‘American Ninja Warrior’ contestant opens gym in Renton

LaTaunya Witherspoon is the owner of the new gym SpoonFed Training located at 2000 Benson Road South.

An “American Ninja Warrior” contestant is bringing her love of fitness and nutrition to Renton.

LaTaunya Witherspoon is the owner of the new gym SpoonFed Training located at 2000 Benson Road South.

This Renton resident said she’s on a mission to help share her love for staying fit and healthy.

“One thing I do stress is changing your mindset and eating healthy,” Witherspoon said. “Of course, if you want to get the best results, you want to do your part outside the sessions, which a lot of people struggle, but it’s my job, my duty and my passion to promote health and fitness to get people to understand you can do it and you can take it one day at a time.”

Witherspoon said the fitness lifestyle was one she adopted as a kid and has stuck with ever since.

“I was always involved with sports. I started when I was six,” she said. “My main sport was track. That was always in me, to stay active, to feel and look a certain way. That’s why I continue to exercise.”

The allure to keep getting to be as healthy as she could coupled with her competitive spirit led her to apply to be part of “American Ninja Warrior”. She was a contestant in the popular game show twice — in 2015 and 2016.

The experience challenged her fitness routine.

“For America Ninja Warrior, it’s a lot of grip strength and balance. For me, that was different,” she said.

Witherspoon said she had to go to L.A. few weeks before the each round because there wasn’t a gym in town that had the necessary obstacle course equipment.

“It was very very challenging but it was an amazing experience,” Witherspoon said. “I love challenges and I love trying new stuff. Being able to be on that show was amazing. It let me see how much I can push myself.”

She did admit later she was “low-key devastated” she didn’t win both years. “I’m competitive,” she said, smirking.

Witherspoon said she doesn’t plan on leaving it at those loses; she is planning on giving the show a third try at some point.

Currently, she has all her attention on her new gym, which had its grand opening Feb. 24.

The gym offers full body circuit training, personal training, Zumba classes and speed and agility classes feared for kids.

Witherspoon said the name of the gym reflects how she hopes to help her clients.

“There’s a lot of people who struggle with just getting started or struggle with stating consistent and staying continually with their exercises and nutrition,” she said. “I understand it can be challenging to change your lifestyle. It’s important for people to know that you have to take it one day at a time, so I have to spoon feed you one spoonful at a time. That’s how we came with the name SpoonFed, to let people know you can do it; just take baby steps.”

Witherspoon said she is in the process of creating an “American Ninja Warrior” fitness class for kids.

Moving forward, Witherspoon said she hopes to expand SpoonFed Training to other areas and continue to share her passion for fitness and health.

For more information about SpoodFed Training, visit https://www.spoonfedtraining.com/.