My Stories

Our testimonials tell a personal story of an individual’s road to exploring CrossFit and how it has created a new beginning towards a healthier lifestyle.

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CrossFit: My Story- Ibrahim D.

The first time I heard of CrossFit was from my brother, Jermey, a long time ago.  He started CrossFitting 6 years ago, and every time he came home with his wife, we would do a WOD.  I never understood what CrossFit was, besides a type of workout.  My first workout was the “Filthy Fifty.”  It was horrible!!!!  I was sore for days.  I never really thought twice about it or continued to CrossFit on my own. My story starts after I finished my last soccer game as a senior in high school. I started getting wild with partying.  I weighed 175lbs. coming into college.  After 2 years I was 215lbs.  I gained 40 lbs; I guess the freshmen 15 was a myth, and it should be called the freshmen 50. By my junior year, I changed my major to Fitness Specialist because I wanted to become a personal trainer and change my own life around.  I worked out 4 days a week by running 1.5 miles to a traditional gym, lifting, and then running 1.5 mile back.  I lost 5 lbs in 7 months.  I, also, hurt my shoulder in the process and lost the ability of working upper body for 3 of those months.  I became frustrated and tried to work my way through it, but I decided I needed extra help.  When I contacted Hoosier CrossFit, my intro workout was completing as many rounds as possible of 100 meter run with a 10 lbs. med ball, 10 squats, and 10 push ups for 10 minutes.  I got 3 rounds and I was dead.  I walked it off and asked Shaun how to sign up for On Ramp.  After the first month, I knew I wanted to do be a CrossFit trainer for a profession.  I lost 25 lbs in 3 months.  Then, I lost an additional 15 lbs during the first paleo nutrition challenge.  Hoosier CrossFit has shown me how  to perform movements the right way and to care for my body to prevent injuries in fitness and in life.  CrossFit has made me feel like a real athlete, again.  It is something that I won’t ever stop doing, something I hope I can not only get better at but continue to become more knowledgeable about.  I just finished my CrossFit level one Certification at the beginning of February.  I was an intern for 5 months and will soon be a trainer at Hoosier CrossFit.  My real goal, now, is to become the best coach I can, eventually run my own CrossFIt gym, and get to a point where I can really compete as an athlete.  I owe everything to 3 people:  My brother for introducing CrossFit to me, Go  CrossFit Workhorse!!!!”  Also, the real coaches who have taught me everything I know and more:  Shaun Tieman, and soon to be Mrs. Tieman,  Jenna Innis.  Thanks guys!!!!!

CrossFit: My Story- Katie H.

CrossFit came into my life out of unhappiness and chance over two years ago. At the time, I was unhappy about the “college weight” that I had put on but yet had no motivation to go the SRSC and workout for an hour or two on an elliptical or stationary machine. Needless to say I was at a standstill. It just so happened that I lived just around the corner from a CrossFit gym and was curious about what it entailed. Being somewhat serious about getting into a routine I called, and about a month in, I was hooked! Who knew picking up a heavy barbell would be so much fun. Before I knew it, I was tracking workout times, recording my personal best lifts, and hitting milestones like a kipping pullup (still crazy to think about). About a year into my CrossFit journey, I felt confident enough to sign up for a competition up in Indianapolis, and this is where I met Shaun and Jenna. After meeting them both and enduring a ridiculous amount of workouts together, I felt something was different in their CrossFit attitude. I wasn’t completely sure what it was but I knew it was something that I didn’t have and I wanted. Starting the next month, I became a member of their gym, Hoosier CrossFit.

Coming into the gym, one year ago, was a decision that is indescribable. Since becoming a member of HCF, all of my personal bests have improved, I have been better coached on Olympic lifts, my weight and body composition has dramatically changed thanks to eye opening nutritional information, and I have become involved with a core group of true friends. I never would have expected all of these to come from a gym! I give myself credit for putting in all the time an effort, but it would not be possible without Shaun and Jenna who continually give me the correct tools, environment, and support to make it happen.

HCF is truly like my family. I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years and thrived in a team environment. I Love walking into a class and chatting up people while simultaneously painfully rolling out tight muscles (ok maybe I do more talking than mobilizing but it’s the thought that counts!). I have gotten to know people from all different backgrounds, older, younger, and everything in between. It’s comforting to know we all have separate lives, but the moment we walk in that red door, we are bonded by the pain we are all voluntarily about to endure. I am happy to say that since making Bloomington my permanent home post college, I have some truly made amazing friendships through CrossFit (which at times really disrupts class—sorry ShaunJ).

Looking back on my experience I can see how CrossFit has not only helped me get into the best physical shape of my life, but has given me self confidence, discipline, and the ability to better handle tough situations both mentally and physically in and out of the gym. Even though I feel that I have accomplished so much with CrossFit, I am hungry for more. Everytime I drop time in a workout or master a new skill, it lights a fire in me to push on to the next thing. CrossFit is an insatiable appetite I have and I look forward to continually pushing the limits of what I thought I could do.

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CrossFit: My Story- Ryan B.

