Business, Friendship, Self-Perseverance

Andrea Lange BEFORE Squeeze

So…MY story.  After only having my practice open about a month, I was told that I *needed* to meet Shannon Carney, that she was amazing, we’d get a long, and she just happened to be opening a new studio about 5 minutes down the road from my practice.  Well, I’m not one to cold call so I just waited it out.  Another month went by and I was dragged to a women’s entrepreneur conference and guess who spoke??  THE Shannon Carney.  I introduced myself, we exchanged cards, I intended to follow up the next week but she literally called me two days later.  When she came to my office she asked the question I dreaded…”when are you going to come train with me?” I knew I was in for it, and up came all of the emotional things I had tried to suppress for years.

For years, I’ve tried to get back to working out, eating right, etc…but I had a “story” that held me back.  As I sit here writing this, I am promising myself that this is the last time this will ever be told because I refuse to let it mentally hold me back anymore.  Hold me to it!

In high school, I was very active, swam competitively, thrived on exercise.  I watched my older brother do some bodybuilding so working out and lifting weights was apart of my lifestyle.  During my swimming off season, I would go to school, go to work, then head to the Y for a few hours almost everyday! But, after some odd symptoms showed up my senior year, my doctor ran me through a gamut of tests looking for a diagnosis of Cushing’s Disease.  Well, even though some tests came back positive, the final answer was “we don’t know” as I had no brain or adrenal gland tumor.  So it left me with unexplained stretch marks all over my healthy 18 year old body.  A dermatologist who spent 3 minutes with me said that I “worked out too much” and that was it. I did this to myself, I sabotaged my body.

So guess what happens next?  I stop caring about exercise for fear that it would ruin my body even more.  Fast forward a few years…college, marriage, chiropractic school, a baby…. none of that helped with weight loss or maintenance.  It wasn’t like I didn’t try…but it was my own mental block.

Until I sat down with Shannon, told my sob story and she responded back with…

”You don’t have to think about it anymore, let me think about it, just show up”. And that, my friends, has been my motto ever since…just freaking SHOW UP! I had to get pushed to the wall to fight back.  I continue that fight every day.  I love to get my ass kicked at 6am and I love to “lift heavy” and I love to be challenged.  I love that sore feeling after an amazing workout!  It makes me realize that I am alive and I can do this! Life isn’t about “feeling less” it should be about feeling more, experiencing more!

I still have a ways to go to reach my goals but being surrounded by the Squeeze family I know I get closer every week.  I’m loving the journey and wouldn’t trade the hard work for anything!  It’s taken awhile to “sink” in and learn how to plan my days out to accommodate my family, my business, my meals and my workouts but I know I have a great support team that refuses to let me slip! This has become a family affair for us, my husband loves to workout here and our sweet 2 year old, Camryn, LOVES the gym!  (Usually she has Matt wrapped around her finger and he takes out every piece of equipment for her).

Since joining Squeeze a year ago, Shannon and I have become fast and furious friends.  I cannot imagine my life without her in it.  She pushes me to reach my potential which I LOVE because that’s what I do with my practice members!  We’ve become so close that she practically begged me to move my office over to Squeeze!  She twisted my arm enough that I gave in!   So, here I am!  I love being a part of the Squeeze community and being able to serve people who are interested in taking their lives and their health to the next level.  I feel it’s been a huge advantage to be a fellow Squeezer and to help other Squeezers in their healing process because I understand the movements and exercises that they are going through.  My main intention is to help people perform better… whether that is in the gym, at their job, as a parent, or in their LIFE in general.  Helping reconnect people to their potential is what drives me everyday. I’d love for you to come experience this connection; come up and chat with me and have some hot tea!  My door is always open!

ANDREA NOW!! Photo by Studio M Boudoir Photography



Shout outs from the Squeezers:

“We think of Dr. Andrea Lange as a really good friend whom on our first appointment gave us a hug and welcomed us to the “Cafe of Life Chiropractic” way of thinking.  We’ve learned a new meaning for getting “Turned On!” (It’s been awhile since a woman has done that!!!)  Actually…getting turned on is a phrase Andrea uses when she’s done adjusting you.  Everything in your spine is lined up and you’re ready to rock!”

