Where my passion for fitness came from

321go • June 8, 2023

In this article I thought it would be good to highlight why I am as passionate about health and fitness as I am today.

People are often surprised when I tell them a little bit about my story because they assume that I was always a fitness guru but that is far from the truth. In high school, my older brother would always ask me if I was going to workout with him since he was involved with sports as well and I usually gave him the same answer which was “I’ll think about it” which really just meant no. Junior and Senior year I started to lift more but then once I started college then my consistency went down the drain because I just thought of training only for sports performance and not for general health.

I wasn’t strong and was always lean so the thought of continuing to workout on my own in college wasn’t attractive to me at all. Nutrition wise, I would say I ate OK. Definitely not consuming near enough protein and fruits/vegetables though. I ate whatever I wanted and didn’t focus on my eating habits. This all resulted in me not feeling great about myself and sometimes pretty depressed because I didn’t have the energy, the body, the confidence that I always wanted which was a result of me not taking action.

I graduated college and right after that I hit a low point of my life in terms of how I was feeling about myself. Physically I was weak. Mentally I felt weak. It was just a really dark time for me. In my darkest moment, I had a decision to make. Either choose the path of continuing to feel bad about myself and do nothing about it. Or I could choose the path of transforming my body and my mind through health and wellness. As you can see, I choose health and wellness.

Boy, was it the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m glad from that moment on that I would be serious about consistently taking care of myself and making my health non-negotiable in my daily routine. Exercising 4-6 times per week and eating a nourishing diet which has changed more than just my physical well-being. It’s COMPLETELY changed my mindset on life. I no longer had limiting beliefs, I had way more confidence in myself and felt like I was finally in control of what happened in my life from many different perspectives. Which is such a great feeling and it all happened through just taking my health more seriously. This is where my passion for helping others with their health stemmed from.

Having good general health is more than just losing weight and other physical markers of progress. It’s about the feeling you get when you finally feel in control of your body. You have more energy. You feel stronger both physically and mentally. You can continue to physically do the things you love to do. Your day to day performance both at work and with your personal life get better. I could keep going but you get the point. Your health is your key to overall happiness. That’s where I come in because I understand struggles that my clients go through whether they have stubborn weight that they need to lose or if they physically are declining and need to get stronger so they can continue with day to day activities. I LOVE helping people reach their health milestones because I know the positive impact it makes for them in their quality of life going forward. That’s why I’m in this industry. To help people live healthier and happier lives.

So if you have a friend or family member who you think needs a little extra help with improving their health, I would love to chat with them.

recent posts

By Evan Amell May 4, 2026
Let’s be honest for a second. It’s mid-April in Maine. The snow is (mostly) gone, the mud is drying up, and the realization is starting to sink in: summer is right around the corner. For most people, that means thinking about beach days and backyard BBQs. But for busy parents over 40? It means the "Summer Survival Mode" countdown has officially begun. If you’re a parent in Southern Maine, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Between the end-of-school-year chaos, sports schedules, and trying to figure out childcare for July, your own energy levels are probably sitting somewhere near "empty." You want to feel strong, you want to keep up with the kids on the trails at Bradbury Mountain, and you’d really like to head to Higgins Beach without feeling totally self-conscious. But then you look at your schedule. When are you supposed to find time for fitness in Portland Maine ? You might have tried the "Big Box Gym" route before. You know the ones, the massive warehouses filled with rows of treadmills and people wearing headphones, staring at screens, trying their best to ignore everyone else. Maybe you even have a dusty key tag on your keychain right now. I’m here to tell you: you’re not alone. And more importantly... there’s a better way.
By Evan Amell April 27, 2026
Let’s be real for a second. Somewhere between 35 and 45, the "check engine" light on the human body starts blinking. 🚨 You know the feeling. You wake up with a sore neck because you slept "wrong." You go to pick up a bag of mulch for the garden, and your lower back decides to lodge a formal protest. And now, with summer in Southern Maine right around the corner, that annual panic is starting to set in. The sun is finally hitting the Fore River, the trails at Bradbury Mountain are calling, and you’re thinking... “Am I actually ready for this?” If you’re over 40, "getting ready for summer" isn't just about fitting into a swimsuit (though, hey, that’s a nice perk). It’s about having the gas in the tank to hike up Tumbledown without your knees screaming. It’s about being able to toss a Frisbee on Higgins Beach without pulling a hamstring. It’s about longevity. The truth is, the way you trained in your 20s doesn't work anymore. You can’t just "grind" your way through a random HIIT class and hope for the best. You need a strategy. You need a pro. Specifically, you need the right personal trainers portland maine has to offer to help navigate the unique landscape of a 40+ body. At EA Fitness & Performance , we see it every day. You aren't "old", you’re just in a new chapter of your athletic life. And honestly? This chapter can be your strongest one yet.
By Evan Amell April 20, 2026
If you’ve been scrolling through your feed lately or chatting with friends at a coffee shop in the Old Port, you’ve probably heard the buzz. GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound are changing the game for weight loss. For many people in our Portland community, especially those of us over 40, these medications feel like a long-awaited breath of fresh air. Finally, the "food noise" is gone. Finally, the scale is moving in the right direction. It feels like a superpower, right? But here’s the thing... there’s a conversation happening in the background that you might be missing. It’s a conversation about what happens underneath the weight loss. Because while the scale is going down, we need to make sure you aren't losing the very thing that keeps you strong, mobile, and metabolically healthy. I’m talking about your muscle. At EA Fitness & Performance, we’re seeing more and more of our members navigating the journey of GLP-1s. And the question I get asked most often is: "Evan, do I really need to lift weights if the medication is already doing the work?" The short answer? Yes. Now more than ever. Let’s dive into why strength training isn't just a "nice to have" when you're on these medications, it’s actually your insurance policy for a healthy, vibrant life.