Kim Potter’s Testimonial

My weight was never something I was particularly comfortable talking about, but it was never something that I felt held me back in life. I had usually carried an extra 10 pounds or so, but when I started having kids my weight ballooned.  In 2008, I was pregnant with my first daughter, and I went from 155 pounds to 185 pounds. While I was pregnant with my second daughter in 2009, I made it all the way up to 197 pounds. Even though I knew I weighed 197 pounds and was carrying a second person inside me, I also knew that I was not carrying a 50 pound baby.

At the same time that I was growing bigger and bigger with each pregnancy, one of my best friends was getting smaller and smaller. She had joined CrossFit San Jose. I could see not only the positive physical changes CrossFit was making in her life, but the overall happiness and self-esteem that were blossoming as well. I decided that once I gave birth, I was going to turn to CrossFit to lose my baby weight. Via the magic of the internet, I found CrossFit Vacaville, and walked in the door for the first time on Feb 22, 2010. It was 6 weeks and 3 days after giving birth to my second daughter.

On day one in the gym I was already down to about 180 pounds, thanks to no longer having a 7 pound baby in me and no longer being as swollen as I had been. I was scared, nervous, and intimidated to begin. I had back to back babies and felt like I had been pregnant for two years straight. My “fitness” routine had involved little to no exercise and a diet of overindulging in pregnancy cravings. That included a one month stint where I ate an entire bag of potato chips every day. I knew I had a long road ahead of me.

I joined with the goal of fitting into a pair of pre-pregnancy size 12 jeans. A size 10 would be fantastic, but I believed that it would not be possible to have a better body after having two kids.
I had heard “horror” stories of CrossFit workouts that would leave you breathless, puking, blistered, crying, or any combination of these. But, I also saw first hand the positive changes CrossFit could make if I put in the effort.

My “worst fear” came true on day one. Half way through my newbie WOD, I jumped off the rowing machine, ran to the bathroom and threw up. And then I wiped my mouth off, got back on the rowing machine, and finished the WOD. I had one of, if not the, slowest women’s newbie times. But I lived, and I finished.
I quickly came to learn that my fears were both justified and baseless at the same time. I was right in being nervous about the WODs. They are not easy, they push me harder than I would push myself, and sometimes they hurt. But what I didn’t know was that the trainers would support me every step of the way. I had no idea that I would be cheered on during my workouts. I did not know that I would be entering a fraternity where no one cared if you were the youngest, the thinnest, the fastest, or the strongest. It only mattered that you pushed and didn’t quit. And if I felt like I couldn’t push anymore, a trainer would either stop me so I didn’t get injured, or stand at my side and encourage me until I finished.
I quickly let my fears go. Not too long after I started working out, I began to feel the changes. I was stronger and had more energy. When I moved my sofa to vacuum, it wasn’t heavy. When the kids wanted to wrestle on the floor, we took breaks because THEY were tired, not because I was tired. My whole life became easier.

In just a few weeks I was back into my pre-pregnancy jeans. I couldn’t believe how quickly that had happened. I figured if I could reach that goal so quickly, I should probably set a new goal. I set a goal to fit into a single digit size pair of pants. I had not fit in a single digit size since my freshman year of high school.
I was in the gym two to three times a week for the first four months (all my mommy duties would allow for), and worked out at home during my kids’ nap times. By Summer 2010 I was in a size 8 and down to 156 pounds. It was time for a new goal.
I resolved to actually reach the weight I had for some many years put on my driver’s license: 150 pounds.
Before summer was over I was at my driver’s license weight, and by Halloween I was wearing a size 6 jeans. I stopped setting target goals after this. I had learned so many things about fitness, being healthy, and eating well.

I had never been in a gym that was anything like CrossFit Vacaville.  There is no other gym where I have ever seen this level of individual attention and support. I didn’t just reach my goals, I smashed them. I couldn’t do a single double under on day one, and now I can do 20 without stopping. I could barely run 100m my first week and can now run close to a 1000m before I get an urge to stop. I struggled to do 5 push-ups in a row on my knees when I first started. I can now finish an entire push-up WOD doing all the push-ups on my toes. I didn’t ever see these accomplishments in my future when I started in February.  While I put in the time and energy, I was motivated to keep going by the encouragement of my trainers.

