Meet Keith Serin

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keith Serin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Keith , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from a mix of discipline, purpose, and perspective — qualities forged through personal transformation long before I became a coach.

Wellness wasn’t always part of my life. As a kid, I was sedentary, overweight, and constantly teased in gym class. I remember gasping for breath during short runs and being chosen last for teams — moments that left a lasting mark. By the time I was 13, I decided to take control of my health. I changed my diet, started swimming, and within seven months, lost nearly 30 pounds. More importantly, I discovered what health felt like for the first time — that sense of vitality completely reshaped my identity.

At sixteen, I joined a gym and quickly became the person others came to for advice — a full reversal from my middle school years. That experience gave me purpose and fueled my decision to become a personal trainer in 2007. Over the years, I’ve helped hundreds of clients — from athletes to seniors with chronic health conditions — rediscover their strength and mobility. Seeing them transform reignites my own drive every time.

Beyond the gym, I challenge myself through mountaineering, white water rafting, snowboarding, rock climbing, obstacle course races, and other outdoor adventures. Those experiences remind me that resilience is built one step at a time — just like hiking a mountain. The struggle is what makes the view meaningful.

Today, as an Exercise Physiologist at a national lab and founder of Serin Fitness, I help busy professionals rebuild the same kind of resilience that once changed my life. For me, resilience isn’t about never falling — it’s about using every fall as a reason to rise stronger.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the founder of Serin Fitness and an Exercise Physiologist at a national research laboratory, specializing in functional training, corrective exercise, weight loss, and evidence-based nutrition coaching. Over the past 18 years, I’ve helped clients improve posture, movement efficiency, and long-term performance through practical, evidence-based systems tailored to their goals and lifestyles.

What sets my work apart is its focus on functional strength that carries over beyond the gym—helping people move better, feel stronger, and perform with confidence in both daily life and outdoor environments. My philosophy is that fitness fuels adventure, and I often draw from my own experiences hiking, fossil hunting, obstacle course racing, snowboarding, scuba diving, and whitewater rafting to inspire clients to build a body that supports the lifestyle they want.

I’m currently expanding into corporate wellness programs, applying these same principles to help organizations enhance employee well-being, energy, and productivity through structured movement and nutrition systems.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three most important qualities in my journey have been consistency, communication, and adaptability.

Consistency has been the foundation of every result I’ve achieved—both in fitness and in business. Sustainable progress comes from mastering the fundamentals and showing up even when motivation fades.

Communication is essential for building trust and helping clients translate complex science into practical action. The ability to listen first, then simplify and educate, has been the key to long-term client success.

Adaptability has allowed me to evolve with new research, technology, and client needs. Whether coaching in-person, virtually, or exploring corporate wellness, growth requires staying curious and willing to adjust.

For anyone starting out, I’d suggest focusing on mastering these three traits before worrying about perfection—they compound over time and separate the professionals from the amateurs.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Two key influences shaped my development, each in very different ways. During my time as a student in the Health Science program at Stony Brook University, my professors emphasized breaking complex projects into a series of manageable steps. Those projects often seemed daunting at first, but once divided into smaller, achievable actions, progress became clear and consistent. I realized the same principle applies to fitness — when you break big goals into structured, sustainable habits, success becomes inevitable. That framework now guides how I coach clients and approach my own professional goals.

Early in my career, my first fitness manager taught me persistence and the fundamentals of consultative sales — lessons that built the foundation of my business. He also introduced me to mountaineering and snowboarding in Colorado, where I learned that disciplined preparation and steady progress are what lead to the summit. That same mindset applies to entrepreneurship: lasting success comes from consistency, a continual desire to learn, and the resilience to keep climbing when the path gets steep.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://serinfitness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithserin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keithserinpersonaltraining/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-serin-80480368/

Image Credits

Clear Water Creek Rafting Company (rafting photo)
Alpha Design Photos (Jim Murtaugh) for the physique photos