Todd’s Story

What lead to me joining Crossfit Progression?….To answer that question I’d like to give you a snapshot of my previous life (known as life before crossfit).  It started with me getting up three mornings a week to go to the gym, followed by a day at work.  Then, approximately one year ago, I started gaining weight and to everyone’s surprise it was NOT muscle.  What I did not realize until recently, was that what I called going to the gym, is what crossfitters call socializing for forty-five minutes.   In fact, as I reminisce about my previous life, I cannot recall one time where I even broke a sweat.   Then the big 40 hit me, could I really be getting old?  I didn’t feel old, well at least mentally, but physically was a whole different story.   Coincidently, my wife must have been thinking the same thing when she gave me a membership to Crossfit Progression for my birthday.  Of course my first thought was this is the best gift ever!  But my next thought was “what the heck is that?” So I checked out the website and it looked alright, but too intense for me to actually join so I put it off.  Unfortunately, not soon after I was due for my annual physical where I heard “we need to recheck your cholesterol in six months at which time if not controlled we will talk about medicine.”  That is when it hit me! I need to fix this myself, instead of relying on medication to be healthy. I have two older brothers who are both overweight and subsequently have several complications.  If I didn’t do something, and something soon, I was going to be heading down the same path.  This leads me to the beginning of my next life, life with crossfit.

My crossfit experience started November of last year, a month after my 40^th birthday.  I never imagined I could be so sore from only doing air squats.  Even going upstairs was difficult, very difficulty, the first few days.  There were a few times I thought about quitting, but my wife’s encouragement kept me going.  Now that I conquered actually showing up to crossfit, it was time to progress to the ‘real’ class; I was no longer a beginner.  I was scared at first, but after feeling the encouragement from everyone in the class, I wanted to come back and now I can’t sop.  Believe it or not,  I now get disappointed if I have to miss a WOD.  What happened to me?…..Here are the top five things I have learned about myself since I started:

1. I am proud of myself for sticking with this.  If I did not receive the encouragement from the trainers, my wife and fellow members I would have been long gone.
2. I am proud and happy to have my wife join me in this journey.
3. I am proud to look in the mirror and see muscle where there was not any 6 months ago.
4. I have not been in better shape since I graduated basic training when I was 18.
5. I cannot wait to see where my journey will take me in another 6 months.

I would like to end my story with my Lipid screen results before and after.  All of these results went from high to normal range. These results are mainly due to exercise and some Paleo diet changes.   I post my results because I hope people will see them and know that exercise can lower your results.  Too often these days we look for the magic easy pill to get us healthy.  I found the pill for me it is located in the “Box” which is Crossfit Progression.

I would like to personally thank all the trainers and members who have encouraged me in the last six months without that encouragement I would not have achieved these results.  Lastly I would like to thank my wife for the support she gives me each and every day to help me succeed in this journey.

-Todd Juen

A.  20 Minutes to Establish your 1 rep max thruster from the Rack 

B.  Fran 21-15-9 

Thrusters @ 95lb/65lb 

Pull-ups 

C.  3 x 15-20 Toes to bar 

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