Sam Young

January 2025

Sam Young, a business owner, mum, and focussed entrant in Recömp 2, has lost 4.8 kilos in three weeks through solo sessions and a personalised online training programme focussing on fat loss, back strength and stability, and pushing power.

Having joined Björnstrxng in December, Sam had her sight set on a very specific goal for 2025; sustainably lose weight whilst getting stronger. Milestones status was never on her to-do list; however, dedication and consistency has got her there.

Through the coupling of adhering to weekly macronutrient goals set by Coach Joe and completing session-by-session weigh-ins, Sam has lost a sustainable 4.8 kilos, surpassing her Recömp 2 goal by two kilos with a week of the contest still to go.

As well as hitting her weight loss goal ahead of schedule, Sam has also smashed both of her performance goals in the Björnstrxng Gym, improving her Bench Press by 23.1%, and lifting 100 kilos on the Trap Bar Deadlift for five repetitions.

Sam's January Milestones win serves as an inspiration to busy mums who juggle running a business while balancing family life, showing that prioritising health, even with a packed schedule, is both achievable and essential for long-term well-being.

David Jordan

December 2024

Through his unwavering determination during Recömp 1, David Jordan's fifteen kilo weight loss in twelve weeks showcases the power of commitment and the potential for life-changing results when discipline meets a positive outlook.

David joined Björnstrxng in early May as a referral from our eventual 2024 Member of the Year winner Rob Conway. Despite the success of his friend, David struggled to replicate the form in the first few months of training with us.

However, the turning point came when he signed up for Recömp 1; our internal body composition contest. Starting at 92.8 kilos, David set himself a goal weight of 85.0 kilos, but Coach Joe insisted on a realistic 87.0 kilos. This lit a fire in David.

Thanks to session-by-session weigh-ins, a bespoke gym programme, and a strict food regimen, David went from 92.8 kilos to 77.8 kilos in just twelve weeks, and even continued the graft throughout Christmas, now billing in at 76.2 kilos.

David's December Milestones win acts as a powerful reminder that transformation is possible for anyone, highlighting the importance of competition with yourself, pushing past limits, and embracing the mindset needed to spark lasting change.

Pete Campbell

November 2024

Björnstrxng's November Milestones victor, Pete Campbell, has joined an elite group of winning individuals through losing over seven kilos of bodyfat in our twelve week Recömp contest, as well as setting numerous personal bests.

Having struggled to maintain a consistent routine for years, Pete initially joined Björnstrxng in April 2024 with the goal of losing weight, building muscle and cardio, improving back strength, and getting generally more motivated with the gym.

Seven months later, and Pete's leap of faith has greatly paid off. Through our bespoke Virtual Training app, Pete has stayed accountable and educated around nutrition, which has acted as the catalyst for his over seven kilo weight loss.

As well as Pete's cardiovascular and body composition refinements, his compound strength progression has exceeded any expectations set during the initial assessment phase, improving his Deadlift by 40% and Bench Press by 33.3%.

Pete's achievements with Björnstrxng aided an awesome half-marathon time of 02:07:00 in the Great North Run, and 2025 looks to be an exciting year for our most recent Milestones winner as he eyes up new exciting personal challenges.

Faye Summers

October 2024

Through steady guidance and tailored programming, Faye Summers has gained trust in her body's strength and lifting prowess, setting personal records on compound lifts that she never thought possible before joining Björnstrxng.

She initially joined us with a strong background and high confidence in cardio training; however strength training was unfamiliar territory for Faye, who has broken through mental and physical barriers to earn our most coveted prize.

Despite dropping a couple of kilos, the 40-year-old has improved all three of her main compound lifts through progressive overload. In a matter of months, she has enhanced her Bench Press by 7.7%, Deadlift by 21.4%, and Squat by 25%.

Faye's healthy lifestyle outside of training has also meant that the aforementioned focus on strength training has not diminished her performance levels during cardiovascular activity, as proven by her seventeen Feats wins in 2024 so far.

Today, Faye approaches the weight room with the same determination that she once reserved for cardio, showing that with the right mindset and support, anyone can expand their skills and reach new fitness goals. Congratulations, Faye!

