here's my story

meet liz headley

Not really understanding why I felt the way I did, I kept working hard and continued to get stronger even though the reflection I saw in the mirror was a giant I didn’t recognize. There was one person who probably had no idea just how much of an impact they had on me at the time but she gave me the confidence to keep going even on my worst days. My strength coach in college was a female (in a very male dominant field) and is part of the reason I am where I am today. Her passion, drive, commitment to excellence, and willingness to never give up stuck with me and I knew I wanted to feel/be that someday.

After graduating from college I really lost myself. Without the structure of practice and being in the weight room with my teammates I had zero drive. I became overweight and was working a job I hated. I found myself emotionally eating to cope. I was still going to the gym but training without a purpose and not seeing the results I wanted.

About a year into my job, I decided I needed to make a change and wanted more out of life. I became a personal trainer and worked at our local gym in the evenings as a second job. I did this for 2 years. I wouldn’t even consider it a second job because I loved it so much. It was my little escape from reality. It was during this time I discovered my true passion helping people overcome their boundaries as I was defying my own limits simultaneously. I learned how to train properly, how to fuel my body to support my goals, and educated myself on the use of supplements and just how beneficial they can be. I focused a lot on my mental state and practiced mindfulness. For the first time, I felt so empowered knowing I was much more than the reflection in the mirror. I fell in love with the process of gaining strength and seeing the results I longed for. My mental state evolved into something I never thought was possible. Investing in myself internally provided me with results externally and longevity became the goal. As I changed my own life, I was eager to continue to help change as many lives as possible.

In 2019, during the heart of the pandemic I quit my corporate 9-5 and left my local gym to create my own training business. My passion and ability to help others exceeded what the local gym had to offer and I was ready for more. Headley Performance was born. Many thought I was crazy to take such a big leap during a time of uncertainty the world had yet to face. But I knew deep down this was my true calling; I poured my heart and soul into it. I knew in order to grow I needed to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and embrace the uncertainties thrown my way. My business started out in my garage gym, every little nook and cranny was put to use. With gyms closed because of the pandemic, the timing was perfect. I built a community of badass, hard working, like minded individuals and since then I haven’t worked a day in my life.

I have since grown out of my garage space, expanded my business to provide more services and have evolved into that passionate, driven, committed, confident, and STRONG woman I’ve always wanted to be.

Now I’m here to help you unlock that glow and confidence you deserve! I want every woman & athlete to feel empowered, educated, and inspired about their journey with their body & mind.

Growing up I was involved in a handful of different sports. Everything from ballet, soccer, basketball, softball, gymnastics, cheerleading…you name it. Athletics have always been a big part of my life. Eventually, I went on to compete as a D1 cheerleader at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

My experience as a collegiate athlete was incredible but it was also very eye-opening. Body dysmorphia and eating disorders were all too common but I was oblivious. It was the first time athletics became more about body image and less about physical abilities. My male peers were getting “stronger” but myself and my female peers were getting “leaner”. I felt like I was getting stronger but the little voice in my head kept telling me I wasn’t good enough. The only way I could be enough was to be lean as society taught me at a very young age. I struggled with this and body dysmorphia became a new normal for me but no one really talked about these things.