Rick, Seamus here- one of the Air Force Pararescue trainees that came
through last month. Wanted to say thanks not just for accomodating us, but
for teaching us a lot too. All of us have our strong points and weaker
points and we all came away feeling like we understand certain mechanics a
lot better thanks to yours and Sal's eye to form. My numbers have been
growing steadily thanks to that. To my suprise (since I didn't run much in
SD) running back here at altitude isn't too rough either, actually my times
are better than I expected. Please pass on our thanks to the whole crew,
great gym, great people.

I would like to thank everyone at CrossFit Chula Vista for the best year of
physical fitness since my early thirties. Now forty-one, I'm in great shape
again. I waited a full year to do this testimony because I wanted to see if
I would stick with CrossFit. I have, and plan to continue. Before meeting
Rick and everyone over at CrossFit, I had lost all interest in working-out
and had fallen into the 'rat-race' of career and a material world. I was
working a lot and was very out of shape. Something was missing. Working-out
and training had been part of my life since the age of thirteen. I ran
cross-country, wrestled and lifted weights for years, and loved it. I never
once thought of 'not training'.



Well, life happens. Because of marriage, becoming a father, and running a
business, working-out took a back seat. I needed a spark to get my interest
back, and I needed to be challenged. Luckily, I attending a Fathers Day
event at Eastlake Church and learned about a fitness program called
CrossFit. At this event they had a simple parallel bar set up and a big tire
sitting on the ground. I thought to myself, ' I can bench 325 and have big
arms. NO PROBLEM!' They say, OGod works in mysterious ways'. Well, his name
was Nick. According to this guy, I could only do three pull-ups correctly! I
walked away not feeling too good about myself. So I decided to talk to the
owner, Rick, and find out about CrossFit. The very next day I signed up for
the program and went through the worst day of physical training since basic
training in the Army. Facing the fact that I was out of shape and would have
to start from scratch was scary, yet exciting. I really felt with Rick¹s
help, that I could get back into shape.


My stats one year ago
* 5'7" -215 lbs.
* pullups ­ 3
* situps ­ 10
* running maybe 50 yards.
These are based on doing these exercises correctly. No cheating like at LA
Fitness.

There is no cheating in CrossFit.


My stats a year later
* 5'7" ­195 lbs.
* pullups ­15
* situps ­50
* running- two miles without stopping.
* deadlift - 395 lbs.
* shoulderpress ­ 205 lbs.
* backsquat ­ 375 lbs
* bench-I don¹t know any more.


Do yourself a favor: give it a try. My wife, Melissa, is now doing CrossFit..
She is loving it and looking great. I am very proud of her. She has never
been interested in the gym scene. The CrossFit program has given her the a
safe and comfortable environment for training. It is money well spent.

My wife and I started working out with Rick about 1 month ago. When we
started, I was hesitant about the 8 course intro but am now a complete
believer. In a matter of weeks, I have learned a significant amount about
exercise, weightlifting and diet.

For many years, I wrestled and spent hours cutting weight and working out.
I only wish that I could have been involved with CrossFit earlier. The
combination of exercise variety, encouragement and Paleo is a terrific
combination.

I am not overweight but have lost five pounds, feel stronger and look
better than I have in years.

Rick and everyone that I have met at CrossFit Chula Vista are exceptional
people. They are knowledgable about proper form, diet and technique (not to
mention that they can easily do any exercise with ease – including
inverted vertical push-ups on rings).

There are no egos at CrossFit Chula Vista and everyone is supportive of
each other. If you are looking for an exercise program unlike anything that
you have probably done in the past, this is the place. The sessions are
typically less than a half hour and you get a complete full body work out
(think cardio, weightlifting and gymnastics all rolled into one brief,
intense session.)

In addition to the gym, the Paleo lifestyle is great. I use the term
'lifestyle' because it is not really a diet. It is a low carb, balanced meal
with frequent snack program. Honestly, I eat more now than I did before but
enjoy the meals and feel much better.

