Name (or nickname on the board): Tina
Member Since: Dec 2011
Age: 46
Profession: Mom, Real Estate Transaction Coordinator
How long have you been a member at CFMG? A little over a year
How has CrossFit changed your life, lifestyle, duties at your job, and/or level of fitness?
Oh I love so many things about Crossfit… what don’t I love about Crossfit really??
I love the intensity and the explode-y-ness of Crossfit. I love the fun of working on lifts and strength WODs with other CFMG women. The guys are cool too… but the women are where it is at!
I love the support and encouragement you get to give and receive here. Before I came to CFMG I didn’t believe in the Crossfit Community stuff that you read about… but now I get to experience it, feel it and participate in it and it’s for reals and totally cool.
I absolutely believe in the Crossfit Transference theory too, I feel more emotionally balanced, more mentally capable, more all-around capable; I love this article, Aristotle in the Box, I’ve paraphrased… but it kinda sums it up for me.
The road to a good life—an excellent, happy life—requires difficult, uncomfortable steps for both mind and body, the road is long but gets easier, that on the road we are helped along by our friendships, by courage and by self-love, each of which are, in turn, nourished as we take each step.
When we “train”—physically, morally, intellectually—we are molding not just our bodies or behaviors, but also our very characters, and in doing so, we are cultivating a core set of virtues that either enable or hinder our ability to flourish as human beings.
I have come to see that CrossFit—all of it: its nutritional focus, mental rigor, physical pursuit, community spirit and more—manifests Aristotle’s principles. CrossFit is not just a workout with a physical goal. It is also, and maybe even primarily, about cultivating a set of character traits that can enable a person to flourish in all aspects of life.
What is your athletic background?
None really… prior to Crossfit. I was always into being outdoorsy and beach-ish and was into yoga a little and then I began running a little in 2009 and then Crossfit in 2010 and I noticed how Crossfit made me stronger and totally changed the way I thought about running, mostly running became more fun and I didn’t have to put in all those miles and I started to run faster.
Favorite WOD: Bear Complex
Favorite Lift: Split Jerk
Least Favorite WOD: anything with pull-ups
Least Favorite Lift: Snatch
What are your proudest CrossFit achievements?
Lifting more. Finishing hard. Not giving up. Getting stronger.
Name one goal and/or personal record you would like to accomplish through CrossFit?
Snatch my bodyweight. Get a Muscle-Up
Do you have advice for someone thinking about trying CrossFit or someone who has just started? Do It. Crossfit Makes Everything Better. I have more fun mountain biking, trail running, hiking, surfing, kickballing, two squaring, trying to out run my boyfriend, chasing my kids in the sand because I Crossfit. Wearing a backpack while carrying a 65# kid in one arm and a surfboard and a beach bag in the other arm is the new Farmers Walk.
Favorite Food/Restaurant:
Right now my favorite food is some kind of meat on the BBQ with a yummy garden salad made @ home or a good burger with a couple of onion rings that someone else made.
Favorite Pandora Station: Kid Rock, Earth Wind & Fire, Beastie Boys, AC/DC
Where do you find inspiration (book/quote/person)?
I finally just finished The Power of Now, which is absolutely something to aspire to; something to work on on a daily basis. I also just finished a novel called the Night Circus, total fantasy fiction, but the last chapter was about the timing and the randomness of life. I get a lot out of a lot of stuff. I love all types of inspirational quotes, affirmations, reminders, groovy, touchy feely, eclectic, pagan, traditional, non-traditional, one of the first things I loved about the CFMG website was the Four Agreements w/ a Crossfit Twist.
What is one thing that we might not know about you?
I have lots of reasons for being so passionate about Crossfit and all that it means to me beyond lifting heavy weight and going hard. I love to say “going HAM” or “are you going to go HAM on that?” I crack myself up every time; it’s so funny to me in a funny badass way, too bad I can’t say it to my kids yet… Like when we’re out front playing two square in the street… Hey dude… Are you going to HAM on that ball or what! LOL… Funny every time J
Sometimes Crossfitting is the only time my brain gets quiet… sometimes even meditation does not work and running can be even worse… nothing like being six miles out with just you and your brain!
Prior to Crossfit I never felt comfortable with my body, I had struggled most of my life with body image and an eating disorder. Before I came to CFMG I thought I was pretty healthy and knew quite a bit about nutrition… I was Paleo with a heavy dose of Sugar. I loved diet coke, m&m’s, frozen yogurt and Ben&Jerry’s…. As a result of CFMG, I did my first Sugar Detox one year ago and my first Whole30 last fall. Both of those changed my food awareness and my emotional eating/body awareness in such a huge way. You can’t un-know that stuff! CFMG has helped me learn more about myself and CFMG has introduced me to a whole different aspect of nutrition and the meaning of a healthier lifestyle that I can totally relate to and today I am more comfortable in my body than I have ever been; and both as a parent and a mother of a beautiful young girl that is an especially huge deal for me.