Meet Sarah Stout

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Stout a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I recently taught my first college course, Foundations of Kinesiology, at Park University, the same school I graduated from with my B.S.
Teaching at my alma mater showed me just how much I’d learned, from the student I once was, into the expert I am now.

There isn’t a better way to understand your own expertise than having to explain the fundamentals to beginners. Standing in front of that class explaining things how I had been taught, understanding how hard some begging concepts were to grasp, and how I had come to understand them, validated my years of study.
This help me prove that I am fully equipped to lead the next generation of Exercise Science professionals. That confidence has since trickled down into my private practice, making me a more grounded and effective coach for my training clients as well.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the owner of StoutFit Personal Training and a Professor of Exercise Science. I operate between rigorous academic theory and real-world application.

Because of my background in Exercise Science, I can look past the trends and build programming that actually supports holistic health. I operate under a simple motto: ‘Feel great, look better.’ I’ve found that when you prioritize how a body functions and feels, the aesthetic results naturally follow—but the real win is living life without pain.

Currently, I am in an exciting phase of business evolution. I am transitioning away from exclusively 1-on-1 in-person sessions to launch a new online training platform. This expansion allows me to bring this science-backed, holistic approach to a wider audience, offering a lifestyle roadmap for anyone ready to prioritize their long-term health over short-term fixes.

What makes my work special is that I don’t just focus on aesthetics; I focus on capability. I want my clients to be ‘stout’—sturdy, resilient, and ready for life’s challenges. Because I understand the deep physiology of movement from my work at the university, I can build plans that are safe, science-backed, and incredibly effective. I love bridging the gap between the textbook and the gym floor, empowering my clients to understand why they are training, not just how.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Formal Education – There is no substitute for a deep understanding of the human body. My academic background in Exercise Science gave me the framework to filter out the noise. In an industry flooded with trends and influencers, education allows me to know why something works, not just that it works. Advice: Don’t skip the basics. Dive deep into anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. When you understand the science, you aren’t just guessing—you’re engineering results.

2. Personal Experience – I practice what I preach. Whether it’s lifting heavy weights or navigating my own health, living this lifestyle myself gives me a level of empathy and insight that textbooks can’t teach. I know what it feels like to push through a plateau or manage fatigue because I’ve been there. Advice: Be your own first client. Experiment with different training modalities on yourself. It helps you understand the physical and mental demands you are asking of others.

3. Time Spent with Actual Clients – You can read every study in the world, but until you work with real people—with their unique injuries, stressors, and limitations—you don’t have the full picture. My years of face-to-face training taught me that no two bodies are the same and that coaching is as much about psychology as it is about physiology. Advice: Get your ‘reps’ in as a coach. Work with as many different types of people as you can—different ages, abilities, and goals. There is no shortcut to the wisdom you gain from thousands of hours on the gym floor.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

“My biggest growth has been shifting my focus from ‘intensity’ to ‘longevity.’ Early in a fitness career, it’s easy to get caught up in the ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality or purely aesthetic results. This is a sure fire way to burn out.

In the past 12 months, I have really honed in on a more holistic approach. I’ve stopped asking, ‘How can we make this harder?’ and started asking, ‘How can we make this sustainable?’ Embracing the philosophy of ‘Feel great, look better’ was a turning point. It required me to deepen my knowledge of recovery, stress management, and pain-free living, ensuring that I am guiding clients toward health that lasts a lifetime, not just a season.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Stout_Fit

Image Credits

Sarah Stout