Leni’s career in health and fitness started in the medical field as a Registered Nurse but took a frightening turn when she was admitted to rehab for an eating disorder. Fast forward to now, Leni talks to us today about her past as a bodybuilding champion, how the gym saved her life, and why she is so passionate about helping her clients transform theirs.
Tell us where you’re from and what you wanted to be when you grew up?
I was born and raised in Schenectady. Growing up I always knew I wanted to help people, so I took continuing education in nursing.
How did your nursing degree bring you to a personal training business?
Growing up I suffered with an eating disorder anorexia nervosa. When I was 17, I was institutionalized in Four Winds. Shortly thereafter was my first attempt to commit suicide. When I was a little bit older I attempted suicide twice.
I knew growing up, I liked the way muscle looked on female athletes. I’ve been an athlete my entire life, not so much with school sports but more so martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, those types of things. So that lead me into working out. You can say the gym saved my life because there was a time where all other stressors and things that bothered me would shut off, and it would be me and the weights. I remember my mother telling me the only time I looked happy or smiled was when I walked into a gym.
From here grew the passion and I knew I wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives. I’ve been a trainer since 2006 and my goal with my business is to reach out to other people and change their lives. Not that the gym has to have the same effect as it did on me, but a good place to start is for someone to work on themselves. I always equate it to like when a rock hits the windshield of your car. It starts small and spider webs.
When you start to work on yourself and build confidence in you, other areas and aspects of your life start to become better too. When you work on the way you see yourself and start reaching goals you never thought you could, and someone is there to give you the proper tools to achieve those goals, there’s nothing better.
What was your fitness journey?
I’m a type A personality. With my journey, I started at ABC at age 17. I started in the APEX program and I excelled. APEX is a nutritional type system. From there, I decided I wanted to compete.
Unfortunately I never dealt with my eating disorder. Eating disorders really have nothing to do with the food, it has to do with other things in your life that are out of control or that you can’t control. One thing you can control is the food that you do or don’t eat. I never dealt with my issues, but I educated myself. For years my education prevented me from going backwards.
What I wanted was to have more muscle, to step on stage, get my pro card. If I reverted back to what I was doing I would never reach those goals. At that time my goals outweighed prevented me from going backwards.
Can you tell us about your competitions?
I did my first show in 2004 and I had trained for about 2 years. I remember telling my mother I wanted muscles so big the judges wouldn’t be able to tell if I was a man or a woman- which came to fruition years later. My first competition I won, I actually took the title Miss New York State in 2004. Two weeks later I competed again and won overall. I decided I wanted to pursue even further so I moved to Syracuse to work with an amazing trainer, who was a bodybuilder. Together we achieved that goal. I looked at myself in 2006 and decided I didn’t want to be this big and look this masculine. So I moved back home and became a trainer at Best Fitness.
Just to clarify, you went from super skinny to super muscular?
Yes, I was 109lbs and could touch fingertip around my waist. I was discharged from Four winds at 110lbs. Then I found fitness, it took me 20 years but I went from 109lbs to 210lbs. I was 109 with 15% body fat, I topped out at 215 with 14% body fat. That’s from consistency with the gym and nutrition. I’ve lived the consistency so I know what I’m talking about.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My days start very early, my first client is typically 4am. I wake up around 3, first thing I do is take care of my dogs. I take multivitamins, and my first meal is typically a shake with some oatmeal and peanut butter. I have my food ready ahead of time, I measure everything. I bring meals to work with me and my first client is typically at 4.
I work 4-12 and I love those hours. My workouts are after that. I hold myself to a strict 4-5 days a week, with cardio in between.
Before you train someone, you go pretty deep in their mental health. Why is it so important for you to understand a person’s relationship with food exercise before your start training them?
It’s very important for myself and my clients to understand their relationship with food. When a client comes to me that’s heavy or overweight, they know. I’m very bold and ask why and how they got here. Typically when someone is overeating, there’s something emotional going on.
I also try to teach them about trigger points, if something triggers them they will go to what they know, the food. If they’re coming to me, they want to change that. 99.9% of the population of people aren’t successful in their weight loss journey because they are not dealing with mental and emotional aspects. Myself included, we try to push those things away. We find alternative ways not to feel or think and turn to food, drugs, gambling, etc.
