Dave Hoffman, you are amazing!!!!
In March of ‘08 I began Crossfit. What a revelation! Within three months I was feeling well enough to begin competing again and by September of ‘09, I was fit enough to run three legs of a 200 mile overnight relay. I ascribe all of this to Crossfit.
In November of ‘09, I developed an infection that compromised the replacement heart valve. To make a long story short, it almost killed me. After 30 days in a coma, and another 30days being hospitalized, I was sent home. A lot of Mall walking seemed to be in my future. Many things helped save me, a loving wife; skilled physicians including Dr. Spagnola and Dr. Roberts; and, an incredible fitness level due to Crossfit. Several of the nurses remarked that I was the healthiest sick person they had ever seen.
I have no doubt that Crossfit was instrumental in saving my life.
In October of ‘10, I decided to give Crossfit another shot. Considering that at this time last year, I was still using a cane to get around; I can only credit Crossfit for my recovery. I’m not back to 100% yet, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to Graham and Matt who coach me on what is now becoming a four day a week schedule, I am confident I will regain my strength and be able to run in the 70 & over age group again.
Dave Elliott's Success Story
before
I came to Crossfit Troy with my wife Stacy pulling me by the ear. Initially, I must be honest in saying I was not very excited. I thought I was in decent shape, I could still do push-ups (not like now), sit-ups (not like now) and was still "strong" by weight room standards (definitely not like now). I always felt for my size I was in good shape and have always been sickeningly flexible for a "fat kid." I thought I could get over this "slight weight gain" on my own and be back down to 225 in no time. In an attempt to make my wife happy and help her get ready for a couple of goals she had set I went along. At the completion of our first foundation workout I was intrigued to say the least, I did a workout that lasted maybe four minutes, I could not complete the three rounds and felt like I had just ran a marathon. I went home and began to truly take an account of my level of physical fitness and played the "what if" game in my mind. Being a police officer I know that at any given moment I may be called upon to fight for my life or the life of someone else and I couldn’t even complete a three round workout that my wife did in under six minutes. Needless to say I was embarrassed. As I returned to the gym to complete my foundation sessions I was introduced to Graham Spagnola and Matt Melvin. These two guys impressed me from the start, they never once made me feel like I wasn’t good enough to be a member of their team. I never felt judged, instead, quite the opposite I felt encouraged and excited at the prospect of working out. I remember Graham telling me that in less than a year I would look back and laugh at where I used to be.
Flash forward almost one year to the day June 2010 and the start of the Paleo Challenge. At the start of the Paleo Challege I weighed almost 265 pounds. I must admit I was happy with the loss of twenty pounds and the redistribution of weight as well as the gains in muscle and strength over the previous year. I was happy, heck I was sold but Graham and Mike weren’t. My wife left for her new job and the "Mission to Massive" (brain child of Graham Spagnola) went into effect. Phase one, Paleo diet. Phase two different lifts to further increase strength gains while losing weight. At the end of the two month competition I went from 265 to 240. It should be noted that while losing 25 pounds in two months may sound extreme, I have never ate more food in my life!!! Since completing the Paleo Challenge I have continued to eat like a small horse and still lose weight. Recently I weighed in at 201 pounds (the thinnest I have been since 8th grade). I walk around now at about 205, I went from doing almost all of the exercises and workouts modified to doing almost all of them unmodified. In June of 2010 I weighed 265 and could bench press 265 pounds for a one rep max, I now weigh 60 pounds less and can bench press 20 pounds more. I can do things physically that I never before thought possible. I recently ran two 5k races and have signed up to run the Flying Pig half marathon. For these accomplishments as well as so many others and I have Crossfit Troy, Mike Lyons, Graham Spagnola, Matt Melvin the Paleo diet and the entire Crossfit Troy family to thank. Not only am I proud to call you guys my coaches but more so my friends.
