Cold Iron Body Building – Transforming Bodies and Minds

By Cindy Ladage

Thomas Aldrich didn’t set out to open a business. He was just following a goal to transform his personal health. “I have lost over 200 pounds in the last two years,” Thomas said. “I built this gym for myself.”

Others saw the doors open at their Sangchris Heating and Cooling LLC business, viewing the weights and exercise machines. This, along with Thomas’s own dramatic transformation, caused an interest in the local community. “People started asking about a membership,” Thomas said.

Taking their requests to heart, Thomas said, “So, I got certified in body building, body sculpting and nutrition. I am going to take it a step further this fall and get an online degree in kinesiology. I have found a passion that I love.”

Thomas’s health journey began when he went to visit a pulmonologist. “I was losing my vision, and my nails were curling. I was prediabetic,” he shared. The doctor’s answer was medication, but Thomas wanted to take a different approach to healing. “I started
studying nutrition every night and reading all I could get my hands on.”

His efforts, exercise and changing diet brought him success. Today he is even starting to compete in bodybuilding competitions, the first in Houston in September, with local ones to follow. Cold Iron Body Building officially opened on the first of February. The
heating and cooling business moved to this new location in March of 2024.

This has been a family affair for the Aldrich’s. His wife Emily is on board and has lost 65 pounds in this health journey. Thomas said they eat whole foods that are not processed and have changed the way they prepare and eat food as a family. Besides Thomas, his
brother Mitch is a partner in the business and has also followed his own health and weight loss journey transforming his life as well.

Cold Iron Body Building got its name from the cool weights that Thomas lifts to get into shape. It all fits together, and one walk through the gym with the mural painted by a local artist, and a look at the impressive exercise equipment shows the name fits perfectly. On their website they explain a bit more “Our name, Cold Iron symbolizes resilience and strength. Every piece of equipment, every plan, and every session is built around one mission: to help you sculpt the body and life you want.”

This has been a journey of faith as well. “Faith comes along with discipline,” Thomas said. “In order to grow physically you show up every day, and I think that’s how you should treat faith,” he said about being in contact with God.

Business is booming, and Cold Iron Body Building is expanding. “This is going to be a gym and recovery center. There will be a commercial kitchen, and I will teach classes on nutrition and cooking classes,” Thomas said. “The expansion should be complete by
the end of July.”

Currently Thomas is training 26 people and preparing meal plans for about 30. Along with the expansion, Thomas said they have an exciting new partnership with Evogen. “They will put a supplement store in the building.”

While Cold Iron Body Building is expanding, Sangchris Heating and Cooling is still offering professional heating and cooling services as well. They have just started focusing on work locally, keeping projects closer to home. The gym and recovery center are something Thomas said he can do now and in retirement. “I have done the heating and cooling for 20 years. The body can only do crawl spaces and attics for so long”

Work at the gym starts early. “I start around 5:30 a.m., and train until 8:30 a.m. Then I make service calls. For those interested, they offer a variety of membership opportunities. The gym is open 24/7 and there are membership plans with personal training and nutrition options as well. “We will also do custom packages,” Tommy said upon request.

Knowing from personal experience, Thomas said there is no time like the present if you are considering joining, “There is no better time than now. You don’t have to wait until next month to change your life”.

Working with others in his hometown and offering a place where you don’t have to travel to Springfield or beyond is part of what Aldrich’s provide for the local community.  Thomas is loving working especially with the young men and women and providing a
place for them to hang out and build a healthy lifestyle. The Pawnee community have welcomed the new gym and been supportive of this new endeavor.

Details can be found on their website at www.coldironbodybuilding.com. Call 217-725-7473 with questions.