What do you feel when you hear the words “work out”?

For many, getting in a workout feels like a chore or just checking some imaginary box that they went to the gym. For others, like San Diego-born athlete and fitness influencer, Demi Bagby, regular movement brings joy.

As one of Carlsbad Kickboxing Club’s newer members, the 20-year-old—known as a fitness enthusiast to some—strives to push her limits both physically and mentally. For her, fitness brings passion and motivation.

Bagby finished high school early and received two AA degrees from college all before she was 18 years old. She has been involved in sports her whole life.

What began with traditional rec sports like cheerleading and soccer soon became all things fitness related. Following a cheerleading accident when she was younger, where some may have given up, Bagby did not let the accident define her and, instead, refocused her attention towards fitness.

She began doing CrossFit—ultimately pushing her to broaden her scope and jump into anything and everything including gymnastics, parkour, surfing, snowboarding and more.

“Although my passion for working out and training grew, my interest in sports never faded,” she says. “I continue to work hard and do what makes me feel my best and be my best.”

Being her best includes striving to live in each and every moment. Her hope is to pass the belief along that if you believe you can do it, you can.

Bagby strives to be kind and pass those good vibes to her more than two million Instagram followers and more than 13 million tik-tok followers as well as her fitness app users, demibagbyfit.com.

Her ultimate fitness goal is to stay in shape, be the best she can be in everything she does, and hopefully share that same motivation with others. “I am all about challenges and discovering innovative workouts, techniques, and staying positive.”

Bagby likes to take what people normally would perceive as a chore and turn it into something fun. “Being fit is more than just going to a gym. You can work out and train in so many different ways, you just have to find something you like and get moving.”

She adds that if you are able to look at training (and life in general really) with a positive mindset, it will never be boring.

Bagby follows her own advice and doesn’t train the exact same every day—often changing it up daily to keep it interesting and keep herself motivated. Boxing, for example, is something she has trained in only a few times over the years, but nothing consistently, but does the job in keeping her motivated. “

I get to spend my days training with some of the most talented humans in muay thai,” she says. “Rolando and Hakan at Carlsbad Kickboxing Club are amazing… Rolando has built an amazing gym and I feel blessed to be a member.”

Her goal specifically with CKC is to learn muay thai. “I don’t know where that will go but as with any martial art, it’s super good for my mind, body and keeping myself centered.”

That’s exactly what Bagby wants to relay to her followers. “Change things up. Do something you find appealing or have been wanting to try and just do it,” she says.

“Most people my age are trying to navigate life, especially during Covid, which I know can be really challenging,” she adds, “but I believe you can achieve any goal you want, you simply have to take the initiative in life. Don’t let anything hold you back.”