How This Navy Spouse Made Her Fitness Career Work Through 12 PCS Moves … and Counting

April 08, 2020

By Hannah Becker

Alicia Brunson is a certified personal trainer, FASTer Way to Fat Loss coach, and Navy spouse. Originally from rural South Dakota, Alicia met her spouse, Cmdr. Scott Brunson, while attending college. Alicia and Scott have been married for 21 years and have two sons.

The Brunson family has PCSed 12 times, including three overseas assignments. As a personal trainer and fitness coach, Alicia is dedicated to helping her clients look and feel their best through the implementation of fitness, lifestyle, and nutrition strategies. Here’s more from Alicia, in her own words:

Q. What’s your military story?

A. I met my husband during college through a mutual friend. We dated long-distance (which prepared us for military life!) as we attended colleges in different states. We were engaged 10 months later on the day of the Navy-Marine Corps ROTC Ball at the University of Illinois. Within the next four months, we both graduated college, got married, and moved to NAS Pensacola [in Florida], where my spouse began flight school.

This summer will be our 13th move, including three overseas tours in Japan, Belgium, and Japan again. There have been numerous detachments and deployments in the EP-3 and P-3 community. My spouse will be promoted to a Navy captain in September, and we are currently stationed at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

Q. Tell us about your business.

A. I am a fitness coach for The FASTer Way to Fat Loss -- a digital fitness and nutrition program that implements the strategies of intermittent fasting and carb cycling, along with pairing effective workouts to maximize fat loss. We celebrate “non-scale victories,” such as having more energy, improving our sleeping patterns, losing inches, and fitting significantly better in our clothes.

We educate our clients on these strategies and provide support, encouragement, and accountability within our community. The primary concept we teach our clients is how to sustain this lifestyle long-term.

Alicia Brunson: "As military spouses, our lives are always changing and our future is unknown, but we can be in control of making our health and wellness a priority." (Courtesy photo)

Q. When were you first “bitten” by the entrepreneurial bug?

A. I was first introduced to the FASTer Way over two years ago from my neighbor while living in Japan. I had been a personal trainer since 2004 and had worked part-time in various locations we lived. I went through the program as a new client and had such fantastic results that I knew I wanted to become a coach. I could fulfill my passion for helping others as a personal trainer and continuing to build my business wherever we were stationed as it is a digital program and all online.

However, building a business was new for me and something I could not have done without the support and guidance from the FASTer Way team!

Q. What inspired you to take the plunge and start your own business?

A. As a client myself, I knew this could be the start of a new career for me as I found the results I thought were impossible at my age while still living a normal life. If I could finally get rid of my “muffin top” at age 40, I knew this was something I had to share with others! I had the passion and I found my purpose.

Q. How has the military community and experience influenced your entrepreneurial journey?

A. Many of my first clients were military spouses I met at various duty stations. They trusted me in the area of fitness and nutrition. Many of those clients are FASTer Way coaches today, growing their own business.

Wherever we move, I have the ability to meet new faces and spread the word about the FASTer Way. My desire is for others to know there is a healthy lifestyle out there where they can achieve long term success. As military spouses, our lives are always changing and our future is unknown, but we can be in control of making our health and wellness a priority.

Q. What resources and programs have you found helpful in blazing your own trail?

A. Since the FASTer Way is an online program, social media is one of the main ways to publicize my business. In addition, in Kansas City, I joined a local BNI (Business Networking International) group that has helped to grow my business in this community. Other networking events and local expos or markets where I can be a vendor have also helped me spread the word.

Q. Why do you think entrepreneurship is a good career opportunity for military spouses?

A. I think entrepreneurship is an excellent opportunity to connect with and help others in our community as well as provide personal fulfillment to the business owner. Owning your own business usually offers a flexible schedule and, in most cases, working from home. We can take our business with us when we PCS!

Q. How has starting your business inspired growth in your professional life?

A. Starting my business has inspired growth in my professional life by sharpening many professional skills. I enjoy coaching and helping others, and I have overcome the fears of public speaking and live videos on social media to allow others to hear my message.

Q. What advice would you give to other military spouses who want to start a business?

A. If you have a passion for doing something, just do it! Don’t be held back by the lies that you aren’t professional enough, you’re not good enough, or that you don’t know what you are doing. Find someone to help you and go for it! There are so many business professionals and coaches in the online space for you to work with to get your business up and running. You never know what you can do until you try.