Jenny Dickinson
"I first started Crossfit in January of 2016. There had been a contest on Facebook that I entered and you either won 10 free hot yoga classes or 8 free CrossFit OnRamp classes. I entered hoping to win the Yoga. Thankfully, fate stepped in and I won the CrossFit classes. I had no idea what CrossFit was at the time. In fact I had to google it and immediately became intimidated. Up until then, I’d been much more of a cardio queen band geek my whole life then an athlete in anything. I also was working part time and mostly took care of my two kids, then ages 18 months and 5 years. I have a bit of a tumultuous past with health and exercise and had taken them to the point of exercise anorexia for about 4 years where my goal was to keep my weight under 100 lbs. I gained weight with both my pregnancies and it seemed like no matter what I did, I couldn’t lose weight or get back to looking how I wanted to. My first CrossFit class, the coaches were amazing. I couldn’t stop laughing from the jargon and they laughed with me. I worked nights at the time and they worked with me so that I could come in when it worked with my schedule. Six classes in, I remember telling my friends that I wouldn’t continue it after my 8 free classes were done. It was way too intense and intimidating for me. But somehow, after my 8th class, I really didn’t want to stop coming. I signed up for the twice a week program for three months to make sure I would stick with it. After that, I signed up for the 1 year contract without hesitation. I looked forward to going every week and always made it twice a week.
It took about 6 months before I lost any weight. I was slowly building muscle and my metabolism had been slowed dramatically due to years of underrating. Then I suddenly just started dropping weight. I was still eating the same, but it kept coming off. Over the course of the next three months, I lost 12 lbs and gained muscle definition. The results were undeniable and measurable. I kept hitting PR’s on my lifts and was doing better and better at the workouts. Around this same time, my marriage fell apart. My sanity remained intact thanks to the CrossFit community and the friends I had made there. If I had a bad day, I’d go to class and by the end, I’d feel better. It became my sanctuary. My place. My family. I did my first competition that January, one year after starting. Then I did The Murph for the first time. Another competition that fall and this year I’ve competed in four competitions, the last of which my partner and I took first place. This band geek has finally begun to feel like an athlete. CrossFit has become a part of who I am. Instead of my goal being a number on the scale, it is to become stronger and healthier, to be a positive influence on others, and to continue finding my path to happiness. Two years after my 12 year marriage began to end, I still have days where I am struggling with life, but my strength has grown on the inside and out and I have not only the sport of CrossFit, but the community at CrossFit Vultus to thank for it. It has been and continues to be, a positive influence on my life both in and out of the gym and I can’t thank them enough for it."
It took about 6 months before I lost any weight. I was slowly building muscle and my metabolism had been slowed dramatically due to years of underrating. Then I suddenly just started dropping weight. I was still eating the same, but it kept coming off. Over the course of the next three months, I lost 12 lbs and gained muscle definition. The results were undeniable and measurable. I kept hitting PR’s on my lifts and was doing better and better at the workouts. Around this same time, my marriage fell apart. My sanity remained intact thanks to the CrossFit community and the friends I had made there. If I had a bad day, I’d go to class and by the end, I’d feel better. It became my sanctuary. My place. My family. I did my first competition that January, one year after starting. Then I did The Murph for the first time. Another competition that fall and this year I’ve competed in four competitions, the last of which my partner and I took first place. This band geek has finally begun to feel like an athlete. CrossFit has become a part of who I am. Instead of my goal being a number on the scale, it is to become stronger and healthier, to be a positive influence on others, and to continue finding my path to happiness. Two years after my 12 year marriage began to end, I still have days where I am struggling with life, but my strength has grown on the inside and out and I have not only the sport of CrossFit, but the community at CrossFit Vultus to thank for it. It has been and continues to be, a positive influence on my life both in and out of the gym and I can’t thank them enough for it."
Brandon Lingle
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“I have been doing CrossFit for about 3 years. With the support of my friends, I made it from 29% body fat to 15%, which is about 30lbs of fat lost. I feel great and I love the culture of our community. I have been coaching for a year now. My favorite part of coaching is getting to see our members have similar results. CrossFit is more than just a great workout, it’s a community with a strong culture of support and making good choices. We talk about nutrition and doing your best in every workout. This transfers over to other parts of your life and makes you a better person overall.”
