Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Barger.
Hi Natalie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Natalie Barger. I am a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified personal trainer, nutrition coach and owner of MindFit Muscle LLC; a personal training company that focuses on building a strong mind and strong body through exercise, nutrition, wellness and mindfulness. I have been training clients at the Lakota Family YMCA in Liberty Township Ohio for over 4 years. I am a wife and mother of 3. I love strength training, yoga, and competing in natural bodybuilding competitions. My intentional and consistent health and fitness journey started in 2013 when I realized I was taking care of everyone else, but put my health on the back burner. I had been active growing up participating in gymnastics and cheerleading that continued through college at Xavier University. My challenges with physical and mental health occurred when I struggled with infertility at the age of 25. I had 2 miscarriages before conceiving my daughter with the assistance of fertility treatments. I gained weight with the miscarriages and fertility medication and out of fear slowed down my activity when I got pregnant with my daughter. At that time my priority was keeping my baby safe and carrying her full term. Nutrition and exercise through this process were not something I knew how to navigate. I gained a lot of weight with my first pregnancy and didn’t address it for a year post-pregnancy. Fast forward another pregnancy with fertility treatments and then a surprise baby number 3 naturally, I had 3 babies in 5 years. Each pregnancy I gained less weight but still didn’t feel back to a “normal” healthy weight, energy level, or sleep schedule post pregnancies. It took me until my youngest child turned 2 to make significant changes.
I made small changes which included eating healthier and focusing on strength training. I learned a lot from my sister who was a certified trainer, nutrition specialist, and pro bodybuilder. I enjoyed the process so much that I studied many different styles of training, experimented with different techniques and wellness modalities, and loved it so much that I decided to get certified as a personal trainer and became a nutrition specialist. I wanted to share my knowledge and teach others they can do it too. It took me years to figure it out with a busy schedule raising 3 kids full time, but I had to prioritize my health for my family. I wanted to help other moms figure it out sooner than I did. I aspired to show and teach others you don’t have to put yourself last, you can make realistic changes and make it fit into your lifestyle.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My WHY. 9 years ago, I started my journey, I was a police wife, mom of 3 children under the age of 7 with little energy or motivation to take care of myself, I was happy but didn’t realize I could be healthier. My job and focus was keeping children alive, fed, and happy and for some reason I put my health on the back burner like lots of moms do. I didn’t realize I felt bad until I slowly started making changes to my nutrition and lifting weights with minimal cardio. After 30 days I felt a difference after 60 days I could see a difference, and after 90 days other people could see the changes. I never felt unhealthy until I had something to compare it to. It was slow progress, but progress. I learned so much about myself along the way. One big hurdle was letting go of the number on the scale, that’s where the mental piece comes in, so much of being healthy is being mindful, mindful of what you eat when you eat, who you eat with, and how often you eat and how you feel after you eat. Being aware of who you surround yourself with can make or break your progress, I found gym friends who became like family a career that I love and a bodybuilding hobby that my husband and I share. It’s about so much more than looks, it’s the mental and physical strength I gained and continued to gain over the years. I want every mom, woman (and man) to know if I can do it, you can too and if I can shave a few years off of figuring it out and get you stronger quicker that’s my reason for doing what I do. It’s my passion, my commitment, and my purpose.
I found my purpose and my passion through my challenges. I know what it feels like to struggle and I never want anyone else to go through it if they don’t have to. My hope is that children will see their parents make healthy changes and grow up with the same mindset. Physical and mental health are so important for a healthy future. It’s never too late, you are never too old or young to get MindFit.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about MindFit Muscle LLC.?
During my personal exploration of health and fitness, I realized how important the mental health piece is to the puzzle of overall wellness, the MIND part of the MINDFIT name. I incorporated yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to my fitness routine and share that with clients too. In order for you to get stronger physically, you need to be strong mentally too. You can’t have a successful healthy lifestyle without both. That is why I named my company MindFit Muscle LLC. and my motto is “strong mind strong body”.
I have trained women, men, and children. Mothers are not the only ones who struggle. In 2020 it became a wake-up call to those who weren’t taking care of themselves physically or mentally. Illness hit harder on those who were obese, out of shape, and unhealthy. Not enough conversations were being had about vitamins, nutrition, physical and mental health. During that time, I developed at-home workouts for clients, posted nutrition and fitness tips on my social media platforms trying to help. Educating clients, strangers, friends, and family isn’t easy when stress levels are high, sleep quality is low, fitness centers are closed and food is limited and financial struggles weigh heavy on them. It can be overwhelming knowing you need to make changes but are not sure where to start. I wanted to find a way to make it easier and realistic for beginners and those with experience that need support, or a restart as well as accountability. In my time at home during the quarantine, I created a 4-week overall health, fitness, and wellness program called “Get Mindfit”. The program touches on multiple areas of health and fitness, nutrition, techniques for optimal energy, mindfulness, and strength. We discuss awareness of current lifestyle/routines that are working or need adjusting, as well as nutrition choices that will help them reach their goals. I am their accountability coach; I build a routine with them that works best for their lifestyle and will yield the best results for the long term. This isn’t a diet, gimmicky workout plan, or quick fix, it focuses on long-term habits that will aid in living a healthy life where they feel good in mind and body. I designed this plan to focus on one element of health/fitness/mindfulness/sleep each week. In my experience with clients, I have found failure happens when they try to many things at once. Mastering one change at a time, building upon each goal reached each week will get them where they want to be in 4 weeks. A sustainable lifestyle that is not restrictive, but enjoyable, and healthy for their mind and body. This has been a successful program both in person and virtually. I send a package with 4 gifts/tools to support their goals for each week and keep in constant contact through the process.
My mission is to educate and demonstrate how simple changes add up to incredible growth. Knowledge is power and after 4 weeks they will be MindFit and be equipped with all the information they need to live a healthy lifestyle both mentally and physically.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Never put yourself last. You cannot take care of others if you are not healthy physically and mentally. Self-care is not selfish. In order to live a happy, healthy, and balanced life you need a strong mind and strong body.
Contact Info:
- Email: Mindfitmuscle@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfitmuscle
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindFitMuscle/
Image Credits
Tyler Breedwell Photography
Eric Thomas Photography
StudioJ_Dayton
Katie Laughlin
Cin Day Photo LLC
