Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Gunn.
Jessica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I never in a million years thought I would be where I am now. I am a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach helping women across the world gain the confidence needed to realize that they can do hard things. I created an online coaching program that offers daily strength workouts, mindset and habit coaching, and a community of amazing women. I guide them away from the eat as little as possible and do hours of cardio mentality to nourish their body with healthy foods and lift heavy weights because they are strong. I want them to feel empowered focusing on things they are capable of doing as they learn to feel, move and look better.
I started my company Gunning4Fitness a few years ago so that I could hold classes in my basement gym and teach women how to lift weight properly. Strength training had changed my life for the better and I wanted them to feel as good as I did. My story is a little unique. I was literally the weakest and wimpiest woman alive. I am not an athlete. I grew up sitting on the bleachers watching my siblings play sports. I have no coordination and hated exercising because I didn’t like to be out of breath and sweaty.
I found at age 37 that I was a tired and cranky stay-at-home mom of 4 kids. I couldn’t understand why I was so irritable with my husband and kids every night. The mom’s guilt was terrible but I didn’t know how to change it. One night after getting frustrated with my daughter over something silly, I realized that I had to adjust my lifestyle. I knew that I had to eat healthier and start exercising. At this point, I had no clue what macros were and had never read a food label. I ate whatever snacks I wanted with no thought of its consequences. I had never lifted weights or really exercised. I had tried a few at-home workouts and always quit after a few weeks because it was hard and I saw no progress. Well, this time I was motivated by something different. I realized my kids wouldn’t remember how skinny I was but they would remember how I made them feel. That was the turning point.
In 2017 I had my little 5 lb dumbbells and I followed an online HIIT program that offered three 20-minute workouts a week. They were awful and kicked my butt. The only way I could get through them is if I did them while watching an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. After a few months though I found they get easier and my confidence started to grow. I started educating myself on the nutrition side and finding what worked best for my body. I completely cut out sugar and treats for a few months and my mood changed drastically. My daughter one day told me that I seemed happier because I didn’t yell anymore. I stood there and bawled. All of my hard work and sacrifice doing things that were so challenging for me had paid off. In time I had lost the weight that I wanted to lose but still wasn’t happy with my body. I realized that I didn’t want to be skinny…I wanted to be strong.
In late 2017 I was telling a friend that I wanted to start working since my kids were all in school and he offered me a job as a personal trainer at the gym he managed. I had never been in a gym so I took two months to get certified and then started working at 24 Hour Fitness. I quickly realized that I knew nothing but was determined to change my own body and those I trained. I started lifting with a fellow trainer and was able to learn how to put programs together. I would then spend hours at night researching what movements we did and why. It was overwhelming but in time I was able to understand better understand how to help my clients and myself achieve our goals.
I decided that I didn’t want to work in a gym any longer and at the beginning of 2019, I converted my basement into a gym. I led free HIIT workouts on my Facebook to women across the world that had found me on Instagram. From that point forward I started building my brand and growing a community of strong women of all ages. After quite a few months I decided to invite women from my community to come to my house and I taught them HIIT and strength classes. I still teach those classes to the same women although we have outgrown my home gym and now use a nearby gym that I rent.
It was amazing to watch these women change both mentally and physically. I decided that I wanted to help more women and created my online coaching program that reaches women of all ages and spans across the world. I feel very blessed to be a small part of their lives as I teach them to find their healthiest and strongest version of themselves.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely been a massive learning experience. I had no fitness, nutrition, or business knowledge or experience. I have taught myself and also paid for great coaches to guide me through the process of creating a brand and a business. I failed so many times in the beginning but each of those led me to where I am now. I actually lost money the first two years working but I knew that I was building something and it would pay off in the end.
It was an adjustment for my family at first as they were used to me being a stay-at-home mom. My two little girls helped me a lot by choosing my outfits for content and then hours filming me for my program. They loved spending time with me so it was a win for both of us. I call them my little managers. My husband travels each week so I was doing all of this as a single parent for a few days each week. It taught me the value of hard work and time management. It hasn’t been an easy road to get here but I have been blessed with amazing friends and family that have supported me in building this program so that I can help more women.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
When I first started my own health and fitness journey in 2017 I couldn’t find anyone to that I related online. They were young, had no kids, and had always been an athlete. I was 37, 4 kids, and was a wimp. So I decided to create a community for other women that were in the same stage of life. That community went from free workouts in my Facebook group with women from around the world to an online coaching app that teaches women how to eat the right foods for their body and how to lift heavy weights so they look, feel, and move better.
I wanted to stand apart from all of the other coaches that preach weight loss, fat loss, quick fixes, diets, and just hit your calories. I wanted to focus on what we are capable of doing instead of weight loss. I am known for encouraging women to eat more protein and to lift heavier which led to me creating my concept of Death Plus Three which helps women find the right choice of weights to use to actually change their bodies. By eating enough of the right foods and lifting heavy weights with the right plan they will gain confidence and reach their goals.
When I looked back at where I started a few years ago I can’t believe where I am today. I don’t think anyone else can either haha. I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish on my own with no experience. I’m on a mission to help women stop focusing on the number on the scale and instead focus on getting strong both mentally and physically!
How do you define success?
Success to me is if those around me are happy. Ultimately I’m happy if they are happy. If my family and employees and the women that I coach feel supported, encouraged, and loved then I’m doing something right.
Pricing:
- They can join my program for either $49 0r $35 a month depending on their package
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gunning4fitness.com
Image Credits
Johnny Larios, Jordynn Christensen, and Maddie Moore
