Nancy Antliff
Seven months ago, I was reviewing pictures and, while I had been a large woman for years, I didn’t recognize myself. I had reached my heaviest weight and the scale was moving in the wrong direction. Refusing to buy the “next bigger size”, I had very few outfits from which to choose. I knew it was only a matter of time before chronic health problems plagued this 43 year-old body. This was not who God created me to be.
How had this happened? As a military wife and mother of four, I had made my family my priority and had convinced myself that regular exercise didn’t logistically fit into my schedule. I gained weight in both the valleys and the peaks of my life, and deep personal sadness and self-loathing filled my quiet conversation.
I needed God to change my mindset. Will I be an effective wife, mother, and friend if my body is sick due to my neglect? What am I teaching my daughters…that mothers observe life from the sidelines?
Through a series of circumstances, I became aware of Elite Crossfit and felt like it was the best and only place to start. In one sitting, I read the testimonials, familiarized myself with the training and nutrition, and eagerly signed up for On Ramp.
During the On Ramp orientation, I discovered just how badly I had “let myself go,” and I resisted the urge to compare myself to the many seasoned athletes in my class who were “kicking their training up a notch.” I could only jump onto the 8” box by holding onto Coach Jeremy’s arm, I could hardly jog 100m, and my quads were so weak that I literally rolled backwards when I was suppose to be squatting my own body weight.
Overwhelmed by the reality of my condition and physically exhausted, I stepped outside where I was overtaken by tears. Perceptively and without judgment, Coach Jeremy came to check on me. He assured me that, if I would commit to coming to class and doing the hard work, he would help me find the athlete inside. This was the hope I needed, and I trusted that God was going to use the coaches at Elite Crossfit to restore my health. I was no longer ashamed, but felt free to try, to grow, and to succeed!
The program at Elite Crossfit works! Contrasting my On Ramp workout, I am now able to perform forty 20” box jumps, run a mile, and back squat with 180lbs. I have lost 45lbs of fat and gained 11lbs of muscle. Praise God!
But how will you succeed? Bring a teachable heart and great attitude to class, expect to work hard, and desire to excel even more than the day before. Trust the coaches and the training; make their work on your behalf a joy by thanking them. Utilize all the tools (nutrition classes, weight-lifting classes etc.) available. Observe the form of the experienced athletes and learn from their techniques. Encourage the weak-hearted and be a good “spotter” for your teammates when the weight is heavy. Be a friend; find someone in class to work out with. Sign up for classes that will challenge and, thus, strengthen your weakest areas. Fix your eyes on your goal because it will help you persevere through some of the most difficult workouts.
The workouts are never routine and they parallel so many “Life” lessons. I now workout with my daughters who bring their unique gifts to the gym–physical prowess and strong character. Together, we are becoming stronger, healthier women! My daughters are maturing in their athleticism and I do believe there is an athlete in me yet!
The Cortez Family
My name is Ana Cortez; I am the mother of a 21, 20, 15, and 13 year old. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 22 years. For most of my life I have done some type of exercise be it running, jazzercise, kick boxing or bike riding. My motivation for exercise was always to be “thin.” I never considered myself to be an athlete. So how did I end up in cross fit? Well it all began in August 2008, my husband and I were working out at UIW and I saw Jeremy working out with a few people and they were doing some CRAZY work out. My first thought was, yea right, I could never do that! I looked on in amazement. My husband took the bait first, and after he was done with the work out of the day (WOD) he could only say, out of breath, “that was tough!” He was ready to sign us up after that first WOD. I, on the other hand was a bit apprehensive. What if I can’t do this…? What if I can’t do that…? My husband reminded me that we were looking for something different, in terms of a workout routine and we wanted something challenging. Of course my motivation to work out was still- to be “thin.” Well, I am here to tell you that what I got from cross fit what so much more. The beauty of cross fit is that you are working out for YOU and you are going to get better, stronger, and faster when you are ready; physically and mentally. I am doing things now, like dead lifting 200 lbs that 3 years ago I could never dream of doing. My motivation changed from, I want to be “thin,” to I want to be FIT, and at 43 be able to call myself an Elite cross fit athlete. I didn’t get here by myself though. I think Elite has the best coaching staff in all of SA, and it starts with Jeremy, who I call “Coach.” He motivates, pushes, encourages… and pushes some more. He truly believes in all of his athletes and he knows and respects our strengths and weaknesses. Everyone that joins Elite becomes part of the growing Elite family. We sweat together, push each other, high five each other and pick each other up when we’ve got nothing left. Some say that I am “obsessed with cross fit” and that’s ok, maybe I am, but I feel great! I get to work out with some amazing people, including my husband, and I can actually say (blushing) that I am Elite cross fit athlete. I have accomplished a lot, in terms of what I can lift and in my times, and I am determined to keep working to get better. I’m not going to lie, the WOD’s are hard!! I have cried a few times, and have cussed Jeremy out (in my mind) a time or two, but after I am done, the sense of accomplishment is so rewarding. Three years of x fit has changed my life and has become a Cortez family affair. (FIVE x fitters in the houseJ.) So I leave you with a few closing thoughts:
To coach-”The strength of the group is the strength of the leaders.”- Vince Lombardi
To all other athletes- “Improvement begins with I.” –Arnold Glasow
My definition of an athlete: anyone who works out hard and comes back for more.
