Today we’d like to introduce you to Cory Sanning.
Hi Cory, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Well, I’d be lying if I told you I believed I would be where I am now about 10 years ago. Growing up in a small town just north of Dayton, Ohio, I was raised in a blue-collar family where working a 9-5 was the norm. My parents were in the automotive industry, and my twin brother, Cody, shared those interests. I, however, did not. I didn’t mind rolling my sleeves up and getting my hands dirty, but I always saw something more significant for myself. Little did I know, when I was younger, just how much my family’s life would change for the worse near the turn of the decade. My parents were never ‘bad’ people, but they were dealing with demons that I had no idea about. For that, I give them credit. But, once 2007 rolled around, their battle with drug addiction and alcoholism derailed almost everything. We flirted with homelessness more times than I can count, and to their credit, it never happened. But I lived in constant fear whenever I saw a bottle of whiskey or a 12-pack of Bud Light in the house. When they drank, the police typically got called. Mixing alcohol and prescription drugs turned my father into an abusive, cold-hearted person. I couldn’t recognize him.
I often found myself helplessly watching what unfolded, wishing I was big enough to do something to stop it. Eventually, my parents sent us down here to Knoxville for the summer from 2007-2010 to escape all of the ‘bad stuff.’ Again, I give them credit for it. Once here, I ultimately had a chance to reintroduce myself. Growing up in our neighborhood in Ohio, we were always made fun of for being the “poor kids.” I despised it, and my resentment towards the state of Ohio grew because of that.
Knoxville allowed me to reinvent myself, and I grabbed that bull by the horns. Attending Carter High in Strawberry Plains, I quickly formed friendships that have lasted until now. I discovered a passion and love for sports that drove me to UT, where I wanted my degree in communications. During that time, I earned myself a job at Sports Illustrated as a college senior, something unheard of for someone my age. I parlayed that into a TV news career before finding my ultimate passion: fitness. I love serving and helping people. I am grateful for my time in TV news, particularly for my colleagues at WATE, for allowing me to live my dream of being on air in Knoxville. But, as I look towards the future, I look forward to serving this area as a trainer with my own fitness and content creation business, “enduranCe.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. My parents suffered from addiction which began with prescription pain pills, eventually working its way up to heroin, meth, cocaine, and anything they could get their hands on. Moving from place to place and living with constant uncertainty ultimately led to my brother and I dropping out of high school before our junior year to help support our family by working full-time at a local pizza joint. I began to see all my friends graduate and head off to college, which irritated me. I knew I was meant for something more, and so did he. So, only a year after we were supposed to graduate, we took the equivalency test and enrolled at Pellissippi. I was told it would take me two years to transfer to UT, as they had an acceptance rate of just below 37 percent then. Am I overly competitive? Yes. I took that as a challenge.
Long story short? I transferred after one semester, and aside from graduating in 2020, it was the happiest moment of my life. Even after, the challenges didn’t stop. Leaving home for the first time in 2020 for my initial TV gig in Kentucky was rough. I didn’t relate or mesh with any of my coworkers, and I soon realized that I did not fit the mold of a “clean-shaven, buttoned-down local journalist.” That caused some friction during my 6-year media career. Also, I dealt with many stresses in the past three years in relationships, and I let those affect me in ways I should not have. I have many regrets, but those lessons have motivated me to be who I am today and not repeat any of those mistakes.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Aside from being a print/television journalist, my passion is helping people achieve their fitness goals through positive reinforcement and motivation. I earned my certification in strength and conditioning two years ago, and I’ve found that creating fitness content, modeling for different clothing brands, and promoting a healthy lifestyle are what I love most. That has earned me modeling gigs with various clothing companies and working with several high-profile agents. That has driven me to find my business and earned me partnerships with companies such as Sun Tan City and Clean Eatz. As I look toward the future, I can only hope that people remember me as a positive influence, whether as a journalist, influencer, trainer, speaker, or model. I’ve left the local TV business to pursue law school in the fall while I open my own training business, “enduranCe” while creating my own content under my own brand.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
I wish I had known the value of a dollar. Cliche, I know, but had I invested my money more wisely in my early years, I would be far ahead of the curve by now. For those starting? Only settle for what you are worth and take a job if it makes you happy. The most incredible things in life come to those who take leaps of faith and work for what they have. Don’t be afraid to take that plunge if you are passionate about something. It is better to try and fail than to never try.
Pricing:
- 90-day transformation plan: $150
- 120-day transformation plan: $200
- Personal training: $50 per session
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corysanning/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100000786246375
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/corysanning?lang=en
Image Credits
Pink suit: Inov8 Studios
