24.03 to 28.03
Ben Crutchley secures his place amongst the Björnstrxng Gym's elite, Pete Campbell proves that leg day pays off as he marks a 20% Squat strength boost in a year, and Team 2 claim Björnlympics bragging rights - at least until next time.
Ben Crutchley
On his first ever five-rep max attempt in the Björnstrxng Gym, the ex-Walsall rugby player set some solid foundations for his journey with us as he Bench Pressed 100 kilos for five. Only a select few have managed this feat on their first Bench Press.
Pete Campbell
With his session target set for an 85 kilo Smith Machine Squat for five repetitions, Pete surpassed expectations by lifting 90 kilos for five, marking an overall strength improvement of 20% in a year with us, whilst also being nearly ten kilos lighter.
Team 2
The team of Sam Baker-Smith, Jony Ellis, Elle Turner, Chelsea Baker, Marie Griffiths, and Ryan Baker won Björnlympics 3 - a fitness event that raised over £900 for Cancer Research UK in memory of Danny Baker and Annette Turner.
Beyond big lifts, the real victory in the week just gone was raising money for a fantastic cause. As has always been the case with our biannual fitness event, it was a huge effort from everyone - now, time to recover before Björnlympics 4!
17.03 to 21.03
Hannah White continues to master structure inside and outside of the Björnstrxng Gym, the Griffiths finish Recömp 7.8 kilos lighter, and Alex Herrmann shows that even a few days at the races can't gamble away his gains.
Hannah White
For the second week on the bounce, Hannah has exhibited the importance of structure, both inside and outside of the gym. In four weeks of Recömp 3, she has lost 4.8 kilos, placing her as a frontrunner for the in-house contest win.
Callum & Marie Griffiths
The Griffiths have also benefitted from the implementation of routine that Recömp offers around their busy jobs as teachers. The couple have lost an accumulative 7.8 kilos through steps targets, completing workouts, and adhering to nutrition goals.
Alex Herrmann
Despite a heavy few days of client entertainment at last week's races, Alex stayed firmly on track and did not let the occasion derail his health and fitness journey. His five-rep max of 62.5 kilos marks a strength increase of 25% since summer 2024.
From structured success to serious weight loss and unstoppable progress, the week just gone proved that discipline, Recömp, and resilience can outmatch any challenge - even Cheltenham week. Well in Hannah, Callum, Marie, and Alex.
10.03 to 14.03
Through form refinement and progressive overload, James Ball and Rob Conway hit big personal records on the Bench Press, and Hannah White proves that consistency drives results one week out from the finish line of Recömp 3.
James Ball
For weeks, James has demonstrated a dedication to structured improvement, meticulously mastering his technique, increasing his workload, and pushing past previous limitations, as made evident by a new personal record of 70 kilos for five.
Rob Conway
Like James, Rob has also shown a disciplined adherence to structured programming and attention to form. Through this - and his unrelenting work ethic - our recent Milestones winner has steadily increased his rep max, reaching 80 kilos for five.
Hannah White
Despite having two weeks away from the Björnstrxng Gym prior to her participation in Recömp 3, Hannah's recent weigh-in concluded in 3 kilos of weight loss in three weeks of online programming, calorie tracking, and frequent check-ins.
Well done to our three Wins pacesetters on this occasion, with nods going to Sam Young for hitting her Recömp 3 performance goal, Jack Meakin for his Bench Press record, and Johanna Ahrberg-Jackson for her 85 kilo Trap Bar Deadlift for five.
03.03 to 07.03
In three remarkable displays of strength progression, Pete Campbell, Vinita Parmar, and Jony Ellis have achieved new personal records through compound lifts, underscoring the power of tailored programming and consistent training.
Pete Campbell
Despite being almost ten kilos lighter since starting with Björnstrxng in the warmer months of 2024, Pete's Bench Press continues to progress as a 65 kilo effort for five repetitions marks a strength increase of 20 kilos on this lift, equating to 44.4%.
Vinita Parmar
With her third Wins recognition in four weeks, the April 2024 Milestones winner continues to make waves in the Björnstrxng Gym through her consistent strength progression and weight loss. Vinita Squat 85 kilos for five for a big personal record.
Jony Ellis
Perseverance has finally paid off as two weeks of unaccomplished session targets motivated a big benchmark on the Bench Press for Jony, who lifted 55 kilos for five repetitions, a strength increase of ten kilos since starting with us in summer 2024.
Pete, Vinita, and Jony will all hope to continue to develop on their strength gains as we approach summer 2025, with salutes also going to Faye Summers, Simon Foley, Rob Conway, and Luke Farrington for their new personal records in the week gone.
24.02 to 28.02
With encouragement proving its power, father-son duo Stu & Eliot Dunn set new personal records, husband-and-wife team Dave & Kate Pearce also max out, while Simon Foley illustrates that age is no barrier to improvement.
