Nickname: Andrew or Andy. I’ve been called both my whole life and honestly have no preference.
Age: 29
What is something people don’t know about you? I talk in accents (e.g. British, Boston, Southern, Australian) around the house far too often, which apparently for some reason annoys my wife (Kayla).
How does CrossFit influence your life? It’s made me much more cognizant of health, exercise, and nutrition in a way that I’ve never been before. Having that daily goal of coming to class keeps me motivated to stay on track with my fitness goals. It also gives me something to look forward to when it’s 2:30 at work and I’m falling asleep at my desk.
How long have you been doing CrossFit? How long at CFWDM? 11 months. Started at CFWDM in April 2019.
What class do you usually attend? 4:30
What is your favorite lift? Clean and Jerk
What is your favorite move? Is running a movement? If so, that. Otherwise I’d say box jumps. Both of those are ones where I can just turn off my brain and go.
What is your favorite workout? Anything with rowing/running and then some combination of a gymnastic movement and wall balls/box jumps. The 20.5 workout was one of my favorites — 40 pull-ups, 80 cal row, 120 wall-balls.
I also love any long Saturday morning workout that takes like 30-35 minutes. Those are always a great way to kick off the weekend.
What keeps you coming back? The coaching and community is something that I never thought would matter to me before I joined CFWDM, but it’s so clear to me now how much of a positive impact it can have on your fitness goals. Having that community environment and encouragement during a difficult workout gives off such a welcoming and upbeat vibe.
The feeling of doing something you never thought you would be able to do is also so addicting. I was a short, overweight kid my entire childhood until I suddenly had a growth spurt and got tall one summer in HS. The idea of doing a pull-up at any moment in the first 16 years of my life was unfathomable. So to be able to do one now because of joining CFWDM, and to see myself become stronger than I’ve ever been, is so incredibly addicting. It’s why I never want to miss a class, because who knows what new goal I could achieve that day. I’m extremely thankful for CFWDM and for all of the coaches there.
20.2 Open Workout
What did you do for fitness before CrossFit? Played basketball a couple times per week and ran 2-3 times per week. As I continue doing those, CF has only helped.
What do you like to do outside of CrossFit? I like watching new movies, reading books, and playing (cough winning) board games with my wife, Kayla. Basketball is one of my favorite things in the world — I still play 2x per week and watch games as often as I can. When COVID-19 isn’t keeping us locked up, we like to travel as much as possible, especially anywhere that’s not flat like Iowa and where we can get into the mountains and go hiking.
What is your favorite song(s) to workout to? Run The Jewels are great. I also really enjoy random EDM remixes of popular songs that you wouldn’t expect to work as EDM.
What is your favorite cheat/meal snack? Ice cream and queso (not together). I can’t have them in the house otherwise they will be gone immediately.
What is your favorite healthy/meal snack? I could eat a burrito bowl with rice, black beans, veggies, and some type of protein source almost every night. It’s not very adventurous, but it’s what I’ll frequently come back to
What is the most difficult workout you’ve attempted? My first Open workout ever — 20.1. It consisted of 8 ground-to-overheads, 10 bar-facing burpees for 10 rounds. I remember looking at it and thinking, “This looks pretty simple and straightforward.” I collapsed at the end of it and could barely catch my breath. Definitely a lesson in that simple does not always equal easy.
How has CrossFit WDM helped you keep on top of your health and wellness goals? It provides me with a consistent outlet to keep myself accountable, but not in a monotonous, boring way. Each day/workout is different, and you can make new strides in a lift or movement at any time. I’ve never stuck to any gym or workout plan, because I’d always end up getting tired of it. That’s not the case at all with CFWDM. The workouts, community, and coaches have helped me stick to trying to achieve my goals, and I’m looking forward to being a member long into the future.