- Joe Gillian, client of the month October, Master Smoothie Maker – Squeeze Studio Fitness

“Now it might sound nuts but picture yourself as a three way light bulb.  Going through life on the first or second setting never reaching the third. Dr. Lange gets you to that third setting.  It’s natural for your spine to get out of whack every now and then.  With the help of Dr. Lange, keeping us at that third setting, our back issues are kept in check.  Not only that but it helps with our sinuses and asthma too.  We LOVE Dr. Lange and Cafe of Life Chiropractic.”

- Joey Peritz, client of the month October, and Master Smoothie Inventor – Squeeze Studio Fitness

“Chiropractic, and specifically the amazing healing presence of Andrea, has helped me find joy again in running. After many years of being afraid to hit the pavement, Andrea has found new ways for me to return something that brings me happiness…and more importantly I get to have weekly dates!”

- Kate Lemke, client/volleyball player – Squeeze Studio Fitness

“I have always suffered from low back issue, muscle tightness, and joint aches.  Since I have been seeing Andrea all of my issues have been healed.  Andrea’s adjustments “Turn My Power On.”  Being an athlete I train very intensely, every time I have been adjusted before I train, I hit a Personal Record.  She is truly amazing at what she does.”

- Matt Cerra, Trainer and Sports Nutritionist – Squeeze Studio Fitness

“Dr. Dre is a true healer and the most genuine person I’ve ever met. I could not imagine my life or business without her. I was so blown away by her intuition and ability to heal me (emotionally and physically) that I made her move Cafe of Life into the same building so I could make sure the entire Squeeze Family could see her before or after their workouts. I’ll never miss an adjustment in addition to spending time with a wonderful person.”

- Shannon Carney, Owner/Trainer/Sports Nutritionist – Squeeze Studio Fitness

“Andrea rocks!  She takes a holistic approach in her practice.  I appreciate that she wants to build a relationship with her clientele, then sets goals that are attainable!  Andrea has helped with my overall transformation into a better lifestyle of healthy living.  I’m so grateful for you!!!”

- Kay Wolferstetter, client/January Client of the Month – Squeeze Studio Fitness

“I started seeing Andrea when I was pregnant last summer. She was my first chiropractor ever, so I wanted to make sure my fetus and I were in good hands.. and we totally were! With her calming energy, strong hands,  and experience with pregnant women (she’s also a doula) – Andrea was the perfect healer for my ever-changing body. She even used her acupressure expertise to induce labor, which I was very grateful for during my last week of pregnancy. Now my happy, healthy son Turner is 4 months old.. he was 8lbs 6oz at birth, so my back and hips were completely out of whack (I am only 5′ tall..), until I finally went in for my postpartum adjustment a few weeks ago.  I have never felt better! Goodbye, chronic back pain – you won’t be missed! Andrea also adjusted Turner – he loved her (of course, how could he not?) and she performed a miracle on his neck.  Turner used to always have his head tilted to one side, and once we left Cafe of Life it was perfectly straight and still is. Amazing! We are so lucky to have Andrea as our doc and friend. WE HEART DR. DRE!!”

- Jan Powell, aka “Janimal Mombot,” designer/client/August Preggo Client of the Month – Squeeze Studio Fitness AND Turner Daniel Powell, 4 month old rockstar

Shannon Carney is teaching this class!

* Learn how to PLAN healthy meals for your family
* Learn how to PREPARE meals with whole foods
* Increase your energy, improve moods, and be lean and healthy
* Make clean eating a way of life!

RSVP to maryk@nxlevelathletics.com to register for the Clean Eating Class.

Yoga, Kettlebells and SWEAT!  Oh My!

Squeeze Studio Fitness changed who I am. The staff have changed the way I live. Plain and simple.  I am not the woman who walked through the doors in April, 2011.  My body, mind and spirit continue to transform, stretch and grow.

Kay before Squeeze

I’ve worked in non profits all of my career helping people who are disadvantaged or have barriers to finding competitive employment.  I’ve dedicated my life to this career and I love it!  However what it has done to me at times is that I tend to put everyone else’s needs first. I thought it was my role to make sure that the clients that I work with have their basic needs met and I assist to motivate them to finding better ways to live and make life changes.

