We’ll post new profiles intermittently – check back for more and track along with us as we go along on the tab labelled “The Rap Sheet” above. This is your chance to get to know your 440′ers a little better. For those of you thinking of joining – it’s a living example of how ANYBODY can CrossFit and reach their goals – whatever they may be.
Days per week – 3 maybe 4 if I can roll myself out of bed on Saturday mornings
- Member since - 4/2010
- Favorite workout – nasty girls~ youtube this video. The women doing this workout motivate me!
- Most Loathed workout – anything w/sprints
- Proudest result so far – 20#’s weight loss, many inches, increasing my deadlift by 100#s, the mental strength to push through the hardest workouts, confidence to know I can tackle challenges inside & outside the gym.On Thanksgiving I let coach Jim read the first draft of my wrap sheet. I said I would send him the finished draft on Monday. 3 days later (Sunday) I fell and broke my left humerus (upper arm) it required surgery, a plate, and many screws. It changed the game for me. There have been some really humbling moments in the last month and some new proud moments that surprised me. Not being able to CrossFit & see my CF440 family has been the most upsetting of the whole accident! Ask Coach Jim he catches most of these tears. ~ He’s my brother & my coach.
My new “proudest moments”: It’s only because of my fitness accomplishment prior to the accident that have allowed me to make big strides after my surgery. I have to thank my CF440 family for pushing me to reach my failing point during every work out because it has given me the mental and physical strength each day during my physical therapy.
TO MY CF440 FAMILY: Since day one the CrossFit community at 440 has been my favorite part. I can’t articulate how much I miss seeing all of you during my recovery. Your check ins and visits are so uplifting! Getting back to my CF440 family is my biggest motivation to complete my PT WODs.
Why did you choose CrossFit?
I originally started going to CrossFit to support my brother (Coach Jim). I knew I needed to lose some weight and I just got bored after a week or two of running on the treadmill. My workout routine consisted of a series of stops and starts with no notable results. I decided I had been “donating” to the gym at work long enough and blindly showed up for a CrossFit workout. I figured if nothing else I would get to hang out with my little brother, show some support for this weird class he’s training, and at least say I tried something new.
If it wasn’t for Coaches Jim and Ben and my 440 family I might not have gotten through the first few weeks; the first week or two were tough. Since becoming a CrossFitter I’ve taken back the word fail. It’s no longer a bad thing. Its only by failing I am able to determine the baseline for my next goal.
What would you tell your friends to get them to try CrossFit?
CrossFit is not just about lifting weights. The workouts involve anything from sit ups, rowing, kettle bells, box jumps, squats, etc. The workouts change every day and each one has a variety of movements to keep you on your toes.
The coaches knew I had some physical limitations and was totally out of shape. They cut back the workouts to make sure they met my abilities but still blasted me.
Everyone was a perfect stranger to me and somehow when I thought I might just quit in the middle of the workout one of them from across the room would yell out words of encouragement while doing their own workout. Nobody judged me for being a newbie; they just asked me if they’d see me tomorrow. This made all the difference. Today, I think back over the last 7 months with a new self confidence because I stuck with it even when I thought I would never be able to finish.
What are you currently working toward?
Pull ups. I would love to be able to do unassisted pull ups. Push ups are my other nemesis. Right now I do them on an incline and want to be able just drop and do a bunch.
What are you most interested in learning more about?
The mental endurance of it all; How to ignore the urge to stop during the WOD?
And more about form – everything from weightlifting to push ups. I can never have my form corrected enough.
No one is perfect. What is your favorite cheat meal?
Just one? Really? Have we met? I guess it’s safe to say my cheat food is anything in the carbs family especially if you can involve cheese!
Any advice for newbies?
Everyone here is your average person. What I mean, is we are just like you. We didn’t know a lot about CrossFit when we started, we knew the workouts looked bananas, and thought we weren’t in good enough shape to join it. It’s ok. We’ve all been there and are still there… we walk through those doors and look at the white board and ask coach if he’s lost his mind.
You need to try it if for no other reason than because you think you can’t do it. Stick it out for three weeks and 2-3 times a week. After the first workout you are going to think you are too sore to come back and you will try to talk yourself into staying home “to rest”. I’m here to remind you it’s the resting that got us all into this mess. You have to use those sore muscles to make them stop aching from the first workout. It gets better and soon you will be one of the folks preaching the awesomeness to someone else.
Jamie’s Favorite Video.
Erica DiFranco
Days per week – 3
- Member since - May 2010
- Favorite workout – Annie
- Most Loathed workout – ANY workout with burpees in it!
- Proudest result so far – Sticking with the program for 3+ months and looking forward to each workout more and more. I’m stronger, faster and feel better than I have in years.
Why did you choose CrossFit?
I heard about CrossFit through various friends on Twitter and Facebook, and it sounded fun and very challenging. I came to my first workout (free!) and was pretty intimidated. The Coaches scale the workouts for beginners, so I got a great workout catered for my level. I love CrossFit because I get personal training each workout and don’t have to do any planning to get a great workout. I just show up and bring everything I have for the day.
