Training with your bestie: Meet Annie & Gabby
This month, we caught up with best friends Annie and Gabby to chat about friendship, fitness, accountability and the special community they’ve found at False Bay Fitness.
Friendship From Day One
For Annie and Gabby, friendship and fitness have gone hand in hand for over a decade.
“We have been friends for just over 10 years now,” they shared.
Their friendship actually started through CrossFit. Annie had been training since late 2013, and Gabby joined around 2015.
“It’s been friendship from day one!”
Training Together as Best Friends
Training alongside your best friend can either bring chaos or consistency, and for these two, it’s definitely both.
“We definitely motivate each other all the way through friendship! We know each other so well, we don’t even have to speak, we just know what the other needs.”
Whether it’s needing a short break during a workout, picking up extra reps for each other, or simply offering a few motivating words, Annie and Gabby have built a training partnership based on understanding and support.
Of course, there are still those days where motivation is low.
“We both have ‘we want to skip class’ days, but we motivate and make each other accountable to arrive and do the work!”
Who’s Who in the Workout?
When asked who’s most likely to do certain things during class, the answers came quickly.
Gabby definitely complains the most when burpees are programmed.
Annie is the one pushing the pace.
Gabby is the talkative one during class.
Annie is absolutely the “one more round” friend.
Favourite Workouts & Competitions
The duo agree that partner workouts are their favourite.
“Partner workouts are the best, sharing reps all the way, we dovetail really well together, each of us bringing our strengths.”
They’ve also taken on a few small competitions together over the years, adding even more memories to their fitness journey.
The FBF Community
When asked what made them stay at False Bay Fitness, their answer was simple:
“The FBF community is really special. The magic that happens here… it’s like a big family to us!”
They also had high praise for coach Nico.
“Nico is an incredible coach, pushes us and gets the best out of us. He really has created something exceptional at False Bay Fitness!”
For Annie and Gabby, the class environment is a huge part of what makes training enjoyable.
“Super fun and plenty of banter all the while getting fitter and stronger!”
And like many members at False Bay Fitness, they’ve formed many close friendships through the gym community.
Plenty of Laughs Along the Way
Every training session seems to come with its own funny moment.
“Every workout together brings something funny to the session! There are many laughs.”
Gabby, apparently, keeps everyone entertained.
“Gabby has the funniest way of explaining things or naming things - sometimes she even forgets to speak English… Bulgarian all the way!”
Introducing… ‘Gabannie’
If their friendship had a workout name?
“Gabannie - like Dolce & Gabbana but more Dolce Gabannie!”
Honestly, we think that might need to become an official partner workout!
Three Words to Describe Each Other
Gabby describing Annie:
Strong
Funny
My inspiration
Annie describing Gabby:
Glamorous
Loyal
So, so funny
Things You Might Not Know About Them
Gabby shared that before starting CrossFit, she had never really done exercise or sport before.
Annie shared a few random facts about herself:
“I laugh at myself a lot, I’m a perfume collector, and I am a super sentimental person.”
More Than Just Fitness
For both of them, having a close friend at the gym has played a huge role in consistency and accountability.
“There are occasional morning messages to each other needing motivation when the struggle to get motivated to go sweat is real…”
But those little pep talks and the promise of coffee after class, usually gets the job done.
And for anyone feeling nervous about joining a gym alone, they have one message:
“If you feel nervous about joining a gym… you definitely need to join False Bay Fitness. It’s warm and welcoming. Come join our fitness family, we come in a range of sizes, capabilities and fitness levels. No judging. You just need to take the first class… you’ll be hooked!”
One Sentence to Sum It All Up
“Our friendship and time at False Bay Fitness has been a perfect mix of laughter, loyalty, growth, and unforgettable memories.”
A big thank you to Annie and Gabby for taking the time to share their story with us. It’s always special to see how friendships grow and strengthen through training and these two are a perfect example of what the False Bay Fitness community is all about.
If you see them in class, don’t be shy, go say hello, join in on the laughs and maybe even grab a post-workout coffee with them.