Karry K.

CrossFit bailed me out of an overweight, out of shape, unmotivated and dumpy body and lifestyle.  If I had to go to the gym one more time – get on the treadmill and spend an hour and a half bored out of my mind, watching Jerry Springer on the TV next to the 75 year old man who spends the same amount of time on the stationary bike (all this while seeing NO RESULTS) – I was going to lose my mind!!!  When American River CrossFit started I was very excited!  I am a competitive person, coming from an athletic background so this what exactly what I needed.  At first I was slightly skeptical that this 15-30 minute workout 3-4 days per week was really going to work.  But it HAS!!!  In just a short time I have lost about 12 pounds and lost a total of about 10 inches!  I love the results and I love going to workout with all of my friends where we all work hard to motivate each other!  I could see myself doing this for a really long time!

Karry Kelly

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Beth S.

Ok here we go with another butt kicking workout, but I am not the one getting my butt kicked, I am the one kicking butt! Doing American River CrossFit has shown me great things about myself. I have learned that I am way stronger than I ever thought I was. I have also learned that when I set goals, I can reach them with the help and support of the great staff at American River CrossFit. I really believe that much of the success of the members is due to the dedication and support of the staff.  Seeing myself reach and accomplish so many things with CrossFit, and much persuasion from Christian, Chad, and Kathleen, I have decided to compete in the 2009 CrossFit Games. Without these three people behind me I never would have made this decision to compete in such a crazy but awesome competition. Thanks American River CrossFit!!!!!

Beth

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Melissa

My name is Melissa and I am a 33 year old mother of two.  I had my son in January and began CrossFit in May.  He was fourmonths at that time and I was really feeling terrible about my body and very run down as a new mother of two children.  It is now October and I have lost ten pounds and 7 inches. I have been an athlete my whole life and could not have felt further from that shape before starting CrossFit.  When I began I could only do about ten sit ups by myself.  I can now do 50+.  I could not do one pull-up with the band and I can now do 15 with the band.  I am finding muscles I thought had atrophied and were never coming back.  It is such an awesome feeling to feel your self getting stronger and accomplishing personal goals.  It is the one thing that I do for myself as a stay at home mom that helps to keep me going and feeling good about myself.  I recently started playing soccer again after baby number two and I definitely feel that CrossFit has helped me to come back strong.  I love working out with my friends and having the support of the American River CrossFit staff pushing me to the next level of fitness.  I have more goals to accomplish and know that I would never be at this level of fitness without American River CrossFit.  I would highly recommend this form of training for anyone interested in an amazing work out.

Melissa

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CrossFit Changed My Life

Okay, seriously, you need to try CrossFit.  I can proudly say that Darren, my friend Kristine, and I have all been consistently doing CrossFit work outs for almost 2 months now.  For those of you who haven’t heard of this fabulous phenomenon, it’s a form of exercise that’s pretty much back to basics.  Every day is different and you never know what you’re going to get.  Some days you’re doing loads of squats (hate them), some days your arms are going to fall off from so many push ups, and some days your abs feel as though they will clearly pop out of your stomach.  Every day though, it’s such a great form of exercise.  And, THE BEST PART is that the workouts rarely take more than 30 minutes.  AND, you really only have to do it 3 times a week!  Love it, love it, love it!

Crossfit.com actually has a lot of great demos of the types of exercises that are incorporated in the workouts.  Kristine’s sister and brother in law (Kathleen and Christian Norgaard) have actually started their own “gym” in their garage at home (American River CrossFit).  As a result, people from the ends of the earth (well, not really) come to work out in their gym each day. There are such simple materials involved, that really anyone can do the workouts in the comforts of their own home.  (There are also CrossFit gyms/clubs in many towns.) After hearing about this crazy life experience of the Norgaard’s, Darren, Kristine, and I decided to tackle our own gym experience in our garage.  It has worked out wonderfully.

So, thank you Kathleen and Christian for lighting the fire underneath our asses and reminding us that there really are good bodies after babies.  (Yes, husbands are included in that truth!)  If you want to know more about CrossFit, I probably can’t give you many answers, but I can give you tips on how to make it as easy as possible for you.  And, if you’re ever in the Sacramento area, don’t be surprised if you see groups of adults running up and down the streets and exercising in their driveway.  It really is all the rage.

