Duanita Norman is an online certified personal trainer and nutrition coach who empowers adults 50+ to regain their vitality. Personalized total body workouts with a focus on core stability improve strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility. Individualized nutrition coaching provides key insights to living a healthier life. This combination enables them to excel in their daily activities and pursue their passions. Duanita is the owner of Mature Fit and Fabulous an online fitness and nutrition company. Her goal is to provide adults 50+ with the opportunity to live their best life for the rest of their life through fitness and nutrition.
Duanita Norman, Fitness/Nutrition Coach
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life so we can get to know you better.
I am Duanita Norman, the owner of Mature Fit and Fabulous, an online personal training and nutrition coaching program for adults who are 50 and older. I am also a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. My passion is to help adults live their best lives, and fitness and nutrition are a big part of the foundation for achieving this. I have not always been in the fitness industry. Life challenges led me to seek out fitness and change to online fitness. As I learned more about fitness, it led me into the world of nutrition. My fitness and nutrition journey propelled me to want to help others on their wellness journeys. I realized most people want to live a better life but don't know how. I can use the lessons from my journey to help others on their journey, so they don't have to figure it out on their own. It is like anything else. Once you learn what to do, it is easier to achieve and maintain it.
At a young age, I underwent open heart surgery to correct a murmur. Due to the surgery, antibiotics were prescribed before any medical or dental procedure. As a young adult, I questioned the necessity for this medication to be taken for the rest of my life. This revelation led me to explore ways to optimize my heart health naturally. Aerobics became my gateway to physical fitness due to its benefits for the cardiovascular system. I also discovered that it helped to relieve my stress, and I enjoyed the exercise. This early experience instilled a lifelong focus on health and wellness. Over time, I incorporated strength training and mindful nutrition into my fitness regimen.
Being a working mom in the corporate world brought new challenges and a desire for flexible fitness options. In-home fitness became my solution, allowing me to exercise while spending precious time with my family. DVDs provided the convenience and flexibility I needed, creating a win-win situation. The best part is I could achieve my fitness goals at home, just as well as when I was going to the gym. For this reason, I still do my fitness training at home.
Fourteen years ago, I embarked on a new career path in the fitness industry. While initially aiming for gym management, I embraced the opportunity to become a personal trainer and nutrition coach. This role allowed me to connect with individuals and guide them on their health and wellness journeys. I honed my skills at various gyms and personal training studios for the next ten years.
The pandemic brought about a significant shift in the fitness landscape, with online training becoming the norm. This experience and my positive personal experience with home-based fitness fueled my desire to launch "Mature Fit and Fabulous," an online personal training and nutrition coaching business.
What is the primary goal of your business in promoting fitness and wellness?
My primary goal is to coach adults 50 and older in total body strength, core strength, flexibility, balance, and mobility to enhance their movement in daily and recreational activities. This goal is accomplished by gaining insight into their current lifestyle and aspirations through a complimentary comprehensive assessment. Then, an individualized program is created to close the gap between where they are currently and where they aspire to be.
Tell us a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
I worked for a technical recruiting company when they laid off several employees, including myself. The layoff coincided with when my son began facing challenges in school. He was later diagnosed with ADHD. I knew continuing in a traditional 9-to-5 job wouldn't be sustainable. I needed the flexibility to be available for his school needs.
After leaving the tech recruiting world, I embarked on a new career in real estate. Within a few years, I had risen to the managing broker position. This role offered the flexibility I needed to manage my son's schedule. However, my company faced a downturn, closing several offices, including mine. This closing coincided with a broader shift in the real estate industry, moving away from traditional companies and towards franchises.
Recognizing that real estate demands wouldn't allow me to be available for my son and potential clients, I decided to explore a third career path: the fitness industry. Fitness was an area I'd always been passionate about, and it offered the flexibility and schedule I needed. I also wanted to help others live the type of life I could live due to the benefits of exercise and nutrition.
Can you share any upcoming developments or plans for Mature Fit and Fab?
Mature Fit and Fabulous is now offering small group training along with traditional one-on-one personal training. These sessions, designed for 2 to 4 people, provide a unique blend of personalized attention and the camaraderie of working out with friends online.
Also, nutrition podcasts are in the future for Mature Fit and Fabulous. The podcasts will focus on providing strategies and tips on healthy habits to incorporate for life's challenges (how to handle stressful eating, eating well when you have a busy life, managing holiday eating, etc.).
