The Fitness Factory, an independently owned fitness center located at 330 Hughes Street in Williamsport, was recently purchased by Ryan Troutman. I first met Ryan, a longtime fitness professional, and champion powerlifter and bodybuilder, while he was still in college and a member of the Penn College Powerlifting Team. The first glimpse I had of Ryan’s potential was when he broke an American Collegiate record in the bench press at his very first powerlifting meet with a lift just shy of 320 pounds at a bodyweight of 165. Since then, Troutman has had a very successful career in the food and beverage industry as a manager of the Cell Block as well as a representative for Jim Beam Bourbon. One constant throughout his life, however, has been his love of fitness and his work as a personal trainer. “Throughout it all, I’ve always trained clients,” said Troutman. Though he often puts in 18+ hour workdays, I was able to catch up with the busy fitness entrepreneur.

Dave: In gym circles, you’re pretty well known, but for those people that might not know you, please tell me a little about yourself.

Ryan: Well, I’m from Pine Grove, PA. I am 39 years old and have two brothers and two sisters. I’m also a Penn College graduate.

Dave: Tell me about your fitness background.

Ryan: I started lifting weights at an early age. I was around nine years old. I learned by reading fitness magazines and used to lift plastic weights filled with sand in my basement. Later on, I competed in powerlifting with the help of Dr. Urosevich, who was the coach at Penn College. Later, in 2012 I got into bodybuilding and really enjoyed that as well. From a personal training perspective, my first exposure to coaching others was when I wrote fitness programs for the high school soccer team during the off-season of my junior year of high school in 1999.

Dave: Where and when did you train people?

Ryan: I’ve worked with clients most of my life. First at Pine Grove High School, then Penn College, then later at the Fitness Factory here in Williamsport. Sometimes, when I was working on the road for Jim Beam, I would help my supervisors with their workouts as well. I’ve pretty much always been a personal trainer, whether it was full or part-time.

Dave: When did you take over Fitness Factory, and why did you want to buy it?

Ryan: I bought it on September 27th of this year. I decided to buy it because I have loved the gym since I walked through the doors in 2001. First, it was the variety of equipment and atmosphere. Once I got to know the members, however, I realized I really liked the people. It’s like a big family. I ended up discussing the idea with Matt Cowden, another local business person, and he liked the idea. So, to make a long story short, we partnered and bought it.

Dave: Do you have any future plans for putting your own stamp on the gym?

Ryan: I’d definitely like to offer new classes that are not typically found in the area. I will also be adding new equipment that people will travel to use. My love of fitness and the sport of bodybuilding is a huge part of my life, and I feel like a little kid at Christmas any time I get a new piece of equipment, a weight bar, or bench. Nutritional supplements will also be offered, making it a one-stop-shop. My goal is to turn the gym into a place that people go not only to get a good workout for physical health but also for enjoyment and stress management which will improve mental health. Forming relationships and having people working together is key.

Dave: Do you have any business or fitness philosophies or a mission statement you think is important?

Ryan: Yes, especially now with COVID and how fitness and health are more important than ever. There is no doubt in my mind that being fit is one of the best ways to boost our immune systems. So, exercise for overall health is one of my core beliefs.

Dave: Is there anything else you want to add?

Ryan: Fitness is something you should plan into your schedule. A lot of people have more time than they think. So, being too busy is never a valid excuse not to take care of yourself. It’s not hard to fit it in or afford; you just need to prioritize your health. The other thing I’d like to mention is that exercise, and good health are proven anti-depressants. I find it rare to talk to a group of people and not find at least one person who is on some type of anti-depressant medication. While depression is a very serious problem in our society, and medication is warranted at times, I believe we should also include a healthy diet and exercise as a means of improving our mental health.

If you would like to get in touch with Ryan Troutman or learn more about the Fitness Factory, you can call him at 570-322-2348 or find the Fitness Factory on Facebook.