When I met Shannon at a Boot Camp series at Alverno College, she became my “social service” assistant.  She helped educate me on nutritional values and challenged me to put myself first with my overall health and lifelong wellness so I could be the best me possible and then as we know…everyone wins.  Shannon told me that I could be at better physical condition than I was when I played college volleyball and that my body fat would drop to 17 percent.  My first thought was NO WAY!!!

These boot camps kick my ass every day!!!  And I love it. With the assistance, encouragement, support and sense of humor,

The staff at Squeeze believed in me before I could believe in myself.

Kay NOW. Photo by Studio M Boudoir Photography

They have changed my way of living.  I’ve made a commitment to myself to make a lifestyle change.  I’m very aware of what I’m eating and if it brings me nutritional value.  I’m excited to go to Squeeze throughout the week because it’s a place that I really give a lot of energy to and I get so much more in return. They use a holistic approach to my program.  I now have my own plan that I am a part of goals being set.

In February, 2011 before getting to know Shannon and Squeeze, I ran in my first 1/2 Marathon in New Orleans for the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation series.  I weighed 198 pounds and finished in 2 hours and 46 minutes. I run this event in memory of my mom who died of lung cancer and some other very close friends.

While you are reading this article, I will have run my second 1/2 Marathon for the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNaiton series 32 pounds lighter. On January 9, 2012 my dad was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, another form of lung cancer due to exposure to asbestos.  Squeeze has given me the physical strength to do this and more importantly the mental and emotional toughness to run in spite of knowing I will lose another parent to this crap disease.

Here are my stats:

Total Body Fat Lost – 33.79 lbs.

Total Body Fat Lost – 16.3%

Total Lean Muscle Gained – 7.4l bs.

I’m grateful and amazed at the passion, knowledge and drive of the Squeeze staff members.  They are lead by a driven, compassionate leader in Shannon.  I would still be making an ass print on my couch and watching ESPN or HGTV if it weren’t for results that I continue to feel and notice as I get stronger and more focused on being healthier.

“Last Set.  Best Set.” This one’s for you, Dad.

TIME SLOTS: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD 2012 FROM 4-7PM, AND SATURDAY THE 4TH FROM 8-9AM AND 10AM-1PM.

$20 FOR 15 MINUTES OR $30 FOR 30 MINUTES.

SIGN UP AT THE STUDIO OR EMAIL SQUEEZESTUDIOINFO@GMAIL.COM.

I’m 51 and have always been fairly athletic. In my younger years, routine workouts with varying types of classes were the norm. That stopped about mid-thirties and physically, the slow downward spiral started. I work on elevators so walking 3 to 5 miles with lots of stairs kept me in minimal shape. Over the past 3 to 4 years I have migrated to far less work in the field and far more in the office. This is where the downward spiral became more like a cliff. I knew it was time to do something. Friends of mine directed me to Shannon and Squeeze.

At my first meeting with Shannon, I remember her energy and enthusiasm were at “electric” levels, from that point I felt this is just what I was looking for. It was and continues to be, however, it was shockingly painful to realize how pathetic my physical condition had become. The awakening started with my assessment. My arms were in the pink numbers, my legs were in the BIRD numbers but the real shocker was when Shannon said my waist was 38 for my frame that’s like “third trimester” but I’m not a GIRL! That really stung.

She started me with a dozen or so P.T.’s and then said I should start class.  The first 3 months I refer to as my “wet noodle” period, I found myself more a puddle on the ground than a participant. It’s not that I was lacking in attitude just ABILITY! With that many years of inactivity my atrophy had gone to the core, which coincidentally, I learned was also almost non-existent! The physical pain I could deal with, but contrary to popular belief the male ego is actually a pretty fragile thing, for a guy who has always had a pretty competitive nature (type A and all) this was freakin’ killing me! Those first few months I remember looking around class thinking I’m pretty sure most of the girls in here can beat my ass! [SIDE NOTE: Should any of the aforementioned find its way into the he-man club meetings I will completely deny having said any of it!.............just sayin’!]