In an attempt to avoid too many mundane details, I will just say that I have a multisport athletic background.  By the start of On-Ramp, many years and pounds of fat had found themselves between me and that background.  After college I went to work, got married, and made babies.  Oh yeah, and sat down on the couch and didn’t move for almost a decade.  I’ll admit, I do have a demanding schedule, but that schedule became my primary justification for slowly eating/sitting myself to death.

I learned about CrossFit long before I started ‘doing’ CrossFit.  A close friend of mine was/is super active in the world of CrossFit and – like most CrossFit’ers – told everyone who would listen about how great it was.  I was sold, still fat and lazy, but sold on the concept.  I liked the intensity, the variety, the community… etc.  So, I would browse the internets and live vicariously through all the other people who were actually doing the work.

Fast-forward to the summer of 2010.  I was shooting a wedding (I’m a photographer, not a maniac with a gun) and one of the groomsmen was telling a bridesmaids about pull ups, kettlebell swings, double-unders, and Olympic weightlifting.  My keen skills of deduction led me to think, “I bet he’s talking about CrossFit.”  Since I had been cyber-stalking CrossFit for a long time, I figured I should have a conversation with the groomsman.  He told me that he was a police officer for the state and that he owned an affiliate close to Cincinnati, but he REALLY wanted to come back home to Bloomington and run an affiliate full-time.  Crazy thing was, he knew my friend, the one that told me about CrossFit originally (it’s a small CrossFit world we live in).  That’s how I met Shaun for the first time.

I also met Jenna that day, and shortly after, we all became Facebook friends (the only type of friendship that truly matters).  That friendship led to me doing some photography work for Hoosier CrossFit, but more importantly it led to Shaun and Jenna inviting me to On-Ramp, over and over and over and over; and in May of 2011, I finally started On-Ramp.

I was scared to death.  I did my best not to show it, but I knew I was in over my head.  My fitness level was non-existent and the prescribed workout seemed impossible.  To be completely honest, the workout almost killed me, but I finished it.  I finished it and I felt great (not physically, but mentally and emotionally)!  As On-Ramp progressed I learned a lot about CrossFit and about myself.  I also learned that Shaun and Jenna are great trainers.  They care about you, your success, your failures, your safety and your form (butt tight, belly tight).  It was one of the best months of my life.  I knew that things were changing and this time it was for real.

Another huge piece of my fitness puzzle was put into place in September of this year, nutrition.  I started eating Paleo and I’m SO glad I did.  Since starting to eat Paleo I’ve lost about 50 pounds and haven’t felt this good in a long time.  My ‘bad knees’ don’t ache anymore.  I was convinced I would live out the stereotypical life of an ex-football player and limp around until I needed a replacement and then possibly have to walk with a cane.  Removing inflammation from the equation transformed my body.  Nutrition is the foundation of EVERYTHING we do, if you get it wrong, it’s impossible to get anything else right.

Since On-Ramp I’ve been a 3-to-4 times a week Hoosier CrossFitter.  You can usually find me at the 6:00am class with the other early-risers.  I’ve gone from barely being able to run 200 meters to signing up for my first half-marathon; from needing the most assistance to do one pull-up to being able to complete workouts with no assistance; and most importantly to me (because of a nasty shoulder injury), I’ve gone from not being able to overhead squat the bar to being able to overhead squat my body weight.  Oh yeah, I’ve also dropped 4 pants sizes and 2 shirt sizes.  I say all of this in hope that someone will read it and realize that they can do it too.  I’ll admit, I am really happy for myself, but if someone reading this can get that last little bit of inspiration to get off the couch and make it happen for themselves… well, that would be about the coolest thing ever.

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CrossFit: Our Story- Pam & Andy W.

Pam:
I became familiar with CrossFit from a friend who went all the time to a different gym but never thought it was something I would get into. Then I met Shaun and Jenna at a networking event and learned more but still thought…me lift weights? Yeah, no. Last fall I was putting together a silent auction for an event and thought HCF might be interested in donating something which they gladly did. It was an On Ramp package. During the show, I wanted to get the bidding higher so I bid on it. When I found out that I was the one who won it, I thought, “What am I going to do with this? I can give it away as a gift.” After a few weeks of thinking and talking to my friend who loves CrossFit, I decided to give it a try but was not thinking this was going to be for me. I had just lost 20lbs but I needed to find something that worked to help tone and define me. What I was doing wasn’t working for that.

The first day of class in January we were told to go outside because we were going to run. I thought it was a joke at first…it wasn’t! After thinking I was in ok shape, I soon realized that wasn’t the case at the end of the first class. After a few classes though, I was hooked! On Ramp was such a great way to learn the skills and techniques and taught me I didn’t need to be intimidated of lifting weights and that all skill levels can do this. Of course when you are excited about something, you talk about it…a lot in my case.  I would go home after every class and tell Andy what I did, what I learned and how sore I was. (Which I don’t think he really believed me). So, he decided to check it out…

