Schliesmann and the rest of the gym staff welcomed 13 new pieces of equipment into the facility’s current northwest room, adding even more flexibility to a highly diverse roster of free-weight and set-machine equipment open to all members.

“It’s always been in the book. All that equipment in there, I’ve had my eyes on,” Schliesmann said. “This has pretty much been the plan since day one, to get some of that stuff and offer more [to our members].”

While growth is always on Schliesmann’s mind, this specific project began to gain momentum this past winter when the head trainer started ordering a range of new equipment he believed would further shape the current gym structure. Initial gauges into costs and space began months earlier in the fall.

“It’s got about a 16-week lead time. Once you place the order and get the money collected, it takes that long to get going,” Schliesmann said. “In December and January, we placed the order, saying this is what we want. But I started pre-planning with what things were costing and what we were all looking at back to this last fall.”

Photo by Jake Olson: Live Fit's new gym equipment.

Schliesmann and his other staff members then thought of how to arrange the new pieces to fit the designated space. Using their own power to move the equipment, the room was set up to provide members with the best possible space and structure for working out.

“I got a little bit from my employees, asking what they thought of a certain machine and what the best layout would be,” Schliesmann said. “As trainers, they understand where the layout of the room is and where things should go. Asking what they thought of this or where it should go, and we just sort of bean bagged things together.”

All new equipment pieces pivot on upper-body movements, focusing on the chest, triceps, shoulders, and even the back. This was one of the main objectives in the recent purchase: adding more tools to fit very specific lifts and strength routines while giving each individual the best possible gym experience. Schliesmann believes the addition of these new muscle groups to his arsenal checks some of the final boxes of his gym.

“I knew as an owner that these were the things that we needed to add to the facility,” Schliesmann said.

“We want to make sure we fill those demands, fill those needs while making sure all the equipment is very good quality and built to last.”

Another benefit of the added equipment has been the creation of more space for gym members. New apparatuses reduce foot traffic in the facility during busy hours, spreading individuals throughout the gym space. It gives all members, from casual users to everyday participants, the room they need to operate comfortably.

“I feel like the way we put it together really allowed people to not be stacked up on top of each other. There’s plenty of room in there. You can fill that room with 20 plus people and feel like you’re not too jam-packed,” Schliesmann said. “It divides people up and allows people who are in the training room to have everything they need. …If it is a little crowded, you can just set up your station.”

The reception from gym members has been positive thus far towards Schliesmann and Live Fit. Individuals have flocked to the new equipment, taking advantage of its top-of-the-line features and adding it to their workout routines. It shows Live Fit’s commitment to giving back to the community.

“The number one thing I’ve seen is a lot more activity in that room from our regular gym members,” Schliesmann said. “I’ve had amazing feedback, from either ‘Hey, how do you use this machine?’ or ‘Dude, this is awesome stuff, this is what your gym was missing.’ I’ve heard that quote many times over.”