Finding a gym in a new town is hard; of course, sometimes it’s as easy as doing a quick search on the internet! That’s how our next May Fusion Athlete, William Pauly, first heard about the Shop. Since relocating from the Windy City (that’s Chicago!), William Pauly has accepted our daily challenges with sheer enthusiasm and determination.
Take a moment to get to know William, how he became a part of the DBS community, and which barbell movements he can’t get enough of!
Congratulations, William! Keep up the good work!
How did you hear about DBS and how long have you been attending classes?
Honestly? Yelp. I was moving down to Austin in early July of 2013 and was trying to get in shape for my wedding in September. When I moved down, I needed to find a gym relatively fast and wanted something class-based to help motivate me and provide a program. I had done a month of Crossfit in Chicago and after reading the reviews at Dane’s, it looked too good to not try.
What is it about DBS that made you stick around?
Great coaches and great people. As someone new to the area, it’s been a great way to meet people and find fun activities.
I like that it’s a healthy combination of strength and cardio that is always changing. It’s tough to get bored with a workout when it’s always different. Another thing I really like about the program is that each class is fully utilized – if you are going to get an hour workout in, I want it to be an active/exhausting hour and Dane’s does a great job of fully utilizing the entire hour.
You are a regular 6 a.m. attendee, what do you like about the early morning classes?
I’ve never been a morning person, but somehow I have managed to make the 6am classes and I really enjoy it. It helps me get to sleep earlier, and at 6am it’s tough to find an excuse — besides getting up — to not come in. After work, I can think of a ton of excuses, and they usually win. Also, it feels great to get up and get it out of the way so I don’t have to think about it again for the rest of the day.
What fitness goals do you have for yourself in the next 6 months? What would you say is the biggest accomplishment you have conquered since joining DBS?
I have noticed big changes in my overall fitness level, but my biggest accomplishment has been getting back in the fitness mindset. Previously, if I was able to exercise 2-3 times per week, I would be pretty pleased with myself. Now, I’m upset with myself if I can’t get in at least 4 workouts per week. That mindset has helped me eat better also.
After several months at the Shop, I feel pretty good about my form, pace, and routine, so now I’m focused on trying to increase strength. Recently I’ve tried using heavier weights and was surprised with the result, so I plan to continue pushing on that front.
What is your favorite barbell movement? What are your favorite and least favorite Fusion movements?
I think the clean and press [is my favorite barbell movement], since it sort of hits every major body part — my main criteria for how good a movement is. I know it’s not really a single movement, but I also like the AMRAP barbell complexes we do during Community Gains (5 deadlifts, 5 rows, 5 power cleans, 5 front squats, and 5 push presses) since they are a combination of cardio and strength and hit the whole body pretty hard.
It’s tough to narrow [my most favorite Fusion movement] down to one thing, but I’d say the one thing I’ve increased the most on since starting at the Shop are pull-ups, so I’m usually happy to see those on the board.
Turkish get ups [are my least favorite]. I always feel awkward doing them, and maybe I do them wrong, but I never feel much after doing them.
If you were to explain to a friend what you do for exercise, how would you explain your training at DBS?
Like Crossfit, but better – better use of an hour, friendlier people, tons of classes, more variety, and unlimited attendance [for monthly membership].
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