I was caught off guard (and a little embarrassed) the first time I got a text message from one of the trainers. I had not been in for a week, and they were wondering where I was. I could not believe that anyone would notice that I had not been in, let alone take the time to contact me and find out why. The trainers truly wanted me to reach my goals and not quit on myself. And however they could support me, they would.

In addition to the dynamic workouts and amazing trainers, CrossFit works because I can do it any time, any where, and the only equipment I need is me.
I had been a regular in the gym two to three times a week for the first four months. Over the summer, my ability to make it into the gym changed. Unfortunately, I have not been a regular gym-goer since. But that was not the end of my CrossFit story.

Because I have two daughters under the age of two and a husband who works crazy shift hours, finding time to leave my home (without a munchkin on each hip) is rare. So I CrossFit at home. Nothing can substitute the atmosphere and loud cheering voices that exist at CrossFit Vacaville. But the tools I have learned along the way I can take anywhere.
My life is being a fulltime stay at home Mommy to my daughters, so I bring CrossFit into my home. I fit in a few reps of whatever I feel like whenever it fits into my day. Burpees, Mountain Climbers, Lunges, Squats, Sit-Ups, Push-Ups, and Jumping Jacks can be done in my living room while my kids are playing or napping. And as all mommies know, sometimes finding time to do activities without my kids is just impossible. So rather than not workout, I work my kids into my workout.

I do “Weighted” sit-ups where one of my daughters will lay on my chest, wrap her arms around my neck, and then I lift us both up in a sit-up. We do a version of the Overhead Squat that I call “The Toddler Squat.” My daughter will sit on my shoulders and yell “weeeeeee” as I squat up and down. We do “Piggy Back Push-Ups” where my daughter will sit on my back as I do pushups.

Our latest creation does not use my kids as equipment, but rather turns them into my coaches. We do our own version of the “Deck of Cards” WOD. I tape two groups of flashcards on the wall: one set of cards has exercises written on them, the second set has numbers. The girls go to the wall and point to one of each, thereby choosing the exercise and number of reps Mommy will do. They then laugh hysterically as Mommy jumps up, falls down, and dances around like silly fool.

I had stopped setting specific goals around Halloween 2010. To me, I had reached my target weight and target size. As I continued to live by the healthy habits I learned from being a part of CrossFit Vacaville, the changes continued as well. By December 2010, I had dropped to 135 pounds (a perfect weight for my 5’6” height). For Christmas, I bought my first ever pair of size 2 jeans. I’m not trying to lose any more weight; I have reached a place where I’m thrilled with the way I look. I don’t remember having this much confidence and self-esteem. I am healthy, and I am happy.

In December 2009, I weighed 197 pounds. In December 2010, I weighed 135 pounds. I lost 62 pounds in one year.
The truth of the matter is, I know I will gain weight again. I plan on having more children, which means weight gain and a big belly. I am confident that I know the difference between a healthy weight gain and an unhealthy weight gain. And I am not worried about losing the baby weight when the time comes. I know I have a great support team behind me who will help me every step of the way.

Seth J.’s Testimonial

Question #1 How did you discover Crossfit Vacaville?

I had been interested in Crossfit for a couple of months.  I was downtown looking for a parking space to eat the Sushi restaraunt when I saw the Crossfit Vacaville sign in the window.  About a week later I saw the ad in the Monthly Grapevine.  I then went in to find out more information and spoke with Andy.  That was in late December 2009.

Question #2 How long have you been coming to Crossfit Vacaville?

I began coming to Crossfit Vacaville in early January 2010.

Question #3  Did you have any preconceived notions about Crossfit Vacaville going in?

I knew it would work, but thought it was going to be so hard that I would be miserable after every workout.  I thought it would be an uphill battle getting myself to go to Crossfit.

Question #4  Has that perception changed?

I was right.  It does work.  It is even harder than I thought it was going to be, and I love every second of it.  I can’t get enough.  I am fully addicted.  If anything interferes with a planned trip to Crossfit, I get very cranky.  I think I actually start to go through withdrawals.  I usually end up trying to shuffle things around so I can get a workout in.

Question #5  What do you like most about Crossfit Vacaville?

What I like most about Crossfit Vacaville is the comraderie amongst everyone there.  It is with the trainers as well as the other members.  It is a rare time when there is not SOMEONE yelling encouragement to whoever is working out.  It does not matter if you know everyone there or if you know no one, somebody will be yelling for you to keep going and to keep pushing.  It is very energizing and something you do not find in a “regular” gym.