photo by Studio M Boudoir Photography

I am now 7 months in and can keep pace with most of the class most of the time. I am about half way to where I want to be but with the always well intended kick in the ass we get from these coaches (when they see the need) we will all get what we want out of this. What is most significant is the passion and commitment Shannon and her team of coaches has towards us (they really give a S.H.I.T.). As with any business you have fair, good, great & second to none, Squeeze is a second to none place from the workouts, nutrition, cleanses, certifications (let’s not forget Doc Andrea) they have it covered and do it better than anywhere else. I can’t tell you how lucky I was to be directed towards Squeeze I could have easily ended up at the average “fitness center” where there’s more talk than workout, the workouts focus on the “pretty muscles” and the mirrors primary function is for self-admiration instead of checking form, those places are everywhere! So THANK YOU SQUEEZE!!! And an enormous thanks to Shannon, Matt, Andy, Jeff & Karyn (if I left anybody out I certainly didn’t mean to, I’m a 9am’er) your torture is intoxicating and priceless. See you in class.

LET’ S START FROM THE BEGINNING….

Ryan before Squeeze

My 27 years of life, as far back as I can remember, has been a struggle with my weight. When I was in grade school, I wasn’t what you would call fat, but I was definitely husky. And boy did I get made fun of for it. I was called every name in the book from pudge, fat boy, Swedish Meatball, Kool-Aid, Pillsbury Doughboy and on and on. They were pretty mean to me. I just shrugged and laughed it off. I did what I could to pretend I didn’t really care but in reality, deep down, I really cared. As a result of this, I didn’t have many friends in grade school because I felt so insecure about my “weight” and it made me really depressed to know that my school mates thought those things about me. What comforted me was coming home after school and eating — eating anything and everything that was bad for me because it comforted me. I knew I could come home after school, no matter what, and that would make me feel better. The corner gas station was my after-school stop to buy junk food and to make things worse, I wasn’t very active. This kind of set the stage for what would begin a life-long struggle with very low self-esteem, a battle with food and a weight problem.

In high school, it was better. I made new friends, played Football and lost weight during the season, started to get into weight lifting a little bit. But still had incredibly poor eating habits and once the season was over, the weight that I lost piled right back on and then some. Once High School was finished, I spent a better part of the next 5 years being increasingly sedentary, while in College, eating more and more to the point where I would go to a McDonalds drive through and order $12 worth of McDonalds for lunch – and we are talking Dollar Menu here. It wasn’t a pretty time. Let’s face it, I was eating because I was unhappy, still had low self-esteem, and then afterwards I would be unhappy because I ate so much. I always told myself, “This will be the last time.” It never was. And boy-oh-boy did I pile on the pounds. This trend of eating very poorly, battling low self esteem, gaining weight and living a very non-active, sedentary lifestyle pretty much followed me up until a few years ago, after I finished college, in 2007, when I started to realize I need a change.

My change started by joining a gym and working with a trainer. The training sessions were just… fine. I got a good workout. Once the training sessions would run out, I would piddle paddle around the gym, would be really motivated for a week or two and then would just kind of stop going. I just didn’t understand how to keep it going, keep motivated. I tried to eat healthy for a while, but my basic version of eating healthy was eating all protein (chicken breast), no carbs, no sweets. Well, hmmm, let’s see how well that worked out. It didn’t… at all.

Moving to Las Vegas a bit after I graduated from College was a huge turning point in my life because being on my own, I started to realize that I wanted to change who I was, become more independent and take control of my weight problem. They were great thoughts and over the next few years that I lived in Las Vegas I did the same thing, back and forth. I joined a gym, again. It was just a cardio room, some weights and some trainers who walked around and seemed to be more interested in texting on their phone than training their client on the weight machine in front of them. I saw some results, lost a few pounds, had some motivation, but then fell off the wagon when it got to boring or stopping at the grocery store after work to get $30 worth of junk food was much more appealing then going to work out. And again, I told myself, “This will be the last time I will do this, just tonight.” And it never was. I should have recognized that this is a recurring trend, but it didn’t matter. Along with my sporadic workouts at the gym I tried everything from P90X, Insanity, Beachbody, tried outdoor 5 a.m. boot camps. They all had worked for a little bit, but eventually I would get bored and just lack the motivation to do it.