Andy:
My story begins with Pam coming home and talking all about strange things like burpees and box jumps and how supportive everyone one was. I decided it was time for me to try this On Ramp thing. I have to tell you, I thought I was in pretty good shape but was I ever proven wrong. And keep in mind; this was just the on ramp class. I was so sore every day and now understood what Pam was talking about. I finished the month and then started going about 4 times a week. My body slowly started getting not as sore after workouts and mobility. Unlike Pam, I am not very flexible but never would work on mobility before and now I realize how important it is. We signed up to do the Paleo Challenge for October and that was another wake up call for me. Pam would always be on me about my diet but I didn’t realize how bad it was. I set a goal to try 30 new veggies and I made it to 32. That was a big deal because the only vegetables I ever ate were corn and potatoes. I stayed strict and I could see a huge difference in how I felt and my performance in the gym. I lost weight and looked healthier. It opened up a whole new world for eating and cooking new foods. Doing the Challenge as a family helped so much to have that support at home and work as a team. We would tag team meals and make enough for leftovers for the next day. Pam would go to the gym at 6 am; I would have breakfast done by the time she got home. Then, I would go in the evenings and she would have dinner ready when I got home.  It would have been so much harder getting through on my own. I am now going 4-5 days a week to the gym, feeling better and looking better than I have in 20 years.

Pam:
While Andy was still in on ramp, I started “regular” classes and that kicked my butt too but I loved it. My coworkers would get so sick of me talking about what I was doing, the people at the gym and so on. They said I drank the Kool Aid and joined a cult. I denied it for a while then finally thought, you know what, it’s a cult I’m proud to be part of. HCF is more than just a place for us to work out, it is a 2nd family. We have forged so many close friendships, met some great people that have made big impacts on our lives. We love hanging out with everyone outside of the gym as well as during workouts.  We love the support system we have here. We all have good days and bad days and everyone is there too cheer us on for the good ones, and push us to not give up when we struggle.  When I first watched Jenna and Katie doing kipping pull ups, I thought I will never get to that level but just have to try my best. As of last week, I did my first work out “Cindy” with kipping pull ups without a band! I was so excited to see how far I’ve come since starting CrossFit. At 36, I’m in the best shape I have even been in and I owe it all to HCF.

CrossFit has become a family affair. Carson is even doing the kid’s class. It’s great to have that support at home and the understanding of how important getting to a workout is. We work hard at planning our times around work, evening activities and school. It can be a tough balancing act but so worth it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s funny how one little choice can change the path of your life!

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CrossFit: My Story- Jen R.

I initially became aware of CrossFit through everyone’s preferred voyeuristic medium, Facebook.  A childhood friend of mine started CrossFitting at her local affiliate, and I became intrigued by her constant status updates and the pictures she posted. The more I Facebook-stalked her CrossFitting experiences, the more I wanted to know about it; the workouts looked like they were fun, challenging, and never boring, her fellow teammates were always posting words of encouragement, and it looked like the people at her gym often came together outside of the gym to do things socially as well. It was also impossible to ignore the changes in her appearance and attitude: she lost 75 pounds in one year, and went from being barely mobile to running a 5K. The athlete in me wanted to learn more about it, so in late December 2010, I turned to Google, and found the link to Hoosier CrossFit. As fate would have it, a free WOD and informational session was scheduled for early January, so I decided to sign up – a decision I wish I would have made much earlier.

My life had spun a bit out-of-control; in some ways, things were going great: I had a fantastic, supportive husband, a beautiful two-year-old son, and a great new house. But beneath the surface, I was unhappy with one thing in particular – myself. After the birth of our son in May 2008, I became very ill when my Crohn’s disease suddenly ceased to be in remission. My weight went up and down (at one point, I lost thirty pounds in about ten days, only to gain it all back in  just a couple of weeks), I was chronically exhausted, and in constant pain. It was difficult to leave the house, because I never knew when an attack would suddenly hit me, and the attacks were coming often. I had to resign from my job as a middle school English teacher, because my health prohibited me from being able to successfully balance working full time with being the mom that my little boy needed and deserved.By the time the doctors got my disease back into remission and under control in November of 2010, my body was ravaged; it had been a couple of years since I was able to seriously exercise on a regular basis, I was bloated from large doses of prednisone, and overweight as a result of both of those conditions. Hence, the need for change and my decision to enroll in On-Ramp at Hoosier CrossFit.

Upon my arrival at the gym, my initial reaction was one of shock and slight intimidation. Well, ok, that’s not true – I was very intimidated! I had never seen a gym like a CrossFit box. For one thing, it seemed so…sparse – no Nautilus machines, no Stairmasters, no television sets. The fanciest thing around were the rowers. And that cage – what the heck was that, and how on EARTH was I ever going to be able to do a pull-up again?

And then the WOD started: a 200m run, 15-12-9 pushups, ring pulls, and squats, capped by a 200m run. No biggie, right? I thought I would kill it. Little did I know that it would nearly do me in – I could barely finish, and put up a class-worst time of 16:26.The toll of the previous three years on my body had become painfully (both emotionally and physically) clear. As a former competitive athlete, I was humiliated.I went home and cried – something I rarely do.

It was hard to go back to my second on-ramp class, but I swallowed my pride and did it, and I quickly began to realize what a good decision it would be to stick with the program. Shaun and Jenna welcomed me back with many words of encouragement, and they helped me pace myself better during the WOD. As on-ramp continued, I felt myself growing stronger and more confident. I was also discovering another awesome aspect of CrossFit – the social element. Everyone was so friendly, encouraging, and kind. Efforts were made by Shaun and Jenna to get to know us all as people. Chances to hang out outside of class started to arise. I felt myself getting sucked in by the CrossFit lifestyle, and I was loving it. When I repeated the initial WOD on the twelfth day of on-ramp, I knocked over ten minutes off of my original time (6:06!).

