From Survival to Strength
Note: This year marks a decade since REP hired our first employee. It’s time to tell our story in a different way than we ever have before -- the real reason we’ve dedicated our lives to bringing high-quality, innovative gym equipment to the world.
Our purpose is to empower people to improve and own their lives.
We created Pursue Your Strength to share real stories about how strength training can change the world, one life at a time. Because when you start to feel strong on the outside, it changes you on the inside, too. That opens more options in life. In that, strength is a type of freedom. That's why we do what we do.
We do this for you.
Now here are your stories.
A gym is more than just a place to sculpt a perfect physique. For some, it’s a mental sanctuary, a therapeutic escape, and a life-changing space where transformation reaches far beyond the physical.
Few stories embody this truth as profoundly as that of Luke Jacks -- a man whose resilience and determination turned tragedy into triumph.
From an early age, Luke’s life was defined by hardship. Abandoned by his father and rejected by his mother, he was placed with his grandparents, who eventually turned him over to the foster system. There, he endured abusive situations and bounced from group home to group home.
By the age of 13, he was living on the streets of Los Angeles, falling into a desperate cycle of drugs, violence, and survival. Meth and alcohol became his crutches, and by 26, his life was a whirlwind of addiction, gang activity, and desperation.
Known on the streets as “Big Luke,” he was a towering, fearsome figure whose size and anger concealed what was really just a scared young boy beneath. At his heaviest, Luke weighed 385 pounds. His life seemed to be locked in a destructive cycle.
But on September 11, 2006, Luke made a choice: to live. Truly, finally live.
The decision to leave behind the life he knew came with monumental challenges. With nothing more than a trash bag of belongings, he walked away from addiction and the streets, seeking sobriety and a fresh start.
He relocated to Colorado to live with a fellow sobriety brother who had one condition: follow the rules or face the streets again. Luke embraced the structure, quit drugs and alcohol cold turkey, and endured the agony of withdrawal to begin his transformation.
Fitness became Luke’s anchor.
He immersed himself in physical activity—hiking, weightlifting, walking—pushing his body to its limits. A clean diet and productive habits replaced old vices. Over the course of six years, Luke not only shed the excess fat, but he also discovered a new purpose: the pursuit of health and strength.
Rock Bottom
His dedication led him to become a fitness trainer at a commercial gym, where he earned a reputation as “Big Fit”—a nod to his incredible journey from the “Big Luke” of his past. His story inspired clients and friends alike, proving that transformation is possible no matter how dire the circumstances.
New Purpose
Today, Luke’s commitment to strength continues to define his life. For 18 years, he has maintained his sobriety, his fitness, and his dedication to personal growth. Strength didn’t just save his life; it gave him a life he never thought possible.
Luke now thrives as a superintendent in the roofing industry, a role that combines his physical prowess with his unrelenting work ethic. Despite long, demanding hours, he remains steadfast in his fitness journey, setting an example of resilience and determination.
Sharing Strength
His wife Alyssa Scott, who nominated him for the Pursue Your Strength challenge, says a dream home gym from REP Fitness will be more than a convenience for Luke; it will be a continuation of the sanctuary he has built through strength. It will allow him to balance his professional demands with his passion for fitness, bringing his journey full circle. For Alyssa, it will also mean more shared time together, as they can once again work out together, celebrating the life they’ve built from the ground up.
Rediscovering Strength
Luke Jacks’ story is a beacon of hope for those struggling in darkness. His strength—physical, mental, and emotional—is a testament to the power of choice and the transformative potential of resilience.
Stay tuned for Luke’s full story and his home gym transformation in upcoming months!
Aimee Heckel, CPT, is a health and fitness journalist with over 20 years of experience. She set an all-time world-record deadlift in her division across all powerlifting federations at Mr. Olympia. In addition, she earned a national deadlift record and 18 Colorado state records. Heckel also has nine world records in grip sport, a pro card in natural figure bodybuilding, four first-place bodybuilding titles, and was named IPE Ms. Colorado Figure.
This article was reviewed by Rosie Borchert, NASM-CPT, for accuracy.
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