NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For Nathan Neal, helping people live healthier lives has always been the goal. As a longtime personal trainer and Nashville native, he has spent nearly a decade coaching athletes and everyday clients toward better health. Now, he’s extending that mission beyond the gym through Nate’s Cakes, a growing business that creates high-protein cheesecakes designed to satisfy a sweet tooth without sacrificing fitness goals.
As part of Nashville Fit Magazine’s Ultimate Nutrition Guide, Neal is already making big strides just five months after launching his business. We chat with him about what inspired him to start his business, the challenges of starting from scratch, his passion for creating healthier desserts, and the entrepreneurial spirit it has taken to become a major player in the nutrition space in Nashville.
Neal’s journey into the fitness industry began on the baseball field. A lifelong athlete who played collegiate sports, he credits the coaches and mentors who poured into him for inspiring his own career. Although he once considered physical therapy and kinesiology, he realized he learned best through hands-on experiences. Nearly a decade after earning his personal training certification, Neal now trains clients full-time, specializing in sports performance while also helping everyday people improve their overall health, strength and longevity.
Ironically, the idea for Nate’s Cakes didn’t begin in the kitchen, it started during a conversation with a client.
While discussing favorite desserts, Neal admitted cheesecake was his weakness. That simple conversation turned into a challenge. Could cheesecake be made healthier while still tasting indulgent? After experimenting with recipes at home, he shared his creation with the client, who immediately encouraged him to make more. Word spread quickly among other clients and coworkers, and before long, people were requesting cheesecakes for birthdays, celebrations and everyday treats.
Over the next two years, Neal fine-tuned his recipes through trial and error, focusing on increasing protein, lowering calories and never compromising on flavor.
With encouragement from coworkers at Carbon Performance, he transformed the hobby into a business. From obtaining business licenses to creating recipes and marketing the brand, Neal has built Nate’s Cakes almost entirely on his own.
“I’m the owner, operator, marketer and cheesecake baker,” he laughed.
Today, Nate’s Cakes offers 14 different flavors, including classic favorites like strawberry, Oreo, peanut butter fudge and fudge brownie, alongside specialty flavors that rotate based on ingredients and customer demand.
The menu has continued to evolve beyond simply keeping protein the main focus. Neal has introduced gluten-free cheesecakes inspired by his wife, who has celiac disease, and is currently developing dairy-free recipes while also working to reduce calories even further without sacrificing taste.
Although Nate’s Cakes continues to grow, Neal remains passionate about personal training at Carbon Performance. Click here to sign up with him now.
While he still enjoys working with athletes, most of his clients are everyday individuals looking to feel stronger, prevent injuries and improve their quality of life. He believes strength training should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or fitness level, and enjoys helping clients better understand nutrition and sustainable habits that support long-term health.
Outside of work, Neal enjoys staying active with his growing family and spending time outdoors. Percy Warner Park remains one of his favorite places in Nashville, holding special memories from the early days of his relationship with his wife.
Whether it’s hiking Tennessee’s trails or strength training at Carbon Performance, Neal believes consistently moving your body is one of the best investments anyone can make in their long-term health.
“It’s not about finding the perfect gym,” Neal said. “It’s about finding a way to move your body and take care of yourself.”
Looking ahead, he hopes to expand the brand beyond cheesecake with protein-packed donuts and other healthier baked goods.
Customers can currently purchase whole cheesecakes through special orders or pick up individual slices at Carbon Performance in North Nashville. Neal is also developing a dedicated website where customers will be able to browse flavors, view pricing and place orders online. Visit his Instagram now to keep up with updates, new menu flavors and more.
As Nate’s Cakes continues to grow, Neal hopes to keep proving that healthy living doesn’t have to mean giving up dessert, it just means rethinking what’s possible.
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘜𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘕𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘺/𝘈𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘵, 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵.
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