Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Ownbey.
Hi Chris, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Real Life Changed My Life — The Story Behind Fit Over 40 Dallas
Hello, I’m Chris Ownbey.
I’ve been a personal trainer for over 30 years. I’ve lived and breathed fitness since I was 15 — a competitive powerlifter, In the Marines, a mixed martial artist, a competitive bodybuilder, and an avid golfer. I always took pride in staying in shape, eating right, and taking care of myself. But life has a way of humbling us.
On Christmas Day, 2012, I was blessed with a beautiful new granddaughter. But just a week later, on January 2, 2013, I found myself in the emergency room with dangerously high blood pressure. That moment hit me like a freight train.
I traced the problem back to the previous summer — I had suffered an injury that kept me from training. I was still working, still taking care of everyone else, but I was burning out, gaining weight, and losing control of my own health and fitness. The hospital visit was a wake-up call. Something had to change.
I had a gym membership I wasn’t using, so I tried getting back into the gym. But the experience was frustrating — packed parking lots, overcrowded classes, inconvenient times, and the feeling that I no longer belonged in that environment. I was a trainer, an athlete — and yet, I felt lost. I was doing cardio just to say I did something. There was no structure, no consistency, no results.
My mentor once asked me, “Chris, where do you have to start today to be where you want to be in five years?” That question stuck with me. And I realized — I had to take back control, right now.
So I started locking my studio doors when I had a 30-minute break, blasting music in my headphones, and doing half of my usual workout. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something. And something is always better than nothing.
Then something unexpected happened. A client showed up late one day and only had 30 minutes. I put him through the same 30-minute workout I had been doing. At the next session, he said, “Let’s do that again!” He loved it — fast, focused, effective. Then another client asked for it. Then another. That’s when I knew I was onto something.
From that moment, Fit Over 40 Dallas for Men and Women 40 and over in a Private Studio with proven 30 Minute Fitness was born.
I realized there were thousands of men and women in the same situation I had been in — busy, burned out, frustrated, and tired of broken fitness promises. They didn’t need longer workouts. They needed smarter ones. They needed something built for their bodies, their goals, and their time.
So I built a system — the 5-20-5 Method — that delivers proven results in just 30 minutes. No fluff, no wasted time. Just focused, private training for men and women 40 and over. We help people move better, feel better, look better, and live better. And we do it in a way that fits their lives.
Today, Fit Over 40 Dallas is more than a fitness studio — it’s a movement. A second chance. A place where people come not just to get fit, but to reclaim their health, strength, and confidence.
This isn’t just what I do. It’s who I am. Because real life changed my life — and now, I help others change theirs.
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?
It has been a journey. Over the past 30+ years, I’ve immersed myself in four major fitness modalities — and in each one, I made it my mission not just to succeed personally, but to help others succeed through it.
When I was bodybuilding, I didn’t just train to build my physique. I trained other fitness enthusiasts, sharing the discipline, nutrition, and structure that transformed my body and mindset.
Then came my time in the Marines — where I took a leadership role in helping restructure our workouts and nutrition plans for new recruits, especially those who were struggling. It wasn’t just about getting in shape. It was about building a foundation of strength, endurance, and resilience.
Later, as a competitive mixed martial artist, I trained with and coached fighters — combining strength, conditioning, mobility, and strategy. I understood what it took to be mentally and physically prepare.
When I found golf, I didn’t just pick up the clubs. I studied the body mechanics behind the swing and how to train the correct muscles so it would not be counterproductive to golf swing. I still train golfer to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and injury prevention — and I became a nationally recognized golf fitness expert in the process.
Now, in my 50s, after undergoing both neck and back fusion surgeries, my mission is even more personal. I know the pain of injury. I know what it feels like to slow down. But I also know this: “Ageing is a fact. Decaying is a choice”.
No matter the sport, no matter the season, I’ve always made it my mission to be the best — and to help others become their best.
This isn’t just a workout plan. This is a calling. And it’s my privilege to serve others through it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is being in the golf and fitness industry for over 30+ years, I’ve immersed myself in four major fitness modalities — and in each one, I made it my mission not just to succeed personally, but to help others succeed through it.
When I was bodybuilding, I didn’t just train to build my physique. I trained other fitness enthusiasts, sharing the discipline, nutrition, and structure that transformed my body and mindset.
Then came my time in the Marines — where I took a leadership role in helping restructure our workouts and nutrition plans for new recruits, especially those who were struggling. It wasn’t just about getting in shape. It was about building a foundation of strength, endurance, and resilience.
Later, as a competitive mixed martial artist, I trained with and coached fighters — combining strength, conditioning, mobility, and strategy. I understood what it took to be mentally and physically prepared for battle, and I helped others tap into that same inner fire.
When I fell in love with golf, I didn’t just pick up the clubs. I studied the body mechanics behind the swing. I trained golfers to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and injury prevention — and I became a nationally recognized golf fitness expert in the process.
Now, in my 50s, after undergoing both neck and back fusion surgeries, my mission is even more personal. I know the pain of injury. I know what it feels like to slow down. But I also know this: you don’t have to settle.
No matter the sport, no matter the season, I’ve always made it my mission to be the best — and to help others become their best.
This isn’t just a workout plan. This is a calling. And it’s my privilege to serve others through it.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around fitness and the drive to become better.
I was fortunate to win State in Powerlifting three years in a row, which taught me the power of discipline and consistency at a young age. I also competed in two teenage bodybuilding shows, learning how to sculpt not just my body—but my mindset. I played football for Plano West, where teamwork, grit, and mental toughness were forged in every practice and every play.
Even outside of sports, that work ethic showed up early. I saved every dollar from mowing yards to buy my very first car—a 1979 Black and Gold Trans Am, Yes, just like the one in Smokey and the Bandit. I worked at the local gas station for the free gas and a place to work on my car. This still brings a smile to my face when I think about these memories. It wasn’t just about the car. It was about earning something through hard work, sacrifice, and focus.
Pricing:
- Varies on commitment and goals
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fitover40dallas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitover40dallas_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FitOver40Dallas
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fitover40dallas/
- Other: https://chrisownbey.com/
