Member Spotlight: Trevor Essmeier

Meet February’s Epic Member of the month: Trevor Essmeier!
Trevor started at FUELhouse in March of 2019, and he’s been a dedicated member ever since. Not only is he crushing it in classes, he is also making all the gains in our MeTOX nutrition program with Molly! Coaches look forward to having Trevor in their class because he BRINGS it. You’ll find Trevor bringing it at the evening classes as well as doubling it up on a Saturday with the 9am + Coach Abbey’s Barre at 10:15! Give Trevor a solid fist bump the next time you see him, and keep reading to learn more about Trevor below 👊 Seriously, keep reading…Trevor is truly a poet :)

Name: Trevor Essmeier

Occupation: Sales and Digital Content Designer

IG: @trevor_essmeier

Where can you be found outside of the gym? What do you do for a living?

I’ve spent a lot of time in Ballard/Fremont area since moving there just before covid. I’m a fan of the very convenient “Freelard” brewery scene. I love checking out live concerts and comedy around town. When I can, I enjoy camping/hiking in the Cascade or Olympics.

For full time work I do tech sales/account management. On the side, I run a small freelance business specializing in explanation content through video animation, graphic design, and low brow cartooning.

What are your hobbies?

Satire, drawing, music, writing, reading about how the world works, getting involved in nonprofits, walking my dogs, making fun of strangers…etc.

What brought you to FH in the first place?

I was contracting across the street at Brooks Running when Molly first opened FuelHouse back in Wallingford. Whenever I walked by, everyone was always having a great time, while also being pushed to the absolute edge during their workouts. It seemed like a great community for fitness. Years later, I started working in the area again and decided to fit FUELhouse into my commute so I could finally check it out.

How are we so lucky you picked us (what are your favorite things about FH)?

Having been a gym rat in some form for the past 15 years, FUELhouse easily stands out as the best. In my opinion, the staff at FUELhouse have achieved the near impossible feat of balancing the 3 components that make a great gym: 1) Sophisticated and challenging workout programs that manage to cater to each member’s skill level. 2) Top notch instruction and fitness/health coaching that teaches safe/proper form. 3) A genuinely fun and supportive community. (This is seriously a rare one, some places have the charm of a DMV)

What sports or fitness things did you do before FH?

Growing up I played ultimate frisbee, track, and did tons of hiking. Before FUELhouse, I did CrossFit, Bikram yoga, and cycling classes.

What programs are you currently involved in at FH and why? 

Last month, I joined Molly’s brand new MeTOX program, which I highly recommend. It’s a 30-90 day dietary cleanse, which I took part in to abstain from alcohol and to get introduced to new nutritious dishes to make at home. It’s mind blowing how much better my mind and body feel after just 30-days. A great bonus is the custom nutritional education and coaching Molly provides throughout the program. Reach out to Molly if you want to learn more. Before joining Sokol’s Persist classes, kettlebell workouts ALWAYS hurt my lower back. It wasn’t until joining FUELhouse that I finally had coaches teach me proper kettlebell form (sorry CrossFit). It’s been very satisfying to keep conquering new heavier weights, way beyond what I ever thought possible. A selfish bonus is that Sokol’s taste in hard rock is almost a carbon copy of my own playlists. I love taking all the seasonal weight and cardio based FuelStrong classes. Each coach has their own unique style and all are top notch. Each class is challenging, all leaving me with an empty tank. Finally, this leaves me with Abbey’s infamous Barre class. If you feel like visiting each of the 9 circles of hell, this is the class for you! Barre will exercise your body, exercise your mind, and exercise your demons. With a focus on small muscle strengthening and mobility, somehow Abbey makes lifting 5 lbs feel 10x harder than lifting 300lbs. Each class leaves me laying face down on my mat like a beached whale, resigned to its fate with nothing left to give but shameful moans of defeat. As a bonus, every 6-months Abbey breaks up the Britney Spears with a heavy metal day.

What goals are you working towards and/or what’s on your FH bucket list of things you’d like to accomplish?

Irresponsibly, I rarely have specific metrics in mind. My personal goal is simple, to push myself to the absolute edge of discomfort during each class. There’s a deeply satisfying, almost meditative state I feel when I’ve truly given it my all, leaving my body’s own intuition to take the baton. The byproduct is being consistently surprised by new physical feats, which are often well beyond what I thought I could ever achieve. Since FuelHouse teaches such good form, I am able to push myself like this safely without experiencing regular injuries like I did with other gyms (sorry again CrossFit).

What makes you commit to training even on days you don't feel like it? 

When Zombie apocalypse comes, it wont take days off.

What's your favorite movement/exercise?

I always get excited when I see box-jumps are in the workout. Maybe because they make me feel like a ninja assassin.

What have been your “bright spots” (PRs or accomplishments are you most proud of)?  

The biggest bright spot for me is just the general process of seeing consistent improvement in all classes. Most recently, I was able to upgrade to 28kg for kettlebell snatches. Just 2 years ago, the thought of snatching with a 20kg was nuts to me. I’ve also added weight for kettlebell swings, I think it’s 58kg? I’m not entirely sure, all I know is it’s fucking heavy and I will make that new bell my bitch. Almost forgot! A bright spot for me is all the equipment I’ve broken! Rest In Peace arm band, leg band, the death star slam-ball, the boxing boppy thing, and the FUELhouse V.1 toilet.

How have these accomplishments affected your life?

By nature of practice, FUELhouse classes teach a formula for self-discipline that I’ve been able to apply in all areas of my life, especially work:

1) Educate myself on best practices

2) Intentionally push beyond my comfort zone and fears

3) Keep at it until growth happens

What is on your general bucket list for life?

I want to do meaningful full-time work that I feel genuinely makes life better for others by using creative means of communication. I’ve narrowed this down to a new part of the HR industry that specializes in data-science driven methods of identifying and resolving inequity in the workplace.

Tell us a little known fact about yourself or what’s something most people don’t know about you?

1) I once won a chocolate and pickled olive pie eating contest during 9th grade.

2) This one time I projectile vomited chocolate pudding and pickled olives during a 9th grade retreat.

What's your favorite thing about being a FUELhouse member?

Learning that Coach Abbey thinks Bon Jovi is heavy metal. That, and having access to the best fitness and nutrition coaches in the city.

What was your first impression of FH?  How has that changed?

My initial impression of FUELhouse was that it’s a gym with a genuinely supportive community with exceptional coaches. Thankfully, nothing has changed, except for one hell of a new bigger space!

What advice do you have for new (or experienced!) new friends trying out FH?

If you are wanting to see significant improvements in our health and fitness, my advice is simply to trust the coaches and give each class your all. Everything you want and more will follow.

Trevor crushing it in class as usual