An Intro to M3's Owner: Margo Mashinter

"Health and fitness" were not always my every-day; hell, they weren't in any part of my day for the first 15 years of my life. I was always an overweight kid and grew up in a household and extended family of work-a-holics, fast food, and little to no exercise. I was always bullied and always had body image issues. By the time I was a freshman in high school, I was over 210 pounds and no longer feeling confident enough to even try out for sports I had played (mostly poorly) through my younger years. My grandmother from my mom's side got sick when I was 14 and passed away within a year, essentially from becoming morbidly obese--disregarding movement and nutrition--and never doing anything about it. I saw that break my mother, so I decided that would never be me. I was also extremely tired of being bullied, and wanted to see what it was like to give a shit about myself. Immediately, I took to Google and YouTube and absorbed as much as I could in terms of "What do I eat to do x?" and "What exercises to do for y?" and managed to lose almost 70 pounds in 9 months. Kids I had grown up with were absolutely amazed (I'm talking kids that knew me since kindergarten) because I was ALWAYS a size-y classmate. That began a 3 year stretch of people (of all ages) asking me: what I did, how I did it, and if I can teach them to do it.

All of that curiosity and questioning from others made me realize, "Well, maybe I don't actually know what I'm doing, and I just got lucky... I should probably learn how to be a trainer and make sure I'm not full of it." Hello, imposter syndrome! But this did pay off--I dedicated time as soon as I turned 18 to become a certified personal trainer, so I could "comfortably advise" on exercise and nutrition. After becoming certified, I took a very short apprenticeship at a local, functional training focused, small group and personal training studio (but picture a warehouse with an open garage) in Janesville, before ultimately it came down to searching for a job in Madison where I'd be attending college at UW. My first interview once moving here: rejection. It was devastating, but I had a sense that a lot of places would require multiple certifications, and multiple years of experience. So, instead of hanging up my hat, I decided to keep trying and keep my fingers crossed that someone would see the value I hoped I would develop. The following week, after a phone screen and two in-person interviews, I got the call that I was in.

My first 5 years in the industry were with Anytime Fitness, and I will always be thankful to my manager at the time, who saw my potential long before I did. I started out on campus full time (because I was attending full time school there), and within 3 months of starting, realized I was way out of my league with the schedule. I transitioned to a part time manager-in-training position, which really had me doing fun little side jobs and then still handling group classes. In that time, I was requested to cover another location over summer break for a week, and I agreed because I always love meeting new people, I missed training full time, and the campus location is basically empty during summer break. To my imposter-syndrome-ridden self's surprise: those clients had requested that I be the one to fill their open coaching position full time, after just one week of working together. I was in tears and so honored, and that's when I knew: "I was put on this earth to serve others." I was going to make sure that I could handle a full time class load and work schedule. Fast forward the next 3 years--through to graduation--and I succeeded with a bachelor's degree, two more certifications (Fitness Nutrition Specialist and Functional Training Specialist), and a full time job as lead coach, all by doing homework on the weekends so that I could focus on classes, sleeping and sessions during the week.

That first job is also where I had the honor of working with some truly inspiring coaches (shoutout to Ryan Campbell, he's still someone I want to be when I grow up); I gained a lot of practical experience, and over the course of those 5 years, worked in almost every in-gym staff position they have. When the COVID-19 pandemic happened and we re-opened, I took a chance by going to corporate with a proposal, and was able to make some real change at the location I was in at the time. Eventually, I still needed more space to spread my wings. I found an opportunity at a spa in Madison to use my Functional Training Specialist and Exercise Recovery Specialist certifications in more depth, and I found my love for helping people relax and reduce pain--up until that point I thought my only desire was to make people strong and confident and healthy with weights and food. I was also imposter-shaken when that spa made me the "Area Lead Stretch Therapist"; another moment of gratitude and confidence building. However, it took less than 6 months of me being away from the training floor before I realized: I wasn't happy with just one or the other.

Luckily, I was able to find another, smaller personal training franchise in the area--ironically the first company I ever interviewed with that rejected me--and they brought me onto their team, where I was given the opportunity to train, and help with mobility/flexibility. It was another great experience during those near-2 years, but ultimately I wound up conceptualizing, coordinating and opening M3 (in a very short 11 weeks) after realizing: I wouldn't ever be able to help people in all of the ways I dream of helping them until I take the driver's seat for myself. I also wanted the chance to be at FX: The Bear 's level of customer service and providing opportunities for amazing staff.

I could (obviously) write all day about all of the things I've seen/heard/learned/said over the last 8+ years of working with people in the realm of health/wellness/fitness, but what it all boils down to: I am always motivated to help people, I am always looking and listening for the next thing to learn (and certify my knowledge in, which is important) that is going to help someone that needs it, and I'm always motivated to teach people how to help themselves... fitness is a lifelong tool belt that we all wear whether or not we realize it, and as a coach I just see myself as someone that helps people find which tools to carry, and how to use them. I will never claim to know all of the answers, but I can promise that I am a "learner for life", and will do my best to help anyone find the solution to a problem, the answer to a question, and a path to solving either one.

Thank you for taking the time to read this to the end. I'm looking forward to the chance to someday meet you, learn about you, and help to answer your next question, too. :-)

Margo