I was embarrassed. I could give excuses like, lots of travel and dinners out with clients, long hours at work, quitting smoking, etc., but the truth is I let myself go. I gave up. I spent the next several weeks thinking about that picture and formulating a plan or at least trying to formulate a plan.

One evening I came home from work, picked up the local circular and spotted an ad for LALANNE FITNESS. I had to go three days a week in the early morning right down the street from my home. No more excuses I thought, so I picked up the phone. The voice on the other end said, “Sure, we’re still accepting students. Show up at 6:30am for your weigh-in and we’ll get started right away.” This was the beginning of how CrossFit and The Paleo Diet would change my life forever!



I spent the next six weeks working out with a group of ten men and women and two days on my own. I thought that I was not going to make it that first class. I nearly threw up but I was committed. I had paid my money and put my pride on the line. At the end of I had lost the most weight and inches off my waistline (10 lbs and 3 inches), winning a fitness challenge with Chris LaLanne.

This was only the beginning. The winner of the challenge received a one month membership in the trainer’s gym (http://www.lalannefitness.com). I signed up and never looked back. By the time I hit my 39th birthday in June of 2008 I had lost 17 lbs. In November of the same year I had lost 42lbs. What made this really powerful is that I travel each year to Chicago on Thanksgiving Day. It’s a long trip for me, so I can’t do it with one bag. To avoid any drama at the airport, I weigh my bags at home. My small rolling bag weighed the same as the total amount of weight I had lost. I asked my wife Robin to pick up the bag and she could not. I had been carrying that weight around with me every day for years. The symbolism was incredible.

Today, I run, row, cycle and lift weights regularly. I do full push-ups, kipping pull-ups and can sprint 500M on the rower in one minute thirty seven seconds. I eat more fish, less red meat and more high fiber fruits and vegetables. I have competed in an Indoor Rowing Championship, ridden in a metric century bicycle ride and run the second oldest foot race in America, The Dipsea, turning in 1:41:10 for that race, which was more than 30 minutes faster than the first attempt that I made at it. I turned 40 over the weekend and as of this morning I am 55 lbs. lighter than I was fourteen months ago. I have more energy, a better attitude, a new wardrobe and I am in the best shape of my life.

People that I have known for years but have not seen for some time ask, “Where’s the rest of you?” The secret you ask? The will to change, an exercise program called CrossFit led by Chris LaLanne and The Paleo Diet based on sensible diet made up of lean meats, fresh vegetables, fruits and some nuts.-Chris C.

I started Crossfit not long ago in Phoenix, AZ. I was on vacation with my family for a few days in San Francisco and dropped in to LaLanne Fitness for a workout. I rarely, if ever, take the time to comment on a service, product, etc. but I had such a great experience here I thought I would let others know.

In particular, Aaron is an outstanding coach. I learned more from Aaron in one class than I have learned anywhere else in total. He balances the instruction, motivation, and personal attention perfectly in my opinion.

I wandered into Lalanne's with a friend that was a member and got "sucked" into doing the Saturday morning workout. What an absolute blast. The workout nearly killed me but the most impressive part of this gym is the people. You can train anywhere, but training where they care is rare. The group workout that morning was led by a supremely fit and patient trainer who walked everyone through the basic movements of the workout then (this is rare) walked around during the entire workout helping, encouraging, supporting and re-demonstrating the movements. I've been to nine CrossFit gyms and this is the gold standard. Bravo Chris and Maribel.-Mark

I knew that I could not join another 24 hour fitness or crunch and get any real results. As much as I like to lift and do cardio at a gym there is no way to push yourself like Crossfit. All the teachers here are professional and personable (they know everyone's name). In 5 months of going only 2 days a week, I have seen incredible results. The group atmosphere is fun and inspiring as everyone cheers each other on. This is a very clean, well managed and fun place for overall fitness at any level. Having now been to other Crossfit gyms, I know that this is on of the best in the country as far as quality of instruction and results.-Jaime

