Antonio Espinosa is a true inspiration to the health industry. Not only did he completely change his own life around by focusing on his personal health journey, he also decided to quit his previous finance career to become a personal trainer and a registered dietitian. He’s currently finishing his dietetic technician program to become a Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR). Antonio reminds us that we can strive for our dream jobs at any stage of the game as long as we have passion and drive. – Sarah

 What attracted you to the field of health and wellness? Having lived an unhealthy lifestyle my entire adult life, I found myself not only overweight, but as much as I hate to say it, obese. I decided to change my lifestyle and took it to the extreme perhaps by enrolling in the Dietetic Technician program at Merritt College in Oakland and getting my personal NASM personal training certificate. As I have always had a passion for helping others, I now do so by helping others get fit, lose weight, and live healthy!

Your Job Title: Fitness Associate

Company you are with now: SBM Fitness

Website: http://fitnesspaloaltoca.com/

Other Social Media: Twitter: @vigeowellness

A typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you: A typical day is promoting the mission of SBM Fitness by taking a proactive role in our clients fitness goals and seeing how we can meet and exceed their expectations. I help manage social media, encourage and direct members to take appropriate group classes, instruct and educate them on the different types of equipment, write articles for our newsletter and develop different contests that revolve around health and fitness. As our gym is a corporate gym, I relate to my clients because I know the challenges of working a demanding job and how easy it can be to not find time to take care of your body.

How did you get your current job in health and wellness? I responded to an ad on craigslist and was lucky enough to get  an interview.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? I believe I was born with the ability to be able to connect with people by listening and truly caring about their welfare. This has allowed me to be successful in different leadership and mentor roles. I seem to be able to identify what mentees need and be able to help them achieve their goals, whether it be in fitness, professional, or personal.

The one major skill that I have learned is effective communication. I have always been considered timid, especially speaking in front of a crowd. It always made me feel uncomfortable. Thanks to several years of participating in Toastmasters and taking different leadership roles within the organization, I strongly feel I have been able to make vast improvements in public speaking and it no longer bothers me.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? Be passionate about what you do and be the face of your success. As Ghandi said, be the change you want to see in the world.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? A great form of non-monetary payment would be for a client to give me a hug or handshake and tell me Thank You for helping me turn my life around. Thank you for being there for me and for being an inspiration. Seeing clients reach their health goals and be truly happy with who they are would be extremely gratifying.

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta.Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.