80+ hour work weeks, five hours of sleep per night, and high stress levels may sound like a complete nightmare, but hustle culture is the norm for many Americans. And once upon a time, that included Women’s Health and Fitness Coach and Thorne partner Ariel Belgrave.

Belgrave’s career began on Wall Street where she was “laser-focused on success,” climbing the corporate ladder and making a name for herself in an industry where she didn’t see many other young Black women.

On the outside, Belgrave was crushing it, getting the recognition she deserved for her accomplishments. But on the inside, she struggled to manage a never-ending cycle of stress and exhaustion.

“I was so consumed by my work that I convinced myself I didn’t have time to prioritize my well-being,” Belgrave says. “I figured I was young. This is just a season. My body can handle it.”

But the years of inconsistent sleep, low energy, and weight gain wore on her, and soon it no longer mattered how much coffee she drank; her productivity slumped and even the simplest tasks became overwhelming.

It finally all came to a head when she woke up one morning not knowing where she was.

“I knew I couldn’t change the work culture around me, but I could change myself,” Belgrave says of her wake-up call moment. “I decided to take ownership of my health again.”

She started out simple, exercising for 20-30 minutes every day with strength and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. As she focused on improving her nutrition, stress, and sleep, the former athlete reflected on her past.

Up until Wall Street, physical activity had always been a big part of Belgrave’s life. She started playing sports at age six, eventually playing Division I rugby at Boston College.

When she was an athlete, Belgrave knew exactly how to fuel, push through physical challenges, and optimize her endurance. But outside the context of sports, nutrition and exercise weren’t a priority in her household growing up. So, she struggled after her athletic career ended, unsure of how to manage her health.

“There was no coach giving me structured workouts, no teammates holding me accountable, and no clear performance goals to chase,” Belgrave says. “What does taking care of yourself actually look like when you’re no longer training for a game?”

“Fitness should be accessible to all”

As Belgrave shifted her mindset from training for sport to training for well-being, she saw the difference in every aspect of her life. Inspired to help others with similar lifestyle struggles, she began to share her fitness journey with others.

In time, she earned her certification as a coach and gave back to her community, teaching free fitness classes to underserved women in Brooklyn, helping them find the balance between their careers and healthier habits.

When she started, she thought training was just about designing effective workouts. But over time, she learned the personal side – a client’s mindset, motivation, and confidence – were just as essential for their success.

“Fast forward to today, I don’t just focus on programming workouts, I focus on helping rewrite the narratives [women] have about their bodies, abilities, and possibilities,” she says. “I coach beyond just the physical.”

One of her most memorable client interactions underscores that fact. One day, while teaching in Brooklyn, a new woman joined the group.

She was over 300 pounds and hadn’t exercised in years, but a recent doctor’s appointment scared the mother of two. But what really stuck with Belgrave was the woman’s reason for coming to that first class.

“I want to be a better example to my daughters,” the woman told Belgrave. 

After that, the woman became a regular and didn’t miss a single class for six months. She even completed exercises at home that Belgrave prepared just for her. Soon, the woman began to see the result of all her hard work. Previously, she could only walk with her daughters halfway to the bus stop, but now, she could walk the whole way – and without getting out of breath.

“That moment brought me to tears,” Belgrave said. “Because when a woman feels strong in her body, she moves through the world differently.”

Why Belgrave recommends Thorne

For five years, Belgrave balanced coaching and Wall Street, but now her investment banking days are officially behind her. Today, she’s the one calling the shots as CEO of Gym Hooky, a nutrition and wellness program designed for busy working women. And earlier this year, she celebrated an important career milestone – 10 years of owning her own business.

In addition to work-life balance and a way to support women, Gym Hooky has given Belgrave so much, including an opportunity to expand her knowledge in the health and wellness field. One example being supplements.

During Belgrave’s deep dive into the best high-quality supplements to recommend to clients, she discovered Thorne. She was sold on the brand as she learned more about our rigorous testing and focus on formulating clean, effective supplements.

Belgrave’s first move was to try Thorne’s Biological Age Health Panel, which she calls a “game-changer” for her and her clients. But why would you need to take a test to determine your age?

When people talk about aging, they often refer to chronological age, or age in relation to the day they were born. However, your body’s cells don’t necessarily age at the same rate, meaning that you may actually be older or younger than the birthday you’re celebrating this year.

The test takes an in-depth look at your overall health, analyzing the impact of lifestyle, nutrition, illness, and genetics on your body’s vital organs to calculate your biological age.

But even if the results aren’t what you hope for them to be, the good news is you can improve, and this test provides detailed feedback to help you do so, allowing you to optimize your health no matter your age or life stage.

For Belgrave, the biggest upside to taking this test is cutting the guesswork out of good health; she can use her clients’ results as a baseline to help them make informed decisions on nutrition, fitness, and overall health.

“This data-driven approach is what I encourage my clients to take – because when you understand your body, you can train smarter, recover better, and sustain long-term wellness,” Belgrave says. 

And it’s paid off: since taking the test and incorporating other Thorne products into her routine, Belgrave has noticed faster recovery post-workout, more sustained energy throughout the day, and sharper mental focus. Now, she’s able to be consistent and avoid burnout.

Some of the products that have helped her see these improvements in her health include:

  • Whey Protein Isolate: Supports muscle recovery and lean muscle mass maintenance.*
  • Basic Nutrients 2/Day: Fills in nutritional gaps while supporting energy production, a healthy immune system, and overall health.*
  • Creatine: A cognition and focus supplement that helps boost muscle strength, cognitive function, and energy production.*

“Thorne’s commitment to quality, research, and innovation aligns perfectly with my own values of training with intention, prioritizing recovery, and optimizing performance for the long haul,” Belgrave says. “I only recommend products I genuinely believe in and with Thorne, I never have to second-guess.”

Thorne is thrilled to partner with Ariel, and is excited to bring you more health and wellness content. You can follow Ariel on Instagram here.