I have been coming to LLF for 1 year now and would like to share my experience. But before I do, I'd like to share a bit of history. I just turned 39 and have always been a person who dreaded working out. My old saying used to be "why work-out when you can not work out". I never understood people who would talk about feeling better after working out. I always felt tired and sore, but none of the positive feelings. My friend Dennis had been an LLF member and I saw big improvements in him. I joined last July on the once-a-week membership. This gave me a good introduction, but I felt if I really wanted to improve, I had to increase to 3 x per week. For the first time in my life, I am feeling the positive effects of working out. I am stronger and in better shape than I have been in years. It's taking me a while to see the results as much as I'd like, but this is still new to my body after 38 years of inactivity. Sometimes I can't believe what I've achieved after a work-out. It often think "did I do that"?
My only concern is making sure my form is good, so I don't get hurt. I've had some minor issues, but overall this has been the best exercise of my life and I actually look forward to going which is shocking for me. Thanks for everything guys!-Matt R.

I started at LLF on April 9th of 2009. As a personal trainer myself, I had been doing modified cross-fit workouts and eating paleo on my own since Oct 07. I considered myself in pretty good shape. However, my first workout was the filthy fifty. Holy guacamole! I was completely beat as it took me 47 min to complete it. Now, it's 5 Jun and things are a bit different. When I was doing modified xfit workouts at home, I wasn't going near the level I do at LLF. You've got the clock going, you've got everyone else cranking through the same thing...sometimes, it's a partner workout (very fun even with strangers). It's very motivating. I've learned that my mind will give out long before my body will. That's a very interesting thing to know about oneself. I also changed my diet as according to the zone blocks, I was under eating. That explained why I wasn't putting muscle on previously. I've gained 7lbs and my body fat has stayed at 8%. That's a result I'm happy with. I'm definitely getting stronger and I'm doing it without injury because there is so much focus on the technique. Chris and the trainers there are doing very good work. Thanks for doing Crossfit in SF! -Abraham

I've been at the Brickhouse for going on 10 months now. The journey has been unbelievable to say the least. Since the age of 5, I've been in competitive sports that range all over the board. When my collegiate days ended, so did that hard training I was accustomed too. Then I found Chris LaLanne and Crossfit....

In under a year, I've found myself close to the best shape of my life at the age of 32. I know that in another 6mths I WILL be in the best shape of my life. This is quite an accomplishment considering how I looked when I walked in my first day. Chris and his trainers have taken the Crossfit method and made it their own along with building a community of people that make everyday in the gym a pleasure.

People constantly ask me to explain what it is I do all the time at Lalanne. All I can say is "Do you want results? Just show up."

I've made HUGE gains in strength, flexibility, metabolic conditioning, and mental toughness. Everyday that you walk into Lalanne Fitness is something new and challenging. I've tried dozens of different workout schemes and nothing comes close to what you get here.

If you're an athlete that wants to get better at your sports, you've got the right place. If you're not traditionally an athlete and you'd like to be one, you've got the right place. If you're somewhere in between, you've got the right place.

There's nothing that really compares to the experience. You get far better results in less time and you get to be part of an amazing community of like minded people.-Eric

LaLanne Fitness is the place to be for anyone who is serious about becoming more athletic. In terms of losing weight indefinitely, getting better at your favorite sport, or just becoming the kind of person who people go to for fitness advice, LLF's program is vastly superior to the kind of training you will get at 99% of conventional gyms. What's more, it's accessible and welcoming to anyone, no matter how out of shape you are. Even though we don't believe in socializing while working out, you will make friends here who will stick with you for life.

People trying to lose weight and get in shape have come to this gym and literally within weeks have started seeing the results they've been failing to get for years. Any fitness program should be judged by its ability to get measurable results; by that standard, the CrossFit program at LLF has no peer anywhere.

So what's the catch? Well, it's awfully bleeding hard, which is to be expected considering that you generally get out of an endeavor what you put into it. There's a very low tolerance for whiners, cheaters and slackers...but you wouldn't want to work out with those types anyway, right?-Jake

I stumbled upon LaLanne Fitness last June when they opened up down the street from where I work. I had just completed AIDS/LifeCycle (a 545 mile bike ride down to LA) a couple weeks prior and thought I was in pretty darn good shape. I was greeted warmly at the door by Chris (one of the owners of this gym, and the great nephew of Jack L. himself), who was basically pulling people in off the street at this point of his new business' existence. Chris invited me in to try what's called the baseline workout - a 500m row on a concept 2 rowing machine, 40 squats (without weight), 30 sit-ups, 20 push-ups, and 10 pull-ups (assisted with a big green rubber band, since I couldn't do even a single one on my own) - for time.

