As a coach for others, some people like to think that I have it all together. I had to go through some
extreme adversity in order to become the person that I am today.


I’m going to tell you about one of the hardest experiences that I have ever had to go through.
When I was 21 years old, I ruptured 2 discs in my vertebrae ending my athletic career, forever
changing the rest of my life. Being an athlete, and playing football was all I knew. It was my identity.
It was everything to me, and just like that it was gone. I remember lying in bed weeks after surgery,
still hardly being able to move, wanting nothing more than to just be normal again.
I was depressed from losing my identity and had no motivation. It was honestly one of the hardest
things I have ever gone through. After months of bed rest, I was finally released to work out. Having
nothing to train towards, I just thought to myself “what’s the point?” I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t training, I
felt awful. I needed to make a change. I decided to start eating right, fueling my body the way it
needed to be fed. I started training within my limitations, doing what I could, accepting my injury,
seeing it as a challenge not a limitation. I became more mindful of who I was, what I needed to do
to be happy; that was treating my body like a temple.

When I decided to make these changes, I started eating right and providing my body with the nutrients it
needed to heal and recover. I started meditating everyday, practicing mindfulness to help overcome
negative emotions. Most important of all, I started to focus on helping others in their fitness journeys,
using my knowledge to get them anywhere they wanted to go! Even though I had barriers in my
fitness goals, there was nothing keeping me from helping others to reach theirs!
As a result of making these changes, I started to feel empowered. I started to be happy again. I
started to have energy and motivation. I was finally feeling like myself again, excited to find my new
Identity.

Here I am years later, and that’s why I decided to become a coach for others. I want you to know
that if you’re struggling, going through a hard time, going through adversity, that you’re not
alone. I’ve been there, and we have your back here at Altered Fitness.

After finishing my college football career, I decided to pursue the sport of bodybuilding to truly
understand every aspect of the weight loss journey from a physical and mental standpoint. This was
one of the most eye-opening experiences I have had the opportunity to do, and learned
more about myself than I ever thought I could. I went on to win my pro card in 2018, becoming a
Professional Competitor in Bodybuilding and Classic Physique. The pro card wasn’t the only thing I
won along the Journey. The experiences I had throughout it equipped me with coaching tools that help me to truly understand, connect, and relate to my clients giving them better results in the long run!

?After receiving my bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science from Grand View University I have been coaching professionally for the last 7 years helping thousands achieve their fitness goals that they set out for themselves. After graduating college, I went directly into managing and running a local gym in the area, while also and providing personal training and nutrition counsel.

?My job, life, and livelihood was taken from me in spring 2020 when the COVID-19 hit our nation.
As a result of the pandemic, I lost my job managing the gym, and all my in-person training with clients.

I was stuck, nothing to do but adapt and overcome! I had so many people reaching out to me asking “Zach, I have 2 dumbbells and this band, what do I do?” and after enough times, Altered Fitness was born! Moving on to 2021, we have helped hundreds to transform their bodies from dominating the pandemic, healthier than ever before!

There is no better life for me to live than waking up every day helping people all over the world to change their lives for the better!