I'm Penelope Childs - founder and head coach of Grit & Grind Fitness.

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Before coaching, I spent 8 years in the medical field, serving others while struggling with myself. I was always the "heavy girl," and for a long time I had an emotional connection to food, unhealthy habits and a lifestyle that didn't reflect how I wanted to live.

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Eventually, I got tired of feeling uncomfortable in my body, frustrated with my habits, and stuck in patterns that were holding me back. Through structured training, intentional eating, consistency, and the belief that I deserved better, I lost 100 pounds.

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And I'm still on that journey.

I'm still working to lose more weight, get stronger, and build a physique I'm proud of - which is exactly why I coach the way I do. I know what it feels like to start from a place of frustration. I know what it takes to change your habits, rebuild your standard, and keep going even when progress is slow.

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I also did it without hiring a trainer, because I couldn't afford one. That experience shaped how i built this business. I wanted to create coaching that was structured, effective, and accessible - with a place for women at different levels of support and different price points.

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I became a Certified Personal Trainer in 2022. After spending 2 years coaching people in my community, I became a Tactical Athlete Conditioning Specialist to better support those in service around me. Since then, as of 2026, I've also become a Bodybuilding Specialist, which allowed me to bring together two things I care deeply about: capability and physique.

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That's what Grit & Grind is built on.

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My coaching combines bodybuilding principles, structured progression, and performance minded training to help women build strength, improve their physique, and train with purpose.

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This isn't random training.

It's coaching built from experience, discipline, and the belief that real results come from structure, consistency, and accountability.

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Earn it. Build it. Become it.