Once again I want to thank everyone for their questions and support for not only this column, but also the WBFF. Hopefully everyone has had the chance to see the new online magazine at www.fitandfirmmag.com. It is a one of a kind revolutionary FREE magazine that the WBFFs owner Paul Dillett has come up with to once again show how different this organization truely is. Yes we have sponsors. Sponsors that we selectively pick from and believe in and support. However the magazine is for YOU. With no BS information. Not pushing anyone or anything on you. Simply offering real world information. In other words THE TRUTH! There are no corporate big wigs pulling our strings telling us what to say or push or endorse. Just like the WBFF is the organization that supports and promotes it’s athletes, it’s magazine is truely for it’s fans. If there is something you want to see? Tell us. It’s YOUR magazine.

Frank, I want to say I really enjoy your column. It is informative, well written and humorus. I was just wondering where you work out to build a physique like that. I moved to a small town and I know there are a few small gyms, but nothing like what I am used to since I’ve been a member of Gold’s Gym for years. I’m considering just buying my own equipment! -Jim P.

Hey Jim, thanks for the letter. You bring up a great point! Buying your own equipment? Bro if you have that much money? GIVE ME SOME haha! Seriously, if you are saying you don’t want to join a gym because it isn’t Gold’s, yet you are thinking about buying equipment? Hmmm… how should I put this? WAKE UP!! Thats an insane amount of money. GO to the gyms in your town. Just because they are not a Gold’s or World’s gym, SO WHAT? Maybe they will surprise you and be as good if not better! I’ve been a member of Gold’s for 20years. I was also a consultant for one that we opened and set sales records. I have seen the franchise change quite a bit over the years. And I have to say I miss the sound of the clanging weights since everything is rubberized. I miss machines that FIT me, since now machines are designed unisex and I am not a… small guy. I miss throwing on the sweats and getting a good workout. Not having the anxiety of… oh my god! I cannot find the underarmour shirt that matches these pants haha! Well, just a few weeks ago I was at work which happens to be in the small town of Batavia, NY. Guys I work with kept talking about this guy who opened a gym in town named Next Level Fitness. Partial to my Gold’s, I didn’t think to check it out. As the weeks went by, more and more friends told me I really should see it. To appease my friends at work I went a just to look at it. Set on the historical Main street, I saw a cozy (yeah I said cozy! deal with it!!!) coffee shop in the front. I pulled into the back lot, and when I entered I was shocked. I was no longer in small town Batavia. I felt like I was in a club in New York City. The Architecture, design, colors, everything was absolutely beautiful. Now I started thinking… ok well, this must be just a fancy club. Until I got a tour. The gym is three floors. The top floor has a 3,000sq ft womens gym, beautiful lockerooms with steamrooms, and an aerobics room that also has brass poles for pole dancing classes. The middle floor where the reception area is has the state of the art cardio equipment, and the first floor or basement was a dream come true for me. A cross between old school and new. The best of equipment both old and new. Whatever truely works. Not one peice of equipment am I not comfortable on. And ready for this? Dumbells up to 200 pounds. Yes you read that correctly. I have not seen dumbells go that high in ANY gym anywhere close to where I live. And there are plenty of gyms. I was so excited about the gym I started that very day. After my workout I met Ken Mistler and his lovely wife Andrea who own the club. Both truely wonderful people who take pride in their club, and unlike many club owners, you will see Ken mopping and cleaning the bathrooms, walking around seeing what he can do for members, etc. It is such a unique and rare experience. And there has not been a day or time that I have not seen Andrea working at the counter assisting members, giving tours, etc. And unlike in this day of games and sales techniques, they greet people with a smile, show the gym, show the price, and allow the potential member to make their choice. No high pressure sales here. They feel joining their club should be a positive experience. Not one filled with anxiety. And my reception to the club by members has been nothing short or humbling. I will be bringing a new package to the stage this year and it will be due to one of those “small town gyms”, so never assume. Go into the clubs and see what they have to offer. (more…)