I joined CrossFit Central in October 2020 shortly after moving back to Texas from NYC. I had tried CrossFit for the first time a few months before, and I was eager to find a fitness community to keep me moving and motivated, especially during the pandemic. I visited a few gyms around Austin, but from the moment I set foot in CrossFit Central Downtown, I felt at home.

In addition to the challenges of graduating and relocating under the pandemic, I was facing a major upheaval in my personal life and had recently become a single father of two. Between all the life changes and the sedentary demands of remote work, I was feeling pretty low emotionally and uncomfortable in my own skin. I’ve often struggled to retain muscle mass and a low appetite, and the same old workouts certainly weren’t helping with that.

This year I've hit a long-time fitness goal, adding nearly ten pounds of lean muscle. But I think more fundamentally, the community has taught me a healthier approach to fitness and wellbeing. Instead of focusing on a particular fitness “goal," I’ve learned to understand and care for my body better overall while appreciating just how much it’s capable of. I think the ethos of this community really teaches you that. The team here always challenges you to get out of your own way and go farther, move faster, lift heavier—to surprise yourself with what you can accomplish as you continually teach yourself new skills and techniques. So while I’m the fittest I’ve ever been, I attribute that to becoming healthier overall through the better sleep, nutrition, and cross-training habits I’ve learned in this community.

Gained 10 lbs of Lean Muscle

In committing to consistent training and recovery at CrossFit Central, I’ve really come to value the mental and emotional benefits as much as (or even more) than the physical, which I’ve found to be much more integrated that I had realized before. A steady rhythm of metabolic conditioning balances my nervous system, reduces my stress, gives me mental clarity, and improves my sleep. And as a single father, I’ve noticed that these habits give me the bandwidth to be more fully present with my kids while also allowing me to teach them the value of investing in their wellbeing.

Overall, I would say it’s the people here at CrossFit Central that keep me coming back. As you work alongside other driven people eager to get after it day in and day out, you come to love—and even crave—getting in here to give it everything you’ve got. It’s been the hardest year of my life personally. While I don’t tend to share very much about it, the camaraderie here at Central has been a lifeline on some of those harder days especially. On those days, the endurance I push myself through in a workout often feels like fuel for getting through the life challenge I’m facing. I can’t thank this community enough for the space to strive and celebrate together as we work to go farther each day.