Q1. What have been your greatest successes (physically, mentally or emotionally) since you began? How does your body feel now compared to when you started and WHY? 

I guess outside of the gym, it would be finally graduating from CSU. I’d remember Tuesdays when I had hours of studying with formaldehyde smelling cadavers and brains throughout my senior year; being fully mentally exhausted by the end of the day. However, DNR was always an emotional pick me up at the end of the day; I’d literally rush to the bus almost every weekday just so I didn’t miss class. It really made senior year much more bearable, thanks for that one guys. Inside the gym however, there hasn’t really been a ‘greatest’ success for me, it’s mostly little tiny victories like, beating my previous time for a hero WOD, going through a workout with just a tiny bit more weight, and breaking that PR; but hey a victory is a victory.

Inside and outside the gym I feel like my body has definitely gotten fitter compared to when I started, I’m not sure how to word it but I guess I just feel a lot more capable; if that makes sense.

Q2. How has your life changed since starting CrossFit training? Has CrossFit transferred over into any other areas of your life? 

I think it was the end of high school when my parents brought me to a chiropractor and I got diagnosed with minor scoliosis. The chiropractor gave me like sets of core developing exercises and suggested that I start swimming. So fitness, at that point, just became an effort to correct an ailment, nothing more. Since correcting my spine, exercise just became a lot more of a chore because of how it started. However, since starting CrossFit, fitness became a lot more than just fixing a problem, it became way more enjoyable and I became (and continue to become more) aware of safety cues. So, CrossFit training made exercise fun and safe for me, despite killing me after almost every workout.

The part about CrossFit that has transferred over into other areas of my life the most, is my mentality of handling difficult tasks. During every workout I’d usually say to myself “well, at least it’s not Murph” or “at least it’s not thrusters”, and eventually that began spilling into how I handle problems in my life; the problem can be a lot worse so I just become thankful that it’s not as bad as it could be. Another aspect of CrossFit that bled to other parts of my life is that feeling of “this seems hard, but I really want to try it”; CrossFit, in short, gave me a sense of determination when I get handed life challenges.

Q3. What are the advantages of CrossFit style training compared to your previous workout styles? 

I didn’t really have a set workout style format before CrossFit but I guess the advantages that CrossFit style training has over my previous workout style is efficiency in movements and a lot more capacity for improving muscle and cardiovascular endurance; in layman terms, CrossFit make move bar smart and the breath-ey less hurt-ey.

Q4. What advice can you give to others?

Celebrate the tiny victories you have in the gym and in life; it’s natural to feel inferior when that other person has like 10 thousand more pounds on their bar but don’t forget to strive to that level; and lastly, always prioritize safety by working within your ability, you can always strive to reach new heights when you feel you’re ready for it.

Athlete Specific Q.
1) What or who do you aspire to be, what do you want to be when you grow up?
2) Dogs or cats? Why and what is your favorite breed? 

1) My career goal is always to be a research scientist, what research I want to do however is the million-dollar question that I need to answer.

2) I like dogs more than cats but if there’s a cat in the room, I’d pet it regardless (I’d pet it good). I like dogs more because based on my interaction between both of them, dogs always seem to be more friendly. The last question is not a fair question, it’s like asking “which of your children do you love most”, so my answer is I love all breeds. However, my dogs back home in Malaysia happen to be toy poodles, so I do love me some poodles.