February Athlete Spotlight–Jessi

1. How long have you been a member at CFD, and what made you want to get started?

I joined the CFD fam bam last September (2017)! I have always made it an important factor to exercise and workout on a regular basis for my lifestyle. My older brother, Jonathan, was actually the first person to introduce CrossFit to me. Once he reeled me in with well-known athletes, their documentaries, workouts, and the CrossFit games I immediately was infatuated with the sport. I have always been an athlete my entire life and was a collegiate lacrosse player so I was always hesitant about joining or exploring the new sport because the thought of getting injured and sitting out of lacrosse devastated me and discouraged me; my love and passion for lacrosse trumped my fitness decisions and workout routines. But my senior year and season of college lacrosse set me on a different path.

It was my final months of college and the sport that I loved when I broke my clavicle and my whole world went spiraling into a black hole (talk about dramatic as fuck, I know, but that’s what my perspective of my injury was as an egocentric senior lax chick). But a blessing came from my injury that I realized months later. Although I didn’t get to finish my senior season, I was redirected to CrossFit since I was no longer a competitive athlete. My brother and I went to the 2017 CrossFit games in Madison, Wisconsin and holy shit I was determined and inspired to push, persevere and work as much and as hard as I needed to do in order to be able to do HALF the exercises and workouts these amazing human beings could do. After the games I took my workouts to the next level before I committed myself to join the CFD community. After the first day of foundations with Coach Lincoln and all the rad people I met, I knew I was right where I belong and did not even hesitate or reconsider joining. I was ready to get the party fucking started and dedicated myself to a whole new level of fitness and lifestyle. I couldn’t have been happier. So major shout-out to my older brother, fellow athletes and coaches who have inspired me to join this amazing journey.

2. What changes have you seen in yourself since your very first day?

CONFIDENCE, baby! I cannot emphasize enough on how my confidence has escalated in multiple aspects. Before joining I was somewhat intimidated on how I would perform and how I physically looked compared to everyone else. On the bright side, that was thrown out the window after the first week. I realized that my physique had no indication on how I would perform nor did it fucking matter. I began to lose interest on my appearance and constantly having the desire to change it. That fueled my fire to become better on lifts, technique and form. Which then led me to become more confident in my physical appearance; I began to love my body, its muscles, and what it was capable of doing and what it could endure!

This is definitely the strongest I have ever been in my entire LIFE! So my confidence has sky rocketed when performing any type of lift or WOD!

When I come to CFD my mood intensifies when I see what we are working on and when I see all the familiar faces of such psychedelic people. I am definitely a lot happier when I come to release the work day at CFD; all that dopamine!

3. What did you do for fitness prior to CFD, and what do you like most about CrossFit?

As I mentioned before, I have been an athlete since I can remember which forced me to do heaps of practicing for whatever sport I was in for season. Lacrosse practices consisted of running until your lungs exploded so I always practiced my speed and endurance during season. I also enjoyed lifting everyday, however, I was not nearly as educated on technique and form before joining CFD.

I can’t pinpoint a single thing that is my favorite about CrossFit but, to summarize it up, I abso-fucking-lutely love the atmosphere that it creates. The atmosphere consists of multiple factors; the people, the lifts, the coaches, the music, the passion, and the beautiful community that gets me so stoked every single day. Everyone is so uplifting, encouraging, energizing, and shares the passion of CrossFit.

4. What type(s) of workouts are your favorite?

I love any kind of workout that makes me feel like I am about to pass out (psycho, I know). It’s hard to configure a favorite! I love anything that deals with a lift and a cardio piece (burpees are my guilty pleasure)! Workouts that we complete for time always hypes my shit up because it is as if your only competitors are your mind and the clock; every second matters. However, AMRAPS are always killer and that rocks my shit up just as much! But my favorite aspect is that it is something different every single day; the variety is dope.

5. What type(s) of workouts do you least like to see come up?

There is never really a workout that I dislike. I mean some make me think I am gnarly crazy for liking such strenuous work for my body but when it is all over I am ecstatic that it is finished with all my effort. However, y least favorite workouts are anything that incorporates push-ups! No matter how much I practice they wipe me out every single time!

6. What are you goals going forward?

Going forward, my goals are to keep being consistent with participating at CFD everyday and to continue to love my body and all that it has accomplished. So many generations are brainwashed into thinking that the body is “suppose” to look a certain way, be able to do certain things. Stereotypes on the human figure can be hard to break. So one of my main goals is to continue to self-love and keep working on my CrossFit game and gainzzzzz!

7. What advice do you have for someone just starting out at CFD?

My advice for newbie’s… FUCKING DO IT. It is completely normal and okay to feel intimidated, uncomfortable, and unsure about everything CFD has to offer. But know one thing; everyone starts somewhere and everyone succeeds at their OWN pace. CFD is a community of self-love and support that will help, encourage and inspire to be the best you. So make like NIKE and JUST DO IT.

Not a member? Sign up for an Intro Class today!  The next Intro class takes place on 03FEB at 1000, and Foundations starts the next week (06FEB).
RSVP to the free Intro Class here!