CrossFit all the way!

Rick and the CFCV family,

Just a quick note of thanks for welcoming me into the fold for the few
short weeks I was in town. I learned A LOT and everyone couldn't have made
me feel more at home. Even though I've been CF'ing on my own for a couple
of years, I realize now what I've been missing by not working out with a
team like yours at CFCV. I can't wait for my next visit when I'm back on
this side of the world (and to a few new PRs now that you've corrected my
O-lift form)!

all the best,
Wayne N.

Dear Rick and the CrossFit CV Staff,

I love burpees,

Mitch Compton

Before I came into Crossfit Chula Vista, the only exercise I got was walking my miniature Yorkie around the block. Now, when people see me they want to know what I have been doing to get into shape. I tell them that the workouts at Crossfit Chula Vista are challenging without being demotivating. Also, that the Crossfit Chula Vista environment is not intimidating for a newcomer and there is a sense of camaraderie as well as community. I started Crossfit back in May 2009 after my first date with my boyfriend and we are getting married next week. I am not saying that Crossfit will get you down the aisle, but hey, it helped me!

~Amy Richter

OK Rick and Nick I know I only ever post complaints so mark this day on your calendar as this post pays you a compliment. Since I've joined CrossFit Chula Vista I have lost at least 10 pounds. I have found new muscles in my body i never thought I had. Fewer t...hings are shaking around when I jump up and down! Thanks so much for all the support. Telling me I am awesome when I think otherwise. Encouraging me to stick to the diet (which I don't think I will ever totally quit, I just don't miss processed food, sugar or dairy) And Rick....I'll do just about any workout just to get you to give me that big "proud papa" smile of yours. I couldn't be happier with CFCV and look forward to (and fear) your workouts 5 days a week!!

Rick, here's my 10-cents...

Its been a more than a yr. that I've been doing crossfit with Rick. I'm a
Law Enforment Officer and got my knee operated upon by an injury. I don't
want to change my lifestyle, I love being fit but Crossfit had advanced my
fitness level three-folds. I'm 45 yrs old now, and I could see guys half my
age that can't handle the WODs. I feel like I'm 25 yrs old again. One of
these days I want to compete in a 1/2 triathlon as my goal. "IF YOU ARE NOT
SCARED OF YOUR WORKOUT, ITS NOT HARD ENOUGH"...

I am so glad that I found Crossfit! I am a 40-something mom of 2 and I had not been taking time for myself to workout. I have been doing Crossfit for about 6 weeks and I am feeling so much better! Rick has been so patient teaching me all of the exercises and giving me much needed nutritional advise. I have lost 8 pounds and I know I am getting stronger everyday. I have a long way to go to reach my goals but I know with Rick's help I will get there!

Hi Rick,

I just want to say thank you once again for welcoming me into your gym this past week while I was visiting Chula Vista. I was very impressed by your nice, big, well-equipped space. And your morning crew was such a great group to workout with. The energy and support made it all the more fun to CrossFit while I was on vacation. Thanks especially for the help you gave me on my O-lifts. You and Nick were great coaches! I'm looking forward to my next visit out there. Please send my regards to Nick and Piper. It was nice meeting you all!

Grace
CrossFit NYC/Brooklyn
Grace getting a PR on her Thruster with Piper giving her a few words of encouragement.

Hey Rick. It was a great pleasure meeting you. Thanks again for the great coaching this past week and giving me the opportunity to work out in your box. The Burgener warmup and the snatch transfers are both invaluable tools which I and my fellow box-mates should be using more consistently. I'll definitely pass on the word. You're an awesome coach and you have an awesome box. Please visit the silicon valley box whenever you're in town. Thanks so much. Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Larry from Crossfit Silicon Valley

I'm a single mom with two young kids and CrossFit has changed my life! Not only has it changed my life physically, but mentally. I'm doing things now I never imagined I would or could do. I needed something not too time consuming or superficial, and CrossFit Chula Vista has been that for me. I started doing CrossFit about ten months ago. I wasn't really active. I hadn't been consistently working out for almost a year, and I was way out of shape! I couldn't run or do much of anything without having a nagging pull and pain in my left hip. I also had pain in my knees. I can now say neither my knees nor my hip hurt any longer. Every day I'm exceeding my own expectations, and I plan on continuing. CrossFit is the daily dose I need in the morning. THANK YOU CROSSFIT CHULA VISTA!! I love you guys!!!

