My Testimonial – May 30, 2012

Wayne Crabtree

I was asked to write some thoughts about this workout program I just went through and I’m kinda at a loss. How does one describe a period of time that changes the definition of self. The idea of discovering things about myself that 48 years had not taught me creates an energy that I find hard to put into words. Here’s my best shot…

One of my very first concerns was the 6 am start time 3 days a week. I don’t mind mornings, but waking up at 5:24am on a regular basis seemed like a hard thing. I decided early on that I can do hard things. And I did. I still don’t like waking that early, but after 3 months of doing it, I know it’s worth it. And might that be a smile on my face as I reach for the alarm clock? Nope… waking this early is still hard.

For this program, before and after measurements were taken as well as some fitness benchmarks. Oh and the pictures…

“Please come out from behind the couch, Huffyman”, they politely pleaded.   

“Can’t you just accept this self-portrait I did with crayon? It’s recent!”

“Shurrrrrre”, they said. “Stand over by the wall and show it to us…” Click! Dang. Fell for the oldest trick in the book.

Fast forward 3 months. Time for the ‘after’ pictures.  A new physique, and new outlook on life; one might say a completely new me…

“Please come out from behind the couch, Huffyman…”

In addition to the photos and measurements, there were the benchmarks… I gave the 3 tests all I had. I lifted myself to the Rip:60 straps from the ground, up and down, for a minute, and I felt like my shoulders were on fire. I was taught what a ‘burpee’ was (they could have just called it, ‘your worst nightmare’) and I spent a minute completing enough of them to cause my whole body to shake. Finally the 5 minute VF challenge. Natalie said VF stood for very fun.  But then Natalie gave birth to her second daughter (during this 3 month challenge) while doing burpees and mountain climbers, intermingled with diamond pushups with her feet in the dungeon straps. Serious. 3 minutes into the VF challenge, I realized it stood for vicious fanaticism. I wanted to quit but Chelsea’s cheering kept me going all the way to the end. I had pushed my body to its limits. Recovery didn’t come easy. In fact, I think I was still a little out of breath when I started the ‘after’ benchmark tests earlier this week. I was a little nervous to do the tests again, after they had whipped me so bad before. I again gave all I had. And though I was already feeling great about how far I had come in 3 months, it didn’t hurt to see my burpee number increase by 17%, my 5 minute VF (Vociferously Freaking) challenge increase by a sweet 25% and my rip:60 pull-ups increase by a whopping 44%! The effort wiped me out and I hope to recover by sometime mid-June, but I was so happy about the results of the last 3 months of hard work that I didn’t care!

What can I say that would give proper credit to the support from the others in the class with me. We didn’t often talk – mostly half-smiled and groaned and coughed as we passed each other from one post to another. We shared in the pain and the successes and we laughed together, especially during the cool-downs. For the hour we were together, we shared experiences that changed us from strangers to friends who sweated and strained and shook in front of each other without shame.  I still don’t know the names of all my compatriots, but I know they helped me hour by hour, week by week, to be a better person and I am grateful to each one for that. I hope each knows the inspiration they were to me.

Keeping watch on our form and pushing us every morning to do our very best was Lisa. She is the trainer that I needed to get me to push myself more than I thought was possible. Her ever-present smile while encouraging and correcting kept one going, and pushing, and fighting. Lisa knew what it took to push through these workouts because she has been there herself. We trusted her implicitly and she returned that trust with results. She noted our progress and celebrated the positive changes with us. Though I will say that she seemed to like burpees a little more than I think they deserved.  I’m sure all the trainers were terrific, but Lisa was the one who made me look forward to getting to the gym at 6am. She was the one who got me to hold the V-sit through those last 10 seconds of the tortuous minutes. She was the one who encouraged me to pedal harder, run faster and rotate a little more. Lisa is the best.

So what do I say to sum up 3 months of RapidFit, Rip:60 and a little thing called the Playground that have essentially changed the way I see myself? How’s this?: I feel better about myself than I have in years and I’m not done yet. This program is what I needed at this time in my life to help me find the joy that was hiding in me. How’s that?! Oh, and life? Get ready cause here I come!