Question #6  What fitness mile stones have you achieved since starting Crossfit Vacaville?

I am a Sergeant with a Bay Area Police Department and a SWAT Team Leader.  One of the physical requirements of being a SWAT member was 5 unassisted pullups.  There was added pressure being a SWAT Team Leader.  I have a long list of excuses as to why I had allowed myself to become de-conditioned.  I was able to pass all portions of the physical agility test except the pullups.  I was only able to do 1.  It was very embarrasing for me to fail so miserably in front of my entire Team.  I had a few months to bring up my fitness level to be able to pass the entire test.  When I went in to Crossfit, my first major goal was to be able to do 5 pullups.  I reached that goal, and have since gone WAY past it.  I did a pullup club test a couple of weeks ago and did 18 unassisted pullups.  I am 37 years old.  I have NEVER IN MY LIFE been able to do that many pullups.  The most I had ever done was 10, but now I have almost doubled it.  My other was to just get in better shape.  I have acheived that by leaps and bounds.

Questions #7  What are your future fitness goals with Crossfit Vacaville?

My first goal is to be able to do 30 pullups before my 38th birthday in November.  My next goals are muscle ups and double unders.  Then, I want to tackle the rope climb.  My ultimate goal is to complete ALL of the Hero workouts with a respectable time.  Then I want to complete “the girls” with a respectable time.

Question #8  If you were talking to a colleague, friend or family member, how would you describe the way Crossfit Vacaville has changed your life?

First of all, it would be easier to talk about the things in my life that it have NOT changed.  For instance, my bowling score has not improved (although I can confidently use a heavier ball) and neither has my ability to win games on “Words with Friends”.  But that is about it.  It is kind of funny, because I find myself talking with someone almost daily about Crossfit Vacaville and Crossfit in general.  It is usually because people tell me how fit I am looking and/or asking me how much weight I have lost.  I have actually lost 33 pounds so far, but that is not the most remarkable thing.  Within a couple weeks of starting at Crossfit Vacaville, I was noticing my clothes were starting to fit more loosely.  After about a month, I had to take my duty belt in about an inch.  To date I have taken it in more than 5 inches.  When I stand up straight, I can look down and see the buckle on my duty belt for the first time in my 15 year career.  I am wearing pants that I have not been able to fit into in years, and they fit better than they did when I first bought them.  I have a lot more confidence in myself and my appearance.  I have been told that shows in how I carry myself when I walk around.

One of the biggest changes in my life has been my overall health.  In all the years past, I would start working out really hard to lose weight and get in shape.  I would end spending long periods of time on the treadmill, to the point where I wore down my immune system.  Ultimately, I would catch a cold or some other illness and get sidetracked from working out for a month or so since I would not be able to shake the cough.  I would lose ground and have to play catch-up, only to get sick again and start the cycle all over again.  Since coming to Crossfit Vacaville, I have not been sick at all.  I did get sidetracked for 1 month after breaking my leg playing softball, but only for 1 month.  I missed Crossfit so much that I came back in and was working out with a cast on my leg.  It was actually quite funny but, like I said earlier, I am an addict and could stay away no longer.  Andy, Kelsey, Alex and Ray all tailored workouts for me to do and I made huge strides.

Jim O.’s Testimonial

I decided to check out CrossFit because I needed something different than the gyms I had been a member of in the past. I’ve been going to CrossFit Vacaville for 10 months now, and it has been everything I was looking for. It goes to show you that fancy gyms and fancy clothes can’t give you a good workout like CrossFit. Not that I’m taking away from anyone trying to get in shape. Ok maybe a little ha.

When I first started at CrossFit Vacaville, I was out of shape and very much overweight, but no matter what my status was I loved the fact that I was accepted as being a part of a family there. I love how Andy and the staff works with everybody and takes the time to help out when needed, and they just make you feel at home.

When I started CrossFit i was 275lbs, I couldn’t do 1 push up, only 1 sit up and forget pull ups. Now, I’m doing 40-50 push-ups at once, 50-75 sit ups at once, and 5-8 pull ups unassisted. I’m doing many different exercises that I haven’t done in 25 years. I have lost almost 55lbs. my cholesterol has dropped and my doctor has taken me off of over half of my blood pressure meds. Also went from a 44 waist to a 34 and love it.