James Ball

September 2024

Björnstrxng prides itself on the physical and mental turnarounds of our Members, and James Ball's countlessly referenced milestones and consistent progression have set him apart in this regard as a standout in the community.

James started his Björnstrxng journey in March 2024, seeking direction on his health and fitness path to help aid his physical progression and headspace, and his relentless willingness to improve was made evident since session one.

Having initially struggled with his muscular endurance, particularly when performing second sets, we honed in on high-repetition training, isometric work, progressive overload, cardio with resistance, and shorter rest periods.

Since implementing the aforementioned strategies for endurance, James's compound strength has also greatly improved, notably enhancing his Bench Press by 30.8%, Barbell Squat by 25%, and Trap Bar Deadlift by 50%.

Through his two Solo Personal Training sessions per week, James has achieved a tremendous amount in seven months of training. His journey has only just begun, and we can't wait to see all that he achieves in 2025. Congratulations, James!

Elise Wild

August 2024

Having had little benefit from working with trainers at her local gym, Elise Wild signed up to Björnstrxng in February 2024. Twenty-six kilos of weight loss later, Elise has totally transformed both her body and mindset.

When 53-year-old Elise first walked through the barndoors of the Björnstrxng Gym last February, she was overweight, had little focus on her fitness journey, a lack of accountability around nutrition, and was seeking a turnaround.

From session one, Elise demonstrated her natural physical strength through requesting that the weight be increased on the first exercise. However; it has been Elise's mental resilience that has truly acted as the catalyst for success.

In just seven short months with us, Elise has lost a monumental twenty-six kilos through Personal Training sessions, sticking to her nutrition goals, and smashing her various training phases set through her Virtual Training app.

Elise is the perfect advertisement for why accountability, consistency, and dedication is so important on one's journey, and how vital trusting the process is. Her trust has paid off. Congratulations for all your success so far, Elise!

Hannah White

July 2024

Since starting her Björnstrxng journey in June 2023, Hannah White's physical capabilities have never been in question; it's the breaking of her mental boundaries that has proved to be essential in achieving true progress.

Suffering from a lack of self-belief, Hannah took a leap of faith fourteen months ago by starting her health and fitness journey with Björnstrxng. It's been a road full of twists and turns; however, the constant has been her perseverance.

Despite demonstrating her immense strength through lifts like a 130 kilo Deadlift and an 80 kilo Squat, it was always the mental barriers to certain ways of exercise that threatened her path to success and happiness on her journey.

July was the month where Hannah finally put her foot down. Her accountability around nutrition has lead to weight loss which has positively impacted her session performance, even winning two of the recent Feats.

Hannah's purple patch has been frequently cited in Wins posts, and long may it continue. Without knowing it, she acts as a source of inspiration for all of our Björnstrxng Members. Congratulations to our most recent Milestone winner.

Jez Grove

June 2024

A year ago today, Jez Grove started his Björnstrxng journey. 365 days and numerous training partners later, the veteran is still at it. Five kilos lighter, far fitter, and stronger than he has ever been, his diligence continues to pay off.

To his own admission, the 56-year-old is stronger now than he was back in his days as an active Military man. The Björnstrxng data backs this claim, as he has improved his overall compound lifting strength by 14.5% in 2024 alone.

In addition to his strength gain, Jez has also lost five kilos of bodyfat. He continues to live life to the fullest at weekends, and is the poster boy for sustainable living, a testament to his hard work during Duo sessions.

Jez trains with two-time Milestones winner, Dan Downes, and despite a history of lower back issues, the two men have pushed on with their rehabilitation and are feeling stronger and more mobile than ever.

He joins an elite class of Björnstrxng royalty by winning our most coveted title, and throughout his time with us he could have won it on any given month. Consistency has earned Jez Grove overdue Milestones status for June.

Dave Mellor

May 2024

Through a three-and-a-half kilo drop in body fat, a clear visual body recomposition, and improved lifting form and strength, Dave Mellor concludes his first eight sessions with Björnstrxng by achieving Milestones status for May.

