Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Black.
Hi Heather, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I actually didn’t start exercising until after I gave birth to my 4th son. I wasn’t particularly athletic as a child – I preferred to read and ride horses. And I didn’t come from an active family- exercise wasn’t something that happened regularly when I was growing up.
But that all changed in 2013. I was 7 months pregnant with my 4th child and raising my older 3 by myself here in Charleston while my husband, a Navy officer, was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. I found out a few days prior to the Christmas holiday that my husband had been having an affair the entire time I was pregnant, and it completely destroyed me.
After weeks of the worst heartbreak I’d ever felt in my life, I remember laying in bed, so depressed, and realizing that I had two options: I could let this ruin my life, or I could prove that this wasn’t going to break me. Thankfully, I chose the latter.
I joined a CrossFit box 7 weeks after giving birth to my 4th son and was immediately hooked. As I became stronger and fitter physically, my depression and sadness began to dissipate. As my confidence grew, I would share my story with other women who had undergone similar heartaches, and I wanted to help.
I decided to get my CrossFit Level 1 Certification, as well as my NASM Personal Trainer certification. I began training clients at a local gym and coaching CrossFit classes.
Although I loved seeing my clients lose body fat and get in shape, what I loved most of all was seeing the light come back into their eyes. It made me so happy to see someone who is at the end of their rope, so depressed and defeated, start to smile again. Helping people realize how strong they really are is the best part of my job.
I am now the Lead Trainer and Health & Wellness Director of Restore at Sweetgrass Plastic Surgery, a new gym concept that integrates cosmetic medicine with fitness for a truly healthy aesthetic.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing ever worth it comes without challenges, and as a single mom of 4 boys, trying to juggle a career and a family is definitely a challenge!
However, I use these challenges as learning opportunities so that I can further help my clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer, and a Precision Nutrition Certified Coach. As a mom of 4, I work best with other moms who want to become healthy, strong, confident women. I particularly love introducing women to strength training.
I am also honored to be:
– Review Board Member for Verywell Fit, a health & wellness website that gets millions of unique visitors per month
– #2 Coach on WODWell.com, the most popular website for CrossFit-style workouts
– A two-time cover model for Oblique Magazine with multiple features
– Twice featured in South Magazine
– Strong Fitness Magazine’s “Woman to Watch”
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: heatherblackfitness.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/heatherblackfit
- Facebook: facebook.com/heatherblackfit
Image Credits
Gregg Lambton-Carr, Russell Green, and Gately Williams
