New fitness center aims to provide positive influence to athletes

Published 5:46 pm Monday, November 19, 2007

By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



A new gym in Fultondale is on a mission to help residents achieve their physical fitness goals.

However, Nx Level Fitness is also trying to provide a positive influence to young athletes.

Owner Mitch Ross is also the founder of the SWATS (Sports With Alternatives To Steroids) program, designed to instill fitness and strength in athletes without the use of steroids.

He said high school and college athletes may be influenced by sports stars who have either admitted using steroids or have been suspected of use.

“Everybody wants an edge, but these athletes are getting the wrong message,” Ross said. “Sports with alternatives to sin is the underlying message.”

The program is a voluntary drug testing program through which athletes in ninth grade up to their senior year take a drug test to be part of the SWATS team.

Athletes who pass the test are then given a virtual locker room on the Web site, www.antisteroidprogram.com.

“They can post all their accolades, grade point average and where they want to go to college,” Ross said. “They can use it for scholarships and use it on a resume that they were drug tested.”

The program is endorsed by current and former athletes, including Kenny Smith, Joe Cribbs, Andrew Zow and team captain Craig Powell, a first-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns.

While Nx Level Fitness will serve as the home office for the program, it’s also a fully functional fitness center. “Piece for piece, it’s the most well-equipped fitness center in Birmingham,” Ross said.

In addition to a wide variety of exercise equipment, the gym features a sand pit, a grass running area for speed training and will eventually house batting cages.

Ross, who’s owned several gyms in the Birmingham area, said helping people is the most rewarding part of his job.

“I love seeing someone come in wanting to lose 100 pounds or a kid wanting to start on a baseball or football team and helping them reach their goals,” he said. “People should take care of the temples God gave them.”

With the upcoming holidays, he said people shouldn’t wait until 2008 to start thinking about fitness. He said gyms typically see an influx of new customers at the first of the year because that’s when resolutions are made to shed pounds.

“They fill themselves up and want to get it off at the first of the year,” he said. “They don’t need to wait until Jan. 1.”

He said those interested in getting in shape should call the gym to find out about athletic training and weight loss programs. The enrollment fee will be waived for the first 200 members who join.

For more information about the Nx Level Fitness, call 841-7122. For more information about the SWATS program, visit www.antisteroidprogram.com.