August 2023 Member of the Month…
Thomas Burnstead!
Thomas Burnstead!
Thomas has been with FUELhouse since 2019 and has dabbled in it all! Personal training, partner training, small group and group classes, oh my! Thomas is the definition of “consistency is key” — he puts in the work and the results show it. To add the cherry on top, he’s truly a really nice and funny human ☺️ You’ll see below that coaches had a hard time keeping it short when asked to say something nice about him 🤩
“Where do I even begin with Thomas??!! He is hands down the best and most sought after kind of client. He not only brings his A game to every session to train, he takes an active role in creating and achieving his goals by researching and learning himself. Not only does he challenge himself but also pushes me as a coach to figure out how to get him where he wants to go. There is no goal he hasn’t surpassed because of his efforts. He is WAY stronger than he thinks and he is really tapping into that. Bonus: pretty fun to spend an hour with as well :)" - Coach Kari
“Seeing Thomas show up to work with Kari week after week is goals as a client! His work ethic is awesome to watch and obviously it’s paying off. His kindness and banter are a highlight of the hour! “ - Coach Abbey
“I’ve had the honor of watching Thomas ring that PR bell many times. He has great taste in music and great taste is trainers :wink:! Kari and Thomas are a great team.” - Coach Dre
“Thomas has been a longtime member and friend of FH and we are so honored to be a part of his strength journey. It’s been so cool to witness his progress under Coach Kari’s watch. What a duo! My favorite part about Thomas is his infectious smile. Someone get the name of his dentist for me. He’s always so engaging and thoughtful when we interact. Love this guy!” - Molly
Continue reading to learn more about this spectacular human, Thomas!
Name: Thomas Burnstead
Pronoun(s): he/him
Occupation: CFO - Real Estate
IG: @tburnstead
Where can you be found outside of the gym? What do you do for a living?
I work as CFO for our family-owned home building business. We build houses primarily on the Eastside - in Kirkland, Issaquah, and Redmond.
What are your hobbies?
I like to do all of the basic PNW things - I hike, ski, golf, and enjoy time on the water. I also love trying new restaurants around town and enjoy quality time with friends and fam.
What brought you to FH in the first place?
I joined in my early 30's and had always struggled to build a consistent fitness habit. I was always resistant to joining a gym and things like group classes. At some point, I came across StrongFirst and saw that FH was a local gym that taught using StrongFirst principles. Not being the biggest or strongest guy, I liked the idea of building strength as a skill.
How are we so lucky you picked us (what are your favorite things about FH)?
I was a bit intimidated at first but also felt immediately welcomed. I love the supportive FH community. Group classes got me hooked initially, as I saw people of all sizes and ages lifting heavy shit! The mix of people with tons of experience working on really hard stuff, total beginners, and everyone in between intrigued me. There is always a place to fit in your individual goals, regardless of your experience or skill level.
What sports or fitness things did you do before FH?
Golf, skiing, hiking, and some mountaineering.
What programs are you currently involved in at FH and why?
I currently train individually with Coach Kari and enjoy the occasional group class when our schedules don't line up. Training with Coach Kari gives me the opportunity to tailor our programming and collaborate on different goals as I make progress and my goals evolve. Group classes are great to get new ideas for programming and to pick up tips and insights from other coaches. I always feel motivated seeing everyone else working hard as well.
What goals are you working towards and/or what’s on your FH bucket list of things you’d like to accomplish?
Deadlift 300 (check), Squat 225 (close), Bench Press 185 (close). From there, I am going to set my sights on the SFG1 goals by the time it comes back to the area next year. I'd also like to complete Simple with the 36kg.
What makes you commit to training even on days you don't feel like it?
I know how much better I will feel by just showing up. Even if I show up and I only have 70% in the tank that day, there is always the freedom to adjust workouts for how my body is feeling. After a session where I'm not at my best, I still feel much better and more able to tackle the next day.
What's your favorite movement/exercise?
Right now I am learning to love the bench press. TGUs and deadlifts will always be my favorites, though.
What have been your “bright spots” (PRs or accomplishments are you most proud of)?
Simple and a 300 pound deadlift.
How have these accomplishments affected your life?
I feel stronger and more resilient in day to day activities, and I feel more confident and capable in taking on big challenges.
What is on your general bucket list for life?
Lots of travel! At the top of the list is visiting Japan and hiking in the Dolomites.
Tell us a little known fact about yourself or what’s something most people don’t know about you?
I don't know, I'm a pretty open book!
What's your favorite thing about being a FUELhouse member?
I love being part of a community of awesome people that are working hard on their health and fitness goals. No matter what is happening in life outside of the gym, it's always a positive and refreshing place to show up to.
What was your first impression of FH? How has that changed?
When I first joined back at FH 1.0, I thought of FH as a "kettlebell gym" (whatever that means). I was intimidated by some of the weights I saw people lifting and never thought I would become a regular. Now I realize that the best part of FH is that there is something for everyone. You can work kettlebells, barbell, bodyweight, calisthenics, etc. You can work for strength or hypertrophy or mobility. You can work in groups or individually. You can be a beginner or an expert. While we all learn the basic principles when we join, it's choose-your-own-adventure from there, and there will be dedicated coaches there to support you in your goals.
What advice do you have for new (or experienced!) new friends trying out FH?
Give it a shot, show up and be consistent, and don't worry about not knowing everything right away. You'll pick up the basics faster than you think, discover things you didn't know you could do, and develop new goals you didn't know you wanted to tackle. When you offload the mental work of coming up with your own programming and goals, you can just focus on showing up.