Testimonial: The Mountain to Rebirth

“I used to be a Broadway Dancer.  My body was my tool and I took great care in trying to maintain a body that was genetically… a challenge. Thank you Grandma for these terrible hips and feet!  It took quite a toll over the years and eventually I left the business after continual injury and physical obstacles seemed ahead of me. I entered the culinary world and tried, now and again, to get back in shape, but repeated back injury would slam me back to the ground.

“After years of feeling like my once in-shape body would never get back to the strength and tone I once had I discovered Mark Fisher Fitness through my husband Christopher, who experienced life altering changes through their Snatched in 6 Weeks program.

“From the moment our program began I knew I was in great hands. The entire team knew my physical history, were out to make me feel safe against re-injury, but more importantly gave me the reassurance to move beyond my fear and move into confidence again. The social network was a net to help each of us when we were feeling doubt. Not only has my view on diet been turned upside down, but my stale, boring past history of “working out” has been blown out of the water! I looked forward to class every day and growing that much stronger with such an amazing and inspiring group of people, each on their own unique journey, but all facing the Mountain to Rebirth together! Group 3 and our Bear Crawl Cries will always be in my Soul!!

“Thank you Mark, Brian, Staci and the entire, wonderful MFF Team for creating such a welcoming, judgement free club where everyone can feel like they are Home!”

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Testimonial: “Quality Over Quantity”

And now, a Story of Glory from the inimitable Amanda Maxwell!!

We’ve all had that moment. That moment when friends ask what it is you’ve been doing because you look so great. And then you get lost in the glow that is your attempt at finding the words that come close to accurately depicting the magical madness that is Mark Fisher Fitness. I have had the pleasure of having this exchange quite often over the last few months and still have yet to arrive at a worthy description. Saying it’s filled with glittery rainbow unicorns is too gay. Saying it’s kind of like Crossfit is too butch. Saying it’s a bit cultish is too off-putting. There are no treadmills, we use kettlebells, and always play a name game. Too foreign, too fancy, and too silly.

Those descriptions might tip the big badass iceberg that is how we train at MFF but it doesn’t justify WHY our training is so damn successful. Yes, we swing kettlebells, bang out burpies, and squat like champs. It’s given me a flatter stomach, a smaller waste and a killer butt. But the greatest and most influential changes are the ones that happen on the inside. The ideals and attitude promoted at MFF are the true keys unlocking and discovering true potential. When I was introduced to the awesomely simplistic power of the “Get Better” mantra, my mind was blown and I was forever changed. THAT is what’s truly difficult to describe to non-ninjas: the value and power in simply getting better.  

My first introduction to MFF was with Snatched in July of 2012. I remember the frustration I felt with trying to find a clearly defined “why.” I then realized that getting better WAS my “why” and that’s when I really started to feel changes within myself. It allowed me to get out of my own way. I could feel myself improving, in some way or another, every single day. And that was all the motivation I needed. With the never-ending inspiration supplied by Mark, John, and Stacy, I started to own my movement, felt for the first time in a long time that was I worth it, and started getting better.

Seven months later, I’ve lost 25 lbs, almost a dozen inches overall and grown stronger than I ever dreamed possible. I’ve had to take a small hiatus from MFF due to travel this month and its given me amazing perspective on my journey. I now have an even deeper appreciation for the gift that has been the philosophies bestowed upon me throughout my training at the clubhouse. One that keeps returning to me in my time away is that good ol’ philosophy of putting quality over quantity. As I’ve returned to the throngs of “normal gyms” I grow increasingly grateful for knowing the value in this. I find myself surrounded by people aimlessly jogging on treadmills, over-extending their movements, and counting out reps as their form deflates. Rather than judge others for this, I choose to focus on the appreciation I have for my own knowledge. The knowledge that propels me into staying healthy, growing stronger, and getting better. The knowledge that transformed me inside and out. The knowledge that I gained at the bad ass, glittery rainbow unicorn jizz-filled, kettlebell swinging, cultish, ever-inspiring place that is Mark Fisher Fitness.     

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Testimonial: Journey to Unicorn Glory

Ladies, gentlemen, and baby unicorns, I present to you a man who embodies the holistic, far-reaching way that MFF’s fun and seemingly frivolous culture can transform your life.  The epic tale of my friend and yours, Brian Bogin.

