Rising Stars: Meet Christine Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christine Smith.

Hi Christine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I was born in New Jersey and my family and I moved to Arizona when I was a teenager (July 2001). Phoenix is now home for the past 22 years. I was an active child/teenager and played soccer competitively for 13 years. I played at the collegiate level in San Antonio, TX but that ended shortly after a few injuries and concussions.

I returned back home to Phoenix where I did earn my bachelor’s degree in Communications from Arizona State University. I went on to earn two Graduate degrees in Leadership and Secondary Education as well from Grand Canyon University. For most of my 20s, after my soccer career was over, I was in school full-time and working in an office setting, so fitness and health were not something I prioritized and I picked up some “bad” habits. It was in 2014 at my all-time highest weight of 250 lbs.

I decided I needed to make a change. I began slowly going back to the gym and meal-prepping my food, to avoid eating out and/or vending machines at work. I had success but I was trying different “fad” diets and/or restricting food groups to lose weight and even though I would lose weight, it would come back since it was not sustainable to restrict. I did this yo-yo-ing for a few years until I finally decided to invest in my health and educate myself on changing my habits to create a sustainable lifestyle where I still lost weight.

During this time of educating myself, I decided to take the entire year of 2020 to strength train and compete in a body-building bikini transformation show. I was on stage displaying all my hard work and shared my transformation story from 250 lbs. in 2014 to my lowest weight on the stage of 140 lbs. in November 2020. This was liberating and felt amazing. I wanted to help other women and by going back to school again to learn more I became certified as a Personal Trainer through American Council on Exercise (ACE) in January 2022.

In 2022, I quit my corporate job and left the company after 11 years working with them but I was passionate about helping other women feel strong, empowered, and confident in their own skin so I decided to launch my own fitness coaching business at the end of 2022. LEO Fitness is very new and is meant for women to Love, Empower, and Overcome to hit their weight loss goals.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
For a few years there were ups and downs in losing weight and then gaining back due to being restricted and using “fad” diets. It was when finally learning to eat different options in moderation was when losing weight in a healthy way worked for success. I was able to lose 1-2 lbs. a week in a sustainable way and not restrict any food items/groups.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Certified Personal Trainer who is available to assist women who have weight to lose, plus learn healthy habits to change once and for all. The goal is to never have another coach ever again and to work with a coach to learn how to be healthy for the rest of their life.

What’s next?
The plan is for women to work with a coach to educate them on how to prepare their lives with healthy eating and being active with a busy schedule in order to see weight loss results. My program would be at least 12 weeks to feel comfortable and build a routine that is second nature for them to continue to see weight-loss results.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @christinesmithfit