Things only got better after on-ramp ended. My body was getting fitter and stronger, and I was feeling better about myself. After discovering that I am gluten-intolerant, I began to make more positive changes to my diet. I started going to classes four times every week rather than just three.  I was on a roll…until I fractured my left tibia.

I was SO disappointed. I was really getting into the flow of CrossFit, and I didn’t want an injury to keep me from the gym. That’s when I really discovered the beauty of CrossFit – it truly is scaleable for anyone in any situation. Jenna and Shaun worked with me to modify the WODs around my injury. They encouraged me to stick with it and work through the injury, but they also made sure that I did everything that I needed to do in order for my leg to heal properly. Everyone at the gym encouraged me to keep going, and because of that, I didn’t miss a beat.

A true CrossFitter does not tolerate excuses, and I am so glad that is the case. At the same time, it is impossible to find a more supportive, caring place to workout and improve your overall well-being than Hoosier CrossFit. If you are willing to show up and work, everyone will be there to cheer you on to your wellness goals. At HCF, members receive personal training during every group WOD (thanks to extremely small class sizes and awesome coaches) for just a fraction of what a globo gym would charge for similar (yet less effective, in my opinion) services.  Not to mention the fact that all of your teammates will encourage you to push through every challenge, unlike the typical isolation of a more traditional gym. CrossFit will push you to the edge of your capabilities, but you will become fitter, more confident, and stronger (both physically and mentally) as a result. When left to my own devices at the globo gym, I gravitated toward the exercises and movements that I enjoyed and ignored those that took me out of my comfort zone. At CrossFit, I am attempting handstands, conquering higher and higher box jumps, using lower and lower resistance on my pull-ups, completing hundreds of pushups and sit-ups (sometimes in just one workout – thanks, “Angie”!), starting to master double-unders, lifting heavier and heavier weights, and rowing thousands of meters for new PRs. At the globo gym, I was on my own, but at HCF, I’m surrounded by friends who care about me and want to see me succeed and push through challenges. CrossFit has changed my life and given me the outlet that I needed to be a stronger and fitter woman. As a result, I like to think thatI’ve also become abetter wife, mother, friend, and family member. By taking care of myself, I am healthier and better able to take care of others and do the things that I enjoy, and that’s why I will be a Cross Fitter for life. When I’m at HCF, I can honestly say that I put everything I have into my workout, yet I ALWAYS seem to receive even more that I give in return. Thanks, Hoosier CrossFit, for changing my life for the better – you are the best little gym on the planet!

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CrossFit: My Story- Paul W.

May 2010:  I had recently run the 500 Festival Mini Marathon and gave away our youngest daughter Lisa to Ryan Koontz at their May 22nd wedding.  Shaun just happened to be best man.  About a month later, my new son-in-law Ryan calls me one Saturday morning and says; “Shaun is doing free CrossFit workouts at Bryan Park, want to come with me?”  I said sure, I’ll try it.  After all, I just completed my best mini marathon time in Indy.  I can handle this workout no problem.  After a short explanation by Shaun of what CrossFit was all about, some warm-up and stretching, I was ready to go.  The workout was only 12 minutes long.  How hard could it be? Well, I’ll tell you.  I struggled with every part of the workout, and I could hardly move for three days.  I was embarrassed and mad at myself.  I thought I was in better shape than that.  CrossFit must be for the younger crowd.  (I’m 53)

Not one to be a quitter, I kept doing the workouts for the remainder of that summer in the hot, humid, and dry weather we were having.  I was able to recruit my buddy Terry to join me, and together we started to survive the workouts.  Fast forward to October, and we find ourselves helping out with painting in the new gym and signing up for the very first On Ramp class.  From that time forward, I have been working out with the help of Shaun and Jenna 3 to 4 times a week.  I have learned more about fitness with these guys than I have learned in my whole life.  They really know their stuff.  I have become stronger, have more endurance, and have lost weight.  My wife and I are currently six weeks in to the Paleo diet, and it really works folks; feelin’ great and losin’ weight!

Hoosier CrossFit has provided me with a workout routine that is perfect for me.  Although classes are usually 8 to 10 people, I always feel like I’m working out with a personal trainer, because I am.  Shaun and Jenna’s attention to detail, instruction, and motivation is fantastic.  They don’t settle for anything less than you’re very best.  “Take a big breath and go Paul”, “that squat didn’t count, get your butt down”, “smooth is fast”, “your form was great today”.  Their coaching really motivates me, along with the encouragement of my fellow crossfitters.  I have met a lot of the 80+ members, and they are all great people.  Special thanks go out to my 6am buddies; you guys and gals are always helping me out and encouraging me to work hard to the end.  Shaun and Jenna, thanks for making Hoosier CrossFit the best gym in Bloomington.  And for anyone out there who is considering giving CrossFit workouts a shot, what are you waiting for?!  You will be in good hands.  See you at the gym.

