Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Brian Webb Jr.
Dr. Brian, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story revolves around a time in my life where I was depressed and suffering with drug addiction. I was in a dark place in my life at that time. During that time my mother, Linda Pope, was suffering from health complications which led to her untimely death in 2013. My mother‘s death was the trigger point for me to turn my life around. I looked at myself in the mirror and decided that I would turn it all around because when my mother was suffering, I wasn’t in the mindset to help her improve her health. Since I couldn’t help her, I vowed to help as many people as I could starting with myself. At that time, I had gained a lot of weight and was over 200 pounds. I began by hitting the pavement and running all over the city and eating healthier. Soon, I became fit and was ready to help others. Therefore, I became an ISSA certified fitness instructor and senior fitness specialist. Then, in July 2015 I founded Fitness Friends, a fitness company focused on personal training, where I utilize my fitness expertise and motivational skills to spark a lifestyle change resulting in a better quality of life for those who join this movement. By helping myself and others, I honor my mother.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This has not been a smooth road. It’s been rather bumpy. Some of the struggles along the way included recovering from drug addiction and overcoming depression, facing myself to make the necessary transformation, getting through tough workouts and running when I wasn’t in the best condition, grieving after the death of my mother, starting a business from the ground up without capital, and studying to gain the knowledge necessary to become a certified fitness instructor.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Fitness Friends story. Tell us more about the business.
Located in Atlanta, GA Fitness Friends focuses on individual, partner, and group personal training as well as motivational speaking. We specialize in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) as well as strength training. I founded Fitness Friends in July 2015 but it truly started a couple of years earlier (in my heart) after the untimely death of my mother Linda Pope. Fitness Friends prides itself on sharing my fitness expertise and personal fitness journey with others to spark a lifestyle change resulting in a better quality of life for those who join the movement and fight for fit not only to help themselves but others. I am most proud of the Life After Death documentary which highlights my redemptive journey through depression, homelessness, and drug addiction, directed and produced my Sabur Karim-Kincey of Monumental Sound. I am equally proud of my clients and partnerships that have allowed Fitness Friends to motivate and encourage others. Fitness Friends currently has a strong roster of clients that have vastly improved their health/fitness since they’ve begun training with us. Aside from clients, we have a healthy roster of partners with whom we’ve collaborated with to bring fitness-centered programs to the local community. Those partners include V-103 (Get Fit & Be Healthy events, V-103 Car & Bike Show), Peach State Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, Youth Hope Builders Academy at ITC, metroPCS, North Metro GNETS, Butler Street Baptist Church (Faith & Fitness), and Clark Atlanta University. My redemptive story, fitness journey, passion, and love for people is what sets Fitness Friends apart from others. I truly care about each of my clients and want them to reach their fitness goals. My training approach is not a one-size-fits-all approach. I take the time to customize training programs for every client and to make adjustments when necessary.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck but I believe in God. God has played a major part in my life and business. At the age of 16, I was called by God and became a licensed minister at the age of 19. God has always had his hand on me and I always knew that I would help people. God has blessed me with a successful fitness company and recently a church to pastor. Effective 12/1/2019, I will officially be the pastor of The Historic Butler Street Baptist Church in the Old Fourth Ward. My failures and successes in life and business are from God. No luck, but God.
Contact Info:
- Website: FitnessFriendsFit.com
- Email: FitnessFriends1906@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessfriends1906/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitnessfriends1906/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/fitfriends1906
- Other: https://youtu.be/6NWgP1-cEh0
Image Credit:
Photo on red carpet is with Sabur Karim-Kincey. Photo with me in RIP Linda Pope tank is with my daughter Brianna Webb. All professional photo credits go to Damon Thomas of Eleven16 Media.
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
