Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonio Somma Jr..
Hi Antonio, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Antonio Somma Jr., and I’m the fourth of five children in an Italian immigrant family. Growing up, sports were a huge part of my life. If there was a game being played, I wanted to be involved. Whether it was football, baseball, basketball, or just playing outside with my siblings and friends, I loved competing and being active.
While I loved sports, I also struggled with my weight as a kid. On the field, being bigger often worked to my advantage, especially in football, which quickly became my favorite sport. Off the field, though, I battled confidence issues. One moment that has always stuck with me happened during a baseball game. After stealing third base, a coach looked at me and said, “Wow, you move well for a fat kid.” I know he probably meant it as a compliment, but that’s not how it felt. Instead of feeling proud of my athletic ability, I was reminded of how people saw me.
Looking back, that moment became fuel for me rather than something that held me back.
The summer before my eighth-grade year, my dad introduced me to a friend of his who had played college football and was coaching at my future high school. He took me under his wing and introduced me to strength training. Almost immediately, I fell in love with it. For the first time, I realized that training wasn’t just making me a better athlete, it was changing how I felt about myself.
The confidence I gained in the gym started carrying over into every part of my life. During that same football season, I went from being the starting center to earning the starting fullback position. People stopped seeing me as “the fat kid who moves well” and started seeing me as a hardworking athlete.
What began as a way to improve my performance became a passion for health and fitness. I experienced firsthand how powerful exercise could be, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. It gave me confidence, discipline, and a belief in myself that I hadn’t felt before.
From that point on, I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others experience that same transformation. I made it my mission to learn as much as I could about training, coaching, and human performance. My goal wasn’t simply to become a trainer; it was to become the best coach I could be for both adults and athletes.
That journey eventually led me to open All-American Fitness. Today, my greatest reward isn’t helping someone lose weight, gain strength, or improve their athletic performance, it’s helping them build confidence in themselves. I know what it’s like to struggle with self-belief, and I know how life-changing it can be when someone discovers what they’re truly capable of. That’s the experience I strive to create for every person who walks through our doors.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Before opening All-American Fitness, one of my first major obstacles was deciding to pursue a career in fitness instead of following a more traditional path. At one point, law school was on the table, and when I told my parents I wanted to become a personal trainer instead, it wasn’t exactly met with enthusiasm. Looking back, I understand why. Personal training isn’t typically viewed as the most stable or lucrative career path, and they wanted what they believed was best for me.
The challenge was that I couldn’t ignore how passionate I was about coaching and helping people. My mindset was always, “What if I put in the work to become the best trainer, I can possibly be?” While my parents continued trying to connect me with opportunities in other industries, I stayed committed to fitness. Although I didn’t always feel supported in that decision, it forced me to develop confidence in myself and trust my own path.
COVID presented another major challenge. Overnight, I went from doing the work I loved to being unable to coach people in person. For the first time, I seriously considered changing careers. The uncertainty was difficult, and like many people, I struggled mentally during that period. Being away from coaching made me realize how much purpose and fulfillment I found in helping others improve their lives.
When restrictions were finally lifted, I couldn’t wait to get back to work. Instead of pulling away from the fitness industry, I decided to lean into it even more. I took everything I had saved and invested it into opening my own facility. It was a significant risk, but by that point I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.
Looking back, I’m grateful for those challenges because they forced me to grow. The lack of support early on taught me resilience. COVID reminded me why I chose this profession in the first place. Both experiences reinforced my belief that when you’re passionate about something and willing to work for it, obstacles become opportunities to build something greater.
Today, those experiences help me relate to the people I coach. Everyone faces setbacks, self-doubt, and unexpected challenges. A saying I frequently use is “Into the storm.” When cattle sense a storm coming, they run away. Prolonging their time in the storm. When buffalo sense a storm, they run towards it to shorten their time in the storm. My journey taught me that success isn’t about avoiding obstacles, it’s about continuing to move forward despite them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At All-American Fitness, we help people become stronger, healthier, and more confident through personal training, semi-private training, and athletic performance coaching. We work with a wide range of clients, from adults who simply want to improve their quality of life to athletes looking to maximize their performance on the field.
While we certainly focus on strength, conditioning, and performance, what I believe we really specialize in is helping people build confidence. Fitness is often viewed as a physical journey, but in my experience, the biggest changes happen mentally. When people start accomplishing things they never thought they could do, it changes the way they see themselves. That’s what excites me most about coaching.
I am probably best known for creating a supportive environment where people feel challenged, encouraged, and genuinely cared for. Whether someone is a high school athlete chasing a scholarship or a parent trying to keep up with their kids, I want them to feel like they have a coach in their corner who is invested in their success.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a specific business achievement or milestone. It’s the impact we’ve had on people’s lives. Seeing clients lose weight, get stronger, overcome injuries, improve their athletic performance, or simply gain confidence in themselves is incredibly rewarding. Knowing that our gym has become a place where people can better themselves physically and mentally is something I’ll never take for granted.
What sets us apart is that we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all coaching. Every person who walks through our doors has different goals, challenges, and motivations. We take the time to understand those individual needs and build a plan that fits the person, not just the program.
I also believe my own journey allows me to connect with clients on a deeper level. I’ve experienced firsthand what it feels like to struggle with confidence, and I know how transformative fitness can be when it’s done for the right reasons. Because of that, our focus has always been about more than just workouts. We’re helping people become stronger versions of themselves, both inside and outside the gym.
What’s next?
The future is incredibly exciting for me because I feel like we’re just getting started.
From a business perspective, my goal is to continue growing All-American Fitness so we can help more people in our community. As we grow, I want to bring on more great coaches who share our values and passion for helping others. The more talented trainers we have, the more lives we can impact. At the end of the day, growth isn’t just about expanding a business, it’s about creating opportunities to serve more people and make a bigger difference.
Personally, I have several goals that I’m excited about pursuing. One of them is working with professional athletes and continuing to expand my knowledge in sports performance. I’ve always loved helping athletes reach their potential, and I’d like to continue developing in that area throughout my career.
Education has always been important to me as well. One of my long-term goals is to return to school and earn my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I believe the more I learn, the better I can serve my clients and athletes.
I’m also interested in creating my own personal training certification program. Throughout my career, I’ve developed coaching philosophies and systems that have helped people achieve real results, and I’d love the opportunity to teach those principles to the next generation of fitness professionals.
Another goal of mine is to become a public speaker. Fitness has given me so much more than a career, it has taught me lessons about confidence, discipline, resilience, and personal growth. I’d love the opportunity to share those lessons with larger audiences and hopefully inspire others to pursue their goals, whether they’re related to fitness or not.
More than anything, I want to continue growing as a coach, a business owner, and a person. If I can help more people become healthier, stronger, and more confident while continuing to learn and evolve myself, I’ll consider that a successful future.
Pricing:
- Semi Private Training (6) – $35 Per Hour
- Buddy Training (2) – $65 each Per Hour
- One-on-One (1) – $100 Per Hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.all-americanfitness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/all_americanfitness?igsh=Z2VzZzJ0dTl5dHly
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@allamericanfitness5970
