In this blog, we catch up with two of our members who have not been phased by lockdown and have clearly embodied the military ethos of IMPROVISE, ADAPT and OVERCOME.
Partners Carl and Cirsty Spencer have been members at CrossFit Leyland since October 2019 and since joining have really embraced the CFL community and taken huge strides forward towards improved health, fitness and happiness. For those of you who attended the 6am and 7am classes prior to lockdown, or more recently, the zoom classes and socials, you will be all too familiar with Carl and Cirsty. Super friendly, down to earth and eager to better themselves, they have been a great addition to our gym. We caught up with them to find out a bit more about their journey and motivations.
How have you managed to maintain your Discipline during lockdown?
Carl: I have always done some sort of fitness due to my Military background. I have tried to maintain some sort regular routine within lockdown. It’s the sense of achievement once the class is complete, i feel i can now do something productive with the day e.g. painting the living room, washing the car, cutting the grass, cooking tea.
Cirsty: As I am still at work (in the hospital), I am trying to keep a routine and part of my routine before lockdown was to go to the gym before I started my shift, and this is what I am trying to continue to do. I set my alarm and go for a run. Im looking forward to doing the new 6am zoom classes.
What advice would you give to people who are struggling for motivation?
Carl: I would ask them to think of their own motivations for joining Crossfit Leyland and use that to fuel them. Book onto the class, once booked there’s no turning back! Whilst at home, you can easily wake up with a feeling of “I cant be bothered”, but put your gym kit and trainers on anyway. That feeling of “I cant be bothered” soon disappears and the sense of achievement replaces it. Always think of the Achievement at the end.
Cirsty: Think about what your “why?” is and set your goals accordingly. For myself, having served in the RAF as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) based in Camp Bastion, I witnessed and treated horrific injuries. When I came home I was a totally different person. Suffering with PTSD along with sexual harassment at work, I hit rock bottom and tried to take my own life. This was the wake up call I needed. Opening up to the doctors about what I was dealing with and starting a course of counselling and medication was the best decision I ever made. At the start of last year, myself and Carl made a pact to get fit together and I believe this has greatly improved our mental health. The most important thing is know your worth and don’t let one bad day ruin all your hard work.
What Drives you?
Carl: To get Fit after a long period of inactiveness due to Mental Health issues from leaving the Military and to learn new Fitness Skills, other than just running like i did before. Being a relatively new member before Lockdown i enjoyed the group sessions and camaraderie. The main thing for us was the friendliness of everyone. People would actually talk, not like in a commercial gym! Love the HIGH 5! My other drive, is my Kids (It was my Son who suggested to try CrossFit) and Granddaughters, i want them to think “Grandad is a nutcase for lifting that heavy barbell” or something like that, but more importantly I want to be around for a long time to see them grow up… Age is just a number.
Cirsty: After a long period off work and exercise (due to a slipped disc in my back), eating what I wanted and not giving my body weight a second thought, I decided enough was enough. After a period of completing the couch to 5k challenge and working with a personal trainer, I heard about CrossFit. Training makes me step outside my comfort zone and do things that I never thought I would be able to do in a million years. This is what keeps me coming back for more, plus the other thing that keeps me going is that I can now run faster than Carl…..who would ever have thought that!! ![🙂]()
What does fitness mean to you?
Carl: Fitness to me in the past was a job requirement. Within the Military a high level of Fitness had to be maintained to pass the annual fitness tests, but the fitter you were the easier day to day life would be whilst on Operational Tours. Now I don’t need to pass any fitness tests, its the sense of achievement when ive completed a WOD and gauging what i need to improve on to be able to do it better, or faster next time. I love turning up at the Gym and seeing what pain is in store for the next hour. #whiteboard!
Cirsty: Fitness to me means that even when you are stuggling you should never give up. Rome wasn’t built in a day and if you aim high you can achieve anything. I love looking back at old pictures of me to see how far I have come and when I think to how I was 5 years ago to how I am now, my mindset towards fitness has completely changed. The comments I have had from people I’ve known a longtime have been very rewarding. I love just turning up to the gym and not knowing what pain is in store and then coming away feeling good about myself, even when I’ve struggled, the motivation and praise from you guys and each other is the best feeling in the world and its enough for me to want to turn up the following day and do it all over again.
Tell us about your custom log?
Carl: “The Log” is something i thought of that reminded me of improvising on an Operational Tour a few years back, we were accommodated within an old building compound for a while. The lads quickly got to work in making all sorts of Gym kit. We used Sandbags tied to a pole as a Barbell, Bean cans filled with dirt as dumbbells. Scaffolding bars as Dip machines and Pull Up Bars and anything else that would give us a workout. An old saying is, “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome” we certainly did! #LOVEYOURLOG
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