STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — If you’re new to the fitness game, stepping foot in a gym can be overwhelming: The machines, the mirrors, the absolute pressure of fitting in and keeping up. Nina Romano, a Staten Island native and founder of Because We Can Fitness, knows this feeling all too well.

“I wasn’t always into fitness,” Romano recalled. “In fact, I was once a complete stranger to the gym. I was overweight, insecure, and incredibly intimidated by gym culture.”

But when the pandemic turned daily routines upside down, Romano found a lifeline in exercise. And what started as a way to manage stress during uncertain times soon grew into a passion and ultimately a mission.

“I went to a personal trainer, who helped me to gain confidence and competency in the gym,” Romano said. “It was then that I

See Full Page