We had the good fortune of connecting with Ernest Tate and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ernest, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I wanted to help individuals see the benefits of movement. I was extremely obese, at my heaviest I was 453 pounds. I didn’t even notice my extreme weight gain since my football playing days because the people around me didn’t make me feel bad about my appearance. My wake up call came when my mother told me parents shouldn’t have to bury their children; children should bury their parents. That simple statement started a shift in me. I knew I was in for a fight but I was ready for it! I started to take fitness, health and movement seriously and invested in a gym membership. I started working out 4 to 5 days a week. A female trainer noticed my dedication and lack of knowledge (Laugh). She offered to train me for free if I promise to help others. I never look back from that day. I was elated to gain knowledge to help others feel as good as I was feeling from taking care of my overall health. I started gaining a little buzz because of my free Saturday morning outdoor workouts that were open to the public. From that experience I knew I didn’t want to do anything else, so I researched what was needed to start a personal training business. I started my business and I have had the pleasure of serving the community for more than a decade now.

What should our readers know about your business?
Tate’s School of Fitness is a space for overall health. Our brand is a health and lifestyle brand that focuses on providing the best information so individuals can achieve their goals towards a healthier lifestyle.  We focus on more than the physical; we aim to aid individuals with their mental and spiritual health as well. We want to help individuals achieve their goals by simplifying health and wellness. I personally have lost over 250 pounds through trial and error over the years but we want to help others shorten the learning curve to achieve their goals. We know that information about health and wellness can be overwhelming and we want to provide more clarity for individuals to create a healthier lifestyle. We provide straightforward plans that work. We take your questions and problems and provide you with the best information available. We provide online services, meal prep, group class, we have a vegan cooking show and we have a podcast interviewing other entrepreneurs about their life & health.  We have cultivated a space that focuses on overall health.  The level of knowledge our clients leave with is priceless! I think the biggest thing that has helped with our success is our consistency. Consistency is absolutely important to any success. It has been challenging at times to remain consistent because of the nature of our business. Fitness/Health is a service that is seen as a luxury to some but honestly I feel hiring professionals to help in this space is essential. Unfortunately, so many people put their health last by not seeing the importance. Our overall health in this country is trending in the wrong direction.  We understand that affordability, knowledge overload and not knowing where to start plays a huge part in this.  We aim to make fitness/health affordable and easier to understand.  One of the biggest lessons I have learned along the way is to be patient, to change one’s lifestyle is hard and the first steps taken in this process are extremely brave.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would have to say my wife and my friends Takiyah, Solomon and Corey. Ebony my wife has been my rock through all of the ups and downs with Tate’s School of Fitness. My wife and friends have helped me create most of the ideas for Tate’s School of Fitness such as events, challenges, website and our future app. They have pushed me and supported my efforts throughout this journey.  I am extremely grateful for having a loving & supportive partner and a great circle of friends!

Website: https://tatesschooloffitness.com/

Instagram: tatesschooloffitness

Twitter: @TateSchool

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ernest.tate.161/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99BW0PmGV5khVnWhoR4A5g

Other: https://anchor.fm/ernest-tate Tate’s School of Fitness “Fitness Corner” Podcast

Image Credits
Corey Epps

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.