Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Newton.
Mary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Born as property of the state, life has not always been glamorous but it has definitely been a blessing and provided me with quite the testimony. I come from a blue-collar, working-class family with six other siblings, which provided me with tons of entertainment and playmates to say the least. Growing up, education and extracurricular activities were encouraged in our household and provided me with the necessary skills to obtain and full track and field scholarship to Southern University A & M College in Baton Rouge, LA, where I went on to pursue a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology. After graduating from college, I accepted a full-time position in Houston, Tx and a Speech and Language Pathologist. My career has gifted me the ability to be something more than myself and to really make a difference in the world.
As a former collegiate athlete, I often yearned for the discipline, routine, and friendly comradery I had felt almost all of my life, yet had no idea how to fill that void. After a series of unfortunate events, I found myself battling severe depression, anxiety and wondering what was left for me here on earth. God saved strategically placed individuals and me in my life that introduced me to the world of bodybuilding and fitness. I have been blessed with the ability to perform at such a high level and obtain certifications that would allow me to assist others in their fitness and wellness goals, which has truly changed my life.
Great, 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?
The road has definitely not been a smooth one, but my faith tells me that even though there may be many weapons that form against me, none of them will prosper. In February of 2017, my family and I suffered the sudden loss of my father due to lung cancer only a week after his detection/diagnosis. This loss sent me into a deep depression in which I found myself entertaining individuals and activities that were not aligned with my morals and upbringing. As I wandered around aimlessly, I felt that God was pulling on me to come closer to him, but I was angry with him for taking my father and I looked for love in individuals that had proven their intentions long ago.
In 2018 became a victim of domestic violence, where I suffered a mandibular fracture and was forced to be surgically wired shut for six weeks. I literally hit ‘rock bottom’! But the funny thing about being at rock bottom is there’s nowhere to go but up, and I began rebuilding the foundation of my life beginning with God. Life certainly has had its challenges but through my work, I hope that I continue to motivate, inspire, and uplift other individuals that may be going through difficult times in their lives.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a Certified Personal Trainer who specializes in weight loss, strength and endurance, as well as body recomposition. I’m most proud of the morale and willingness to go above and beyond to accommodate each client individually. The thing that sets us apart from others is that each employee has overcome tremendous obstacles and has used that as fuel to motivation and to inspire others that become a part of our team.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career so far would be that I finally decided to ‘start’ moving in an area in which I am very passionate about, which in my eyes is the hardest part. It’s easy to come up with a million excuses on why not to do something, but to overcome your fears of failure and to embrace humility is truly something to really be proud of.
Contact Info:
- Email: Elevatefitnessbymary@gmail.com
- Instagram: @being_maryalice
Image Credit:
Jerren Willis Photography
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