It’s been just over a year since I first started with CrossFit and I am pleasantly surprised that I am still working out and in fact look forward to the next WOD. I had tried various places and plans to work out but always used to drop out or get injured and quit.

This time it is different and it is all thanks to the community at CFR7 and more importantly the excellent coaching staff. The moral support that the community provides has allowed me to come back week after week and the personal attention of the coaching staff has helped me scale everything to my fitness level and stay away from major injuries.

I am specially thankful to have Coach Mike as a part of the coaching staff. He has been instrumental in my personal progression in the past few months. Some of the key changes that he helped me make were very simple but very important:

1. Shoes – I used to wear running shoes that were affecting my stability and posture. Mike identified the issue and had me try different shoes that helped me improve on my stability and also feel comfortable during other movements.
2. Diet – Being raised in India, my regular diet  is different than what is regularly recommended. Mike actually took the time after a class to speak to a group of us (mostly Indians) to help us understand how we can adjust our diet to get the best results.
3. Scaling – I have had a kidney surgery when I was young and hence I am slower than most. Mike again understood my limitations and has scaled most of the WODs to fit my needs.. I have also seen him do the same for a lot of others members of the gym.

The best part about Coach Mike is that he does not make it easy for anyone. He pushes us to our limits while making sure we bend but do not break.

So a BIG THANKS again to CFR7 coaches and community! I am not the best athlete but that doesn’t matter as I am certainly a much better version of myself from last year! The only decision I made was to show up consistently and everything else was taken care of by the great team at CRF7!

It’s crazy to think that my CrossFit journey started exactly a year ago from today. If you would’ve asked me back then if I could see myself doing pull ups or squatting 285 lbs, I would’ve laughed at the question. Fast forward a year later and not only am I capable of pull ups but so much more than I ever could’ve imagined.

There are a lot of stigmas associated with CrossFit regarding the risk of injury and attitude of the community – all of which had crossed my mind before joining CrossFit Route 7. Although I was very athletic in high school and played intramural sports in college, I wasn’t sure my body could handle the workouts and on top of that, with the worry of being injured or not welcomed. Nonetheless, I dragged myself to attending an information session for a 6-week body transformation challenge to find out for myself what CrossFit was all about. The rest is history.

During my talk with BJ Peyton, I shared how my college lifestyle had reduced my level of physical activity (apparently Beer Olympics didn’t count) and how I slowly was starting to feel less confident in myself. To my surprise, I found out I wasn’t the only one in this boat. BJ explained that a lot of people around my age were dealing with the same feelings and many found success by just starting with the CrossFit Foundations beginners program. I left the box that day with newfound hope that I could turn things around, especially since beach/music festival season was right around the corner.

Foundations not only eased me into the box but also introduced me to other athletes and welcomed me into the CrossFit community. The conditioning was amazing. I was learning proper lifting techniques and getting my body prepped for the next step. I’ll never forget the first day I finished Foundations with BJ on a Friday night. Typically, my Friday nights included me and my closet friends at local bars Spider Kelly’s or Whitlows in Arlington for happy hour. Now I found myself doing burpees and snatching weights with the latest Mega Workout Mix playing in the background. Talk about a complete 180. I could feel myself having more energy at work, a more positive attitude and the best part, seeing results! I wasn’t the only one seeing results either. Even my friends and family members started noticing positive changes and it made me want to work that much harder. There is no better feeling than finishing a WOD, lying on the ground panting and saying to yourself, “Yeah, I just did that.” It’s something you need to experience for yourself and few things come close to that feeling.

Since then, there’s no workout class I’ve found more challenging and rewarding than the WOD at CrossFit. I had tried other studios and gyms but fell short of my goals and with hundreds of dollars out of my pocket. Every WOD is new, exciting and strengthens you mentally as much as physically. Just today it was awesome to workout next to coaches like owner Tucker Jones and having everyone else cheer you on to finish. I firsthand can attest that the CrossFit Route 7 staff does everything in their power to teach correct form to avoid injuring yourself and are the most welcoming group of people. No matter at what stage of your physical prowess you are in, CrossFit will take you to the next level both mentally and physically. I’m only a year in and have been in the best shape of my life and only getting stronger. CrossFit has changed my life in the most positive way and this is just the beginning!

After almost a year of trying to convince myself to get into the gym, I finally took the hardest step and walked through the door of CrossFit Route 7 and signed up. What convinced me was the great stories and results that I had heard about from CrossFit Route 7 and their fitness programs.

I started with the Foundations program and it was no where near as easy as I thought it might be.  I did not have any experience working out or getting into a workout routine.  By joining CFR7, it forced me into a schedule and made me accountable for my progress.  After the Foundations and one month of attending the main CrossFit WODs, I saw significant changes in my body that encouraged me to sign up for a year!   When I started the journey, I was almost 200 pounds and was not able to do more then 10 push ups. After almost a year I have  dropped about 25 pounds and can see a huge difference in my body and my stamina.  It was  was not easy, but with all help and support from  all the coaches and members at CFR7, I was finally able to get where I am at now. If you are looking for real results and a great place to workout, I would definitely recommend CFR7! It may not be easy,  but if you are dedicated and push yourself,  the coaches at CFR7 will help you achieve your goals. I am really  grateful to be a part of the CrossFit Route 7  family, and want to extend a HUGE thank you to all the coaches – you have really changed my life!