Build Strength.
Build Belief.
Become Relentless
STRONGER THAN YOU THINK!
Strength Training that reveals what you’re capable of in and out of the gym
Underdog Strength was built for anyone who feels behind, overwhelmed, or just doesn't know where to start. Whether you've never set foot in a gym or you've been showing up for years and still aren't seeing the results you want. This is your entry point.
Fitness shouldn't be intimidating. It should be accessible, honest, and built around your life, not the other way around.
We strip away the noise, cut through the overwhelm, and build real strength from the ground up. Because most people don't need more motivation, crazy diets or novel exercises — they need a plan, a coach, and the right starting point. From there, it's about showing up, again and again, until consistency stops being a challenge and becomes who you are.
And somewhere along the way, something shifts. The weight on the bar goes up, the movements start to click, and you start pushing past limits you once thought were fixed. Limits you set for yourself. Limits other people set for you. You begin to trust yourself in a way you didn't before and that confidence doesn't stay in the gym. It follows you everywhere.
We believe everyone has more in them than they realize. Our job is to help you find it and then keep going further than you thought possible. That's Underdog Strength!
Relentless consistency starts with one decision. Make it today!
Michael Lacroce
Owner of Underdog Strength and Certified Personal Trainer
National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (NASM CPT)
Pain Free Performance Coach (PPSC)
Certified Physical Preparation Specialist (CPPS)
Nobody walks into the gym already knowing what they’re doing. Nobody starts strong (except Chuck Norris). And that’s exactly the point.
I’m Michael Lacroce, a Philadelphia based personal trainer and the owner of Underdog Strength. With 8 years of coaching experience, I’ve worked with hundreds of busy adults across all fitness levels, helping them find their footing, stay consistent with demanding schedules, and build a physical practice that actually fits their life. Whether your goal is to move better, get stronger, stay healthy, or just figure out where to start, we begin where you are and build from there.
My approach is grounded in the fundamentals: biomechanics, strength training, and injury prevention, because the basics work for everyone. I hold certifications with NASM, Pain-Free Performance (PPSC), and Physical Preparation Specialist (CPPS) and I’ve spend years studying how the body moves, breaks down, and bounces back. That knowledge shapes every program I write, whether it’s for someone managing an injury, working around a limitation, running their first 5k, or chasing their first powerlifting total.
The secret isn’t some magic program, it’s relentless consistency. Show up, do the work, and the results follow. My job is to make sure you keep showing up.
You don’t need a perfect background. You don’t need to already be fit. You just need to take that first step — and then the next one. Over time, you’ll push past limits you once thought were fixed and that confidence won’t stay in the gym. It follows you everywhere.
We all have the underdog in us. I promise you…you are stronger than you think!
Coaching Services
In Person - 1-1 Training
Personalized Training with 1-1 coaching. 60 minute sessions.
Charged as a monthly subscription.
Prices vary depending on desired session per week commitment.
Contact us for more details and pricing options. Only offered in the City of Philadelphia.
In Person - Partner Training
Train with a lifting buddy! Great for extra accountability and fun.
Personalized training for 2 individuals. 60 minute sessions.
Discounted sessions rates from 1-1, charged as monthly subscription.
Contact us for more details and pricing options. Only available in the City of Philadelphia.
Online Training
Personalized Coaching Programs made for your needs and goals.
Weekly Coaching check-ins to help with program execution and accountability.
Priced as a monthly subscription, contact us for more details and pricing options.
Let’s Get Started with
2 Weeks of free Training!
Before you commit to anything, let's make sure this is the right fit. Every new client gets 2 FREE WEEKS OF TRAINING! Up to 4 sessions, no contract, no pressure. One session isn't enough to show you what's possible. I want to earn your trust, get to know your goals, and show you what training with Underdog Strength actually feels like. If it's not the right fit, no hard feelings. But if it is…We've got work to do!
Get in Touch
Whether you have a question, an idea, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help.