Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Marrero.
Natalia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey in fitness has been a long one. I remember playing volleyball in middle school and falling in love with it. Volleyball and track dominated my high school years. When I got to college, I walked onto the volleyball team. Realizing it wasn’t a good fit I left and was at a loss without sports in my life. I was always looking for a way to stay fit. I ran 5ks that turned into 10ks that turned into half marathons. I made friends with the trainers at the campus rec center and started seriously weight lifting.
The gym has always been my haven. Through college, relationships, transitioning to the corporate world, marriage and having my son. It has always been a place to blow off steam, feel strong, empowered and keep me fit.
In 2013, I decided that bodybuilding was going to be my newest endeavor. I put on some heels and a sparkly bikini and earned an overall title in the figure division at the Atlantic USA show in Atlanta. I was hooked.
For four years, I continued to work in the corporate world while competing as a hobby once a year. Then mid-2017 something happened that changed my outlook on life. I mustered up the courage to leave my toxic, destructive marriage. It was one of the hardest decisions a person can make in life. I found myself a single working mom going through a nasty divorce that drug on for almost ten months.
I turned to competing to get me through that tough time. It kept me focused and sane and in the gym. While doing this, I realized that not only was it freeing to take control of my life and happiness but also that fitness and competition were the exact things that gave me joy. I knew that I didn’t want to waste another minute being in an unhappy relationship, but I asked myself why I would waste more time being unhappy in any other area of my life, including my job.
I went on to earn a 3rd place finish at the 2018 Arnold International Amateur. When I returned from the show, I quit my six-figure corporate job and went on a journey to pursue my passion in fitness. It took a lot of trial and error but here I am a year later. Co-owner of Peak Athletic Performance. We provide online coaching for bodybuilding competitor and people looking to improve their lifestyle. We service clients from Tokyo to Israel to California to Atlanta and everywhere in between.
Has it been a smooth road?
It was scary. To leave something comfortable and venture out into the unknown. I had money saved up and knew I could live on it for a while but I didn’t know what I really wanted to do at first. I tried my hand at a meal prep and personal training. Neither was the right fit. In June, I had the fortune of working with Body Design University in midtown to earn my CPT and NASM. In the same month, I found my business partner.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Peak Athletic Performance – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Peak Athletic Performance is an online coaching service. We provide clients with training and nutrition guidelines to help them attain their fitness goals. The service is all inclusive catering to the client’s current lifestyle, preference, and schedule. We specialize in bodybuilding competition prep. We pride ourselves on giving premium, education-based service to our customers and believe that quality individualized work is better than mass produced cookie cutter service.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Atlanta is so full of life, culture, and opportunity. There is a never-ending list of places to go and things to see. Never a dull moment! Though I could do without our wonderful traffic but I guess that’s what makes Atlanta the great city it is.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@peakathleticperformance.us
- Instagram: @natalia_marrero, @peakathleticperformance
Image Credit:
Facen Photography
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