What’s the real difference between training at a big national gym and a private studio? New trainer Brooke Passey joins Pete and Srdjan to unpack incentives, atmosphere, and coaching—and Srdjan drops news about his own bodybuilding prep.

Brooke shares what it’s like to move from a commercial gym to independent coaching: behind-the-scenes sales pressures, “numbers” targets, and sticky contract renewals that can matter more to corporate than member outcomes. In her words, trainers and clients can feel like metrics to “higher ups,” which is precisely what she left to build a client-first practice.

Pete and Srdjan map the real trade-offs: the buzz of a packed floor versus the calm and focus of a quieter, owner-curated space; a sea of machines versus a layout chosen for flow and function; scale versus community. Srdjan describes designing ELEV8 around relationships—members and coaches who actually become friends—and picking equipment intentionally rather than “just packing the place.”

Brooke’s philosophy centers mindset and daily habits as much as sets and reps, including how she gauges when a client is truly ready for change. Then Srdjan breaks news: he’s stepping on a bodybuilding stage next year, outlining a nine-month plan—bulk for muscle, then a tough cut with coaching support on nutrition—and yes, the final weeks may be “two months of misery” the show will follow.

Links & Notes

• Submit your questions to the show!

This week, we zoom in on the moment you decide to get help—how to choose a trainer (and a gym) that won’t waste your time or your joints. Srdjan contrasts the incentives inside big-box facilities—where volume and sales often dominate—with the owner-led standards, community, and results focus he’s seen in private gyms. The gist: when reputation’s on the line, care gets personal and outcomes matter.

From there, we get practical. What should a good consult sound like? Clear, specific explanations you can feel in your body—not canned answers you could Google. Srdjan also walks through how his own injuries shaped a post-rehab training style that prioritizes safer alternatives without sacrificing progress, and how that experience helps him quickly troubleshoot pain and modify movements.

Finally, the playbook: “shop your trainer.” Take multiple free sessions, compare approaches, and notice who supports you between workouts—texts about nutrition, label reads, and the kind of client-to-client encouragement that keeps you showing up. The goal is a relationship that’s personal, evidence-driven, and sustainable over years, not weeks.

Links & Notes

• Submit your questions to the show!

This week on Build for Health, Pete Wright sits down with trainer Srdjan Injac to take on one of the most misunderstood stages in any fitness journey: maintenance. Why do so many people hit their goals and immediately fall off the wagon? Is maintenance just an excuse for taking your foot off the gas, or is it a legitimate skill that deserves as much attention as any muscle-building or fat-loss phase?

Srdjan breaks it down: true maintenance isn’t about stagnation, but consolidation—a strategic period where you reinforce habits, solidify gains, and let both your body and mind adapt to a new normal. They discuss the dangers of “finish line” thinking, how quickly you can lose hard-won muscle and strength if you slack off, and why older adults may need to work even harder just to maintain progress. Pete shares his own struggle with “goal-centered motivation” and the mental hurdles that come when apps and challenges end, while Srdjan explains how building “mature muscle” early makes everything easier down the road.

Whether you’re coming back from a break, dealing with an injury, or just wondering how to stay in shape for the long haul, you’ll learn why a good maintenance plan isn’t just smart—it’s essential. Plus: the importance of building habits, the realities of muscle memory, and how to make the comfort zone work for you without letting comfort become complacency.

Links & Notes

• Learn more about ELEV8 Fitness Hillsboro
• Submit Your Questions for Srdjan