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 think my greatest successes so far have been breaking through plateaus that I had been stuck at for years. Physically I’ve increased all my lifts, and I feel much more confident taking on each workout. When I started CrossFit I had to scale many of the exercises, but now I’m able to enter competitions and not feel out of place.

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

Since starting CrossFit I am much more enthusiastic about working out every day. It’s a part of my daily routine now that I look forward to every morning. CrossFit has definitely transferred over to the rest of my life, in that I feel more confident physically. The improvement in functional athleticism is very noticeable. It also led me to meeting a great group of people!

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

The biggest difference between CrossFit and my old training regime is the intensity. When I worked out by myself, it was easy to slack off. Now I have a group of people pushing me all the time, and the workouts are much higher tempo. There’s more accountability, and more competition, when working out with the same people on a regular basis. Having coaches around to correct my mistakes has also been a huge help. Plus I get a much greater variety of movements from CrossFit.

Q4. What advice can you give to others?

Don’t be afraid to push yourself. Try a weight or movement you’re not entirely comfortable with. If you’re comfortable during a workout, you aren’t really improving. I think it’s better to set your fitness goals very high and struggle to achieve them, than it is to set goals you already know you can reach.

Athlete Specific Q. True or False?

1. Scientists say that 2015 was the hottest year on record. It’s also when I started working out with my shirt off. Coincidence?? True
2. I always return the bar to the ground very carefully. It’s bad enough that I’m already causing global warming. False
3. It is not just Rich Fronning I was concerned about, it’s all the past champions who I don’t want to upstage. True-ish
4. I was on the verge of accepting Camille’s proposal in 2015, but when she failed to make the podium at the CrossFit Games, I had to step back and reconsider. Maybe if she wins it in 2016… True