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CrossFit: My Story- Audra S.

I’d heard about CrossFit off and on during the past few years, but I never really gave it much thought.  Then a friend started going to Hoosier CrossFit earlier this year, and I started to hear about it a lot.  A LOT.  Seriously, she talked about it all the time.  What really caught my attention was when she started talking about how much her running was improving.  She was training for a marathon and was setting personal records on all of her long runs.  I was training for a half marathon and liked the idea of improving my running.  In May I showed up to run a 5K and it just so happened that this friend was there, along with our awesome Hoosier CrossFit trainers, Shaun and Jenna.  They were talking about the Mighty Murph challenge they had coming up that involved a ridiculous number of pullups, pushups and squats, plus running mixed in between!  It sounded insane.  It still does sound a bit crazy, but it intrigued me enough to look into CrossFit a little more.  I ended up going to a free intro with Jenna, where I learned what CrossFit is all about, and I did a short workout that left me sore for several days.  I started On Ramp the following week, and I haven’t looked back.

So what’s so great about CrossFit?  Well, in the two months I’ve been going I feel stronger physically and mentally.  My clothes are fitting better, and I’m starting to pull clothes out of the closet that I haven’t worn in two years because they were too tight.  I absolutely love that I’m starting to see my muscles!! My mirror and I are definitely becoming friends again. I think the best part is that I feel fantastic.  I sleep better and have more energy, which leads to me feeling better throughout the day.  I’m in grad school, which has a tendency to be stressful, but despite the crazy busy summer I’ve had, I’ve managed my stress better than ever.  I’m excited to go workout and take on the challenge of that day’s WOD (workout of the day).  After each WOD, no matter how hard it was for me to finish, I have a feeling of accomplishment. While I’m still nervous right before I start a WOD, every time I show up I feel a little more confident that I’ll finish strong.  Not only do I know I can take on the challenge of each WOD, I am more confident in myself and in my abilities to do anything.

Now it wouldn’t be right to talk about CrossFit without talking about the people.  It’s such a wonderful community of people at all fitness levels who want to lead healthy lives and will support you in doing the same.  They push you in workouts, and tell you how awesome you are when you finish.  After my first post-On Ramp WOD I was exhausted, but the high-fives I got made me feel awesome!  This support is especially great when you’re in the middle of a workout that is totally kicking your butt.  I sometimes feel a bit self-conscious about the things I’m not so good at, but that’s another great thing about CrossFit.  Every single person has strengths and weaknesses.  One day you might have everyone in the gym cheering you on because that WOD is so hard for you that you’re one of the last ones working through it, and the next day you’re cheering on those same people who helped push you.

It’s crazy to think I’ve already been a CrossFit member for two months.  It’s had such a positive impact on my life, and I’m so excited to see where the next two months take me.  And the next months after that, and after that.  Also, I’ve turned into my friend…..I can’t shut up about CrossFit.  But why would I want too?!  I’m excited about something I do in there every day!  I couldn’t be happier with my decision to give it a try and I’m really looking forward to what is yet to come.

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CrossFit: My Story- Bryce W.

“I DON’T HAVE TIME TO WORK OUT!! ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!” That was my internal dialogue, fought between my rational self and my other rational self. It makes sense for a medical student, living up to insane time demands and learning volumes of material day to day to forgo the pleasantries of life such as EXERCISE. But what I was starting to discover is that that sort of a juggling act is actually much easier if you make the small but frequent effort to get the blood pumping (mostly to prevent the clots I was shaking out at the end of every day). Lo and behold, just as I was debating how to best go about this exercise thing last fall, there were these two kooks opening up a Crossfit gym just across the street from my apartment building. Was it the Fates calling? Was a higher power smiling down upon me, bestowing this new gift of super-convenient workout facility? Yes, probably.  Shaun and Jenna had nothing to do with it.

My scholastic life-partner Margaret Kincaid decided to drop in one day while the mysterious new neighborhood trainers were readying the gym, and BAM, we had opened communication and were set to come in for one of the earliest OnRamp cohorts at Hoosier Crossfit. On the first night, I thought I was literally going to die. I was just a stone’s throw away from a little pulmonary crisis we like to call status asthmaticus by the end of the intro WOD. That’s right. The intro. That was embarrassing. To ensure that I was both alive and participatory by the next session, I immediately phoned my doctor and demanded better asthma inhalers, stat. Little by little, I could tolerate Crossfit more and more, just like a real breathing human. It became less something to be afraid of and more something to be challenged by. My weights, times, reps, etc. gradually improved over several months, and my reliance upon albuterol inversely proportionately decreased.

This spring brought double-unders, bandless kipping pullups, handstand pushups–more and more new skills every week! The possibilities have been endless, under the watchful and skillful guide of our very own Shaun and Jenna. I was hooked by this point, and as anybody around me could tell you, if you got me going about Crossfit….I wouldn’t stop. I can’t ever say enough about how utterly life-changing Crossfit has been as a resource for maintaining my sanity, if nothing else. I’ve never been stronger, more skilled, or more confident in myself. As clichéd as it is, while taking an exam or dealing with a difficult patient, my mind can’t help but swing down the street to Crossfit, where I picture how hard this or that workout was, and how I conquered it anyway. Then the everyday academic stuff doesn’t seem so bad. At least an exam or a bipolar manic can’t make you collapse to the floor in pools of your own sweat (usually).