It was humbling. Despite all my stamina training, I was gassed at the end of my 7 1/2 minute ordeal.

After Chris explained to me that while my stamina might be pretty good, I might be lacking in some of the other fitness components that CrossFit addresses - such as speed, power, flexibility, strength, coordination, and maybe even endurance. Intrigued, I signed up for a CrossFit membership that day and have been going to this gym ever since (with a 6 month hiatus for a non-CrossFit related injury).

I have seen this gym grow up in the last year and it's been a great experience to watch Chris', Maribel's and Mark's vision come to life and succeed. This place rocks! You can get a feel for how special a place it is from the other reviews posted here on Yelp.

Here's what I personally like about LaLanne Fitness:

- The workouts are varied. You don't pick and choose how you work out; there's an assigned workout of the day (WOD) that's posted on the board and you see it when you come in to work out that day. Everyone who comes to the gym that day does the same WOD, although substitution exercises are allowed as needed (lower weights for those of us who can't handle the prescribed weights for a given exercise, modified exercise for those suffering from an injury (i.e., someone with a bad knee might substitute rowing for running)). The reason that varied, pre-selected workouts are a good thing is that they attack weaknesses in a way that one would not be likely to do on one's one. So I, who was never big on strength training, suddenly find myself pushed some days to do max weight squats or bench presses. Part of the reason I would never, never, never choose to do this kind of training on my own is that I am weak compared to a lot of guys - and therefore intimidated, embarrassed to push iron at a gym where the big boys are doing 3x or 4x more than I can do - but at LLF I do it, because it's the WOD. And as a result, it forces me to address a component of fitness that I normally wouldn't. And guess what? I'm getting stronger.

- The coaching is superb. The two coaches I work with the most, Chris and Jenny, are extremely helpful in trying to get us to do the exercises correctly, with good form, and then pushing us to do what we didn't think we could possibly do. Even though exercise is done in small groups (usually 10 or less), It's not too dissimilar to working with really good personal trainers.

- There really is a nice community feel to this place. Members know each other by name, and egg each other on during the WODs. I think it comes from a sense of shared suffering - we all have a certain amount of respect for one another, just because we are all enduring the same workouts. I've done group exercise at one of the big globo gyms in the City the last couple of years, with pretty much the same group of people, and although I recognize faces there, I hardly know anyone's name in the classes. I shower, get dressed, and go home. At LLF, if I have time, I hang out before and after - folks are just nice there and it's fun to talk to people and compare notes.

- Results - mine include losing 7 pounds, improving strength in lots of different areas, and doing a pull-up without the big green rubber band!

When I was in 12th grade, I had an English teacher named Mr. Black who assigned us impossible amounts of reading - something like 6 books in 6 weeks. We all hated him, and groaned our way through the class. But when I had finished with the class, I realized that I had done more reading than I would have ever thought possible. CrossFit as practiced at LLF is a lot like that. To give you an example, could you imagine doing a workout of 100 pull-ups, then 100 push-ups, then 100 squats, and finally 100 sit-ups? I sure couldn't - but that workout was up on the board one day when I came in. And, I managed to do it. Not well, not with perfect form, but EFR (every *** rep). By continuing to challenge oneself with what seems to be impossible at first glance, things one thought one couldn't possibly do actually happen. -David

I love Lalanne fitness! It is fun, intense, effective and a great community. I've seen tons of people get stronger, get fit and gain more confidence.

