Our Founder, Ryan McStockard was recently featured by Voyage Michigan in their “Daily Inspiration” series, we thought this was a good opportunity to share a little more of Ryan’s story and how Fit2Live came to be here.
You can read the original Voyage Michigan interview HERE!
The interview highlights Ryan, the Founder of Fit2Live Gym in Ann Arbor, and how Fit2Live has grown into one of the longest operating functional fitness gyms in the area.
More than that, it shares the heart behind the gym.
Fit2Live was built to be more than a place to exercise.
It was built to be a place where busy adults, parents, professionals, beginners, and long-time fitness enthusiasts could work on their health in a fun, supportive, and professional environment.
Why Ryan Started Fit2Live
Ryan purchased Fit2Live in late 2014 with a pretty simple goal.
Create a gym where people could get stronger, healthier, and more confident with the help of coaches who actually care.
Not just a room full of equipment. Not just another quick-fix fitness challenge. Not a place where people feel lost, intimidated, or like they have to already be in shape before they walk through the door.
The goal was to build a professional coaching gym with a positive community, experienced coaches, and an approach to fitness that could actually last.
That mission still drives Fit2Live today.
What Makes Fit2Live Different?
Fit2Live is a functional fitness gym on the south side of Ann Arbor that focuses on coaching, sustainability, longevity, and community.
Our members come from all different starting points. Some are busy parents trying to get their energy back. Others are professionals who sit too much and want to move better.
We certainly get plenty of beginners who are nervous to start and our coaches can give them the next best step in their fitness journey, helping beginners is actually our specialty.
On the opposite end of the spectrum we also have our fair share of former athletes who miss having structure, coaching, and a team environment.
Lastly, some simply want to feel better, build strength, tone up, and have more fun while taking care of themselves which is exactly what they’ll get each day at Fit2Live.
All new members get started the best way possible, working 1-on-1 with a coach in our Foundations Program.
The common thread is this:
They do not want to figure it all out on their own.
They want coaching.
They want accountability.
They want a community that makes fitness feel like something they can actually stick with.
A Gym That Feels Like a Third Place
One of the things our members often say is that Fit2Live feels like their “third place.”
Home is first. Work is second. But where is that “third place?”
Fit2Live becomes that third place where people can show up, move, laugh, high-five, get coached, and be around people who are also trying to improve their health.
That matters, because most people do not fail at fitness because they are lazy. They struggle because life is busy, stress is high, motivation comes and goes, and doing it alone is hard. The right environment changes everything.
Coaching for Real Life
At Fit2Live, the goal is not to beat people up with workouts or to beat someone in a workout.
The goal is to help our members build fitness that is sustainable and supports real life.
That means:
- Building strength
- Improving conditioning
- Moving better
- Increasing energy
- Reducing stress
- Supporting long-term health
- Making fitness fun enough to keep doing
- Focusing on healthy lifestyle habits outside of the gym
Our workouts are challenging, but they are also coach-led, adjustable, and designed for real people with real lives.
You do not have to be in shape to start. You do not have to know what you are doing. You do not have to be competitive.
You just have to be willing to show up, work hard, support those around you and let us help you take the next step.
Lessons From Owning a Gym
In the Voyage Michigan interview, Ryan also shared that the road has not always been smooth.
Owning a gym comes with long days, late nights, and plenty of lessons learned the hard way.
The pandemic was one of the most challenging seasons Fit2Live ever faced. Like many small businesses, the gym had to adapt quickly. Classes moved online. Equipment was loaned out to members. Coaches found new ways to keep people moving and connected.
Eventually, classes moved outside, then back inside.
That season reinforced something important.
Fitness is not just about workouts.
It is about people.
It is about relationships.
It is about helping members stay connected to their health, even when life gets difficult.
Pandemic or not, the mission remains the same, help our members out however we can.
The Mission Moving Forward
Fit2Live’s mission is to impact the lives of 12,000 people in the Ann Arbor area.
That number is not random.
The idea is that if Fit2Live can help 200 members at a time improve their health, energy, confidence, and fitness, those people will impact their families, friends, coworkers, and community.
Healthy people influence other people.
Parents model better habits for their kids, friends invite friends to try something new, coworkers notice more energy and confidence and suddenly mall changes spread.
That is the bigger mission behind the workouts.
Who Fit2Live Is For
Fit2Live is a great fit for busy adults in Ann Arbor who want coaching, structure, and community.
Especially if you:
- Want to get stronger but do not know where to start
- Feel intimidated by traditional gyms
- Have struggled to stay consistent on your own
- Want to lose body fat and build lean muscle
- Need accountability and support
- Want fitness to feel fun again
- Care about long-term health and longevity
- Are looking for group fitness, personal training, or nutrition and wellness coaching
You do not need to be an athlete. You do not need to be a “gym person.”
You just need a place where you feel supported and coached.
That is what we are here for.
Thank You to Voyage Michigan
We are grateful to Voyage Michigan for featuring Ryan and sharing more about the story behind Fit2Live.
Their platform highlights local businesses, creatives, and community stories across Michigan, and we appreciate the opportunity to share why Fit2Live exists and who we are trying to help.
You can read the full Voyage Michigan interview HERE.
Ready to See If Fit2Live Is Right For You?
The best way to get started is to book a free consultation with a Fit2Live coach RIGHT HERE.
We will talk about your goals, your current routine, what has or has not worked for you in the past, and the best next step based on where you are right now.
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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.