What would you tell your friends to get them to try CrossFit?
I usually tell them my story- that I used to get inspired to get into shape…I would join a gym and get bored by the treadmill after a couple of weeks. I didn’t know how to use weight machines effectively so my routine would fall apart. CrossFit is a community where we meet and push each other each workout to finish strong and as quickly as possible. It’s a ton of fun, really hard and incredibly rewarding.
What are you currently working toward?
I just started focusing on my nutrition along with CrossFit workouts. I would like to get into the best shape of my life….my immediate goal is to get strong enough to not do push ups on my knees!
What are you most interested in learning more about?
Women and weightlifting and how to tie in nutrition for optimal performance.
No one is perfect. What is your favorite cheat meal?
My mom’s homemade pasta and my dad’s homemade wine. Killer combination!
Any advice for newbies?
Two things- you DON’T need to be in great shape to start CrossFit. I know the workouts look intimidating, but they are scaled for beginners. Second- you will find a community of friends at CrossFit that will keep you motivated and inspired. Come join us and have some fun!
Related Links
2010 CrossFit Games: The Women
Orange Coast CrossFit For Women
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Bill Ryai
- Days per week – 3 days a week
- Member since - 04/15/2010
- Favorite workout – East Side Stomp
- Most Loathed workout – I think I am still a little too new to have a most hated workout.
- Proudest result so far – I have lost over 25 pounds and 4 inches from my waistline. As far as workouts go, I shaved 3 minutes off of my baseline workout.
Why did you choose CrossFit? I chose CrossFit 440 because I had heard about it from one of my friends. He told me how intense and challenging CrossFit workouts were. This made me kind of nervous because I was not used to anything like he was describing. So, I decided to check out the CrossFit website. I decided this would be the perfect thing for me. I have joined gyms in the past, and have given up in a couple of weeks. CrossFit 440 is completely different. Coach Jim and my CrossFit 440 family constantly motivate me and push me to go further than I ever thought I could. Without their support and motivation, I couldn’t do what I have accomplished so far.
What would you tell your friends to get them to try CrossFit? No matter what your ability level or fitness level, CrossFit is one of the most challenging workouts you will do. It all depends on you. How far do you want to push yourself? How bad to you want to get in shape, lose weight, or get stronger? The cool thing about CrossFit 440 is that Coach Jim will help you scale you to push you to your limit but not over.
What are you currently working toward? My goal is to lose 100 pounds. So far I am well on my way. Since April I have lost 25 pounds. Coach Jim helped me a lot with my nutrition. I got started on the Zone diet. Many of my aches and pains have disappeared. I have a lot more energy, my appetite is under control. The difference is amazing! I am getting stronger and losing weight at the same time.
What are you most interested in learning more about? Currently, I want to learn more about nutrition. Getting started with the Zone can be challenging, but definitely worth it.
No one is perfect. What is your favorite cheat meal? Bacon cheeseburger with a side of cheese fries!
Any advice for newbies? Give it a try, what do you have to lose? Stick with CrossFit 440, give it your all, and you will be amazed not only with what you can do physically, but mentally as well. Don’t give up.
Related Links:
- Inspiration: Vasti Cedeno – CrossFit Ignite’s “100+ pound LOSER”!
- The Zone Diet
- The CrossFit Journal: Issue 21
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Jen Speed
- Days per week: 4
- CrossFit 440 Member since: Jan 2010
- Favorite workout: East Side Stomp
- Most loathed workout: Fran (she’s a bitch!)
- Proudest result so far: I’m getting my waistline back!!
Why did you choose CrossFit? More or less… I hit my 30′s and I didn’t want to see my life go downhill. I started seeing the “secretary spread” and felt like I needed to do something.
What is your favorite thing about 440? The people. I told Ryan (hubby and fellow member) that when we move, I’m afraid I won’t like the people. We all encourage eachother – it’s a community & we have developed friendships.
What are you currently working toward? My first pull up without help! I’m almost there and am currently using the blue band. I started practicing pull up progressions using the Recon Ron Pullup Program that Coach Jim gave us mid-Feb, sporadically working through in March (I’m currently not doing the progression before the WOD if the WOD includes pullups). I’m also working on my kip.
What are you most interested in learning more about? Nutrition and Women in CrossFit.
No one is perfect. What is your favorite cheat meal? I have to pick just one?! I would say donuts or the Whiskey River BBQ Burger from Red Robin.
Any advice for newbies? Give CrossFit a chance. It’s hard every day, but if you stick with it, you will see results.
Related links:
- Whole 9
- CrossFit Journal – Beyond the Body
- CrossFit Mom
Congratulations on getting your first pull-up!
Jen–whoa! I dont remember your face lookin so thin. CF’s doin YOUR body good. Keep going! Im rootin for ya.
Habari Gani Bill!!
Safie sana !! nice work!!!….Keep with it!! Ill be back in August cant wait to see your results!!
Dan from Tanzania!
by the way the locals look at me like Im crazy when I bust out the burpees!!! good times!
Dan!!! We miss you at the four forty can’t wait for your return! Stay safe and keep up the wod’s!