Duluth native Leif Anderson guides, supports local fitness community

Duluth native Leif Anderson has been involved in athletics since a very young age. He has also always had a strong interest in the medical field.

“Going into high school, I was set,” Anderson said. “I knew what I wanted to do.”

Anderson majored in biochemistry at the University of Williamsburg, and knew that once he finished his degree he wanted to work in fitness and the medical community as a whole.

Thus, Leif Anderson Fitness was born, and for more than 10 years, Anderson has been helping all types of people reach their fitness goals. Leif Anderson Fitness works with people on weight loss and nutrition, as well as bodybuilding and nutrition.

Anderson works out of mainly the Hermantown location of Anytime Fitness, but there are a few other gyms in the area that will allow him to come in and work with clients. He also provides assessments and training with people across the country via the Internet.

Although bodybuilding is part of what Anderson does, the majority of his clientele are those who are looking to lose weight and get in shape. Anderson is so serious about helping people change their lives that he is even the part-owner of Fitness North in Two Harbors.

Fitness North is a live-in weight loss and fitness resort, much like the one seen on the hit TV show “The Biggest Loser.” Anderson uses his time with Fitness North clients as a platform to transitioning to a better and healthier life.

By using Anderson’s techniques and ideas, clients are also able to achieve the same results while at home as they would at Fitness North.

When it comes down to why he got into the fitness field, the answer was simple.

“It’s about getting healthy,” Anderson said. “It’s about a quality of life.”

Anderson doesn’t tell his clients to restrict their food, as he knows that food is a part of life. He works with individuals to help maintain their weight loss over time, by working to reset their metabolism.

Anderson sees and hears his clients’ success stories nearly every day. One of his clients has lost nearly 170 pounds in the last 15 months.

Although Leif Anderson Fitness technically has only three staff members, including Anderson, past and current clients work to “pay it forward” to others who are looking to succeed in their own fitness journeys by teaching what Anderson and his staff have taught them, which Anderson finds flattering and rewarding.

“Leif Anderson Fitness is a community,” he said, with a smile on his face. “I love when past clients pay it forward.” Weight loss is hard, not only physically but emotionally, on the person going through the body transformation.

“I believe that weight loss is more physiological than it is physical,” Anderson continued. “Fear is a great factor and overcoming that fear can be very empowering. You have to push yourself and I am there to be somebody that believes in you.”

Anderson believes individuals can achieve their goals as long as they set their mind to it: “I’m not going to abandon anyone, but you have to be ready,” he explained. “Nobody can make you want to change. If this is your time and you’re completely on board and you want to make a change, you can.” Anderson said he doesn’t sugarcoat things and there are times when clients want to quit and give up, but he will do all he can to help everyone achieve maximum results.

“It’s amazing what the human body can do,” he said. “We’re all athletic human beings, whether you’re looking to run a faster 40-yard dash or carry groceries up the stairs without getting out of breath.”

The motto of Anderson and those in his athletic community is simple, he states. “Believe and Achieve.”

More information about Anderson’s services can be found on his website: www.leif-anderson.com.

Duluthian Sarah Packingham writes a weekly sports column for the Budgeteer. Contact her at sarah.packingham@gmail.com.

Tags: budge sports, budge community, two harbors, budgeteer, health