March 29, 2016

With the one year anniversary coming up for Blue Lion Fitness this week (April 1), we wanted to give a shout out to some of our members who have kicked some serious ass during our first year of operation and have seen definite results because of their hard work, commitment, and ferocity. As a thank you and an accolade from everyone here at BLF and other members we ask you to raise a glass because these are members who have undoubtedly #Chased The Lion:

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Name: Sarah Burns

Age: 29

Favorite Exercise: Hang Power Clean

I have been a member of Blue Lion Fitness since it opened last April. I am a previous collegiate athlete and I wanted to get back into the element of being a collegiate athlete. I knew just from looking online at the facility, who was on staff and their experiences that I was going to be getting just that. An atmosphere I was around for four years I was getting back, being in a team atmosphere, meeting new people, and just becoming healthier, better, and stronger!

What I love most about Blue Lion Fitness besides the intense workouts is the overall energy and team atmosphere the coaches and the other members bring to each session. The coaches and members are pushing you to get better everyday. Pushing you to your max. Pushing you even though you might fail. They push you to get better. Ask you to give 1,000% and most of all, have fun and work your ass off.

Overall, I have become so much stronger. I am doing lifts that I did in college and I am doing way more weight now than I ever did. Not to mention, I have put on 10 pounds since my first class at Blue Lion and I can tell in my arms, in my back, and just everywhere. I couldn’t do a single pull up when I first came to Blue Lion. Now I can. Basically, I couldn’t do a number of things before I came to Blue Lion but they pushed me to try, and I did. I’ve learned a lot from the coaches and from the people around me at Blue Lion.

Goals:

1. Become even stronger and more lean than I am now
2. Deadlift 200 lbs
3. Hang clean my body weight
4. Do consecutive pull ups
5. Do a muscle up

The list continues but those are just a few I have at the moment. Goals are always changing because they eventually get accomplished. So those are just a few I have set for myself, but more to be added as time passes!!!

Name: Jeanne Geskes

Age: 45 (well almost!)

Favorite Exercise: Back squat!

Why did you join BLF? I joined BLF because I wanted to get in shape, be challenged and find something that over time would not bore me.

What do you like most about Blue Lion Fitness? I like the “team feeling.” We cheer each other on, we support each other, a second family! I always know if I don’t have the proper form I will hear about it

Explain how you’ve improved from your first class to today.
Wow. My first class I was scared to death to even be there. I did not do a 20 inch box jump! I can’t even explain the difference in me in the past year. I have learned so very much from the different lifts to a mental strength that has given me a new confidence in myself. I am still scared everyday to walk in the door but not terrified!

What Personal goals do you have for yourself in the coming year?
I need to do a pull up! I want to continue getting stronger and keep improving. I can’t wait to see what I will accomplish in the next year.

Name: Jen Babycz

Age: 39

Favorite exercise: CORE…. all of it. If I had to choose: weighted planks.

Why did you join Blue Lion?
I joined BLF at the recommendation of a friend (thanks, Mike!) and hearing about it from several clients…I was scared!! I remember being at Planet Fitness and watching the BL peeps run down Stadium with slam balls and thinking ‘oh, hell no…’ I sucked it up, tried it and haven’t looked back.

Explain how you’ve improved from your first class to today.
I am so much stronger than I was when I started (I have muscles!) and continue to surprise myself with things I’m able to do. I’m in the best shape of my life! After my first class I remember not being able to lift my arms up the next day…now I love the feeling of being sore, working hard and knowing that I just killed it.

What are your goals for this upcoming year?My goals include doing my best to not give Joon shit when he’s teaching and being able to do 10 unassisted pulls-ups in a row… I’m at four and I’m gonna keep trying!!

Name: Matt Jackson

Age: 26

Favorite Exercise: Sled Push

Why did you join BLF?
To work out in a team environment. I wanted to have fun with a great group of people and get better doing it.

What do you like most about Blue Lion Fitness?
I  love the community. Every day coming to work out you are with people who care about you and want to get better with you! It is a ton of fun even when you’re having to work through the pain.

Explain how you’ve improved from your first class to today. I can front squat and bench over 200 pounds. I can clean over 150. It is crazy. I even ran a mile under 10 minutes for the first time since middle school!

