Workout and text by Rachel Debling, Editor-In-Chief
Clothing by Fit Like Tracy
When STRONG first spoke with Elena Green for her “Women to Watch” feature in our November/December 2024 issue, the mother of five was riding high. Her book, You Can Do Hard Things, had launched the previous year, and her online coaching program was continuing to see strong, consistent growth. And though it may not make for an alarmist, clickbaity headline, we’re happy to report that things are still on the rise for this Georgia-based businesswoman.
The truth is that the crux of Elena’s story and her rise to success is one that everyone can relate to. By giving herself grace, the self-love that she always craved, and permission to be herself, no matter how messy, she has settled on a formula that has inspired women across America and beyond.
An Athletic Start
Growing up in Florida, Elena was the embodiment of an athlete, dabbling in softball, basketball, track and field, and even the color guard. It was only later in life that she became dissatisfied with her health, and when she eventually reached 300 pounds, she realized that something had to give.
“I just had an ‘aha’ moment,” she explains. “I was tired of being tired, overweight, and not having enough energy to play with my children. So I made the decision to restart.”
That restart began on May 26, 2018 (“I remember the exact day,” she says), when the then-mom-of-four embarked on her journey, without the assistance of a coach or trainer. Instead, she created a three-times-weekly schedule, focusing on 20-minute home workouts with only a pair of 10-pound dumbbells. This wasn’t just out of convenience—it was a calculated approach that led to her losing 120 pounds.
It wasn’t always easy. As Elena remembers, “I didn’t want to go to the gym, number one, because of time. And I was kind of embarrassed at my current state. I was like, ‘I’ll start where I’m at with what I have, and I’ll just build from there.’”
And build she did.
A New Chapter
Elena’s personal weight-loss journey ignited something inside her. She realized that though she was hesitant when she first set out, those first few tentative steps gave her the gumption and confidence to see her goal through. She had tapped into a facet of fitness that she had seen missing in other women’s experiences as well, especially those she had recently taken on board as clients in her burgeoning coaching career. Writing a book about the mental aspect of weight loss was the next natural step.
Always somewhat of a storyteller, Elena found putting her story to paper to be immensely therapeutic. The result was a compilation of everything she had learned over the course of her own journey, in addition to the tips and tricks she offered her clients when the going got tough. A combination of “real talk” and empathy, You Can Do Hard Things proved to be the dose of tough love that Elena had dreamed of giving to the world.
“A lot of times we hyperfocus on the physical things, and we don’t focus on what it requires mentally,” she says of her opus. “So that’s what my book mainly addresses, talking about how you can do the hard things. And it’s really speaking to women from an honest standpoint—not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but just to tell you, ‘This is the truth.’”
Next in Elena’s professional growth was another long-time goal: securing her nutritionist and trainer certifications. This knowledge further fortified her professional practice and augmented her coaching expertise, and by pairing it with her welcoming attitude, she created a personal brand that resonates with her audience.
“I think authenticity is one of the best things,” she says. “Yes, we want to achieve our goals, but you really have to learn how to have fun in the process and enjoy it. So I try to mix that in there with personality to help lighten the load a little bit because, again, mindset is everything.”
"I think authenticity is one of the best things."
Stepping Up to the Plate
Throughout her book launch and her personal transformation, Elena had another literal challenge at hand. Her coaching career had begun back in November 2019 when she first posted a 30-day, three-days-per-week challenge on Facebook. The group was so popular that she introduced another challenge the following month, then the following, and so on. By the time her book launched in 2023, she had already helped thousands of women set and reach their fitness goals.
But she saw an opportunity to change even more lives. After years of research, she settled on the EGFIT App as the ideal platform for bringing her quick, accessible workouts to the masses. Thanks to this addition to her portfolio, she’s been able to help more than 2,000 women worldwide.
The virtual aspect of her coaching business has helped both her and her clients. A gym membership isn’t needed, it’s affordable, and the program can be adjusted to fit any schedule. “You have no excuse not to hit that play button—it’s right there on your phone,” she points out.
For others who want to embark on a journey like her own, she says that believing in yourself is the first and most important step. “Everything else stems from that,” she explains. “A lot of times we become hyperfocused on the outcome instead of the ‘why.’”
Elena at her heaviest (above) and today (below).
Also, never stop learning. Elena considers herself an avid reader, reaching time and time again for nonfiction titles that can help in both her career and personal life. (The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy is currently on her bedside table.) This has inspired her to begin writing her second book, which will be released in late 2025.
“I’m always looking for ways to create more of an impact and help more women,” she says. “My platform is just mainly women that I coach, but I’m always looking for ways to expand my reach and help more women get going. And once you get going, it’s really just building up momentum from there.”
For Elena, her own momentum, created by deliberate action, has brought her to this point. Where will it take her? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.
