For many the word “fitness” means to stay in shape and tone muscle, but for senior Jackson Lagemann, the word has a greater meaning behind it. 

Jackson began his fitness journey in middle school after receiving multiple concussions from football, leaving him unable to continue to play contact sports. Within the first year of working out consistently he lost around 40 pounds, and since gained it back in pure muscle. Over the last year, he has grown even more interested in fitness and nutrition.

“For the past year I’d noticed I was making big progress physically, and it got me really interested in how I could optimize my training and nutrition,” Jackson said. “During quarantine, I fell into a rabbit hole of wanting to learn as much about the science and physiology of it as I could. When I wasn’t lifting, I was researching studies and articles or watching videos about lifting.”

His passion for fitness not only stems from the results that he sees in his body, but also from the results that appear in his mental health. Jackson has used fitness and training as a tool to increase his confidence and remain positive during the difficult times that COVID-19 has brought about.

Finding this way to escape from stress and improve his mood has inspired Jackson to help others to do the same. He began an Instagram account that teaches his followers the basics of health and fitness while documenting his own progress. 

“I want to inspire people because I, along with everyone else never thought I could be in the shape I am today,” Jackson said. “We all start somewhere and the farther you are from your goal, the better the story. Instagram inspires me to continue not only posting more content, but to continue with my own goals. It holds me accountable knowing that I’m helping hundreds of people.”

Jackson has been supported by his family throughout his fitness journey to reach his fullest potential. His parents have made an effort to embrace his passion for health and fitness by transporting him to his local gym for training sessions and by supplying him with nutritious foods to fuel his body.

“We are very proud of what he has accomplished in high school,” Jackson’s father Aaron Lagemann said. “He has set himself up for future success in college and beyond, and he didn’t have a coach getting on him to do it. He motivated himself. I think it has helped him mature, and he now realizes the importance of hard work and staying true to his goals.”

Jackson’s friends have also supported him by helping him to capture content for his Instagram page at the gym. He motivates his friends to reach their fitness goals while they train alongside them.

“Fitness has increased his overall well being, and I look up to that and hope I can eventually make the same improvements he has made,” senior Jackson Mulligan said. “He sets a workout plan for us and encourages us to use correct form anytime we are lifting.”

Motivating his Instagram followers has become a huge passion of Jackson’s, but he plans to take it one step further by getting his personal training certificate. Becoming a personal trainer will allow him to create one on one relationships with clients and help him to motivate people who are starting their health and fitness journeys even more.

Overall, Jackson’s views on fitness differs from the average person’s ideas. Fitness is a mentality as well as a lifestyle.