'I used to get bullied about my arms, now they're my favorite body part'

Ill never forget being made fun of in elementary school for my "big man arms." Id wear long sleeves in 90-degree heat to conceal them. Now? Those arms are one of my favorite body parts because of how strong they are.

After an ACL tear in college, I worked on rebuilding the muscles around my knee while training my upper body hard. That's when it clicked: I felt so rewarded watching my own strength and athleticism advance instead of caring about how others might view it. I find it so fulfilling to experience physical progress.

That drive has kept me mastering new skills—it even led me to compete on American Ninja Warrior! The only thing more gratifying than my progress is seeing a woman capture that same "I can do anything" spirit.

MY TRAINING M.O.

At my gym, AG Athletics, I lead boot camp-style workouts with a twist—utilizing springboards, bars, and boxes—for people in their twenties through sixties. I teach kids gymnastics too!

MY TAKEAWAY TIPS

Be creative. I see a park bench, and I see situps and triceps dips. Monkey bars? Pullups. Opportunities to squeeze in fitness are all around; you just have to look for them.

Don't stick to what you know. If you're a runner, keep running. But experiment too. Your natural strengths might translate to something unexpected.

Embrace the handstand. Inversions build functional fitness: They help you develop core strength, body awareness, and arm muscle. Plus, the head rush is like nothing else! Start by kicking your feet up against a wall for extra support.