Name: Paul Semian
Age: 37
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 183
Crossfitting Since: February 2014
Attends Class: 3-4 times per week
Favorite Quote: “Better than yesterday”
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT CROSSFIT?
I became interested in CrossFit after attending several CrossFit like classes at my former gym. They were only offered twice a week and hosted in a cramped studio, but it sparked my interest in the idea of CrossFit.
WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS WHEN YOU STARTED CROSSFIT?
My initial goal was weight loss.
HOW HAS CROSSFIT DIFFERED FROM YOUR FORMER TRAINING?
I was basically doing the same three solo workouts (upper body, lower body, cardio) for the last 14 years. CrossFit is a whole new approach to fitness for me. In the three months I have been attending CrossFit Hoboken, I can’t say I have ever done the same workout twice. Another sea change is that each workout (class) is only about an hour long. This is significantly shorter than the 2+ hour workouts I was previously doing, but substantially more productive and fun. Even with a much shorterduration, mobility, instruction, and the workout are all accomplished effectively. Mobility and instruction were absent from my old workouts.
WHAT TYPE OF RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN WITH CROSSFIT?
Tremendous results! A picture is worth a thousand words. Two may be worth more.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CROSSFIT HOBOKEN?
From the time I started with fundamentals class, I have felt like I’m getting first class instruction from amazing coaches. I have continuously received excellent guidance from the coaches with every workout of the day. This is huge and has added a level of personalization to my CrossFit experience which motivates me to continually improve my fitness and come back for more.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT YEAR IN YOUR OWN FITNESS?
This is a great question for me because over the past 15 years since attending college, almost all of my exercise was dedicated to weight control. I weighed over 230 pounds at the beginning of January this year. My goal upon starting CrossFit was to weigh 180 and I am within just a few pounds of that goal. Very shortly, I fully expect to attain that. I have full confidence that if I attend CrossFit, weight will no longer be an issue for me. It’s been years since I have exercised with weight loss not being a primary goal. It will be a liberating experience, and I expect to get fitter, faster, and better at everything I do in the next year.
WHEN DID YOU START EATING PALEO?
I started eating mostly Paleo at the beginning of this year ( I just didn’t know it to be termed Paleo at that time) and stepped it up a notch while participating in the Spring Paleo Challenge at CrossFit Hoboken.
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY OF FOOD LOOK LIKE YOUR YOU?
I generally like to eat an apple or banana early in the morning before I go to CrossFit. Afterwards I eat an omelet with some vegetables and ham or bacon for breakfast. For lunch, I’ll eat a salad with chicken or whatever protein I have in the refrigerator. Dinner might be grilled pork chops or any other meat with stir fried vegetables. During the day, I snack on pecans, almonds, a little fruit, or maybe even a bit of dark chocolate.
HOW DID PALEO ACCELERATE YOUR WEIGHT LOSS?
During the first two weeks of eating strictly Paleo, I lost more weight than I had been even on a mostly Paleo diet. So much more weight, that it almost scared me. I think this was due to the satiability of Paleo foods. I was not finding myself hungry so overall I was eating less.
HAVE YOU FOUND IT HARD TO ADHERE TO PALEO DIET?
No. If I am hungry, I eat something. I have never had to starve myself on the Paleo diet to lose weight.
OTHER THAN PALEO WHAT OTHER DIET TOOLS HAVE YOU USED?
Meal replacement shakes.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF GOING PALEO?
It takes a little research and planning. I travel often for work and I had to figure out how to eat Paleo on the road. Once I got started, it was not a problem.
DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE WITH THIS WAY OF EATING PERMANENTLY?
Yes! I feel great, have more energy, and love what I eat. There may be a small cheat from time to time, but I enjoy the food so I expect it to be easy.