My Story

From Marine Corps veteran to 333 pounds to competitive rower and why I'm passionate about helping you reclaim your fitness after 40.

Phil Brown

I Know What It's Like to Feel Lost

I'm 52 years old, married to the love of my life, Shannon, and raising a teenage son. I'm a Marine Corps veteran and former college soccer goalkeeper. For most of my life, I was an athlete. But like many of us, life happened. Weight crept up. Fitness became an afterthought. At my heaviest, I hit 333 pounds.

I tried the usual approaches: gym memberships that went unused, programs that didn't fit my life, advice that worked for 25-year-olds but left me injured and frustrated at 40+. The truth is, getting back in shape after 40 requires a different approach. Not an easier one; a smarter one.

Today, I split my time between Cleveland, TN and Woodstock, GA, where I train clients and pursue competitive indoor rowing. I train at elite volumes: 120,000 to 150,000 meters per week. Rowing is a low-impact but high-intensity, full-body conditioning that doesn't destroy my joints. Measurable, data-driven progress keeps me motivated. In my first year of serious rowing training, I found out that this was something that I loved to do. Now, I'm preparing for the World Rowing Federation 5K Championship.

If I can rebuild at 52, you can too.

My Training Philosophy

Meet You Where You Are

Whether you're deconditioned and starting from scratch, or you've got some fitness base and want to level up, I design programs for your current reality, not some idealized version of who you used to be.

Smart, Sustainable Training

No crash diets. No workouts that leave you injured. We build strength, endurance, and power using methods that respect your body's recovery needs and fit into your actual life.

Data-Driven Progress

We track everything: watts, meters, heart rate, body composition. Numbers don't lie, and they keep you motivated when the scale doesn't move as fast as you'd like.

Behavior Change That Lasts

With master's degrees in Human Behavior and Curriculum and Instruction and 20+ years of learning design, I understand how humans actually change behavior. It's not just about the workouts; it's about building systems that stick.

Education & Certifications

🎓

NASM Certified Personal Trainer (CPT)

Evidence-based training methods, program design, and client assessment protocols.

🍎

NASM Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC)

Nutrition strategies for fat loss, performance, and long-term health—without restrictive diets.

⚡

NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES)

Addressing movement dysfunctions, reducing injury risk, and working around limitations.

🚀

NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)

Advanced training methods for athletic performance, power development, and sport-specific conditioning.

🏥

CPR/AED Certified

Current certification in emergency response protocols for safe, professional training environments.

💚

Mental Health First Aid Certified

Trained to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, providing compassionate support alongside physical training.

🧠

Master's Degrees in Human Behavior and Curriculum and Instruction

Understanding motivation, behavior change, and the psychological side of transformation.

📚

20+ Years in Learning Design

Expertise in breaking down complex skills, creating progressive learning systems, and effective coaching.

🎖️

Marine Corps Veteran

Discipline, commitment, and the mindset to push through when things get hard.

Why I Specialize in Training People Over 40

Before becoming a trainer, I spent over 20 yers in education and learning design. That background shows how I coach: I don't just tell you what to do, I help you understand why it works, how to adapt it to your ife, and how to build habits that stick. Fitness isn't just physical; It's behavioral, psychological, and deeply personal. Because I am you. I know what it's like to wake up with joint pain. To realize your old workout routines don't work anymore. To feel like you're fighting against your body instead of working with it.

The fitness industry is obsessed with 20-somethings. But at 40, 50, 60+, you need a different playbook:

  • Joint-friendly conditioning that builds strength without breaking you down
  • Recovery protocols that acknowledge your body needs more time to adapt
  • Realistic nutrition that fits into your life, not some Instagram influencer's fantasy
  • Strength training that preserves muscle mass and bone density as you age
  • Sustainable intensity that challenges you without burning you out

I know what it's like to juggle career demands, family responsibilities, and personal goals. I've navigated weight fluctuations, false starts, programs that didn't work, and the frustration of trying to train like I did at 25. I've been as heavy as 333 pounds and as fit as I am now at 52 training for international competition. You're not past your prime. You're entering a new phase where smart training beats hard training every time.

Ready to Write Your Own Comeback Story?

Let's talk about where you are, where you want to be, and how we'll get there together.

Start Your Transformation