about looking a certain way—it’s about feeling empowered, capable, and in control of your own story.
Read on as these inspiring women share their journeys, lessons learned, and the impact they’re making in the fitness industry.
Olive De Boutray | @olive2moveitmoveit
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Olive is a coach on a mission to help women build strength and confidence through kickboxing and fitness. While battling addiction, Olive used the power of physical fitness to help her take back control of her mental health.
“Fitness helped me overcome addiction and gain strength and self-confidence. That inspired me to continue and want to help others—especially women!”
Olive believes that while many women are scared to look bulky, they really should do what makes them happy—there is more than one way to look fit, and there are so many ways to reach your desired fitness goals.
According to Coach Olive, women deserve to feel sexy in their own skin, and she encourages fitness enthusiasts to be vocal with coaches and let them know if something hurts or if you want to change things up! Finding a sport or trainer that you actually enjoy is very important and will keep you motivated, wanting to push harder, and keep you looking forward to working out.
“My key takeaway is that fitness is so important for your mental health. There is no better feeling then those endorphins you release after a good work out and you should remember that when you are feeling down or not wanting to train.”
Larry Luckett | @lyft.with.larry
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Larry is a personal trainer and online coach who helps women to transform their lives. Having witnessed her dad’s health decline and sadly, his passing, she realised how important it is to take care of our bodies and launched her business in memory of him.
“Life is too short, and I’ve always felt that fitness is a way to honor life, to be stronger, healthier, and ready for whatever comes. Working in emergency services showed me just how vital it is to be physically and mentally prepared for the unexpected.”
Fitness has gone from being a routine to a mindset. And while in her early days Larry might have focused just on aesthetics, she now believes it’s all about longevity. About being able to live life fully, and creating habits that ensure you can keep moving as you age. It’s no longer about pushing limits for short-term gains, but sustaining strength and health for the long haul.
But, her biggest takeaway from her journey so far is that fitness isn’t just physical; it’s about mental resilience too. She has learned that the most important part of the journey is creating an environment where people feel supported and empowered, especially in emergency services and healthcare.
“When life is tough, it’s those routines, habits, and mental toughness that can help you keep going. I want to help others find that strength and not wait until it’s too late.”
Sherri Motohashi | @dragonflagfitness
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Sherri is a 62-year old certified personal trainer, and the founder of Dragonflag Fitness. Her fitness journey began when she was 54 and lost 100lbs through diet and exercise.
“I was surrounded by amazing women who were devoting all of their time and energy to their jobs and families and none to themselves. I wanted to help them feel as good as I do now.”
Sherri has learned a lot since she first began her business. One of her key takeaways has been that you can’t be so busy working in your business that you end up not working ON your business. Something else that’s had a huge impact on her training has been having her mind more opened up to the struggles of the women she works with.
“We don’t all have the same 24 hours, and many have chronic illnesses and stresses we know nothing about. I am more empathetic and constantly looking for ways to make fitness more accessible to everyone, even if it isn’t “textbook” or perfect.”
Diana Niazov | @kosher.fit
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Diana is a fat-loss coach whose fitness journey was inspired by her kids.
“After my second child, I was 65 lbs overweight, anemic, and struggling with unsustainable diets. I knew I had to change, so I studied personal training and nutrition. Nearly 7 years later, I’ve trained through two pregnancies, mastered a sustainable approach, and made fitness my lifestyle.”
Diana started by focusing on numbers—calories, workouts, weight loss—but soon learned that real change comes from building sustainable habits and shifting mindset. Now, she helps women prioritize consistency, balance, and self-awareness over quick fixes.
Her approach has evolved to fit different life stages, like pregnancy and postpartum, making fitness adaptable. Her goal is long-term health, strength, and feeling good while still living life—and being a role model for her kids.
“The key to both fitness and business is consistency and sustainability over perfection. In fitness, results come from showing up, making small improvements, and building long-term habits. In business, success comes from consistently providing value, building trust, and adapting to clients’ needs—not just one perfect moment.”
Gemma Kelly | @gemmakellyfitness
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Gemma is an online health and fitness coach for women. For her, becoming a mum was a wake-up call—she realised that if she didn’t prioritise her own health, no one else would.
“With limited time and a million responsibilities, I had to find a way to make fitness simple, enjoyable, and sustainable. Once I cracked the code, I knew I had to help other busy women do the same—because midlife is too important to spend feeling exhausted and stuck.”
Once she got going, it didn’t take Gemma long to see that real, lasting results require more than just workouts. Now, she takes a fully holistic approach, integrating nutrition coaching and breathwork to support balance in both body and mind. Every woman is unique, and Gemma’s coaching is designed to empower them to thrive in their own way—without extremes or all-or-nothing thinking.
