Our Success Stories

Four weeks later, I PR’d my front squat at 295, 40 lbs heavier than my lifetime PR from 6 years prior. This was not the only example. I found I was able to do WODs from previous gyms faster and with heavier weight. And this was at the age of 42. Steven is an excellent and very technical source of fitness and strength knowledge. As an athletic man in his 40s, it is important to me to have a fitness routine that supports my overall very active lifestyle, provides not just good but excellent results with limited gym time, and minimizes the chance of injury. I have very much appreciated Steven’s depth of knowledge and eagerness to absorb and train himself and his gym on new methodologies (including Strong First and other weight routines by Pavel). I had a very difficult travel schedule while at his gym and frequently needed to modify workouts or change them entirely based on where I knew my fitness level was and Steven was always supportive, providing customized on the spot WODs that were right at the level of effort I could manage. I am very grateful for my time and Chattahoochee Strength & Fitness and would strongly recommend his gym not only to new comers but also to athletes who have plateaued and are looking to see further growth. On top of all this, the people there are really friendly, which makes the whole experience much more fun. Nice work!

–Matt

I came to Chattahoochee Strength & Fitness knowing that I wanted to change my life, but really having no idea how to start. I was experiencing health issues, including weight gain that had spiraled out of control, two miscarriages, hormonal imbalances, and insulin resistance. My previous attempts at losing weight and exercising were unsuccessful, but I knew I had to do something, or my health would continue to suffer. I didn’t really know much about what went on at functional fitness, only that it was some super crazy radical form of exercise. I knew I needed the mental challenge that I hoped functional fitness would offer, because my half-hearted attempts of getting on the elliptical for thirty minutes once a week weren’t working. I remember at my introductory workout Steven asked me why I wanted to do functional fitness. At the time, I told him it was because I heard all of these wonderful things about the community of people at functional fitness. That was part of it, but the bigger motivation was that I felt like my body had betrayed me, and I didn’t know where else to turn.

The coaches and other members at CFC came alongside me so graciously and patiently, encouraging and celebrating with me the small victories and progress I began seeing in just a few short months. I will never forget doing a workout one night that included running, and having tears streaming down my face because I never dreamed that this body of mine was so capable of doing the things it was doing. I also never imagined I would become so enamored with working out that instead of dreading going to the gym, it was what I looked forward to at the end of each work day. Even better, eventually, after hearing my incessant functional fitness talk, I finally succeeded in convincing my husband to join, and he has fallen just as hard as I have.

About a year after joining Chattahoochee Strength & Fitness, I had a goal of running a 5k without stopping, which I did with the support of some of the other girls at the gym. It was incredible to me that I had previously never been able to run a mile without stopping, and now I was running three of them all at once! Then, about six months later, I decided I wanted to do this crazy-sounding trail race called Ragnar, with a total distance of fifteen miles, broken up into five mile sections. I knew I needed help training for this one, because not only did I not want to get injured while training, I specifically did not want to lose strength on my backsquat and deadlift. I talked to Steven about my goals, and he wrote a program for me with those goals in mind. I was incredibly amazed at the milestones I experienced during the ten-week program he tailored for me. His predictions of where I should be in terms of conditioning and strength at each point were astonishingly accurate and precise, right down to the exact nine-minute mile I was able to run at the very end. I completed Ragnar successfully and without injury. Even more amazing, not only did I not lose any of my strength on my backsquat and deadlift, I experienced gains of twenty pounds on each lift by the end of the ten-week period. I cannot say enough how thankful I am to Steven for constantly checking in with me, evaluating/reevaluating throughout the program to ensure I was progressing as expected, and equipping me to reach this crazy goal.

I am so grateful that I did make that decision to turn to functional fitness, and join Chattahoochee Strength & Fitness.  It has been an incredible journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything. Not only have I been warmly welcomed into a beautiful community of people who have become my family, I am no longer experiencing hormonal issues and insulin resistance. I have lost forty pounds in about a year and a half, and learned so much about fueling myself to be able to perform the way I want to perform. Instead of being angry at my body for failing me, I now realize how truly strong I am, and what a gift this body is that I have been given.

–Tina

Words cannot express how grateful I feel to be a part of the CSF family.

Let’s dive right into the results, because sometimes, numbers speak louder than words. Over the past 10 months, my bench press, squat, and deadlift went up from 195, 175, 175 to 265, 300, 340, respectfully. For bench press in particular, I’ve stayed around at 195~205 for the past 10 years since my high school weight training classes, so I am astounded by my progress within this year.

Now, let’s talk about why I joined this gym in the first place. In early 2021, I’d hit a wall in my life. With my career transition underway, I was preparing for this monster 7.5 hours entrance exam for medical school. For months, I was the first one to enter my school library at 8 am, and the last to come out at night. I repeated this 7 days a week. Yet, my score stayed the same for weeks. I knew I need that breakthrough – the level of mental sharpness and discipline that I have never experienced in my life. That’s when I joined this gym. 3 months later, I score 88% nationally on this exam. 5 months after that, I received acceptance from two medical schools and am waiting to hear more.

Many of us surely experience and acknowledge the physical transformations we go through after continuing at CSF, but we oftentimes forget what happens prior – the kind of change that happens from within. Steve and all the coaches here are professional elite athletes who have once stood at the pinnacle of their careers. And, more importantly, they are top-notch educators. Yes, the kettlebell swing and deadlift may be a quick 2-second movement, but the level of focus and mastery we learn will last a lifetime. Whichever depth you trying to achieve in your life and career, I challenge you that the CSF will challenge your mental and physical boundaries, and push you to a place you have never imagined before.

I will end with the close-knit community and family environment in our gym. While I cannot emphasize my appreciation for our coaches enough, the members here are what ultimately sets apart this gym from others. Each of the classes here have their unique dynamics and cultures, yet all make you feel welcomed and motivated. I’ve found my place with CSF, and I am trying every day to pay forward what I’ve received by sharing my experience with others.

– Young