Member Spotlight: Josh

Josh came in with one goal in mind… to prove to himself and others that he could get into the best shape of his life. Since then he has put on several pounds of muscle, lost body fat, and has hit all time bests on his major lifts. He is constantly pushing himself to see what his limit is, but on top of all that, he is one humble dude. Thank you Josh for being such an inpiration to those around you inside and outside of the gym!

Why did you join CrossFit Ampersand?

I’ve always been competitive. I’ve always loved being active and working out. The combination of these things inside the Ampersand family atmosphere has been very welcoming. 

What's been your biggest accomplishment so far?

Muscle ups! That S___ ain’t easy. I struggled to learn the movement for years at a previous gym. Jeff showed me one small tip with feet placement during my Kip that solved my mental block. It was like a light switch turning on. 

What are you working on now (or what do you want to accomplish next)?

I’m trying to perfect my form in all things CrossFit. From push-ups and pull-ups to Clean/Jerks. Learning how to do it the right way is important to longevity in this sport. 

What's your favorite CrossFit Ampersand memory?

My favorite memory so far has to be the first time I did a Muscle Up. I was in shock. I worked so hard for so long to learn that movement. It felt really good. 

What motivates you to continue training at CrossFit Ampersand?

That’s easy, I want to look good naked. I mean, I can’t be the only one?

Want to have a spotlight of your own? Book a No Sweat Intro and talk to a coach!

Member Spotlight: Erica

We would like to introduce to you all Erica! Erica has been making incredible progress since joining our community. We are very proud of the progress she has made and how fun it is having you in class with us every week! You are a rockstar! Keep it up!

Why did you join Ampersand?

I joined CrossFit because I needed a change and what I was currently doing wasn’t working. I was just over a year out from having a hysterectomy and I hadn’t been able to find any consistency with my diet and exercise since I’d had the surgery. I needed something more structured and I hoped that CrossFit in conjunction with nutrition coaching would be what I was looking for. 

What's been your biggest accomplishment so far and what would you like to accomplish next?

There have been so many accomplishments it’s hard to pick just one that stands out. It ranges from the strength I have gained and the heavy lifts I’ve been able to accomplish, to the nutritional habits I’ve created while doing the nutrition coaching. Right now I’m working on getting strong enough to do a full push-up, pull up, handstand and wall walk. 

What's your favorite CrossFit Ampersand memory?

My favorite memories at Ampersand change week to week. My most recent was Monday during the WOD. We were doing Murph prep.  I was the last one working and it was about 4 minutes from the time cap. The whole class yelled and encouraged me to keep pushing until the very end. I finished with 7 seconds to spare. I can’t exactly put into words how it feels when that happens but it’s the most amazing feeling. 

What motivates you to continue training at CrossFit Ampersand?

Ampersand has become one of my happy places. No matter how crappy my day has been, going there takes it all away. The second I start driving to the gym my anxiety from the day melts away and I can’t wait to get there and leave whatever I have going on on the gym floor. The people, the environment, the hard work is all so rewarding for me. There’s something about being in a place where you can grow and you know there is no judgement. It took me a while to realize that no body else cares what I’m doing or how I look as long as I’m giving my all. It’s amazing how addicting health and fitness becomes when the environment is right. Along with everything above, seeing the results I was seeking in the beginning - weight and fat loss, muscle gain, strength, consistency - motivates me to show up. 

Want to be our next success story? Book a No Sweat Intro today!

But.

But.

But but but…

Doesn’t the word ‘but’ just bring up a level of anxiety in you even without even knowing what it’s referring to? Such a tiny insignificant word can keep us from becoming who we deserve to be.

Life Transitions can cause us to stop forward progress, we refrain from doing anything new or even worse send us further down the black hole. It can make us not do what needs to be done to better ourselves because of the anxiety and inner turmoil that is created by the word but.

Click here for some motivation from real people just like you! They can do it so can you!

But I’m not in shape enough to start working out. But I can’t figure out my nutrition.

But I’ve never been successful before.

But I work. But I have kids. But we are moving. But I am injured. But I just got pregnant.  But I just had a baby.

But but but...  

As fitness professional we have encountered at least one of those buts, if not all. We have suffered through those buts, it has been scary, it was hard and there were lots of tears. Eventually we conquered those buts and have moved forward. We know that life is hard, that it has seasons, it gets in the way. If you want to live your life in spite of those buts we will help you navigate your buts.

Let’s make those buts mean something new, maybe with a healthy new butt to carry you through the year!

Let 2019 be the year of new but(t)s by signing up for our Nutrition Challenge!

Prioritizing Self with Tanya

Hey everyone! We got the chance to ask Tanya some questions about her experience with CrossFit. We met her when Harmony and I went to the emergent care and she was our nurse. After our visit a few weeks later, Tanya walked in the door workout gear in hand ready to rock. She came from a history of CrossFit before she moved here and has been a part of the Ampersand family ever since!

Before finding us, what was your struggle?

My biggest struggle was putting away the excuses and getting up off the couch even when I was too tired or sore to move.  I was a shift worker for many years like many health care professionals and I found it hard to balance and find motivation when all I wanted to do was sleep.

What were your biggest frustrations?

