Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mitchell Fischer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mitchell, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

I worked for a big box gym for 7 years, I got bounced around in a few different roles but landed in management more often than not. I was extremely lucky to be apart of a project of starting a group class that was like a copy of a CrossFit program inside a big box gym. This provided me with the stability of being attached to a big company while having to learn about managing the business of that program. It was there I learned the value of great service. I was encouraged by the leadership in the program to always focus on how great we were doing in delivering the outcomes that the clients came to us for. Too often in fitness owners or coaches get short sighted on the sales of new memberships, supplements and t-shirts.

I took that experience of focusing on the clients result first, and letting that experience speak for itself in how I retain clients and how to create a level of experience that people want to refer more clients to you based on that experience. I took that to my next management roll of a bigger club, and had great success passing that lesson to my coach team.

Now that I am running my own gym, I feel secure in running my business based on those lessons in a bigger sandbox.

Mitchell, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Mitchell Fischer, and I’m the owner and head coach of OPEX San Antonio, a personal training gym that helps real people train sustainably for life, not just for a short-term goal or six-week challenge. I’ve been in the fitness industry for over eight years, and my journey started the way many do: I fell in love with movement at an early age. I started martial arts at four years old, did push-ups and sparring before I could spell “recovery,” and eventually pursued a degree in Kinesiology from UTSA. Along the way, I became obsessed with not just working out, but understanding why training works—and more importantly, why it often doesn’t work for the average person.

I spent years working in big-box gyms, managing fitness departments, running group classes, and certifying new coaches nationally. But I noticed a major problem: most programs weren’t built for the individual. They were generic, one-size-fits-all solutions being pushed on people with unique needs, goals, and challenges. That’s when I found the OPEX model and knew it was the direction I wanted to take. In 2020, I opened OPEX San Antonio to give people a smarter, more sustainable way to train—one that respects their bodies, schedules, and long-term health.

At OPEX San Antonio, we offer monthly memberships that include unlimited semi-private training sessions, 1-on-1 program design, and regular consultations with a professional coach. Each client receives a fully individualized program built around their goals, movement patterns, training history, lifestyle, and even stress levels. We work with busy professionals, active parents, former athletes, people recovering from injuries, and anyone looking to build a consistent, grounded fitness practice that supports—not dominates—their life.

What sets us apart is that we don’t sell hype or shortcuts. We don’t shout over music or try to burn you out in 45 minutes. We educate, guide, and coach real people toward autonomy and confidence in the gym and beyond. We believe in fitness for life, not just for summer.

I’m especially proud of the community we’ve built. It’s not just a gym—it’s a space where people feel seen, supported, and challenged in the right ways. I’m also proud to be mentoring new coaches, helping them develop not just training skills, but coaching wisdom rooted in critical thinking, empathy, and craft.

If there’s one thing I’d want potential clients or followers to know, it’s that you can train hard, feel good, and make real progress without breaking yourself. You just need the right plan, the right support, and the right mindset. That’s what we offer at OPEX San Antonio.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

As coaches we have an advantage in seeing our clients on a regular basis when they come in for their program. We take full advantage of this opportunity and focus on delivering a great workout and product every time they are in for their workout. We also solidify the relationship by requiring a monthly 30min meeting with their coach so they can discuss their program, lifestyle changes and adaptations needed as they grow stronger.

This process creates “superfans” of our gym that helps our brand build a trust that can filter to their friends and family to follow suit.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday is one of my favorite authors (recently discovered he has his own book store here in texas I need to visit)

I have read this book, one page a day for the last 3 years of operating my gym. It reminds me to stay within the lane of things I have control over, and learn to forget the things I do not. This daily practice helps me find a better path forward when we need to deal with failure or remain humble in success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://opexsanantonio.com
• Instagram: @OPEX.SA
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/opexsanantonio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-fischer-075356169/
• Twitter: Never again
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/opex-san-antonio-san-antonio?osq=opex+San+Antonio