Now, getting ready to start my third year of med school in Indy this summer, I never thought I’d say this, but the thing I’ll miss most about my city for the last five years is the small gym on College Ave. that has become more like a second home than almost anything else. And I’m not gonna lie: I’m totally applying to residencies based who has a Crossfit. But even still, no other could possibly compare. I’ll really miss you guys.

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CrossFit: My Story- Crystal T.B.

I was a thirty-something year old runner and in decent shape compared to many people I know.  Like most runners, I ran–a lot–and even completed my first marathon in early 2010.  Realistically, I am not a podium finisher but I can hold my own in local 5K races to place at or near top of my age group.   I am a competitive, type A personality with a good imagination; even when running alone, I envision myself throwing elbows with Kenyans as we approach the finish line in slow motion, Chariots of Fire style.

That being said, the 2010 running season was winding down and I found myself plagued by a tight and painful hamstring while at the same time plotting about how I could improve my running times for the next year.  I had determined that I needed to be stronger but was not sure how I would get there.  I was already running for an hour 4 or 5 times per week and adding a long run (as much as 10-12 miles) every weekend.  I have had a traditional gym membership for years and employed the cross training exercises I would read about in running magazines.  The only problem:  I was not strong.   I had great endurance and a fair amount of speed but my overall muscle structure was simply weak.

In November 2010 as if it were fate, I met Jenna, an enthusiastic, petite woman who had recently opened a new gym.  Within a few days, I arrived at Hoosier CrossFit for a free intro and a few days after that I attended my first On Ramp.  I started On Ramp with the ugliest squats possible.  My strong runner’s legs were so weak that I was sore from 30 air squats.  Push ups were not much better.  I could do a few with straight legs before I reverted back to the trusty knee version.  Thankfully, On Ramp is designed to ease you into CrossFit.  In just a few classes, I could tell that I was progressing and  I was having a blast.  I enjoyed the company of my five fellow On Rampers–a group with ages spanning more than 30 years and wide range of abilities.  We encouraged one another which was something that my solitary running habits had lacked.  It did not take long for me to figure out that I was hooked.

In attempting to put this into words, I realize that I cannot really define what has drawn me to Hoosier CrossFit.  It is definitely a combination of several things.  Working out with a group is a real change considering exercise classes, running groups and the like rarely appealed to me in the past.  But I quickly developed a connection with my fellow CrossFitters.  I find that everyone else’s achievements are as exciting as my own.  I enjoy encouraging others through a WOD and appreciate the same in return.  I have adopted my own personal philosophy that my workout is not over until everyone else finishes.  As the self appointed cheerleader at Hoosier CrossFit, this means completing my activity and quickly moving over to cheer for someone else.

The variety of each WOD is working well for me also.  Every day is something new and different.  My body seems to be responding well to that.  I am developing muscles that were long considered trouble spots and unable to be toned (triceps for instance).  Shaun pointed out on Day 1 that we would not do traditional gym exercises like bicep curls.  I was skeptical because this was a staple of my old routine.  Yes, it finally hit me that I had been doing the same activities yet not seeing any changes.  With CrossFit, there is always progress because there are so many points for measurement.

And the mental challenge appeals to me.  An amazing amount of self confidence and rare empowerment follows the end of a workout that starts with the question of ‘can I really do this?’  I start a workout questioning my ability to finish and end feeling like I could take on any other challenge the world had to throw at me.  How could you ever get enough of that feeling?

Five months ago, I fought through the butterflies of my first, post-On Ramp WOD.  Since then, I have definitely gotten stronger.  No more knee push ups.  My squats, while still ugly, are getting better and my injured hamstring gets stronger and more flexible with every workout.  I recently ran a 5K within seconds of my personal best (without structured running training, just CrossFit).  I look forward to every workout and plan my weeks around my CrossFit schedule.  Completing a tough WOD has replaced my hours of running.  And like badges of CrossFit honor, I wear bruises on my collarbone from weights and bandages on my palms from the pull up cage.  Normally, a tale concludes with ‘the end’ but ‘to be continued’ is much more appropriate here.  You see, My CrossFit Story is just beginning.

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CrossFit: My Story- Dillon C.

I guess my fascination with fitness started with my love for crappy, 1980′s action movies.  Almost every guy grows up wanting to be the machine-gun wielding, muscle-bound behemoth that leaves a path of destruction is his wake, gets the girl, and opens the door for crappier sequels.  This had seemed like a far off dream to me, because as much as I loved movies, I loved Big Macs more.  Like most kids, I participated in a variety of sports; baseball, football, soccer, basketball, etc. But I was never as slim as my teammates.

At the end of my junior year of High School, I decided to make a change. I adopted your stereotypical “High-Carb-Low-Fat-Diet” that the “experts” suggested, and started doing programs like P90X and Insanityto get the physique that I wanted. This, coupled with puberty, and my already high activity level definitely got me skinny, but more in an, “Oh my god, get this kid a sandwich!”   type of way.

