Our Iron Society Client of the Month is: Brooke B.! Every month, we celebrate one of our Iron Society clients who has had an exceptional month! Beyond physical progress, we take into account multiple factors, such as: TRAINING CONSISTENCY NUTRITION CONSISTENCY COMMITMENT COACHABILITY SUPPORT OF OTHERS OVERALL POSITIVE ATTITUDE The winner each month is someone who is dedicated and embodies   what we stand for at Iron Society . Brooke is coached by Coach Shayla Brooke started working with Coach Shayla in our Lifestyle Coaching program in August 2020. "Brooke and I have been working together for a long time and we've tackled so many stages of her journey together! Over the past six months especially, she's has really stepped up and taken it to the next level. She is dominating every aspect and taking FULL ownership of her success. I'm so beyond proud of her grit, determination, and incredible work ethic - no matter what life throws at her. It's an honor to be part of this journey with you, Brooke!" - Coach Shayla Tell us a little bit about you! I love to read, my 4 pitbulls & of course-the gym! What is the most rewarding part of your health and fitness journey? Feeling like I'm the best version of myself & showing up for myself even on the days I don't want to. What positive changes have you experienced as you focus on your goals? I overall have a healthier lifestyle. It has encouraged my husband to start his own fitness journey. What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started on their own fitness journey? Even though it can be intimidating at first, just start! Everyone started out in the same position as you. Show up for yourself. Once you get started and start seeing how many ways it positively affects your life, you will look forward to putting in the daily work! What challenges have you faced that you have had to overcome, or are working to overcome? Navigating being a full time employee, a mom & a very loaded sports schedule for my son does not always make it easy for things to flow seamlessly day in and day out. You have to prioritize yourself and find the time to allow yourself to work on your health. You can't pour from an empty cup. The days that I struggle to find the time or plain just don't feel like it.. are usually when I have the best workouts! What's your favorite exercise to go in and crush during a workout? Hip thrusts😎 If you had to eat one meal, for the same meal, every day, what would it be? Pizza What goal or situation in your life prompted you to join Iron Society? I joined Iron Society in 2020 after covid hit. During that time, I completely let myself go. I weighed the heaviest I'd ever weighed in my life, had no energy, hated looking in the mirror & overall did not feel happy in my own skin. My main goal was to shed that weight and gain a positive relationship with myself and my body. Here I am nearly 5 years later, still loving it just as much as I did back then.

Our Iron Society Client of the Month is: Kasey T.! Every month, we celebrate one of our Iron Society clients who has had an exceptional month! Beyond physical progress, we take into account multiple factors, such as: TRAINING CONSISTENCY NUTRITION CONSISTENCY COMMITMENT COACHABILITY SUPPORT OF OTHERS OVERALL POSITIVE ATTITUDE The winner each month is someone who is dedicated and embodies   what we stand for at Iron Society . Kasey started working with Coach Emmie in our Project: Badass program in January 2024, and has been on her game every since! "Kasey is THAT GIRL. Since becoming her coach in January of this year, I have been blown away by her determination, commitment and growth. She never misses a check-in, pushes herself in her lifts and has come so far in the world of nutrition. Seeing her check off her boxes each week and make huge progress toward her goals each month makes me beyond proud to be her coach! Keep it up, Kasey!" - Coach Emmie Tell us a little bit about you! Lover of all things Kevin Smith, hospitality, and pitty related! What is the most rewarding part of your health and fitness journey? Feeling super strong, having better sleep, and more energy to do everything else I love. What positive changes have you experienced as you focus on your goals? Found a new hobby, running, as well as have been able to inspire friends to make some small changes too. What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started on their own fitness journey? Any movement is good, just start. AND carbs are good, drink more water, rest is just as important as workouts and nutrition! What challenges have you faced that you have had to overcome, or are working to overcome? Meal planning and tracking were rough at first but Coach Emmie really helped with simplifying the process. That’s when I really saw the changes. What's your favorite exercise to go in and crush during a workout? Any and all squat variations, yes even Bulgarian Split Squats! If you had to eat one meal, for the same meal, every day, what would it be? Pizza! What goal or situation in your life prompted you to join Iron Society? I needed to overhaul my routines and how I was taking care of myself. Iron Society felt like a one stop shop. And I was right 😊

