TESTIMONIALS
Mark McReynolds
“OK, I am so excited about this – I ran the Allstate Half Marathon last Sunday (http://www.131marathon.com/
I first starting coming to Crossfit about a year ago. At that time I could not run more than a ¼ mile without stopping to catch my breath. Actually, I would get out of breath climbing the stairs in my house. I took Nyquil or Benadryl to go to sleep every night. When I woke up in the morning I had a soreness in my lower back and arm and would take Advil daily. I was on the same health path that my father, step-father, and father-in-law all went down – struggling with being overweight, on cholesterol medication, and replacing their knees and hips.
In less than a year all that has changed. I ran 13.1 miles last Sunday. I am no longer out of breath climbing my stairs. I no longer take anything to help get to sleep. I no longer have back pain or take over the counter pain medication. I have more energy. I am more focused at work. And I’ve lost over 20 pounds.
So I wanted to thank you and all the other trainers that have worked with me (Erik, Mike, Sean, Erin, etc..). I only come a few times a week (when I am not travelling) and am a Crossfit slacker by any fair standard, but the impact over time is just undeniable. So a big, big thank you.
Here are a few pictures of my wife Debbie and I running the race. We ran with Team World Vision.”
Richard Cruz
Before I started Crossfit my weight was 245 lbs and I wore a 39″-40” pant size. My blood pressure was increasing and my overall health was becoming poor.
In July, 2010 I was visiting family in Tucson, and I noticed my cousin was in awesome shape and I wanted to know how she did it. She told me about Crossfit, we spoke for hours about it. Her excitement got me excited and when I got home I scheduled an appointment to visit Crossfit Rancho Cucamonga. After my first workout I realized that I could not do one single pull up and I became suddenly aware of just how badly out of shape that I was, not being able to lift my own body weight. I was discouraged about my health but I got excited about getting fit.
In my first couple months at Crossfit, I could not run 100 meters without gasping for air. Slowly but steadily I started getting stronger and faster and I starting feeling better physically. Shortly after I started Crossfit, they announced a nutrition weight loss challenge. I entered the challenge and I stuck to my Zone nutrition plan. The Zone program was easy for me, no starving, no gimmicks… just eating good food in the right combinations and the weight started melting off my body. I appreciated the fact that just about everyone in the gym was on one of two nutrition plans so it was easy to get support from coaches and other members as well.
In May of 2010 I competed in a 5k mud run, prior to that I had not ever run a 5k, ever! I placed in the very top categories with the elite athletes (thank you Crossfit). In September of 2010 I competed in my first Crossfit competition I felt a great sense of accomplishment and pride. The greatest feeling was having my wife Monet and my Crossfit friends there to cheer me on and support me. Crossfit Rancho Cucamonga is different from any other gym I have ever seen. It’s challenging and it’s also fun. There’s a lot of support and encouragement from the coaches and the other members.
Today I wear a size 31 waist, the same size that I wore in high school. I am 53 lbs lighter and I am in the best shape of my life. My favorite Crossfit T-shirt says “I do the things today that you won’t, So that tomorrow I can do the things that you can’t”. I love that shirt!
Kevin Runstuck
My name is Kevin and I am 34 years old. I am a Police Officer for a department in Southern California. Prior to my career in Law Enforcement, I worked in the action sports industry. I hated to work out for as long as I could remember, but I would surf 4 days a week. I thought I was is pretty good shape! When I decided to pursue a career in Law Enforcement, I began to run, do push ups, sit ups, etc… to get in shape for the academy. When I went in to the academy I was in pretty good shape and I never had any problems doing any of the exercises we were expected to perform. However, when I graduated the academy, I stopped working out because; well, I hated it. As a result, I got fatter and slower. I heard about Crossfit from a friend and he told me about how hard and challenging it was, but he also told me about the Crossfit community. He said the “community” never let you quit and never let you settle with being good enough. When I found Crossfit and began training, I realized how out of shape I really was. I started training as often as I could and began to see great gains in every aspect of fitness. One day, a friend called and said she had an extra ticket to run the Carlsbad half marathon and she asked me if I wanted to run it with her. I figured I didn’t have anything to lose so I accepted the offer. Prior to the Carlsbad 1/2, I’d never ran more than 3 miles. I completed the run in 1:48. The only training I did for the marathon was Crossfit. Crossfit has changed my life and if you give it a chance; if you believe in your self enough to commit to coming, the community will encourage you, and challenge you to reach heights you never thought possible. In closing, big global gyms want your money, Crossfit wants to change your life.
