Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Fantauzzi.
Joe, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a certified personal trainer, competitive bodybuilder, and powerlifter who has followed the iron sport since the age of 10. I have competed in several bodybuilding shows since 2001 up to the national level, as well as competed in local powerlifting events. Originally, I was training clients’ part time only as an additional source of income. When I was laid off from a corporate job as a network engineer in 2015 I decided to make the jump to full time personal training. I believe one should use fitness as a way to not only change their appearance and health, but to better themselves as a person inside and out. The mental strategy of following a precise custom workout and diet plan can be used in all aspects of life. I customize each client’s program no matter what the end goal, time frame, and ability of each individual.
I am a firm believer in leaders lead from the front. I practice what I preach both at home and in the gym as to how to live a “fit life”. While working with me, not only will you achieve your personal best, you will learn how to balance a fitness lifestyle with everyday life task.
I met my now wife, Kelly, in 2014. We both had gym partners cancel on us last minute and a mutual friend recommended we both train together since we were doing the same muscle group. We hit it off, had dinner together 2 nights later and have been inseparable ever since. We married in 2016. We share an unwavering support for one another’s individual goals. Kelly has been a competitor her whole life. As a daughter of a Texas High School football coach, she is naturally drawn to fitness and helping others achieve their goals. She started helping me with my female clients when it came to the stage preparation, i.e. tan, hair, make-up, and posing. Also, with the emotional side female clients deal with such as body image and self-worth. In 2018 she decided to complete her Personal Training Certifications to be an even bigger part of Team Fit Fantauzzi.
I offer in person training sessions at Destination Dallas which is located at 2655 Premier Dr in Plano. It’s next to the big Plano water tower at 75 and Parker. I also offer online training which consist of weekly check-ins via txt or email where I make changes if needed depending on goals. And starting soon I will be having the 6Week online Fit Life Challenge where anybody can start a challenge and get support via a private Facebook page, weekly online webinar to review goals and challenges. All information can be found on my website www.teamfitfantauzzi.com where you can contact me with any questions or schedule a free physique consult.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. What many don’t know is I was born with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. As many are familiar with arthritis from injuries or as they age, when you’re born with it, one has limitations from the get go. And that means there are thing a person has never been able to do or experience. Easiest way to explain is your joints are basically 20-25 years older than your actual age. So I walked before I crawled due to my right wrist being frozen. I have had bad knees my whole life which at the age of 40 I had both replaced last October. I was also fluffy growing up. I was always intrigued with what the human body could do watching Arnold and Stallone movies as a kid. I wanted to know what had to be done to create the ideal body in my mind’s eye. I learned by trial and error along the way. Just like any goal it comes with road blocks and you have to keep moving forward even if you have to step around an obstacle. I have had a total of 11 surgeries but have keep coming back. I try to show my clients by example that no matter what life throws at them, if they really want it they can do it if they are willing to put the work in. Also you have to have the right support system in place. My gym goals were not a selfish goal. I believe for a person to find an inner peace or happiness they have to be happy with them self. Most times if you have a constant negative influence it’s hard to reach your goal. I don’t physically feel well once my weight gets up to a certain point so I need to be in shape to be the best me. My first wife looked at my fitness goals as me being selfish and time away from the family. Even though I worked 2 jobs and she stayed at home. I was supposed to be content being somebody I wasn’t and that doesn’t work for anybody. When you are a person that has goals or a competitive nature you have to find something to put that into. If it’s not one thing it’s something else. The right person or support system will enable you to be your best. I have that now
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Team Fit Fantauzzi Physique Coaching – what should we know?
I have always had the desire to help people to a better place no matter what that might be. When my second daughter was born in 2008, I had needed to generate some more income. Why not do something that I love. I have been working out and lifting since I was 12 and did my first show at 24. Before that show I had probably experimented with every time of diet or nutrition plan that was in print or online at the time in the early 2000’s. My experience was already very high I just needed some certifications and gym time to prove myself. So after passing the ISSA certification I worked part time at a local gym. It was a family gym environment. Most clients there just wanted to have a person to listen to their daily drama and move a bit to say they worked out. It was more of a social event then driven goals or hard work. But I needed to establish myself. I did that for almost 2 years and then my good friend Greg McCoy opened Metroflex Plano. It was the first franchise of the famous Arlington Metroflex. I was the first member and the first trainer there. I was a little scared of jumping ship but I had a couple of my clients follow me to the new place. After 3 years the gym moved to its new building becoming Destination Dallas. We had more room and AC. 2012 things became bad in my marriage and it ended shortly after. I decided to return to competition as a bodybuilder to refocus to become a better trainer and to lead from the front. I met my current wife in August 2014 and later in December of 2015 I was laid off from my network engineering job with severance pay. I was ready for change and with the proper support from my now wife I took the jump to becoming a full time trainer and coach. Most people think I am only into training competitors for the stage and believe me I love being part of that process and when they are on stage I feel like I am right there next to them. What my biggest goal as a coach is to really help to change a person’s lifestyle for the better. I don’t believe a person should spend their life working their ass off to provide everything for their families if they don’t wind up being around to share the benefits of that hard work with their family. If they ignore their health aka fitlife there might be some medical issue they could have avoided. Heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure to name a few. Things you can somewhat control through becoming active. What I try to do that I don’t feel a lot of other trainer/coaches do is I be a teacher not just a person that puts you through a workout or on a diet. I want you to look in the mirror months or even years down the road and be happy and say hey Joe taught me this I remember to do that. If your goals stem from life difficulties I want to be able to help you get through that using fitness. You are worth the time and energy to become a better you.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The Dallas area is a great place to start a fitness business. We have a great local economy that allows for most to be able to afford to hire a coach to help them to achieve whatever goal they might have in sight. With so many people that have come here from so many places. Each style and personality of a coach can be found. And there are many gyms that you can find to train out of.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.teamfitfantauzzi.com
- Email: teamfitfantauzzi@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamfitfantauzzi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Team-Fit-Fantauzzi-298762179495/
- Other: https://destinationdallastexas.com/personal-training/joe-fantauzzi/
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
