1. What was life like before you became a member?

I basically worked, ate, slept, and made sure everyone else was taken care of.

2. At the time you enrolled, were you already exercising? What was your previous background in fitness?

My adult years is when I actually decided to take better care of myself. I work in a hospital and see many unhealthy patients younger than me who need major surgery like open heart, joint replacements, and gastric bypass. It put a lightbulb on in my head.

I joined Planet Fitness, but I became bored with the treadmill and lifting through a circuit of weights. I met with a trainer there twice but never saw them again. They basically showed me the scheduled and explained the machines. I always found it a conflict when they would offer bagels and pizza on a weekly basis.

I also did Curves and joined the YMCA. A few years ago, I did kickboxing which I did like, but the instructor’s routine became redundant. They ended up only doing boxing lessons for actual boxers and didn’t focus on other participants. They eventually closed.

3. What originally prompted you to seek us out?

I was online looking at some type of fitness and nutrition that I may be interested in and came across Keystone CrossFit. Being morbidly obese as classified in my medical record and unhealthy eating prompted me to reach out.

4. What was your goal when you originally signed up?   

When I signed up, I thought I would sign up for a short period of time and then decide if I engaged it enough to join again. My goal was to lose weight and become healthier with my diet habits.

5.. What are you most proud of achieving since you started? 

I’m most proud of my commitment and enjoyment of attending Keystone CrossFit, certainly a lifelong change.

6. With everything that you have accomplished, has your view of yourself changed? 

My view of myself has changed slightly. I still want to be healthy and lose more weight. It’s a slow process but it’s still better than a gain.

7. What have you liked best about working with us? 

I am very impressed with Keystone CrossFit because Tim, Jess and Taylor too are very friendly, encouraging and give feedback. They actually pay attention to your working out.

Getting into the nutrition app and being accountable to someone and communicating and actually getting a response from Tim and Jess.

A variety of different workouts that are made adaptable to what I am able to do. I definitely made improvement!

The other members are encouraging and cheer you on, don’t make fun of you, no jocks that snub their nose at you. I love the “good jobs” and high fives at the end of every workout.

I felt better to hear from others that they cheat on their diet (even Tim eats ice cream) to learn it is ok to have weak moments and pick up the next day.

8. What would you say to anyone else who might be dealing with any similar struggles you did?  

 I tell everyone at work about CrossFit here and tell them how I started lifting/moving a PVC pipe and not being able to jump at all or run and what I am cable of doing now. I get compliments on my weight loss, and they ask what can I actually do at CrossFit and I tell them and encourage them to join or come to see what it’s like.

9. Do you have any special moments/memories?

My first potluck was an eyeopener. I was surprised to hear that unhealthy food was ok to bring. I thought we would only be eating veggies and fruit. It made me see that this group is actually a “real group”.

A special moment was Tim encouraging me at our initial meeting. I was in tears thinking I may not even be able to do anything at this gym, but I thought I’d join for 6 weeks first, and I did.

10. What is your favorite movement/lift?

My favorite movement is rowing since I learned how to do it the correct way. I like jogging and going through different obstacles with partners. Each and every partner I have been with encourages you, gives tips on how to make movements better constructively and pushes you to the end of your workouts.