About Us

Justin Thacker is the founder of The Lab. His passion
is helping others live happy and fulfilled lifestyles by implementing nutrition,
psychology, and exercise
as part of a balanced lifestyle. Justin believes that prevention is the best
medicine and urges you to let diet and exercise be your pill.

CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

Registered Dietitian/Licensed Dietitian

Master's Degree in Nutrition and Physical Performance

Currently working on Phd in Exercise Physiology

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

ACSM Certified Health Fitness Instructor

USA Weightlifting Club Coach Certified

Parillo Performance Certified Personal Trainer

EDUCATION

Saint Louis University, St, Louis, MO
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Masters in Nutrition and Physical Performance (in progress)

RELEVANT HONORS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS

LIFTS (all lifetime drug free lifts!!!):

Deadlift (sumo): 405 lbs x 19 reps at 181 lb bodyweight

Deadlift (clean grip): 625 x 1 at 190 lb bodyweight

Straight Legged Deadlift: 500 lbs x 5 reps at 195 lb bodyweight

Clean and Jerk (training): 390.5 lbs at 187 lb bodyweight

Snatch (competition): 297lbs at 187 lb bodyweight

Power Squat: 550 lbs at 181 lb bodyweight (knee wraps and belt)

Olympic Squat: 462 x 5 reps at 187 lb bodyweight (no belt, no wraps, no suit)

Front Squat: 418 lbs x 2 reps at 187 lbs

SEE HIM IN ACTION!!!

MAJOR COMPETITIONS, HONORS, AND RESULTS:

2nd Place at 2010 Olympic Weightlifting National Championships in the 94kg
Class
4th Place at The NAS 200lb Strongman Nationals (after under 6 months of
training for the sport)
1st Place at Monsters of the Midwest Strongman Competition
Participant in the 85kg weight class at the 2006 U.S. Nationals
Arnold Classic Weightlifting Championships 85 kg bronze medalist
6th place finisher in the 85kg weight class at 2005 U.S. Nationals
Olympic Trials Qualifier 2004
5th place finisher in the 85kg weight class at the 2004 U.S. Nationals
Collegiate All-American in the sport of Olympic weightlifting
Arnold Classic Weightlifting Championships 85 kg gold medalist
Missouri Valley Collegiate male lifter of the year
Silver medalist at the U.S. American Open
USA team member for the Criollo Cup in Puerto Rico
Silver Medalist at the U.S. American Open
Bronze medalist at the U.S. Nationals 2002
USA team member for the Guatemala Cup in Guatemala
Bronze medalist at the U.S. Nationals 2001
USA Junior National Champion 2001
Silver medalist as a USA Junior Pan Am Team Member
AAU Junior Olympic National Champion 1999

EXPERIENCES

Nutritional counseling experiences range from weight management, many clinical
settings such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, celiac disease,
hepatobiliary, and various settings ranging from WIC, corporate wellness,
bodybuilding, weightlifting, powerlifting and many other focuses in sports
nutrition.

Training experiences range from mixed martial artists, minor league/collegiate
baseball, minor league and collegiate hockey, college basketball, collegiate/super
league rugby, Olympic weightlifters, bodybuilders, power-lifters, strongman
competitors, figure competitors, military personnel, and figure/swimsuit models.

SERVICES

-Nutrition/Dietetic Counseling

-Personal Training

-Strength and Conditioning

-Boot camp and Group Training

-Corporate Wellness

-Group Presentations

-Fitness Center Development Consultation

-Training Table Development for Sports Programs: creation, development and
consultation for team based nutritional facilities and services.

-Nutritional supplement product research and design

" I have lost 133 pounds, I am
no longer diabetic after 12 years,
and have come off of 2 blood
pressure medications. All of this
happened inside of 8 months while
working with Justin Thacker's
nutrition and exercise programs. I
have had to buy a new pair of
pants every 2 weeks!"

Michael Marker, lawyer, St. Louis

“Exercise has always been such a
huge part of my life. Once I started
working with Justin 1-on-1. I
achieved things I never thought
possible at my age! And my age is
none of your business!"

Dr. Donald Suggs, Publisher/Owner
of St. Louis American Newspaper,
St. Louis

"We have been training together
with a trainer for years but once we
started training with Justin we
found out just what we were
missing. Every workout is a fresh
new challenge!"

John Sandberg and Celeste
Vossmeyer, lawyers with Sandberg
Phoenix and Von Gontard, St. Louis

"I have been working with Justin for
about 6 years. In the first 7
months of training he helped me
lose over 60 pounds and now I am
hard as a rock. I never knew how
much muscle I was hiding!"

Craig Jackson, Marketing Buff, St.
Louis

“The premium membership has
worked wonders for me to keep me
in shape and motivated. I no
longer have to worry about
designing my own workouts or
worry if I am performing the
exercises correctly. Not to mention
I am saving a TON of time, money,
and frustration!“

Gerhardt Gern, Waiter, St. Louis

Carl Hoffsten resuming his training
4 weeks into chemo and radiation
therapy for brain cancer.

“This place is a paradise!’

Carl Hoffsten, Contractor, Fighting
Brain Cancer, St. Louis

“Oh my God, I hate you Justin!”
Only six weeks in and almost 20
pounds lost!

JR Patton,
Accountant/Engineer/Musician, St.
Louis

Lynne seen taking a break after
working with our new trainer Carlee
(small furry thing to the left) and
taking a break after Carlee
demonstrated how to do bear
crawls.

Lynne Cooper, President/CEO of
Doorways, St. Louis, St. Louis

Bryndon Bay, business executive,
deadlifting over 300 pounds with
under a year of training.

"I feel so much stronger now after
training with Justin. He has me
doing squats and deadlifts every
week! Now I can power through
my long bike rides on the weekends
AND still enjoy my Hagen-Dazs
icecream!"

Bryndon Bay, Vice President, Mel-
Bay Corporation, St. Louis

"I hired Justin to get my legs in
shape for a ski trip in 4 weeks.
Done. I then hired Justin to get me
in shape for my wedding. Done. I
mean really done. Now that I
moved to Chicago I am hiring Justin
to write my routines and diet plan
to keep me in check till I can get
back to The Lab!"

Lucinda Patton, Lawyer, St. Louis

Justin Thacker, MS*, RD, LD, HFS, USAW, CSCS

       2nd Place at 2010 USA Nationals                                 700lb Tire Flip

      180 kg (396lb) Clean & Jerk                               200lb Log Press For 10 Reps

             Channel 2 Interview                                             600lb Deadlift