I eventually stumbled upon Mark Sisson’s The Primal Blueprint, and that book opened the floodgate for me. Looking back on it now, knowing that when I was eating my “healthy” meal of brown rice, chicken, and veggies, I could’ve been eating a steak and eggs breakfast instead. Well…it kind of pisses me off! Anyway, eating a Paleo/Primal diet helped me gain muscle, lean out, loose acne, and get second glances from the ladies.

But as much as I loved P90X and Insanity, I needed something different. I was getting bored, and I needed something more athletically challenging. That’s how I ran into CrossFit. I’m not going to lie, I was intimidated as hell when I watched YouTube videos of it, and it took me a couple of months before I decided to do it. After I signed up for On-Ramp, I still had my doubts about the whole thing. My mind was stuck in the bodybuilding-style of exercising, so 20 minute workouts sounded like sacrilege to me.  Let’s just say that after my first workout, all of my preconceived notions were gone. The workout was a complete ass-kicker, but unlike workouts in the past, this one left me feeling refreshed and NOT wanting to pull a Kurt Cobain.

I have been CrossFitting for five months now, and I’m totally addicted to it. Not only has my workout time decreased by more than half, but I’ve seen tremendous strength gains, better body composition, and have made a bunch of new friends.  My hopes are that I’ll continue to get progressively stronger, and hopefully, become a competitor in the CrossFit Games in 1 or 2 years.  If someone is reading this, and they’re on the fence about signing up for CrossFit; JUST DO IT!!! The benefits you get will pale in comparison to what you put in, and you’ll meet a ton of awesome people.

CrossFit has definitely changed my life for the better. Every day has become a learning experience, because each workout makes you realize how much you can push yourself, and achieve your full potential. My only regret is that I didn’t find CrossFit earlier in life. I could’ve been a freaking Ninja by now!

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CrossFit: My Story- Heather R.

This past Thanksgiving my twin sister, Jenny, brought home her boyfriend, Anthony (a CrossFit trainer out in Kansas City, MO), and initially introduced me to crossfit. Before this, I was the typical 30 minutes on an elliptical while reading a magazine kind of girl (never again). He ended up taking us to the YMCA and giving a brief tutorial on what a crossfit workout was like. After doing what seemed like a million walking lunges, some form of a ridiculous looking modified handstand push up, and the beloved burpees, I was hooked. I remember going home and telling my dad I wanted to do this NOW! The next week he had found a place called Hoosier CrossFit and we were going for a free introduction on Saturday. After doing the warm up, I had thought that was the workout, I was wrong. Although challenging, I was ready to become a crossfitter! The on ramp group session had started just a few days before our introduction, so I chose to do the one-on-one on ramp.

Shaun was my instructor for on ramp and was patient with me as I tried to learn all of the new weightlifting elements and other exercises I had never done before. With only a few weeks into on ramp, I was already seeing noticeable changes in my body, I hurt in places I didn’t even know existed, I was developing arm and shoulder muscles, and my thunder thighs were going away! It was a miracle; an elliptical would have never made these changes. Shaun encouraged me through the 12 sessions of on ramp and I was onto classes with other people.

I was nervous going into my first WOD with people who had been doing crossfit for awhile, but they welcomed me with open arms and cheered for me during the whole workout. I left feeling on top of the world. I went home in a great mood knowing that these strangers, now friends, believed in me throughout the workout, something your IPod can’t do. I’m now a few months out of on ramp and I feel strong, beautiful, and powerful! These WOD’s have me doing things I never thought I would be able to do! Who would have ever guessed I could a push press or do multiple pushups and kettlebell swings? Not to mention looking in the mirror has become an exciting thing to do!

Now, let’s rewind back to the free introduction. During our crossfit tutorial Shaun mentioned to us the Paleo diet and Robb Wolf’s book The Paleo Solution. Before this happened, I was the girl who had a salad with grilled chicken, a little cheese and I’ll take 2 cups of whatever low fat dressing you have and not to mention, the drainer of mom’s candy jar. I thought I was eating healthy, you know, putting gobs of ketchup on my vegetables (it was good), and drinking sugar free hot coco, but adding 2 scoops of Splenda brown sugar for a little sweetness, what was I thinking? However, Santa came to the rescue Christmas morning when I got The Paleo Solution! I had somewhat already started the Paleo diet before Christmas but this book made me understand it. My eating habits changed tremendously, I was now having mushroom and spinach omelets for breakfast, chicken with lots of vegetables (ketchup free), and bean and cheese free chili!

I could preach on and on about how wonderful the Paleo diet is, but for me it was life changing. My weight fluctuated up and down and up and down and I never could keep it off, and this (with a combination of crossfit) has kept it off. I had to go buy new pants, twice, because they were too big! I feel so alive during the day; I’m not dragging around 2pm like everyone else, it is a great feeling! More importantly, Hoosier Crossfit and the Paleo diet have given me the confidence to follow my dreams. Never in my life would I have though I would be in good enough shape to try out for the Colts Cheerleading squad, whether I make it or not, I know I have already accomplished something great.

