What playing "the long game" actually looks like
Hey friends,
In our newsletter earlier this week, I mentioned a line that resonated for many of our members:
“Most people overestimate what they can do in 6 weeks, and underestimate what they can do in 6 months (or 6 years!)”
Today, I want to highlight a real-life example of this, and share what showing up consistently actually looks like:
Peter joined Full Range in March of 2025 after a career in tech, and going into music full-time as a classical bass player. He came in with a very basic, functional goal: to be able to stand comfortably for 3-hour long gigs without getting winded, and to carry his instrument to and from events without straining himself. On top of this, he was concerned about his overall health, after being told he was at risk for metabolic disease.
After finding the gym through a random search, Peter was very doubtful that he could make it in class, and felt like everyone was “way above [his] level.”
“I couldn’t even do a single Burpee,” he recalls, but — to Peter’s credit — committed himself anyway to doing our Fundamentals program with Coach TJ.
After some initial assessment, Peter and TJ decided on a course that would combine 1-on-1 Personal Training with our Group Classes. Peter does two PT sessions each week that mirror what the class is doing (but tailored to address his needs), and does two or three more gym workouts either in class or on his own. He also spent some time working with Coach Kristen (KVH) on his nutritional habits, to help support his new lifestyle.
In his own words:
“The personal training prepared me for the class environment. It gave me help learning the motions, understanding the new exercises, movement, technique.”
“TJ has been amazing. He keeps me accountable. One time I called him and said I wasn’t feeling well. He told me ‘if you’re not in bed, you’re coming here.’”
The Results
This is not so much a before-and-after story as it is a snapshot of where Peter is currently in his journey, and the how and why of what’s brought him here. It’s not about getting shredded (though he’s lost an impressive amount of fat over the past 22 months — he’s coy when asked about the numbers), but about what getting fitter actually means in real life. So, again, I’ll let Peter tell you:
“I feel like I’m 30 years old again.”
“I can stand up for 3-hour gigs without a problem.”
“I couldn’t even do a burpee — now I can do 50.”
“I stacked 2.5 cords of wood in two hours. There’s no way I could have done that before.”
“It’s such a great feeling; once you start, watching your progress is a huge motivator to keep moving forward.”
I want to thank Peter for taking the time to share his story, and to Coach Shannon for organizing!