As long as I am living in Vacaville, CrossFit Vacaville will be a part of my life. CrossFit has changed my life with workouts and dieting and good friends. CrossFit has changed me not only by my appearance but also in my attitude. I’m a much happier person father and husband. When I describe CrossFit i actually get excited talking about it. I think it’s because I want people to experience what I have. It’s addicting, it’s healthy and it’s CROSSFIT!

Tito’s Testimonial

By Thanksgiving 2009 I had given up on thinking I’d ever be anything but a fat guy.  I decided to “enjoy” life and eat whatever the hell I liked.  The holidays were a perfect time not to worry about a diet and from Halloween on I was enjoying the meals spent with family and friends.  I had no problem enjoying second (or third) helpings of desserts.  It seemed I was never satisfied after one slice of pie.  A short time later I’d be hungry again for more sweets.  By December, I realized I was feeling pretty crappy.  Every time I leaned over to pick something off the floor I’d make the “old man grunt” and tying my shoes meant holding my breath as my belly fat would press up against my diaphragm making it impossible to breath.  I generally felt “down” and I noticed by blood pressure was usually around 140/90.

I decided to make a “New Year’s Resolution” for the first time in my life and remembered that my last paramedic partner was doing something called Crossfit.  I “Googled” it and was intrigued by the idea of doing short intense workouts for maximum benefit.  I really didn’t want to keep jogging for 45mins several days a week (which never seemed to do much except to make me more hungry).  I talked to my partner and he mentioned that his trainer, Sarah Dillingham over at Diablo Crossfit would give me a free workout and just to contact her.  So by mid-December I decided to start doing some crossfit-type bodyweight workouts in the garage so I’d be ready come the first week of January to handle the intensity of a real crossfit workout.  However, just after Christmas I injured myself in a bizarre arcade accident (too embarrassing to document here).  I ended up having to wait until March 2010 to join Crossfit Vacaville.

While I waited to heal, I read as much as I could about Crossfit and downloaded podcasts off the Crossfit Journal website.  About mid-January I saw that Sarah at Diablo Crossfit put a simple two-word update on her Facebook page.  It read “eat paleo”. I had no idea what “eat paleo” meant and of course when I saw that it meant never eating grains I thought it was the craziest diet ever.  However, once I read the evolutionary reasoning behind the paleo diet and how it’s genetically the way humans are “wired” to feed, it made complete sense.  As a paramedic, I’ve always been interested in science, especially biology, and began reading as much as I could off Rob Wolff’s website (the former Crossfit nutrition guy), Mark Sisson’s blog, and Dr. Kurt Harris’ “Panu” blog – just to name a few “paleo” people. When Mark Sisson’s book, “The Primal Blueprint” came out it just confirmed everything I had been reading.I began eating “paleo” mid-January, 2010, and after a few days my wife said, “You’re not going to be able to keep this up”.

Right then I made the realization that I hadn’t been using my asthma inhaler for the past few days.  I’ve been an asthmatic all of my life and normally used the inhaler 2 or 3 times a day.  It’s been a year since I’ve last used it. I suspect it was the elimination of gluten in my diet that finally allowed me to breath freely.

By March, I was healed enough (and had lost about 15lbs) to join Crossfit Vacaville and meet up with Andy to do my first WOD.  It was tough but I loved it.  Although I had never belonged to a gym I knew this was a lot different than most gym settings.  I loved how people were shouting encouragement to each other during the workouts and how the trainers would use positive reinforcement to get people to give a little more than they would otherwise.

It’s now been 10 months since I’ve joined Crossfit and I’ve learned a few things:

1.     Use good form even if it slows you down and you’re forced to use less weight.  It’s not worth getting hurt.

2.     Joints & ligaments don’t adapt as fast as muscle and, at 48 years of age, I was limited a few times in the first few months by some tendonitis and shoulder joint pain.  I have a better idea now of how hard to push myself.

3.    A good night sleep is the only way to recover (build strength and burn fat).  Don’t stay up late and sleep in a dark room.

4.    There’s a fantastic social aspect to Crossfit Vacaville.  Nice people and no attitudes.  Although I wouldn’t mind watching someone experiencing ‘roid rage from time to time to break up the monotany of rowing during the warm-ups.

5.    Now that I’ve officially lost 40lbs of body fat I realize nothing tastes as good as thin feels.  My last physical revealed a normal fasting glucose level (I had been experiencing skin tags – a sign of hyperinsulemia) and my blood pressure was 122/70.  I’ve never had a blood pressure that low in my life.