If you're working out and feeling like you're wasting your time or not seeing the results you want, commit to Cross Fit and join Lalanne fitness.-Jasmine

I have been waiting and searching for a place like this to work out at for a long time! This is the only thing that was missing in San Francisco. It is a truly fantastic place. Chris and his wife manage this place with the highes level of quality. I guarantee you will never find a workout this good anywhere. If you're looking to take your physical abilities to the next level and improve your intensity level, I am sure you will find Lalanne Fitness the thing you have been missing. Having done martial arts at a competitive level for 15 years of my life, I used to think the only way to be in good shape was through physical contact (aka lots of aches and bruises). Since I found Lalanne fitness it proved to me that this is a far superior workout minus the bruises and black eyes. -Amin

A few things are certain when you workout at LaLanne Fitness: 1) you will most certainly have to wash your workout clothes after you're finished, because there's no way you can wear them 2 days in a row; 2) it will take at least twice as long for you to get home or the office than it took for you to get the gym; 3) you get every penny's worth of what you paid for. This is by far and away the best gym I've ever been a part of. I've never worked this hard before, even when I played tackle football in college. If more schools drank the kool-aid and subscribed to this method of training, they would be unstoppable. -Evan

I LOVE this gym!!! I cannot say enough about it. At first, I hated it. The workouts are so intense and I was so out of shape that I felt that I would never be able to keep up. But, i kept coming back. After a month, I feel like a million bucks and I look forward to my next session. What's so great? You get to work with a trainer, usually Chris, who keeps you motivated and gives full body workouts. It's a team environment which keeps you motivated. The atmosphere is positive, no mirrors and beefcakes trying to make you feel inadequate for not lifting 300 lbs. You will come out of this workout feeling better, stronger and fitter. But watch out. Once you drink the crossfit Koolaid, there's no going back. It becomes a lifestyle. But damn if it doesn't feel great! -Demetrie

If you are looking for a way to jump start the inevitable "New Year's" resolution of finally getting in shape, do yourself a favor and join LaLanne's CrossFit. Unlike the gym you probably belong to now, you will actually end up looking forward to each CrossFit workout. The reason behind that small miracle is the un-ending variety of WODs (work outs of the day) that keep your body and mind from adapting and therefore plateau-ing. If you are like me and are easily bored, then you will love CrossFit. It is a challenging workout but completely scalable to your fitness level. The instructors are knowledgeable, safe, encouraging and just plain good peeps. You will be sore, you will be tired but you will ultimately be rewarded for pushing yourself further than you ever thought was possible. You will certainly get stronger and most likely look a lot better naked in the process. Not a bad way to start the new year. -Cuyler

You think your workout is good? Try cross fit. I was challenged by my friend to go and check out LaLanne fitness and boy this is one hell of a workout. Doesn't matter where you start but it's the fact that you finish. I've been running for the last 4 months consistently and running distances of 5 miles nonstop, but it didn't prepare me for the thrusters or box jumps. They run a tight ship here and the people that are in the class are encouraging. It's a good atmosphere and everyone pushes you to your limits and beyond. If you are serious and want to look and feel good, give them a try. Slim down and tone up, this is the place to be. You'll sweat, you be sore, you might even want to puke, but don't give up and you'll achieve your goals. -Allan

I have been working out in one form or another pretty much my whole life and I can say with all sincerity that this place is a step above the rest. I started coming here about 5 months ago and I love it.. The way Chris structures the work outs and the constant change in what we do daily keeps it fun and interesting. Regardless of your level of fitness you will feel at home at LaLanne Fitness. Also the other members are great to work out with and everyone helps push you to your max potential. Now get down there and sign up. -Kurt

BEST WORKOUT EVER! Chris and Maribel are a great team. Maribel is so energetic and is such a good motivator, while Chris ensures you are doing the exercises correctly. One hour of your day is nothing compared to the great results you get from their workouts! Just be prepared to be a bit sore after your first few classes. -Cil

LaLanne Fitness is the best gym in San Francisco... I have been a student there since it opened and can honestly say that I'm in the best physical shape of my life. If you haven't been there, go check it out! -Misha

Well I've been a member at Lalanne Fitness for six (6) weeks now and the results have been showing. First I was picked as Student of the Week. As the former fat kid who was always picked last I was so surprised and happy that I was chosen.

I'm currently going 2 times a week, but I've been inspired to move to the next level and go 3 times a week starting in November. I wanna go from Being Skinny Fat to Supermodel.

