Anisa Vintimilla

My name is Anisa Vintimilla. I joined BCF in November 2020 (yes, 2020, that awful year when we were stuck at home). I also happened to have just moved to Arlington in the middle of the pandemic and I was bored, had zero friends. I had nothing to do but stay at home watching tv while eating and putting on some extra pounds. That got me scared since I’ve always battled with my weight and body image. In 2018 I was at my heaviest weight of 206lbs, I was able to lose quite a bit over the next 2 years (got down to 160) doing all the popular fad diets (keto, whole 30, IF) but couldn’t lose any more or tone anything. Now thanks to CrossFit I’ve lost another 25lbs and I actually get to eat the foods I like (hi carbs, I missed you)! 

I used to play a lot of sports growing up (soccer, racquetball, tennis, track, roller skating) and considered myself pretty decent at them but when I got to college I just stopped. I always HATED going to the gym, I thought it was boring and would focus on just cardio machines. These were the worst to me because I have asthma and I would give up right away. After doing CrossFit for 9 months I barely use my inhaler and now I can actually run and jog for an extended time.

I didn’t know BCF offered a free trial class. I just showed up one day, asked about getting started and signed up on the spot for the foundations class. Luckily it was starting the next day or I would’ve probably lost the motivation to start. 

During the foundations classes coaches Brock and Madison really knew how to keep us all motivated, and teach us basic technique using the barbell while some good music was playing. They would also make us laugh and feel more relaxed to be there. The first time I picked up a barbell I really liked it, and wanted to add more weight to it right away!

I was super intimidated at first because everyone looked so fit and were having such a good time. I felt like I would never be able to do the same thing, but I was willing to give it a try. I signed up for a 3 month membership with 13 classes a month,  and kept thinking after 3 months I can say I tried and just cancel it. Here I am 9 months later absolutely loving it. 2 months in, I had to upgrade my membership to unlimited classes because I kept running out. 

I set the goal of doing at least 1 pull up by the end of my first year and maybe get close to doing a single rep of toes to bar or climb halfway up the 15ft rope that seemed impossible back then. I can proudly say I can currently do 5-7 strict pull ups, string together 10-12 toes to bar, and fully climb the rope several times during a WOD. Double-unders and handstand push-ups are next ;).

I have had so much fun and have been so motivated that I also decided to learn about my nutrition and counting my macros to make it all work in my favor. Those toned arms, booty and abs I wanted to have my whole life are finally starting to make an appearance!

It is very hard as an adult in a new city to make friends, especially friends that will have the same interests and will help motivate you. However, at BCF that is easy! So many people are willing to welcome you, help you and encourage you to push yourself! In a short time I’ve made some amazing friends. I was never EVER a morning person until I joined BCF and tried out the 5:30am classes, now I wake up easily and am excited to go to the gym every morning to get a good workout in while hanging out with my friends!

The coaches… AMAZING! So knowledgeable, helpful, fun and friendly! They are always willing to go the extra step to make sure you’re doing it right, to help you achieve the goals you set for yourself, to modify a movement if you need to for any reason (injuries, experience level, etc). 

I HAVE to mention the top 3 coaches that have helped me the most (because every coach has helped me one way or another) but Cam & Rich coaching the AM classes with such great energy have had a huge impact on my success. Also, Madison, even though she is not coaching in the morning would go out of her way to give me advice on how to improve a certain movement, checking on the technique and not letting me give up without trying one more time.

The thing is, with BCF you get ALL the tools for success, and it is just a matter of how you use them. They offer skills classes to help you get better at certain things, mobility & yoga classes, nutrition seminars, clinics, and mainly great coaches with a ton of good info who want you to get better! I will never regret the day I walked through that door for the first time! 

Everyone’s experience is different in its own way but in my opinion we all struggle with similar battles of mental walls and fears of failure. At BCF we are constantly reminded by the coaches and peers that we can in fact break through those walls and get it done. I love a quote that I actually have no clue who said it to give credit to, but it goes like this: “You won’t always be motivated, so you must learn to be disciplined”.