Today--March 3, 2011
My fitness journey and CrossFit Troy
I first discovered CrossFit on the Internet when researching new ideas for my personal fitness. I had come from a long history of plodding, pretentious gyms filled with useless pieces of equipment and quick guarantees for gains and results based on false imagery in magazines and pop-culture. What I like most about CrossFit Troy is what is not there. There are no mirrors, no treadmills, no stair machines, no butt
machines, no ab machines, no silly cable machines, no waiting, no standing around chit chatting, no "Excuses me, but can I work in here with you", no egos.
Instead, CrossFit Troy has chalk, weights, community, and sweat. I am so pleased to have met you and Graham because like you, I love hard work. Your training and guidance have shattered the old globo-gym mentality of 'working out' and replaced it with true fitness training. The people I have met at CrossFit Troy are teammates and not rivals, all focused on individual and community success. Ego is checked at the door, and handshakes are greetings instead of silly nods in a mirror; no frowns from a puffy gym rat, but smiles at a partner ready to throw down a workout of the day.
This is only my 4th week of 'official' training at CrossFit Troy, and I love it. I am stronger, healthier, I quit dipping and smoking, and I just feel good. I am a bit beat up from giving it my all every workout, but where would I be without such effort? Weaker, that's for sure. CrossFit Troy allows men and women to discover who they really are during times of mimicked hardship, which means, aside from preparing us physically for life's little surprises CrossFit Troy prepares the individual with mental challenge.
I am sincerely grateful for you and Graham; you are good men, and the work you two put into assisting people in their journey of life improvement is second to none. Your genuine, heart-felt compassion to bring out the best effort in your pupils surpasses the coach/athlete relationship, and when we celebrate success, you two are there for each daily victory.
James Humphrey
Age: 30 something
More than a workout
I came to Crossfit Troy after more than two years of working out on my own and in a gym. I knew I wasn't in the shape I used to be, back in my 30's when I ran 10Ks and taught aerobics, but for a 50-something with a stubborn 20 pounds to lose, I wasn't exactly completely out of shape either. I used the weight machines at the gym and I jogged 2-3 miles or used an elliptical most days. So I was surprised how hard it was to do pushups at my first Crossfit workout, and how hard it was to do a deep-enough squat too. It made me realize that I had not been challenging myself, that my level of fitness was in a rut, and that unless I did something different, I was actually going to go downhill. And believe me, Crossfit Troy is different. It is like no other workout I have ever done. Ever.
In the beginning I was really sore, I mean REALLY sore. I remember telling Mike that I was convinced it was a total body workout, as he said, because my total body hurt! Yet I keep coming back. Because Crossfit Troy is more than a workout. It is an experience. You are joined in each workout with others puffing and panting and sometimes grumbling right along with you, each trying to push themselves just a little farther than their last workout. And when you're done, you give each other high fives, and your coaches tell you how proud they are of you, and you find yourself smiling. Smiling! And laughing! And maybe even posing for a picture. For the first time in a very long time, I have found a workout experience that challenges me and yet makes me feel successful each time. And because of the bond that toughing it out with others creates, you share in their victories too. Instead of dreading your next workout, you find yourself rearranging everything else in your life so you don't miss one. I grumble, I complain, but I'll be there, and as I get in my car to leave, I will shake my head in amazement that I am having such a good time getting in the best shape I've been in for 30 years.
Peggy Wiggins
Age: 50 something
From "i dotter" to Crossfitter
I was never a part of a sports team or any gym. I was in Marching Band at Ohio State and only lifted weights with friends. I did ab exercises and eliptical machines. I never thought of myself as out of shape. I could always hang with the guys playing football or any other games. So I figured I could hang with the guys at Crossfit too. It really pushed me in ways I couldn't have imagined.
Crossfit Troy has brought to me what I think everyone needs: excitment to get in shape. Almost no one I know is ever thrilled to go to the gym or looks forward to it as the highlight of the day. With Crossfit, it's never the same old boring routine. It's exciting, competitive and fun.
Zach Roberts
Age: 20 something