Well it finally happened. I have been training at CrossFit Chula Vista with Rick for over a year, and as a SDFD fire engineer I kept waiting for the day when the benefits of my CrossFit training would suddenly become evident. The other night we pulled up on a structure fire and I had my first opportunity to test what all those deadlifts and thrusters had done for me. I don't mean that I haven't noticed all kinds of great changes over the last year. I'm stronger, more lean, I've got more energy, I'm super motivated to exercise, and I have more confidence in my job because I know I am stronger and more capable. And I keep telling people that now, at age 45 with 12 years on the fire department, that I have never been stronger or more fit. I could suddenly pick up heavy pieces of equipment, move stuff up and down stairs, drag hose lines, lift gurneys, and throw ladders so much easier. After 8 years of back pain from two herniated disks, my back strength has improved to pre-injury levels and the pain decreased.
But, back to the fire. After charging the 4" line off the hydrant there were a bunch of kinks in the line that had to be fixed. Which meant picking up the hose dead lift style 6 times and carrying the hose somewhere between 5 and 10 feet. Before CrossFit I would have struggled and the pain in my back the next day would have been nearly crippling. But, the other night, I knew that it was going to be easy, my back was going to be fine, and I relished the challenge, saying to myself "Thank you CrossFit. Thank you Rick".
Over the past year, realizing the benefits of CrossFit for firefighters I have been involved with the CrossFit style training program of our Fire Academy Recruits. I have my CrossFit Level 1 Certificate, CrossFit Olympic Lift Certification, CrossFit Endurance Certificate, and will be taking the CrossFit Nutrition Certification class in February. Besides my firefighter training, I have a fitness and training background that includes a BS in Biomechanics/Athletic Training, I am a former Physical Therapy Assistant, Certified Athletic Trainer (NATA), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA), Personal Trainer (ACE), and Peer Fitness Trainer (ACE). With all this training and experience in fitness, training and exercise, it is CrossFit that has created the greatest change in my fitness levels and provides exactly what we ALL need to get and stay fit for life.

I started training 2 1/2 months ago in spite of my reluctance because of a feeling of intimidation from seeing the many fit folks. On the first day of training I quickly learned that I had nothing to feel intimidated about. In fact I was welcomed by a group of friendly and encouraging individuals.
I have accomplished small milestones every session I have had since starting with CrossFit: more energy, motivation, I feel healthier, and of course the loss of weight that I had thought was my 1st priority. I have changed my priority from losing weight to feeling healthier.
The daily changes in routine have kept me from losing interest. Something I had not been able to accomplish in previous attempts to stick with a program. Of course it doesn't hurt to have Rick add a little of his own "motivation".
As I have said many times to Rick "Thanks for kicking my butt."
Elizabeth K.

I started working out a CrossFit Chula Vista about three and a half months ago. I had been doing traditional workouts for a while and had achieved my weight loss goals, but I was bored and I was losing my motivation to workout. I need to get into better shape for my training at the border patrol academy. The variety of the training keeps me excited about working out. I never know what to expect and neither does my body. The results have been simply amazing. I feel stronger, and have more endurance than ever. CrossFit Chula Vista is a great place to work out. I receive plenty of personal attention from Coach Rick and the other coaches.They really want you to learn the proper technique and will push you to your limits. CrossFit has challenged me beyond belief and is something I will continue to do wherever I may end up.