I Didn’t Know I’d Fall in Love with Fitness: Denzell’s Story at LIFT

Denzel Smith joined LIFT Performance in Southington, CT in May of 2025 expecting a new gym. What he found, in his own words, was a community that changed his life "physically, mentally, spiritually." In this member story, Denzel explains how direct access to the gym's founders and a genuinely supportive class environment turned fitness into something he never expected to love.

Watch Denzel's Story

 Watch the full video interview to hear Denzel describe his first impression of LIFT and how the community kept him coming back.

Why Denzel Says Community Is the Foundation at LIFT

"I would just use the word community," Denzel says. "I know it's such a generic thing to say, but I feel like it's such a strong part of what LIFT is. At the base level, it is a community, and off of that you get everything else that a community usually provides: encouragement, direction, even direct access to the people that own the gym." At LIFT Performance, members train alongside coaches who are personally invested in their progress, not just present for the workout.

Direct Access to the Founders

Denzel points out that the founders themselves teach the classes, which means members can ask direct questions about nutrition, training, or a new weight they want to try without waiting for a scheduled consultation. He describes asking one of the founders about macros, a topic he had struggled to understand on his own, and getting a straightforward answer in a normal conversation, without judgment. That kind of access is something Denzel says has changed how he eats and lives day to day.

Encouragement From Every Body Type in the Room

Denzel also highlights the members themselves as part of what makes the community work. He describes a class made up of people of every body type, all working toward their own goals at the same time, encouraging each other along the way. Newer members are pushed and supported by people who have already been through the program, creating a cycle of encouragement that Denzel says made a strong first impression the moment he walked in.

How the Community Changed Denzel's Outlook on Fitness

Denzel says he did not expect to fall in love with fitness the way he has since joining LIFT. He describes the shift as a change to his entire life, not just his physical routine, crediting the community and coaching for improvements he now sees mentally and spiritually as well as physically. For members exploring how LIFT Performance's training program works, Denzel's experience shows how founder-led coaching and a supportive class environment work together in practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Find Your Community at LIFT?

Denzel's story shows what founder-led coaching and a genuine community can look like at LIFT Performance. If you are searching for a gym in Southington, CT where the people teaching your classes are the same people invested in your goals, a free assessment and 7-day trial is the easiest way to see if it is the right fit. No contracts, no pressure, just real results.