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A little over a year ago I walked into a place called Mark Fisher Fitness.  This was a foreign land to me – with people speaking a strange, foreign language comprised of words like Ninja, Unicorn, Dragon’s balls, Sad Dog, Porn Star.  I was terrified!  I’ve been overweight my entire life and I grew up with poor eating habits and little to no physical activity outside of required gym class.  Many of my “friends” used to call me Twinkie (and not the gay kind—those jokes didn’t come until later).  All of this carried over to my adult life as I began to play the yo-yo game of weight loss.  I despised going to the gym.  Not only did I not enjoy working out, but I also didn’t really know what to do!  I hired trainer after trainer and did every diet from Weight Watchers to Atkins—all with moderate and, most importantly, short-term success.  Some of the trainers helped a bit, but because I never got my diet under control, I never saw significant long-term changes. I would always say to myself, “Sure, I can have McDonalds, I worked out today!”  But as MFF says, “You can’t out-train your diet!”  (Boy, are they right about that one!)  And what did I really learn from the trainers anyway? Only how to kill my body (because if I hurt really badly after, I must be doing it right!).   My partner introduced me to this strange land, and as I researched it I discovered several people that I knew had seen significant results from working out here so I decided to give it a try!  

There are three main reasons for my success:

The first is that I now had a BIG WHY.  When I started, I was about a year away from getting married on a beach.  Changing my physique is certainly important for many reasons related to this event. And honestly, if I wasn’t emotionally and mentally ready, I wouldn’t have been able to commit 100%.  And if you don’t commit 100%…well…you can’t expect 100% in health returns.  

Second is DIET.  You can’t out-train your diet and this can’t be stressed enough. In fact, I myself had been training for a couple months before I really attacked my diet head on using Mark’s tried-and-VERY-true nutritional coaching and it was only then that I started to see dramatic results.  

The third reason is simply MARK FISHER FITNESS.  When you are embarking on such an epic fitness journey it’s important to have a support system.  Luckily, I had that in my partner.  But almost more importantly, you have it in every staff member and every Ninja at MFF. 

From the minute you walk in the front door, you are made to feel welcome and that you belong.  It’s not called a “gym” but a “clubhouse.”  This is a very important distinction: a gym tends to be a place of judgment, and there is no judgment in this clubhouse.  You are one of the “cool kids.”  And best yet, you are all there to get 1% better every day.  You run your own race, and everyone there becomes your extended support system.  Your fellow Ninjas are as much your support as is the entire MFF team.  There are people who are at all different levels of fitness, ranging from those who have never lifted weights in their life, to people who are very physically fit.  Because EVERYone can get 1% better.   And this positive attitude starts, like everything, at the top.  Mark has created an environment that is so welcoming, friendly, fun, and devoid of negativity and judgment.  You can’t help but feel good walking into the building, and you leave feeling great about yourself and what you have accomplished that day as you train (not exercise – that’s “boring,” Mark points out – but TRAIN).  And these feelings are infectious.  The environment that they create is fun, silly, and over-the-top, but they take your body (our bodies) and our physical health and well-being VERY seriously.  Their Functional Movement based training programs are healthy for every person and every body.  But equally (if not more) as important, they are committed to the success of every person who walks through that door, whatever their fitness journey may be. 

Since beginning my journey at MFF a year ago I have lost close to 50 pounds, 9” off of my waist, 8” off my hips, dropped 4 pants sizes, cut my body fat percentage by more than half, and gone from size large to size small shirts.   This was not because of another yo-yo diet or exercise program.  This is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE. 

And not only have I made huge changes to my body, but to my attitude ABOUT my body (to quote another Ninja, Jeanine Tesori).  One of the greatest lessons I learned at MFF was about perseverance and patience.  These are changes that do not happen overnight.  Yes, Snatched gets you GREAT results in a short period of time.  And yes you can do a cleanse and starve yourself and drop 10 pounds like that - but it won’t stay off.  I think my success is because of long-term commitment to my health and hotness.  Mark says you have to pay rent to your body every single day.

It has taken me a long time to let go of all the pre-conceived notions I had about diet, exercise, and weight loss and put my trust and faith into the expertise of Mark Fisher and his team.  You have to take the time, every day, and make conscious choices that are good for your body and mind. By committing to health and fitness, you make small changes that have huge everlasting effects on your mind, body, and thus, all aspects of life.  Changing by body has made all sorts of changes that I never knew possible.  I am happier now than ever before.  I am less stressed and feel more in control of myself.  I am significantly more productive and successful in all areas in my life. My journey is not over – it never will be.  Every day I will strive to get 1% better, and I will – because I now know I can.  I can never go back to before, because I am in control of myself.  None of this would have been possible without Mark Fisher Fitness.  I am forever indebted to all of them!