Kinita Albertson
3 months after starting at Elite, I was able to enjoy my first 3.5 mile fun run…yeah, I said run.)
I am my own worst enemy, as is the case for many of us. I never know when to ask for help or even if I need help. So you can imagine my surprise when a loved one broke it down for me during Christmas of 2010. “Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. Find something that will make you smile again.”
After nine failed fertility attempts, tons of hormone treatments and various other medical challenges (not to mention the 50 pounds said drugs applied to my frame), I was at the bottom of my cup. No cup half full for me. The cup was empty and I was clinically depressed. And someone cared about me enough to kick me in the butt and tell me to get going.
Funny enough, a Groupon email for Elite Crossfit was in my inbox the next morning. It was a little bit of a drive for me but I took it as a sign. I clicked on the BUY NOW button and pretty soon after got a call from Jeremy Tucker. I asked him if I could check out a class and haven’t looked back since.
What I needed was someone who cared about helping me no matter what kind of physical shape I was in. He never even flinched when I said, “I want to lose 50 pounds.” Not a flicker, not a wince. He simply said, “Okay.” <laughs>
He proceeded to tell me it wasn’t going to be easy and he would push me but I had to commit…and I did. I am almost five months into the program and am down 20 pounds and 18.25 inches. Not quite my goal yet but I’m well on my way.
There is nothing special about me or my story. I have the most amazing collection of coaches to pick from at Elite that push and cheer for me every day. I get to work out next to some of the most amazing athletes San Antonio has to offer. I look forward to every session. I owe my renewed love for life to the entire Elite family and can’t imagine life without Crossfit.
If all you need is a kick in the butt to get you going, consider this my gift to you.
The Yablinsky Family
Our family joined Elite CrossFit in January 2011. We had friends that had been doing CrossFit for a year and we were amazed at their results and how much they loved it. We had been members of a “normal” gym for over three years. We weren’t in bad shape, but we were bored of doing the same thing every time we went to work out and we weren’t getting results anymore. We had hit a plateau….
We decided to give CrossFit a try. We got VERY lucky and found Elite on the internet!
The first On Ramp class we went to was great! It was such a different kind of workout we knew that it would break us out of the boring routine we were in. Everything was different…the coaches were so encouraging, the people in the class are supportive of each other, no two workouts were the same! We knew after that first week that this was going to be something we would love….and we do!
The workouts are normally an hour long. They are challenging and hard, but the coaches modify the workout to your abilities. They don’t expect you to come in the first day and try to lift the same as someone who has been CrossFitting for a year! One of the best parts of CrossFit is the sense of accomplishment you feel when you are done with a WOD. It feels great to know you have completed it!
Each of us had goals we wanted to achieve. We have all lost weight and pants sizes! We have gained confidence, flexibility, muscle mass and are stronger now than we ever were. It is an amazing feeling to set a personal record on a power lift and then blow past it! (And who knew people in their 40’s could power lift! My husband is 44 and I am 41!)