Our Iron Society Client of the Month is: Chris F.! Every month, we celebrate one of our Iron Society clients who has had an exceptional month! Beyond physical progress, we take into account multiple factors, such as: TRAINING CONSISTENCY NUTRITION CONSISTENCY COMMITMENT COACHABILITY SUPPORT OF OTHERS OVERALL POSITIVE ATTITUDE The winner each month is someone who is dedicated and embodies   what we stand for at Iron Society . Chris started working with Coach Chris in our Competitor Coaching program to prep for his first bodybuilding competition in September of 2023, and has since moved into his building season and is crushing it! "He has exceeded expectations in every way imaginable by putting on quality muscle mass and following his program to the T! There hasn’t been a week that Chris has not been super consistent with his nutrition, training, and recovery. He is always quick to implement the changes we make and is on top of communicating when something isn’t going as planned. To see his mindset shift over these past months has been a true honor. I’m so dang proud of you brother!" - Coach Chris Tell us a little bit about you! I enjoy going to the gym , fishing and going to the beach. I work at a psychiatric center and I work with kids as a rec staff. What is the most rewarding part of your health and fitness journey? Feeling better and improving my confidence and I enjoy competing in bodybuilding shows. What positive changes have you experienced as you focus on your goals? Besides looking good I have seen that my progress in the gym has really improved my outlook and shows throughout other aspect of my life, challenges I may face in life. What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started on their own fitness journey? Have realistic expectations and accomplish one goal at a time. What challenges have you faced that you have had to overcome, or are working to overcome? Worrying about things that are beyond your control. What's your favorite exercise to go in and crush during a workout? Tricep push downs! If you had to eat one meal, for the same meal, every day, what would it be? Beef brisket barbecue What goal or situation in your life prompted you to join Iron Society? I wanted to get really dialed in my nutrition and training and I thought this was the time to do it!

Our Iron Society Client of the Month is: Dana B.! Every month, we celebrate one of our Iron Society clients who has had an exceptional month! Beyond physical progress, we take into account multiple factors, such as: TRAINING CONSISTENCY NUTRITION CONSISTENCY COMMITMENT COACHABILITY SUPPORT OF OTHERS OVERALL POSITIVE ATTITUDE The winner each month is someone who is dedicated and embodies   what we stand for at Iron Society . Dana started working with Coach Chris in our Competitor Coaching program in February 2024 and her hard work and dedication is always spot on! From crushing it in the gym, being a mother of three, and working 60+ hours a week, she is always relentless with her work ethic. We are currently working towards one of Dana’s major goals of getting back on the stage as a Wellness competitor and pushing for her IFBB Pro card. 🏆 Once that is done she will be moving on to jockeying an Ostrich 😂 (It’s an inside joke, but hilarious so I had to share. Plus, who wouldn’t want to ride a giant bird?! 🦤) It’s an honor to have her as a part of the Iron Society Family! Tell us a little bit about you! I currently live in a small rural town outside of Rochester NY. I work as an Emergency Cardiac RN, for 12 years. When I'm not working, I love being a mama to my three beautiful babies. I love to hike, kayak & homestead. What is the most rewarding part of your health and fitness journey? Learning to love & trust myself What positive changes have you experienced as you focus on your goals? My overall relationship with myself. I'm comfortable with all stages of my body. My confidence in who I am as strengthened. My self esteem has become better as a result. What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started on their own fitness journey? It's not a race. It's so cliche. And honestly, I hated hearing it myself. I wanted to be just as lean, just as muscular, just as successful as everyone else. But the thing that separated myself & them was time. It takes time to build quality & a relationship with your own body. What challenges have you faced that you have had to overcome, or are working to overcome? I'd be lying if I said sometimes I want to throw in the towel. I still get discouraged. I struggle with balancing all of my hats I have to wear. I continue to learn to embrace each step of my journey. And just keep going. Because regardless, being fit is a lifestyle for me. What's your favorite exercise to go in and crush during a workout? Oh, I'm thrusting HARD 😂😂 If you had to eat one meal, for the same meal, every day, what would it be? Pizza. Everyday, every meal. What goal or situation in your life prompted you to join Iron Society? I came from a toxic coaching situation. And I didn't realize it until I witnessed Chris coaching a woman backstage at an OCB competition. He was so kind, attentive, honest. You could hear him cheering her on in the crowd. It made me realize that I wasn't getting the full competitor/coach experience. I knew that I so badly wanted to be a part of a family, where I fit in & had true, unwavering support.

