I loved basic training and found I excelled at a lot of the physical tasks and really enjoyed the comradery of working with and encouraging others. While in the Navy, I started weight training on a regular basis

After leaving the Navy, like most people I got a job, got married and started a family. During this time, I played some recreational sports like softball or flag football but was not at my previous activity level and started to put on a few pounds. About 10 years ago, I committed to getting back in shape and started working out at a traditional gym. I studied every workout magazine or book about weightlifting that I could get my hands on. I lifted a lot of weight and thought 30 minutes on the elliptical was all that I needed. I thought I was in great shape.

My wife of 16 years had been going to Crossfit and wanted me to give it a try. I did not want to. I was not into group fitness. Finally, I gave in and went with her. I was not expecting much and thought I would destroy the workout. My first workout was Cindy for 16 minutes. It was just pull ups, pushups and air squats. 16 minutes, that’s all. I completed the WOD and proceeded to lie on the floor for about half an hour. I had never got a workout like that in such a short time. I was hooked. I gave up my gym membership a week later and have been Crossfitting ever since. I am now 15 lbs lighter and am stronger than I ever was.

My wife and I have been doing Crossfit now for a little over 2 years and love it. Crossfit has changed our lives. For me it is the perfect combination of weightlifting, running and other exercises with the added fun of competition and comradery of good friends. I have always enjoyed helping others and with my knowledge of exercise and body mechanics, I found myself helping out at the gym. I love helping or pushing someone to that place they never thought they could go whether it’s an air squat or 400 lb. back squat. I believe in Crossfit and want every person that I coach to love it as much as I do.

Upon entering Campbell, I was beginning to take a strong interest for fitness and was continuing to learn more about Strength & Conditioning.  My second year at Campbell University, I decided to push my athleticism even further by becoming a Division 1 Cheerleader.  Still to this day, I tell people that Cheerleading is by far the hardest sport I have done and is not for the faint of heart.  Cheerleading essentially shaped my life for the next five years.  In which led me to earning my Masters Degree at Liberty University where I cheered as well for two years.

Knowing that I was a cheerleader, I had to be sure that I was not only aesthetic and strong, but also athletic, flexible, and powerful.  I began to search for summer training programs when I came hope for summer that year and came about Crossfit. I did not think much of it and was never big on Group fitness.  However, I then saw the 2014 Crossfit Games.  Seeing these massive dudes that were aesthetic, powerful, and could still swim and run with efficiency blew my mind.  The next day I got up and went with one of my friends to his box.  My first workout was a 6:00 minute AMRAP of 10 Wallball’s (20#), 10 KB Swings (53#), and a 50m sprint.  I ended up completing the workout, however, I laid on the floor for 10 minutes asking myself “what just happened?!”.

Instantly I was hooked and began basing all of my programming around Crossfit.  The fact that I could program weightlifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding, and endurance in a workout is what grasped my attention.  Knowing that I can change an athletes body composition while improving their performance is what really fires my passion up for this sport!

I wanted to get stronger for triathlons, as all the training hours was eating away at my muscle. Someone told me Crossfit helped them improve their running times significantly and suggested I try it out. I was warned not to start Crossfit by others who said, you’ll like it so much you will quit triathlons. Approx 2 years later I found myself loving it so much I got my Crossfit Level 1 certificate. When I started Crossfit I couldn’t do one single pull up. Now its one of my favorite movements. Working out in a group is what I enjoy most. Stronger people push me. Those who are where I was when I first came in, I love to share encouragement with and push them as other members have pushed me. When I came to Kaiju it was originally for all of the time slots made available for classes. As a mom of 3 and a self employed professional I needed a variety to choose from. I have stayed at Kaiju because of the incredible camaraderie, community, and friendships which lie within its doors. These people truly care, truly want to help you get better, stronger, healthier, and happier. Its truly a blessing to be able to work along side the coaches here and to be part of such a dynamic community.

I decided to change to a healthier lifestyle. In this period I lost 40 pounds in 5 months through Crossfit, focused more on nutrition, stretching, warm ups and improving form and technique. Crossfit has given me more confidence in how I look, what I can do physically and how I can push myself mentally and that’s why I love teaching others how to do the same.