When did you start with Cumming Strength and Fitness?
V – I started classes in November 2019.
A – First class was in February 2019.
Favorite Workout?
V – Anything with running! And I always enjoy the holiday workouts.
A – It might be because I heard so much about it from my brother before joining CS&F, but I love Murph. It’s a slow burn that evens the playing field for everyone, and I love the tradition.
Least Favorite Workout?
V – I don’t have a workout I dislike, but I am not a fan of the bike.
A – The workout we did for Jill’s birthday this year – I think it was called the Dirty Thirty – left me in shambles for days.
Favorite Movement?
V – I really enjoy deadlifts, and as weird as this sounds…burpees.
A – I’m a huge fan of cleans. And even though I rarely run anymore, I love a good running WoD.
Least Favorite Movement?
A – I have a complicated relationship with double unders.
V – I have to agree with Adam here, nothing can ruin a day like the jump rope!
Tell us a little bit about yourself (family, job, sports, military, interests, etc.).
V – I grew up showing horses from the time I was very young and continued up through college. I have always had a lot of nervous energy and exercise keeps me sane! I am currently working full time and pursuing my MBA in the evenings so my morning workout at CS&F is my daily “me” time.
A – 38 years old, happily married to CS&F’s January 2021 Co-Athlete of the Month. No kids, but three large and pushy dogs. I only have a few passions – songwriting, CrossFit, and the Atlanta Braves – but I obsess over all three. My core family unit has been incredible since Day One. My mother-in-law once said I’m a chocolate lab in human form, and it was the best compliment I ever received.
What were you doing before you joined CS&F?
V – Running and strength training a few times a week.
A – I was running two or three times a week, while supplementing with uninspired workouts at OneLife.
Favorite music to workout to?
V – I really enjoyed the Yacht Rock station workouts.
A – I’m a 90’s kid at heart, so I love anything with fast drums and loud guitars – Soundgarden, Incubus, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters kind of stuff. And, like Val, I loved Jordan’s Yacht Rock phase.
Favorite cheat meal?
V – Crumbl cookies, if you haven’t tried them you are missing out!
A – You guys want to watch me eat an entire pizza?
What were your goals when joining CS&F and have you achieved them?
V – I wanted to feel comfortable in my own skin. After being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, I was at a point in my life where my body felt more like an enemy than a friend. CS&F provided an avenue in which I could see my strength increasing and provided a mechanism for me to feel gratitude towards what my body could do rather than focusing on its limitations. The community environment and friends that I have made are what keeps me coming back!
A – I had a few – 1) I wanted to re-vitalize my passion for exercise, which I had lost after a decade of running; 2) I wanted to go from being slender to building muscle, which I had no real idea how to do; and, 3) I wanted to join a community where I could forge some lasting friendships, which is hard to do when you move to a new place in your late 30s. Not only have I accomplished all three, but achieving them has enriched my life in ways I never could have imagined. CS&F is my version of Cheers.
Do you have any other special memories/ achievements during your time here?
V – I really loved the experience of running with Dream Runners at Fowler Park. We plan on going back regularly in the Spring because we had so much fun spending time with the kids!
A – Getting to stand on the podium with Neal and Jarret after the Summer Meltdown. And, as vain as it sounds, I remember seeing my six-month progress picture in August 2019 and not being able to believe that it was me.
What advice would you give to a newbie just joining Cumming Strength and Fitness?
V – Just keep showing up.
A – Process over results. Trust the process, and the results will come.
Something we might not know about you is?
V – I received my 200 hour yoga teacher certification a few years ago.
A – I lived in Turkey when I was a kid.
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