They say you don't appreciate something until it is gone, and I can guarantee that this is absolutely true about CrossFit Salvation. One day I'm in the best shape of my life, and then the next day I need help getting my underwear on because I tore a knee ligament when I tripped and fell at home. I spent the next 7 months healing and unable to exercise.
Prior to CrossFit I was a group fitness instructor. I had been teaching aerobics since 1989, and yet ironically, I got in better shape in the one year I spent crossfitting than I had ever been in the 23 years of aerobics. As a former gym owner and personal trainer I saw the same scenario unfold day after day and year after year. January 1 was always a banner day in sales. Armed with new resolutions and 10 or so extra pounds people are determined to lose weight. They vow to go to the gym every day and spend endless hours on the treadmill. They may wander around aimlessly trying a machine here and there, self-conscious and too embarrassed to ask for help, or they would use the same machines doing the same routine day after day. If they were lucky, in March they would still be there doing the same routine looking exactly the same or like the majority of people they would "fall off the fitness wagon" only to repeat the same scenario the following year. Not so with Crossfit.
I had no idea what Crossfit was about. It sounded like a bunch of crazy people doing crazy things that I would never consider doing. I was fortunate enough to have my workout buddy drag me there one day. We thought we were in shape...and then we did the warm up. "OMG...that was the warm up?" I thought. I then understood the meaning of the t-shirt I saw that read "Your workout is our warm up."
The actual workout that day was only going to be 10 minutes or so. "10 minutes?" I thought. "That's not a workout...you have to spend hours at the gym to get a good workout." We then did the actual workout...and I thought they would have to pull out the defibrillator. That was when I realized that I was not in such great shape. "But I teach 4 hours of aerobics a week! I lift weights! How can I not be in shape?"
One year later I was stronger, faster and more fit than I had ever been after 23 years of traditional gym workouts. And then I tripped and fell and tore my knee up. It's funny how everyone automatically assumed I did it at CrossFit. "It's those crazy workouts you do," they said. "No. I was just watering my garden," I replied.
After 7 months of forced inactivity, I now know what "out of shape means." I thought I could get back in shape on my own, but I quickly realized that I would never push myself the way I did at CrossFit. There's something about being with a group of people working as hard as they can that inspires you to push yourself. Plus I couldn't just stop after one round like I would do if I was on my own...it's a lot harder to wimp out on a workout when you are accountable to others. You are never alone, and the coaches Tim and Lauren are always there to correct your form, teach you the exercises and motivate you. You never have to plan your workout because they plan it for you. You are never too old, too weak, too fat or too thin to do CrossFit because every exercise is scaled to your level of fitness. I still have to have surgery on my knee, but they always help me modify any exercise that I cannot do.
We never do the same workout and you never know what exercise they have planned. It's like life. A mother carries 2 heavy bags of groceries across the parking lot (farmers walk exercise)...she then picks up her screaming toddler (power clean exercise)...and then has to run with one child in her arms to catch the other one before they walk into the street (strength and cardiovascular endurance). A firefighter carries an unconscious victim down the stairs (strength and endurance). You help a friend move into their new home and spend the day lifting boxes and furniture...more strength and endurance. CrossFit is not about doing just bicep curls. Think about it. Besides sitting at a bar lifting your frosty mug, when do you use just one muscle in isolation? Hardly ever. We are always bending, reaching or lifting something.
CrossFit is functional exercise. I never appreciated all that Tim and Lauren helped me achieve until it was gone. With my knee injury, suddenly being able to just walk across the parking lot became an achievement. When I was at CrossFit I felt strong and empowered. I felt like I could do anything. I could conquer the world. With each passing day of my knee injury I felt weaker and more deconditioned. After 7 months I thought, "So this is what the average out of shape person feels like." I didn't like it. It's really not a good feeling. I truly believe that people let themselves feel this way because they have no idea of how good they can feel. They are not even aware of the possibilities.
I am finally back at CrossFit Salvation to get this out of shape body back in shape because I know that it works. The comraderie and support of other members is amazing, and it feels so good to be back with my morning workout crew again. It's a shame that it took an injury to make me fully appreciate it. Thank you Tim and Lauren for everything you do. I love you guys!
Sincerely,
Linda White
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My name is Brad and I work as a Dentist in Cape Coral. I have a background in nutrition, exercise physiology and Athletic Training. I have been around functional training since the early ‘90’s. I have seen how it has made good athletes better. What Crossfit has been able to do is bring the same kind of improvement to the average weekend warrior. This is by far the best work out program around. Crossfit allows anyone to do a high quality, high intensity workout at whatever level they are at. Crossfit is scalable to any level giving everyone a workout that will make improvements to their overall fitness while keeping the experience positive.
