Testimonials

I started strength training with Alex almost two years ago. I have always been in good shape and as a long distance runner I felt I was strong and could endure anything. However, I broke my leg two weeks after running my fifth half-marathon and learned that maybe I was not as strong as I thought. Recovery was quick and at 129 lbs I started training with Alex. Now almost two years later and at 156 lbs, I am strong and building every day. Alex knows what he is doing and I am proof of that. I am squatting 185 lbs, can dead lift 215 lbs and bench 145 lbs. I have set goals for lifting and it has been fun reaching those goals in a smart and intelligent way. The only downside is that I have outgrown most of my clothes. Working with Alex is a true study in strength training and conditioning. I recommend him to anyone wanting to build a stronger and better you!

When it comes to getting out of my comfort zone, those are the qualities I look for in a trainer. I’ve been injured many times and I need to know I’m working with someone I trust and who has a high level of expertise. Alex’s watchful eye is consistently finding ways to improve, offering big tips and little cues, there is no settling. Alex has kept me lifting safe and strong without compromising any of my goals. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that he has a great heart and an awesome sense of humor. If I don’t feel a sense of belonging and I’m not having fun, I won’t want to keep doing it. It’s that simple.

I worked with Alex with the goal to focus on strengthening my back and firming up my backside. As a woman, I was somewhat intimidated by the rack exercises, but found them to quickly deliver results. Alex’s focus on form and mapping out an individualized plan, taking into consideration any injuries or medical conditions, was key. Not only am I stronger, but I am no longer intimidated by the exercises. I love the squats!

I started weight training with Alex 2 months ago and, I can’t say enough about how positive and professional he is. I’ve learned what strength really is on so many levels. When you start to strength train not only does it transform your physical body, but you learn so much about yourself mentally in the process. Alex is a serious perfectionist when it comes to form, technique and safety. He points out traits you exhibit, both positive and negative, and won’t let you get away with anything subpar. Weight training pushes you to places and comfort zones you may not like and using techniques and coping skills I’ve learned with him in the gym has been an eye opening experience in many ways. Utilizing all of this, I’ve learned to become a stronger person in other areas in my life too. Like I said, I can’t thank him. Coming from a predominantly yoga background this has helped me tremendously. I still do a lot of yoga and weights could not compliment it more.

I came to Atlanta Barbell October 2015 wanting to lift heavier and get stronger. After participating in various outdoor bootcamps and crossfit gyms, my lifts were stagnant and my numbers hadn’t changed in over a year. Under Niki’s guidance,my squat has already gone up 60lbs, my deadlift 40lbs, and I am still working my way up. I am blown away by what I have accomplished in such a short time. Niki is an amazing coach and a wonderful person. I enjoy our sessions together because I always learn something new and Niki’s laugh is infectious. Her keen eye, extensive experience, and knowledge of lifting gives me the confidence to move safely ahead into uncharted numbers. I am also working with Niki on tracking my food with the goal of building muscle and losing fat. While I typically dislike any type of food plan or diets, Niki has tailored a program that is realistic and manageable on a daily basis. By checking in weekly she makes adjustments and recommendations to keep me on goal. Overall, Niki is a wonderful person whose passion for lifting makes her a great coach.

I have trained with Alex for almost 2 years. I am a competitive marathon runner and for years I have messed around with weight training. I was hesitant to start training with Alex because lots of talking running heads claim that heavy weight lifting such as squats, dead lifts, etc. is not beneficial and, in fact, bad for endurance athletes. They are wrong. Although it is difficult for me to build muscle mass because of the running miles that I log for training, in the last two years the weight I can move in my squats, dead lifts, and shoulder presses has increased more than 50%. Better yet, not only have I been injury free for two years but in the last two years, I have hit personal bests in all of my races: my marathon time decreased by 6 minutes, my half marathon by 8, and my 5k by almost 8 minutes. Alex has changed the way I think about strength and the importance of strength for running. He has been extremely valuable in helping me stay competitive in my field but also working with me to develop running training plans that incorporate weights for each of my races. I would recommend Alex for anyone interested in increasing their strength, mobility, and, most of all, anyone interested in excelling at an endurance sport!

Niki is a remarkably insightful coach. In addition to her expertise in form and technique she is skillfully adept at communicating the how’s and why’s of each lift. She is tough, incredibly patient, listens intently, never judges, and most importantly is a gifted teacher. Her solid and sound coaching has me not only getting stronger but is fostering a greater confidence in my technique. I am a non-competitive but enthusiastic lifter and Niki has pushed me out of my comfort zone and into PR country! She has cleaned up my bad habits and programs challenging workouts each week. Whether you are an experienced lifter, brand new at the gym, or somewhere in between you will be in great hands.

As an an avid gym goer over the past decade, I never realized how inefficient and ineffective my work out program was until I started training with Alex. Within three months of working out with Alex I experienced more gains than I had in the prior three years while spending half the time at the gym. Training with Alex changed my entire outlook on weight lifting and I highly recommend him for anyone looking to set-up/improve their programming.

I’ve been strength training with Dee for about 2 years. She is an awesome trainer. I’d never lifted weights before, and now I love doing things that I never thought I would do. Dee is incredibly knowledgeable and attentive to proper form. I am so much stronger than I was a year ago, and I feel really good about my program. I sing her praises to my family and friends, and now my husband works out with her too! I would unconditionally recommend her to anyone.

