Persist
Functional Bodybuilding
Build visible muscle and move
like an athlete at any age
Try Marcus Filly's PERSIST FREE for 14 days.
- Five programming tracks.
- Personalized form reviews.
- Expert nutrition guidance.
- Flexible payment options.
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Instructor: Marcus Filly
Average Class Length: 60 - 90 minutes
Get stronger and fitter and build visible muscle - without the injuries, boredom, and burnout.
Functional Bodybuilding combines classic bodybuilding methods for physique and quality muscle contractions with the fun of functional fitness. The Persist training program puts it all together with four training tracks where you can see and feel your progress week by week.
Persist in the wild
Personalized training for every level
Pick the scaling option that is right for your fitness level and take the guesswork out of your training.
FAQs
Will this challenge me enough?
Persist is for multiple levels of athletes, and you'll be choosing loads and paces appropriate for your own level. In the PERFORM track you'll see Olympic lifting, muscle ups, handstand walks…and also scaled versions of these movements. Conditioning is designed to push you on some days and sustain you on others – and even our advanced athletes are loving the mix.
Will it be TOO hard?
Unlike typical high intensity training, Persist emphasizes movement quality and control – so you won't be pushed into sloppy reps before developing strength. We include scaled versions of all advanced movements, and you can choose weights and paces appropriate for your level. PILLARS is also designed to be accessible to get you going right away. Best of all, a friendly coach is just one message away if you need help.
How is this different from CrossFit?
If you're coming from a CrossFit background, Persist will have some familiar elements – but the main goal is to look good and move well instead of simply going as fast and as hard as possible. This means you'll gain more control over your strength and pacing – while also building visible muscle.
How is it different from bodybuilding?
The goal of bodybuilding is purely aesthetic – but repetitive bodybuilding circuits can feel boring or won't challenge you enough with conditioning. Persist blends the best of bodybuilding with functional fitness so the workouts hit that aesthetic sweet spot and also feel fun and engaging – and carry over into other sports and daily tasks.
How is Persist different from your other programs?
Aside from working with a coach one on one, Persist is the only program where you can get ongoing training – so you can set it and forget it without scrambling to find a new program. Persist is also the only program we offer where you have a choice of multiple workouts each day.
How is Persist different from other programs out there?
Instead of random workouts (that give random results), Persist has a road map for an entire year. And every workout uses proven methods to build muscle and movement quality, while keeping you challenged to grow as an athlete (and as a person).
How much coaching will I get?
Persist is a group program, so if you are looking for an individual coach, we offer that separately. But if you are comfortable reading workouts and asking questions when you need to, you'll have everything you need. Our coaches will answer questions within 24 hours typically, and you can also upload a video if you need a form check on a specific movement.
What if I'm injured?
If you have past nagging injuries but are cleared to train, Functional Bodybuilding gets your joints, tendons, and muscles stable and strong by developing motor control. Move with more quality and your body will thank you! You can also message a coach any time if you have concerns about modifying a workout.
Do I have the right equipment?
You can do Persist training with no equipment at all, or just a few pieces like dumbbells, kettlebells, a box or band, etc. In the Minimalist track there's a bodyweight option for every move, so you can load or unload based on what you have. The Pillars, Pump, and Perform tracks use equipment typically found in a CrossFit gym like barbells, pull-up bar, assault bike, etc. With Persist it's easy to substitute based on what you have.
What if I can't train 4-5 days a week?
The PILLARS track is designed to be a shorter, less frequent training track with FBB essentials. But Persist also comes with 30-minute cardio workouts, recovery flows, and strength balance pieces that are valuable additions to an enormous variety of training scenarios, even if you don't follow it as written week by week.
Can I mix Persist with other classes and types of training?
Persist is a complete training program where every exercise, training day, and training block is designed with an outcome in mind. When you mix in other training, it may detract from your results or defeat the purpose of the program. However, many participants do other sports alongside Persist – you can try a free trial to see how Persist fits into your needs.
Can I see a sample?
Yes! You can try Persist for two weeks absolutely free to check it out – cancel any time, or leave it rolling and you'll be billed at the end of your trial and monthly thereafter.
What if I don't like it?
There's no contract with Persist, so you can try it for free and cancel your subscription any time.
Can I join in the middle of a training block?
Absolutely. While Persist builds from week to week, you don't need to wait for a new training block before jumping in. Settle in, get the feel of the workouts, and you'll be in the swing of things in no time.
What if I go on vacation or have to miss workouts?
The Minimalist track makes it easy to keep moving on the go – but if you need to miss workouts, no worries. You can scroll back to past workouts in TrueCoach, or just stay with the program wherever we are and you'll catch up in no time. You can also manage your subscription any time with no hassle.
Testimonials
Features And Benefits
- Look good AND move well - at 20,40,60, and beyond.
- Avoid spinning your wheels and wondering why you're working so hard - only to end up injured, drained, and second-guessing your plan. It's time to put your training in the hands of an expert and finally love the way you look and move.
- Year long roadmap - No matter when you join, there's a plan to build your skills, strength, stamina - and build visible muscle too.
- No fluff, get sexy workouts - Every workout is designed to help you look good and move well.
- Avoid injuries and overtraining by blendiing high effort conditioning with slower, quality focused work so you recover and still make gains.
- Every equipment need is covered. Whether you have minimal equipment or a full gym, Persist has an option for everyone.
- Access to PT warmups, cool-downs and a full recovery album.
- Every workout gives you coaching notes with all details on how to make the most of your session. Movement breakdowns and form reviews will also help you dial in technique.
- Take the 30 day Persist nutritional challenge included in the program to learn a complete system for building sustainable habits that work with any eating style.
Meet your instructor
Marcus Filly
Sound Like a dream?
I live it, my athletes live it - and I'll show you how.
Hi, I'm Marcus Filly. And I wasn't always this fit.
You might know me as the shredded guy from Instagram, as a 6x CrossFit Games competitor, as the trainer for celebrities like WWE and Mandalorian star Sasha Banks, or from Men's Health magazine.
But I've struggled with my fitness more than you'll ever know
I found training as a teen, learned everything I could, and got abs for the first time ever - only to under-noourish my body and injure my back - which nagged me for my entire competitive career.
Next, I headed to medical school, full of optimism on helping people live healthier lives – only to meet my match at the cafeteria buffet, and pile on pounds stress eating and studying, trying to force myself down a path that wasn't meant for me.
I dropped out and found CrossFit, and it turned out I was pretty good – thanks to my strength foundation. I coached, ran a gym, trained others, and went on to compete at the Games six times, placing 12th in the world in 2016…
But after that year of the hardest competitive training of my life, I was so burned out I could barely walk into the gym. My body was messed up, my gut was in distress from cramming down sugar for the energy to train, I had walked away from my business and had no idea what was next — and I was about to become a dad for the first time ever.
It turns out that too much stress from training, from work, and from life won't help you look good.
Too much, too hard, too fast, will only get you injured and back on the couch.
As someone who loves to train, feel fit, and have abs, I had to find another way.