Meet Kendra Nicole | Personal Trainer & Master Motivator

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

Hi Kendra, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m the product of two Grady babies, I am an ATLien. I was raised on the WestSide of Atlanta, Etheridge Court to be exact, to North, South, and finally my heart the Eastside of Atlanta. My parents divorced at the age of 5, my father off to serve our country, and my mother back in Atlanta with me by her side.

Having southern roots, I watched my grandmother clean and cook chitlings preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner. By watching, I learned how to snap green beans, shuck corn, and season chicken in my mama’s kitchen. Watching them prepare meals that made my belly full and happy was satisfying for me as a kid, it was comforting.

I would help my mama bring in the groceries after a Sunday service at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church. My mama always found ways to keep me active. Whether we’d race to the car, go for walks around the neighborhood, or allow me to ride bikes with friends. Little did she know what seeds she was planting inside of me.

My adolescence was the time that I noticed my body was different from the other girls in my classes. Certain clothes I couldn’t wear, because they fit too tight and hugged the wrong places. This was the first time I can remember being called “Cute but CHUNKY”.

Those words followed me well into high school. Being curvy and wearing clothing from the misses department while my friends were shopping in the juniors department was a struggle, internally. I joined a sport to stay active but I still heard those words of “Cute but CHUNKY” loud and clear. So negative self-talk became normal and food became my friend, in public and in private. Thus began my great debate with weight.

For years, I struggled with my weight. I’d gain and then lose, to gain again and lose again only to gain my weight back double and lose only half. I’ve tried Weight Watcher, quick fads, intermittent fasting, starving myself, using working out as punishing myself for overeating, you name it I’m sure I tried it. Twice. It wasn’t until mid-2017 when I truly took a glance at where I was headed and I didn’t want to prematurely die, my grandmother had to have an emergency triple bypass heart surgery and my uncle had died from a heart attack. I was shocked and scared and re-evaluated things in my life.
I went to the doctor to find out I was pre-diabetic! I immediately joined the gym at my job and got a personal trainer. Of course, I lost the weight but I allowed life to happen to me instead of me happening to life.

3 years later, while on a walk pleading with God for guidance and purpose with my life, I heard my true calling. Body Image. If someone would have told me I’d be a certified personal trainer 5 years ago, I would have laughed. But here I am! Owner of ThinkThiccFitness. Master Motivator of my virtual at-home workout program Sweat and Smile and my 6 Principles To H.E.A.L.T.H Coaching Program. I took the words “Cute but CHUNKY” to coach and motivate women who look like me to love themselves no matter what shape or size. I struggled with self-acceptance, body image, and weight for years growing up, but never found someone who understood and could relate to that. I have been able to use my pains and struggles as one of the foundations of who I am. I am not just a number on a scale or defined by how someone else believes I should look. I LOVE EACH CURVE. I motive through coaching and training the women who partner with me to do the same. I call my community of women sunflowers because we stand tall, face the sun no matter what, and we are beautiful and strong in our own right.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the owner of ThinkThiccFitness, the founder of my virtual at-home Sweat and Smile Fitness Program and my 6 Principles To H.E.A.L.T.H. Coaching Program. I enjoy witnessing the women I serve change the way they view fitness and most importantly themselves. I get super excited seeing how my client first engages with me in a session versus their 8th session, it’s like a totally different woman. Sharing moments like those continuously motivates me to keep going. To keep showing up, to know it’s not about me it’s about them and where they are headed in their wellness journey.

I have had many women thank me for showing up and having a body that looks like theirs. This is what makes me and my brand unique. I’m changing the narrative, from what I was often told was not enough or unworthy because of the number on a scale to a motivational movement. I am coaching and motivating women to know that they can be curvy, fit, strong, and resilient.

This journey was not easy. I had struggled with whether this is the right niche for me like I questioned God’s word because I still had internal doubts. It’s so many personal trainers out there, why choose me? I was unsure if women would truly relate to me and know my heart and why I light up whenever I am asked about ThinkThiccFitness. Then God brought me to P2P (Purpose To Platform) a business incubator for purpose-driven women founded by Patrice Washington. There I received confirmation that YES, it’s time. I found the needed confidence, voice, understanding, clarity, and sisterhood to step out and be proud of my struggles. To use that to serve even an audience of ONE.

ThinkThiccFitness is my baby and just like a baby I have had growing pains (still). I faced breakdowns in relationships, not just intimate but all relationships. I learned people who have known you your entire life can let you down in unimaginable ways but GOD places people in your life who have the power to bless you. Failures aren’t truly failures but ways to learn, grow and try again. A failure is a learning tool. I have learned not to make moves or make decisions based on my emotions, to see the bigger picture. I learned to say NO. I learned how strong I am, even with letdowns, denials, and hearing “not at this time”, that things always work out the way they need to. Importantly, be consistent and show up.

When women meet me, Kendra Nicole, I want them to know I am YOU. I have struggled, I have cried and not loved who I saw in the mirror, I have compared and picked myself apart. But I am no longer that little girl wondering what’s wrong with me, why am I not accepted for me. I am a WOMAN who is BRAVE. A woman who is Enough. A woman who is Worthy. A woman whose Voice will be HEARD and COUNTED. When women see my brand ThinkThiccFitness, I want them to feel empowered, strong, beautiful, supported, loved, and FREE. Free to love themselves without limitations. Free of being judged. Free to embrace themselves no matter what shape or size. Free to grow as tall as a sunflower. Free to smile as bright as the sun.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, we’d have to have breakfast in my mama’s kitchen, one of her good ole’ salmon croquet, cheese grits, and flaky butter biscuits. Bruh, I swear you’d be ready to move in with my mama. She needs a restaurant! Second to my mama, I’d have to say would be The Flying Biscuit on McLendon Ave, their Shrimps and Grits!! My Goddess!!!

Afterward, do a little retail therapy in the Little Five Points area. Then head over to one of my go-to consignment shops Finders Keepers and Goodwill. After all, the walking around is time for lunch/dinner.
Republic Social House, the rooftop on a nice day just makes me smile!!! They have the bomb fish tacos and drinks. When I say they are not stingy with the drinks they are not stingy!!! My favorite is the Georgia Peach or Trash Can, depending on my mood. Or Atlantic Station, and swing over to Yard House(Happy  Hour is it, thank me later lol). Another good local spot, it’s like a hidden but well-known gem. Falafel King in Emory Village. The chicken shawarma sandwich is worth the wait.

I would have to end the night being chilled listening to some spoken word at Apache. It’s just a vibe you cant describe one must experience it to understand.

Of course, my favorite place for a good workout is Stone Mountain Park, whether you do the 5 miles around the park or walk up the mountain, either way, it’s going to be a good sweat and you can make it a park day. It’s so many family-oriented things to do there or just find a spot on the lawn and have a break.

I have a guilty pleasure of getting tattoos, so if you’re in town and have the time you must get a tat! Offical Ink on Memorial Drive, Ask for Quick knows his stuff!!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to give thanks to the Lord. My mama and my baby sister who is my rider. My grandmother, I Love YOU. My great aunt for the prayers. The wonderful women of P2P (Purospe To Platform) founded by the lovely Patrice Washington. My closest friends who have prayed with me and for me. My closest friends who have encouraged me when I was having a limited belief moment, my friends who have invested in me and my vision. My friends who remind me…thank you, you know who you are.

Website: https://thinkthiccfitness.wixsite.com/website

Instagram: @ThinkThiccFitness

Facebook: Kendra Nicole

Other: TikTok- ThinkThiccFitnesss

Image Credits
Petre McSwain