Cody W. May Athlete of the Month!

Name: Cody Wainer            Age:     26            From: Portage,  MI

How long have you been with CrossFit Torrent and what made you decide to start?

I have been with Crossfit Torrent for about 4 ½ Months (started on Dec 13th, 2018). Felipe had invited Dave Buick and I to a “bring a friend” Thursday, and I just loved it. Honestly, the big things that won me over are the awesome community, functional fitness component, high intensity in a short period of time, strategy, competition, and the technical movements incorporated in WODs, to say the least. I had been exercising at Bronson Athletic Club for the past few years and grew tired of doing the same thing every day, throwing on the headphones and never really talking to anyone, and never achieving the results I strived for. After my first day at Crossfit Torrent; I came back the next morning and started my membership as well as quit my membership to Bronson Athletic Club.

What do you do when you’re not at CFT?

On a normal weekday, I go to my full-time job with Consumers Energy. I am a Circuit Engineer that mainly does Power Flow studies and Protective Device Analysis for our low voltage electric distribution system (the poles and wires you see outside your house). I am also a 1st Lieutenant in the Army National Guard and serve as a Platoon Leader for a Signal Unit out of Kalamazoo, MI (B Co 156 ESB). In my free time, I love to spend time with my family. I also love to grow and develop myself. I love to learn. I get so motivated when I see results. Fun fact about me, I used to be about 80 lbs heavier than I currently am now, and have made many fitness/life changes since then. With that being said, I am very empathetic towards individuals who are overweight and go through the struggle of losing weight. I know the grind and how hard it can be, and nothing motivates me more than seeing someone who is overweight and working hard to better themselves and change their life. One of my favorite quotes that I live by is by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, he says “Be Humble, Be Hungry, And Always be the Hardest Worker in the Room.

 

When did you realize that CrossFit is right for you?

I realized it was right for me after my first WOD. I decided to jump in with both feet. I learned that there is more to fitness than how “strong” you are and how much you can lift. I absolutely love the technical movements (clean, snatch, double under, gymnastics, etc.) and I also really enjoy the aspect of functional fitness and relating these movements to things people do in everyday life, like picking up a bag of mulch or carrying buckets, etc.

What were your thoughts after your first WOD?

I just checked Wodify, and my first WOD with CFT was on Dec. 13th, 2018

“Round Trip”

6 Rounds, On the 3:00:

20/14 Calorie Row

40 Double Unders

5-5-4-4-3-3 Hang Squat Cleans

I honestly don’t remember doing much of the workout, but what I do remember is that I was terrible at performing all the movements (as they were all foreign to me at the time) but I had a very strong desire to get move more efficiently and get better.

What is your favorite or least favorite WOD/movement?

My favorite WOD movements currently are muscle ups, chest to bar, snatch, toes to bar, pull-ups (kipping/butterfly) because I currently can’t do most of them/perform them well, and I see that as a challenge to strive to learn these movements and get better at them.

What is the one thing you have done at CFT that you never thought you would do?

I never thought I would learn as many gymnastic movements as I am currently learning to do.

What motivates you during a tough workout?

Some things that give me a pump are seeing others work hard and push themselves to their limits. I also really enjoy faster tempo music (Sorry, I enjoy typical country or slower tempo songs, just not while working out). The biggest thing that drives me is knowing where I am and how I can push that limit to get better. It is a love/hate relationship when I am in that dark place while grinding, it’s a battle to stay there and keep pushing yourself, but later on, in the day I get hungry and crave getting back to and exceeding that point.

What’s your favorite thing about CrossFit?

Amazing community, functional fitness component, high intensity in a short period of time, strategy, competition, and the technical movements incorporated in WODs,

What are your short term and long term goals?

My current goal is to get 1 bar muscle up by Murph (which I have been spending pretty much every day working on post-WOD) and some long term goal is to move more efficiently overall in the gymnastic component, improve my snatch, and just become a more well-rounded athlete.

How have you seen yourself change- mentally and physically since joining Torrent? What impact has CFT had on you in and out of the gym?

Yes, I have seen myself change. One of the biggest things that I am slowly learning is the strategy/pacing component. As most of you know I am usually a “0 or 100” person, and sometimes I can go too hard in the beginning and my overall performance suffers. I think mentally I have become more determined to get better at the many aspects of Crossfit that I enjoy. I definitely have grown stronger and am still becoming more comfortable in various movements that were very foreign to me at the beginning of this journey.

Do you have any advice for people just getting started at CFT?