Ryan ready for a change

I also started to develop a knee ailment called Patellar Tracking Syndrome which was due to tight muscles surrounding my knee. It was painful to walk, sometimes. I battled this on and off for a good year and a half. I spent months in Physical Therapy to only find out that the pain isn’t going away. I just felt hopeless. It seemed in my mind I had tools to change my weight problem but why couldn’t I just stick with it. Why did I feel food made me happy and the thing that I wanted so bad, to be in shape, seem unobtainable. I would just have recurring thoughts about how I would never beat this, I would never get any better, I will be fat for the rest of my life. Into a depressed state of mind, I would then go home and eat junk. This was my cycle for a long time and it is simply a horrible frame of mind and I do have to say I was very depressed, plagued with that same life-long low self esteem.

I was missing Wisconsin and felt I had spent enough time living in Las Vegas and I wanted to move back home. So after 3 years in Las Vegas, in fall of 2010, I moved back to Wisconsin. Let’s see if you can guess what the first thing I did was when I got back? Joined a gym, yet again. I had lofty goals of losing the weight, getting excited to be home in Milwaukee again. Had some short term success, but again, fell off the wagon. I just couldn’t keep it going. I was so frustrated and depressed and, yet again, was making my daily trips to the grocery store to buy more junk food and would sit in from of the TV and chow down. I just was stuck and again felt depressed about it. And, I still would say to myself, every day, this will be the last time I eat these foods. I will go to the gym tomorrow… I rarely did.

SQUEEZE CHANGES MY LIFE…..

So, one day, in January 2011, I was at work and was looking for some Personal Training possibilities on the IMS Barter Network that my dad’s company is a part of. I saw Squeeze Studio Fitness and e-mailed Shannon. Little did I know that was one email that WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE! I set up my first consultation with Shannon for that Saturday. And, let me tell you, I will never ever forget that first day. I remember I walked into the studio and you could just smell the sweat in the air, the people on the treadmills when you first walk in, huffing and puffing. I thought, what did I get myself into?! I just kind of stood there waiting, very uneasy, very uncomfortable because this seemed like a hard core place. I remember when I first met Shannon and my first impression was, “Geeze, she looks pretty intense.” She had a bandana on her head, and I think that enhanced the effect. I got my consultation, the eating plan AND my first teaser workout. Let’s just say I was just utterly blown away. It was one of the most intense work-outs I have ever experienced. I could feel my stomach starting to churn, and I felt like I was going to throw up, but I didn’t. I signed up for the boot camps that day.

I had my first class for the boot camps at the old Hales Corners location. I was pretty nervous for the first day. It was tough, but I got through it. I wanted to go full steam, but my knee was really killing me and I was so incredibly sore the next day. I just didn’t know what to do about my knee. I spent so much time in Physical Therapy and to have this problem again was horrible. I went a few times to the classes for those first few months and had to stop because of this knee problem. I was so upset. I tried going back to the Health Club Gym to really focus on stretching and doing my same ol’ same ol’ thing. Well the same ol’ thing hasn’t worked for 15 years, why would it work now. 5 months later I was just so fed up with everything; fed up with feeling crappy, feeling depressed, eating all of this crappy food to make myself feel better but my body and mindset feel worst, lacking the motivation to work out. WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM? I then thought about it, and the next day sent Shannon another email, saying. I need to get this going again. I don’t care what I have to do. I will beat this. Shannon and I decided that Personal Training was the way to go because I could have work-outs tailored to my knee and to help it get stronger and still get a butt kicking workout! And also give me one thing I rarely ever had when it came to working out which was MOTIVATION & ACCOUNTABILITY! Again, I was blown away.

I was doing personals so it was just me and the trainer and I really liked that. I got great, intense work outs, was made accountable for myself and #1 of all, I HAD SOME OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE MOTIVATION I HAVE EVER HAD! And my preconceived notion that Squeeze is hard core was dead on. And is Shannon intense? You bet she is! That is what is so amazing and that intensity is what is changing my life. Within the first month, my weight was dropping and I could tell. I was totally committed to coming to every single one of my Personal Training Sessions. I was following Shannon’s eating plan, doing the cleanses, the supplements and the weight was just melting off. And I was having so much fun! Not only did my body started to look better, but my eating was getting better, my mindset was getting better, I was feeling so much better about myself. I wasn’t depressed anymore I was getting my self-esteem back. I felt amazing and it radiated through every aspect of my life – and that is priceless.

