"Today marks one year since I joined Starting Strength in Chicago! I remember coming in for my introductory session without knowing exactly what my goals were. Since I was a complete beginner, I thought maybe I would learn the proper technique of the lifts for a few months, then continue training on my own somewhere closer to my home. Once I started coming in 3x a week, though, I realized I wanted to come back for as long as I can. I always feel good about showing up and I always look forward to the next session. It is a bit of a time commitment for me with 90 mins in the gym + 90 mins traveling back and forth on the CTA, but it’s been worthwhile. Your rack is reserved so you don’t ever have to wait for one. Your program is personalized to you, specifically. You get the supervision of awesome coaches (thank you Alex, Jon, Cordelia, and Evelyn 134 lbs Squat: 31 lbs —> 152.5 lbs Bench: 31 lbs —> 101 lbs Press: 21 lbs —> 75 lbs Deadlift: 51 lbs —> 220 lbs Highly recommended 💪"

"I'm new to lifting, started training here 3 months ago, and my progress has been amazing--major lifts increased anywhere from 45% to over 250%, which honestly says everything about the quality of the coaching and Starting Strength program. And I feel so much stronger and confident, too. Head coach Alex is awesome. Every session is focused, no nonsense, tailored. I had to use other gyms while traveling, and I couldn't wait to get back to this gym! It is so superior. If you want to get crazy strong safely and efficiently, this is your place."

"If you're a fat woman unsure if weightlifting is for you, I promise that Starting Strength is a great place to work on your strength and wellness goals. Before I walked in the door for my first session, I felt a moment of fear. Who was I to walk into a serious weightlifting space with serious athletes as a fat woman who was just recovering from over four months of bronchitis and pneumonia? I had done over six months of Starting Strength on my own about ten years ago with great results but had always wondered if my form was correct and was worried about injuring myself. Then tough life happened, and I struggled to maintain a consistent workout routine and struggled with emotional eating. I've done a lot of work in the past year or so to improve my life: therapy, walking, swimming, eating more whole foods, and more. I'm working to be healthier, but sometimes it's hard to be consistent. So when I looked up gyms to weightlift in the area and saw that Starting Strength had consistent group coaching, I knew that would be helpful to keep me consistent. And it has. I haven't missed a session since I started going. In the last five weeks, I made the following progress in my lifts: Squat: 72 lbs → 100 lbs Military Press: 32 lbs → 67 lbs Incline Bench: 42 lbs → 77 lbs Rack Pull: 42 lbs → 130 lbs The head coach, Alex, has been incredibly welcoming and makes no big deal about making adjustments to work for different abilities or bodies. In my very first session, he said that I would be able to deadlift 200 lbs easily, and it's been motivating to have something to work towards. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and friendly, and I was excited to see how diverse the clientele was. There are all ages, genders, races, body types, and abilities--and about half of the group is composed of women. It's especially encouraging to see other women lifting heavy weights. I never once felt judged or out of place, which as a fat woman in a serious gym, I genuinely did not expect. I've found that I look forward to sessions and that I feel better after going. The hardest part for me is getting myself to physically go to the gym. But once I'm there, I'm always glad that I came. In five weeks, lower back pain that was a 7 out of 10 while walking has dropped to almost nothing, and I've noticed more energy, deeper sleep, and better posture. I'm looking forward to seeing how my health and strength continues to improve. Overall, the experience has been great for me, and I would highly recommend Starting Strength for anyone looking for no-nonsense coaching and accountability. Plus the diverse music playlist has been an education."