JULY 2026
This month’s member spotlight is on the one and only Brian Leidal!
Brian is one of those people who makes Fit2Live a better place simply by walking through the door.
He’s as friendly, down to earth, genuine, and approachable as they come. Whether you’re a longtime member or attending your very first class, Brian is always quick to say hello and make you feel welcome with his gentle presence.
Brian got his start at Fit2Live in July of 2023 after becoming frustrated with ongoing back pain. He knew he needed more than just another workout routine. He needed coaching, accountability, and a community that would help him move better and stay consistent.
Fast forward a few years, and Brian has completely transformed his relationship with fitness.
He is a proud NEW member of our 500 Class Club, consistently attends class 4–5 times every week, he’s competed in two Fall Brawl competitions, and recently celebrated an incredible milestone of losing 8% body fat and 25lbs while maintaining all of his lean muscle.
Most importantly, the back pain that originally brought him through our doors is no longer holding him back.
Brian works hard every class, brings a positive and supportive attitude to every workout, and quietly leads by example. His consistency and willingness to trust the process have made him an important part of the Fit2Live community.
For these reasons and many more, Brian has been chosen as our Member of the Month!
Read all about Brian’s fitness journey below!
Tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do outside of Fit2Live, family, hobbies, etc.
I was born and raised in Southeast Michigan and spent many years living in other states. For school, I attended Plymouth-Canton High School and went to MSU for undergrad (Go Green!). I performed with the Spartan Marching Band in the drumline for three seasons which was the highlight of college! Jobs I was looking for at the time were scarce, so I moved out of Michigan in 2009 which took me to South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Rhode Island. In those places, I met some great people and had many amazing experiences out-of-state, then moved back to Michigan in 2023 which is when I started at Fit2Live.
My wife, Kaylee, is also from Michigan. We were in a long-distance relationship for several years before we got married on Mackinac Island then moved out-of-state together. She’s a U of M football fan which always adds some spice to our relationship when the annual rivalry game comes around! We have a nine year old dog named Maverick who joined our family when we lived in Colorado. His favorite words are ‘walk, food, and outside’ so you can probably tell that he’s a pretty fun dog.
For hobbies, we enjoy a number of outdoor and indoor activities. Kaylee, Mav, and I enjoy hiking and camping together or just going for walks locally. I sail with my dad and some old friends on Lake Huron and Lake Michigan in the summer. We’re both big Formula 1 fans, which began a few years ago while Kaylee was in law school. If we aren’t talking Formula 1 strategy, we both enjoy playing card and board games and are always up for a game night!
When and why did you get started at Fit2Live? What keeps you coming back?
I started at Fit2Live in the summer of 2023. I had experience with CrossFit in the past and wanted to find a gym with more of an emphasis on community rather than competition. Fit2Live is an excellent balance of physical challenge and community!
I keep coming back to Fit2Live because of the relationships I have built with members and coaches, and the programming has helped me progress in my physical fitness. It has been really great to have a ‘third space’ where I have built friendships as well as improved my physical health.
What is your fondest memory at Fit2Live thus far?
The Fall Brawls have been a blast! They have been a fun and supportive environment to test the limits of the athleticism developed from classes. Karen Peach and Corrine Potocki have been excellent partners!
I met Eric Foldenauer, Dave Klubeck, and John Tucker at the 6am class, which I attended consistently when I started. After a few classes I heard them talking about Magic: The Gathering. I never played very much, but they were looking to start playing together and invited me to join! We play almost once a week nearly three years later.
As a licensed professional counselor, you spend a lot of time helping others work on their mental and emotional health.
How has fitness personally supported your own mental health, and what is one general piece of advice you would give someone who wants to take better care of their mental well-being?
Working out at Fit2Live has been the best way for me to manage my simmering feelings of irritability, rage, and anxiety. I often have walked into the gym feeling irritable and walked out feeling like I can fully breathe again. Working with EJ on nutrition habits has also been a huge help to support my mental health.
My general advice for better mental health is to consider how your habits support you mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. The mind works best when all of these systems are cared for. The following questions can help you assess whether a habit is truly helpful or isn’t working as well as we think it is:
- “How is this working for me?”
- “How does this serve me?”
If you find that a habit isn’t as helpful as you thought it was, try something different, then assess that new behavior by asking the questions again. Remember to be kind to yourself when trying to make habit changes – harsh self-criticism only reinforces unhelpful thoughts and feelings. If you need help making these changes, reach out to a friend, coach, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.
What is 1 fun fact and 1 hobby that you have that someone might not know about you?
Fun fact: I performed with the Detroit Pistons Drumline from 2008-2009.
Random hobby: Kaylee and I attend a convention every October for The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game which is a living card game by Fantasy Flight Games.
If you could travel to any place in the world tomorrow, where would you go and what would you do?
New Zealand! I would love to hike both islands and visit the Shire set from the LOTR movies.
If you could make the workout “Brian”, what would it look like (movements, repetitions, etc)?
Test:
500m row for time
10 Minutes Rest Then:
AMRAP 8 of:
3 Deadlifts (moderate to heavy weight)
2 Hang Power Cleans
1 Push Press or Push Jerk
Cash out: 100 Double-Unders
Favorites!
Movie: The Lord of the Rings, Return of the King
TV Show: New Girl
Song: Lie in Our Graves, Dave Matthew’s Band
Book: The Butcher’s Masquerade (Dungeon Crawler Carl book five) by Matt Dinniman
Quote: “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
What daily habit has changed your life for the better?
The plate method!
What is at the top of your bucket list?
Travel to all US National Parks
What future fitness goal are you currently working towards?
Continuing to stay healthy and physically active so I can remain functional into old age!
THANKS FOR BEING AWESOME BRIAN! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AT FIT2LIVE!
NEXT UP: JOHANNA GRUM MEMBER OF THE MONTH JUNE 2026!
JOIN THE BEST GYM IN ANN ARBOR TODAY!
About Fit2Live
Fit2Live is Ann Arbor’s premier fitness and nutrition coaching gym located on the south side of Ann Arbor just off of Ellsworth by Costco. We are dedicated to helping busy professionals, parents, and everyday people build sustainable health and fitness habits that last a lifetime. We are in the business of real, sustainable health and fitness change. Our expert coaches specialize in functional fitness, CrossFit, group fitness training, personal training, corporate fitness training and nutrition and wellness coaching. We offer scalable workouts and customized programs designed to help you get stronger, gain lean muscle, lose body fat, and feel confident in your body. At Fit2Live, you’ll never be just another member—we provide high accountability, personalized coaching, and a supportive community that keeps you motivated. Whether you’re brand new to fitness or ready to take your training to the next level, Fit2Live is Ann Arbor’s go-to destination for functional fitness, group training, personal training, strength training, and healthy lifestyle transformation. Ready to start your journey? Book your free No Sweat Intro today and see why our members call Fit2Live the best hour of their day.