Courtney Black, a fitness influencer, began her journey during the March 2020 lockdown by initiating home workouts to maintain her fitness. Today, she is celebrated as the 'home workout queen' and has established herself as a significant figure in the fitness industry, motivating hundreds of thousands of followers with her vibrant approach to health and fitness. With 826K followers on Instagram and 130.4K on TikTok, she has cultivated a robust community that aligns with her messages of self-love, body positivity, and balanced nutrition.
In an interview with City Times, Courtney shared insights into her transformation from a social media trainer to a multi-millionaire entrepreneur, her battle with eating disorders, and her belief that fitness should be accessible to all. She also discussed her philosophy on achieving the healthiest and happiest version of oneself, her strategies for fostering a positive relationship with food, and what attendees can anticipate from her high-energy workout session at the Dubai Active Show.
Courtney will be headlining at the Dubai Active Show, which runs from October 25 to 27 at Expo City. The event also marks the commencement of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. Here are edited excerpts from the interview:
You’ve been hailed as the 'home workout queen.' Can you elaborate on what inspired you to concentrate on home workouts and how you managed to build such a strong community around it? My home workouts originated during the March 2020 lockdown in the UK. Everyone was confined indoors, with limited equipment, and it was a very unsettling and worrying period. I’ve always been passionate about health and fitness, and I had invested all my savings into launching a fitness app (focused entirely on gym workouts) just weeks before the lockdown. Having never done a home workout before, I needed a way to motivate myself to stay fit and keep moving. I began conducting live workouts on Instagram daily, and the rest is history. Each day, we worked out, laughed, and sweated together. It gained significant traction when one day I had 30,000 live viewers. We were all on a mission to stay fit and healthy and to care for our mental health during such a frightening time. I provided these workouts for free for about six months until we could pivot my app to focus on home workouts. My app is designed for everyone, regardless of age or ability. Whether you’re busy, time-poor, or just starting out, my app supports and elevates your lifestyle, not consuming it. We make fitness accessible, and that’s what makes our community so special; everyone deserves a chance to feel their happiest, healthiest self.
What is your philosophy for building the healthiest and happiest version of oneself through fitness? Consistency and showing up for yourself every day. Fitness offers more than just incredible physical benefits; it’s incredibly beneficial for our mental health, relieving stress, helping us take time for ourselves, and feeling incredible from the inside out. You don’t need a fancy gym membership or expensive equipment to feel amazing and healthy. You just need your workout mat, a little space, and our amazing community that inspires and supports each other daily.
Courtney Black's home workouts emerged during the March 2020 lockdown while she was in the UK.
Your journey of overcoming eating disorders has inspired many. How did you find balance in your relationship with food, and what advice would you give to those struggling? The key word is balance. I used to struggle with this and believed that to be healthy, you had to eat the healthiest and lowest-calorie foods at all times. That’s not true. You need balance to follow a sustainable diet. You need to allow yourself to socialize, eat out, and take rest days when your body needs them.
What are some key principles you follow to promote balanced nutrition without falling into restrictive habits? Restriction is the biggest pitfall when it comes to dieting and healthy living. By restricting, you’re merely encouraging your mind and body to crave those things more. I follow a balanced diet and always allow myself the things I love in moderation. If I’m in a calorie deficit, I ensure I factor in all the things I love. I avoid cheat days and cheat meals and focus on balance and fueling my body with nourishing, healthy foods throughout the week (including the weekend).
How has embracing self-love and a positive body image transformed your approach to health and fitness? I no longer view exercise or fitness as a punishment for what I’ve eaten. I celebrate my body and the incredible things it can do. I love pushing myself in my workouts and enjoy my sessions immensely. I keep things dynamic and fun with the aim of feeling fit, strong, and incredible!
What practices or mindset shifts do you recommend for people working to improve their body image and confidence? I believe confidence and self-love from within come from how we treat and speak to ourselves daily. If you constantly criticize yourself in the mirror or fill your mind with negative, intrusive thoughts, you’ll never feel good about yourself. Self-love takes practice and daily effort. Speak to yourself positively, think about the food you’re eating as fuel to reach your goals, and not about the number on the scales. Surround yourself with people who uplift you, even on social media; if an account or person doesn’t serve you, you have every right to unfollow or remove them. Comparison truly is the thief of joy, and social media is a highlight reel. Cut out the negativity and remember that being you is your superpower.
The fitness enthusiast transitioned from a personal trainer to a multi-millionaire with a successful fitness app.
You’ve transitioned from a personal trainer to a multi-millionaire with a successful fitness app. What were the pivotal moments in your journey that led to the creation of the Courtney Black app? The biggest turning point for me was when I started showing my true and authentic self and added that alongside my coaching. People became invested in my journey and believed what I was selling. People warm to authenticity, and as soon as I started showing and proving that everything fell into place.
As a fitness entrepreneur, what have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced in scaling your brand, and how did you overcome them? Things not going as planned. I’ve wasted money on advertising, new projects, and wasted a lot of time and money. Unfortunately, not everything can go according to plan and succeed, but you have to try these things to know.
What can attendees expect from your workout session at the Dubai Active Show, and how do you plan to engage with your audience? My workouts are always super fun, high energy, and high intensity. I love pushing people out of their comfort zones so they leave feeling like “wow, I just did that!” There will be plenty of HIIT, full-body combos, and a little Pilates finisher at the end; they’re going to love it!
What excites you the most about participating in the Dubai Active Show, and what message do you hope to leave with attendees? Community is the heart of what I do. I love meeting warriors old and new from all around the world so we can join up together and do what we all love. Sharing our personal journeys, meeting and connecting with like-minded people, and lifting each other up is what it’s all about. I want everyone to feel like they are incredible and can do hard things. Hopefully, when they leave my session, they will believe in themselves a little bit more.
