August 2026
This month, we are celebrating a member who turned “off and on” into all in. Germaine Grant had worked out on and off since high school, but consistency never quite stuck, until he started training with coach Paul Norris at BR Fitness in East Anchorage. More than a year later, Germaine has built serious strength, knocked out his first pull-ups in his 40s, and says he is in the best shape of his life. He even brought his partner, Jolene, into the sessions. We asked Germaine and Coach Paul to share the story, and their words say it best.
Germaine Grant: Member Testimonial
“I’ve been working out off and on throughout my life since high school, but I’ve never been consistent until becoming a member at BR Fitness. When I first signed up, Chris was the first staff member I met, and I remember saying to myself, wow, I want to look like that guy! As a member I continued to work out sporadically but just could not keep it going consistently, that is until I got a text from Paul Norris offering his services for training sessions, and I jumped at the chance. I’ve been training with Paul for over a year now, and it has been an absolute blast!
In the beginning, there were several times I wondered if I was cut out for this, especially being in my 40s, but now I cannot even fathom missing a single training session. Paul has brought out an enormous amount of courage and confidence in me that I never thought I had: from reaching weight limits I thought I never could, to a strength I never thought I had, to the confidence to be able to achieve what I have. I’ve never been able to do a single pull up before, and now I can proudly bang out a few at a time! There’s still a lot I need to work on, mainly my nutrition, but I truly feel like I’m in the best shape of my life.
Not only has it been a blast training with Paul, but it’s always a joy walking in every time, being around the friends we’ve made. It’s always a comfort when Paul and Chris are in the building, and our shared love for video games and nerd culture is an added bonus. This is definitely the best gym environment I’ve ever been a part of, and I look forward to seeing what Paul and I can achieve next.”
Germaine's Trainer: Paul Norris
Personal Trainer
"It has been an absolute pleasure training Germaine. I am excited to highlight his fitness journey as BR Fitness Alaska's Member of the Month. When we first began, every challenge was new to him, but he embraced each one with an excellent attitude. He has since brought his partner, Jolene, into our training sessions, and it is rewarding to coach them both as they work toward their health and fitness goals together. Germaine has grown significantly stronger and demonstrates a strong determination to try new training techniques. He is always open to feedback to maximize our sessions, and it is an added bonus that we share similar hobbies. Germaine's consistency and hard work serve as an excellent example of what can be achieved at our gym. I thoroughly enjoy training with him and am pleased to share this testimonial to celebrate his progress."
Ready to write your own comeback story like Germaine? Explore our personal training in Anchorage and take the first step.