Dave started with Björnstrxng in April. Despite being a keen runner and cyclist, he struggled to lose stubborn fat, had subpar lifting form, and found it difficult to make changes that would allow him to thrive with his well-being.

With the help of the Virtual Training app's nutrition tracking and check-in features, Dave has been kept fully accountable on his fitness journey, which has acted as one of the catalysts for his nearly four kilo weight loss and vastly improved strength.

In eight sessions, Dave has improved his compound pull strength by 11.1%, and his compound push strength by 6.3%. He has frequently placed in the top five of the weekly Feats competitions, managing a win on the Compound King contest.

 He has only scratched the surface of his fitness journey with Björnstrxng, but if the past month is anything to go by, then a major success story is expected. Many congratulations on your May 2024 Milestones title, Dave.

Vinita Parmar

April 2024

Vinita Parmar has cemented her legendary status at Björnstrxng through work rate, infectious positivity, and high standards, leading to sustainable weight loss and milestone lifts in her post-pregnancy training programme.

Vinita started with Björnstrxng in the Spring of 2023. Having not trained properly for a while due to understandably putting her family life first, she suffered from a weak core and struggled with basic compound lifting form.

However, Vinita did not let this deter her efforts or spirit during Solo sessions. Through a post-pregnancy training programme that prioritises postural correction, core stability and back care, Vinita soon fulfilled her gym potential.

Vinita's accolades for 2024 include a 125 kilo Trap Bar Deadlift for five reps, a Smith Squat improvement of 50%, a 100 kilo Vertical Leg Press five rep max, and a Bench Press improvement of 7.7%, despite shoulder immobility.
 

This Member of the Month win concludes the latest chapter in an inspiring fitness journey so far. There is plenty of potential yet to be tapped into, which makes 2024 an exciting time for her and Björnstrxng. Congratulations, Vinita.

Deb Holmes

March 2024

Deb Holmes has warranted Milestones status for March through her breakthrough in muscular strength and endurance, refined form, and ever improving cardiovascular capabilities during Personal Training sessions.

Deb suffers from C3, C4, L1 and L2 and wear and tear, causing neck pain and immobility. However, tailored programming and an emphasis on lifting form has allowed her to press on with her Björnstrxng journey with confidence.

Through the Virtual Trainer, Deb has stayed accountable in meeting her daily nutrition targets, concluding in two inches lost around the waist and a weight loss of four kilos, as well as shaving over eight minutes off her 5km parkrun time.

Deb's lifts have also progressed alongside her body recomposition. Notably, her Trap Bar Deadlift five rep max has increased by fifteen kilos, her Bench Press has improved by 11.1%, and she can now Leg Press 80 kilos for five reps.

Deb often shocks herself by completing a lift that she would have deemed impossible to accomplish at the start of her fitness journey, which acts as a testament to her fantastic progression so far in 2024. Congratulations, Deb.

Jack Meakin

 February 2024

Through his tailored rehabilitation training programme, Björnstrxng's Milestones winner for February, Jack Meakin, is a prime example of why perseverance is pivotal in making strides in one's health and fitness journey.

Despite suffering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus in football, Jack Meakin has controlled the controllable, turning a bad situation into an exciting new chapter for recovery and better health.

In light of an eighteen month waiting list for surgery, we have worked closely on building Jack's leg strength back up through plyometric and callisthenic training, manipulating the muscles around the injured area to aid recovery.

In addition to placing an emphasis on extra curricular training, Jack has also stayed accountable around nutrition, frequently hitting calorie and protein goals on a daily basis, as shown through the Björnstrxng Virtual Trainer.

It would have been all too easy for Jack to call it quits on his fitness journey in 2024. Road blocks have been placed, but he has smashed through them as a result of his winning attitude, high expectations, and aspirations for this year.

Rob Conway

 January 2024

Thanks to Rob Conway's unparalleled efforts in Personal Training sessions and dedication towards hitting nutrition goals, our first Björnstrxng Milestones winner of 2024 has achieved a complete body transformation.

