Luis Ordaz

Growing up, I constantly hid my body, avoided physical activity, and kept to myself — all because I hated how I looked. Most of my time was spent indoors playing video games. No one would have guessed I’d go on to open a personal training studio and make fitness a huge part of my life… but here we are!

In college, my body image improved dramatically. That’s when I started my fitness journey and discovered my passion for psychology. I went on to complete my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where I focused my studies on body image, eating disorders, muscle dysmorphia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Today, I draw upon both my clinical training and personal experiences with body image to help others through my private practice and my personal training studio, Forged Fitness. My work is rooted in compassion and science — combining evidence-based psychology with sustainable, judgment-free fitness.

‍
And yes, I still love video games — now I just make room for both health and hobbies!

My body image improved dramatically in college, thanks in part to fitness and psychology — but the true turning point was something I used to be too ashamed to talk about: gynecomastia surgery.

I had a permanent case of gynecomastia (increased breast tissue in males), and for years, I hid my body. I avoided pools, the gym, and tight shirts. I even constantly covered up with a sweatshirt. I told myself I could fix it naturally. I was also naively opposed to cosmetic surgery, thinking it meant I was giving in to vanity.

But the real enemy wasn’t my chest. It was the body shame and the constant hiding that reinforced it.
With the support of my family, I went through with the surgery — and it changed everything. Old habits lingered, but for the first time, I had space to heal. I began facing the years of insecurity I had buried and started building something new. That’s when I found my passion for fitness and psychology, especially in how they intersect with body image.

What once made me hide is now what drives me to help others feel seen.

The fitness industry has enough voices telling people they’re not good enough because of their body shape or weight. But shame doesn’t lead to health — confidence and compassion do.

I learned that first-hand. And now, I get to help others feel more at home in their bodies while building a lifestyle that actually feels good — mentally and physically.