Jason “JD” Shearer
When I joined Crossfit in April of 2010 I was 28 years old 6’0 240 lbs. & around 30% bodyfat. I had spent 10 years at 24 hour fitness lifting weights trying to get big with little or no cardio. When I would do cardio it would last for a month & I would get bored with it. I couldn’t find a program where I could stay motivated, not get bored and see the results I wanted. Then I discovered Crossfit Rancho Cucamonga. It was everything I had been looking for. It was different everyday, I still got to lift weights and the results have been life changing. Now November 2011 I am 30 years old down to 205 lbs. & around 12% bodyfat. I feel great. Best of all…I have made great friends at CFRC. We get to challenge & cheer for each other daily.
Andrew “Drew” Heim
My name is Drew I started CrossFiting in April of 2011. I came to crossfit after years and years of paying for a “normal gym pass” and not going (I know I am not the only one that has done this or is still doing). The biggest problem I had with the “normal gym ” was the whole “trying to keep it new and fresh and wanting to go everyday”. As a CrossFit Rancho Cucamonga member it’s different! You show up…workout…and get results! As time progresses you start wanting to push yourself to do more then just the workout of the day, and that’s when it gets fun . I came to CFCR at 272 lbs and a 40 inch waist. In less then 6 mouths I am now down to 244 size 37 waist and a lost of 4% body fat. I have a lot more to go but it’s a great start for me. To top it off… the coaches and all the rest of the members are nice and welcoming. They would go out of there way to help you with any thing ….. That’s what makes CrossFit Rancho Cucamonga the best out there!
Arianna Combs
I dumped LA Fitness in January 2011 after years of working out, not seeing any changes, and not feeling any better for the time, money, and effort I was putting forth. As a former athlete, I missed having a sense of accomplishment or achievement after workouts. I missed having people cheer me on and boost my spirit when I was faltering or doubting my abilities, and I missed being in an environment where I felt encouraged and allowed to do the same for others.
I joined as a personal challenge, because I wanted to push myself to do things and have experiences beyond my comfort zone (which obviously hadn’t been serving me well), and because of the immediate connection and respect I felt for the coaches who walked me through a free sample workout. I joined because I instantly felt a sense of community and teamwork with people I’d only met once – a feeling I missed from team sports and that I hadn’t found elsewhere.
I stayed and continue coming because I found a sense of accomplishment, pride in myself and my achievements, physical development, and true team spirit that I’d missed and wanted for so long. I stayed and continue coming because nothing else feels like getting your first Rx pullup after 27 years of never being able to, or like finding a love for weights to replace my previous disdain for them. I stayed and continue coming because CFRC is a positive experience beyond what I’ve had anywhere else and I’m a better person for it!
Anna Shearer
The day my doctor confirmed I was pregnant, I went to Crossfit after my appointment. I was excited to be pregnant, but since I was only 6 weeks along, I figured I should continue my workout routine as long as possible. The WOD that day ended up being a hard one and included wall balls…I despise wall balls! I started to have some kind of a panic attack in the middle of the workout. I kept thinking about what pushing myself this hard could do to my baby, but at the same time, I wasn’t going to quit. I finally called Coach Erin over, I was on the verge of tears and told her I was 6 weeks pregnant and said “just tell me what I’m doing is ok.” Once I was re-assured that I wasn’t going to hurt my tiny baby, I slowly finished the WOD from my personal hell! After that I was able to kind of laugh that initial fear off and pretty much continue with my workouts about 4 days a week, just making sure my heart rate didn’t get too high.
At around 3 months pregnant, my body started letting me know things were changing in a big way by giving me a constant, intense rib pain. Pull ups became too painful, along with push ups…and pretty much anything involving my chest muscles. Add to that the normal pregnancy fatigue, back pain, sore legs, etc. I pretty much stopped working out, other than walking with my husband from about months 4-6.
Once I noticed how much I was gaining and how fast it was happening, I went right back to Crossfit and started doing modified or mommy WOD’s. Almost immediately the little aches and pains I was feeling, started going away. My back didn’t hurt at all anymore, and I felt strong. I was embarrassed at first at how easy I was taking it in the gym. I think that was one reason I stayed away for a while, but once I was showing and obviously pregnant, I figured everyone would understand that I didn’t just become a wuss!
I started going to Crossfit 2-3 days a week, my warm up was 1000meter row, 2 sets of: 10 air squats, 10 girl push ups, and 10 good mornings with the PVC. Then I would stretch out as much as my belly would allow. As far as the WOD, I would either modify the CFRC daily WOD, or do a mommy WOD. Finally I’d finish up with about a mile walk in the alley. I actually jogged until my belly stopped me!
From 6 months pregnant to a week before I delivered my son, I kept this up, along with weekly 3 mile walks at home. Most people thought I was crazy, but I was confident in myself and listened to my body. My weight gain somewhat slowed down a bit once I got back in the gym. I still gained and was safe, but just didn’t let the gaining go overboard and prepared my body for the marathon of labor. I knew Crossfitting while prego was going to get me through the roller coaster of pregnancy, and I was right. I will definitely stay active during my next pregnancy, and recommend it to all mamas-to-be!