Testimonial: “I feel good”

And now, another tale of Ninja Glory!  Evelyn Somerville is one of the greatest Ninjas of all time.  Evelyn started with us when we opened up our beloved Clubhouse in the beginning of 2012.  In addition to doing classes and training, Evelyn took the plunge and dove deep into the October Snatched.  To say her transformation has been remarkable is an understatement.  Evelyn has been a team favorite since we’ve had the pleasure of her company, and we are not only in awe of her hard work, but we also feel lucky to have her kicking major fitness ass in our presence.  SHE IS A HERO!!

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“Ev, you look good.”  Me in response: “Thanks, I feel good.”

I’ve been hearing that I “look good” for about the past six months or so and I have to say it doesn’t ever get old.  My stock answer always seems to be “I feel good” because it’s true.  I really do feel good.  In fact, I don’t think I’ve even felt better in my life even when I was a high school jock playing soccer all year round.

Evelyn before being manhandled by the MFF team

I didn’t have confidence then, but I definitely do now and I realize that part of that has to do with age and maturity (I am in my thirties), but I also know that it is mostly because of how my body and mindset have changed over the past year.  And I only have Mark Fisher and the amazing team at Mark Fisher Fitness to thank!!

When I walked into MFF a little over a year ago for my Functional Movement Screening, I did so thinking in the back of my mind that this gym membership would end up like every other gym membership I’d ever signed up for – a waste of money down the drain, and short-lived.  I’m so happy that I was wrong!! My decision to keep going absolutely has to do with the fact that MFF is not a traditional gym with treadmills and stationary bikes that are as boring as watching paint dry.  MFF works for me because it is a clubhouse and has the supportive atmosphere of a clubhouse, like when we were kids…

My clubhouse didn’t have unicorns, asses hanging out, and so many references to porn stars, dildos, and cumgutters (my personal favorite), but I’m talking in the fun-loving, can-do-or-say-nothing-wrong sense.  At MFF, unlike traditional gyms where you are slogging away on your own on an elliptical machine, you know the name of the person split squatting and swinging next to you in class.  It motivates me to see someone next to me and all around me working their asses off.  It tells me if they can do it, I can do it.  And, even more so that if they can do it, maybe I can do it better?    

In addition, and let me preface this by saying that this may be a little sickeningly sweet, but I feel as though I’m part of this cool group that are in on something that people are only starting to learn about —  Mark’s phenomenal fitness philosophy!!  I really do hope that Mark spreads his word around the world because it works!  When people ask me how I’ve lost weight, I even get excited telling them about kettlebells, protein, and Ninja Essentials…

Speaking of philosophies: Snatched.  So, I signed up for the last round of Snatched last year because I wanted to see what it was all about and really because I wanted a challenge, and a challenge it was!  And, even though I had been working out at MFF for 10 months doing semi-private training and classes and had lost about 35 lbs, it was a challenge!  Adding that extra day or two a week of working out with the food/nutrition plan of high protein and counting every calorie you eat is not easy!  It took me about 2-3 weeks to get the hang of hitting my calorie and protein goals, so that was frustrating, but a fantastic learning experience.  I may not have lost much more weight doing Snatched (maybe 5 lbs), but my body definitely became more toned, and the biggest thing I got out of Snatched is an understanding of what I’m actually putting in my body.  Awareness.  Awareness, and that I actually do have will power.  I can have a bowl of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and not eat them.  But, if I do eat a bowl of them or just one, I have a really good sense of what I really just put in my body.  Not too shabby.

Evelyn’s October 2012 Snatched in Six Weeks before and after pics

This is not to mention that the other Snatchers I have met are all incredible people and help keep you going through the process because it’s not easy for anyone.  Just simply bouncing off an idea for a protein packed dinner that doesn’t involve eggs makes Snatched that much easier, more fun, and doable.

I wasn’t liking my thirties very much until my friend, Danielle (Super Ninja), introduced me to Mark and MFF.  Now I can honestly say that I’m happier than I have ever been, have more energy, enjoy dressing up, laugh easier, and have had the most productive/successful year at work ever.  All of these good things are solely due to having MFF in my life.  I hope to work with Mark and all of the other caring, funny, knowledgeable, and inspirational trainers and wonderful people at MFF for as long as I can swing, squat, and row those motherfucking kettlebells.

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There you have it, America.  If you’re looking to make some serious health and hotness victory in a loving and supportive environment, we think we have just the place for ya!   Click here for info on how to get started on the road to Ninja Glory, or find out more about our mega-popular educational intensive Snatched in Six Weeks!