★ 5

While I am a relatively new client- I am extremely happy about reaching out to Kari. She's been that extra "push" that I truly needed. Change is hard- but she is so encouraging and a great resource that I am so happy I stumbled upon!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

I started working with Kari in December 2022, originally to lose weight for my wedding. I was feeling stuck, out of shape, and unsure how to actually get results without burning out. Spoiler alert: this wasn’t just a wedding prep plan, it turned into a total lifestyle shift.

The first year wasn’t perfect (life happens...hello, wine nights and takeout!), but Kari never judged or gave up on me. Instead, she helped me reset, get real about my goals, and build habits that actually worked. By my wedding in June 2024, I was down 40 lbs and 10% body fat and I felt strong, confident, and truly proud of how I looked and felt walking down the aisle.

Since then, we’ve shifted to strength, mindset, and maintenance and let me tell you, that’s been just as empowering. I’ve learned how to stay consistent, lift heavier, eat more without guilt, and care about so much more than just the scale.

Working with Kari isn’t just about macros and workouts (though those are dialed in); it’s about learning how to show up for yourself even when life gets messy. I cannot recommend her enough if you’re ready for change that actually lasts.

Source: Google

★ 5

I reached out to Kari at rock bottom. I was 5 years postpartum, with 3 herniated discs, terrified of moving my body and with the worst kind of disordered eating. I quite literally gave her a list of all the reasons why I couldn’t be successful at changing my food habits or learning how to workout again with my injury. Kari knew it wasn’t her job to convince me otherwise- it was her job to meet me where I was and support me as I started this journey. It was teaching me baby steps. One concept at a time. Consistency over perfection. Working hard to override the all or nothing mentality I had lived in for so long. Unpacking how I got to that point and where I wanted to go.

Kari is great with numbers and form and understanding what a person’s body needs in order to be healthy and successful with whatever goals they are wanting to achieve. But the reason why I was able to be successful with what she taught me was because we talked it out. I opened up to her about my thoughts and feelings about what I was struggling with and what was holding me back. I call her my food and movement therapist now, no joke! Without that kind of support from someone who’s been through it AND seen it all over the last 15 years, I wouldn’t still be on this journey to such a better understanding of health and strength. It’s not a quick fix, but a lifestyle shift. I’m grateful she stuck by me with the kind of support I needed while I painstakingly figured out how to put all these puzzle pieces together to work for me and my lifestyle and my body!

Source: Google

★ 5

I’ve been working out with Kari for 14 years, and she has guided me through various phases—pregnancy, postpartum, and injuries—always adjusting my workouts to avoid stressing my knee or back.

Kari sets realistic goals, both physically and nutritionally, while holding you accountable and pushing you just beyond what you think you can do., Kari is honest which means sometimes you won’t want to hear it, but it’s always the truth. Most importantly, she gets results!

Source: Google

★ 5

Kari is a knowledgeable and encouraging personal trainer. She adjusts workouts according to your schedule. She checks in with her clients and she is wonderful to work with! I highly recommend her.

Source: Google

★ 5

Pretty sure I am “the” worst client ever 🤣! I’m 40 pounds lighter thanks to Kari and her willingness to put up with me. It started off great, then I was at a standstill for a while because, I’m not gonna lie, mama likes happy hour, but we got it back on track!! Kari will laugh with you, cry with you and kick your ass. She calls me on my BS and is also my biggest cheerleader when I lose weight and inches! I hit 50 years old and my weight jumped way up as well as my cholesterol and sugar levels. I’m happy to say all my labs are normal now and my nail technician called me skinny today!! I highly recommend Kari

Source: Google

★ 5

Kari is an amazing trainer! I have been working with her for a year now and I am very pleased with the progress I have made. Kari is very knowledgeable, reliable and straight forward. Let her know your goals, and she will put you on the right path to achieving them.

Source: Google

★ 5

If you’re looking for a great personal trainer, Empower Fitness is the place to go! Kari is incredibly knowledgeable and tailors workouts and nutrition plans to meet your individual needs. She consistently goes above and beyond, checking in and helping you work toward your goals. She genuinely cares about you and works hard to help you!

Source: Google

★ 5

While looking for a small gym to restart my personal training I came across Empower Fitness. Intrigued I did some research and found the Kari was getting awesome reviews and results from her clients.

I started with Kari a few months ago and couldn’t be happier. She is very knowledgeable about fitness and tailored my program just for me. Bonus, she is so sweet and really cares about her clients. Recommend 💯.

Source: Google

★ 5

Kari is PHENOMENAL. Can’t recommend enough if you’re in east county and looking to make changes in your fitness and lifestyle.

Source: Google

★ 5

I've been working with Kari for over a year and my journey with her has been amazing. While I may not be at my goal yet, and still have a lot of learning and work to do, I know with Kari's support I will get there in my own time. That's what is so great about her as a personal trainer. She does not have a one size fits all high sales model, she actually listens to me and coaches me as a unique individual with my unique struggles. As you all know, I'm in San Diego but Empower Fitness has a full program online that you can tap into from anywhere. So, here's my endorsement . . . if you are ready this year to make the investment in yourself, at least schedule a FREE consult with her.

