Crossfit Guelph

Before crossfit, I was a once a week gym member who worked out exclusively on the circuit and elliptical machines and couldn’t do a pullup to save his life. I saw zero results and had just as much motivation. Finding the crossfit community changed that almost overnight. The insight, knowledge and inspiration that the crossfit community has given me has been invaluable over the last year and a half. I’ve gone from over 13% body fat with hardly any muscle to a lean 7.5% with a PR of over 30 consecutive pull ups. I’m no longer relegated to the circuit machines and I haven’t touched the elliptical since my journey began. I’ve noticed huge differences in my physique and mood, and so have others and my motivation has skyrocketed. All this and I’ve also been able to meet some great people along the way.

From Jamie. CrossFitting at Rebel Fitness since we opened in December.

Only thing that changed my life as much as Crossfit is motorcycles.
One year ago I would break out into a sweat lifting 95#, couldn’t skip to save my life, running was something ‘”other” people did, and dips on bars were hard.
This year I can bench over my body weight, have over 30 double unders, 20 some odd pullups, can run 5K in 23 minutes, and what I am most proud of 345 deadlift.
Crossfit has inspired me so much I am changing careers and trying to become a firefighter.
vive la crossfit!
Fraser, Rebel Fitness member since Dec 07

When I first learned of CrossFit I was rather unsure of what to expect.  Significantly overweight (at least 40lbs) and disheartened, I had tried a number of local gyms and fitness programs in the past to try and shed the bulk and regain overall fitness and good health.  With varied success in the past I felt I would personally benefit the most from a program with strong motivational support, personal accountability , and something a little more interesting and challenging than your average and monotonous  routine of 45 minutes on the Elliptical machine with a few  reps of the regular circuit training thrown in for good measure.  With nothing to lose and everything to gain (…or with a fair bit to lose from a volumous standpoint)  I decided to give CrossFit the benefit of the doubt and signed on for a trial basis by purchasing a 10 Class pack.

Now, approximately 5 weeks, and several hundred squats, kettle bell swings, box jumps, pull ups (scaled down to my ability of course) etc etc later.  I am 6 inches smaller!  This is all rather astonishing to me given the short duration of commitment and the corresponding timing of the holidays, to which I fell prey to overindulgence and less than desirable eating habits.  With 6 inches out of the way, I am looking forward to witnessing first hand, or first body rather, what results, skills and personal records, several more months of the CrossFit regiment (and necessary hard work) will bring.  Thank you to trainers Tracey and Milk for your continued support, encouragement, patience, and kindness.  My success is truly a reflection of your diligence and dedication to ensuring proper skill and technique.

Amanda, Member of CrossFit Guelph since Nov 2008

When I joined CrossFit Guelph, back in June 2008, I had just entered the world of bodybuilding and was interested in this new strength and conditioning program I had never heard of before. I was obsessed about my physique and getting bigger, and I never really thought about fitness. What was fitness anyways? I felt as if I had developed a good workout routine and diet plan for myself, and that’s what mattered. But after six months, I was seriously losing my energy. I was constantly in a bad mood, and my marks in school were suffering. Even though I saw improvements, I was losing self-confidence and I didn’t know why. I really loved bodybuilding; I cared about my body and my health, but I had lost the motivation to continue.

It took one Workout of the Day (WOD) at CrossFit Guelph to re-kindle the motivation I had before, and a hundred times more. I could tell that this was something else; truly, an elite fitness program. I learned that my workout routine was poor and my diet was even worse. I finally understood what fitness truly meant, and as a result, why I was feeling so bad. Fitness is: Cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, Stamina, Strength, Flexibility, Power, Speed, Coordination, Agility, Balance, and Accuracy. I was none of these.

Now, after six months of CrossFit, I am fit in every sense of the word. I am bigger, stronger, and faster than I was before. My mood and my self-confidence have greatly improved, and I have met a lot of great people and friends at CrossFit Guelph. I now know that the physique I desire will come with the level of fitness I achieve. I can’t wait until one year from now because I know the progress I will make from here until then will be unbelievable. I can feel it.

Austin Hunt, Member of CrossFit Guelph since June 08

Even before I discovered Crossfit, I had always been active. I spent a lifetime in the gym and in various physical activities. 10 pounds over my ideal weight and not particularly strong or flexible, I assumed that, at the age of 46, those weaknesses were my lot in life; a victim of bad genes, a chronically stiff back, and a general lack of athletic ability.

Now, 5 months after discovering and committing to Crossfit, even at my age, I am seeing tremendous difference in my physique and athletic abilities. I have lost the 10 pounds, increased my strength to the point where running up those hills that used to kill me now can be done with ease, and, in the right light, if I squint my eyes just right, I am even able to see the beginnings of visible stomach muscles, something that has always eluded me.

I attribute these changes to my hard work. But it has been Mike and Tracey, my fellow Crossfitter that have provided mewith the workouts, attention to form, coaching and encouragement (e.g. yelling) I needed to make my hard work pay off.

I am now preparing for a bicycle trip across the Alps this year and am confident that I will not have to hitchhike up those killer mountains.

Thanks to Mike, Tracey and all the Guelph Crossfitters!

Peter Wolf
Associate Director
Teaching Support Services
University of Guelph

Crossfit Guelph has revolutionized the way I workout.  For years I was committed to a regular gym routine of running, cycling and free weights, three to five times a week; this kept me in decent shape but I completely underestimated my physical capabilities.  The intensity, challenge and enjoyment (yes, it is fun!) of Crossfit has been a welcome change.  Immediately I broke through the mental barrier of “I cannot possibly do that” with my first workout: 100 pull-ups, 150 push-ups (I had never gone beyond 30 in one workout), 200 sit-ups and 250 squats.  I now have an entirely different outlook on my strength and abilities, I am running and cycling much faster and longer than ever before, and when I feel like quitting, I don’t.  Thank you so much to Michael, Tracey and my fellow Crossfitters!

Dr. Alice J. Hovorka
Associate Professor
Department of Geography
Hutt Building, Room 346
University of Guelph