My goals for the future are to try and get my body fat percentage to around 15% (I’m around 20%), work on my flexibility and lifting form, and then work on strength building.

p.s. The best book on fat loss is Gary Taubes’, “Why We Get Fat”.  It takes away the guilt of obesity and explains how you got fat and how to make it go away. Thank you, Crossfit Vacaville.  I truly believe you’ve saved my life.

Tara’s Testimonial

I had been fairly healthy my entire life, but had always carried about 10 extra pounds. When I turned 24, that changed. All of a sudden, I started experiencing allergies. Major weight gain. Depression. Acne. Itchy scalp. Boils. Missed periods and debilitating pain when they did come. Joint pain. IBS. These were all new things to me.

I saw dozens of doctors – German ones, Canadian ones, American and Dutch. Some told me I was suffering from allergies. Others made me keep a food journal and count calories. Some gave me acne medication. I was poked, prodded and bled. The one conclusion that all of the doctors shared was that I was overreacting, hysterical and wasting their time. According to them, I was just fat and lazy – and probably a hypochondriac.

I was miserable. I tried everything to lose weight, but I was just so tired all of the time. I diagnosed myself with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Metabolic Syndrome, endometriosis and depression, which the doctors then confirmed. They put me on Prozac, which made me gain more weight. At my heaviest, I was around 235 lbs. I am a 5’9″ female. 235 lbs is not a healthy weight. When I asked the doctors HOW to lose weight, I was told, “We don’t know. Just lose it. Then symptoms will go away.” So, Google it was.

After months of trying to find information on PCOS online, I discovered a random comment on someone’s journal that said that some women with PCOS had had success losing weight with a low carb diet. That was the only help I could find. I dropped carbs that first day. I went zero carb overnight and felt amazing. I got my energy back. Exercising became fun again. I shed 40 pounds in two months and kept it off.  I stabilized at 185. I realized that my previous diet had consisted of nothing but simple, refined carbs. Thinking I needed lots of carbs for energy (thank you, USDA!) I had thought nothing of eating an entire plate of white rice for dinner, with nothing else.

Things got better – but only slightly. I started eating carbs and grains again – in moderation. When I found I could maintain my weight and pretty much eat whatever I wanted, I let it slide.

I practically killed myself to get down to 175 for my wedding in April 2005. I had to go to the gym and work out 5 days a week, hard and watch everything I put in my mouth. I was still eating grains and everything was going soooo slowly. The minute I said, “I Do,” I gained 5 pounds. By the time we got back home from Las Vegas, I was back at 185 lbs and didn’t know why.

From 2005 to 2009, my hormonal issues were wiggin’ out of control. That was 4 years of hair falling out, suicidal lows, no sex drive, mysterious hives, rashes and boils. Tons of doctors and no solutions – the only help they would give me were useless tests and pharmaceuticals. I had my thyroid checked over 10 times. Each time it was fine. Google and I were on close terms, and according to it, my hormones were way out of whack (or I had some sort of cancer. Nothing like WebMD for scaring the crap out of yourself!) Because I didn’t know any better, I didn’t realize the part that insulin was playing, and instead, concentrated on getting my estrogen/testosterone levels right. Which didn’t work. Once again, the doctors had failed me.

The whole time, I was freaking out for a baby. We had to resort to IVF to get pregnant, since the endometriosis had ravaged my fallopian tubes. I had a miserable, sugar-soaked, bed-ridden pregnancy and identical twin boys in January of 2009. My kids were born two months early, but I had somehow managed to gain 80 pounds during the short pregnancy. By May of that year, I was still 235 pounds and PISSED OFF because I had been told (and believed) that breastfeeding burns calories and that the weight would “just melt right off!”

My brother, who I am super proud of and who is one of my greatest influences and motivators, sent me Mark Sisson’s book, The Primal Blueprint in May of ’09. It literally changed my life. It made so much sense to me that we should be eating the way we had evolved to. I looked up the Primal/Paleo lifestyle and found a community of people who had been suffering from a lot of the same maladies as I had been but who now seemed to be completely CURED. Where did I sign up?

