Strict Press- I haven’t done this one in a while but my last 3RM was 115lbs
Back Squat- Haven’t done this one in a while either but my front squat is 175lbs
Deadlift- 265lbs
Clean- 110lbs
Overhead Squat- 3RM is 110lbs
Bench Press-120lbs
When did you first start CrossFitting?: August 2012
Favorite WOD: Grace
Least Favorite WOD: any that include pull-ups or HSPUs since I can’t do those yet! Karen ranks pretty high up there too!
Describe your sports & fitness background: Does high school marching band count? I was always the chubby kid growing up so sports weren’t for me. I started to get more interested in fitness/nutrition when I chose my career path. I couldn’t be an effective health educator if I wasn’t practicing what I preached.
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit?: I just happened to stumble across the 2012 Crossfit Games on ESPN as I was channel surfing one night. I had never heard of it before but once I saw the things those athletes could do, I just had to know how they got there!
What was your first WOD like?: Terrible! It was the one where each suite in a deck of cards represents a different exercise and you have to go through the entire deck doing the number of reps on each card. I thought I was going to throw up and pass out. Or pass out and throw up…whichever came first. I was close to tears a couple of times because it was so incredibly hard and I didn’t think I could finish. However, luckily, it was a team WOD and one of the coaches (I didn’t know he was a coach at the time) was on my team. I have never been so encouraged in my life. Even though I was slowing us down tremendously, they never made me feel bad about it and even took some of my reps when I couldn’t. Although I was sore for an entire week, I came back to Crossfit because of that WOD and those people.
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)?: I’ve lost 22lbs since I changed my eating habits and started working out. The scale hasn’t budged much lately, but I have noticed a lot of changes in my body. I have muscle definition where I didn’t before. My pants are saggy but my butt is tighter! I am so much stronger. I have always been a strong girl but I feel like I can “take someone out” if I need to now!
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected?: My attitude towards things have changed. If there is something I think I can’t accomplish, I’ll just think “If I can do these crazy WODs, I can do this too!” I push myself towards goals that I may have given up on before because I know my strength now.
What's your favorite lift and why? Deadlift! It’s the first lift that I realized I am good at. The very first time I PR’ed, I acted “a fool” in the box! I jumped up and down, clapped my hands, and yelled words that would get you kicked out of church! I will always remember that day.
Name one goal you have reached since starting CrossFit and one goal you want to achieve: I reached a goal of doing more than 5 consecutive double-unders! I am so terrible at them. I have a couple of goals I want to achieve. At my box, there is a leader board with the top 3 athletes for each WOD and exercise. Right now, at the top of the women’s leader board for deadlifts, is an awesome Crossfitter named Elise. She holds the record at 300lbs. My goal is to not only get on the leader board, but to beat 300lbs! I also HAVE to get an unassisted pull-up one day!
Any advice for people just getting started with CrossFit?: Just keep going. You will hurt, you will cry, you will feel like you can’t do it. But if you just keep going, it will get easier. And before you know it, you will love it.
What do you tell yourself to keep motivated?: I don’t want to lose the progress that I’ve made. I tell myself not to throw all that hard work away. Besides, how can I beat the deadlift record if I stop now??
