Southside Strength and Fitness

Member Highlight - Meet Dr. Ian

Dr. Ian is training with a focus on both strength and hypertrophy, and sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from the simplest changes. For Ian, increasing his daily carbohydrate intake by about 25% has been one of the biggest catalysts for his growth, helping fuel better performance and recovery.

One piece of advice he wishes he knew earlier is not being afraid to change things up when training starts to feel stale. “Switching between strength and hypertrophy training can be a fun way to mix things up in your routine while continuing to make progress,” he shared.

Dr. Ian says Southsides community is unmatched. Being surrounded by strong, supportive people who are all working toward their own goals creates an atmosphere that’s hard to find anywhere else. Add in plenty of smiling faces and positive energy, and it’s easy to see why he enjoys training here.

One accomplishment he’s especially proud of is refining and improving his bench press. Since joining Southside, he has doubled the number of reps he can perform at 225 pounds, and seeing that progress firsthand has made the journey even more rewarding.

We’re proud of your progress, Dr. Ian—keep building!

Member Highlight - Meet Mark

Mark’s training became something deeper than fitness. After a difficult year, the gym became part of rebuilding, not for a competition but for himself. He’s not chasing a specific event; he’s chasing the kind of life that consistent work creates.

One of the biggest shifts in his growth happened outside the gym—in the kitchen. Over the past year, Mark taught himself how to cook seriously. Meal prepping, baking sourdough, and learning how to fuel his body properly became just as important as the training itself. Because while the workouts matter, he believes the real results are built through what happens day to day behind the scenes.

He wished he knew how to build systems first. Sleep, nutrition, and consistency make everything easier when they become routine instead of relying on willpower.

Mark said that Southside gave him the environment to continue that growth. The top-tier equipment speaks for itself, but what makes Southside different is the people. Everyone’s putting in serious work for their own reasons; being surrounded by that kind of energy makes it easier to stay locked in yourself.

What Mark is most proud of is the full journey. After breaking his leg, he graduated from physical therapy in November, bought his lifetime Southside membership that same week, started back at square one with training, and by February was already hitting personal records.

From being told he may never train the same way again… to setting PRs just months later.

That’s resilience and discipline, we’re proud of you, Mark!