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Alex Schwarz
"I’ll be honest, I was that girl that dreaded going to the gym. I would go to the gym and end up wanting to leave after 30 minutes and most of the time, I did! I think the thing I hated most about your standard "gym" situation was having to come up with your own workouts and then hopping on a machine you have no idea how to work. I also realized that I was going to the gym because I felt like I needed to, not because I actually wanted to. After trying different gyms ranging from standard big box gyms to yoga, I decided to join Vultus. I was super nervous and intimated at the thought of joining a Crossfit gym because when I think about crossfitters, I think of the fittest people on earth, and I couldn't see myself fitting in. However, from the moment I walked in, I knew I was going to love it. The trainers and athletes are so welcoming and encouraging-- and, believe it or not, you don't have to be the fittest person on earth to walk into a crossfit gym, which was a big misunderstanding on my part. The beauty of crossfit is that it welcomes all shapes and sizes. I never thought I would ever say this about working out but I look forward to going to class everyday. The classes are challenging and it's nothing I’ve ever experienced in a workout before. Its rewarding and fun. The results I have had over the past 9 months have changed me both physically and mentally."
Brittny Hovland
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"I am your classic gym hopper! I have tried many gyms and classes in the surrounding area and would always lose interest in going after while. I would get bored working out alone and I would have to force myself to even go to the gym, I lacked motivation. I felt like I was working so hard and wouldn’t see the results, I was frustrated. After I had my second child and realized that the weight wasn’t falling off as I had hoped it would, I decided to look into CrossFit. My journey at CrossFit Vultus started in November 2017 & after my first class I was hooked! It was one of the toughest and most rewarding classes I had ever been to. From the moment I walked in, I knew that this would be the end of my “gym hopping” days. The coaches and other athletes were very uplifting and welcoming, and never once did I feel out of place. As soon as I started feeling stronger physically, it helped change my mindset as well. CrossFit helped guide me to start focusing more on my nutrition, as well. To date, I have increased my lean muscle mass, and lost 9% body fat. I cannot wait to see what the next year has in store for me."
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Kinga Johnson
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"I started at CrossFit Vultus in 2014. I wanted to lose the baby weight I had gained after 3 little ones, and because I wanted to be a healthy role model for my kids. I remember that it was a little intimidating at the start, everyone just looked so strong and fit. I originally just wanted to do 3 months to try it out, but everyone was so friendly and encouraging that I started looking forward to working out, instead of just doing it because you have to. I lost 25 pounds in that first 3 months, by just working out. Since this picture, I have lost 85 pounds, but even more importantly I am stronger then ever, doing pull-ups, push-ups, burpees... and keep up with my kids. I am still happy to go and see everyone in the box, to encourage everyone, and to cheer them on, not just as a friend but as a coach. Originally, I was really just looking for a good workout, but I found much more. It is like a healthy competition with lots of friends to cheer you on!"
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Craig Barrett
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"I decided to do CrossFit because I fell out of touch with fitness and was bored with traditional weight lifting. I was in need of trying something new. I was drawn to the community aspect that CrossFit provides. I am glad I made the choice to do CrossFit as I have lost weight, increased my strength, increased my endurance, and even have a sick pack abs that I NEVER though I would get. I've had to buy new clothes from the weight loss (which I am definitely not complaining about!) The most important thing I've gained is an all around good feeling from doing functional fitness and of course the friendships I've gained that are now considered family. My wife also does CrossFit, we can compete together and cheer each other on in our journeys."
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Jacy Steele
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"I joined CrossFit with the hopes that I could jump start my fitness after a three year hiatus. I had rarely worked out since having kids and I was having trouble sticking to anything. I felt like a noodle when I started CrossFit, especially looking around at other people in class. But, people were so encouraging that I never really felt out of place. I was surprised how quickly I started to improve and it was so energizing to get better. I had so much fun doing it! Now... I feel so much more fit, so much younger, and have so much more energy than I did 2 years ago. I am hooked."
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