Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Crabtree.
Hi Thomas, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started personal training in 2019 at the corporate level at 24-Hour Fitness. I quickly discovered I had a keen ability to both take a client through intense workout sessions and educate them enough to keep working out and dieting as a lifestyle. In October 2019, I had maintained most of my clientele through the year and decided to move over to the independent trainer lifestyle beyond 24-Hour Fitness. At that time as well, I started my journey into competitive bodybuilding and competed for the very first time. I placed 4th at my very first competition and returned to my business in Austin more motivated than ever to expand my horizons.
However, my plans were then haunted by the Covid-19 pandemic and I was forced to part ways with most of my clients and find work at a nearby HEB until gyms and other businesses had reopened. For six months, I trained with very fundamental equipment in a backyard owned by my coach at the time and his roommates. I would train a few of my partners at HEB who wanted to learn more about bodybuilding and brainstorm how I would re-enter the trainer world in a sustainable way.
In august of 2020, I would sign a contract with Big Tex Gym in north Austin. From there, I would begin collaborating with Josh Job, the founder of Austin Fitness Community to network and market my services all over the city. Business was slow to get traction ending 2020, but by New Year 2021, I quickly was able to attain more clients and keep them motivated with results throughout this year. My business has maintained approximately 35-40 sessions per week for the entire year thus far.
Since resuming training, I also got back into competitive bodybuilding. I have completed several times in the past year earning top 5 placings at every show including 1st place at my most recent show. Each show has been pivotal in giving me insight into nutritional practices and training principles I use to help my clients in their fitness endeavors.
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?
Although my client retention has been very easy to maintain since I first began training, climbing up to a full-time workload at the independent level was not very easy at all. Working around a pandemic was challenging even at the best of times. Until January this year, I had to use rideshare apps to supplement a good amount of my monthly budget. Even now at the level of business I’m at, I continuously re-invest a lot of my financial savings each month into more marketing and other services that help me progress with my own training.
As you know, we’re big fans of Torture with Thomas. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The mission of my training company is simple, I aim to democratize hardcore training principles for every individual who wants to work with me on their fitness goals. The biggest benefit of the training is more mental than physical (although I haven’t seen a client not become significantly more muscular yet). I teach clients the mentality of facing a challenging workout head on. Embrace the torture, look forward to each and every time you get to return to the gym for another opportunity to go even harder then the prior workout.
Every client I have ever trained that understood this mindset has seen truly incredible results. I have had transformations such as a client losing 100 pounds of body fat, a middle-aged client gain inches on his arms and legs and about 15 pounds of solid muscle, a client who has added 100 pounds to their top compound lifts, and several other total body transformations.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
There are several important lessons I’ve learned over the past two years or so. A couple of standout points are to persevere through adversity and to celebrate your passion. The pandemic saw a major falling out in the training world. Being financially frugal and patient through 2020 allowed me to capitalize on a lot of exposure in the Austin community I wouldn’t otherwise have enjoyed. The other important thing is to realize that your potential to make a change in other’s lives is greatly determined by how closely your work is related to what you find passion in. People will want to affiliate themselves with your business if they realize you actually want to perform the function you set out to serve in their lives, no matter what it is.
Contact Info:
- Email: thomascrabtree92@gmail.com
- Website: torturewiththomas.com
- Instagram: torture_with_thomas
- Facebook: Torture With Thomas
Image Credits:
Stage photo provided by James Allen Media First photo from Carlos Gallegos