I immediately cut out all grains and sugar, but I still didn’t have it right. I had been eating so much sugar before that cutting it out completely was unbearable to me. It was my only vice so it seemed so justifiable. Instead of Sweet Tarts and donuts, though, I ate fruit. A lot of it. And tons of nuts, too, since they are allowed on the Primal diet. I didn’t stop eating dairy, either. But cutting out grains and white sugar was having an effect. I lost 20 pounds pretty quick.

I started tweaking my diet. Way less fruit – mainly berries and the occasional apple. Whipping cream instead of half and half. Limiting nuts to once a week. More fat, fewer carbs. My palate changed. Biting into a kiwi gave me the same satisfaction that Sweet Tarts used to. Salads came alive and cooking became fun again. The Primal Blueprint allows for “cheats” if you stick to the lifestyle 80% of the time. So, I allowed myself treats from time to time but I planned them and enjoyed the hell out of them. I didn’t suddenly pack on 10 pounds if I ate something bad, because I stopped at that one thing. Instead of “falling off of the wagon,” I listened to my body and occasionally gave into cravings when they came. It became easier and easier to say no.

During this time, I noticed that most of my hormonal issues were disappearing. My periods became super regular. I barely noticed them, to be honest, which was NOT the norm for me. My skin cleared up, I didn’t need to use moisturizer anymore, I was freakin’ HAPPY all the time, and I was losing weight. It was slow, about a pound a week but it was coming off. And I wasn’t really trying all that hard! The Primal Blueprint mentions that nutrition is 80% of the battle. I especially liked Mark Sisson’s take on fitness – you don’t actually have to do as much as the industry would have you believe. I also learned that most people are working out incorrectly. Hours of “chronic cardio” on the treadmill is actually having the opposite of the desired effect – people are overtraining, injuring themselves and making themselves hungry as hell. (It’s a lot easier to justify a donut when you’ve worked out hard, right?!) I didn’t have to work out hard to see results. I now do CrossFit once or twice a week, yoga once (maybe), sprints now and then and the occasional walk around the neighborhood with the kids. I guess when I stop to consider it, I probably do do more exercise than the average person – I tend to do a proper deadlift when I lift each one of my 30 lb boys and will sometimes drop down and do a couple burpees for no reason at all. I blame that on all the extra energy I now have.

I’ve just passed my one-and-a-half-year anniversary with the Primal lifestyle.  I’ve been so enamored with this way of life that I have completely changed the way I live. I’ve done tons of research, reading and studying. I had never really thought too much about the environment, but some of the stuff I uncovered – about pesticides, chemicals, hormones and antibiotics being used in the food industry – has made me change a lot of the ways I do things and I feel like I’m doing my part for the environment now. I compost with worms for the free fertilizer, I’m growing a lot of my own vegetables and I even got a few chickens for my backyard. I get 4 organic, free-range eggs a day and I don’t have to worry about them being loaded with antibiotic residue.  I eat grass-fed beef. Mainly, I eat real, whole foods and I eat less than I did before.  I’m at 153 lbs as we speak. I’m 5’9″ so I’m at my goal weight for the first time ever. I weigh less and am smaller than I was in high school! In order to lose the dreaded “last 10 pounds,” I incorporated intermittent fasting. Since my insulin and blood sugar are working properly now, going a whole day without food actually leaves me feeling fantastic and energized. I couldn’t have imagined missing even a single meal in my old life! In fact, since my blood sugar was so out of whack, missing a meal meant bouts of hypoglycemia, where I felt like shit and was a total bitch to everyone around me. That’s gone. I take 6000 units of Vitamin D a day and I’m sure that is helping towards my overall health. My depression, PMS, PCOS, endometriosis and everything else is just…gone.

I’m currently training to become a Certified Personal Trainer, and when I’ve finished that, I’m going to get a certificate in holistic nutrition so that I can officially start helping others. Mark Sisson, the Primal Blueprint and Mark’s Daily Apple have changed my life and I would like to pay it forward.

Mindy’s Testimonial

I started going to Crossfit with my Dad and my sister in January.  Our goal was to get in shape for my sister’s wedding that May.  Right about the time we started working out there is when I also found out I had a rare but curable form of cancer.  I was being treated with injections and was pretty confident that it would be gone in a couple of months.  And so I continued in my new adventure at Crossfit.