Our Iron Society Client of the Month is: Haley R! Every month, we celebrate one of our Iron Society clients who has had an exceptional month! Beyond physical progress, we take into account multiple factors, such as: TRAINING CONSISTENCY NUTRITION CONSISTENCY COMMITMENT COACHABILITY SUPPORT OF OTHERS OVERALL POSITIVE ATTITUDE The winner each month is someone who is dedicated and embodies what we stand for at Iron Society. Haley started working with Coach Shayla in our Project Badass program in November 2021. Since then we have gone through structured metabolic, building, and cutting phases to achieve her physique goals, explode her strength, and get her maintenance calories way up! Haley is an absolute force to be reckoned with and there is not a single week that goes by where she isn’t dedicated to her goals and passionate about becoming the best she can be. Every aspect, every “small” task, every checkbox - Haley is on it. Every new challenge - she’s ready and excited to take it on. (If you follow us on Instagram and watch our stories, you’ve seen her crazy progress over the past couple of years.) But behind the scenes, I’ve seen the pure work ethic and drive and positive attitude. Zero complaints and zero excuses. Just hard work and pushing her limits. Tell us a little bit about you! I am 39 year old Canadian who works as a teacher during the day and a video gamer at night. When I’m not educating or hitting the gym, I’m taking care of my two senior dogs who are always keeping my busy. What is the most rewarding part of your health and fitness journey? Knowing that I had so much potential to push myself and trusting the process to achieve the results I have today. What positive changes have you experienced as you focus on your goals? The biggest thing was focusing on myself. It was a roller coaster ride for years of trying to figure out what I wanted in life but finding the right focus and support has changed my life so much and I am happier. What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started on their own fitness journey? Give it time. Changes don’t happen overnight, so stick to it and push yourself every day. What challenges have you faced that you have had to overcome, or are working to overcome? My biggest challenge is how I see myself. I have low confidence in myself and overcoming the mental downs is my biggest nemesis. What's your favorite exercise to go in and crush during a workout? Barbell Flat Bench If you had to eat one meal, for the same meal, every day, what would it be? Pizza and French fries! What goal or situation in your life prompted you to join Iron Society? My goal was to get lean and build muscle. It was by luck that I found Shayla through an online contest and since then we’ve been a hell of a team :)

Our Iron Society Client of the Month is: Kurt P.! Every month, we celebrate one of our Iron Society clients who has had an exceptional month! Beyond physical progress, we take into account multiple factors, such as: TRAINING CONSISTENCY NUTRITION CONSISTENCY COMMITMENT COACHABILITY SUPPORT OF OTHERS OVERALL POSITIVE ATTITUDE The winner each month is someone who is dedicated and embodies what we stand for at Iron Society. Kurt has been working with Coach Chris in our Lifestyle Coaching program for over a year now. Kurt’s dedication has led him to change not only his body but his mindset around his health and fitness! Despite Kurt having a very busy schedule with work, his attention to detail, full transparent communication, and perseverance is top-notch when it comes to getting things done and pushing himself to achieve his goals. Each week he shows up and throws everything he has at his workouts, nutrition, and all of the small acts in between. Tell us a little bit about you! Software Engineer. Hobbies include weightlifting, glass art. Interests: dogs!, nature, art, history, travel, calligraphy, photography, finance, science & tech, cars, metal machining, food What is the most rewarding part of your health and fitness journey? Being in the best shape of my life What positive changes have you experienced as you focus on your goals? Getting stronger, losing weight, eating healthier, being healthier, increased discipline, increased confidence What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started on their own fitness journey? Seek professional help! No, not that kind. ;-) Find a very skilled and knowledgeable trainer to guide you on your journey. I have tried many times to get in shape, but after not seeing results and not being being sure whether I was doing the things correctly I would become frustrated and quit. Being able to rely on an expert that knows what to do allows you to eliminate the doubt, confusion, and decisions and just focus on doing the work with the assurance that your coach has got your back and will keep you on track. You don't have to do this alone. What challenges have you faced that you have had to overcome, or are working to overcome? Schedule. I try to get to the gym before work as it is the only time I can go and not have to worry about work interfering, which means learning to get up at 5 am. I am very much a night owl, so getting up early and going to bed early is tough for me to do consistently, but I enjoy being in the gym and how I feel after I have gone, so it's worth it. What's your favorite exercise to go in and crush during a workout? I have a few favorite exercises, but honestly my favorite part is when I can block out my surroundings, clear my mind, focus on my technique, and establish a mind-muscle connection. It's a form of meditation that I really enjoy and look forward to. If you had to eat one meal, for the same meal, every day, what would it be? Steak What goal or situation in your life prompted you to join Iron Society? After the death of my father I decided I needed to make some big changes in my life. It became important to me to get in shape and get healthy so I can be active and independent for as long possible. I didn't expect weightlifting would become a favorite hobby and daily activity that would bring the biggest changes of my entire life, but it did.

