My name is Clelia Jane, and I’m starting this petition to expose and hold accountable Eric Viskovicz, the founder of Live in Fitness, for unethical business practices, breach of contract, and deeply inappropriate and harmful conduct that left me emotionally and financially devastated in 2019 when I was barely 27 years old.  

 

…I arrived in a new state, hopeful for a fresh start. What happened next quickly made me question that decision — and, in hindsight, it felt less like a professional opportunity and more like I had unknowingly become a victim of workplace exploitation, possibly even workplace trafficking.

Workplace trafficking isn’t a widely standardized legal term like “human trafficking,” but it generally refers to situations where individuals are exploited or coerced through their work environment, often involving:

➤Forced labor or involuntary servitude
➤Coercion or manipulation to work under unfair, abusive, or illegal conditions
➤Deception about job roles, pay, or conditions
➤Restriction of freedom or control over personal movement and possessions at work
➤Abuse of power by employers to exploit workers, sometimes involving harassment or intimidation
➤It overlaps with concepts like labor trafficking or forced labor as defined by human rights organizations and law enforcement.

If you want a precise legal definition, it usually falls under labor trafficking, which is a form of human trafficking involving the exploitation of workers through force, fraud, or coercion.

 

Link to RipOff Report: 

https://www.ripoffreport.com/report/live-fitness/virgia-beach-phoenix-az-n-rd-1537106

 

 

 

 

 

Many of the negative reviews about Eric and Live in Fitness have mysteriously disappeared over time, and he’s changed business locations so frequently that it becomes difficult to even know where to file a formal complaint. This kind of constant relocation feels strategic — designed to avoid accountability.

For transparency, here is a Dropbox folder where I originally shared some of the work I produced. However, midway through my time there, I began to notice serious red flags and intentionally stopped sharing the rest of the reels and videos I had created documenting my experience.

 

 

 

 

 

They’ve changed business locations multiple times, making it extremely difficult to track them down or determine where to file formal complaints. The attorney I found through Upwork — which was the most accessible legal option I had at the time — agreed that my efforts were likely to be ignored, given the evasive tactics in play. Still, I continued to reach out in 2023 and in previous years, doing everything I could to seek some form of accountability.

Below is a screenshot of my communications with the legal writer and counsel I worked with through Upwork, highlighting the challenges we faced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a rough draft of the letter I sent regarding the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

Below are some screenshots from a former trainer, along with other negative reviews shared by past clients.

 

 

 

 

 

I found screenshots from former trainers and clients who also shared their frustrations and negative experiences — many of the original comments they posted have since been deleted or are no longer publicly visible. 

 

 

 

 

 

Several years ago, I entered into a work-for-exchange agreement with Live in Fitness.  I traveled across the country with professional gear to document their programs in exchange for access to their wellness services. Upon arrival, the contract was amended with the understanding that while there wouldn’t be an upfront payment, I’d be compensated later for part of my time and costs.

I kept my side of the deal: I filmed, edited, participated in grueling workouts (not only as a guest but also to better document them), and gave my full creative and physical energy. But within just three weeks, things unraveled.

Despite many attempts to follow up, Eric refused to honor the agreement or pay me a cent. I wasn’t just dismissed — I was degraded.

🔻 What Happened Next Was Worse Than Nonpayment
One day, Eric barged into the workspace, dug through my personal belongings, and interrogated me about why I had condoms in my bag. I had done absolutely nothing to deserve this. It wasn’t a misunderstanding — it was humiliation, harassment, and a shocking invasion of privacy that was deeply triggering to me at the time.

This was not protocol. It was workplace harassment, and frankly, sexual harassment. I was 27 at the time — a young creator trying to build my career — and this man in a position of power made me feel ashamed, small, and unsafe in a professional environment.

He treated me like dirt and dismissed my worth — not just as a worker, but as a human being.

⚠️ A Pattern of Abuse and Evasion
Eric Viskovicz’s pattern goes far beyond my experience.

According to a licensed attorney I worked with through Upwork:

"Eric does not appear to be an ethical businessman. He has opened fitness centers in Arizona, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. As soon as a complaint is filed, he shuts down the location and opens a new one under a different name. He likely changes his bank accounts to avoid paying anyone. He has ignored all my calls."

He knows the system and exploits legal loopholes to silence complaints and evade accountability.

I filed reports with the Better Business Bureau, the FTC, and other agencies, but nothing has changed. Eric continues operating without consequence, and he hasn’t responded to a single official complaint.

😔 The Emotional Cost
Some people have told me to move on — that years have passed. But abuse and betrayal don’t come with an expiration date. What Eric did affected my mental health, contributed to a breakdown, and left lasting scars that I’m still working through. I trusted him. I thought I was part of something meaningful.  And instead, I was exploited and discarded.

 

🗣️ If You’ve Been Hurt by Eric and LIF (Live in Fitness) Too, Speak Up
If you are a former employee, contractor, or guest at Live in Fitness who was also underpaid, mistreated, or harassed, please leave a comment on this petition. Your voice matters. You are not alone.

 

 

 

This petition is not just about money. It’s about calling out people in power who harm others and walk away unscathed. The fallout of their actions lasts a lot longer than they think — and it’s time someone said that out loud.

 

 

 
✅ WHAT I’M ASKING FOR:
I’m calling on the public to sign this petition to demand that Eric Viskovicz and Live in Fitness:

➤Publicly acknowledge their actions and the harm caused.
➤Compensate me for the work performed and costs incurred.
➤Establish formal policies to protect the rights, privacy, and safety of all employees, contractors, and guests.
➤End the cycle of business shutdowns and rebrands used to dodge accountability.
 
📢 Please share this with anyone you know in the fitness or creative industries.

Let’s stop sweeping this behavior under the rug. Let’s hold people in power accountable, and let’s make it clear: you can’t treat people like this and get away with it.

Thank you for reading — and for standing up for fairness, dignity, and justice.

Clelia Jane Sheppard 
Photographer, Creator, and Former Contributor to Live in Fitness

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attached below is the original draft of the contract. Unfortunately, the amended version — which was printed in person, signed in Long Beach, California, and offered more oversight of my role along with a reduction in charges — was discarded in person after our falling out.

What’s especially painful is how much effort I put into making this opportunity real. I went to hell and back to secure a work sponsor — a trucking company in Memphis, TN — that believed in my mission to promote healthy living and recovery. We shared similar struggles with addiction and genuinely saw Live in Fitness as a place where people could transform their lives. We hoped this project could raise awareness and inspire change.

So this wasn’t just a casual trip. I worked hard to formalize the experience, to give it structure and meaning. I was just a small-town kid from Cape Charles, VA, heading out west with the hope of chasing dreams and starting a new chapter in life. What happened instead left me disillusioned and deeply hurt.