In less than four weeks, Rob's inspiring willingness to push his body and capabilities to the absolute limit in Personal Training sessions has acted as the catalyst for a body recomposition that would typically take double this time.

As well as losing three kilos of body fat, one inch around the waist, and two inches off his hip circumference, 48-year-old Rob's muscular strength, endurance, form and tempo during high impact resistance training has also been refined.

Most importantly, Rob is enjoying his results and Björnstrxng fitness journey so far. Session by session, he adds new exercises and techniques to his lifting repertoire, helping him achieve optimal efficiency with every single movement.

Having initially signed up for a month to get a head start on his goals for 2024, Rob has decided to extend his journey with us, a testament to his willingness to learn and improve. Congratulations for an amazing debut month, Rob.

Tom Cowgill

 December 2023

Tom Cowgill’s incremental and sustainable weight gain of nearly five kilos over the past few months has produced a newly found passion for lifting and nutrition, ultimately concluding in a deserved win for the December Milestones award.

Through the trio of Solo Personal Training, Circuit Training, and Virtual Training, Björnstrxng’s final Milestones winner for 2023 has inspiringly progressed way beyond any early expectations from initial assessments.

Tom always struggled to put on weight in the past. However, his customised Virtual Training programme has allowed him to utilise his own equipment and train in a way that aligns with his goals of bulking up and improving strength.
 

Aiding his impressive weight gain and newly obtained muscular strength has been his nutrition. Tom frequently hits his calorie and macronutrient goal, which has assisted his unsurpassed efforts in Circuit Training with family.

Fitness goals vary from person to person. Some want to lose weight, some want to put it on. Our December Milestones winner has shown how to do the latter in the healthiest and most sustainable of ways. Well done, Tom.

Eliot Dunn

 November 2023

Beginner turned winner. Our November Milestones winner, Eliot Dunn, initially came to Björnstrxng as an underweight and unfit gym novice. However, sheer commitment to his fitness journey has changed all of that.

Eliot's effort in training, coupled with support through the Björnstrxng Virtual Trainer over the past month, has produced results that he would've deemed nearly impossible to make at the start of his health and fitness journey.

Eliot, who suffers from iron deficiency anaemia, has now gained a healthy four kilos of muscle. This has been done by increasing calories when necessary, and supplementing workouts with protein to aid energy levels and muscle growth.

In light of a four week absence from sessions in November, Eliot kept himself accountable through completing daily nutrition tasks, weigh ins, body metrics tasks, and home workouts that align with his unique goals and capabilities.

Eliot has gained size, strength, and a new outlook on the importance of health and fitness. His success story is one to inspire all, and it’s certainly not over yet. Congratulation to our worthy November Milestones victor.

Dan Downes

 October 2023

Our October Milestones winner, Dan Downes, has worked his way to two-time winner status thanks to an awesome second wind with his fitness journey in the form of an incredible two month weight loss accomplishment.

From not being able to do a single Squat in December 2022 in light of back and ankle surgeries and years of inactivity, to now being able to Smith Squat 160 kilos, Dan has undergone a dramatic health change; inside and out.

More recently, Dan has been limited to lighter lifting on upper body exercises due to elbow tendinitis. However, we have worked carefully around these injuries, which has helped him in losing over four kilos of body fat in just two months.

The improvement in muscular strength and endurance, paired with a huge enhancement in cardiovascular capabilities, has turned Dan into a formidable force in both Solo Personal Training and Circuit Training sessions with friends.

Despite injury setbacks and limited exercise capabilities, October has been ruled by one man's elite mentality, proving how vital it is to never let obstacles trip you up when you have a goal in mind. Congratulations, Dan Downes.

Toby Barnes

 September 2023

Hard work doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. However, our Björnstrxng Milestones winner for September, Toby Barnes, has put in more than just hard work over the past four weeks since his return.

During his first Björnstrxng stint up until April, Toby lost over ten kilos of body fat, achieved milestone lifts , and improved his muscle mass and fitness as a result of this. However, travelling for work almost put him back to square one.

Since his return to Björnstrxng a month ago, Toby has scraped and clawed his way back to peak conditioning and is arguably fitter than before his travels thanks to his awesome efforts in an intense, but rewarding training regimen.

