Testimonials

CATHERINE

Envision spending time "enhancing your life through strength" with others who model discipline, energy, power, and optimism; the components of strong character. I have been enhancing my life and health, running with appreciate joy, and discovering strength for almost a decade with Luke Carlson and with the DiscoverStrength staff since the day they opened. The staff is well trained, consistent in their approach, and are attentive and focused on your individual goals. They skillfully navigate you through the workouts based on "your" training style and orchestrate a group workout with ease. Workouts are always a worthy aim, always rewarding and contribute to my sense of equanimity. Working out at DiscoverStrength is a key part of my goal to develop richness and vitality in my life.

AMY

At 30 years of age, I was probably in the worst shape of my life. I had a gym membership I didn't use, didn't watch what I ate, and was overweight. I met Luke Carlson through BNI, a professional networking organization, and often heard him speak of the benefits of strength training and its effect on long term weight loss. I changed my eating habits and visited with one of the trainers at Discover Strength on a weekly basis and began noticing changes in my body and my mind.

At Discover Strength I have never felt uncomfortable or as if I didn’t belong. The trainers are top notch, educated professionals. They have been very supportive and educated me along the way. The best part of Discover Strength is that I only have to allot 30-45 minutes per week. I schedule my workouts in advance and somehow this holds me accountable to myself by being accountable to them.

Now, at 31 years old I am in the BEST shape of my life. I am below my goal weight and lead a very active lifestyle. I recently completed my first 5k, which is something I never would have even dreamed of doing before. At the end of the week I know I have done one really good thing for me, but even more than that, I am a better wife, manager, and professional because of the time I spend at Discover Strength!

JULIE

I started working out at Discover Strength in the summer of 2008, while I was training for the Twin Cities Marathon. I had done some weight lifting in the past, but only on the few machines I felt comfortable using at the gym - and never with really heavy weights. After my first DS workout, I felt incredible, and I was amazed at how much easier it was to motivate myself to go in for a session with a trainer at Discover Strength than to show up at the gym alone and push myself through a lifting routine. I started going to Discover Strength once a week, and after about a month I started to notice that I was doing a lot better in my marathon training speed and hill workouts.

As I saw improvements in my running, I also noticed that I was burning off the body fat that had been nagging me since I put it on after college. I was never a lazy person - I've always been a runner and love biking and doing spin and aerobics classes. But I was never able to burn fat and drop weight until I started lifting weights - and working out at Discover Strength was the key to ramping up my lifting to a point where I could actually see results.

At the 2008 Twin Cities Marathon, I took 45 minutes off my previous marathon time, and qualified for the Boston Marathon. I continued lifting at Discover Strength through Boston training and achieved a 5-minute PR (personal record) there as well. I am 100% sure that lifting has made all the difference in my running. It allowed me to slim down, and gain incredible strength in my legs to keep me going through the long runs and tough hill and speed work. I would not hesitate to advise anyone interested in improving their running, or just the way they look and feel, to try a workout at Discover Strength. For me, the results have been remarkable.

CASEY

When I first started working out with Discover Strength in November 2008, my workouts consisted of running 5 miles a day and no weight lifting. Pushups were the extent of my arm workout. Pretty typical for a girl I think. The running was more for stress relief and to improve my mood, "that runner's high" everyone talks about and anyone who runs, knows about. Well, it was making me very skinny and the max I could run was about 6 miles. Any longer distance than that, my body would be in extreme pain the next day. That’s when Greg told me to come in and start strength training with him. He told me it would help my endurance and bone density to help me run farther as well as help my body work more efficiently over all.

After a month in, going just once a week, I already started seeing results. My arms and abs had a lot more definition. Unfortunately, though, it was winter time and I am a baby when it comes to running outside in cold weather. I also get bored very quickly on a treadmill. So my running regimen was dropped down to about 3 miles - 5 times a week. I kept up the once-a-week strength training despite my lack of running. When springtime hit so did the itch to get running outside. I was a little nervous. I feared my workouts or lack thereof would leave me out of shape. My first time out, though, I ran 9 miles with ease. It felt the same as going for a quick little 2 mile run! The real shocker, though, came the next morning. I wasn't sore at all! All the things Greg told me came true. Not that I didn't believe him, but normally when a trainer (who typically works out HARD daily) tells you what happened to him and how he feels, you tend to doubt that will happen to you, a normal person, but it did! The best part about the whole thing though is that it only took half an hour per week to get the results I did.

I don't work any harder than anyone else at my body, nor am I blessed with a naturally muscular one, Discover Strength just plain knows how to work the body to put it in the best shape of your life! Thank you Discover Strength!

ANN

It is important to me as I grow older to be as strong as I can be. The workouts I receive at Discover Strength have allowed me to continue to look forward to independent living in my own home--doing yard work and gardening in particular, which are favorite pastimes for me, to say nothing of carrying heavy grocery bags up a flight of stairs! Becoming frail with age does not have to be the future for anyone.

MARGUERITE

Discover Strength's goal is to "provide individuals with the highest quality strength training experience available" by giving each individual a consistent routine and making each workout convenient, efficient and affordable.