Source: Google

★ 5

If you are interested in bettering your fitness, Kari with Empower Fitness is where you need to go. She gets to listen to me whine every week but never fails to encourage, motivate, and push where needed so I am back the next week. She works around my physical limitations (knee issues) and finds new ways for me to burn each week in the studio and at home, through her online training platform. I HIGHLY recommend Kari and Empower Fitness for all your personal fitness needs.

Source: Google

★ 5

Kari is a gift! It’s really hard to put into words all that Kari and Empower training are and what they have brought to me. I have struggled with my weight my whole life and always longed to find something that was engaging and personalized as well as focused on real life food and allowed me to figure out how to navigate food in my life without feeling like I missed out – food freedom. I get asked all the time, “what diet does she have you on?” “When’s your cheat day?” The beauty of working with Kari is that it’s not a diet/cheat day. It’s Science. Calories in, calories out.
Kari embodies so much as a person that makes you want to be accountable to not just her, but to yourself. She does not ask a lot of you. She asks you to work out and asks you to watch and track what you eat. The tracking alone has transformed how I eat and think about food. It’s allowed me to fully understand how our society markets food and how even though things are marketed as “healthy” how often they are not. She taught me first about calories and how to stay within those and then once I got my stride with that she dropped my calories and then taught me about macros – carbs, protein, fat. I have learned how to fuel my body with satiating and satisfying foods and I’m eating more than ever. Has this taken some major life adjustments? Yes!! But in one calendar year. July 1, 2019 to July 1st, 2020 I’m 51.2 pounds and 13.7% body fat DOWN! The shift is worth it.
I started this journey because I couldn’t stand how lethargic and heavy I felt and was tired of fighting clothes to cover up my weight. I was also tired of fighting with food all the time and feeling inconvenienced by it; Kari has helped transform this. Working out with her is a gift I choose to give myself. No two workouts are ever the same, so you never get bored. She is kind when she pushes you and sometimes you don’t even realize how much she’s pushing you – she outwits you!
When I first started with Kari I was afraid that I would get into my usual rut of workouts/plans of giving in to those around me and make excuses to not go workout. Not once has that happened; not because I’m afraid of Kari, but because I’m accountable to her, but more importantly, myself. She’s available when you’re having moments of weakness and aren’t sure what to eat and she’ll follow-up with you to make sure you have all the necessary tools to be successful. When I’m successful in my eating and exercising Kari feels empowered and successful with the work she does. This also took a mind shift on my part. I had to decide what mattered most to me – myself and my health or status quo…? I decided one to day to flip the script in my own head and to be the trend setter. This meant saying no to unhealthy foods and bringing my own food to hang-out with friends if need be; this also meant almost zero alcohol – when you start tracking calories you realize how empty those calories are and I chose to have yummy fueling food over that. The best part is, my friends and family have been so supportive.
This journey takes support and shifting, but it’s honestly the easiest thing I’ve ever done. To say that I’m grateful and humbled to work with Kari is an understatement. What you put into it, you get out of it, and Kari embodies something special that makes you want to work hard to achieve your goals. I never could have imagined where I’d be in just 365 days, but here we are; we’ve got more to do, but I have no doubt she’ll be there every step of the way. Thank you Kari for empowering me to prioritize self-care and my health.

#EmpoweredbyKari

Source: Google

★ 5

Empower Fitness is the most welcoming, non-judgmental personal training gym I’ve attended. Kari, the owner, is amazing at holding her clients accountable and ensuring their success with meeting their goals. I have been a client of Empower Fitness for almost a year now and I continue to workout with Kari because of the variety in my workouts and the fun atmosphere.

Source: Google

★ 5

Working with Kari at Empower Fitness helped me to reach both my ongoing fitness and nutritional goals. Her private and group classes kept me on track and helped me to become stronger and more fit. The easy scheduling, variety of equipment and location were perfect, clean and well kept. Kari takes time and detail to come up with a plan that fit me and that is what I wanted in a personal trainer. I do not hesitate to recommend her personal training services!

Source: Google

★ 5

I've been training with Kari for about five years. She has a no-nonsense, fun, caring, and straight-forward approach to fitness and has supported me in setting and reaching my strength and weight-loss goals. Kari puts a great deal of thought and effort into creating workouts that are tailored to individual needs. She takes her role as a fitness coach seriously and stands by her clients no matter what their needs

Source: Google

★ 5

I'm so happy I decided to start working with Kari! I've always worked out but haven't been great at working towards goals or being consistent, but with Kari that has changed! The accountability with her is key and is a game changer in my fitness. I'm still amazed that I get so much assistance from her outside of just training with her in person. Between working out with her and the at home workouts she provides in her app I've made a lot of progress. Best decision I've made in a long time and so worth it!

Source: Google