My main focus is Triathlons and road racing. I was introduced to Crossfit while deployed with the Navy in 2007 by some fellow sailors from California. I toyed around with it on my own at my regular gym, but could not get the full effect due to the lack of qualified instructors and proper equipment. I started with Crossfit Salvation just over a year ago. This past year I have set 3 PR’s; one in a sprint triathlon and 2 in 5k’s. That’s real improvement and I credit Crossfit with all of it. Crossfit trains your body to be efficient and effective under all kinds of conditions and this directly translates to improvement in any other activity you may be involved in.
If you want a lifestyle that truly changes your life, Crossfit Salvation is it. I am in better shape at 43 than I was at 23. You have to give Crossfit a try. Thanks to Tim & Lauren for dedication to elite fitness and to each member of Crossfit Salvation.
Best Wishes,
Bradley Woodham, DMD
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I have been a weight lifter since I was 15 years old and love to exercise. Through the years I have found it harder and harder
to keep in shape with all of my day to day activities work and family. I heard about Crossfit a few years ago and went to check out a gym in Orlando and when they told me how much the membership was I was turned off. Of course I did not understand the workout at the time and thought that since I knew how to workout that I could do it myself. Well years went by and I tried the P90X, Insanity workouts by myself and got some results but only to give it up because it was too easy to get comfortable at my home once I got there from a busy day. I of course got married and had a new baby and really started putting on the pounds!! My energy was low and I did not like how I looked and It only seemed like I had time to go to the gym and hit weights for an hour at the most so I left out the cardio. It wasn't until not only one of my friends but 6 of my close buddy's reached out to me from different parts of the United States and sent me pictures of before and after shots of them in only a short time of joining Crossfit. I was astonished!! So I said the hek with it and made the decision to check it out. When I went to Crossfit Salvation in Cape Coral I met with Tim and Laren and was immediately impressed with them not only by their physique, but their knowledge. I jumped right in and signed up immediately for 3 months paid upfront. Of course I was skeptical and said if this does not work within 3 months that I would not continue.
Well I am writing this to tell you that not only did it work but I fell in love with the sport and lifestyle.I started at the beginning weight of 235 lbs and within a month gained 10 lbs of muscle which put me at 245 lbs. By the end of my third month I am now at 225 lbs with a 32 inch waist!! That is a 30 lb swing and 6 inches off my waist within three months! And the best part about all of this is that I am 41 years young and in the best shape that I have been in since I was in my early 20's.
Thank you so much Lauren and Tim for pushing me and teaching me a new way of working out. I could of never done it by myself and now want to make Crossfit a new way of life for me. Crossfit Salvation ROCKS period!! If you are looking for two of the best coaches in the game you do not have to look any further then Cape Coral Crossfit Salvation! They are the best!!
Thanks for the results,
Matthew Kleizo
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Working out has been something I’ve always tried to keep up with. I’ve been a member to several gyms throughout my life and not one ever made me as happy as CrossFit has.
I heard about CrossFit from a friend of mine. Once she started doing it, it’s all she talked about. She enjoyed it so much and told me it wasn’t anything like she’s ever done before. I googled it one day and watched some videos that were available online and let me tell you I was a little skeptical. I saw these people working out in a garage with no AC. They were doing crazy stuff; climbing ropes, lifting heavy weights, jumping on boxes, flipping huge tires, doing pull-ups, pushups, and handstands. These were things I thought I could never do. There was a little part of me that was concerned that with all the lifting they did I would get big and bulky. I knew I didn’t want that. I wasn’t so sure CrossFit was something I wanted to do. I contacted one of the local affiliates in my area; CrossFit Salvation, and expressed my concerns. I was assured that joining CrossFit I wouldn’t get huge and was also told that I would be amazed at what I found myself doing over time.
The difference between being a member to a gym and being a member to CrossFit is you’re never on your own. I have a coach with me at all times either teaching me new skills or getting me through a workout without giving up. In CrossFit there is a “workout of the day”. You walk in and the workout is on the board. I love not having to come up with one on my own. It’s something different every day and I love it. It never gets old. The workouts are short and intense. It’s a lot of muscle confusion. Whether it was a 12 minute WOD or a 40 minute WOD, I walk out feeling like I’ve had an amazing workout either way. I’m a year into it now and the progress I have made gives me great satisfaction. I am doing things today that I couldn’t do a year ago and it makes me feel so good!
