WELCOME TO
LEVEL UP LIFTING ACADEMY

About

Hey, I'm Stephen Berkemeier,

the founder and head coach at Level Up Lifting.

I’ve spent six years helping hundreds of clients get stronger, leaner, and more confident — not just by following workouts, but by understanding the why behind every rep.

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I began my career at the University of Michigan, completing a three-month apprenticeship before becoming a personal trainer for the Big Ten university’s fitness program, where I worked for four years. After that, I took my methods to multiple Anytime Fitness locations, where I built and led their barbell training program from the ground up.

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I’ve lived every side of the process myself — from running cross-country, to deadlifting 500 pounds for reps, and more recently, to losing nearly 100 pounds while rebuilding my physique with an emphasis on aesthetics and long-term health.

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As someone who’s neurodivergent, I’m obsessed with sports-science theory and performance data, but my coaching philosophy goes deeper than numbers. I believe progress only sticks when you understand the mechanics behind it — when you know exactly why your program works and how to adapt it to your own body.

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That’s the heart of Level Up Lifting: education-based coaching that teaches you to train with purpose, think critically, and build lasting change — no crash diets, no random workouts, no confusion.