You may not know Linda, but the likelihood is you have seen her around the gym. She has been putting in a lot of hard work – and it’s paying off BIG TIME! We are so happy to be a part of Linda’s journey and to be able to share it with our community. Thanks for being an inspiration to us all, Linda! Keep up the hard work!
What brought you to Progression Fitness?
I was working for HGST (now WD, on the IBM campus), and they had a gym on-site that was run by Progression. The company management at that time promoted CrossFit and fitness. When my work schedule finally permitted it, I started with the Tues/Thurs Rev class. Later I started coming to 5:30 am here Mon/Wed/Fri. By the time I retired in 2017 I was hooked!
When do you usually work out?
I am a morning person, so usually, 6:00 am, but occasionally I do a 5 am, 8 am, or 4:15 pm, when it works better with my schedule.
What is your favorite exercise movement?
Deadlifts are my favorite. It’s the only time I get to use the 45lb plates!
What is your most hated exercise movement?
I would have to say the overhead squat. My old joints really don’t want to get in the proper position to hold a lot of weight over my head.
What is your favorite clean food?
I’m pretty simple when it comes to eating. I think that one thing I do right most days is a half plate full of raw veggies for lunch (carrot, broccoli, pepper, cucumbers, etc). And usually no dip.
What is your favorite cheat food?
Anything sweet! That is my downfall.
What do you like to do with your free time?
I do a lot of volunteer work for our church, as part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Pax Christi. We help people in the area who need assistance of various kinds. I enjoy gardening (vegetables and flowers) in the summer and attending the grandkids’ activities year-round. I am kind of a home-body, so some of my favorite times are just being at home with my husband Jerry (almost 39 years together), and our 10-year-old English Springer Spaniel, Diezel. We have done some traveling in the past, but after getting covid on a Mississippi cruise last August, we are mostly staying home.
Does being functionally fit help you in your job or your hobbies?
Definitely! Every time I load the water softener with 40lb bags of salt I am thinking “lift with your legs”. We burn wood for heat, so I spend a lot of time cutting the small stuff with a hand saw and assisting my husband with splitting and stacking the big stuff. It’s what I call my second workout of the day.
What goals are you chasing?
As a somewhat older CrossFitter (64), my main goal is to just stay healthy and not injure myself. Right now, I’m nursing a sore shoulder, so I’m having to scale things back a bit. But once that is better, I would like to work more on my toes-to-bar and kipping pull-ups.
Who motivates you?
All the other people in class! I admire the strength of the young people, and their dedication to coming consistently even with family and work obligations. I try to keep up with some of them, so they are good motivation for me. And I greatly appreciate the coaches (Jeremy!) who keep me moving during class and trying to improve.
What were you scared/nervous about when you started Progression Fitness?
Everything! I was afraid I would injure my knees doing squats, afraid I wouldn’t know what to do and would look foolish, and afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up with others. But the coaches quickly put those thoughts to rest, as they taught us the correct and safe way to do the various movements and praised everyone for their efforts and results.
Now that you have been at Progression Fitness for a while, was there anything you originally were wrong about, but now have changed your mind?
Even though we put scores on the board, you’re really only competing against yourself. It doesn’t matter how heavy you lift or how many reps you do, as long as you just keep moving, keep getting sweaty, and keep making small steps of progress for YOU.
What is something you couldn’t do before but now you can?
Everything we do in the gym was new to me. I had never touched a barbell before, so that especially is something I could not do before but can now.
What is your Personal Record that you are most proud of?
I would have to say my deadlifts. And also when we do a named workout and I can do a little heavier or a little faster than the previous time.
What is your fitness background? Have you played sports? Do you have a favorite sport now?
I did not play any sports in school (and that was a long time ago!). I was more into music and academics. Before I started CrossFit at age 57, I did do some walking with a work friend, but that was about it. Outside of going to the gym, I am still not a sports person, except for being a spectator at events for my kids or grandkids.
Are there any competitions/races in your future?
I am not into competitions or races at this time, but I do like to take part in the annual CrossFit open workouts and the Murph on Memorial Day.
What advice do you have to help others keep coming consistently?
Have a regular schedule for your workouts and stick to it. I prefer a morning class, so I can get in and get it done while I am still fresh, and before I have a chance to change my mind.
What would you say to someone that is thinking about trying Progression Fitness but isn’t sure it is for them?
Just give it a try! You don’t have to be a super athlete to benefit from coming to Progression. Everything can be scaled to your fitness level – just listen to your body and work with the coach to decide what is right for you. And remember that just showing up and working out each day makes you a success!