 

1. Leave your pride at home.
2. Be a friend/teacher and help someone out if you see they are not doing it right.
3. Encourage and motivate others
4. Be open to trying new things, be teachable and have a willingness to learn.
5. Don’t be satisfied and settle where you are at, you can always get better.
6. Be humble/Stay hungry.
7. Always be the hardest worker in the room.
8. Have fun and enjoy each step of your fitness journey

 

 

Quick Questions

Favorite Cheat Meal:

Anything ooy gooy cheezy mozzy goodness. Stuffed crust pizza, fresh pillowy cheesy garlicky breadsticks, homemade lasagna. But I can’t leave out the staples every man enjoys which is mountains of bacon (or anything incorporated with it), smoked meat, baked beans, brisket, haha too many cheat meals to list. I also have a sweet tooth and enjoy so Sour Patch Kids, Sour Skittles, and don’t get me started with Swedish fish (I banned myself from buying the 5lb bag from Amazon Prime….).

Favorite Musician/Band:

Don’t really have a “favorite”.

Favorite Sports Team:

Honestly not really a follower of sports, I cheer for the winning team, but I get pumped when the underdog comes back and wins.

Favorite Tv Show/ Movie:  

Currently enjoying Game of Thrones and all Marvel movies.

Favorite CrossFit Athlete:

Mat Fraser, like most people, he is a big name and one of the first professional CrossFit athletes that I knew of, but after watching documentaries and learning his story and how hungry he is to better himself and how driven he is, there are a lot of parallels that resonate with me.

Coach’s comment:

I don’t think anyone is surprised by this. Cody was all in on day one and has been in the running for ATOM for a long time. He is always positive, always gives 300% and supports and encourages all his fellow athletes.  When we were talking about selecting Cody as athlete of the month every coach said: “I don’t know, he just loves being in the pain cave.” Cody came into CrossFit with a lot of strength and decent conditioning but lacked a lot of technical skills that separated him from being okay to good. We just recently did a benchmark workout from when he first started and he improved by 9 minutes…that is a testament to the work he puts into getting better every day! If there is something Cody doesn’t do as well as he thinks he should he will spend an hour after every class working on skills to get him to the movement! He listens to the coaches and takes in every cue, strategy, or target stimulus given to him to improve. He is also the first person to cheer someone on if he sees they are struggling or really pushing hard to finish up their metcon. Cody is also known for being able to chat with anyone about anything, making them feel comfortable, ripping his hands opening his water bottle and he is the gym chalk monster. Keep working hard Cody & Congratulations!!!

I’m too [insert word here] to do CrossFit

One of the most common phrases we hear as trainers when talking to potential members is “I’m too [insert word here] to do CrossFit.” Spoiler alert: you are not too [anything] to do CrossFit. Here are a few of the most common [insert words here] that keep people from trying CrossFit and why they shouldn’t stop you.

I’m too [out of shape/overweight] to do CrossFit.

I’m too [nervous/scared] to do CrossFit.

I’m too [embarrassed] to do CrossFit.

I’m too [unathletic] to do CrossFit.

I’m too [broke] to do CrossFit

I need to start with simple things and get in shape to start CrossFit. I need to practice and workout at home before I come and do it in front of other people. Everyone will be looking at me and know I’m not good. I’ve never done sports, I am not competitive. I have to work out with a bunch of people who know what they’re doing when I have a fitness level of 0.

Here is why none of that should keep you from CrossFit.

You will learn. No one is expecting you to walk into the gym with the know-how or ability to execute the movements. Luckily at CrossFit Torrent, new members go through 3 one-hour Elements Classes. This is how you and your coach get to know each other and establish your goals. During these classes, you will learn the 9 fundamental movements of CrossFit, some CrossFit lingo, and try a few workouts so you are ready to head into regular classes with confidence! Remember these are functional movements. Movements you use every day just varied by degree not kind. Don’t worry, everyone was nervous when they started.

Everything is scalable. Every class will be lead by a knowledgeable coach who will start by teaching you the basics and fine tune as you progress. Every person in the class has something to fix. The coach will cue everyone at least once during the 60-minute WOD (Workout Of the Day.) Your coach will help choose the correct weight and movements so you and your classmates finish the workout at the same time. Look at the mock wod below. As you can see we have the same basic movements for every athlete but each scale is tailored to the personal needs and abilities. Scaled appropriately the RX athlete will finish very closely to athlete 4. For this reason, you DO NOT need to get in shape before you come to CrossFit and you DO NOT need to think people will judge your abilities. Every person in the gym has something they are working towards. Anne getting her first pull-up will be just as exciting as Dave running an entire mile. Not convinced? Check out this great read from the CrossFit Journal about taking the leap. 