What Personal goals do you have for yourself in the coming year? Get better. Lose more weight. I have built a lot more muscle but now I need to get my diet in order and get even better!

Name: Ben Koester

Age: 40

Favorite Exercise: Bear complex (we did it twice, I think). If that doesn’t count, then box over burpees.

Why did you join BLF: I wanted to learn something new, have more variety and progression in my workouts, and for somebody else to think about how I should do it!

What do you like most about Blue Lion Fitness? It’s not one-dimensional: strength, cardio, explosiveness, and flexibility are all part of the design, and the coaches make sure you do new exercises technically correct and safely. The community is also solid, and what I did not expect were the good friends I’ve made that I wouldn’t have crossed paths with otherwise. If you think they *might* go to the gym today, then you HAVE to go!

Explain how you’ve improved from your first class to today: My overall full-body endurance and strength is probably as good as it’s ever been — yeah, probably like it was in college. I’ve also never been this flexible, and in all respects, I don’t feel like I’ve plateaued in anything. These have all taken off since day one at BLF.

What Personal goals do you have for yourself in the coming year: To learn and master the Olympic lifts, to improve 1 RMs (bench 300, BSQ 330, deadlift 415), do the splits in both directions, and run a sub 6:45/mile 10k.  

Name: Corey Mills

Age: 47

Favorite Exercise: Dead lifts, Power Cleans

Why did you join BLF?

I joined BLF for the instructor knowledge, the competitive environment and the types of daily workouts.

What do you like most about Blue Lion Fitness?

The Instructors, atmosphere and classes are great.  I like the fact that I can go into BLF at any time and get instruction on any movements.  The instructors are more than willing to develop fitness plans to meet your specific goals.

Explain how you’ve improved from your first class to today.

My overall fitness level has increased.  My body composition has changed.  I feel like I can do any of the workouts that are presented, despite how difficult they may look on the board.  The BLF atmosphere has allowed me to push myself beyond my comfort zone.  I encourage everyone I know with fitness goals to stop into BLF and speak with the staff.  This is the fitness facility of the future for those who are serious about reaching their goals, whether that is general physical conditioning and strength or elite physical performance.

What personal goals do you have for yourself in the coming year?
I would like to lose an additional 10 lbs, while getting stronger at the same time.  Mobility is an ongoing goal of mine.  I would like to have that infant mobility at 47 years old, lol.

Name: Harnoor Tarun Jain

Age: 24

Favorite Exercise: Slam balls

Why did you join BLF?

To get sexy.

What do you like most about Blue Lion Fitness?

The workouts are awesome, and the environment/community that exists is amazing.

Explain how you’ve improved from your first class to today.
I now have leg & core strength!

What Personal goals do you have for yourself in the coming year?
Get that squat way, way, way up!

Name: Chris Wooley

Age: 48

Favorite Exercise: Probably the back squat.  My worst is the Lion Makers!!

Why did you join Blue Lion?

I joined after my long time lifting partner (Corey Mills) joined and raved about energy, workouts, and atmosphere of Blue Lion.

What I like most about Blue Lion?

EVERYTHING!! But to name a few:  The instructors have endless energy and really take their time explaining each of the movement making sure your form is right to avoid injury. Absolutely love the format of the classes (warm up, core, strength, and conditioning) they mix it up and keep it fresh. Lastly the members “Lion Chasers” there are a good group of people at BLF!

How have you improved since you joined BLF?
My core strength is probably my most improved aspect of my fitness, since I have never really worked out my abs before. My personal goal hasn’t changed in the past 2 decades, eat better and stop eating BEFORE I hurt!

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Our Lionchasers have accomplished so much this year, but it didn’t happen overnight. It took quite a bit of time. It took a lot of effort. It took an unbelievable will. Most importantly is that fitness in general is not an endgame, it is always a work in progress. If it’s something that you want, or something that you need, you can push yourself to reach your goals.

We only had a few of our members featured here, but we know you all work your tails off when you come in. If you want us to share your story you can answer the following questions and send them to me at: ebergren@umich.edu

Name:
Age:
Favorite Exercise:
Why did you join BLF?
What do you like most about Blue Lion Fitness?
Explain how you’ve improved from your first class to today.
What Personal goals do you have for yourself in the coming year?