AthleForte Athlete Spotlight LaShonda McPeak
LaShonda McPeak — Strength coach, lifelong lifter, and AthleForte Athlete Spotlight feature.
LaShonda McPeak
Performance • Preparation • Longevity
Some athletes are defined by podiums and records. Others are defined by consistency, service, and the quiet discipline of showing up year after year. This spotlight features an athlete who represents strength not as a season — but as a way of living.
For more than three decades, strength training has been part of LaShonda McPeak’s journey — shaping not only her physical capacity, but her confidence, resilience, and ability to serve others. As a coach, mother, grandmother, and lifelong lifter, she embodies a principle we value deeply: preparation is not just for performance — it is for life.
Her reflections below speak to discipline over motivation, recovery as strategy, and strength as legacy.
“Discipline, to me, is choosing to show up when motivation disappears.”
— LaShonda McPeak
What first pulled you into strength training—and when did it become part of who you are, not just something you do?
I’ve always enjoyed being active. Growing up, I engaged in a variety of physical activities, always searching for what I truly loved. In high school, I was introduced to weight training — and that’s when something clicked. I loved pushing myself and the competitive edge it gave me, not against others, but within myself.
I’ve been in and out of the gym ever since — over the last 30 years — but it wasn’t until about 15 years ago that strength training became part of my everyday life and a core part of who I am. It gives me confidence, keeps me feeling youthful, and creates space for me to support and guide others who are just beginning their own strength journey.
What does “showing up prepared” mean to you in training and in life?
Showing up prepared means creating structure in areas I can control. In training, that looks like planning, fueling well, and moving with intention — not just checking a box. In life, especially in a busy and demanding profession, preparation gives me a sense of stability and control.
Starting my day with intentional physical activity sets the tone for everything that follows. When I’ve already taken care of my body and focused my energy early, the rest of the day feels lighter, more manageable, and easier to navigate.
How do you personally define discipline when motivation disappears?
Discipline, to me, is choosing to show up when motivation disappears. Some of my most meaningful personal growth has come from the days when training feels hard — when everything in me says to sit this one out. Those are the days that matter most.
Motivation is short-lived in the big scheme of things. Physical changes eventually slow, and for me, that’s actually what sharpens my focus. I need to know — without a doubt — that keeping my nose to the grindstone is creating internal change that’s bigger than anything physical. That’s the kind of progress that lasts.
What do people most misunderstand about women who train for real strength and performance?
One of the biggest misunderstandings — especially for women — is the belief that strength training will make them look “manly” or bulky. That simply isn’t true. There are many approaches to strength training, and outcomes depend on intention, programming, and time.
While I personally choose to build muscle and embrace an athletic physique, I’ve trained very specifically for many years to achieve that. My hope is that women don’t let fear stop them from picking up heavy things and strengthening their skeletal system, musculature, and cardiovascular capacity. We already carry so much of the world on our shoulders — why not equip our bodies for the work and adventure we take on every day?
Has there been an injury, illness, or major life setback that changed how you train—or how you see your body?
Yes — absolutely. Over time, I’ve had to train around multiple injuries and major physiological changes. I damaged my knees running track in junior high, partially tore quad attachments at the knee in high school, navigated multiple pregnancies and a Cesarean delivery, and later required a C6–C7 disc replacement.
Each of these experiences forced me to become more intentional in how I train. They taught me respect for my body — not as something fragile, but as something adaptive. I learned that progress doesn’t disappear when the path changes, and that there is more than one way to move well, stay strong, and continue forward.
“Progress doesn’t disappear when the path changes.”
— LaShonda McPeak
How has becoming stronger physically changed the way you move through the world outside the gym?
Becoming stronger physically has completely changed the way I move through the world. I’m a mother to 28-, 27-, and 11-year-old children, a grandmother of two with another on the way, and I can keep up with all of them — jumping on the trampoline, running, playing, and staying present in the moments that matter.
Strength carries over to every aspect of my life. I stay ready to manage our two-acre yard in the summers, and I bring it every year when paddling hard with my dragon boat team on Lake James. Every task, every play, every challenge — I can feel the years of training pouring into it, giving me confidence, resilience, and energy that extends far beyond the gym.
When someone starts training with you, what’s the first belief or habit you try to shift?
When someone starts training with me (or my team), my first task is helping them work through fear — of the gym, of failure, or of self-doubt. In my career as a personal trainer, I’ve found that about 85% of people become emotional when we complete their assessment. While they may say they want to “be healthier” or “lose weight,” there’s almost always a deeper reality. We take the time to uncover it, and it’s only then that we can begin building a strong foundation for their new life. (My history as a psych nurse has helped in more ways than you can imagine.)
Many of our clients are caregivers, and I remind them: you can’t truly care for others if your own self-care is last. By prioritizing yourself, you’re not just improving your life — you’re improving the lives of everyone who depends on you.
How do you approach recovery as part of performance, not a break from it?
I absolutely approach recovery as an essential part of performance, not just a break from it. Recovery allows your nervous system to self-regulate, your muscle fibers to repair and grow after breakdown, your brain to function optimally, and your glucose and hormone systems to stay balanced — the list goes on.
Skipping recovery isn’t just counterproductive; it sets you up for injury, illness, and unnecessary downtime. For me, recovery is intentional: sleep, nutrition, mobility, and strategic rest are all tools I use to ensure I can perform at my best, consistently and safely.
When you think 20–30 years ahead, what does strength and health look like for you personally?
Thinking 20–30 years ahead is humbling. To me, muscle is the longevity of life — not just the number of years, but the quality of those years. I want to train because I can, to serve as an example for younger generations, and to show my children and grandchildren that age doesn’t define your physical ability.
You adapt, you grow, you care for your body, and you share the knowledge you gain along the way. In doing so, a part of you lives on in your community and in the lives of your loved ones. They are my legacy, and I want to pour into them everything I can.
“Muscle is the longevity of life — not just the number of years, but the quality of those years.”
— LaShonda McPeak
What stands out most in LaShonda’s story is not intensity — it’s intention. Training is not framed as aesthetics or short-term outcomes, but as preparation for decades of usefulness, presence, and contribution.
Her definition of strength says it best:
“Strength isn’t about lifting the heaviest weight — it’s about the foundation you build for yourself and the generations who follow.”
— LaShonda McPeak
AthleForte is proud to feature LaShonda McPeak as part of our Athlete Spotlight series — individuals who embody preparation, performance, and longevity.