This week, I want to talk about the power of community and how it can truly change your life.

Lately, my personal life has looked a little different than you might expect! If you’ve been on this journey with me for a while, you probably remember a few key moments:

• Owning my gym in Rhode Island ‍
• Winning Miss Fitness America 2016
• Tearing my ACL on National TV during Season 10 of American Ninja Warrior 
• Moving to NYC and going full-on nomadic
• Finally settling in Austin, Texas

But here’s something I haven’t always had throughout that time: community. Even with all the amazing experiences, I didn’t feel like I had a solid group of people who truly lifted me up consistently—until the past two years.

‍ My Community Journey

It all started with a random invite to a girls' trip with my best friend, Marissa. We ended up merging some of our friends, and boom—an incredible crew of motivating...

Hey, we’ve all been there—caught in a cycle that feels impossible to break. Whether you’re a busy professional juggling a career, managing a household, or both, the burnout cycle can hit you hard. For me, as a busy entrepreneur and coach, I know what it’s like to push too hard, go all in on work and personal goals, and then hit a wall because it's just not sustainable.

Sound familiar?

Maybe you’re working from home, sitting at a desk all day, feeling stiff and drained.

Or maybe you’re commuting long hours, only to come home and dive right into caring for the kids, leaving no energy for you.

You want to do it all, but that perfectionist mindset keeps holding you back from consistent action. By the end of the day, you’re brain-dead, unsure of what to even do for your workouts or your health.

Breaking the Cycle

Here’s the truth: burnout comes when we push too hard, too fast, and expect perfection from ourselves. I’ve been caught...

I know you might be thinking, Angela… are you seriously telling me to quit? And yes, I am—BUT hear me out first!

Recently, things have been tough. I know from the outside, it might look like I have it all together. You see me as the Ninja Warrior, fitness cover girl, and the coach who helps hundreds of women become the strongest, most confident version of themselves every single month. But let me tell you, all of that doesn’t come easy.

My passion for health and fitness, which started as something I loved, has turned into my job—a blessing and a curse all rolled into one. And as my business grows, so do the responsibilities. Managing a team, client success, coaches—it’s a lot!

There’s a saying, "New levels, new devils," and that’s exactly where I’m at right now. I’ve been here before—when I owned my gym, when I started the Strong Feels Good Membership, always over-delivering, because everyone else mattered more...

I'm officially in my uplevel era—and I’m calling you to join me!

Here’s the thing: upleveling can be TOUGH. It takes a new version of yourself, new belief systems, and requires doing things differently. What got you "here" won't get you "there." And with this uplevel, sometimes it feels like an "ego death" or an identity crisis because stepping out of your comfort zone is uncomfortable. But that discomfort? That’s exactly what you need.

The 3 M's That Helped Me Uplevel:

M – Movement:

Movement is medicine. ‍ Even on the toughest days, moving my body allows me to focus on me—just for 20-30 minutes. It gives me space to clear my head, get grounded, and feel good in my skin. It’s not just about the physical gains—it’s about the mental reset.

M – Mindset:

The mindset that got you to where you are now won’t get you to the next level. You need a new mindset, a new belief system, and that will feel uncomfortable....

 "Happy people don't have the best of everything, they make the best of everything. Be happy first." 

How often do you catch yourself thinking, "I'll be happy when... I hit my fitness goals, get that promotion, or find the perfect relationship"? It's easy to get caught up in the idea that happiness is just around the corner, waiting for you once you achieve a certain milestone. But here's the truth: If you’re always waiting for the "when," you might miss out on all the joy that's available to you right now.

Here’s the deal:

Happiness isn’t something you should delay. It’s not a reward you get after life goes exactly as planned. Happiness is a mindset, a choice you can make in the here and now, regardless of what’s happening around you.

So, how do you start being happy first? Here are four things you can do this week to find joy right where you are:

1. Practice Gratitude Daily 

Take a few minutes each day to write down three...

Have you ever set a big goal, felt super motivated, and decided you were going to go all-in right from day one? Maybe you thought, “This week, I’m going to work out six days for 45 minutes, eat 100 grams of protein every day, and totally transform my routine!”

And then, by midweek, reality hits. You’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and suddenly, that all-or-nothing mindset has left you feeling defeated before you’ve even really started.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. We’ve all been there, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to go from 0 to 100. But here’s the truth: big goals are awesome, but trying to achieve them all at once can set you up to fail. Instead, I want to show you a better way—a way that sets you up for success and helps you build momentum through small, achievable wins.

Start Small, Win Big

If you’re currently doing zero workouts, don’t set a goal to do six 45-minute sessions next week....

Why You're Strong but Still Can't Do a Pull-Up: The Science and Solution

Hello, strong ladies! If you’re feeling strong yet still unable to perform a pull-up, you’re not alone. It’s frustrating to feel powerful in the gym but hit a wall when it comes to this one move. Today, we’ll dive into the science behind why this happens and how you can finally conquer that elusive pull-up.

Meet Angela Gargano

If this is your first time here, I’m Angela Gargano, a six-time American Ninja Warrior and creator of Pull-Up Revolution and Strong Feels Good. I’ve helped over 500 women of all ages, sizes, and abilities conquer their first pull-up in record time. So if you’ve been feeling like age, weight, or other factors are holding you back, let me assure you—it’s not about those things. You just need the right approach.

The Frustration: Strong but Stuck

You’re strong, you show up at the gym, you lift heavy, yet when it’s time to pull...

I remember those days vividly—working 12-hour overnight shifts as a scientist from 7 pm to 7 am, with a 45-minute commute on top of that. Coaching gymnastics on the side, somehow squeezing in sleep, and trying to maintain some semblance of a healthy diet and workout routine—it all felt impossible. I’d often ask myself, How on earth am I going to keep this up? The mental load was overwhelming, and it seemed like my personal goals were always the first to get sacrificed.

But then I had a moment of clarity: If not now, then when? If I kept pushing my goals to the back burner, what would happen? Would I wake up one day and wonder, Where did my life go?

One day, I just decided. No more waiting, no more excuses—this was the time. I started fitting in my workouts at midnight during my lunch break (and don’t worry, it was safe!). I packed my lunch, and I made the conscious choice to put myself first. And guess what? People started...

Last week, I took a big step and hired my own personal coach. Why? Because I truly believe that having a coach can significantly boost your success in achieving personal goals. A coach helps you stay focused, motivated, and gives you the tough love you need to get things done!

For me, I’ve been itching to do more public speaking. I love being on big stages and have spoken in front of thousands. But somehow, I keep saying I’ll do more of it “when I’m ready.” Sound familiar? My coach called me out on it and said, “Angela, you’re already ready.” No more waiting for the perfect time—it’s now or never.

"If we keep waiting for “when” or “later,” it will NEVER happen."

 I mean, seriously, how is it already August? Time is flying, and we never know how much we have left. There will always be life and things coming up, but what's it going to take for you to finally start working on that personal...

Re-defining aging & Breaking Barriers in Olympic Gymnastics 2024 ‍

As a former college gymnast and athlete, I can vividly recall being told that once I hit the “college” level, I was too “old” to ever compete in the Olympics. For years, aging was viewed as a barrier in athletics, especially in gymnastics. The notion was that after a certain age, pursuing athletic dreams was out of reach.

But here’s the truth: I’m 34 years old now, and I’ve discovered strength in my 30s that I never knew was possible. I’ve had to adapt and change my approach, but I’ve become stronger both physically and mentally. And it’s not just me; I’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s achieve the same!

This year’s Olympic gymnastics team is redefining what it means to be an athlete at any age. They’re proving that age is just a number and that they are getting better with age. These...