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? 

My initial success was simply keeping up without straining anything.  CrossFit was completely new to me and was somewhat intimidating at my first fundamentals class when I saw how fit some of the rockstars there are.  My successes since then are improved personal records and increased endurance.

Overall, I probably feel about the best I ever have.  I have more energy all day (very helpful when I worked nights).  I believe the reason is sticking to it three to four times per week and even on days when I’m tired when I get there, to not dog it and “just get by.”

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

I’ve been more motivated outside of work with other projects, have started looking for additional workouts to complement our workouts (trail running, mud runs), and have been eating better.  Some unhealthy foods simply look “yuck” now.

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

The main advantage seems to simply be that the high-intensity, structured randomness method works.  I’ve worked out in some form or played sports most of my life and never really noticed much of a physical change.  Aside from lab values at the doctor being better, I can regularly feel an improvement in my abilities.

Q4. What advice can you give to others?

Keep trying to improve and stick with it.  It’s tough and it can feel overwhelming, but even if it’s almost unbearably uncomfortable sometimes, you tend to feel back to normal and satisfied with what you did by the time you’re driving (or biking) back home.

Athlete Specific Q. Legend has it, on days you can’t make it to the gym you still get a good workout in at home by doing pull ups with one of your kiddos attached to you… Is this true and if so, what’s the highest amount of pull-ups you have done without having to drop off the bar?

Yes, that may or may not have happened.

I remember that the maximum pull-ups I could do in a row started around eight and now it’s around 20.  There may or not have been a couple blood blisters involved in the progression.