Coaching for
Everyday People
Accountability, program design, nutrition coaching, and a gym that feels like home. A coach who has been there before, who understands the ins and outs of family life, work life, and social life, and who can help you reach your goals without sacrificing those things—a coach who will meet you where you are and make fitness fit your actual life. These are the things everyday people need to reach their goals. Let's get you started today.
WELCOME!
I'm Kristen—teacher, trainer, writer, & coach
I am not a natural athlete. I couldn't do a push up, squat a barbell, or run around the block—until I started strength training in 2009. Through training, I watched my body, which I had always thought was weak and inadequate, get stronger and fitter.
To my surprise, watching my body get stronger and fitter also showed me its beauty, and I knew I wanted to help others see themselves the same way. I became a personal trainer in 2011, went back to school for nutrition, and took a leave of absence from teaching high school to finish pursuing those new goals.
The TRUTH IS:
I struggled with binge eating for 3 years.
The journey from teacher to trainer and coach, though, was stressful, and the transition forced me to question everything about my identity. I found myself resorting to food for comfort, and eventually, I gained 40 pounds in the process.
It took a long time to repair my relationship with food and relearn how to stay lean in a healthy way. I've now made it my mission to help everyday people overcome their own issues, whether they're starting with no strength as I did, getting back into fitness after years away from it, or tackling their own food and fitness demons.
My Training Home
Training at Fit House
Kenmore, NY
In 2016, when my personal coach, Chris Rombola, moved his training facility to a larger location, I came on board as a trainer. I was fortunate to already have a core group of clients willing to make the journey to a new space with me, and now that we have been there for so many years, I can't imagine a better place to be. Fit House has everything we need to run quality strength training programs customized for individual needs, and the atmosphere within the gym cannot be beat. The clients and trainers here have created a genuine community, and the growth we can foster in this kind of environment cannot be measured in pounds or kilograms.
TRAINING PRINCIPLES
After 12 years as a trainer and coach, I firmly believe that:
- Everyone needs to get strong.
- Training has to fit your life.
- Food is both fuel and fun, and we can learn how to negotiate both.
- Age and history should not prevent you from reaching your goals.
Services
All training & coaching runs out of Fit House, a private gym in Kenmore, NY.
Small Group Training
Personal training in a small group format. Programs are written to help clients meet strength, body composition, and performance goals. We focus on using the most effective means to reach client goals, and we create a supportive community of trainees that's fun and motivating.
Nutrition Coaching
Food is fuel and fun, and we can learn how to negotiate both. Nutrition coaching is individualized to account for training demands, outside activities, lifestyle, food preferences, and scheduling needs. There is no one-size-fits-all for effective nutrition if the goal is to learn how to eat for life.
Met Con Class
"Met con" is short for metabolic conditioning, a form of exercise designed to both increase metabolic rate and provide cardiovascular conditioning.
Met con works in conjunction with strength training to shed body fat, maintain muscle, and make the body's energy systems more efficient. Class runs in-person outdoors when weather allows and by Zoom in inclement weather.
What Clients Are Saying
Training, Nutrition, & Met Con Class
Kendra
My experience with Kristen has been nothing short of amazing! Kristen is knowledgeable and passionate about health and fitness. I am someone that needs to be pushed to reach any fitness goal, and she helps me with excitement and motivation. I have been training with Kristen for almost two years, and our workouts never get boring and are always evolving to the next level. Kristen also runs a metabolic conditioning class to help your body to burn fat more efficiently. I have been taking this class for over ten years and still find myself challenged each class. I have recently started a nutrition plan as well and have already seen results in just two weeks. I don’t find myself being hungry; in fact, it’s more food than I was normally eating in a day. I could go on all day about all the greatness. You know you can trust that she sincerely loves what she does and wants to help you every step of the way in overcoming your obstacles and achieving your personal fitness goals.
Training as Self-Care and Self-Improvement
Amie
Training for me is therapeutic. It is just as much an emotional release as it is physical achievement. It is the time I give to myself to focus on just me and being a better, stronger me. I started training with Kristen 11 years ago to get healthier, leaner, stronger, and to be the best example for my, at the time, little ones. I have had some ups and downs in relation some of these goals along the way. I know, by training with Kristen, I can continue to push forward every day I am in the gym and get right back to where I need to be. I look back to where I was when I first started, determined to grow, and today I can lift heavier than I ever imagined. I can deadlift more than my bodyweight, I can do unassisted dips, and I am working hard to get to an unassisted chin up. It may not happen tomorrow, but that is ok. I have gained so much knowledge about why my body moves the way it does at different times as well as how I can continue to reach even higher goals than I ever imagined. Kristen knows what I am capable of and pushes me even on the days that I cannot see it as clearly. She is a wealth of both strength and nutritional knowledge and has helped guide me around understanding hormonal changes and the importance of supplements. She is passionate on helping others understand the process! I am so grateful for the me time and am proud of where I am. I am also grateful that I get to share that me time with the best group of supporters who are working on their own goals. I love the people I train with, they feel like family and it is so nice to be surrounded by dedicated people working to grow! We’ve got this!
Training for Hiking—And for Confidence
Melisa
I met Kristen in 2019 after my knee pain stopped me from doing what I love, hiking and being active with my kids. Kristen’s programs and encouragement took me from walking in pain every day to being more physically active, doing more hiking, and living more pain-free than I was 20 years ago. I can run up the stairs, easily carry items without struggling, keep up with my kids and students, and move without pain from prior injuries. In fact, the training I’ve done with Kristen has allowed me to avoid injuries, and when they come up, they heal much faster from the strength and stability I’ve built. Kristen has also taught me to understand how my body works and what I’m capable of, which has built my mental and physical confidence. I came to the gym struggling to walk comfortably, and now I’m setting goals to push my athleticism in ways beyond what I had been able to do a lot of my adult life.
Training for Back Injuries, Core Strength, & Confidence
Todd
When I started training with Kristen six years ago, it was after almost 20 years of back issues. I had no confidence in my back because simple everyday tasks could have been the trigger for more issues: tying my shoes, bending over to pick something up, or even sitting down. I recall telling Kristen that I would never deadlift. I’m pretty sure she didn’t believe me, but she listened. And then she planned. We started my training slowly, engaging in various lifts allowing me to build some core strength (and confidence), which was the root of all the back issues. At the same time, Kristen adjusted my nutrition plan, allowing for optimal recovery and ensuring my body had the energy it needed for training sessions.
When Kristen told me she wanted to add in deadlifts, I was leery. But here’s the thing—I did them. I started out with very light weight and built up from there. A few months ago, I hit a new personal deadlift record of 375 pounds.
No longer do I worry about my back. I still have mild flare ups now and then, but because of the strength I’ve gained, they are less frequent and the duration is minimal.
Going along with that, I’m at the age where other injuries certainly pop up. Kristen listens and always has suggestions for modifications based on what I am able to do.
If you are interested in training but have concerns about old injuries or are unsure where to begin, start with Kristen. She will listen to your concerns and help you build from there.
