David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
By David Smith
I wanted to share my thoughts on Gus Kenworthy's coming out story. I had followed the news and the articles as his story was released. I even read some of the comments which consisted a lot of "Who Cares?" or "Why does it even matter?" Which are all good questions, which are answered, in Gus' initial article with ESPN. In case you didn't read it my short answer is here ... Self Acceptance.
Even for someone who seems to be living on top of the world and is succeeding in ways we can't even imagine, one of the most important things is that regardless of who you are, what you've accomplished or what you're doing you have to be comfortable with yourself and who you are on all levels. Gus' sexuality doesn't make him into a better skier, but hiding it and dealing with the pressures of a being well known in a heteronormative sport can and has changed the way he competes.
In the ESPN article Gus talks about going from a silver medal at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games to failing to make the podium at the Winter X Games. It's very difficult to be able to stay focused on your event and succeed when you're afraid of losing it all over something you have no control over. That's why it matters and it's important that Gus came out, even if it's a non-issue for the rest of us, for Gus it's finally coming to terms with himself and removing the barriers that are holding him back from reaching his true potential.
I had the distinct and (random) chance to meet Gus before he flew out to Los Angeles in September. He noticed I was wearing a shirt with the Olympic rings and asked me about it, not at all mentioning who he was (or the fact he was an Olympian himself) until I asked him what his sport was and didn't even realize who he was until much later. Fortunately I ran into him again and got the opportunity for a photo, while I think he is handsome and cute, his sexuality never crossed my mine. My impression of him is that he is humble, friendly and just wanting to be himself and succeed in his own way like the rest of us.
If you haven't yet, give the article a read. I've read several autobiographies of LGBT Olympians and his story is equally as impactful. Being able to make a difference in the lives of others is the most important thing one can do, even better if you can be yourself when you do it!
David Smith is
the owner of Stonewall Fitness, holds a degree in exercise
science from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds several
fitness certifications including ACSM Personal Trainer and Group
Fitness. #FitwithPRIDE
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
By David Smith
It is no secret that sex sells, particularly in the LGBT community and especially amongst gay men. It is also no secret the standards of beauty that people tend to adopt along with kind of body image issues this kind of advertising creates.
We all want to look good, especially as a gay man I want to look good and I suffer from body image issues myself, constantly looking at my body in the mirror and not always pleased with what I see. We are always our own worst critics and that is true here too. What’s more important than how you look is how you feel. Even body builders, fitness models and athletes of all disciplines may have the sexiest and perfect body but to them that’s simply not the case.
Recently I had been going through some of my old pictures taken at Boot Camp in the Park and I found one from two years ago that was taken while we were practicing bicep curls. I was shirtless and I remember that day, I initially wasn’t too sure about taking my shirt off for the camera (if you know me you’re probably rolling your eyes right now) but it was so hot that I did it anyway but I was still self-conscious. When I recently looked at that picture I realized just how hot my body was at that time. If you’d ask me then however I wouldn’t have agreed with you, if I had not seen that photo I probably still wouldn’t agree with you.
Body image isn’t always a bad thing, having standards and ideals to give us a goal to shoot for. It’s what drives us, in all aspects of our lives. Be it working hard to get promoted at your job, training for a particular sport or even studying extra hard to get a good grade in school. Training for aesthetics is really no different but like everything else there are dangers involved. Eating disorders, toxic supplements and medications, drug use and even degradation in your physical and mental health including depression, self-esteem, anxiety, self doubt. These can lead to a downward spiral that affects your entire quality of life and although you might have nice tits and a six-pack, the rest of you is significantly lacking.
It’s all about what’s important to you and what you want to accomplish. There are many body builders and physique competitors that take their aesthetics seriously and succeed very well not only in competition but also recognizing it becomes a toxic influence on their lives.
I once had a hook up with a guy during a gay swimming competition, I had won four medals in four events and accomplished my goals, I was very proud of my accomplishments and had one more event left. During our sexy time, he looks at my body and casually mentions I should hit the gym more often. As you can imagine that was a major mood killer. It had left me with the feeling that despite my accomplishments, I still wasn’t good enough because I didn’t look sexy enough (apparently). Well fortunately there was still one event left for me to swim at the competition. At the pool I had seen him and said “hi” as I went up to swim. I had bested the competition and finished in first place to win the gold, with a new personal record to accompany it. He had a few events that day as well and he didn’t swim too well, so after I received my gold I mentioned to him that I wasn’t the only one who needed to hit the gym.
Did that make me sound cocky, perhaps conceited? Sure but I didn’t let his comment have a negative affect on me. Instead I turned it into motivation, choosing to channel that in my swim because in the end it didn’t matter how I looked, I stood up on that podium and proudly received a gold medal and to me, that’s what was important.
It was clear that his judgments of me were merely a reflection of himself. Consciously or subconsciously it’s easy to find ourselves trying to bring others down. It was a reminder that no matter what you accomplish or are doing, you will always have a critic, not only from others but especially from ourselves. The difference is those who succeed tend channel that criticism into motivation and continue to set higher standards for themselves.
David Smith is
the owner of Stonewall Fitness, holds a degree in exercise
science from Metropolitan State University of Denver and holds several
fitness certifications including ACSM Personal Trainer and Group
Fitness.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness.
Smith specializes in
exercise, nutrition and wellness programs for the GLBT community and
leads a variety of different programs, including group fitness classes,
personal training, athletic conditioning programs, educational seminars
and workshops.
His passion lies in promoting the physical, mental and
social benefits of exercise and healthy diet to the community by
breaking down the barriers often associated with a healthy lifestyle to
make it accessible for everybody.
David Smith, the owner of Stonewall Fitness,
holds a degree in exercise science from Metropolitan State University
of Denver, several fitness certifications including ACSM Personal
Trainer and Group Fitness. 
