Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Doctoroff.
Ariel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I joined Farrell’s in Omaha, NE 5 years ago after just getting married a year before. I was always overweight, but being happily married made my husband and I turn to horrible eating habits and zero exercise. That being said, I never had a problem with self-confidence. Never in my life did I feel like I was bigger or worse off than anyone because I was overweight. I was and always will carry a crazy high level of confidence. One month before I decided to join Farrell’s, my boss and best friend told me my weight was out of control, he was disgusted by me, and I had completely let myself go, and it flat out made him uncomfortable. By the way, he said this in a room full of people. I shrugged it off and actually made a joke out of it, but that night when I went home, I looked at myself in the mirror for the first time in my life with a very critical eye, and I didn’t like what I saw. Still had tremendous confidence, but realize I would kill myself with a terrible diet and no exercise if I didn’t start correcting my lifestyle. Cue Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping.
I checked in at FXB in July of 2014 weighing 312 pounds and had awesome results. In my first ten weeks, I lost roughly 30 pounds. Over the course of four years, I fought my way down to almost 80 pounds of weight loss but what I gained was so much more. I grew so close to the other fighters in the gym (men and women, all sorts of different ages) who were working so hard in the gym to change their bodies. I was so struck by how many people were working so hard and felt so supported by other members, instructors, and coaches around them. But something about the process broke my heart. People working so hard had absolutely ZERO self-love about and acceptance about themselves. I saw a woman in that program who had just brought a baby into this world, beating themselves up after a few weeks because they didn’t lose all their baby weight. Or people who had completely changed the way their body looked (lost fat and gained muscle) but were incredibly hard and mean to themselves because they didn’t look the way someone else in high society, like Hollywood, felt like they should look. And as someone who always had sky-high confidence, it pissed me off. I wanted them to love who they were whether they were still a work in progress or not. I wanted them to be proud of their body, be thankful and express gratitude for what they could do, and LOVE the person on the other side of the mirror.
When we moved to Denver at the end of 2017, an opportunity to run an FXB was presented to us. We risked everything in our lives to buy our gym because I needed to be a part of the change. I wanted to teach people how important it is to be active and eat and nourish themselves correctly, but more importantly, I felt called to help people see just how powerful their bodies were… at ANY SIZE. I wanted to help people have more self loves and acceptance for themselves, to love who they were and be proud of the progress they were making, no matter the pace.
A year and a half later, we’ve had the incredible opportunity to touch so many lives and chip away at a culture driven by imagining and slowly but surely change the way people talk to themselves. It’s the type of work that feeds my soul.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
From an ownership perspective, no. It’s hard to start a business, gain clients, and share your vision with people. It’s competitive and hard, but it’s also the most rewarding work we’ve ever done.
We executed a full remodel of the gym without ever closing our doors which is challenging. We also took over a space with current members that were used to things being done a certain way, which can be challenging.
Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping is a kickboxing and strength training gym that specializes in a 10 Week Program that allows you to compete for $1000. Our gym is unique in the sense that we offer all components of successful and healthy body change. Our kickboxing promotes HIIT (high-intensity interval training) which allows you to gain incredible cardio endurance. Our strength training promotes muscle gains and leaning out which physically changes your body. Additionally, we offer a custom nutrition plan with every program that is catered to your goals (whether that be to lose weight or gain muscle/lean out). Between all facets of our program, we guarantee positive results when executed and stand behind our 10 Week Program.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success in our industry is defined by people walking with their head high, feeling good about the purpose on the other side of the mirror, changing your mindset for how to eat and how to exercise. When I see people living their life to a Level 10, that is success.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1547 S. Colorado Blvd
Denver, CO 80222 - Website: www.fxbdenver.com
- Phone: 3037562639
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: fxb_s.coloradoblvd
- Facebook: FXB S. Colorado Blvd. (Denver, CO)
Image Credit:
Jolie Doctoroff Photography
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