He Waited Six Months to Try GBSC. Now Matt Wishes He Had Started Sooner.

Matt’s wife joined Great Bay Strength & Conditioning first. For about six months, she encouraged him to give it a try.

When he finally came to the gym in September 2025, he describes himself as a typical middle-aged dad with a desk job. Getting down on the floor to stretch felt uncomfortable. He struggled with squats and could not run a mile without stopping. A 20-inch box jump was not something he wanted to attempt.

He did not arrive feeling ready for everything the gym offered. He started with coaching that met him where he was.

A supported starting point

Matt began in semi-private sessions with Eric and Mike. In his review, he describes both coaches as “exceptionally knowledgeable” and highlights the attention to his individual starting point.

After a few weeks, he moved into group classes. That was his path, not a required progression for every new member. Semi-private coaching offers more individualized programming; group classes provide shared training with coaching to help adjust the work to you.

The useful question is which setting fits your experience, goals, and preferences now.

A class where he could ask for an alternative

Matt appreciated knowing he did not have to perform every exercise exactly as written. He gives a concrete example: if pull-ups did not feel like the right choice yet, a coach could offer ring rows.

“Just about any movement can be substituted with something you are more comfortable with,” he writes.

He also valued the scale of the gym. GBSC’s coached group classes are capped at 16 people and last about 45 minutes. Matt found that lunchtime classes suited him, while his wife preferred mornings.

Your week does not have to look like someone else’s. See the current class schedule and ask Eric which times and format might fit you.

Progress he did not expect

Looking back on his first year, Matt describes changes that mattered to him:

• He progressed to 24-inch box jumps, something he would not have considered when he started.

• He reports bench pressing more weight and doing more pull-ups than he could in college.

• He ran a treadmill mile in under 10 minutes, surprising himself after a long stretch without running.

• At 45, he finished the Portland half marathon almost 30 minutes faster than his previous half marathon at 33.

These are Matt’s experiences over his first year. Your starting point, goals, and progress will be your own.

His own summary is simple: “wish I had started sooner!”

You do not need to match his finish line

A half marathon or a box jump does not need to be your goal. You might want to feel more comfortable starting exercise, build strength for everyday life, or find a routine you can repeat.

Matt’s story begins with uncertainty, not an impressive workout. A conversation and an appropriate first step came before the bigger milestones.

Ask Eric about your starting point. Tell him what you would like to work toward and what feels uncertain. He can help you compare coached group classes and semi-private training.

Explore your first month at GBSC or compare current membership options.

Adapted from Matt’s Google review.