I make it a point to talk to them, explain my relationship with food and where I’m coming from, and they can be successful. It’s scary, but you have to put the time and work in. Together we find the trigger points and make them aware. The awareness allows them to make changes, these changes begin the progress which motivates them to keep going.
For years people put limitations on themselves and say they cannot or they don’t know how, but really what they’re saying is: “I’m afraid, I need help, but I don’t want to deal with the things keeping me where I am.”
What’s it like when you see people succeed and change?
There’s nothing better in the world. When someone thanks you for changing their life. The whole reason I’m in this industry is to change lives. It’s not about counting number on the leg press. It’s about the people who don’t love themselves, with their head down, feeling defeated and depressed. When you can help them turn that around, they see life through different eyes, they’re walking taller. It all started with them, it starts and ends with you.
As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder, how have you been able to change your mindset?
Education. I learned about food and how it works in my body, what is my body going to do if I don’t eat. Also time vested in this industry training others and myself. In the beginning stages, my goal was bigger than my fear. Your goal must be bigger than your fear- “Face Everything And Run” or “Face Everything And Rise.”
For a lot of years, I ran. At 43 if I had handled my issues sooner, I would be further ahead than I am now. I want better for my clients than what I had to myself. Once you go through that fire your life becomes exponentially better. People feel like they have worked so hard to close a chapter, to reopen it would bring so much pain. What they don’t understand is how to get there. When we can work that out, that’s truly how peoples lives turn around.
What advice do you have for someone trying to overcome an obstacle?
The first thing is, never give up. No matter what you’re going through, whether its mental, physical or trauma, no matter what it is, don’t give up on yourself.
I believe in God immensely, I’ve given all my cares and worries to Him and He has changed my life rapidly. I pray every morning that I can make a difference in someone’s life. This may sound funny but in an instant take the worry off of yourself, put your energy into someone else and give your own worry to God. That works for me.
If you’re going through something don’t give up, it will be OK. When you need help, ask for it. Don’t be afraid, fear will hold you back. As scary as it may be, you’ll look back and be so glad that you did.
Tell us about the quote that’s on your website.
This truly states everything that I am trying to put out into the world.
“I declare that I will live as a healer, I am sensitive to the needs of those around me, I will lift the fallen and the broken and encourage the discouraged. I am full of compassion and kindness. I will not just look for a miracle, I will become someone’s miracle by showing God’s love and mercy everywhere I go. This is my declaration.” -Joel Osteen
This is truly why I do what I do.
What are some practical tips you can give for someone wanting to change their body?
First thing is nutrition. You don’t need to eat as structured as a body builder, you just need to eat everything in moderation. If you eat a lot of sugar, cut it in half. If you drink a lot of soda, cut it in half. Small baby steps.
Anything less than what you did the day before is progress. If you look at it in a broad scheme, you’ll become overwhelmed. The best thing to do is make a big deal of the small accomplishments. If you fall, brush yourself off tomorrow is a new day. Look at what you’re eating and see where you can make some adjustments. Any positive changes is a step in the right direction.
Be consistent with the small steps, its the small things that make up the big picture.
What are one or two things someone who doesn’t know what to do at the gym can do to get started?
If you don’t know your way around the gym and you’re nervous, start with cardio. Just get moving. Start with what you’re comfortable with. If you’re nervous or embarrassed that someone is going to look at you, trust me, they’re too busy taking selfies and looking at themselves they won’t even notice you. People project what they are thinking and feeling about themselves.
My advice is to be courageous, be gentle and forgiving on yourself. Be proud of yourself for being at the gym. You’ll start to feel proud enough and confident enough to try other things or ask for help.
How have you been able to build your business with no social media?
I’ve done against the norm of society because I don’t need a Facebook or Instagram. I need to be real with people, present with people. I will be the face of ABC, show clients I care. I’m successful because I care, and I’m not worried about the money.
People are so busy with social media and how many likes they can get, what they are forgetting is basic humanity. It’s doing something for them because I want them to be happy, healthy and successful.
What do you do for lunch?
I love Sushi but I’m usually at work for lunch so I’ll bring steak, brown rice, and usually a salad or some veggies.
How can someone contact you?
Email: lsfitness101 @ gmail.com
Website is coming soon.
