Meet Bray Reese

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bray Reese.

Hi Bray, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
You know those movies where this girl grows up in a beautiful home with a wonderful family, then she meets a nice young man, they fall in love, get married….. then she becomes ill, and everything changes? Hi, I am Bray, and this is my story:

I grew up in a very active and healthy home. My dad was a bodybuilder, my mom was an equestrian, and all my siblings and I played various sports. I went on to play competitive soccer at gold and premier levels as a young adult. I actually met my husband on the soccer field at a friendly game. I slide-tackled him (getting only the ball, I might add), but he still stumbled. From that day (starting with my apology) forward, we haven’t stopped talking. I guess you could say that I “swept him off his feet”.

Due to an ankle injury, I had to stop playing. After that, I didn’t really have anything that kept me moving, other than going to the gym every once in a while. My eating started to slip, exercise started to become less frequent, and it went downhill from there. I started to develop these stroke-like complicated migraines. I would lose my vision, my arm and face would go numb, my speech would slur, and the pain would make me sick. I went to doctor after doctor, specialist after specialist and got scan after scan just trying to figure out what was wrong with me. All the tests would come back clear, and the doctors couldn’t figure out what was triggering these complicated migraines.

After not getting answers, I decided to control what I could have control over. I started to exercise again little by little, started eating more nutrient-dense foods, started to drink more water, and made sleep a bigger priority. Things started to change. I noticed I didn’t feel awful every morning when I woke up. I noticed that the migraines become less and less. I noticed that I was becoming stronger every day. I started to feel less like a victim of this monster that was making me fear life and more like a warrior who was fighting for myself. Soon, I started taking up bodybuilding (inspiration from my dad), and my life started to change even more. It changed so much that my life mission became to help others take their lives back. My goal is to help others to find that same salvation and to live life to the fullest. I truly believe that is why I am still on this earth.

I am now a certified NASM CPT, WLS, CES, NS, as well as a certified NSSA and NPC Bodybuilder. I am originally from Los Angeles, CA, but my business has now grown to be worldwide. My husband and I moved to Raleigh, NC, about three weeks ago. We are looking forward to the adventures and opportunities ahead.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There should always be struggle, and the road should never be smooth! A smooth sea doesn’t make a skilled sailor. Diamonds are created with intense pressure. Gold is refined with fire. The human must go through struggle to lead to growing pains. Those challenges lead to adaptation, which in time, make us who we are. There have been many obstacles presented in my life, but I am so grateful for each one. Each trial has been chosen for me for my benefit… even though I didn’t see them that way at the time.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a certified NASM CPT, WLS, CES, NS working for GoTRIBE Fitness. While my favorite way to train is traditional bodybuilding, I work with a variety or programs for a wide range of clientele. I work with all ages and individuals in every season of life. My clients know me for my genuine care and personalization in their unique journey. I am most proud of having the opportunity to give people their lives back. So frequently individuals think their best years are behind them… but that’s simply not true. So many of my clients express to me thrill of being the strongest they have ever been in their life. I am so proud of that!

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I vividly remember the family evening bike rides that we would do in the summer. We were always outside, and I loved every minute of it!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://gotribe.fit
• Instagram: braybrayfit