Laura Cenci has always been a physically active person. She began participating in soccer and track and field at a young age and continued all the way through college. By the age of 14, Laura Cenci was already into hitting the gym, lifting weights, and even starting her own meal plans. She went on to work as a fitness model and then moved on to personal training.
Laura Cenci is a published fitness and swimsuit model in some of the top health magazines. She is the 2019 “Face Yourself” Challenge Winner at Barry’s Bootcamp.
Currently, Laura Cenci is a personal trainer for a number of clients, many of them professional athletes, and is in the beginning stages of opening her own gym. She also owns an equestrian business.
Laura Cenci is a proud mother of three daughters, all of whom are into fitness and meal planning as well as, one grandson.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start this business?
I’ve always been a physically active person. My parents put me in soccer at three years old. I also ran track and continued both all the way through college. But by the time I was 14, I was already going to the gym. I was weightlifting, training, and I was even starting my own meal planning. I got involved with fitness at an early age because I knew the importance of maintaining my health, and that without it you have nothing. There were a number of fitness models I looked up to at the time, and even at that age I already knew I wanted a career as a fitness model.
How do you make money?
I have two jobs that generate my income. For the last 10 years I’ve been a personal trainer for a number of clients, many of them professional athletes. I also run an equestrian business due to my middle daughter’s love and passion for the sport. However, my goal is to open my own gym.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
It took me a few months, maybe six I think because I needed to build up my clientele. In the beginning, some clients weren’t very consistent with their workout routines. Once I had a decent number of clients with regular routines I became profitable.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
I had no doubts that being a fitness trainer would work because it’s something I believe in and it’s a lifestyle. It’s not a job for me. It’s my lifestyle. And I love helping other people achieve their goals.
How did you get your first customer?
I was walking in a shopping plaza actually. A woman passing by stopped me and said she liked how my arms looked and asked me if I trained people. She became my first client. That’s how I get a lot of my clients. Women stop me and ask if I’m a trainer because of my physique.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Outside of referrals, I use social media. I’ll post different workouts I do online, and I get a lot of interaction from them.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
The toughest decision I’ve had to make in the last few months was whether or not to pursue my dream of opening up my own gym. It’s tough because I have to make sure that it’s lucrative and successful and determine whether it’s a better route to take than what I’m doing right now.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I think it’s my love for what I do. I believe in what I do. I don’t do it for the money. I really enjoy helping people with their exercise routines and nutrition and seeing my clients achieve their best goal.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I met a client once when I was working out at a gym. She said that my physique was exactly what she wanted, but she wasn’t seeing the results she wanted with her current trainer. I told her I could give her a meal plan to follow and coach her through, and that I would just work out with her on my time off. And she stayed with me. She could text me, talk to me, tell me when she’s hungry at night and worried about binge eating. I helped her through it, and she ended up losing 40 pounds. It was the best feeling because I helped her for free to accomplish her goals and I got a great friend out of it. She’s been forever grateful for it.
I’ve also had the privilege of being a published fitness and swimsuit model in some of the top health magazines. These were exciting for me because I then knew all my dedication and hard work I spent on my fitness was paying off, and hopefully, I’ve inspired others to do the same.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
I’m currently venturing off to open my own gym. It’ll be more like a boutique-style, HIIT training type of gym. I’m in the beginning steps right now. Owning my own gym has always been a passion of mine.
What is a recent purchase you have made that’s helped with your business?
I recently purchased a rowing machine for my home gym. I have a lot of my clients use it when they come to train at my place.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a personal trainer?
I would say it’s getting people to believe in themselves and that they can reach their goals if they just put in a little effort. I try to get them to stop worrying about all the negative reasons they have of why they can’t do it. Health and fitness are a way of life, a lifestyle. It’s not just something you can’t achieve. As long as you change a few bad habits, any fitness goal is achievable.
What is your favorite part of being a personal trainer?
My favorite part will always be seeing people achieve their goals. The look on their face when they see that they have achieved what they thought they couldn’t, it makes it all worth it.
Why is maintaining good health and nutrition so important and how can someone improve it?
The benefits are endless. It helps not just increase your lifespan, but your health-span as well. Not only are you adding years to your life, but you’re also adding life to those years. I believe it can drastically help in preventing all major diseases, like cancers, and also decrease the need for medications.
I don’t believe there is one right way to eat, however, because everyone is different. I think the most important thing to focus on is eating real foods, preferably organic, and eliminating any artificial and processed foods from your diet. Get back into cooking and preparing your food for the week and reduce how often you’re eating out. This is especially important for kids because they’re still growing and developing, and the habits they learn when they are still young will carry with them into adulthood. You can help start disease prevention at an early age and ensure they grow up with optimal health.