The amazing workouts and great group of people is what makes it so fun to go every week. I already lost 5lbs (it took a month I do enjoy chocolate cake I had to cut that out) and the pictures I've been taking of myself going through the progress is impressive. GOOO CROSSFIT! -Richard

Chris makes CrossFit fun. While I'm a LaLanne by blood, I didn't get the drive for fitness like my brother. No more back pain, no more weezing when I run, AND I can almost do a pull-up! LaLanne Fitness has done more for me in the past 8 weeks than any other routine I've tried. The group dynamic is super supportive and motivational. I love that I arrive thinking that I can't do it and leave feeling proud that I did another awesome workout. -Jennee

If you've never heard of CrossFit, click on this and you'll get all the info you need:www.crossfit.com
As for the gym itself, well, like every other reviewer I can't help but gush over it.
I've been pretty much a meathead bodybuilding type most of my life. Then last year a friend dared me to try the "300" workout (which I failed to complete, by the way), and since then I've integrated the occasional CrossFit style workout into my training schedule. Working out like that in a regular gym by yourself is hard; people tend to be in the way or give weird looks or a combination of both. So I was looking to join a CrossFit gym, and it just so happens that two blocks away from work Lalanne Fitness opened.

I've been voluntarily suffering there now for almost five weeks, and have been loving every minute of it. I started off just going 2 days a week, and now I go 5 or 6. I've dropped 11 pounds in that time, and I won't stop until I see a six-pack on me for the first time in my life. Some workouts are less difficult than others, but they all feel like hell-on-earth. The feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction after completing a workout is indescribable.

The best part about this place isn't the ever-changing workouts and the addicting results...it's the people. Chris and Maribel aren't just great trainers but are also super-gracious hosts...cool, and REAL! Chris knows his stuff, and really knows how to get every last possible rep out of his students. Mrs. Maribel...not only is she one of the coolest ladies ever, but she's HARDCORE! Ankle braces be damned, she's in the trenches with us. Those two are a great combo. Then of course there are the fellow students. As the slogan on the sign says, there really aren't any egos there...if there are then people are amazing at keeping them in check! Making friends is almost effortless because we're all going through the same suffering, which appears to build a certain kind of trust between everyone. It's like we're our own little army in there, kicking ass as best we can, one minute at a time. While there are definitely some elite athlete members there are mostly us regular folks striving to become elite athletes. About a month ago I would never have entertained the idea of being that; but now it feels like sweet inevitability.

I've been a member of all kinds of different gyms, and NOTHING can compare with to this! -Alwyn

If you want to get into the best shape of your life, this is the place to be. I've been going to LaLanne Fitness for just over a month now and I feel like I felt when I was an athlete in high school. My energy level is through the roof and I have lost around 15lbs worth of gut. I feel stronger and my body looks better than it has in 10 years.
I am completely addicted to CrossFit and I don't think anyone does CrossFit better than LaLanne Fitness. Chris helps you get the most out of yourself. When you think you have done all you can and you're on the verge of quitting, Chris will push you and you'll bang out the last of the workout and it is indescribable how good that feels.
I had been thinking of joining a gym and getting in shape for months. I hesitated to join some "regular" gym because it's all individual and I know myself and I don't push myself as hard as you need to go to get in real shape. The small groups of motivated people at LaLanne really help you get the most out of every workout. If you are thinking of joining a gym, give LaLanne Fitness a look first. Do the baseline (it's free) and see how you feel. As soon as I finished the baseline, I knew I needed more. -John

A back of the envelope estimate says that I have spent over fifteen thousand dollars on trainers in the last two years (figure $75 bucks a pop, twice a week for two years). I'm a busy guy and my thinking was that by spending the money I would "force" myself to stay/get in shape. It kind of worked too, but workouts felt like a chore and any improvement to my health or appearance would be lost with work travel, the holidays or even a short vacation.

I also struggled to fit these training sessions in with my hectic work schedule. The biggest problem is that all of us who use trainers want to train at the exact same times: early morning or early evening. This was a real pain and became ridiculous -- why should I reschedule important meetings that make my company money to make it to a workout right?

