Interview with Mark Haubenschild - July Member of the Month

Mark Haubenschild, NorthFit’s July Member of the Month

This month we have chosen Mark Haubenschild as our July Member of the Month. Mark is a huge advocate for NorthFit and the coaching staff. Running the Fort Youth Tackle Football program and being the President of Spacesaver, he uses NorthFit classes as a way to relieve stress and stay in shape.

Why did you join NorthFit?

I have always been active. I had joined Snap Fitness before joining NorthFit and I was a competitive power-lifter in high school (bench, deadlift, squat). I have always loved being active and being fit and NorthFit was/is a good fit.

Why do you think you were chosen as member of the month?

I work hard, I am committed, I am driven. I had hip surgery (most recently) and have torn a bicep tendon in the past. Shout out to Kyle Newcomb for being my physical therapist and the NorthFit coaches for getting me up and moving quickly after my hip surgery. They kept me positive, were always helpful and scaled the workouts during my recovery. They all kept me going. No doubt about it, I love the people at this gym.

Are you a Fort Atkinson local?

Yup, born and raised. I am married to Karen (who frequents the 8:15 am class) and have three grown kids, Haley and her husband Paul (three grandchildren 6, 4, and 2 years old), Monica and her soon to be husband, Matt (wedding is August 2019), and Perry and his wife Emily, who are expecting twins in a few months.

How has NorthFit helped you in your line of work?

Being the President of Spacesaver keeps me on my toes. It is a very stressful job and requires lots of hours. The gym starts my day off on the right foot. I go to 6:00 am class and I love the people that are in that class, I must give them a shout out. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have them right there with me through it all (thanks Pam and Keith!). The 6-amers and the workouts keep me grounded and focused. I have a high strung personality so it is nice to get some energy burned off before I head into the office.

How long have you been a member?

Karen, my wife, has been a member at NorthFit since the old gym. I didn’t become a member until March 2016. Hannah Bare gave me that extra push and then I talked to Brandon and Jeb. I will never forget my first work out with Jon Nadler, that was a real treat (my first mistake!) and it kept me coming back and wanting to learn more and move better.

What do you like most about being a member?

The people. Honestly, the people that come to the gym are more than amazing and again, I have to give another shout out to my 6-amers. They helped me through by recovery after my hip surgery and are always there pushing me and cheering me on. I really can’t say enough about them. I love that I have them and continue to meet people that I never would have met had I not started coming to the gym. The coaches are absolutely out of this world and are the best in the area. Just great people all around, great families, and a great community.

What encourages you to keep coming back?

Obviously, the people. I also have my own goals that I want to accomplish. Becoming the best version of yourself is a continuous process and I love to see the improvements that I have made and continue to make since I started. I also like watching others succeed. The experience is what keeps me coming back.

Which movement is your favorite?

Bench press. Coming from a competitive background as a power-lifter, I like the bigger movements. I also like hand-stand push-ups and anything shoulder to overhead.

Tell me about your nutrition since joining NorthFit?

It has improved immensely with the help of Tyler. He got me on a program that I follow and now I know what my body needs to be at it’s best. My diet is now dialed in and is better than it has been before. Jeb also has me drinking a lot more water. My favorite meal is a porterhouse steak with asparagus and sweet potatoes. I love sweet potatoes.

Where have you noticed success?

Work, CrossFit. I am healthy and mobile. NorthFit has helped keep me young and active. I love that I can play with my grandkids and my overall attitude is so much better than before.

What is your spirit animal?

Bull Moose. They are big, strong, smart, fast, good swimmers, and are a little awkward at times.

What do you do outside of NorthFit to stay active?

I love fishing and hunting and I also run the Fort Youth Tackle Football program and have been running this program for 23 years (side note, when I [Katie] first met Mark, I was making small talk and asked what he was doing later, it was a Saturday morning. He said he was going to go ref a game. I asked, "soccer?" Boy, did I get a look 😊).

What milestones have you achieved since joining NorthFit?

I have decreased my body fat, cardio has improved, lost a couple inches on my waistline. I had to start all over after having my hip surgery and I recovered a lot faster than most because I do CrossFit.

What do you tell yourself when there is a workout on the whiteboard that you know is going to challenge you?

I never complain about a workout and I push through it. I’m here for my health and to stay healthy, so I do what I can do. I always do the best that I can do today and compete against myself everyday to push myself to get better. This keeps me moving so I can spend more time with my grandkids and enjoy it.

What is your next goal?

My real goal is to improve my lower body strength and my endurance. I am pushing for a bar muscle up and learn double unders as well.

For people who haven’t joined yet, what would you tell them?

People tend to be scared, don’t be. You have to learn what your body can do and scale appropriately. Relax and have fun with the people that are in your class, they make it all worthwhile.

Last note.

"Nobody succeeds alone. There is a great community here with the best coaches."

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