“I met John in person in early February 2019 though I had been following Bair Knuckle Strength on Facebook for months. I enjoyed the videos and personal posts. John was very accommodating in arranging a meeting and offered advice and encouragement with absolutely no pressure to join.
We talked about goals, my abilities (and limitations with a knee replacement in 2016), my concern about being so out of shape as well as depression and loss.
He didn’t turn me away.
He didn’t discourage me.
I got the feeling that he actually believed I could achieve my goals (even when I had my doubts). I knew then that this was someone I wanted to work with; though, admittedly I figured I’d bail at some point, because eventually I quit everything.
I’d like to share some background and why I found myself @ BKS a year ago.
In 2018/early 2019 I was the heaviest I had ever been (though I have been overweight off & on since high school). I had lost 20-40-60 lbs multiple times in the past, but I always regained very quickly.
I struggled with depression and self-worth on top of physical limitations: couldn’t walk up steps without heavy breathing, couldn’t stand for any length of time, had difficulty doing housework, couldn’t walk for distances and had pain in my knees and feet. I actually couldn’t stand long enough to take a shower – I had to use a shower chair.
In the months before I joined BKS, I was a member @ LA Fitness to use their pool…. Or that’s at least what I told myself. My thought/plan/excuse was that I was going to walk in the pool and work UP to the level I thought I’d need for a more challenging venue. Sounds great in theory, but I think I went 3 times in 3 months and frankly hated it. A pool can be very beneficial for some people; but I resisted going. I was paying $25/month (on top of initiation stuff) which may sound like a good deal; but, does it matter if I never went?!?! So, there was absolutely no value in that for me.
I was turning 48 that February and was SO tired of feeling SO crappy all the time. I had many years ahead of me (hopefully) and it would be unfortunate to live them out so miserably.
While I was NEVER consistent with exercise before and had never successfully kept weight off, I wasn’t ready to completely give up. I had a vacation planned for June and I knew that I had to make changes if I wanted to enjoy myself.
I had an assessment and first/trial class on 2/16/19.
Students were different ages, sizes and had varying abilities. The other students were very welcoming and put me at ease though I was so out of my comfort zone. I’m not gonna lie! It was really challenging for me. I couldn’t do everything nor anything for any length of time; but John encouraged me to take breaks when I needed and to go at my own pace.
John corrected my form when needed and guided me (literally getting on the floor to demonstrate), while protecting my knee by modifying some exercises. I’m not the most coordinated person and John had so much patience. He met me where I was. And, just when I thought I couldn’t go on, class was over. I had made it!
I had so many feelings afterward…. I was disappointed in myself that I had gotten SO far out of shape; but, also proud that I took that first step. BKS was a safe space that allowed me to do so. No one shamed me for what I couldn’t do. I was somewhat sore the next day, but I didn’t feel beaten up and I was able to back.
I felt improvement every week. I lasted longer. I was getting better. I was starting to shift from my typical response of “I can’t” and immediately giving up to actually wanting to work harder. John pushed me when I needed it. He has never asked me to do something that I wasn’t capable of and that still holds true today. He knew when I was ready to take on more challenging training before I did. I might need a kick in the pants now & then; but a screaming, obnoxious coach would NOT work for me.
John is unlike anyone I’ve encountered. He reads people. He gets people. He motivates people like me when I thought I was incapable of being motivated.
My June trip was amazing because I had prepared properly with John’s training. I was extremely pleased that I had the foresight to get help when I did….truly one of the best decisions of my life.
Fast forward 8 more months…. I cannot believe how much has changed! How *I’ve* changed. I’ve actually become a person that enjoys training. Classes continue to be very challenging of course, but there’s such a good vibe with the others in the BKS community. I enjoy “challenging”. I enjoy sweating. That is so different from me a year ago where I was most comfortable on my couch.
I’m down ~80 pounds and feel the best I’ve felt in a very, very long time. I’m moving so much better, I have better balance; I’ve reduced, but I have some definition.
Despite feeling generally great, my other knee has been problematic of late and I’m scheduled for another knee replacement. I believe a replacement was inevitable because I beat up my knees with a significant amount of extra weight for years; but I ALSO absolutely believe that my time with John pushed surgery back at least a year (while maintaining a wonderful quality of life until just recently). In fact, I’ve accepted needing surgery so that I can get back to training as soon as possible. I KNOW that my upcoming recovery will be better this time around because I’m lighter and stronger – all thanks to John.
Complementing my strength, my mood has GREATLY improved. Life had gotten pretty grim before BKS. In the past year, John has helped me with the most challenging part of my body – my brain.
He encourages us to go deeper; to examine the ‘whys’ of what we do and how we think, to get real, to own our stuff, to honor our goals. Not only was that crucial in my journey, but an invaluable approach to apply to other areas of my life and future. One can literally see how my body has changed; but, John has helped heal my mind more effectively than years of therapy (which people have noticed as well).
Sometimes I’ve fallen off the wagon with my eating and training; but, John has never wavered. He’s happy to discuss what’s going on whenever (if) I’ve wanted to. He manages to support, comfort and challenge in a non-threatening, non-judgmental way.
I share all of this for those who want to make a change, improve physically & mentally, and just feel better. I NEVER thought I would stick to any form of exercise for any length of time. Bair Knuckle Strength was what I needed.
Perhaps it’s trite to say “if I can do it, you can do it”, but it’s so true.
A year ago, sure – I wanted to lose weight and get in shape – but, I had no idea what I was truly capable of.
John has helped me realize it.
His gifts are multi-faceted and what he’s created @ Bair Knuckle Strength has absolutely changed my life.”
Rebecca (Becky) Albracht
Horsham, PA United States
Be Well – John
Changing the way Life is done.
Mindset. Fitness. Nutrition.
P.S. Here are 4 more ways you can become happier and healthier:
1. Podcasts
Some of the greatest insights and healing for me, have come from listening to podcasts in the last few years. This long-form type of communication, I’ve found, has been extremely important for understanding context, while learning how to make sustainable change.
That’s why I have started to find ways to get our story on some podcasts, and give you an opportunity to really go deep with us, and see what we’re all about. That way, you can decide if this tribe fits your personality. Click the link below to go to our podcast page, where you can find all our episodes!
2. Rise
Rise is the story of ‘never feeling powerful … to … never feeling powerless’. It’s about John Bair’s life, why he does what he does and how his suffering created happiness.
This handwritten book takes you through an intimate, yet, self-revealing journey, which allows you to implant yourself into the story, as it relates to your own, and reveal the steps you’ll need to take, in order to make change a successful reality.
Available in DIGITAL, AUDIO, BOOK
Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy
3. Join our BADASS Community on Facebook
We want to work with and be around as many BADASS people as possible. Folks who might forget how BADASS they are and just need the space to remember.
So, we started a FREE group on Facebook called BADASS, which is our own private community where we go deeper into what we do at Bair Knuckle Strength.
The truth is, it makes the world a happier, safer, more enjoyable place when you love your BADASS self.
If you’re ready to see what we do, just CLICK HERE!
4. Fitness Scorecard
Have you gone through the Fitness Scorecard yet?
Confused where to start, or what to do next with your health and fitness journey?
Well, step 1 is to understand where you currently score across the 8 Fitness Indicators.
Start your journey toward your personal fitness breakthrough by completing your Fitness Scorecard Today: CLICK HERE