Member Spotlight: Don LaTorre of Layman's Fitness

Christian connection drew the LaTorres to Samaritan Ministries

Don LaTorre wanted a fitness program that was geared toward “Christian guys with real schedules,” especially dads.

So the Texas man created one.

Layman’s Fitness offers guidance through a weekly newsletter, exercise and nutrition guides, and coaching.

Exercising faith

Layman’s Fitness is geared toward “the guy who wants to get started with fitness, but isn’t quite sure where to start,” the Texan said, “but it’s all from a faith base.”

“It’s all trying to look at what the Bible says about fitness and then what, therefore, should I be thinking and doing about it?”

He emphasizes being “fit for a purpose.”

“Ecclesiastes kind of talks about this,” he said, citing the first part of chapter 9, verse 10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might ...”

“There’s a vigor that comes with work,” he said. “When you have a body that’s disciplined and conditioned, you’re able to do that. It just helps you.”

He also leans on Proverbs 21:5a, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance ...”

“The idea with that is that a successful plan is achieved by diligence, which is just like little, small steps you take towards something,” he said. “I think a lot of fitness plans try to squeeze results as fast as possible, and I think that sets people up for long-term weight regain because habits aren’t set. I’m really trying to focus on how we build something very sustainable for you that’s going to work not just now but also in five years.”

Being in healthy shape also “expresses itself in love, like love for neighbor, love for your community.”

“You’re able to serve, you’re able to be with your kids, be with your grand kids, you’re able to interact in the physical world when your body’s well-kept.”

Manageable and affordable

The free programs offered by Layman’s Fitness are time manageable and affordable, Don said.

• Most of the training plans can be done in 20- to 30-minute sessions.
• Investment in equipment is low, requiring only kettlebells and perhaps a pull-up bar.

Paid programs include virtual 1-on-1 coaching, saving trips to the gym.

This is by design, Don said. The program is inexpensive to start and saves time that would otherwise be spent traveling to a gym, where you can spend an hour or more, and back home or to an office.

“But if you start transitioning to think ‘How can I exercise at home and how can I do that effectively?,’ you could be done in 30 minutes, so that’s probably the biggest value,” he said.

Don said he found using kettlebells and bodyweight to be “the best way to save space and allow you to build functional strength at home.”

“Most guys I work with are really busy,” he said. “They’re dads, they’re business owners. They’ve got stuff to do and try to be respectful of their time. I think my program solves for that.”

Premium programs

Don also offers three tiers of premium programs that range in cost from $299 per month to $599 per month. Those include 1-on-1 strength and nutrition coaching, calls, form reviews, trainings access, and access to challenges and competitions.

“Most of my effort right now is the 1-on-1 coaching,” he said.

Anyone undecided about a paid program still has access to some basic training guidance at the website. Also, Don’s free weekly newsletter is always packed with valuable information and resources.

Clean eating

Nutrition also is a Layman’s Fitness focus. Don favors clean eating.

“Try your best to be able to eat the foods that God has made, mostly whole, natural foods,” he said, pointing to good animal protein, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

“I think if you center your diet around that and are trying to lose weight, you’ll be successful, and if you’re trying to build muscle, you’ll be successful,” he said.

Don said he sees “two ditches with nutrition that Christians can get into.”

One is gluttony and the other is “fussing about food too much to where we can make all these particular rules about what we should and shouldn’t eat.”

“I think the danger is it breaks fellowship between Christians,” he said. “The Kingdom of God is not about food, it’s about righteousness, love, and joy in the Holy Spirit,” he added, pointing to Romans 14:17, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

For God’s glory

In the end, Don said, exercising and eating properly should be a matter of doing something for the glory of God, “how can I use my body for the good of others, for the glory of God?”

“There’s a lot of joy that comes with that that I want guys to experience,” he said, “because it can be really transformational for them and their families.”