Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Libby.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Health, fitness and the idea of overall well-being are concepts that played and continue to play a major role in my life – mostly positive, but also in ways that I now understand to be less so. As a teen and young adult, I struggled immensely with the difference between my body type and the body type that the media promoted as beautiful and desirable. I was (and still consider myself to be) an athlete; I needed to be fast and strong. On the field, it didn’t matter what size I was, but off the field, I felt like that was ALL that mattered. I looked different. I was muscular. I had curves. I wasn’t small or dainty like all my friends.
It took me years and years to appreciate my heart, my mind, my body and all the strengths and abilities that would come with it. Through that journey, I realized that all I wanted to do was to help others through their own journey of self-discovery and empowerment through movement and self-compassion. I first flirted with the idea that it was time to make that my career in the summer of 2016. It was terrifying, mostly because I was afraid of what people would say, I was afraid of failing and I was afraid that people would judge me for my choice — for leaving a ‘corporate job’ with a steady income, benefits, and a clear path to organizational growth and promotion, for something that can be very unstable and sometimes less profitable.
After putting the decision off for two LONG years, I left my stable ‘corporate job’ December 2017, thanks to the unwavering support from my close friends and loved ones in Austin, and in particular, Brittaney and Pat Cook, owners of Athletic Outcomes.
I have been working as a full-time coach and personal trainer at Athletic Outcomes since January of 2018. It is a different kind of “hustle’ but it is amazingly fulfilling. It feels good to be true to myself, regardless of what people may think or say. I am passionate about helping people — women in particular— know their own strengths and feel good in their own skin. At Athletic Outcomes and in the women’s programs that I run, I care about creating a safe space for movement, self-compassion and empowerment. I can now proudly say that to me, it’s honestly all that matters.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
One thing I struggled with initially was understanding “who” I wanted to be as a fitness professional. What is my “brand”? What am I trying to communicate? What do I represent? The answers only truly surfaced once I allowed myself to dig deep into my past and when I faced some of my own issues with body image and self-acceptance. I had to be honest with myself. I had to be vulnerable. Am I practicing what I preach to others? Am I being truly authentic? It was hard — sometimes uncomfortable—it took time, but it was well worth it. I am crystal clear on who I am as a coach, what I believe, what I practice, and what I want to offer women.
Naturally, I still work through these questions regularly. I think it’s important to continue to reconnect with your purpose and beliefs and wrap yourself in that. Be true to yourself. No one else is like you. That’s a good thing!
This is perhaps the most significant challenge I faced — worrying about what others will think of my decisions. I place a lot of value on what my family thinks of my choices and I was terrified that they would not support my decision to move from a stable career to something with less structure and greater uncertainty in terms of having a steady stream of income.
What I found was that if I was confident about my decision, they would be too. Being honest with them helped me get over some of the fears that I had created for myself. They just want me to be happy! Surround yourself with those that support you, lift you up and encourage you!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My passion for helping other women runs deep. At Athletic Outcomes offer multiple women’s strength training groups, along with a virtual Mind and Body Wellness Program which adds a component of virtual learning. These programs have been very successful and I am beyond proud of them. The empowerment, the strength, the self-love, the camaraderie — it’s all there and it’s amazing to be a part of!
Personally, I have experienced challenges both emotionally and physically when it comes to self-love and acceptance of my body and everything about it. Having gone down that road, I can actually put myself in my client’s shoes. I can hear them, I can see them, I can understand them. I am able to share my own experience with them – they understand that they are not alone. We can and do make progress together.
I would say it’s become my niche in this vast fitness industry 🙂
What are your plans for the future?
There are always plans and things to look forward to! At Athletic Outcomes, I currently offer four small group training programs for women. Moving forward, I’d like to continue to develop the programs and expand outreach to new individuals. We also have a Virtual Women’s Mind and Body Wellness Program which incorporates wellness education with small group training— revamping and growing this is also something I’m all in on!
Pricing:
- Small Group Training: $300 for an AO member, $400 for a non-member
- Personal Training: $95 for 1 session, $450 for 5 sessions, $850 for 10 sessions
- Unlimited Class Membership: $170/month
Contact Info:
- Email: Kat@athleticoutcomes.com
- Website: Athleticoutcomes.com
- Instagram: @athleticoutcomes
Image Credits
Weston Carls Brio Photography