I have trained with Dee ever since having my second child six years ago. And just as it was back then, one of the highlights of my week is working out with Dee. She is incredibly knowledgeable about strength training and the body generally, and patiently explains each exercise and why we’re doing it. She also watches my form like a hawk. I’ve seen other trainers looking around the gym, seemingly preoccupied, during their clients’ workouts; not Dee. She’s right there with you, watching your every move and providing the encouragement you need to push yourself. Her steady guidance has protected me from injury, while making me stronger. How grateful I am that I found Dee those many years ago!

A little over a year ago I came to Alex for help with an achy back and extra skinny legs. Now I’m dead lifting and squatting 2X my body weight and three months ago medaled in my first power lifting competition. At 37 I’m in better shape and stronger than ever. Alex is an awesome trainer and an awesome guy.

If you’re serious about strength gains then you should hire Alex. For the last 3 years he’s helped get me consistent strength gains that still continue to grow. He gives a no-nonsense, goal-oriented approach to strength training that produces positive results. Don’t expect to come in every session and do a random workout with no purpose. Each session is designed to get you one step closer to your desired outcome. One of the many great things about having Alex as a trainer is that during our workouts he gives me 100% focus which is far more than any other trainer has ever given me.

I have trained with Dee for 7 years. I value her advanced education and extensive experience. She is meticulous about form so that I am confident she will never put me at risk for injury. Because I am an older client, she emphasizes balance and practical strength. She and I have done all sorts of workouts, but I especially am enjoying barbell training. I feel energized and my posture and body have improved rapidly. Best of all, Dee’s easy going personality makes working out fun!

Working with Alex, I couldn’t have asked for a better strength and conditioning coach. Alex helped guide me in my lifting technique, and was always able to provide a clear rationale for the efficacy of certain exercises. He is thoughtful, knowledgeable and friendly! Ask him to introduce you to the Prowler!

When I first approached Alex Kennedy about training me I hadn’t been to a gym regularly in maybe 15 years. I was active so not totally out of shape but not really close to where I wanted to be either and I didn’t know what I needed to do to get there. Like many people, I’d had some exposure to a weight room in high school and college and again in the Army. I’d seen the infomercial for P90X, even tried it out, but never got the results I wanted. Turns out, a lot of things I learned in the past weren’t really the best way to go about getting strong or lean. Alex advised me that before I could move on to other goals, like looking good naked and performing other outdoor activities better, I first needed to get stronger. Muscle does some pretty cool things like increasing your metabolism and improving force production. I listened to what he said, took in all his advice and worked hard. My squat went from an embarrassing 95 lbs to 350 lbs. I can bench 225 lbs, press more than 135 lbs and deadlift over 400 lbs. This didn’t happen overnight, but with hard work and excellent coaching from Alex I’ve come a long way. I found out that I really loved getting strong and it’s become a passion of mine. Now, I’m regularly competing in powerlifting competitions, hiking and backpacking has become easier and hence more joyous and I am indeed losing inches off my waist while putting on inches across my shoulders. Alex is a pleasure to work with. He’s a great coach and trainer. If you’re looking to get stronger, perform better or just get fit, I would highly recommend training with him.

I started training with Alex when I was 33 years old. I’d trained for years, but never with a trainer, and never in the Olympic lifts. In a year with Alex, I added 100 pounds to my squat and deadlift, made better progress in my other lifts than ever before, and even got decent at cleaning and snatching. I’ve never had results like that, even when I was much younger. At 34, I’m stronger, better conditioned, and more flexible than I’ve ever been. Alex’s knowledge and technical proficiency are beyond question, but more impressive are his abilities to communicate clearly and translate his knowledge into tangible improvement for the trainee. I’ve seen Alex working with clients from advanced lifters to total novices. He gives everyone the same respect and attention. I highly recommend Alex to anyone serious about getting stronger and having fun doing it.

I have been working out with Dee since 2006. Originally I started working with her after my back surgery to help me get back to performing at the athletic level I had grown to expect. She did an excellent job of building back my strength, balance and power. Over the past 9 years she has been able to help me become an even better athlete even as I have aged. She has always been extremely conscience about form, taught me what each exercise is designed to do and to be aware of what the goal is of the training so I can get the most out of every movement. Throughout the years she has considers my athletic endeavors, my fitness and then designs routines tailoring exercises that grow my strength, power and speed. As she has grown her knowledge she has modified and improved the exercises I do. Over the past year she has transitioned me to use a Starting Strength paradigm and I can see the changes in my power output and body shape. I also like the challenges of the barbell movements and how each muscle group gets such a formidable workout. Dee makes every workout effective and fun. I cannot recommend her services enough she will help you meet and exceed your goals.

For years I neglected one important aspect of my life, my health and well being. For years i bought into fitness and health fads that took me nowhere. Then I met Alex Kennedy. His knowledge of the human body is astounding. With his help I have dropped close to 40 pounds and counting. His non-sense approach to health and fitness has turned my life around. I have never been happier. I feel anyone that works with Alex will have lifetime results. I owe him more gratitude than he will ever know.

I have learned more about how to lift properly and seen more progress building strength in about 2 months of working with Alex than I did in over 2 years of doing CrossFit. Alex explains technique thoroughly but in an easy to understand way. He does not throw out generic cues; he watches closely and determines exactly what you need to do to progress or fix a problem. I’ve worked out with a lot of trainers/instructors/coaches, etc. and, to me, Alex is one of the most knowledgeable and attentive people I have ever trained with. Looking back on my past workout routine, I think I could have avoided a lot of injuries, chronic soreness, and bad lifting habits if I had learned how to do things the right way from Alex long ago. Overall, he’s great and I would recommend him to anyone – whether they are very serious about lifting or just want to learn proper technique.