Why I started Iron Individual - A Gym For Everyone!

Growing up, my goals for my body were simple but misguided: I wanted to be tiny, have a small waist, and fit into the mold of what I thought was beautiful. In my eyes, other girls had it all—the pretty clothes, the perfect hair, the effortless confidence. I tried to emulate that by becoming someone I wasn’t, hoping it would bring me closer to a version of myself that I could feel proud of.

I remember the days of packing nothing but celery for lunch, weighing myself constantly, and wishing that number would drop, that the stubborn flab around my belly would just disappear.

High school was no easier. I spent so much time trying to fit in, and the harder I tried, the more invisible I felt. Without a solid friend group, I often found myself carrying my lunch to the bathroom, uncertain of where I could sit without feeling out of place. I was lost in a cycle of self-doubt, comparison, and endless striving for something I thought would make me feel “enough.”

College was supposed to be my opportunity to redefine myself—to become the real me. But, the cycle continued.

I tried fad diets, weight loss pills, endless cardio routines, and anything else that promised a quick fix. I still spent too much energy on how others perceived me, and while I wanted strength, my focus was still on looking smaller.

Then, in my sophomore year, something shifted: I began lifting weights. I started training hard, aiming for heavier lifts and personal bests, looking at the numbers on the barbell instead of on the scale. It didn’t transform me overnight, but it sparked something different, something healthier.

It took years—years of learning, unlearning, and consistently putting in the work for myself—before my mindset truly shifted.

The journey was long and often frustrating.....AND TO BE 100% TRASPARENT THE JOURNEY IS NOT OVER....but I started to value my body for what it could do instead of how it looked. I became stronger, not just physically but mentally, too. I learned that true health was about empowerment, balance, and self-acceptance.

And that’s where Iron Individual comes in.

I started Iron Individual because I wanted to create a space that celebrates health and fitness in a way I never got to experience when I was younger.

I wanted to create a place where people could find the good side of fitness, without the endless restrictions, binge cycles, or constant feelings of inadequacy that come from trying to follow every trend online.

I wanted to provide guidance, support, and a community for people to discover their potential, not for what their bodies look like but for what their bodies can do.

At Iron Individual, I aim to give others what I never had—a fitness journey that isn’t about fitting a mold but about breaking free from it. I’m here to help people become the best, strongest versions of themselves, while building a community that lifts each other up.

Because health isn’t about shrinking; it’s about growing. It’s about empowerment, progress, and feeling good in your skin every step of the way.

Here’s to lifting each other up and becoming the best versions of ourselves—together.

Welcome to Iron Individual, where your strength is celebrated every day.

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