About CJ Critney | 13+ Years of Real-World Training Experience

My Story: 13 Years of Real-World Experience

I've been in this industry for 13 years, and I've seen it all.

I started by running an outdoor bootcamp—rain or shine, getting people moving in the fresh air. From there, I personal trained across California and Ohio, working with everyone from complete beginners to seasoned athletes.

I've been in the trenches. Not just as a trainer, but as a leader:

✓ General Manager at BodyXchange - Managing operations, building teams, scaling results
✓ Head Trainer at Fitness 19 - Leading training programs, mentoring new trainers
✓ Personal Trainer in Moorpark, Ohio, and Westlake - Building deep relationships with clients across the country

What I'm Great At

Getting people off the couch.

That's my specialty. Not training elite athletes (though I can). Not getting bodybuilders stage-ready (though I've done it). My sweet spot? Taking someone who hasn't worked out in years and getting them confidently, consistently showing up to the gym.

That first step is the hardest. I make it easy.

"My goal is simple: help you find a sustainable fitness life. Not a 30-day fix. Not a crash diet. A lifestyle you can actually maintain."

— CJ Critney, Founder of FYTS Fitness

My Philosophy: I Like Things That Work

I don't care about fitness trends. I don't care about what's popular on Instagram. I care about what actually works.

Fitness is a journey of self-discovery. What works for someone else might not work for you. That's why everything I do is personalized—your body, your schedule, your goals, your life.

No cookie-cutter programs. Ever.

I've worked with:

→ People who haven't exercised in 10+ years
→ Busy professionals who only have 30 minutes, 3x/week
→ Former athletes getting back in shape
→ People recovering from injuries
→ Complete beginners who feel lost in the gym

Every single one needed something different. And that's exactly what they got.

My Journey: How I Got Here

Started My Fitness Journey

13+ Years Ago

Fell in love with helping people transform their lives through fitness. Started learning everything I could about training, nutrition, and behavior change.

Outdoor Bootcamp Founder

Early Career

Launched and ran outdoor bootcamp classes. Learned how to motivate groups, adapt to different fitness levels, and make training fun—even at 6am in the rain.

Personal Training Across States

Moorpark, CA • Ohio • Westlake, CA

Trained hundreds of clients one-on-one across multiple states. Built expertise in program design, nutrition coaching, and long-term client retention.

Head Trainer, Fitness 19

Leadership Role

Led training department, mentored new trainers, developed programming standards. Learned what it takes to build systems that consistently deliver results.

General Manager, BodyXchange

Operations & Management

Managed entire facility operations. Scaled teams, optimized systems, and ensured every client got world-class service. Learned the business side of fitness.

Founded FYTS Fitness

Westlake Village, CA • Present

Brought everything together to create FYTS—a training experience focused on sustainable results, personalized programming, and getting people off the couch for good.

500+ Clients Trained

10,000+ Training Sessions

13+ Years Experience

4.9★ Average Rating

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NASM Certified

Personal Trainer

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Boxing Coach

Certified Instructor

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CPR/AED

Certified & Current

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Nutrition

Precision Nutrition L1

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OPT Model

Specialist

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HIIT Training

Advanced Certification

What Makes FYTS Different

🎯

I Like Things That Work

No fads. No trends. Just proven methods that get real results. I've spent 13 years testing what actually works—and that's what you get.

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Everything is Personalized

Your body is unique. Your schedule is unique. Your goals are unique. Cookie-cutter programs don't work. That's why I custom-build everything for you.

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Getting You Off the Couch

My specialty? Taking someone who's intimidated by the gym and getting them showing up confidently, consistently. That first step is hard—I make it easy.

⏳

Sustainable, Not Temporary

I'm not here to get you results for 30 days. I'm here to help you build a fitness life you can maintain forever. Real transformation takes time—and I'm with you for the long haul.

🧭

Journey of Self-Discovery

Fitness isn't just physical. It's mental, emotional, and spiritual. I help you discover what works for YOU—not what works for someone else.

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Real-World Experience

I've trained hundreds of clients, managed multiple facilities, and led teams. I know what works in the real world—not just in theory.

Why I Do This

After 13 years in this industry—training clients, managing gyms, leading teams—I've learned something important:

Most people don't need more information. They need the right system and someone who believes in them.

The internet is full of workout plans and diet advice. But information without application is useless. What people actually need is:

→ A program designed for their body and life
→ Someone to hold them accountable
→ A coach who actually cares about their success
→ A sustainable approach they can maintain for years

That's what FYTS is.

I started FYTS because I was tired of seeing people waste years jumping from program to program, never finding something that actually sticks. I wanted to create something different—a place where results are real, relationships matter, and sustainability is the goal.

"I'm not here to sell you a quick fix. I'm here to help you build a fitness life that actually works—for you, for your body, for your schedule, for your goals."

— CJ Critney

Ready to Start Your Journey?

If you're tired of programs that don't work and trainers who don't care, let's talk.

I only take clients I know I can help. That means being honest about fit, expectations, and commitment.

Book a free 15-minute consultation. We'll discuss your goals, your challenges, and see if FYTS is right for you.

No pressure. No hard sell. Just an honest conversation about what it takes to get you where you want to be.

I'm CJ Critney