Hi, my name is Tim Steward, and I founded GymCrafter in 2018 in an effort to help ordinary folks build home and garage gyms that they would both love and actually use.
While I’ve been training at home since I was 13 years old (I got a weight set and bench from Sears for Christmas that year), I’m not your normal gym rat or “fitness guy.” I’m just a normal dude who wants to live a long time and do it in a capable and healthy way.
In the 40 years since I got that first weight set, a lot has happened.
I’ve suffered from serious illness and injury many times and, as a result, have let my health and fitness suffer on multiple occasions. My weight, strength, and overall health have been a veritable roller coaster for most of my life because of that.
When doctors told me that surgery was my only option to heal 4 bulged discs in my back, I opted to find a PT and a trainer to help instead.
When I spent 2 weeks at the Mayo Clinic in MN trying to solve a headache disorder that lasted 4.5 years (yep, I had a headache that NEVER went away for almost 5 years!) and they couldn’t help, I turned to resistance training and nutrition to find a solution.
When I developed an anxiety and panic disorder after getting COVID-19 (for which I’m on medication to this day), I found that the only way back to a normal life was through getting back into the gym.
During each of those major health events, I let my health deteriorate.
I gained over 40 lbs each time. I lost massive amounts of muscle, capability, and endurance. And in every instance, I slid into a pit of depression and self-hate that was darn near impossible to pull myself out of.
None of that makes me special. I don’t tell you those things for sympathy. I share those experiences because, along the way, I’ve figured out a lot about what it means to be healthy and strong.
I truly believe that God put me in those places so that I could gain an understanding of how to get out and share that with the world.
I worked for 30 years in retail and was extremely successful, but in 2017, I started GymCrafter to try to help others build home gyms that could help them with the very things I’d overcome multiple times in my life.
The internet is so full of bad information guided by greed and not to help anyone truly.
In 2021, I was able to quit my retail career and pursue GymCrafter full-time. While it was a drastic reduction in income, it was a massive improvement in quality of life.
I love helping people, especially when it means they can be better parents, children, and friends. Fitness and strength can do all of that and more.
Along the way, I’ve become certified as an ISSA Elite Trainer (meaning I have certifications in personal training, nutrition, and strength and conditioning), an NCCA nationally accredited NCCPT and NCSCT, and have a certification in correctional exercise. I never thought I’d make such a hard pivot in my 50s, but here I am!
I’ve been fortunate to be featured in national publications and podcasts, both large and small. I’ve also earned several awards for this website. You can see details on all of those here.
GymCrafter has grown extensively since its inception. What started as a website that I worked on on evenings and weekends now has a substantial YouTube channel, Instagram page, and FaceBook page. I’d love it if you engaged with me on any of those platforms!
Most importantly, I’ve created all of this for you, NOT me. If there is ever anything I can help with, please don’t hesitate to ask.
GymCrafter is a one-man show, and I answer ALL DMs, comments, and messages myself. You can also reach out to me directly at Tim@GymCrafter.com. I would be honored to help you in any way I can.