He came to Renew looking for consistency, and found it, plus a whole lot more. Meet Taylor—focused, funny, and always showing up looking sharp.
Q: What brought you to Renew and how long have you been a member?
A: In July of 22, I really needed to get back into working out consistently. I had done CrossFit in the past, and while I liked the methodology, the place I tried was too… bro-ey. When I found Renew’s webpage, everything there spoke to me. The focus on the whole person, the fact that everyone was welcome - those things sounded great. After talking to Becky, I ended up doing some private training for a month, and then started group classes and haven’t looked back since!
Q: Where are you from? If not here, when did you move here?
A: I am from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but I have lived in Austin since 2000 after I graduated from Tulane in New Orleans. I ended up going to grad school at the University of Texas at Austin, and then my wife and I decided to stay here after I graduated. In a weird twist of fate, I now spend about 1/3 of the year in Baton Rouge.
Q: One year from now, what do you hope to have mastered? What skill or lift do you hope to add to your wheelhouse?
A: The pull-up is my eternal nemesis from when I was a kid. If I could do that a year from now I’d be so excited. But I’m also determined to get over my weird mental block with burpees.
Q: What’s your favorite movement?
A: I have to say two things: I really like olympic lifts, and I’m probably the only person who loves the Assault Bike.
Q: What’s something Renew has taught you about your fitness?
A: Consistency is key. Whether it be nutrition, or exercise, or really anything, consistency is what will make the biggest changes. Working with the coaches on this has been good for me.
Q: What do you do outside of the gym? Both for work and play?
A: I work for a hardware and software company helping to define our software strategy. I took up fishing around the time of the pandemic, and I really love it now (definitely not something that I grew up doing). I now have a fishing kayak and I try to get out on the local lakes as much as I can. I still like playing golf, but I maybe play a few times a year. My wife and I have two cats, and we love hanging out with them and each other and traveling (though without the cats, sadly).
Q: What's your favorite eatery in Austin?
A: Asti. It’s been around forever, the food has been fantastic the entire time, the staff is great, and they make their own pasta.
Q: Tell us something we don’t know about you.
A: When the third Lord of the Rings movie (i.e., Return of the King) came out in theaters, I drove to San Antonio by myself and watched the first two special editions leading up until midnight when they premiered Return of the King. It was awesome, though I was one of the few people not in cosplay. But driving back by myself at 3 am was… questionable. :)
Whether he’s fishing, lifting, or rewatching Lord of the Rings, Taylor brings curiosity and commitment to everything he does. Taylor, we’re lucky to have you in the Renew fam!
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