In the second month of Personal Training, I met Matt and he started working with me on my Personal Training. The work-outs were insane! I was doing what looked like simple things with a few straps and bands to realize that these were some of the toughest work-outs I have ever had. But what I realized, while laying on the floor in utter exhaustion, is that I can do this and I love it! I realized how strong I really am and how strong I am getting and that I can go longer and stronger – more so than I ever imagined. I started to learn a lot of different Kettlebell swings, different stretches and started to refine my swings. I learned a lot and that made me even more confident that I can and am doing this! I will never forget when I attempted to do the 300 workout for the first time and the look on Matt’s face when I beat his time by a few seconds. It was at that point I knew I can do this and I will succeed!  Shannon and Matt were both creating this incredible tag team duo of which I was trapped, being Squeezed into the person I wanted to be! I was just like, these two are so awesome – I love these guys!

After the second month of Personal Training, I started to move into the Group Classes and was a little hesitant, because I haven’t really done many group classes before because of the knee problems I have had in the past and I was just simply, utterly, amazed. Through these classes I started to work out with Karyn, Jeff, Wilke, as well as Shannon and Matt. In the classes, the intensity was high, the sweat was pouring off my face, I was tired, sore… but I loved it! They are all incredibly great motivators, and incredible trainers, and great people. They won’t take any pity because your ass will be kicked, hard, every time! I have never had so much fun getting my ass kicked. My saying is always, “I will do whatever they want for an hour and I won’t complain.” Easier said than done… In addition, I started doing some the Personal Training Sessions with Karyn and Jeff, I did one with Shannon, too, as well as Matt and boy-oh-boy. I am just crawling on the floor after because I am so spent and so sore the next day – and I just love that feeling! The whole team of trainers is just so incredible. I just can’t describe – an amazing bunch of people! And one of the best parts about it is the pain in my knee was gone, vanished! I couldn’t believe it!

I started going to the classes regularly, 3-4 times a week and having one Personal Training session per week, being very conscious of my diet and food choices.

Ryan Liban - Squeeze has changed his life! (photo by Studio M Boudoir Photography)

It has been about 3 months and I cannot believe the progress I have made:

Body Fat Lost: 30.41 LBS; Lean Muscle Gained: 24.61 LBS

I made the 10 min time limit on the 300 Workout!

I was able to do my first pull-up ever, unassisted. (I was so excited about this!)

My knee pain is completely gone, 100%.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I don’t see myself in a deep ditch anymore. Shannon and all of the trainers and staff at Squeeze are quite literally changing my life! And I will be forever grateful for them pushing and encouraging me along — helping me to obtain something I spent 15 years wanting, but never succeeded at obtaining. I feel so incredible now, I cannot describe. I am so honored to be Client of the Month and to be part of the “Squeeze Family.” I will never forget it and will never look back… ever. My life has changed.

THE JOES! (photo by Studio M Boudoir Photography)

I met Shannon about 2 1/2 years ago.  I was her server at Fleming’s Prime Steak House and Wine Bar.  Over time she watched my weight drop and was always interested in what I was doing to lose the weight.  She kept telling me about her club Squeeze and trying to convince me to come and work out with her.  So FINALLY after 2 years, I did.  My first day I thought I was knocking on heaven’s door.  WOWWA!!!  I returned and continued to return and in 2 weeks lost 8 pounds. Next thing I was on a diet and meal plan composed by Shannon herself.  Meanwhile my partner Joey, waiting for me to come home every day,  saw the results and finally made the choice to change his life style and come with me.  I’ll never forget his first day when he was on the ground throwing up.    I thought that we lost him.  To my surprise he stuck with it.  Going through this together has been an AMAZING and CHALLENGING adventure.

Joe’s stats: “At 43 in 6 months I’ve gone from 183 with 11.1% body fat, down to 171 with 7.9% body fat.  I truly am in the best shape of my life. I never really thought that I was overweight and out of shape.”

Joey’s stats:  “Now at 33, after working out at Squeeze for 5 months, I’ve lost 26 pounds and gone from a BF% of 28 down to 6.2.  We both have gained a new outlook on life full of exercise and healthy eating.  The knowledge and friendships we’ve gained from Squeeze are priceless.”

