Nic Santangeli began his fitness journey in the British Army, where he witnessed the transformative power of physical strength and health. During his 13 years of service, he specialised in physical development, helping thousands improve their fitness.
Now, as Head Coach at ELEV8 Gym, Nic channels that experience into creating a supportive community and programs like the 6-week challenge, which blends tailored training, personalised nutrition, and a strong sense of accountability. In this interview, he shares the philosophy behind ELEV8 and the impact of helping people achieve their fitness goals.
Liverpool Noise: What initially sparked your interest in fitness and coaching, and how did you get started on this career path? Tell us a bit about how this led you to start ELEV8.
Nic: I joined the British Army at 17 and as soon as I started, I could see the huge impact being strong, healthy & fit had on the ability to do your job. I then specialised in physical development within the military. During my 13 years within the Army, I have helped 1000s of soldiers, athletes & civilians improve their output both in a work setting & a personal setting through physical training.
I am so fortunate that since I left the Army in 2022, that I now have the ELEV8 community to continue to help people improve their lives through a holistic approach to strength & fitness training.
There is no better feeling than helping someone go from A to B in their health & fitness journey.
Liverpool Noise: The 6-week challenge promises transformative results. How do you design a program that caters to both beginners and experienced athletes?
Nic: We are able to achieve such positive results through each individual’s commitment to the challenge. The ELEV8 coaches are highly trained in the ability to tailor our programs to meet the individuals current experience. For example, a more experienced athlete may be using a barbell back squat, whereas a new member to the gym may use a goblet squat or bodyweight squat.
The coaches are able to do this dynamically day in day out, due to our regular staff training and CPD sessions to ensure we are delivering the best product we can.
Liverpool Noise: ELEV8 emphasises creating a supportive, team-focused atmosphere. Why do you think this sense of community is crucial for achieving fitness goals?
Nic: From my years of experience working within both elite teams & the military, the sense of community has been a key ingredient to success. Having a culture that is inclusive, supportive and held to a high standard massively impacts the results we achieve with our athletes & clients.
Additionally, the world can be a lonely place sometimes for a lot of people and giving them a place to go, where they know other like-minded positive people go, can be huge. This can be the difference between succeeding and not. This is also why we work with local charities such as the Liverpool Women’s Honey Suckle, giving their members a safe place to train together and discuss any feelings they may have in a small group environment.
Liverpool Noise: What tools and resources, like the ELEV8 app and nutrition guidance, do you provide to keep participants motivated both inside and outside the gym?
Nic: At ELEV8 we have so many systems & resources to help our members achieve their goals. We offer 1to1 accountability with your assigned coach. Your coach will then support you with ensuring you attend your booked in sessions, tracking calories and whatever else has been agreed to help you succeed. Another huge resource we utalise is our community. When newer members start with us at ELEV8, having them partner up with some of the more experienced members during the classes can have a real positive impact on their journey.
Liverpool Noise: For individuals struggling with weight or motivation, what strategies do you use to help them break through these barriers?
Nic: The main strategy we implement with anyone struggling with weight or motivation, is helping them discover the main reason WHY they need to achieve these goals. Understanding the bigger picture about why they are training and trying to live a healthier lifestyle. For example, it could be setting an example for our kids, needing to be fit/strong/robust for our careers in order to provide for our family, feeling confident in our own skin to allow for increased confidence in life, the list goes on. The point being, we need to understand why you need to achieve these goals. From there, it becomes a little easier to stay on track long term.
Liverpool Noise: What do you find most fulfilling about coaching, and how do you stay motivated in your own fitness journey?
Nic: Seeing people’s enjoyment and attitude towards training change for the better. So many of our members have never stepped in a gym for one reason or another. After joining ELEV8 they commonly say, “I can’t even imagine not training now”. This for us is huge. I feel such a sense of pride in our team when we literally change people’s live through positive physical training.
For myself, I struggle with motivation all the time. Having 2 young kids, running multiple small businesses, trying to develop in sports and other commitments, I commonly find myself lacking energy and motivation to train. I counter this by remembering why I need to train & stay healthy. I need to lead by example and still put the work in even when I don’t feel like it. I think of my sons, wife, members, athletes all looking at me and holding me to a high standard. Although this may sound dramatic, it is what keeps me turning up week in week out, year in year out.
Liverpool Noise: If someone is hesitant to join the challenge, what advice would you give to help them take that first step toward change?
Nic: Honestly, please just reach out to me or one of the ELEV8 coaches. From the second you chat with us, whether that be on Instagram, the phone or in person, you will feel a sense of understanding and a real passion to help you with zero judgement. We say this a lot, come down any time for free and see the culture for yourself. I truly believe there is not many places like ELEV8.
To find out more about ELEV8 Gym visit elev8performance.co.uk and follow @elev8liverpool on Instagram.
