Name: Nick Isani
Age: 33
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 215lb
Crossfitting Since: 1983, but I didn’t have a name for it until February, 2015
Attends Class: (times per week?) 5-6
Favorite Quote: “It’s simple, if it jiggles its fat.” –Arnold Schwarzenegger
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT CROSSFIT? I read the NYTimes article “Getting Fit, Even if it Kills You” which made it sound so subversive and dangerous that I had to try it. CFH turned out to be only a few blocks from my apartment so I signed up for and crushed the Saturday morning Free Trial Class. I was captivated, prepaid my first six months on the spot, and started fundamentals with Korey a week later.
WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS WHEN YOU STARTED CROSSFIT?
To match Arnold Schwarzenegger’s personal bests:
Clean and Press: 264lb
Snatch: 243lb
Clean and Jerk: 298lb
Squat: 545lb
Bench Press: 520lb
Deadlift: 710lb
HOW HAS CROSSFIT DIFFERED FROM YOUR FORMER TRAINING?
There is an extraordinary sense of community at CFH that I’ve never experienced before. I’m not a very sociable person in general but it’s impossible to avoid all of the people who’ve made a beeline for me and forced introductions and regular interactions. It makes you feel welcomed and want to keep coming back. At my last gym everybody kept their heads down and avoided both conversations and eye contact with one another (except for this one guy who would hold eye contact with me from across the locker room for uncomfortably long periods of time).
WHAT TYPE OF RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN WITH CROSSFIT?
I’ve gained twenty pounds but it’s probably mostly muscle. I’ve also made huge gains in the strength department. Thanks to Jon Bevacqua’s strength class I can now power-clean my dad and deadlift a motorcycle.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CROSSFIT HOBOKEN? In the past working out was a chore for me, something I had to get out of the way every day so that I could continue to eat like John Goodman without ending up looking like him (I know he got skinny but I’m talking about when he was on Roseanne). Crossfit in general, and more specifically the programming at CFH have kept me coming back day after day (sometimes twice a day) for over a year now. The feeling of pushing yourself through a timed workout, of competing against the other people in class, and ending your workout with a score make it more like a game than drudgery.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT YEAR IN YOUR OWN FITNESS? My favorite workout so far has been “Eva” – I’ve done it twice and never finished under the time cap. I would like to finish it. Then I will retire.
NUTRITION QUESTON
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY OF FOOD LOOK LIKE YOUR YOU? Steak and bourbon.
Name: Julia Mabey
Age: 22
Height: 5’3”
Weight: 165lbs
Crossfitting Since:
July 2015
Attends Class: (times per week?)
5-6 classes per week
Favorite Quote:
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT CROSSFIT?
One of my friends at school used to Crossfit at home over the summer and winter breaks and would always tell me how great it was. I was never good at going to the gym and working out by myself, so the classes and team like atmosphere was something that I knew I would like and definitely wanted to try.
WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS WHEN YOU STARTED CROSSFIT?
I had just graduated college and I was pretty out of shape when I first started. Going through fundamentals my main goal was just to remember what the difference was between a hang and a power movement (not sure why that was so difficult for me). Once I was done with fundamentals and starting doing the WOD’s, I saw people doing all sorts of things that I wanted to be able to do (pull ups, handstand push-ups, snatches etc.). Starting out I mainly just wanted to get back in shape and feel healthy again.
HOW HAS CROSSFIT DIFFERED FROM YOUR FORMER TRAINING?
Walking into Crossfit I had never even picked up a barbell before. I played Soccer and Lacrosse growing up and through High School, so in season we did a lot of endurance conditioning and then off season I would only really do cardio, mostly running and the occasional machines at the gym.
WHAT TYPE OF RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN WITH CROSSFIT?
If someone had told me when I started I would have made so much progress, I wouldn’t have believed them. During the first few WOD’s that I did, I remember thinking that there was no way I would be able to do some of the things I saw other people doing and it was pretty intimidating. I’ve gotten stronger both mentally and physically. It’s amazing what your body can do when you push yourself.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CROSSFIT HOBOKEN?
It has been an amazing experience. There are so many great coaches and people that make up the CFH community. Everyone is always so pleasant and encouraging. It is a great atmosphere to be in.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT YEAR IN YOUR OWN FITNESS?
I’ve made a lot of progress since I started but I’ve still got a long way to go. There’s always room for improvement. My main focus, for now, is going to be getting better at my Olympic lifts and gymnastic movements like handstand push-ups.
NUTRITION QUESTON
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY OF FOOD LOOK LIKE YOUR YOU?
During the week breakfast is usually oatmeal, hardboiled eggs, or a smoothie. Lunch depends on whether I got my act together enough over the weekend to go to the food store and cook or not. If I did, then it’s usually just chicken and vegetables like peppers and mushrooms and sometimes sweet potatoes. If not, then I’ll just get a wrap or something I can grab from a place near work. I like to keep almonds in my desk for a snack and I have a stash of dove chocolates too for when I want something sweet. I don’t usually have a big dinner. It’ll usually end up just be a protein bar or something easy I can have on my way home from work and to the gym.