Another added bonus to all of this greatness is not only is my twin sister (Jenny) an avid crossfitter up in West Lafayette, but my dad (who just turned 60) just got done with on ramp and is kicking my butt during the WOD’s!! Working out with him has given us something we can enjoy together and he always continues to push me to be better. As for my mom, she’s a work in progress. Oh! And again! Since I’ve been on this Paleo diet, and I live at home, guess what? Ma and Pa had to jump on the Paleo train as well! We are learning how to experiment with different foods and recipes and are constantly try new things; Paleo has become a family affair.

Hoosier Crossfit and the people who go there have filled my life with so much joy and happiness. I would never even consider going somewhere else, unless they all came along! I’m in the crossfit and Paleo plan for the long haul! I hope you are too!

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CrossFit: My Story- Nancy R.

I first heard about CrossFit from a Bloom magazine article about a year ago.  Beginning to feel the aches, pains, and stiffness of “middle age,” I was intrigued by the training model, but neither of the locations was convenient. The small slip of paper with the phone number sat on my desk for months. This fall a friend mentioned that she joined a new CrossFit on the B-line trail near downtown and near my job.  So I scheduled an individual introductory session with owner, Shaun Tieman, and signed on for the next 12-session “on-ramp” – 3 classes per week for 4 weeks.

Initially, my on-ramp cohort seemed  pretty intimidating – a 17 year old athlete planning to enter the Air Force after graduation, his body-builder mom, his athletic step-dad, a woman training for a marathon, and another man twenty years my junior.  More than 15 years older than the next oldest person in the group, I looked around the room and thought:  Are you kidding me?  We set off on our first 400 meter “warm-up” jog up the B-Line trail. Almost immediately they left me in the dust – not an auspicious beginning! And, I had thought I was in reasonably good shape.

During the four weeks of on-ramp, I alternated between feeling energized, challenged, not to mention a bit self-righteous, with discouraged, intimidated, and wondering if I had totally lost my mind. Fairly quickly the on-ramp group began to bond – encouraging each other to push to our limits and then push some more. After the “WOD” (workout of the day) there would be congratulatory slaps and high fives celebrating having completed the workout to the best of our individual abilities.

Ten weeks later, the changes are noticeable.  During a workout earlier in the week, in the 15 minute time frame I jump-roped 810 times (90 per set) alternating with sets of 5 push-ups from the top of a box (55 total). Another day, I did 110 modified push-ups in sets of 10 alternating with sets of 5, 30lb thrusters (50 total). There are many activities for which I still need modifications while my strength builds up (kipping pull ups are a bitch and a half), but I can give these young whipper-snappers a run for their money in other arenas (jump rope, anyone?). Perhaps, most importantly, the intimidation factor has been reduced to zero!  I now approach workouts with confidence and determination, not to mention playfulness.

At the same time, I decided to participate in the Paleo Challenge offered by Shaun and CrossFit co-owner Jenna Innis – a 6 week challenge to eat according to the Paleo diet consisting of primarily meat, veggies, and fruit (i.e. no dairy, grains, flour, or sugar). The sum total of the diet and the workouts has been a loss of weight, decrease in body fat, improved energy and mood, improved physical flexibility, strength, and endurance.  Not bad for 10 weeks!  More importantly, the bottom line is that I do CrossFit because it’s just plain fun!

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CrossFit: My Story- Travis H.

I have always been a pretty active guy and have always gone to a gym to workout.  Going to the gym had always been a part of my life.  I started lifting weights consistently my freshman year in high school.  I have always been comfortable in a gym because I was able to throw a lot of weight around (which at one time I thought was great!)

I then started reading about CrossFit online and knew a few people doing it.  I kind of laughed at them and was wondering “what’s the point??”  Why do a 10-20 minute workout?  How much can they really be benefitting?   I would much rather go to a “traditional gym”, do my own workout, and hit the treadmill for 20 min.

I met Shaun and he convinced me and a few friends to come check out a free workout.  I was feeling pretty confident when I got to the gym because I was able to lift a lot of weight at a “traditional gym.”  We finished our warm up and knew I was in for a surprise.  At the end of the workout I was literally rolling on the floor laughing (and in pain) because Shaun had just whipped us!  I have been an addict and convert ever since!

The great thing about Hoosier CrossFit is that they prepare you for your workouts by warming up and working on mobility/flexibility to decrease the chance of injury.  In my profession (chiropractic), MOBILITY is KEY!  The functional movements of the workouts have increased my overall endurance, stamina, strength and flexibility!!  After my first three weeks I had lost over 10 lbs of fat alone!!

You get what you want out of a workout.  If you are there to push yourself then you will really feel it!  CrossFit is for people of every age and all athletic ability.  It’s for those that can barely walk down the street to the professional athlete.  CrossFit will push you to your limits and help you realize that the only thing limiting you is your mind.  The body can do amazing things that we are all capable of; we just have to put our minds to it.

I am getting excited writing this just thinking about the next WOD.  If you are apprehensive about checking out Hoosier CrossFit shoot me an email and tell me why.  I will tell you how and why you are fully capable of achieving your fitness goals at Hoosier CrossFit.  thulbert@questchiro.com

Dr. Travis R. Hulbert
Owner, Quest Chiropractic Center

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Our roots began with our friends at CrossFit on the River.  Without them, we could not be living our dream!

CrossFit: My Story- Laura M. aka ‘Blur’