“The women I work with come first, always. Fitness is about more than just training—it’s about feeling supported, heard, and valued. My mission is to create an experience where every client feels like they’re getting the best possible care, because when you feel truly seen and heard, that’s when you have the space reflect on what hasn’t been working and why—and then the real transformation happens.”
Lisa Mastracchio | @lisafitness
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Lisa is a trainer who helps women aged 45+ grow stronger, feel better and build confidence.
She started her career in fitness over 30 years ago as a group fitness instructor. What started as a side passion from her job as a high school teacher soon became her full-time career! Now as an online personal trainer, she is still driven by her love of fitness, health and people.
“My approach has changed considerably—I started out in my mid-20s where cardio was king! Now in my mid-50s, my approach to fitness means improving both strength and vitality and embracing longevity!
“Running a fitness business is much like building muscle… reps and reps! Trusting the process and consistency. Embrace the challenges and keep growing at any age! ABC Trainerize is the best tool to help me continue to do just that. 😉”
Ariana Barker | @gymbuddyari
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Ariana is a personal trainer and nutrition coach who also started her fitness career in group fitness.
“The energy in a good group fitness class is unmatched. So I began instructing! That led to creating my own personal training business.”
Her approach has evolved over the years to become more holistic. While she once focused only on exercise, she now offers nutrition consulting and works on mental motivation with her clients.
“I am constantly pursuing continuing education so I can better empower my clients! A key takeaway to running a fitness business is to not compromise quality for quantity. All clients, no matter how many you have, deserve your best!”
Katie Appleby | @trained_by_katie
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Katie is a personal trainer and sports nutritionist. For her, her own transformation was the spark that fuelled her fitness journey.
“Having been involved with exercise and competition from a young age, I have always had a good level of fitness. Despite that, I’ve struggled with my weight for most of my life. I think I’ve tried every diet under the sun, going through the weight loss then gain cycle, and I realised that most women are making things far more complicated than it needs to be, because I’ve done exactly the same.
“I became a personal trainer and then a sports nutritionist not just to help women lose weight, but to help them shift their mindset, break free from their limiting beliefs and achieve sustainable results. My goal is to make the process simple and practical so that women can integrate it seamlessly into their busy lives without feeling overwhelmed.”
When she first started out, Katie believed the all-or-nothing approach was the answer. She believed that achieving results meant striving for perfection, never missing a workout and avoiding ‘dirty’ foods. But she realized this approach isn’t realistic for most people, especially women juggling families, careers and everything in between. And even if it is sustainable for a while, it often becomes the very thing that leads to burnout.
“It’s tough to challenge that perfectionist mindset, but once you shift the unrealistic standards to something actually achievable, fitness becomes an empowering, enjoyable process, one that guarantees real, lasting progress. My journey has gone from extreme control to freedom with structure and that’s exactly what I help other women achieve.
“It’s not about information, it’s about implementation. Most women actually know what they “should” be doing but they are still stuck! Why? Because knowing simply isn’t enough. They need support and strategies to overcome their limiting beliefs and make it happen. It’s actually amazing to witness the moment when the penny drops, when women start taking action in a way that works for them and realise that it’s actually the small, consistent changes that make the biggest impact. That’s why my coaching is built around achievable, sustainable strategies that remove overwhelm and create real, lasting change.”
Jessica Brown | @jbvitality1
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Jessica is a personal trainer and health coach, who was also inspired by her own experiences.
“I had gained a substantial amount of unhealthy weight in college and knew something needed to change. The trajectory of my life changed when I had worked with my friend who is a personal trainer. He helped me not only lose weight, but educated me on how to become and stay the healthiest version of myself. Although I had completed my Master’s Degree in Social Work, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in fitness.”
Now with over 13 years of experience, Jessica’s approach to fitness is completely different from what it was when she first started. In the beginning, she was focused on aesthetics and weight loss (her initial business name was The Glute Recruit). Now a seasoned veteran in the field, she has shifted away from solely focusing on weight loss and aesthetics and more on using exercise a tool for health benefits including longevity.
“My takeaway from my experiences in running a fitness business is that if you love what you do, it won’t feel like work. There is no greater feeling then working for yourself doing what you love.”
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, these inspiring stories serve as a testament to resilience, determination and transformation for us all.
We are so grateful to work with so many of the fitness industry’s leading women here at ABC Fitness. They keep us inspired to do what we do!
We are always keen to highlight as many inspiring stories as we can, so thank you so much to everyone who got in touch with us!
