Today we’d like to introduce you to Katelyn Darkangelo.
Hi Katelyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My professional fitness career started back in college while I was attending the University of Michigan, and at the time I wasn’t exactly sure what field I wanted to go into after graduation. All I knew was that I loved fitness as a hobby and on that basis alone decided to major in Exercise Science / Movement Science. Following this decision, in my sophomore year, I saw a virtual posting to start my own online fitness coaching business, and without a second thought I signed up on the spot. After working within that company for 2 years, I knew I was definitely in the right industry, but I also knew I wanted to branch away from that company and start my own business some day. It was also that original coaching experience that helped me discover that I loved the business management side of things as much as I loved the fitness side!
Building on this newfound interest, I then decided to further my education in business and earn my Master of Management from Duke University following graduation of my undergraduate degree. While at Duke, I constantly had friends asking me to write them workouts, to help them at the gym and asking for my opinion on different health-related topics, and that’s when my gears really started turning. What if I charged someone for a month of workouts? As nerve-wracking as that felt at the time, I did it anyways, and it worked. From there, I decided to write out an entire strength program, ran a test group on it, and launched it on Jan 1, 2018. Fast forward 3 years later, we (my husband and I) had built a workout app, opened a gym, and were coaching hundreds of clients both online and in-person through our formally-built company, FIGR.
All this was seemingly to lay the foundation for the day I would become pregnant in 2021. I loved fitness, had a deep history and education in the field, coached hundreds of clients through our own business, yet when I saw that positive pregnancy test I realized I had no idea how to approach fitness in this new phase of life. And not only did I feel lost and confused, it also seemed that there was no education, coaching or guidance in the field yet either. I took this new opportunity, curiosity and interest upon myself to learn everything I could about pregnancy and postpartum training so I could help not just myself, but hundreds and thousands of moms in the years to come. I ended up getting dual-certified in pregnancy and postpartum coaching, and created my FIGR:Pregnancy and FIGR:Postpartum app programs, so that I could coach this population both in-person and online, wherever my moms might need me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There’s always struggles, but it’s been moreso a series of small bumps that lead me to adjust or pivot that then lead to the outcome I was working for in the first place, so I try to view it all as positive pieces of the “road.” There has been hundreds of rejections from potential clients, frustrations that lead me stuck, feeling unmotivated at times and questioning myself as a professional in this space/dealing with imposter syndrome. I don’t think its ever sunshine and rainbows, but overall it has been a rewarding journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
FIGR (pronounced “figure“) is an in-person and online community of hard working, strong minded individuals that commit to daily improvement in their fitness and in every day life. We offer monthly subscription workout programs through the FIGR App and also have a gym in South Lyon, MI where we train in-person small group functional fitness classes.
FIGR (Fit Is Getting Real) got its name from our belief that it takes real action, real dedication, and real commitment to actually build a healthy, fit lifestyle. We were frustrated with the fitness industry’s quick-fix messaging, which has never and will never work. That’s why we sought to build a community that pushes people to take prioritize their health and fitness, to put in the work, and to stay committed to their goals. Our mission is to help people achieve your own definition of REAL success in and out of the gym. We believe that when you work to improve your fitness, you gain the skills and mindset to improve your entire life, which makes the gym one of the most important parts of your day.
I, Katelyn, specialize in training the pregnant and postpartum populations, and women in general, while my husband, Anthony, specializes in athletic training from middle school all the way through professional athletes, as well as men’s functional fitness.
I believe what sets us apart and what makes me proud of our brand is our hands-on approach, community focus, and personalized feel from both our in person and online programs where most of those in the fitness industry are quite opposite. We don’t just want to sell you our programs, we want to be there with you through your fitness journey and be the coaches who truly understand and are there for you.
What does success mean to you?
Eudaimonia – it’s a contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous. It’s a Greek term and is actually something I tattooed on my ribs. To me, this is success: being happy and thankful for the people and things in your life, being in good health, and having something you’re excited to work towards or make progress in daily to keep you moving forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fitisgettingreal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katedarkofit
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/fitisgettingreal
