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August: Matt Sugerman
Hometown: I am originally from Dallas. However, I am very happy to live in Coto de Caza now
Age: 38
First start at CF Anaerobic? January 2011
Favorite WOD: Anything with moderate to heavy weight
Least Favorite WOD: Typically I do not do well with only bodyweight movements, but I still love doing them.
Tell us about your sports & fitness background:I played 4 sports in high school and have been a gym rat since I was 14. Sadly I used to be one of those guys who focused on bench press and curls, not legs.
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? I played in weekly basketball games with Paul Nelson. I finally agreed to come to CrossFit just so he would stop talking about it. Now I am usually at the gym 4-5 times per week and talk about CrossFit all the time.
I have always been a competitive person and assumed what drove me was the hatred of losing. CrossFit has taught me otherwise: not to hate losing, hate wasted opportunity.
- Matt
Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel? I walked into CrossFit extremely confident in my fitness abilities. The WOD was simple: box jumps, wall balls and 200m sprints. I left that day humbled and worried I might need to go to the ER. If I had to do that same WOD today, I would easily double or even triple my first score.
How do you compare it to workouts today?Today I would say with confidence that I am much stronger, faster and have more endurance, WODs today are a little better because I feel like that I can hang, but they still all suck!
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? When I started CrossFit, I was a bulky 217 pounds. Within 6 months I was down to 185. Now that my diet is in check and have found the right mix of supplements, I weigh 197 pounds.
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected?Honestly, CrossFit has changed my life. The physical changes to my body are obvious improvements. However, the mental aspects of CrossFit are what I appreciate most. CrossFit is grueling and helped me develop a mental toughness that was in hiding. There have been numerous times when doubt crept in and I wanted to quit, but I would not let myself stop. CrossFit showed me that I can take a beating and get up smiling. More importantly, CrossFit brought clarity to what truly motivates me. I have always been a competitive person and assumed what drove me was the hatred of losing. CrossFit has taught me otherwise: not to hate losing, hate wasted opportunity. As much as I want to be, I cannot be great at everything. CrossFit humbles the fittest on earth. Regardless if it is Rich Froning swimming or me running, each of us has weaknesses that we can overcome. My goal is to be the best I can be. Whether my score will be number 1 on Wodify at the end of the day, I do not know. When I hear “3,2,1 Go!”, I am leaving everything on the floor.
-Please share with us any favorite CrossFit Anaerobic momentsMy personal interactions with other AI members have been the most memorable moments for me. CrossFit breaks you down and builds you back up. In the process, friendships are made. I am thankful for all the people I have met through AI.
Any advice for people just getting started? Be in it for the long haul. CrossFit is complicated with a lot of different movements. It takes time to learn how to kip, do double-unders, muscle ups, etc. . .Focus on small wins. Once you add a movement to your arsenal, figure out how to incorporate this new skill with other CrossFit elements.
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I love music, travel and sports. Most importantly, I enjoy being with family and friends.
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August: Ashley Eustice
Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
Age: 27
First start at CF Anaerobic? I started in October 2012
Favorite WOD: Love deadlifts, and most WODS.
Least Favorite WOD: Anything with snatches.
Tell us about your sports & fitness background:Growing up I was very active. After high school I thought I was one of the lucky ones who didn’t have to work out consistently to stay in shape, boy was I wrong!! I started being lazy, eating whatever I wanted, gaining weight, and I became unhappy.
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? I first started CrossFit about 6 months before my wedding in Oct. 2011; I have a really good friend that happens to be a CrossFit Coach, Rachel, so I started working out with her. I have to have something intense and competitive for me to be engaged, and CrossFit gave that to me. I had a goal to look my best on my wedding day, and of course for my subsequent honeymoon. CrossFit made that happen.
Oh yeah..the suck never stops sucking, you learn to love the suck!
- Ashley
Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel? I was very intimidated my first day and wasn’t sure I could do it, but I’m very competitive and wasn’t about to let the other people in my class do something I couldn’t. I remember doing the warm-up thinking this has got to be part of the workout. I was sweating like crazy and I was already sore! Then we got into the WOD and I remember just wanting to get through it. Well I did, and I went home and couldn’t stop talking about it and how good I felt. I couldn’t wait to go back. Now I look at workouts as a challenge to better myself, I literally get anxious the night before looking forward to it.
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)? When I started CrossFit and Paleo before my wedding it was crazy what great shape I was able to get into. After my wedding I felt good and thought I’ll take a break… a year was definitely too long of a break. I tried a couple different types of workouts, but nothing was working. I knew I had to get back into CrossFit. Taking that break I would always complain about my aches and pains. Finally since starting CrossFit and now after 10 months I feel so strong, confident, and healthy. Very little aches and pains now, mostly just sore muscles. I’m dedicated, and I’m definitely not taking a break again. My big time motivation was signing up for the dunk tank. I knew I had 3 months to make things happen, I was nervous and wasn’t sure I could make that commitment, and I didn’t want to be disappointed. I lost 6.4% body fat! All it takes is dedication. My downfall is I love food, but once I realized I can eat Paleo and be creative, I am still able to eat the food that I love and still feel great.
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected?I have more energy, I am healthier. I’ve made working out a priority. I live in my workout clothes. My husband couldn’t stand me talking and bragging about my WODs so he finally joined a couple months ago. Our dinner conversations are all CrossFit and our house has rollers everywhere and healthy food. When I planned a vacation, I would work out a month before hoping to get in shape and feel good. I now go out of town looking up CrossFit’s before we get there and making it a point to check out new boxes. I have made some truly great friends at Anaerobic, it’s such a great community and I’m so glad to be apart of it.
-Please share with us any favorite CrossFit Anaerobic momentsI love the support that you get from fellow CrossFitters during the workout. Even though it is individual, and I am trying to compete with other people, everyone wants each other to do well. It’s not about beating this person or that person, it is about pushing one another to be better than you were the day before. As far as a specific moment…I won’t name names, but my “Coffee Club” witnessed a pretty hilarious moment where someone thought their ankles were locked in for some GHD’s glute ham raises and they weren’t. He ended up ninja rolling off the stand onto the floor. We weren’t able to start the WOD because we were all laughing so hard.
Any advice for people just getting started? Stick with it, eat right, get lots of rest/sleep, and be disciplined. You’ll be amazed what can happen to your body and health! Oh yeah..the suck never stops sucking, you learn to love the suck!
What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? Dirt biking, Pilates, Yoga, and long walks on the beach with the love of my life…my dog Rebel. Sorry Cory.
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