At 45, I look and feel stronger, healthier and more confident than I've ever been. I give complete credit to the trainers at Discover Strength.

I've been physically active on and off most of my adult life. I've tried different cardio classes and machines, Pilates, yoga and running. Admittedly, I had avoided any form of strength training until I hit my 40's.

Three years ago a friend and I started working out with a personal trainer at a local health club. We soon had two more friends join us. The one hour training sessions were fun and entertaining. We shared lots of laughs and spent the hour socializing, gossiping and working out in between. We were appropriately nick named the desperate housewives.

A half year later I went for a free trial workout with a friend that strength trained at Discover Strength. It was completely different. It wasn't fun or entertaining. The trainers were very professional and highly educated. The workout was hard core and results driven. I was intrigued. I trained at both the health club and Discover Strength for another half year.

Then finances and time commitments got tight. I realized that it didn't make sense to workout at two different locations. I decided I didn't want to waste my time and money on a fun workout. I wanted true results.

It wasn't until after I switched to Discover Strength full time that I realized that the training I was doing at the health club was actually delaying my progress.

Since joining Discover Strength full time I have cut my work out time in half and gone from a pants size 6 to 0 without any significant changes to my diet. I'm now able to bare my upper arms, back and legs with complete confidence. I used to be ashamed of my upper arms. Now it's fun to hear people comment that they want Marguerite arms.

The workouts are still torture. But it is so worth it. I'm looking forward to turning 46, 47, 48... with Discover Strength.

I truly feel like I've found the fountain of youth!

BETH

I feel very fortunate for having found Discover Strength. I was in search of a workout regimen that I would stay committed to, in order to look my very best for an upcoming professional dance audition. Discover Strength did a FABULOUS job. Not only did they create challenging workouts, but their encouragement, praise and humor created an atmosphere that motivated me to push myself to the maximum extent possible. Even after the audition, Discover Strength has become part of my weekly routine-and I can't imagine life without it!

CASSY

The Discover Strength Team is extraordinary! They are passionate about giving each client an individualized strength training experience that meets individual goals and physical capabilities. They also deeply believe they are delivering a unique and highly effective strength training workout in just 30-45 minutes per week. Each of the trainers is truly unique and a pleasure to work with. The trainers push you to your limits to give you the results you desire, which in my case is a stronger, more toned, and healthier me! They have taught me that these 30-45 minutes I take each week to work out is truly a "non-negotiable, life-long" activity. This is my "me time" and an opportunity to make "me" healthier and stronger.

DAVE

After too many years at sedentary jobs carrying too much weight, I landed in an ER with a lumbar disk hernia in September 2007. Shaking his head over my MRI, the attending neurosurgeon said I'd most likely require surgery and my windsurfing days were probably over. Some hospital time provided a thinking opportunity. I developed a plan to get after crossing an entry off my bucket list - to get in the best shape of my life. I also decided right then to make sound nutritional choices and began "counting every calorie and making every calorie count".

Right after discharge from the hospital, I began researching lower back rehabilitation. The science I discovered suggested that aggressive strength training was my best chance to ward off surgery, help reduce weight and resume windsurfing. I found that local physical therapy clinics utilized MedX rehabilitation equipment. So did Discover Strength (DS) - the only private such facility in MN.

After arranging an initial session with DS in early October, 2007 I began regular training. Results came quickly and dramatically: increased strength, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscle tone and definition, energy and balance; decreased stiffness, fat, joint cracking and back pain. While pleased with early results, I remained reserved about how far I could progress. One week before Thanksgiving in 2007, I resumed windsurfing. A month later, I took a winter vacation, windsurfing four hours a day for six straight days.

DS delivers results through staff, tools and techniques. DS trainers are dedicated, strength training professionals, using the highest-quality, most scientifically-advanced equipment and methods. Strength training misperceptions abound - what's most effective, for example. Results don't require long hours of effort. DS recommends strength training a given muscle group no more than twice a week - a practice I follow. I enter DS, 45 minutes later the session concludes and I leave - all in less than 1% of the total hours in a week. Another misunderstanding surrounds the need for a personal trainer. Professional trainers don' train alone - DS trainers train each other. Certain techniques are only possible with a trainer. Hire a professional using professional tools and approaches to get professional results.

DS sessions are value-priced, costing a fraction of what a personal trainer in a health club charges while delivering a superior strength-training experience. Some have termed high intensity strength training "more aerobic than aerobics".

At this writing, 15 months after my initial session, I continue to train at DS. I've exceeded my goals for weight, strength, avoiding surgery and pursuing quality-of-life activities. High intensity, evidenced-based strength training has become an indispensable part of my life. My progress has not yet leveled off and I still realize steady gains. I'll be 62 shortly and plan to train at DS for life.

LEN

Fourteen months and counting! That's how long I have been going to Discover Strength. At 62, I can't remember when I felt this good. My new strength has improved my golf game, my endurance, and my physical appearance. I think the most powerful element of this program is trust. You know you can trust the entire team to design and administer a program that will help you achieve your goals quickly, without doing harm to your body. I'm very grateful that my wife dragged me here, kicking and screaming. Thanks Discover Strength!