When people ask what CrossFit is, we tell them that it is challenging, rewarding, and ADDICTING! It is something that we look forward to at the end of our day. We have nothing but love for the coaches…they are supportive, encouraging and very knowledgeable. They get just as excited about your progress as you do! The people in the classes all want you to succeed and all cheer each other on. They become an extension of your family! You won’t get this kind of experience at any regular gym.
We always recommend it to everyone who asks…and some that don’t!
Rebecca Viagran
Who am I
First, I have to admit CrossFit is not easy, but I guarantee you that it is worth everything. I am a busy, career-driven person who has a demanding schedule. I travel quite a bit due to work, and “free-time” is not something that I can afford. I am also a person of Faith, but faith without action is dead.When I started Elite CrossFit six months ago thanks to the encouragement of a co-worker, I was at a point where I knew a change needed to happen. I considered myself, “not a runner”, “I can’t do sit-ups”, “ I can’t do lunges, because of my knees”, etc., etc.
Along the way:
Now, I knew a change needed to happen, but what I didn’t realize was a transformation was being birthed. Little by little, I was feeling better and stress was being released through my workouts. It was easy for me to fit a workout into my schedule, because plenty are offered, but one thing that I had to learn was whatever I put into my workout, I will get out.
It was my second month into Crossfit and I almost quit because I was not seeing the aesthetic results I wanted (losing weight, toned arms, eating habits changed, etc.). I took ownership of the “why”, but then Coach (Jeremy) said something to me that I did not expect “True, but I am your coach and we are your team so WE all own your success”. It was that moment when I knew I was a part of something special and needed to commit everything, my eating habits, time that I wasn’t at the gym, my all.
There have been many points along the way when I could see the progress because I often say to myself “I can’t believe I just did that!”, plus it helps when people notice the difference.
Success/ Where am I now:
In my six months I have lost over 20lbs, two dress sizes, and high blood pressure is now gone. This is a great success and was my original goal for joining Elite CrossFit in the first place, but along this transformation I see how it isn’t about how much I lose, but what is my next goal, what is my PR, what new thing can I do TODAY.
Gone are those notions of “I am not a runner”, or “I can’t do sit-ups”. I am an athlete, who is working on a second 5K and can do V-ups with the rest of them.
Why?
I could not do this on my own and I am constantly encouraged everyday I show up at the gym because I get to workout with some of the most incredibly dedicated, persistent, hard-core and a bit crazy people I know. I will not lie, this is hard, hard work, but I have those on this journey of transformation with me who encourage and inspire me to meet my next goal.
Katy Stephens
Elite Crossfit has changed my life! In May 2009, I “drew a line in the sand” and decided to do something about a weight problem that I had been dealing with for many, many years, especially after the birth of my two boys, then 18 and 16. It was time for me to do whatever it took to get healthy. I thank God for leading me to Jeremy Tucker, who, from the very beginning, told me that I was an “athlete”. I didn’t believe him at first, but now I really do feel like one! He met me where I was with regard to my ability and strength, pushing me just enough beyond what I thought I could do, and has kept me motivated and excited to keep improving. I have lost 85 pounds to date, and have gone from a pant size 16/18 to 6/8. My cholesterol has come down from well over 200 to a healthy level, I haven’t had the heartburn that I used to experience every night since starting Crossfit, and the last time my pulse was taken it was 49! In November 2010, I ran my first half marathon in 2:05:28. I owe my transformation to Jeremy Tucker who is the most professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate coach/trainer I have ever met.
Denise Doyle
When Denise came us, she had concerns about her back and was unable to perform a sit up. She was also worried that age was a limiting factor. As you will see in the video below, her 60th birthday was very special for all of us!
Keep it up DOYLE!
“Working out” in a consistent and methodical manner with a professional has made all the difference in my overall health, flexibility, and strength. I have made tremendous progress and feel good about my ability and stamina. I could not have done this on my own. When I began with Jeremy I had the feeling that I was losing ground and less and less able to do the things I had taken for granted when I was younger. Now I know that staying fit beyond fifty and even beyond sixty is a matter of time and effort and the help of someone who challenges me to remain motivated.
