Amber Lynne Black And AutisticFit Society -

At times, we can look upon a person or situation and have a clear, accurate view of the real picture. If they are in a good place and seem to have everything going for them, it is easy to conclude that this has always been the case. Quite often however, nothing could be further from the truth. For many people, their ultimate success has come despite many obstacles and struggles, not because of the absence of them.

Amber Lynne Black knew that something was not quite as it should be. She knew she was “different” and that this difference was leading her to having struggles. Her search for answers lead her to an unexpected discovery. “I was diagnosed with autism and PTSD at 37,” says Amber. “It came as a complete shock to me. It took about a year for me to really move into accepting the label of autism and what that really meant. It took some time to come to terms with the diagnosis,” Amber recalls. “However the point of reference it provided me was a positive as a lot of things began to make sense to me and it opened my eyes to a lot of things about my life.”

Amber dedicated herself to finding out all she could about the condition, not just in terms of how it affected her, but how it affected others. She learned to use her fitness pursuits not only to benefit herself but also in her goal to, “empower those who have autism.” Amber wants everyone to understand that, “Even with the autism diagnosis, we can still have a functional, healthy lifestyle.”

Amber founded a non-profit organization called AustisticFit Society. An overview of their goals includes; connecting autistic individuals and their families to available programs in their communities, educating individuals and groups as to the specific needs of autistic individuals including ways to help manage symptoms and providing information about the programs needed to do so, and helping to provide financial support to programs and program development to assist individuals and families affected by autism.

Amber also uses her extensive fitness and nutrition background to provide exercise and nutrition programs geared towards helping autistic individuals realize thier full potential as a way to help manage their emotional and environmental challenges and live fitter, healthier lives.

Amber’s fitness journey may not be a typical one, but it is a journey worth watching and admiring. The courage she’s shown in battling through her own personal challenges is magnified by the way she uses her experiences and what she’s learned to try and create a better path for others who have their own set of struggles. Amber Lynne Black and AutisticFit Society showcase the best of what fitness can be!

Bodysport: Where are you originally from?

Amber: I’m originally from and live in Houston Texas.

Bodysport: Where you active in sports as a child or really into school?

Amber: I was always involved in sports. I engaged in softball, gymnastics and swimming for a number of years. School always came as a challenge socially and academically on many levels. I was really bullied in school and out of school after class by school kids. So sports helped me have a positive way to be a kid with what I could relate to and do well at.

I did my best to keep up with the school system and social expectations, however by age 12 I was really having a hard time with that piece of life. I kept to myself a lot and remember that the external world just seemed to be such an uncomfortable experience for me. So sports helped me engage with others as a child and kept me from isolating myself.

Bodysport: How did you first become involved with fitness?

Amber: My interest in fitness started with getting into going to the gym and lifting weights at about age 20. I began educating myself in personal training and nutrition, and I began surrounding myself with bodybuilders. From there I learned from them and found the structure of lifting and processes in developing the muscles in the body very natural to me. As I continued to train and be around competitive pro athletes, I decided I wanted to set goals to compete for myself, and I did. From there I continued to educate myself in nutrition and sports medicine.

Bodysport: What are some of your fitness accomplishments that you’d like to mention?

Amber: I’ve been able to achieve over 35 fitness showcases in the bodybuilding and figure divisions over the past 20 years. I’ve been featured in fitness magazines, achieved the Nevada State Bodybuilding title championship and best power award, was awarded female athlete of the year, and recently honored at the IFBB Physique America La Classic event for my journey in fitness living with autism to inspire others.

Bodysport: Tell everyone about AutisticFit Society. What is it about and what led you to founding it.

Amber: AutisticFit Society is a 501c3 that does not categorize autism as a disease, abnormality or deficiency to be addressed exclusively with pharmaceuticals, institutionalization, or other interceptive remedies. Rather, we see autism as a complex condition that prevents the affected person from fully realizing his/her physical, emotional, and intellectual potential. Therefore, the primary mission of AutisticFit Society is to enable affected individuals to realize more of their full potential through a complete integration of their physical and mental capabilities. We accomplish this through a holistic regimen of individualized fitness, and environmental and nutritional lifestyle adjustments.

Bodysport: What are you looking to accomplish now from a fitness, life, and/or business standpoint?

Amber: I strive to continue to grow, develop, and strengthen in mind, body, and soul, to exemplify and model this way of living to others. A lot has happened through the ups and downs of life. There were many times when seeing the next day didn’t seem possible. Through dedication and patience, I chose not to give up.

Not knowing what the next day would bring, I was willing to face many dark times and move through them on my own, and those moments were taken one minute at a time to make it through for many years. I want to use this journey and experience to help others through their hardest moments, let them know that they aren’t alone and how to move through the challenges they face. Give them the courage and strength to be strong in vulnerability.

Bodysport: Is there anyone you like to thank or acknowledge who has been helpful to you along your journey to this point

Amber: Yes. God for keeping me in this lifetime. There have been so many moments where seeing the next day didn’t seem even practical. Through my will and his grace I’m still here. And the people who have really truly spoken to me in a great and positive way that showed up during those moments that I’d like to thank are:

Dr. John LoMonaco for saving my life in 2009 with a very complicated necessary surgery, and for being the one doctor that was able to help me heal from many surgical complications over many years. It is because of him that I was able to rebuild my body and get back on stage in 2012. There is not one day that goes by that I don’t remember the life saving gift he gave me. Dr. LoMonaco also trained me in many of my professional skills I have today. These skills provided me with a means to work and provide to others, helping them look good and feel better each day.

I’d like to thank Dr. Bryan Hasse a very dear friend of mine who has helped me move though rough periods of my reality and made those moments a lot easier on me by being consistently there over the last 10 years through test after test. I’d like to thank Dr. Morteza Naghavi for believing in me and encouraging me outside of what I could ever consider doing.

These people, aside from knowing me in everyday life, have always shown super positive support for my love of fitness and encouraged me not to give up when the waves of challenges and high seas brewed. Dr. Naghavi encouraged me to create Autisticfit to help others and inspire many to rise and to empower autistic people to reach the top, especially children and teenagers who are the most vulnerable.

Bodysport: Thank You Amber!