Our Iron Society Client of the Month is: Kara H.! Every month, we celebrate one of our Iron Society clients who has had an exceptional month! Beyond physical progress, we take into account multiple factors, such as: TRAINING CONSISTENCY NUTRITION CONSISTENCY COMMITMENT COACHABILITY SUPPORT OF OTHERS OVERALL POSITIVE ATTITUDE The winner each month is someone who is dedicated and embodies what we stand for at Iron Society. Kara works with Coach Chris in our Competition Coaching program. Through her dedication and consistency, Kara has been on top of it all. From nailing the food to pushing the workouts, every week this month she has progressed significantly! We all experience days where we don’t feel like getting the work done. Those are the days where we can either fold and allow ourselves to backslide or we can step up to the challenge and dominate the day. Kara has dominated every single day this past month. Amazing job Kara! Let’s keep that ball rolling! Tell us a little bit about you! I am a nurse that work has worked at Schuyler Hosp for 32 years. I enjoy being outdoors.. walking, hiking and riding bikes. CARDIO ROCKS! Other than the gym, my favorite place to be is near water.. beach, lakes, waterfalls. What is the most rewarding part of your health and fitness journey? The most rewarding part of my journey is meeting some really amazing people. They have become my close friends and family. They all hold a very special place in my heart. What positive changes have you experienced as you focus on your goals? My positive change is within me. More confidence, self esteem and respect for myself and others. What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started on their own fitness journey? My one piece of advice to others would be to be kind to yourself. We are all human and make mistakes. Learn from them and let them make you a better person. What challenges have you faced that you have had to overcome, or are working to overcome? My challenges were/are being an unhealthy person(very overweight/ high blood pressure and cholesterol) and fighting to correct those issues. And fight everyday to keep going in the right direction to maintain a healthy life style. What's your favorite exercise to go in and crush during a workout? I can't say I have a favorite exercise per say, but I love to do the things that use to be difficult for me, that I now do with more strength and confidence. (Squatting, glute bridges) If you had to eat one meal, for the same meal, every day, what would it be? Oatmeal with protein powder almonds and fruit.. lol What goal or situation in your life prompted you to join Iron Society? Learning of their philosophies and science behind their training plans was very interesting and enticing.

Our Iron Society Client of the Month is: Dawnmarie V.! Every month, we celebrate one of our Iron Society clients who has had an exceptional month! Beyond physical progress, we take into account multiple factors, such as: TRAINING CONSISTENCY NUTRITION CONSISTENCY COMMITMENT COACHABILITY SUPPORT OF OTHERS OVERALL POSITIVE ATTITUDE The winner each month is someone who is dedicated and embodies what we stand for at Iron Society. Dawnmarie started working with Coach Emmie in our Lifestyle Coaching program in December 2023, hit the ground running, and has been crushing it ever since! Tell us a little bit about you! I was born in Elmira, NY, my dad being in the army we moved a lot. I am married of 30 years with two boys. I work in HR as an Engagement Coordinator, as well as a Tribe Trainer as a local gym. In my spare time I spend a lot of time with my bestie Laura playing tennis, racquetball, and golf. I enjoy going to the gym and truly appreciate the encouragement and support I see and feel with Iron Society...... THANK YOU! What is the most rewarding part of your health and fitness journey? The most rewarding part of my health and fitness journey is learning to have a healthy relationship with food. And getting to enjoy this journey with my husband and biggest supporter! What is one tip or piece of advice you would give to someone just getting started on their own fitness journey? Remember... your only competition is the one in the mirror. It took years to get to where you are, it can't change in one day! Always remember... "They said can't... I said can! They said won't... I said will! They said don't... I said DID!" What challenges have you faced that you have had to overcome, or are working to overcome? My biggest challenge I face is having an educated understanding of nutrition. I am slowly learning how to make good choices. But even if I make a bad choice... I don't beat myself up over it. I become more aware of what I have to do to counter the choice. What's your favorite exercise to go in and crush during a workout? Surprise.... Surprise...the Pendulum Squats..... I love the squat press and proving to my husband I can meet or beat his weight! If you had to eat one meal, for the same meal, every day, what would it be? Food! I love making a cabbage stir fry with bacon, onion, garlic and celery. And any type of salad. What goal or situation in your life prompted you to join Iron Society? Accountability... As a trainer it is important to keep my warriors accountable. But equally as easy to say to myself... I can do that later. Iron Society and my badass trainers Emmie and Shayla keep me accountable. Honest with myself.