Mary and Darren
3-2-1-GO!!!

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Sonic

My name is Stacy (Sonic).  I am a 25 year-old ex-gymnast, and I am completely addicted to CrossFit.  I quit competitive gymnastics when I was 15, and throughout college and my adult life I was living in a constant state of “I used to be in shape”, “I used to be strong”, and “I used to be happy with my body”.  I tried numerous aerobics type classes, running on treadmills, and every other type of exercise routine that was “meant for girls”, but I was never satisfied.  I felt like a hamster running on a wheel.  I never felt challenged, I never was striving to meet goals, and I never felt like I was accomplishing anything.  FINALLY, 9 months ago I found American River CrossFit online and was intrigued.  Immediately after that intro class I was hooked!  CrossFit gives me everything that I miss from gymnastics.  I fell challenged but the amazing coaching staff, Chad, Christian, and Gina, are constantly cheering me on and making sure that I never feel lost or beaten down by a workout.  I have tangible goals that I have made and achieved.  And, most importantly, I am a part of a team/family again.  American River CrossFit truly is a family; the best part of showing up to work out is knowing that every person standing in the box that day is going to be cheering you on and will be with you every step of the way.  Now I feel strong, I’m happy with my body, and I feel confident enough in the skills that the amazing ARCFit coaches have given me that I have even braved a few CrossFit competitions.  Thank you so much Chad, Christian, Gina, and the entire American River CrossFit family.  You all have helped pull me out of my “I used to be” rut and made me into a healthy happy person again!

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Chuck B.

I thought it was time for me to let the great staff of ARCF know that I much I appreciate them and the BOX! I started with ARCF about six months ago.  I had become interested in cross fit through someone I met in Redding.  She told me about the varied workouts and the competitive nature of their workouts.  She invited me to meet her in Aromas for the Cross Fit Games, they were incredible!  I had not seen athletes in that kind of condition.  I was very intrigued and decided to research what was available here in Sacramento.  Thanks to Donna I am a committed cross fit participant.  Though best of all, she is now my girlfriend.

At my age (53), workout’s to stay in shape at a normal gym are, shall we say, BORING!  You run on a treadmill and lift on machines.  I actually thought I was in decent shape.  I was so wrong.  The WODs at ARCF are some of the most challenging I have ever done.  But I believe that they are the best way to get in shape I have ever seen.  I know I am stronger, more flexible and in better condition than a lot of people my age.

The last thing I would like everyone to know is how much the community of ARCF means to me.  The group of people that belong there are some the most supporting I have been associated with. You never want to give up nor not bring your best.  When you want quit they push you on.  The same for the staff! Christian, Chad and Nate are there pushing and teaching every minute you are there. I can’t tell you enough how much that means to someone like me.  The praise and coaching I get from them means a lot.

So, a big thanks to all of you. See ya at the BOX soon!

Chuck Barr

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Riggs

I’ve had a long history of sports training: ASA softball since I was nine and volleyball and softball in high school. But after 5 years of college, unemployment and a move back to Sacramento for a year hiatus before grad school, it was hard to get back into gym and work off those extra pounds I gained along the way. The traditional gym just wasn’t doing it for me: I was bored and hated ever minute. Finally after three months, no results, and the constant insisting from a few friends, I went to a free Saturday class. 5 rounds for time: 15 box jumps, 20 push ups, 20 sit ups, 20 squats. 12 minutes 46 seconds. I hadn’t had my ass kicked like that since high school! Over the next two weeks I almost died several times, met a bitch named Fran, and learned some new exercise almost everyday. I hated it, but in a good way. Soon after and still now seven months later crossfit is the best part of my day. I’ve lost 10 pounds, tons of inches, and gained a great group of friends and supporters. I still feel like dying occasionally, but I couldn’t be happier with the results. I have consistently achieved personal records in all my lifts giving me a crossfit total of 412.5 lbs (shoulder press= 72.5; dead lift= 205; back squat= 135) and do almost every workout prescribed. In my second week I did “Fran” (21-15-9 thrusters and pull-ups) with a blue band for pull-ups and 15lb dumbbells for the thrusters. And now, on my last day at the gym I did it prescribed: regular pull-ups and 65lb thrusters. In 7 months!! ARCfit turned my dreaded year hiatus into an amazing time. The completive nature, motivating staff and members, and fun spirit of the gym makes it a place you want to go and work your ass off while you’re there. The box and the people in it will be one of the few things I will miss about Sacramento.

