Body by Design Fitness Studio Alpharetta — Local services in Alpharetta

This review is going to be split into two parts. Immediately will be a TL;DR, and below that will be a more in-depth review.

TL;DR: This gym singlehandedly changed my lifestyle. Keeping me accountable and pushing me to my limits, I was able to go from the worst shape in my life (30% BF and 205 pounds) in Summer/August 2023 to arguably my best shape thus far (24% BF, 185 pounds) in 4 months (December 2023). I can't thank them enough for keeping me motivated and ensuring I make the best use of them.

I initially wanted to join the gym during COVID lockdown but was unable to for my own reasons. During that time, I stopped exercising nearly as much as I used to in high school/university and let go pretty badly, going from easily 170 pounds and 25% BF to about 205 pounds and over 30% BF by the time I took an internship out of state Summer 2023.

When I finished the internship, I was in the worst shape of my life, and it showed both physically and mentally. I don't like using excuses, so enough was enough, and I finally took the step to reach out once more to BBD Alpharetta. From there, I worked with every coach, but primarily with Coach Christian and Coach Dwight from the start. They were the ones who kept making sure I showed up and enforced my duty to improving my well-being. With simple diet changes that were not terribly difficult for me and a consistent exercise regime, I was able to lose 20 pounds and a little over 5% BF in 4 months. I have stagnated a little, but that is because of my dieting choices. I still hit Personal Records on multiple lifts, so by committing to changing my diet, I can achieve the aesthetic build I joined for in the first place.

Since then, I've worked with all the Coaches, Coach Johnathan, Coach Haley, Coach Chloe, and the big guy himself Coach Neal. Each and every one of them have helped me in my journey and I am grateful to them for drilling in the concept of pushing myself to my limits - something I never did even when I exercised on my own when I was younger - and keeping a more healthy lifestyle. It has helped me tremendously in a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual manner.

The gym itself is somewhat small, but it has just about everything you need to begin a journey - from free weights to barbells to cardio to bodyweight exercises. Similarly, the community is relatively small, but it is tight-knit and everyone is there to support one another's journey. It is the kind of environment that every gym should have but doesn't necessarily pull off.

Training regimes are personalized based on what you want to achieve, whether it's an aesthetic build, simple weight and/or fat loss, or building strength, with a slight focus on strength training regardless of goals.

It is located conveniently in Downtown Alpharetta, so there are plenty of things to do around the gym as well should you want a post-workout snack nearby or to simply enjoy what Downtown Alpharetta has to offer before or after your workout.

The Coaches do not let you off the hook easily, they're going to make sure you get your money's worth by working with them. They will push you, but not so much that it is overbearing, because ultimately, it is you who has to make the decision to better yourself.

I could not have asked for a better gym. So much so, that for the time that I am out-of-state for a job/contract (2024-2026), I am continuing to work with them virtually to make sure I can keep myself accountable and not lose the progress I have...

In 2021, I made a commitment to change some things in my life to improve my health. My first step was to change my diet. That was successful. In the span of a year, I lost almost 70 pounds; however, in December of 2022, I realized that I had hit a hard plateau. My 80-year-old parents had been lifting weights at Body by Design for almost 8 years, so I decided that I was going to try adding weights to my health initiative. Wow! What a life changing decision. In almost a year, I have lost nearly 20 lbs, gained 5 pounds of muscle, and lost 8% of body fat. Those are hard, provable evidence of success. Yet, that is not the main reason I would recommend Body by Design. The reason I have been successful is because of the intangibles that can't be measured. First, Body by Design is not just a fitness studio; it is a culture, a family. Each time I walk in, I am greeted by name by every coach and most clients. I jokingly refer to it as the "Cheers" of fitness studios--- everybody knows your name. I have personally worked out with every coach at the studio. They all share my struggles and my successes, and each one has taught me something valuable, each one offering a different perspective on my goals. It is clear that the staff meets regularly to discuss our fitness goals and our plan. It does not matter who you schedule; they are all invested in your success. I like the fact that I have an accountability coach who is working on and tracking not only my body changes, my lifting program, and my diet, but also my challenges with sticking to my program. They encourage me to be consistent and to trust the plan. The most surprising part of the experience is it actually works! I am a 60-year old post-menopausal woman who has tried everything to be healthy with little to no success. One year! Sticking to a plan! Consistency! Every single time I walk in the gym, I am happy to be there. Every workout is a challenge; however, it is not anything that I can't achieve because the plan is personally tailored to my needs. The coaches plan my success so that I don't give up. Praise, encouragement, tangible proof of success keeps me coming back. I have been to other gyms before -- all promising changes; however, I was never able to stick with anything because every program/workout seemed dauntingly difficult. It was almost cookie-cutter planning for anyone my age --- too easy, too hard, going through the motions. Not at Body by Design. I feel that the staff is truly invested in my success. However, it is not just the staff that makes the place feel like home. All of my fellow workout friends provide advice, encouragement, and fellowship. The gym schedules social activities and competitions to keep us all motivated. Overall, Body by Design feels like home, and the people feel like family --- all working toward the same goal of being fit and healthy. I do not hesitate to give Body by Design my highest...

Body by design is NOT another rendition of the same old blunt force workout that leaves you hurting, beyond fatigued and discouraged. In past environments I always felt like I was jumping around trying to do the workout designed by athletes FOR ATHLETES. I would think to myself "do they have any idea how hard it is to do this move at my weight?" Diet and Obesity and fitness have a psychological component that is largely ignored. People who are overweight sometimes can't physically contort into certain positions. It is discouraging and overall ineffective. Body by design revolutionized every aspect of the frustration I developed with gyms, trainers, and high intensity workouts for people who struggle with their weight. I will tell you how.

Everything is intentional, educated and well thought out. I suffer with disability on top of the obesity and NOT ONCE have I felt defeated or frustrated in a workout. I'm not alone. The trainers are always one step ahead of me telling me what's best for MY body to achieve that same goal. They know everyone is made differently they dont expect every. body. to do the same thing. Not to mention there are wonderful people who attend the gym as well who cheer you on. Its a team!

The workouts are effective and restorative. You activate the muscle groups you want to work out, you burn good calories consistently between workouts no matter the day (which I confirmed with a heart rate strap) and you stretch and foam roll to help recover, this is part of the workout. Not bonus points. They have created a culture where stretching is part of the workout. By not waking up those muscle fibers before and not helping them loosen after you are creating an environment of potential injury. This is how they create sustainability. It's not a gimmick, its science.

The culture. Environment plays a huge role in comfort during a transformation. Because that's what everyone going in there is doing, trying to transform their body in some way. The trainers genuinely care, they are kind, are highly educated in kinesiology, exercise science, health science, etc. They are in tune with your body, your weaknesses, and your improvement areas. They treat you like family and I am so grateful.

I have NEVER been eager to get to the gym and get a workout in. I spent years whining and dreading. I have found the gym that makes me excited to, together, get one step closer to helping me feel better, stronger, and more able in my body...it's in the design. You wont regret it. Thanks for coming to my ted talk...