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 would say my greatest successes would be all three, physically, emotionally and mentally. When I started, I was just an overweight kid that was forced to go to the gym by his mom and a doctor. Today, it’s probably my favorite hobby and has become one of the most exciting things I look forward to doing almost every day. Physically I’m in the best shape I have ever been in, in my entire life. Emotionally, I can say with absolute certainty that I’m the happiest I’ve ever been too. I think mentally I’m a lot more focused on who I want to be and what my goals are since I started, everyday my goal is to compete against myself to become better than I was yesterday, a month ago, or even a year ago.
Q2. How has your life changed since starting CrossFit training? Has CrossFit transferred over into any other areas of your life?
The biggest change in my life since starting CrossFit has been the amazing community I have joined and the friends/family I have made along the way. The amazing gym that has so graciously accepted me as one of their own has been one of the best things that has happened to me. CrossFit has helped me do activities that I haven’t been able to do because of weight issues I’ve had in the past. Skiing, running, biking and many more, I can now easily enjoy with my friends and family without worrying about a physical barrier getting in the way. Unless it’s hiking, then I’ll need a helicopter to get down :\
Q3. What are the advantages of CrossFit style training compared to your previous workout styles?
One word, variety. Every day is a new day in a CrossFit gym, it could be lifting, conditioning, gymnastics, core work or a combination of all four, that’s the best part, is being able to do a multitude of movements and workouts where every day is something you have never done before. This offers a whole new style of improvement and motivation to get in the gym. Back in high school football we alternated days on lifting, and did the same thing every other day, by day four your already tired of doing the same movement you did two days ago. CrossFit, I don’t know what to expect when I walk in the gym, it could be a hellish milestone workout like Fran, or a nice throw down of heavy lifting, either way I know that when I leave I have accomplished improving myself in some way.
Q4. What advice can you give to others?
My biggest piece of advice I can give to everyone is to never give up. It sounds simple but getting in every week on a good routine can be hard for everyone. Sometimes your not going to hit your PR you hoped for, or your not going to run the fastest mile out of everyone in the class, but it’s not about that. Every day you go in all you worry about is making yourself better and being the best you can be that day in the gym. Everyone has off days, but it doesn’t mean you skip out and go into a rut, that will only make things worse. Just keep your head down and keep battling to make yourself the best you can be.
Athlete Specific Q.
What is harder, rope climbs or making good Christmas cookies?
Making good Christmas cookies hands down. At least on rope climbs I can muster through all my strength and get maybe one rep, making cookies is all about finesse, and when you miscalculate one ingredient you get a whole batch of just cardboard garbage. Plus, you can practice rope climbs any time you want without spending money at the grocery store.