Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Riddle.
Danielle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Following several diagnosis including endometriosis and Hashimoto’s auto-immune disease, it became evident that my health and fitness journey was going to take an interesting pivot. Since exercise and movement became an actual requirement to battle back inflammation, pain, and anxiety, I decided to step-up my game and become a Certified Personal Trainer later in life (40s to be exact). My thoughts were that if there is nothing new under the sun, then there are others, especially women that need to know they’re not alone in the battles they’re facing. I wanted to inspire others to be defiant in the face of adversity and so DefiantlyFit was created.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Just getting certified alone was a struggle because I was incredibly sick with Hashi’s. Some days I literally couldn’t brush my teeth and couldn’t regulate my body temperature. Caring for my 3 children was my top priority even with needing to complete my certification. That of which lapsed and I had to start my studies all over again 2 years later. I wanted to finish what I started even if I didn’t know where exactly my efforts were going to take me.
Navigating my own health wasn’t the only issue, after passing the CPT exam, now what? I had always prioritized my fitness from home. I knew what minimal equipment and a locked-in mindset to keep moving could do. I wasn’t immersed in the gym world just my own of trying to stay well.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a certified personal trainer who has their own story and experiences in living with chronic diseases. But the best thing I have to offer besides my training knowledge for women is my hope and encouragement. I have many years of being a minister also and working with many people from all walks of life. All humans need someone in their corner that can identify and see them clearly in seasons when maybe they can’t fully see their potential. That’s where I come in. I get to pour truth and speak identity to them in ways that maybe other trainers can’t. This has been a great benefit in owing my own small business and my gym being a part of my home.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I feel like what’s most important to my success personally is constantly finding my grittiness to stay steady and bravely move forward each day. Owning a small business where it’s all on you, has its ups and downs. Seasons of overflow and lack happen on the regular. I’m constantly trusting that God’s plans for me are good and to just surrender to the next step in front of me.
Pricing:
- Online and in-person training costs vary. Drop an Insta DM for details.
Contact Info:
- Website: defiantlyfitness@gmail.com
- Instagram: defiantlyfit
