Anup Shivakumar

• What were you hoping to achieve or change in your life when you first joined?

- I was hoping to challenge myself mentally and physically while also building better fitness habits into my daily routine. Obviously, I also had vanity goals of losing weight and building more muscle!

‍

• Before starting at Strength Camp SF, what were your top three fitness goals?

1. Get healthier, lose weight, look better 

2. Improve my technique and avoid injuries

3. Join the 1,000lb club (So close! At 985lbs)

‍

• Since joining, what achievements are you most proud of, and why do they matter to you?

- I’m proud of the consistency! I’ve been coming regularly to the gym for almost 1.5 years now

- Hitting over four plates on deadlift and three plates on squat (rebuilding after a prior squat injury)

- Going from ~600lbs across squat, bench, and deadlifts to 985lbs in my most recent PR cycle

‍

• What compliments or positive feedback have you received since joining Strength Camp SF?

- I’ve received lots of compliments from friends and family on my appearance, including my son, who “wants to be as strong as papa.”

- It’s nice hearing friends say “DAMN!” after seeing my PR lifts. Plus Jeremy saying my traps were looking swole haha!

‍

• What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your journey?

- The biggest challenge is keeping the gym habit going while having a full-time job and being a parent of two young children. And ensuring that I get enough sleep for recovery!

‍

• Who do you think would benefit most from joining Strength Camp SF, and why?

- I would honestly recommend Strength Camp to anybody who wants to get into fitness! It truly is an environment where folks of any skill level can thrive and get healthier!

‍

• Is there anything you would change or improve about Strength Camp SF to make the experience better for you?

- Introduce a class that focuses on bodybuilding (can't forget about all the vanity muscles haha)

- Bring back yoga/stretching

- More class times

‍

• What’s your favorite thing about Strength Camp SF, and what makes it stand out from other gyms?

- Definitely the community! It's such a fun environment where everyone is so supportive of one another.

- I also appreciate all the coaches who push you to grow and give you the confidence, even when you doubt yourself.

- The other thing that stood out is that there are so many people of all ages, experience, and fitness levels, and it really is a judgment-free zone.

‍

• What does “growing stronger” mean to you?

- To me, it means overcoming obstacles (whether mental, physical, or just life) and achieving the goals that you set out to accomplish.