Toby has recently achieved records on both the Dead Hang and the 2km Cycle Sprint, a testament to his improved endurance from the unbelievable efforts and willpower demonstrated in biweekly Solo Personal Training sessions.

The hard work is far from done. Nevertheless, there is zero doubt that Toby is willing to put in whatever it takes to get to where he wants to be in 2023 and beyond. Well done to our September Milestones victor, Toby Barnes.

Denyse Price

 August 2023

A determined mind, coupled with both effective posture correction exercise and strength and endurance training, has concluded in our August Milestones winner, Denyse Price, making strides that initially seemed impossible.

At 64, Denyse Price joined one of our Circuit Training groups in March. Due to the progress that our other Circuit Trainees had made from months of sessions, Denyse initially struggled to keep up with the tempo of the group.

Since booking in for biweekly Solo sessions, Denyse hasn't looked back, and has since become an integral Member of Björnstrxng, demonstrating exactly what it takes to change your life for the better through consistency.

Denyse has lost three kilos of body fat in four months by making positive habitual changes. She has also transformed her posture, fixing rounded shoulder issues through a specific posture correction training regimen, completed per session.

Denyse acts as a source of inspiration for prospective, new and existing Members at Björnstrxng, and rightly so. It is never too late to better yourself, and she has proven that anything is possible when you really want it.

Tabby Downes

 July 2023

Eight weeks of compound lifting, endurance work, and plyometrics in Tabby Downes's Royal Navy oriented programme have resulted in personal growth and unbreakable resilience from our newest Milestones winner.

Initially unable to do a single Push Up, it was concluded that we were to task Tabby with completing seven staple exercises that would see her improve her strength, endurance, cardiovascular ability, and most importantly, mindset.

At 17, Tabby is in the early stages of her Royal Navy application. A stern but necessary coaching style, coupled with Tabby’s innate ambition, has resulted in phenomenal progression on all of the aforementioned seven exercise tasks.

Notably, Tabby can now breeze through sixteen Push Ups with proper form, on-demand tempo, and correct pacing. Her 2km Cycle Sprint time has improved by 21-seconds, and she has improved by 0.78km in our twenty-minute session opener run.

Nothing has been perfected, and there’s still a long way to go. However, our July winner’s development, both as a trainee and as a person, deserves applaud. Well done to our July Milestones victor, Tabby Downes.

Paula & Scott Olsson

 June 2023

Unified by blood and bonded through grit. Mother and son duo Paula & Scott Olsson have earned their Björnstrxng June Milestones status for June through their sheer devotion to personal progression in the gym.

The stats show that Paula’s plyometric movements have hugely improved, as have her strength and endurance capabilities, generally doubling the weight load or rep count on all exercises since starting her Björnstrxng journey.

Similarly, Scott has also shown improvements in his lifting abilities through performance specific training for rugby, endurance work, strength programming, and plyometrics training for improved balance and posture.

Being the son of a former national athlete in Paula certainly has its perks when it comes to strength genetics. Scott’s power comes naturally, as made evident by his 12.5% progression on the Bench Press in just one month of training.

June was an incredible time for all of our Members. So, a big congratulations to our June Milestones winners, Paula & Scott Olsson, who’s hard work has stood out from all the other amazing individual accomplishments this month.

Jake Turley & Tom Price

May 2024

United through commitment, our May Milestones winners Jake Turley & Tom Price have earned their titles through achieving personal bests, setting gym records, and hitting individual targets and milestones.

Jake initially struggled with his mental health, had a poor diet, smoked, was overweight, and was unfit. However, five kilos of weight loss later, Jake is hitting personal bests, has achieved a complete body recomposition, and is happy.

Like Jake, Tom's strength and endurance has improved through a combination of compound lifting and HIIT training, as made evident by his 1km Cycle Sprint score of 49-seconds, six-minute Plank time, and 12.5% improvement on the Bench Press.

Despite the taxing nature of their sessions, Jake and Tom complete every single superset, one-on-one contest, Dumbbell Run, amongst many other challenges and competitions, with winning attitudes and smiles on their faces. 