I was pretty out of shape to begin with, girl push-ups, everything was modified for me because I was so weak. I couldn’t even run or jog a full 400 meters without stopping.  Even though I was embarrassed for being so weak, no one there ever made me feel that way.  I always felt like part of a team with people cheering me on as I worked out.  A very different feeling than I got at other gyms.  With the encouragement from the Crossfit staff and others working out, I had a drive to improve daily in my workouts.  And within a couple of months I was doing men’s push-ups and slowly but surely improved on most of the exercises I was asked to do.  It was no longer about losing weight; it was about pushing myself to the limit…seeing what I was really capable of doing…which was a lot more than I thought.

By April my injections were no longer working and I had to undergo 2 rounds of chemotherapy.  I was out of commission for about two and a half months.  I had lost my hair…lost my strength and was discouraged by all the work I had put into my health only to see it break down so quickly.  My Crossfit family didn’t let me give up.  As soon as I could I was back in action and starting over again.

It seemed like forever to get my strength back but looking back now I see that I improved faster than I thought.  By October I was back to men’s push-ups, doing unassisted pull-ups and lifting weight that I never thought I’d be able to lift.  And to top it off…my clothes starting fitting differently!  That was the icing on the cake.

Crossfit provided more to me than any gym or diet I’ve ever tried.  It continues to build my self esteem, challenge me not to limit myself, and gives me a workout I’ve never experienced before.  And I love them for it!!!

-Mindy Harris

Ken’s Testimonial

A little over a year ago I read an article in the Reporter about a health club, called Crossfit, which was moving from downtown to the Food Fair complex. I was a member of a local club but was having trouble motivating myself and couldn’t afford a full time trainer. The article about Crossfit talked about the different type of training that was more of a motivational and included goal setting and more personal training. I thought it sounded “interesting”.

I was anticipating a double knee surgery and needed to get back in shape and lose some weight. My youngest daughter was also interested in weight loss and toning for her upcoming wedding, so we decided to give it a try. In 3 months my daughter reached her goals and was a beautiful happy Bride with no complaints about her Wedding dress not fitting. My oldest daughter joined and has her own success story about Crossfit to tell. My wife, who doesn’t have a weight problem and has never wanted anything to do with gyms has also joined Crossfit and is hooked on it.

As for myself, after years of sitting behind a desk and getting fat. I’ve reached my weight loss goals and can do things physically that were difficult to do in the past. Hiking the streams to fish and hunting has become effortless; I have lost inches and gained muscle. But the biggest thing has been my recovery from the knee surgery. I’m a little more than 5 weeks post op from a bilateral surgery, and way beyond where they expected me to be at this stage of my recovery. People that have had this surgery are amazed at how well I’m doing and getting around. I really believe that I owe a majority of the credit to this last year at Crossfit. I couldn’t have done it without them. They are always right there by your side; they’re family and friends that you work out with every day. They have become so close I couldn’t think of working out anywhere else. You won’t find this kind of support at a big name Gym!

Thanks CrossFit Vacaville,

-Ken Babcock

Jackson Freese’s Testimonial

I began training at CrossFit Vacaville on July 2, 2010. I remember this date because it was the closest I had come to crying in three years. After a few weeks, I steadily grew stronger and more confident. I became eager to get to the gym every day. When school started, I began waking up at 5:30am to accommodate and I didn’t miss a single day for 4 months.

When December came, I started to get frustrated at the fact that I was not losing any weight. I blamed it on the fact that I had stopped swimming. One day, I had finished my workout and was standing at the counter, perusing the colorful myriad of informational sheets taped there. “Nutrition Challenge” they said, one “Paleo”, the other “Eat Clean”. Names were scrawled on each. I inquired to Andy, who explained it and enthusiastically suggested I participate. Two days later, I was a member of “Team Paleo”.

The sixty days of the nutrition challenge were some of the toughest days of my life. The frustration (there’s nothing to eat!” was a common theme in my house), and there was much anxiety over trying so many new things. In the end, I lost 21 pounds (from 204lbs-183lbs) and 11 inches total from my hips and waist. I had turned over a new dietary leaf, and it brought me to the realization that my poor diet had been the root of my stagnating weight.

CrossFit has taught me many things. I have learned to have faith in myself and my abilities. I have learned to work hard as an individual, and to put forth effort to be part of a team. I have learned a lot about Burpees, Box Jumps, Sit-ups, & Squats, but perhaps the greatest lesson that CrossFit Vacaville taught me was that through tough love, comes great results.

Equiping Your CrossFit Home Gym