PRESENTS

Dear janice, You DON’T wanna miss this opportunity to learn from THE BEST kettlebell trainer on the planet, STEVE MAXWELL! He RARELY ever comes to train in the Midwest, so we are truly honored and very excited to have him for two days at Squeeze. There is a 25 person maximum and we’re already at 10, so hurry up and REGISTER (CLICK HERE)!! Maxwell Level One Kettlebell Certification Saturday October 22nd, 2011, 9am-6pm & Sunday October 23rd, 2011, 9am-5pm ONLY AT Squeeze Studio Fitness The Level 1 Kettlebell Instructor Course is not for rank beginners. It is assumed you are already competent in the basic lifts. For an introduction to kettlebells, please register for one of Steve’s 1-day seminars. In the Level 1 KB Instructor Course, course, you will refine your technique on the most important kettlebell lifts, as well as how to safely teach these lifts to others, the most common faults and how to correct them In this course, you will learn correct workout construction and design, appropriate KB group exercise class structure, the most important aspects of leading group KB classes, how to identify and monitor over-reaching/overtraining–and what the difference is. You will learn the Steve Maxwell system of training–and experience its superiority to the other systems out there. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!!!! ***SPECIAL REQUEST AND FREE BONUS:*** Email Justin or Shannon if you would like to come for an hour on Sunday to volunteer your willing bodies to let us practice our new skills and knowledge on you! It will be in the afternoon (usually ~2PM) and you will get a FREE KB lesson with the To-Be Certified Trainers. This is a critical part of the certification and we would love to have an opportunity to share it with our amazing clients, YOU! First come first serve so please let us know asap.

Wauwatosa Spartan & Squeeze Trainer Matt Cerra. Photos by Studio M Boudoir Photography.

My time at Squeeze started almost three years ago.   My teammate, Joe, had been going to Squeeze for a few months and had finally convinced me to attend a Saturday morning bootcamp.   When he told me about the type of workout it was, I said to myself  “I’m in shape, have an active job, play football…how hard can it be?”  In all honesty I have never been more humbled in my entire life. About halfway through the bootcamp I started getting the sweats, couldn’t slow down my breathing, and was pretty much hating life and especially Joe who was working out along side me.  I had just had my ass handed to me by a 5’2″, overly energetic, Devil in Spandex who seemed to enjoy the punishment she had released on me. At the time I thought that I would never be back. Then in the morning I woke up, sore as shit, and my competitive nature kicked in.  I wasn’t going to let Shannon win…

I started to attend just about every Saturday morning bootcamp.  Each time I started to notice a difference in my endurance.  Each time my confidence got higher. Pretty soon I started to look forward to going to Squeeze every Saturday.  When I started I used the training at Squeeze as just a cardio workout, but as I grew closer with Shannon she started to gear my training towards football.  In April, Shannon teamed up with the semi-pro football team, Wauwatosa Spartans, I play on.  Our off-season training sessions were no joke.  Not being able to walk straight for a week because “every day is leg day” made me keep coming back for more. It made me hungry to see how far I could push my body.  Shannon knows how to translate what we do on the field into a workout so you’re not just working out to work out.  You’re working out in a way that is going to help keep you up when you get knocked off balance, run over a defender, or rip through the line.  The raw, core strength I gained is undeniable. The practicality of the training is mind blowing.  During the season Shannon wanted to stay on with us to help us recover after our games.  I have had three ACL surgeries and constant tight hips.  The training we were put through during the season was customized to each one of our needs.  It was truly a gift to have her in our corner for the entire season.  I have never felt better than I do now.

Squeeze has made me discover a passion for training.  By seeing how Shannon genuinely cares about each and every one of her clients has inspired me to become a trainer. I have always worked out but never thought any more of it.  Since I have grown closer to Shannon I have learned that being healthy is not just a fad but a lifestyle that you have to embrace to its fullest. My outlook on life and my health has done a complete 180 in three years.  I am truly blessed to have Shannon as a mentor.  I am looking forward to taking everything she is going to throw at me and put a unique sports minded twist on it.  I’m excited to live a life I’m meant to live.  I want to affect someone’s life the same way that Devil in Spandex affected mine. Oh, and one day I will win even if the score is 2,000,000 to 1.