Welcome to a very elite group of individuals who have earned their monthly Milestones titles through pure graft. Congratulations to our May Milestones victors, and first ever dual winners, Jake Turley & Tom Price.

Nick Pound

 April 2023

Nick Pound has earned his April Milestones title through the culmination of weight loss and improved strength through accountability, consistency, and a focus towards hitting personal targets and landmarks.

Nick's wife contacted us in January, as her husband was overweight, had bad posture, a bad knee, and other physical restrictions which negatively impacted his muscular strength and endurance during our first few sessions together.

However, nearly four months to the day later, Nick’s story has been one of huge success. At 53, he has lost over ten kilos, has improved his posture and muscle mass, and is evidence that it's never too late to make a big change.

Through careful rehabilitation, progressive overload, performance specific programming writing, nutrition protocols, and an emphasis on accountability, Nick has improved his golfing performance, as well as his numbers in the gym.

Despite avoiding leg training in his first month due to knee problems, Nick can now Squat 80 kilos for fifteen repetitions; a testament to his moral fibre, and more confirmation of his deservedness of Milestones winner status.

Stu Dunn

 March 2023

No experience, no problem. Björnstrxng's Milestones winner for March, Stu Dunn, has proven that nothing will ever outrun hard work, grit, determination, and consistency, no matter what your starting point is.

Stu started Circuit Training last month with no prior experience of the gym. He had bad posture from years of inactivity, poor muscular endurance, and little muscular strength. What a difference a month of tailored training can make.

Now, only a month later, Stu is one of the top performers in afternoon Circuit Training, has found a real passion for fitness, and has improved his form, technique, and posture through Solo Personal Training sessions post-Circuits.

Stu has gone from someone who has never stepped foot in a gym, to someone who completes home workouts, meets nutrition targets, improves on lifts weekly, and shows up to every single session with a winning, can-do attitude.

His willpower is truly inspiring and infectious, making him a popular member amongst his Circuit Training crew. Simply put, nobody is more deserving of March Milestones victor status than this man is. Congratulations, Stu.

Elliott Allsopp

 February 2023

Elliott Allsopp made a point of saying that nobody will work harder than him in 2023. Our February Member of the Month has lost a ten kilos in just four weeks of training, and has become far stronger, both physically and mentally.

Elliott has demonstrated an elite mentality both inside and outside of sessions, always completing everything thrown at him to the best of his abilities, including doing home workouts, counting calories, and hitting protein targets.

Elliott's aforementioned elite mentality was best demonstrated recently, when he climbed his way to the top of one of Björnstrxng's February competitions on the Battle Ropes, scoring a winning a time of fifteen-minutes of continuous graft.

Coinciding with his improved endurance, Elliott's compound lifts have also improved. Within a month, Elliott's Squat has improved by ten kilos, as has his Deadlift, and most impressively, his Bench Press has increased by twenty kilos.

Everyone has worked exceptionally hard in February, but nobody deserves Member of the Month more than Elliott. There is so much potential to fulfil, and you could not have made a better start to your Björnstrxng journey.

Dan Downes

 January 2023

The stats don't lie for the first ever Björnstrxng Milestones winner. After achieving a complete body recomposition, the focus, consistency, and commitment shown over the past month by Dan Downes is paying off.

Breaking down the aforementioned stats, Dan has lost five kilos in body fat, his heart rate is down significantly, his waist is down by one inch, his belly is down by three inches, and his biceps and quads are both up by half an inch each.

Dan's surreal dedication towards his training and nutrition has acted as the main catalyst for this unbelievable change, and the sustainable nature of his programming has allowed him to continue to enjoy life on the weekends.

As well as vastly improving his physical health, muscular strength, and overall endurance, Dan's mental health has benefitted through engaging and fun Duo Personal Training sessions with best friend and training partner, Dan Bourne.

A huge congratulations to Dan for the awesome progression made in January, both mentally and physically. Judging by this incredible start to the year, the sky is the limit for what he can achieve on his Björnstrxng journey in 2023.