Feeling like I spent all my time and energy taking care of everyone (my family and patients) and had no time and energy to take care of myself. I felt like a hypocrite and as a result I kept having to buy bigger and bigger clothes which is always disheartening.

How did your struggle and frustrations affect your life?

I felt that I was not leading by example. I was educating my family and patients about the importance of exercise and healthy eating but I was failing to live the life I was promoting.  I worried constantly about our family history of diabetes, obesity and heart disease affecting not only me but my children.

What did you feel like before you made your transformation?

I had low self esteem when looking in the mirror, I cried more times than not in a dressing room trying to find clothes that fit, I refused to wear a swimsuit in public, and I just felt like a failure.

How did our program help you?

CrossFit Ampersand is so open and welcoming that I didn’t feel awkward or that everyone was staring at me. All the members are very supportive and encouraging. I also had the benefit of starting the program with my daughter and through our support of each other and the support from the whole crew at Ampersand, I started to look better and feel better with every class.

How is life different for you now?

Life is still a struggle everyday, but I have the positivity of my health and wellness to keep me going. I don’t feel like a hypocrite any more when I talk to my patients about the longstanding benefits of exercise and clean eating. I feel stronger than I have in years, and I’m able to complete any workout that I attempt despite my many chronic health conditions like asthma or the multiple surgeries on my hands and hip. I recommend CrossFit Ampersand to anyone who will listen regardless of their age, size, health conditions or athletic abilities because the Ampersand crew is a dedicated, knowledgeable and caring team that can help anyone achieve their wellness goals!

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Let us hear your goals and show you how we can help you reach them! 

Getting Motivated with Misti!

Misti is another example of when you stick to your goals and stay consistent, great things happen. She is very humble and coachable and is joy to have in the gym. We asked her to share her story and we hope you are as encouraged as we were! Enjoy!

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Before finding CrossFit Ampersand I had been without a gym for about a year. I had left my previous gym of 7 years, where I spent most of my time running races and doing sprint triathlons. I had totally burnt myself out and decided that I needed a break. I would work out at home on my own one or two days a week and take my dog out for a run here and there. I told myself that this was sufficient and that I didn’t need a gym, but I soon became lazy, frustrated and depressed. I love working out and doing things that make me feel healthy and strong, but I felt like I was never going to find anything else that motivated me and got me excited about my health and fitness again.

This totally affected my life because I stopped being motivated about how I was eating. I wasn’t doing anything much to challenge my body and it was depressing. For me, the biggest benefits of working out and eating good, besides the obvious of being strong and healthy, is the positive mental state that it keeps me in. I feel sane and happy when I’m pushing and challenging myself.

Then I found Crossfit Ampersand and they changed everything! I was familiar with some of the CrossFit workouts but I had never been to a gym like this. I was so impressed with the way that you make proper form and function the most important part of the workouts. I’ve learned that actually knowing how to do the movements properly and the importance of training your body the right way makes you so much stronger!  I was so impressed with how everyone cares so much about each other and cares about motivating you and seeing you improve and grow. I have been at this gym for almost a year now and I love it! I love the coaches and the people here so much. I know that this will be my home for a really long time.

Life is different now because I have something to look forward to and get excited about again. I’ve found a new challenge that I love even more than the things I had been doing before. I feel so much stronger and feel like I’m gaining strength in areas I never thought I could. I’m doing things that I never thought I would be able to and I am excited to see more changes in my strength and ability!

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Let us tell your story! Talk to a coach and see how we can help you reach your goals!

Katie Dorsey

I first came to CrossFit 2 years ago because of a promotion they were running and I thought it would be nice to get out of the house. When I first walked in, I was super nervous. First, I hadn’t worked out in over two years and second because it seemed like everyone in there knew what they were doing and I had never touched weights in my life. 

Today, I still walk in nervous, but also excited! Nervous because I know the workout will be hard and excited because now I know I can make it through. My first (and probably favorite) accomplishment at CrossFit Ampersand would be the friends that I made. When I first started at Ampersand, I was a stay at home mom and I had recently moved to the area and I didn’t know anyone. I was miserable. But the support and encouragement I felt walking in to Ampersand for the first time was overwhelming. Another big accomplishment was that I lost 50 lbs in my first year. I gained a lot of weight during my pregnancy. I was constantly tired and unmotivated to do anything and now I have more energy, feel better, and am able to keep up with my very active toddler!

Today, with support from the coaches and community at Ampersand, I am working on building better lifestyle habits. I'm currently doing the Whole Life Challenge with a group from the gym. We are halfway through and I am feeling great. 

I love that the coaches at Ampersand are always pushing us to be the best versions of ourselves and I cannot imagine life without this place! 

Before & After with Steve

Having had a spinal surgery 20 years ago, I slowly put on the pounds and got out of shape. Discovering CrossFit Ampersand changed all of that. Three months in, I feel 20 years younger, have lost 30 pounds and am experiencing that proverbial new lease. At 59, I may not be what I use to be but it’s close.  I owe trainers Jeff & Harmony a debt I’m sure I can never repay. I feel great about my workouts, and it’s a daily competition as to whether I’ve benefittedmore physically or psychologically. So worth it. As Walt Whitman said it, "...the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse." ;-)