Stacey Rigley, 23

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Carli

Forget the 10lbs you’ll lose in the first month, forget how good your skin will look and how great you’ll sleep at night.  Forget the muscle tone, the flexibility and the strength you’ll gain.  The absolute best part of your first month at ARCFit will be the people that you meet.  The people that you meet will make you want to come back every day.   They’ll push you harder than you’ll ever push yourself.  They will be your loudest cheering section, your biggest inspirations and your favorite part of the day.

My name is Carli and I’ve been training at American River Crossfit for one year now.  I could tell you about the inches I’ve lost, the strength I’ve gained and how much progress I’ve made.  But like I said, the best part about ARCFit is the people, so I’d rather tell you about them.  At every gym I’ve ever belonged to I knew the “short shorts guy” and the “crazy buff chick.”  At ARCFit I know Christian, Gina, Stephen, Elisa, Ryan, Elaine, Anthony, Cecily…I could go on for days.  I know their names because I’m cheering for them, laughing with them and sweating my butt off with them every time I walk in to the box.  The members of ARCFit are competitive, supportive, encouraging and truly a team in every sense of the word.

The trainers at ARCFit are knowledgeable, helpful and extremely motivating. They are all very talented athletes and each of them train in their own individual way so it makes it easy to find someone you click with.  Take Gina for example…oh, if everyone had a Gina in their life.  If everyone had a Gina in their life, the world would be a better place. People would have more self-confidence and care less about what others think. We would all be a little more willing to try new things and take ourselves a little less seriously.  The world would be full of strong, hard working, happy people.   If everyone had a Gina in their life I think I’d like more people in this world.  I know that Gina and the rest of ARCFit have done all of those things for me.  I’m so thankful that I found this crazy group of athletes to share an hour of my day with.  I’m a stronger, happier person because of it.  I can’t be any more honest about my experience at American River Crossfit.  These people will definitely be your biggest fans in and you’ll wonder how you ever worked out a day without them.

Carli Young

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Fancy Shoes!

My name is Stephen “Fancy Shoes” Xiong.  i am 27 years old and have been playing soccer my entire life.  i would go workout at the gym during the soccer off-season and think that i’m improving and getting stronger and looking better.  but when i found myself getting bored and not finding my goals met.  Then i saw the big sign that says CROSSFIT and i got interested and so i did what anybody would do now a days and that’s look it up online and on youtube.  i was amazed at what i saw from the workouts, the people, and the crossfit community.  i was very intimidated when i walked into AMERICANRIVERCROSSFIT.   Christian, Chad, Gina, Larry, and everybody there from the moment i stepped in was very welcoming, supportive, and encouraged me to push myself out of my comfort zone.  From the first introduction WOD i was hooked.  i mean box jumps, air squats, push ups, and sit ups didn’t seem like much but wow it kicked my butt.  i came back and i remember i couldnt even do a pull up and had no idea how hard olympic lifts are.  from the first time i ripped my hands on pull ups to seeing stars on the car ride home from a WOD.  i am who i am because of the people at AMERICANRIVERCROSSFIT.  they have helped me so much to become stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally.  Being in the box going through a pain of a WOD suffering and finishing it with that great group of people pushing each other makes it such a great place to be.  The reason i love crossfit is the bond and relationship i have with all the people there sharing the same pain and being able to see them finish and accomplish it.  that satisfaction makes me look at AMERICANRIVERCROSSFIT as a big old family.  supporting, loving, laughing, joking, and sharing in the accomplishments of each other.  Thank you everybody at AMERICANRIVERCROSSFIT.  can’t wait for tomorrows WOD see you all in the box.

Stephen

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