It wasn’t that long ago that Bodybuilding.com ranked Buffalo as on of the Top Ten Ripped Cities (see here). Following that designation, writer Sara Palmer decided to interview Fierce Fitness founder Giovanni “Gio” Preziuso, as his gym was referenced as having a high “cool factor”.
Author: Sara Palmer
When it comes to hitting the gym, what’s more inspiring – a squeaky set of treadmills or battle rope training? Some gyms just aren’t quite like the others, and members of Buffalo’s Fierce Fitness know it. They blast abdominal fat while suspended from the ceiling and build endurance by cross training weight lifting with gymnastics. The gym’s approach to fitness is so innovative that it has received national attention — Bodybuilding.com recently awarded Fierce Fitness the title “Coolest Gym in Buffalo.”
“Our tag line is ‘Change your life. Not just your body,’” said Fierce Fitness founder Giovanni “Gio” Preziuso. “We know that our fast-paced society can have major health impacts on a lot of people. That’s why we develop creative, invigorating fitness plans that don’t just stimulate your body, but also your life.”
A former model and certified personal trainer with a 5 o’clock shadow that sprouts at 9 a.m., it’s easy to see how this guy can run the coolest gym in Buffalo. He throws around phrases like “waist circumference reduction” with such a friendly smile that even his seaweed egg white shake recipe sounds tasty. You’ll see him out on the gym floor all day, every day, helping a client strengthen shoulders, work out sore hamstrings or tighten up that post-Thanksgiving core.
“Gio was very easy to talk to and, from the very beginning, he helped me to set short-term goals that I could manage,” said Fierce Fitness member Larry Leaven. “In 10 months, I went from 282 pounds to 232.” Recently, Leaven, Fierce Fitness’s 2013 Man of the Year, weighed in at 221 pounds with only 8 percent body fat.
When BodyBuilding.com collected data from it’s “Strength in Numbers” survey, the city of Buffalo ranked 5th “most ripped” in the nation. The website highlighted Fierce Fitness as a “4,000-square-foot Valhalla of heavy weights and functional training” and baptized it the “coolest gym” in part because of its “personalized fitness training, suspension training, kettlebells, Olympic lifting, and everything in between.”
Everything in between includes yoga classes, lateral elliptical machines, stationary bikes, treadmills and year-round members only access between 5 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week. Members can use the modern industrial training facility at their convenience or sign up for group classes small enough that each individual gets personalized attention. A spacious shower and rentable lockers makes this gym a mecca for the busy professional. In 2011, when Preziuso joined forces with Sherry Arndt Preziuso, his wife, business exploded. Her analytical, business savvy mind was the perfect boost to the Fierce Fitness experience.
“It has been thrilling to watch this business grow and become a part of the Buffalo community,” Sherry said. “It is equally as thrilling to see our clients achieve their individual goals and know that Fierce was a home to them during these positive life changes.”
These two dynamic leaders have built a strong foundation for the entire the Fierce team. They brought in a yoga instructor who specializes in flexibility and recovery for athletes, along with the strength and endurance needs of those on a weight loss plan. The gym is also home to the therapeutic massage professionals at Phoenix Rising, who offer Swedish, therapeutic, hot stone and couples massages in a relaxing oasis right on site.
Rounding out the team is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor with a bachelor’s in exercise science and certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). “Having the opportunity to make a positive change in someone’s life — there’s really nothing more rewarding than that,” said Fierce Fitness trainer and instructor John Lepo.
From TRX suspension to cross-training, the facility has expanded, membership has skyrocketed and the group fitness classes have tripled. The Fierce Fitness team realizes that the treadmill alone just won’t cut it. They design programs that ward off physical plateaus and stagnant thinking. That’s why among all the gyms in the nation’s 5th “most ripped” city, Fierce Fitness came out on top. Even with all this growth, the company maintains a strong focus on community and a personal connection to its members.
“Right away, I loved that it small and that I could come and go at my convenience,” said Fierce Fitness member Joann Ryan. “The focus is on personal training by people who are educated and have comprehensive training. I never felt intimidated or that I didn’t belong there. I feel strong, and I am getting stronger still.”
Fierce Fitness is something of a Cinderella story. Less than a decade ago, Preziuso was training elite athletes in damp Elmwood basements or among the shady trees lining Bidwell Parkway. Sometimes he’d even sneak clients into vast downtown apartment complexes to take advantage of open space in the harsh Buffalo winter.
“We’ve come along way,” Preziuso said, “but so have our clients, so can anyone if they are committed. Even if health hasn’t been your focus for the past 30 years, there is still time. Success comes from perseverance, determination and commitment. You control your own destiny.”
Fierce Fitness | 167 Ashland Avenue | Buffalo, NY 14222 | (716) 715-8682 | www.fiercetraining.net