By Samantha Friedman
Raise your hand if you’re a military spouse and you gave up on your dream career? My story isn’t unusual. I’m sure there are a lot of spouses who went through this same thing.
But you don’t always hear the story of the military spouse who pulled herself up by her own bootstraps, so to speak, and created a brand-new dream career within the parameters of the military life.
Something Has to Give
That’s exactly what I did. My husband and I spent too much time being a long-distance couple and I hit a point where I refused to continue living life that way. We wanted to be together and something had to give. One of us had to make a sacrifice and move.
That “one of us” couldn’t be my husband without him going AWOL so… I made the choice that finally brought us together geographically. I left my corporate job in Washington, D.C. and moved to the tiny town of New Bern, North Carolina.
I was fortunate enough to be given a remote position within that same company from D.C., but I wasn’t so fortunate when the company was bought out and my position was eliminated.
I found myself in a very familiar situation for many military spouses – I lived in an incredibly small town with zero job possibilities. I was so happy to actually be living with my husband, but I needed a purpose outside the home. It was a make or break moment for me… if I was going to find joy and feel fulfilled in this military lifestyle, I needed to make my own path.
A Leap of Faith
I’ve always had a passion for fitness, so I decided to become a certified trainer. Then I took a huge leap and started my own business – Core Fit! I saw it as a new beginning for me with endless opportunities. I was tired of grinding for someone else. I wanted to feel passionate about what I did for a living!
Core Fit is made up of certified personal trainers and health coaches, all striving to help women break through barriers of achievement – both physically and mentally – through fitness. We are a team of military spouses, so we understand the unique challenges of this lifestyle and how important it is to make time for yourself and your goals.
Fitness helps all aspects of everyone’s life. I love pushing myself in the gym to regain focus, confidence, and relieve the stress that comes with this life. My passion is to share everything I’ve learned with others so they can reach their own fitness and nutrition goals.
I know how easy it is to feel stuck, especially as a military spouse, in an unfamiliar environment, no friends or family nearby. My goal is to help every single woman get unstuck and love her body. I want to help women feel proud and confident again.
I remember feeling stuck when I was postpartum, not in love with my body, and short on time with a newborn at home. We’ve all been there at some point, and Core Fit is here to help women move through that. No one should have to feel stuck or unsure of themselves… which can happen so easily with everything that is thrown at us daily in the health and fitness industry. I want to simplify it and make it feel doable for you.
The First Bootcamp
Military spouses, more than most, need a real sense of community, and Core Fit provides that. It gives all of us a space to share common goals, inspire one another, and hold each other accountable.
I held my very first Core Fit bootcamp when my husband was at Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course. A group of military spouses met in my garage and I hired a babysitter to watch our kids. It was literally my favorite time of the week! We all got together and sweat. Moms actually got to do something for themselves, even though their husbands were away.
A Confidence Crisis
There’s also a big confidence crisis among military spouses, as they leave their careers behind and lose their sense of purpose in life. My purpose in creating Core Fit was to help guide women to achieve a goal they never thought possible, and then watch that determination spread to every aspect of their lives. Talk about a confidence boost!
I knew that I’d found my calling. I help women strengthen their bodies and minds through fitness and nutrition, and the military community is the perfect setting for me to carry out my purpose.
For more information on Core Fit and how you can join the community, visit https://www.corefitfix.com/ or find us on Instagram @corefitfix.
