Create how you Create with Mario

We sat down with Mario to see how he creates.

Story Writen by: Scott Morris

Creating has so many different definitions

and interpretations for what it could mean. For most, it means something you can hold or see like a painting, a sculpture or a photo. As for @daddydeviant_, his idea of creating is each individualized persons idea for their health and wellness journey.

Mario is the founder of Deviant Strength and owner of Aktiv Progression, a gym near downtown Houston. This is his second and current location he has worked in since beginning his trainer career. And he has a killer mustache.

This journey began at the age of 17 when he was over 200 pounds and deemed prediabetic. Wanting to change for the better, he began learning healthy habits and shortly after began coaching other people along with majoring in kinesiology to get a better understanding of the human body and health. He is now finishing his 10th year in the profession. 

“People are stuck on instant gratification because of social media and the hype that comes from it. If you want to build something that is good and something that will last, you have to withstand the amount of time you need to get there.”

After achieving his own personal goal, he wanted to do more for those around him with his expertise and education. This desire led Mario down the path that he currently is on now. He finds the most gratification in seeing the progress each of his clients makes. He really tries and learns about each of his clients so he knows what they want to achieve and how he can make that happen. 

And with the influx of social media influencers, Mario has stayed true to himself and not conformed to influencers who typically do it “for the moment.” He knows what works for him and his clients and that’s what has led to him having such a positive reputation in the Houston area. 

This leads to many different walks of life coming in for various reasons. One of his favorite interactions he’s had over the years is a woman in her late 70s wanting to gain strength because her Great Dane was taking up too much space on her bed. By the end of her training, she was able to deadlift 200 pounds and was finally able to get her dog off the bed so she could rest peacefully.  

“It’s like starting from square one and making them grow to whether they want to be a power lifter, weightlifter or just being healthy. Being there through the steps is really rewarding for me.”

While Mario does not have a true legacy he wants to make while he creates, he knows the values that he wants to leave behind; being a good partner, a good father, and a person who was there to help those who needed help.

“I want to be someone that was there for people when they needed them. Somebody who helped them or showed them what I’ve lived through to grow as a person.”