Then I was introduced to Crossfit. They use a small class format and offer classes exactly when I need them. Now I can show up at times that are convenient for me, get an AMAZING workout (that I actually look forward to doing), and still have all the personalized attention I need from the staff at Lalanne Fitness. I have been taking one-hour classes there two or three times a week for four months and have lost nearly 20lbs (and kept it off thru a vacation). Did I mention that the classes cost less than half of what I was paying for a personal trainer at SportsClubLA? I strongly recommend Lalanne Fitness and Crossfit. -Marcus

I am so excited on writing this review! Chris LaLanne is one of the BEST trainer's I have ever meet! I have been training over the years and have meet and trained with many fitness professionals and Chris is the #1 on the list. Here's my story on why I think Chris is the BEST! 12 years ago I weighted 246lbs. and I'm 4"11. I decided to get healthy and lost 110 lbs. kept it off for 9 years. Then my life changed, I was blessed with a baby and not so blessed with a thyroid disorder. I did not exercise for about 2 1/2 years and gained almost all my weight back! January 2008, I was tried of being unfit and unhealthy. Started exercising again but not feeling motivated at all! I needed something more to get me started on the right track. That's when I meet Chris LaLanne at LaLanne Fitness. I was then introduced to Cross Fit. It is the most amazing workout I have ever completed! I can never forget my first workout with Chris, he encouraged me throughout my workout! I felt so IMPRESSED with myself and actually PROUD that I completed the "WOD"!( That means work out of the day) I have been doing Cross Fit for about a month and I can honestly say this is the BEST way of exercising if you want to see results! I would highly recommend Lalanne Fitness and meeting with Chris and his lovely wife Maribel.-Mary

Last Christmas I looked down at the scale and saw 250 pounds for the first time ever. It was time to join a gym and get to it. I talked with a few personal trainers, but decided to choose Chris LaLanne minutes after I met him. I had worked with many fitness trainers before and could tell he was the real deal. My life has changed dramatically since that choice.

Here's a bit about me and some stats. Me: 38 years old and 6'4" That's the part I can't change. Here's the part I did change.

In one calendar year I have gone from 250 to 215 pounds.
My resting heart rate has gone from 72 to 55.
I used to feel tired, fat, and slow. Now I feel energetic, fit, and strong.

I owe this all to Chris Lalanne. There is really no way to thank him for all that he's done. I don't mean to be overly dramatic, but I feel like he's given my life back. I used to be a good athlete and physically fit. But, after years of working in the tech industry, many work trips (and the bad food that goes with it), and family life (a new baby), I just let myself go a bit. Chris put me on a holistic plan that worked.

I think that's the biggest difference. I've had good personal trainers before. But their work stayed in the gym. Chris cared enough to make sure I was getting it done outside the gym. That meant proper nutrition and cardio. He was always giving me articles about nutrition and various tips that helped me out. He got me using a food journal and taking an active role in my health. For that I will forever be grateful.

He also got me feeling competitive again with Crossfit. At first, I thought it was too hard core for me. But, he was able to mold a crossfit style that matched my fitness level. I noticed the results in the pool within weeks. It's tough as hell, but it works. It really does.

Fitness and overall health are now a daily part of my life. It feels great. Thanks Chris! I seriously can't thank you enough. -Ed

I promise that I am not biased in writing this review, just because Chris is my husband. LOL. I know better than anyone when it comes to Chris' passion for his work. His style of training is based on a methodology called CrossFit. It is a strength and conditioning program adopted by the US Navy S.E.A.L.S, Marines, fire and police departments and most professional and college level sports. Before doing CrossFit with Chris, I could only do maybe 1/2 a pushup, now I average 25 each set. I used to struggle on the treadmill after 5 minutes of running, now I can run OUTSIDE for 3 miles without trouble. BUT the life changing moment for me was when the chronic back pain I had suffered with since childhood DISAPPEARED...I WAS HOOKED ON CROSSFIT!

Chris is devoted to helping people achieve their fitness goals and improve their lifestyle. He spends all day long training clients and the moment he gets home....he expands his mind by reading articles and books, watching videos, writing health and fitness articles for various newspapers, stretching, working out, etc. etc... the man is a MACHINE! He even co-hosts a morning radio show with the Founding Father of Fitness, his grand-uncle Jack LaLanne. He is mentally, spirtually and physically fit! I have never met anyone more dedicated to their profession. To quote my husband, "Fitness just isn't my job, it's my life!" I believe in him 110% and I strive to live my life the way he does. He is my coach, he is my husband, he is my hero. -Maribel