From My Journey to the Program That Will Armor You Up...

Life has a way of testing us like we would never imagine.
For me, it’s been a series of gut-wrenching challenges that shaped me into the person I am today, and ultimately, into the coach I was meant to be. But rather than breaking me, those hardships forged my resilience, my understanding, and my passion for helping others unlock their true potential.

I grew up in Brazil, very neglected.
From a young age, I learned what it meant to face difficulties that would impact every other area of my life, specially my health. And no, I'm neither exaggerating or embarrassed. My past forged me. I don't mind sharing it with you.

When I was 14, I witnessed one of my closest friends get killed in front of me, shot in the head.
I’ve been in serious car accidents and held at gunpoint in two robberies.
As an adult, I found myself in a deeply abusive marriage while caring for my son, who was born in a very traumatic way and had to stay in the hospital for a while. Later, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Even my therapist once said, “You’ve really been through quite a bit of challenges.” And she’s right. But here’s the thing, some of those events might have broke parts of me, but they didn’t defeat me. Yes, they left some ugly scars, but they also made me stronger. They made me who I am today. They armored me.

I didn’t just survive these experiences, I learned how to use them as fuel. And that’s the key to everything.

I’ve learned that our mental health affects every part of our lives, especially our physical health. When we face stress, trauma, or anxiety, it doesn’t just stay in our heads, it shows up in our bodies. Anxiety races your heart. Stress brings on headaches. Fear can cause diarrhea. A bad day leads to poor eating choices that leave you feeling even worse.

Trauma will make you stuck. And these are just the most common reactions. Depending on the severity of the issue, things can affect us even worse; hives, auto-immune disorders, chronic pain, sleep problems, etc. I’ve been there.

But here’s the truth: It doesn’t have to stay that way. 
Your challenges don’t have to define your health or your future.

I went to Psychology school in Brazil, I’ve worked for big companies, I went back to school to study exercise science and physiology, I’ve created different businesses, and I've moved away from my family and culture.

I’ve built this woman you’re seeing here! I truly did.

I've worked in the top fitness and health facilities in Los Angeles and spent over 10 years helping people just like YOU transform their health, not just their bodies, but their minds too. I’ve seen how shifting your mindset can completely change your life!

After living in Los Angeles for 13 years, I moved to Florida to focus on living more intentionally with my badass husband and our four children. That was a huge change with its own challenges too.

Recently I've made the choice to work with just enough clients to be able to make a true impact while dedicating the majority of my time to my family and our baby.

It isn’t about becoming “perfect” or grinding endlessly, it’s about building a life and health plan that works for you while not letting life get in the way of your goals.

I’m not just another coach telling you to “think positive.”
I will help you use everything you’ve been through; your pain, your struggles, your past, as the strength you need to move forward.
This isn’t about pretending everything is fine, it’s about learning how to use your challenges to propel you toward the life and health you deserve.

Through The Armored Project, I combine my personal experiences with everything I’ve learned working with hundreds of clients over the years to help you build the mindset that will carry you through whatever life throws your way.

I’m not special. I’m just a fighter. If I can do this, so can you!

And I’m here to show you how.

Karen (Gordon) Farewell.