Stu & Eliot Dunn
The father-son duo was a winning combination as the Dunns set the tone for a week of personal records. Focus and encouragement helped Stu lift 137.5 kilos for five via the Trap Bar, and Eliot's effort equated to a 92.5 kilo personal best.
Dave & Kate Pearce
In spite of her history of lower back issues and a surgically repaired tibia, Kate Pearce's long-term rehabilitation continues to bear fruit as she Trap Bar Deadlifted 75 kilos, and her husband, Dave, Deadlifted 115 kilos in his first ever attempt.
Simon Foley
The 66-year-old Björnstrxng legend keeps making strides in his health journey as a Bench Press record of 47.5 kilos marks a ten kilo improvement on this lift since starting with us in late 2023, showing that growth and progress have no age limit.
A big week for our duos and Simon, with mentions going to Aaron Stevens for his record of 65 kilos for five on the Bench Press, Vinita Parmar for her 80 kilo Smith Squat, and Hannah White for her 1.7 kilo weight loss in week one of Recömp 3.
17.02 to 21.02
2024 highflyer Rob Conway, Björnstrxng newbie Luke Farrington, and April 2024 Milestones winner Vinita Parmar make big breakthroughs at the perfect time as they mentally and physically prepare for the much anticipated Recömp 3.
Rob Conway
It's two Wins in two weeks for the 2024 highflyer as he far surpassed Coach Joe's expectations in the final session of the week. With an initial target of 87.5 kilos, Rob hit 100 kilos for five reps on the Barbell Squat, improving by 43% in less than a year.
Luke Farrington
Despite being out of the lifting game for a few years, Luke's Friday session was swamped with monstrous compound lifts as he set the foundations for a successful Recömp. Amongst other efforts, he hit 130 kilos for five on the Trap Bar Deadlift.
Vinita Parmar
Like Rob, Vinita makes it two Wins on the bounce as her 68.7 kilo weigh-in marks a milestone moment for her in the Björnstrxng Gym. This is the lightest she has been on her fitness journey with us, and she intends to push it even further in Recömp.
Godspeed for Recömp 3 Rob, Luke, and Vinita, and best of luck also to our other contestants Hannah White, Sam Young, Aaron Stevens, the Griffiths, Alex Herrmann, Stu Dunn, Jack Meakin, Holly Kelly, Kate Pearce, and Toby Barnes.
10.02 to 12.02
Ahead of Recömp 3's start on February 24, Rob Conway, Vinita Parmar, and Johanna Ahrberg-Jackson are way ahead of their personal performance goals as they achieve push, pull, and legs personal bests in respective compound lifts.
Rob Conway
Rob's lean bulk has translated to enhanced compound strength. After securing a 75 kilo Bench Press five rep max last week, the January 2024 Milestones winner intends to utilise Recömp 3 as a final push of strength ahead of a big summer cut.
Vinita Parmar
Vinita's 75 kilo Smith Squat for five marks a monstrous improvement of 87.5% on this lift since starting with us in summer 2023. Only Hannah White and Paula Olsson - both 85 kilos - boast heavier Smith Squats for five in the female division.
Johanna Ahrberg-Jackson
As one of our newer Members, Johanna's January and February has been packed with personal bests. In just over a month of training with Björnstrxng, she has improved her Trap Bar Deadlift by 10 kilos, lifting 80 kilos for five repetitions.
With the personal records stacking up, Rob, Vinita, and Johanna have set the tone for an exciting lead-up to summer 2025 as they push toward their body recomposition goals - promising even bigger milestones in the months ahead.
03.02 to 07.02
Denyse Price edges closer to the hundred club on the Trap Bar Deadlift, Eliot Dunn's new personal record marks a strength improvement of nearly 40%, and James Ball's back-to-back bests earn him his first Wins shoutout of the year.
Denyse Price
Despite big weight loss transformations often translating to a loss of strength, 66-year-old Denyse achieved a new personal record by way of the Trap Bar Deadlift, lifting 90 kilos for five in spite of dropping 3.4 kilos in four weeks during Recömp 2.
Eliot Dunn
Twinning with Denyse's 90 kilo Trap Bar Deadlift for five repetitions, Eliot's 90 kilo effort for five marks an overall strength improvement of 38.5% since starting with Björnstrxng in mid-2023, proving the power of perseverance and persistence.
James Ball
Fresh off the back of his monstrous and record-setting 160 kilo Trap Bar Deadlift for five repetitions in last week's Compound Curveball Feat, James's 67.5 kilo effort for five on the Bench Press banks back-to-back compound lift personal bests.
Special mentions also go to Callum & Marie Griffiths for hitting their Recömp 2 performance goals, Aaron Stevens for his 140 kilo Trap Bar Deadlift for five, and Rob Conway for finally breaking past the 70 kilo barrier on the Bench Press.