MAGGIE- Empowered

Prior to joining CrossFit Central I had toyed with the idea of doing some kind of boot camp before but was always able to talk myself out of it: too expensive, the times don’t work with my schedule, what if I hate it, etc. and then some. “Tomorrow” was my best excuse and worst enemy.

As a dancer for years, I have always had a physical awareness. I was almost always one of the tallest girls and would get stuck in the back of dances just behind all of the naturally skinny, size zero girls. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I disliked myself because of it, but there was always a twinge of longing to be one of those girls and an acute sense of self-consciousness because I wasn’t.

When I joined CrossFit Central, I was nearly a year out of college, helping out with my sick grandmother, going through a rough breakup, practically sedentary, and the heaviest weight I had ever been. I felt lonely and a bit lost. I was a passive bystander instead of an active participant in my own life.

In 7 months I've lost 40 lbs, over 5% body fat, and a whole lot of inches.

My first week of boot camp was brutal. I knew I wasn’t in shape, but had no idea how out of shape I really was. I couldn’t even finish half of the warm up at the time! Had it not been for my incredible coach Crystal and the amazing people in my boot camp class, I might not have made it back after that first week.

I am so proud of the work that I have put in to get my body to where it is now and for the first time in a long time, I am truly happy with the way I look. Not only have I gotten rid of the largest jeans I ever bought, but I am now wearing the ones I wore in high school with room to spare. Since starting CrossFit, most days I feel not only optimistic but invincible and that’s a kind of confidence that I never could have imagined.

I have learned so much about myself since joining CrossFit Central - I have learned how strong I am, both physically and mentally, and how to trust myself as a result of that strength. Making day to day decisions is not a strong suit of mine, but I have found that when it comes to making bigger life decisions, I have a much better perspective and thereby a healthier method of decision making. I have also learned more about what I need on a daily basis to be a happy and well-rounded person. Before beginning CrossFit, the things that made me happy were often small, insignificant, and generally material or external. Food, shopping, and external praise are all examples of things that would give me a temporary high. Now I have learned to be more self-sufficient and use exercise and the right foods to preserve my emotional well-being and maintain a positive outlook.

I am infinitely grateful for the opportunity to be a member of CrossFit Central and be constantly inspired and continually challenged by such a diverse community of people who are all motivated and passionate about fitness.

CHRISTINE- Empowered

"Within 2 months of starting the CrossFit boot camp, I ran the Race for the Cure 5K with no prep other than boot camp. Not only did I run the whole race without the knee braces, I clocked the best 5K time I had ever had."

About 2 years ago, my fitness routine consisted of running a couple of times a week and riding my horse. I was running in knee braces, bored with my running routine and discouraged that I was making no headway in terms of improving my running times or distances.

I was stuck in a very negative cycle in my life, feeling overwhelmed by day to day challenges of kids, spouse, home, etc. while trying to find the time to take care of myself, to get back into the work force, and to figure out what I wanted my life to be about. I felt helpless to fix what I didn't like in my life.

The first boot camp I went to, I remember coach Jeremy Thiel saying at one point that we were almost done with the warm-up. I literally stop dead in my tracks and thought "Oh, I am SOOO in the wrong place if this is just the warm-up!" I was gasping for breath just trying to keep up with these women who had been coming to the boot camp for about 6 months already. But everyone was so encouraging and positive, that I stuck with it.

By the end of my first month, I stopped wearing the knee braces, and I've never had to put them back on again. Within 2 months of starting the CrossFit boot camp, I ran the Race for the Cure 5K with no prep other than boot camp, and not only did I run the whole race without the knee braces, I clocked the best 5K time I had ever had. Now, 18 months later, I'm at boot camp 3 times a week and have been coming to an additional CF Women's class once a week at the gym for the past few months, as well as taking in an occasional kettle bell class. Here I was, at age 46, never particularly athletic growing up, in THE best shape of my life, doing things I never thought I could do. I love the way my arms and shoulders look now and my abs are getting there as well! I'm doing push ups from my toes for the first time in my life, working on kipping pull ups, and have improved my running in terms of endurance, form and speed.

One great thing about being involved with CrossFit Central is that my kids see me doing this and it's got them thinking about what they can do to be fit and strong. I have two boys -- ages 12 and 8 -- and neither one is very interested in team sports. Like their mom at their age, they don't think of themselves as particularly athletic because they don't fit the predominant cultural mold of "youth athlete." Yet, my 12 year old in particular has been participating in a CrossFit Kids boot camp for a few months now, and I already see changes in him both physically (stronger, more coordinated, better runner, etc.) and mentally (more confident, fewer "I can'ts"). Both boys are realizing that they don't have to be great at any one particular sport to be strong, healthy, and fit.

CrossFit Central is a true community within the Austin community, with an amazing level of camaraderie among the coaches and clients. It's the most welcoming, supportive, results-oriented fitness program I've every belonged to. I love being a part of that. The women in my boot camp are the strongest women (physically, yes, but emotionally and mentally without a doubt) that I have have ever had the honor of knowing. We kick butt, have fun doing it and come back a few days later and do it all over again!

LAURA'S Story

I am a runner and have been running and competing for 18 years. I ran Cross Country and Track at SMU where I competed in the 1500m-5000m. In 1995 our team made it to the NCAA championships in Cross Country. Right after college it was easy to train and be in race shape, but as years went training on my own became more difficult. so when Crossfit came along it really helped. That's why I was able to get in race shape again...and hopefully in 2009 have some great fast races. I got to a point where I wasn't getting any faster and was in a rut. My fitness routine consisted of going to the gym twice and week, doing a core workout, and running. My nutrition was up and down. Most days, I would get busy with work and forget to eat sufficiently throughout the day. When it was time for dinner I would often overeat because I didn't have enough food to sustain me during the day.

I stayed in decent shape training on my own, but I was really looking for the intensity and group training atmosphere I experienced while on the track team at SMU. I won a free month of CrossFit Central Boot Camp at silent auction for Catalyst 8. So, I decided to try it out. I've been with CrossFit Central for over a year!

Since I joined CrossFit Central I have gone from 26% body fat to 19% body fat and I've lost 9 pounds! I am stronger and I've increased my speed and endurance. I've gone from a 22 minute 5K time to a 20 minute 5K time. I've also learned to eat properly.

I have increased energy, have gained lean muscle, and I have more definition. I feel a sense of accomplishment and I now tell everyone that they too can become CrossFit!

My goal for the future is to get to 13% body fat and continue to compete in tough races. I’m going to run a 6K at US Club CrossCountry Nationals on Dec 13th and in March I will race in the Carlsbad 5000!

BRANDON'S Story

I've always been, as my kind mother said, "a little husky."  I have consistently weighed 220 lbs. for the past decade or so, with the exception of an honorable dip down to 210 lbs. during a short-lived gym membership phase.  In November 2008, I got engaged to be married, which meant I had nine months to shed the extra poundage.