Keli’s a fun loving, creative, and talented woman who happens to know her way around a barbell.  Her real-life take on CrossFit is up next!

What do you do for a living?

I’m the budget secretary at John Marshall High School.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of the gym?

Laugh with my family and friends.

What made you decide to try CrossFit?

My husband started doing the CrossFit workouts a long, long time ago from the CrossFit website and he’s been super fit forever.  I had been at a local health club forever and didn’t have the motivation to create my own workouts or give them enough effort to matter.  It was time to change and my husband game me a punch card for the REV classes.  I was hooked immediately.

How long have you been at Progression?

I started the REV classes about 2 1/2 years ago.  Started WOD’s about 2 years ago.

What was your experience with fitness like prior to CrossFit?

I worked and pretended to workout at Northgate for a billion years.  I also swam competitively in high school.

What was your biggest fear when you started CrossFit?

Not being able to keep up with all those amazing athletes.

What’s your favorite cheat day meal?

Pizza. Bagels. and Pizza!  Did I mention Pizza!?

Do you have a favorite (healthy) recipe you’d like to share?

I love Cilantro Lime Shredded Pork.  So easy and WLC friendly!

• One pork roast in the crock pot
• Fill 1/2 way up the roast with water
• Salt & pepper the roast
• Cook for 6 hours
• Shred the roast (I try to remove any excess fat)
• Mix with a bunch of chopped cilantro, the juice of 2 large limes, and salt to taste!
• Done!  Serve it with rice.  It’s so light and tasty and even my picky kids will eat it!

What goal(s) are you currently chasing?

Right now, I’m just trying to keep my knees happy so I can keep coming to class.  One day, I would love to be able to do one real pull up.

What’s the hardest part about CrossFit?

The nerves that I won’t be able to get through a workout with my dignity intact.

What’s one thing your fellow CFP’ers would be surprised to learn about you?

There aren’t many surprises about me.  I’m a pretty open book.  Maybe that I’m a freelance graphic designer.

What’s your favorite piece of advice you’ve gotten from a Coach at Progression?

How do you pick just one?  I try to absorb all coaching advice, from “knees out, core tight, back straight”, to “stick that booty out!” Probably the one piece that helped me the most was to not think so much as I approach a heavy lift.  The less I think about it, the more my body does what it’s been trained to do.

How has your outlook on health/fitness changed since starting CrossFit?

Scott and I did the Whole Life Challenge for the first time 2 years ago.  I knew how to eat right, but never really stuck to it until then.  I was smacked right in the head with how much nutrition makes a difference in everything in life.  When I eat well, I feel invincible and when I eat poorly, I feel so crappy.  My fitness goal before CrossFit was all about weight and size.  Now, I just want to feel strong and keep up my fitness level to stay active and healthy until I’m over 100!

What has been your fondest memory during your time at Progression?

I LOVE taking pictures at Friday Night Lights.  I grew up with a camera in my hand and feel so very lucky to run around and sprawl out on the floor, just to get shots of all you amazing athletes!

Why do you think you’ve stuck with Progression?

What keeps me here is the big clean gym filled with so many friendly supportive people who are all rooting for each other, no matter the goal.

What would be your one piece of advice for someone who’s just joining Progression?

Scale what you need to and don’t feel inadequate because of it.