How and when did you discover CrossFit & what concerns or problems did you have before you started?
I actually started CrossFit all the way back in 2014 and was pretty consistent but had to stop after a few years because it wasn’t affordable at that point in my life anymore (lousy job with lousy pay, living in the expensive Boston-area, etc).
I moved to Barrington a couple of years ago and thanks to Melissa Kinnison, I learned about EverProven earlier this year. It had been 5 years since my last CrossFit class, but I was in a much better place from a job and pay perspective.
But from a physical fitness perspective, I was a mess. One wake-up call I got was from a health screening that I have to do in order to get a discount on my monthly health insurance premium and I failed. I was the heaviest I’d ever been, my diet was hideous, and doing simple tasks around the house were more of a chore than they needed to be.
What results have you gotten so far?
Since rejoining the CrossFit community, I’ve been motivated to stop eating like an idiot or else the work I put in at the gym is nearly pointless. I remembered how much I enjoy seeing what I’m capable of doing when I have the encouragement of those around me. When I finish a tough WOD, I feel more than accomplished; I feel like a badass.
In a more tangible sense, things are easier to do in general. I’ve relearned how I’m supposed to use my body when I’m lifting/moving heavy things around. I like to think that I’m inspiring my kids. I’m also looking forward to my next health screening, because I think I’ll be able to earn that discount again.
What is different about EverProven services?
The big thing I think that sticks out is the quarterly check-in meetings with Coach Connor and the InBody analysis. I LOVE metrics and measuring my progress in so many different ways, so having those check-ins is super valuable. I’m not looking to become the next big thing in CrossFit, but I do want to get in the best shape of my life again. I’ve done it before, and I believe EverProven can help me get there again.
Another differentiator is how consistent the EverProven philosophy is across all the coaches I’ve worked with. I was never a perfect lifter to begin with, but as I’m relearning the best form for each lift, each coach has given me similar feedback in ways that “speak” to me.
What would you tell someone that is on the fence about joining EverProven?
I know CrossFit can be intimidating, with all the clanging and banging, but I promise you that with the guidance you get from the folks here, it’ll become music to your ears.
What is one interesting fact many people don’t know about you?
I am a karaoke king. Not to brag, but I won a cruise karaoke contest last year. I even won a trophy and everything. It was the first time I’ve ever won anything, too, so it kind of means a lot more to me than I care to admit!