We know vacations and travel can feel a bit stressful when you think about your fitness goals. You may be worried about not being able to stick to your routine. But remember that your fitness routine should work with you and your life - including travel! Heading out of town can be stressful enough. (Hello airports we’re looking at you. ✈) Don’t pile on extra stress over fitness. (Now, obviously the type of travel + your current goals will dictate your approach. A once-a-year vacation should be much more loose vs. traveling for work every other week. And if you’re in the middle of a strict fat loss phase or bodybuilding prep, you will need to be more structured.) Here are a few easy-to-implement tips to keep in mind, to help you enjoy your time AND feel good when the trip is over! 🍴 1) THE 2/3 RULE This is a great guideline whether you are on vacation or on a business trip. When possible, plan to grab a few groceries after you arrive so that you can make some meals ‘at home’. Aim to make balanced meals for 2 out of 3 main meals each day. (Getting protein and nutrient-dense foods in daily will help a lot with feeling satiated and not overeating too much.) Then allow yourself to fully enjoy that brunch extravaganza or hit up that amazing local restaurant for dinner! ⭐ Bonus: This tip will also save a lot of money vs. eating out for every meal. 💧 2) STAY HYDRATED Keep your water intake up! You may even want to increase a bit beyond your usual goal (typically half your bodyweight in ounces is a standard goal to aim for), especially if you will be out in the sun or drinking alcohol, as both are dehydrating. Staying hydrated will help with digestion, and can reduce that “puffiness” you may experience if you are eating at restaurants, where meals are typically higher in sodium. ⭐ Bonus tip: If you will be drinking alcohol, aim to drink a glass of water in between each drink. 🍹 🚶🏽‍♂️ 3) STAY ACTIVE This doesn’t mean you need to hit the gym every day (but if checking out a new gym is part of the fun, we’ve got you covered with custom travel workouts for our Coaching clients or quick on-demand ‘On The Go’ plans for our clients enrolled in Project Savage and Project Badass!). Keeping movement in your day can be as simple as walking instead of grabbing an Uber, or getting in a relaxing yoga session on your hotel balcony. ⭐ Bonus tip: Travel is the perfect time to slow down a bit and take care of yourself. Stretching and mobility work is really easy to skip over in our busy lives, but it's so important for overall health and longevity. Allow yourself this time to incorporate some physical movement you might otherwise not get in, and it just might jumpstart you making it a steady part of your week. 🌈 4) EAT THE RAINBOW Whether you are eating meals you’ve made yourself, or out at a restaurant, aim to choose meals that are full of color! This will almost guarantee that you will be getting in a nice mix of vegetables and fruit, helping you get in important micronutrients and fiber. Not only will this help with feeling great overall, but these foods aid in digestion - which is ultra important if you will be eating foods you don't usually eat. 🤙🏽 5) DON’T STRESS And most importantly, allow yourself to relax! Rest and recovery are not only important for our bodies, but also for our minds. Developing good habits around fitness and living a healthy life is meant to enrich your life - not strip away all fun. And a handful of days will not undo year-round dedication. (Don’t be that person forcing your family not to get ice cream because you ‘don’t want to be tempted by bad food’. 🍦 You should enjoy with them if you desire.) There is a time and place for structure and routine, and a time and place to slow down the pace a bit. Does getting healthy feel like a stressful, all-or-nothing mountain to climb? Want to learn how to develop a happy, balanced lifestyle - that allows you to reach your fitness goals in a way that works with your life? That's our specialty! 👋🏽 We would love to chat more about what your needs are, and where you want to go. Send us a message and we'll get in touch to schedule a chat! (100% no pressure chat, we're here to answer your questions and help you break through some roadblocks.) You can also click here to check out our Lifestyle Coaching program.