After seeing the results I’ve gotten since starting CrossFit I do not want to stop. My body has transformed. I have muscle definition I’ve never had. I’m tone, not big and bulky. I’ve lost more fat in one year than I ever did in all the years prior to working out on my own. I feel strong. I feel healthy. I’ve never been happier with my results.
CrossFit is for anyone who is willing to push themselves to their limit. It’s for anyone who wants to increase their strength and endurance. If you want to see results, feel like you’ve reached a plateau, or just need that extra push, CrossFit is for you.
Phoenix Schofield - 31
RAD/CT Technologist since 2002
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My name is Stewart Londono I am 39 years old and a General Manager for a distribution company. My wife Jenny is 37 years old and is an Administrative Assistant. For several years my wife and I had been working-out at a local gym every week we would go at least 4-6 days a week. But both of us were getting very bored with our daily workouts and not really seeing any results. My gym workout consisted of racquet ball and cardio machines. I really hate doing weights without a partner to motivate me and I enjoyed playing racquet ball because of its competitiveness. My wife’s workout consisted of a combination of cardio machines and light weights. We both wanted to try something new and different that would motivate us both. My wife wanted something that would help her tone up and lose an extra 5 pounds. And I wanted something that would help me lose the extra weight I’ve been trying to lose on and off for many, many years. I had started to watch my calories and had already changed my diet to try and lose some weight. But really needed something else that could help me not only to lose more but tone up as well.
So, three months ago we both joined CrossFit Salvation. And I have to say this has been the only workout that has helped us both reach our goals. Not only has it helped with weight loss but our energy level, strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall health have greatly improved. Now our workouts are intense, challenging and have given us both the results we were trying to achieve in years of going to the gym in only about 3 months.
Not to mention that once you walk in you immediately feel welcomed and part of the team. The environment at CrossFit Salvation is very friendly, motivational and accommodating. All of the trainers are always ready and willing to answer any of our questions and concerns. The best thing about the workouts is that each day that you come in to do class you will be challenged differently. For us that has been a big plus, especially since we were so tired of the same routine at our previous gym. We both look forward to the next day because each and every day is a new workout and new challenge. Along with every workout we learn new skills and quicker and more efficient ways of doing the workouts. We are also taught the correct form and technique of each and every new exercise. Every workout is done in a group setting and at each individuals own level making each day challenging and competitive, causing us to push ourselves to our max.
To date I have lost 40 lbs., improved significantly my endurance on the racquet ball court, and feel as energized as I did when I was in my twenties. My wife has gotten more toned feels stronger and is amazed she can do all the things that she can do now.
We liked CrossFit so much that we were sure our 16 year old son Stewy a junior in High School would also benefit and enjoy it. He had done Football and Track the previous years but this year he had decided to take a break from all the high school sports to focus on his school work. He had been looking for something to do that wouldn’t take up too much time so that he could still keep active and in shape. We told him to join us one day to see if he would like it. And he did. He really enjoys it and looks forward to going to class every day.
We seriously wish we had done this sooner. We are not going to say it’s easy because it’s not but it’s definitely worth the challenge, if you are up to it.
- The Londono Family
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Hello, my name is Edmundo Pena, I am 27 year old IT consultant, recently turned avid Crossfitter!
For the majority of my life I have always been in an out of the gym. Like most sedentary IT guys, I continued the vicious “global gym workout” cycle for the majority of my life. Eventually I gave up and determined that being “in-shape” was just not for me. This all changed when I was introduced to Crossfit.
I began crossfitting at Crossfit Salvation 6 months ago. When I first started I thought I would give this new “exercise program” a try (little did I know how much it would ultimately end up changing my life). What I soon realized is that Crossfit is not just an “exercise program”, in fact it is very far from that.. I learned Crossfit is a way of life, my life.
The team at Crossfit Salvation has managed to provide a dynamic, family oriented environment unlike that a regular gym can provide. Crossfit Salvation has helped me stay focused on achieving my personal fitness goals which have helped me tremendously both mentally, physically which has carried over positively into the rest of personal and professional life. Crossfit Salvation has helped me in ways I thought I was not capable of: I look forward to every work out and the little pieces of the old un-fit me I leave behind every time I leave the gym.
If you are thinking about joining Crossift Salvation I bid you to give it a try. I know you have heard this said a thousand times before but if I can do it YOU could do it. I promise you will thank me for it later!
Gratefully,
Edmundo Pena