Rx (as prescribed)	Athlete 2	Athlete 3	Athlete 4
3 rounds for time	3 rounds for time	2 rounds for time	2 rounds for time
400m run 15 pull-ups 9 thrusters (135#/95#)	400m run 9 pull-ups 6 thrusters (115#/75#)	400m run 15 ring rows 9 thrusters (95#/65#)	200m run/walk 15 ring rows 9 thrusters (35#/15#) squatting to a box

 

The community will support you. Top shape or out of shape walking into a gym of people you don’t know, playing loud music, lifting heavy weights and doing crazy gymnastics is intimidating. Everyone was once in your position so staff and members do their best to make you feel welcomed! It would be weird for you to walk into a CrossFit gym and not have a few members introduce themselves. They are excited that you’ve decided to become part of the family and will support you lifting 300 lbs or 3 lbs as long as you’re trying your best and giving your all. And that’s easy to do when you have a support team every class!

You will start to prioritize health. $135 per month for an unlimited membership. CrossFit Torrent offers classes 6 days per week. If you come 5 days per week in a 30 day month that’s roughly $5 per class. Five dollars to have your workout programmed, coaching guidance, nutritional advice, equipment, and facility. You have the community to hold you accountable. You will find that you want to come every day compared to the once or twice you go to your standard gym. You will also start eliminating bad habits, cutting out sugary food and drink, and dial in your nutrition. Cooking at home instead of eating out every day can easily offset the expense of your membership and help you eat healthier. You aren’t going to get that from a standard gym. The comment below was found on this article in the CrossFit Journal and it perfectly describes the magic of a CrossFit community. 

“From a consumer standpoint (i.e. no intention of making it a business) I was surprised at the difference in price from the gym I attended for seven years before being introduced to a Box less than a year ago. However, I now attend a Box 5 days a week as opposed to the old gym I would try to squeeze in once or twice every couple of weeks – that benefit alone is worth the price to me. However, when you throw in committed instructors that care about form, safety, technique and overseeing that you are building a foundation of fitness I’ve found my Crossfit Box to be priceless. I can read and understand WODs, but having someone correcting, coaching, assisting with diet, and implementing a WOD so that you derive the benefit you should be getting from it will cost you extra outside a Box. Take the same gym of $50.00 per month, throw in personal instruction of around $50.00 per session, and a someone to guide your diet – before long you have coordinated at least two different appointments and you are well above the typical monthly expense of attending a Box. In my journey, albeit brief compared to others, I have zero motivation to go back to a gym and my Box is a committed line-item in my personal budget.”-Sam Taylor

Please leave a comment about your experience starting CrossFit and words of encouragement for those who are a bit hesitant to start.

Torrent FAQs

We’ve compiled some FAQs. If you have a question that you don’t see listed, add a comment and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

When will you open? We will be opening summer 2018 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. As soon as construction settles down and we have a grand opening date we will let you all know on social media and through our website.

When are your classes? We will run classes Monday-Friday 5 a.m., 12 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday morning class at 9:00 a.m. Additional classes may be added based on membership needs.

What memberships do you offer? How much does it cost? We offer an unlimited monthly membership $135/ month. We want you to see your face every day and for you to see results. We are currently offering a founding member rate so check that out on Facebook or Instagram. For more information check out our membership page. https://www.crossfittorrent.com/memberships/

I’ve never done CrossFit/ I’m not in shape/ I’m a little nervous is that okay? Yes! We are here to meet your needs. We require one on one elements classes for new members. This is how we get to know each other and establish your goals. During these classes, you will learn the 9 fundamental movements of CrossFit, some CrossFit lingo, and try a few workouts so you are ready to head into regular classes with confidence! Don’t worry, everyone was nervous when they started.

Will I receive any nutrition guidance? Yes. We follow and believe the CrossFit pyramid. The base and foundation of that pyramid is nutrition. Check out our nutrition page for more information or reach out to a coach for more advice. https://www.crossfittorrent.com/nutrition/ 

 

What if I want to do open gym? You’re paying for a CrossFit membership we believe you should be attending a Crossfit class. During class, you will follow a professional coach that will lead a proper warm up, scale to your needs, correct your movement, and give you strategy to crush the workout.  We want all of our members to give it their all in our classes if you want to do more before or after class that is fine!

Who can do CrossFit? Anyone. It doesn’t matter your age, weight, gender, or background. Our coaches will scale the workouts to make it just as challenging for you as the person next to you. Movements can always be modified for ability level or injuries. If you want to lose weight, be a competitive athlete, or train for life this is the place for you!

Why should I choose CrossFit Torrent?  To us, it’s not all about the pull-ups and thrusters. (You will get plenty of those too, don’t worry). It’s about making the time you spend with us the best part of your day. We are striving to enhance your life long-term. The goal is to make sure you can take your dog for a walk or play with your grandkids when you’re 92. We will support you, challenge you, and help you attain your goals. You become part of our family, surrounded by other humble and driven people. You just have to show up ready to learn, get better, and work hard. We will do the rest.

I am ready, what should I do now? Email contact@crossfittorrent.com or DM us on social media to let us know you want to become a member. If you have any other questions leave them as comments or send them to us and we will get back to you as soon as we can!