meet the owners of ibfit

Carmelita grew up in the vibrant coastal town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where she first met AJ. She graduated from high school and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Coastal Carolina University. 

Initially, Carmelita entered college with aspirations of pursuing a career in medicine. However, during her undergraduate years, she discovered a deeper calling. "I realized that I could have a greater impact on people's health and wellness by guiding them through simple lifestyle changes like encouraging more movement, better nutrition, and strength training,". "I noticed the significant gap in health literacy and understood that basic health education could benefit individuals far more than relying solely on treatment and medication." 

As a coach, Carmelita's favorite aspect of her work is transforming her clients' relationships with food, their self-image in the mirror, and their perspective on the numbers on the scale.

​

 AJ was raised in Myrtle Beach, SC where he played basketball, football and wrestled on the high school team. After graduating from high school he wasn't sure what he wanted to do! At least until he and Carmelita moved in to an apartment next to a gym, where they quickly became members and realized they wanted to be a part of the journey for others.

​

AJ got certified and has been coaching since 2017, working with the same company and wearing multiple hats before deciding to part ways in 2022 and start IBFIT with Carmelita. 

​

AJ's favorite part of being a coach is helping athletes navigate the habit-building process. It's tough, not a straight road, and takes drive but awareness is the first step towards behavior change.