1
Nov
Emily Cooke
| Q: How did you find out about Ballston CrossFit and what about it convinced you to join? I always wanted to get into Crossfit after moving to NOVA post-college, so when I moved to Ballston and saw the gym was within walking distance I knew it was the perfect time to join. When I took the free intro class to check out the gym, I liked how scaling options were demo’d for each exercise, and challenged my initial belief that Crossfit was only for people who were already super fit. I signed up for Foundations before I left the gym that day because I knew Ballston Crossfit would help me in reaching my fitness goal by meeting me where I was in terms of existing fitness level, but still provide an environment where I could challenge myself as I grew more comfortable with new lifts and movements. Q:When did you start at BCF and what were your goals going into it? Before joining BCF in March of 2022 I had already established a steady workout routine, but found that following along with Youtube videos in my apartment gym was getting boring and I really didn’t have any specific goals beyond just maintaining a healthy weight. When I joined BCF, my goals were to start having fun with my workouts again and to use working out not only as a means of staying in shape but also to achieve measurable improvements in my strength. Q: What has helped you achieve success at BCF? The coaches! The BCF coaches always give their full attention to the athletes in class and help by stepping in with pointers or cues to help you improve. I know I can approach them both in and outside of class with any questions, and have helped my by providing specific exercises that helped me reach my personal fitness goals. Q:What advice can you give to others that are new to CrossFit? Never be intimidated by workouts where you aren’t able to do a certain movement! I appreciate that every scaling option is discussed and demo’d during the workout brief, so you can choose the movement variation that you feel comfortable with and still allows you to challenge yourself. Q: Besides working out, what other lifestyle changes did you make outside of the gym to achieve your goals? About a year ago I really focused in on my nutrition and made sure I was eating whole foods that made me feel good and gave me the energy I needed to push myself during workouts. I’ve been using one of the meal delivery services the gym recommends for my dinners and find they’re a super convenient and delicious way to hit macro goals. I also started going on hour-long walks each day and love taking that time to catch up on podcasts and get my steps in, especially on rest days. Now my go-to cure for boredom is going for a walk! Q: What has been your favorite thing about Ballston CrossFit? My favorite thing about BCF is the instant community! The coaches and members make BCF a fun place to workout, and I love the moments when everyone’s cheering for someone trying to hit a PR, saying good job at the end of the workouts, or cheering others on. |