1. Occupation?
I am self-employed. We own and operate Amish Hills Furniture, and being self-employed I pretty much do a little bit of everything. I mostly get stuck at my desk doing paper work but I do it all, including loading and moving furniture when necessary. It’s always so much fun to watch the faces when it takes two men to lift one end of a piece, while I lift the other all by myself (A big motivator to get stronger, that stuff is HEAVY!)
2. Favorite sports teams?
Any team one of my sons are on at the moment!
3. Favorite local restaurant or bar?
There is no way to narrow this to one, a few in regular rotation..Asahi, Bluegrass Burger, Jack Fry’s, Simply Thai, El Mundo and so many more!
4. When did you join DCCF?
This July will mark four years of butt kicking fun!!
So a friend who went to this gym downtown kept begging me to come with her. She would describe this place as super motivational because the coaches would just yell and scream at her to keep pushing her harder thru the workouts. Of course as someone who was doing nothing athletic at the time that scared me sideways!! I had no interest at all. Then one day DCCF opens in my neighborhood and I had resolved to make a change. To my surprise, I found Nat inside cheering me on and giving me every bit of encouragement I needed to keep coming back! It was just by chance that I found DCCF but she was right, my only regret is not starting sooner.
5. What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting? i.e., Have you made #gainz?
Umm yeah, I am a completely different person! When I first started, the coaches at that time would put the beginners thru 3 on-ramp classes. I was in such bad shape that my coach gave me one beginner class and I really do not think she/he (no names) thought that I would ever return after that because she/he kept cancelling the next class until finally I was instructed to “just go to a Saturday class and see what you think after that.” Not very encouraging, but that is exactly what I did. The class was packed, the Darkside room walls were still up and the space to work out was tight! Of course it was July (HOT!) and Alise, this incredible woman was killing every moment of the crazy WOD right next to me and not missing a beat! I’ll just say that I felt a little inadequate that day but she motivated me..this woman who is a bit more mature than me was killing this wod and I could hardly get thru the sit ups! I remember thinking that if she could do it, then so could I. (Of course I had no idea that she was working as a coach then until much later! LOL!) I also remember Slater asking me who twisted my arm to get me in that day, what bet did I lose? Haha!
So gainz? Yes..totally..everything, no more arthritis meds (I was taking 3 when I started), 50# weight loss, I manage my stress instead of it managing me like it used to, better energy, and better self-confidence!
6. What class do you usually attend?
8am
Bear Complex and Back Squats
8. Tell us about one of your goals for 2015.
I am 10# away from my goal weight. I would love to actually be able to say that I weigh what I want to weigh!
9. Any tips for new members?
Just keep coming! No matter how intimidated or nervous you might feel, just keep coming! You do this for you, not for anyone else so if you begin to feel discouraged because you lift less, modify, or can’t finish…Just wait. If you keep coming back you will do it all! Everyone has been a beginner, even the strongest, fastest, leanest person in the gym had to start somewhere.
10. What are your hobbies, interests or talents outside of CrossFit?
I am a wife, a mom, a business owner, a daughter, and a friend. That is what I do.
11. Tell us something interesting or surprising about yourself:
Since starting Crossfit, I have tried a lot of other ways to push myself. I have run two Tough Mudders, three Rugged Maniac’s, and a handful of other smaller 5K runs or not-so-popular obstacle course races. I have confidence now to push and try new things that I might not have ever experienced otherwise.
I have three sons 16, 13, and 7 years old who are my joy in life. In June I will celebrate 20 years of marriage to my one and only, my best friend in life. Even with the extra 10# I am still carrying, I am the strongest and heathiest that I have ever been. THANK YOU to the Derby City community who have encouraged me so much and to all of the amazing coaches, past and present that I have been lucky enough to have learned from over the last three and a half years!