Community Highlights: Meet Katie Lunde of Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping of Anthem

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Lunde

Hi Katie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I originally started with Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping when I was living in Denver, CO. I had just moved there to start grad school and given my busy schedule, I quickly realized that exercising was not a priority. While it was possible for me to go to the gym and know how to get a good workout, that didn’t motivate me and was something that I could easily make an excuse not to do. That’s when I decided that group fitness might be the best approach and started with Farrell’s. I was interested in their program not only because it was a class, but also because it was kickboxing and strength training, a well-blended workout regimen that sounded interesting. Fast forward a few months, a new owner came into the gym and quickly turned my 45-minutes at the gym into one of the best parts of my day. I soon became trained as an instructor and started to become more invested in the program and my own healthy lifestyle. I likewise realized that the current job I was doing wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life and was looking for a change. I chatted with the owner at the time, Ariel, and floated the idea of my opening a Farrell’s and lucky for me, her response was a resounding yes. While it was not an immediate thing, I did start working towards it and actually decided to bring the brand to Arizona. After relocating, going through the struggles of finding and leasing a space, and going through the remodel with multiple setbacks, I was finally able to open Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping in Anthem or FXB Anthem in January of 2023. We have been open and operating ever since, slowly building our member base and brand recognition within the community. It has been a slow process at times but as we are coming up on our 2-year anniversary, something that I am glad I took the leap and did.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, but I feel like most business owners would probably say the same thing. I think that some of the biggest hurdles we have worked to overcome is being a small business in a very saturated market. In Phoenix, probably like most major cities, there is competition everywhere, and there is not a lack of gyms or fitness studios right around us. Unlike other brands that are known nationwide, Farrell’s is very popular and well-known in the Midwest, but not in Arizona. As of now, we are the only Farrell’s here, so we do not have the immediate credibility of some of the other boutique fitness studios. While being the first to do something is exciting and can be fun, it can also be a challenge, and not having brand recognition is definitely a downfall. In addition to other brick and mortar gyms, we are also still on the tail end of COVID, so we are going against the many home-based workouts that saved many of us during a time when we couldn’t be together. However, it is a challenge to convince someone to join a gym when they have a full gym in their own house. As we have now been in the community for almost 2 years, the reputation building and brand recognition is getting better, but it does take so much longer than you would think or like it to.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping of Anthem?
One of our most common taglines is that “Farrell’s has everything you need. No guesswork. Just results” and I am proud to say that this is true. Our program offers instructor-led group fitness classes to take the guesswork out of your workouts. There is no stumbling around a gym wondering what the heck you should be working on or how to even use a piece of equipment. The beauty of our classes is that the biggest thing you need to do is show up. Now I don’t want to downplay this because sometimes showing up is the majority of the battle, but once you are here, you just have to follow along. We have cardio kickboxing and strength training classes 6 days a week with a built-in rest day every Sunday. In addition to our classes, we put a lot of emphasis on nutrition, coaching, and accountability. Our nutrition is individually tailored so using the results of a person’s InBody scan, we then calculate out their daily calories and macros. We don’t tell someone exactly what they have to eat, we let them pick and choose what fits into the formula but definitely offer suggestions. The key piece on our approach to nutrition is that we provide our members with the tools and knowledge so that they can make healthy lifestyle choices each and every day, not just for a given amount of time. We are focused on the overall not just the short-term so sometimes it does take a bit more effort in the beginning but once you understand how good your body can feel and look when you have proper nutrition, the light bulb really turns on. This is likewise where the individual coaching and accountability comes into play, we connect with our members to make sure they are getting to class and providing feedback on their nutrition. When you put all the pieces together consistently, this is where the results come in. We have seen some really amazing transformations since opening and know that these will continue as our program works and fits into your daily life.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Like other small business owners, I think taking the leap of working a steady job with a consistent paycheck vs. deciding to venture out on your own is a huge risk. Your livelihood depends on it, and it takes just about everything you have to make it work. It is not easy to make that switch and when you do, your whole life changes. As a small business owner, I don’t punch in at 8am and done at 5pm, Monday – Friday. My hours are all day, basically every day. You also don’t have a consistent paycheck within your first few years, unless you are successful right off the bat. This is a risk because most people who start a small business have some sort of loan or investor so not only are you putting your personal financials at risk, you are now also on the hook for a bit more, sometimes a lot more. It takes a great amount of courage and in my opinion a bit of just “why not” attitude to make that switch. It also takes understanding that you could fail, there is always that possibility. If you have a steady job, yes you could get laid off or fired but the chances you are able to find another source of income are pretty good. If you take the leap as a business owner, there really isn’t a cushion or plan B to fall back on so you are just all in, all the time.

Pricing:

• Unlimited Monthly Membership – $200
• 15 classes per month + nutrition – $147
• 10-Week Challenge – $599 (chance to win $1,000!)
• Class pack (10) – $169

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fxbanthem.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fxbanthem
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fxbanthem
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fxb-anthem-phoenix

Image Credits
Ashley Hathaway Photography