Today we’d like to introduce you to D’Anthony Smith.
Hi D’Anthony, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am originally from Abilene, Texas and grew up in Arlington. I have been living in Atlanta, GA since 2019 impacting lives through fitness.
The like of Fitness really started when I was very young, I played little league Football, tried basketball, soccer and then fell in love with the challenge of Track & Cross Country in Middle & High School; graduated in 2009. Shortly after graduation life happened after high school and I abandoned all things that were good in my life for about five years. I went through a very dark period in my life that took me down a long road far away from all that I knew. The year 2013 was when life started to take a turn and I woke up and started seeking meaning and purpose to my life. A year later, I started following Jesus, getting to know him more personally for myself, and finding life in Him.
As I started to grow in my relationship with Christ, I found meaning and purpose to my life. First share the gospel (the good news) and then serve individuals to be better for themselves and the kingdom. I had a coach in high school who gave me the inspiration to become a leader in all things fitness.
In 2015 I started training myself to get back in running shape to run my very first 1/2 marathon, once I completed that I started studying to become a personal trainer and a run coach (based on past experience with cross country & track). Since August 2015 I have been teaching Outdoor Group Fitness Class through Camp Gladiator and training 1-on-1 clients for certain events. End goal is to start a Fitness/Run Program that helps individuals who want to be a Functional, Track, and Cross Country Athlete.
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?
Oh yeah, it has been anything but smooth for sure, but God is good. Moving to Atlanta, GA in December 2019 was probably the biggest decision I have ever made aside to giving my life to Jesus!
I moved here with a will to win and prove to myself that I could do what I set out to do and accomplish things I wanted to do since I was a freshman in high school. However; no one realized covid was right around the corner.
What a lot of people don’t realize being an Entrepreneur isn’t for the light-hearted. Within Months of me moving COVID wiped out everything I had saved up to move here and then some. I had never been this far away from my family and my business wasn’t growing it was doing the complete opposite. I had no idea what I was doing and was contemplating going back to Texas several times because it was a lot to stomach mentally & spiritually.
But God, He always shows up right in time, gives me the wisdom that I need at the time that I need it. So now I can say it’s smoothly challenging.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Devoted Fitness, DevoFit for short, is about Faith-Mindset, Inspiration, Discipline, and Fitness. The mission is to inspire & encourage people to build healthier habits to become better than yesterday with a positive mindset.
What you should know is that everything I do is rooted in prayer and scripture.
What I do is help people be more DEVOTED to their health & Fitness.
I am mostly known as the trainer who will make you run. I believe in the Fitness Industry, we all do the same thing, but because we are all different and unique in our own way. People will gravitate to what they need most and for me, it has been individuals who desire to start running or start their fitness journey or an athlete wanting to conquer the next challenge in their fitness career.
I am extremely proud that I have continued to stay consistent in my walk with Christ, which resembles what my brand represents. Giving Elite Athletes and Everyday Athletes the opportunity to be build both physically and spiritually.
What I want you all to know that I can help you solve any obstacles you may have by getting to know you as a person and then connecting that to what you need most. As of right now, I offer 1-on-1 Training, Group Outdoor/Virtual Class (All Fitness Levels), and soon Run Clinics.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I would say my biggest advice for those starting out on a journey like this is that it is okay to ask for help. Because 9 times out of 10, there is someone before you who was once where you are now.
Don’t stop being student in your industry, always be willing to learn or study more. Last and most important thing for my brothers & sisters continues to seek Jesus over everything. If you don’t yet have the connection or relationship with Jesus. I invite you to come and see.
Contact Info:
- Email: dsmithb3@gmail.com
- Website: danthonylsmith.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danthonylsmith/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danthonylsmithcpt
- Other: https://bio.site/TrainwithDAnthony
