ECC Testimonials

Testimonial 1: 

I believe that I found Elm City CrossFit at exactly the right time in my life.  From a personal stand-point, I was at a low-point when I first came to ECC.  I had recently gotten out of a bad long-term relationship which had left my spirits, confidence, and happiness levels at an all-time low.  I wasn't "me" and I hadn't been for quite a while.  Friends had suggested anti-depressants and a couple stiff drinks, but not generally liking the idea of the quick-fix, I had a different idea... I was going to go get an ass-kicking. 

At this point in my life, I felt awful, through and through.  I didn't like the way I looked and I didn't like the way I felt.  June 26, 2010 was the turning point for me: my first WOD.  From my very first "3-2-1-GO!" I was addicted.  There was no doubt in my mind that this was for me.  It's so simple - do the work and you will see results.  I think the epitome of why CrossFit makes people better is that the benefits come quickly if you give it all you've got, and you continually get better and better.  I know that this isn't for everyone (if it was easy, everyone would do it), but I don't see how a person could walk away from completing a WOD and not feel like they're better for it.  But more to the point, I don't know how a person could not spend time with the people that make up ECC and not feel better for it.

My family and friends have known from the start that I'd joined a new "gym" and that it was "different" than regular gyms.  Terms like "crazy" and questions like, "why would you want to do THAT?" had been tossed into the ring - and that was (and continues to be) fine with me - but it wasn't until a visit home for Thanksgiving that I had an in-depth conversation with my mother about CrossFit and how it's become a big part of my life.  My mom made note that I am a different person now than I was six months ago.  That I don't just go to the gym, but I've found a place that I belong.  The thing that really stuck with me from that conversation though is when my mom said, "CrossFit saved your life."  Maybe not physically (but then again, maybe it did that too), but definitely mentally and emotionally.  I am "me" again.  

I don't have pictures or measurements to give a quantitative testimonial, but for me, that's not the important part.  Sure, I'm stronger than I've ever been, lifting weights that I would have laughed at during my years as a gym-rat, running faster and longer than I've ever run.  But for me, the most important part of CrossFit is that it challenges me in every way possible.  I'm a better person than I have ever been because of the challenges that I continually face at ECC and with CrossFit.  I am a better person because of the athletes and coaches at ECC, and I'm inspired and humbled by you all every day.  I appreciate you all in ways that my words here could never fully express, and I can only hope that I have had some sort of positive effect on your lives as well.  

Lindsay O'Donnell

And after Lindsay's 1 year anniversary, it gets even better:

Coaches,

I just wanted to write you all a quick note and say a HUGE "thank you" for all that you do. A year ago last weekend I did my first WOD - 8min AMRAP: 10 jumping pull-ups, 10 ab mat sit-ups, 10 push-ups, run 200m. I think I marginally completed 4 rounds.

In a year I've dropped about 15lbs, PR'd 5K, 5mi, and half marathon races, worked up to a full body weight pull-up (not pretty, but I did it), completed 3 of the Open WODs as Rx'd, signed up for my first marathon because suddenly it seems like an attainable goal.... and I met my original goal written on the board inside the garage door: wear my skinny sister's jeans. Done! Many other small accomplishments that led up to these bigger ones, and without your help and guidance, it wouldn't have been possible.

So thanks!! Have a great long weekend, see you next week!

Testimonial 2: 

I am a certified Athletic Trainer who has been involved in sports my whole life.  I was always one of the stronger athletes in my group, therefore the motivation to work out harder was not always there.  I worked hard at my sports but not always at training.  When I was introduced to Olympic lifting in college, I always seem to hurt my neck, therefore I avoided those kinds of lifts.  After college my weight was always up and down between size 10 & 12.  I hated vegetables and loved sweets, but If I paid attention to exercise I was able to control my weight,  At a size 10/12 I still was the smallest of most of my friends and family, again motivation not too high.  I was diagnosed with MS when I was 30, I knew from the get go that my diet had a lot to do with it, however since I haven't had a relapse since before the diagnosis, motivation came and went to control the diet.  With friends and family eating was always part of the fun.

I developed a stretching program that has helped a lot of people get out of muscular pain.  Through my own body following my years in sports and post MVA I learned through a doctor I worked for/with that I could control most of my pain through stretching and movement exercises.  I got into cardio and basic strengthening exercises and I felt amazed how simple the body can be.  If you help your body it helps itself.  Through this program I met one of the coaches at ECC Joe Kusnitz.  He was a client of mine prior to his Ironman competition.  Even though I could help with his pain we discussed that a core strengthening workout would help him survive his intense ironman workouts.  This is when Joe found CrossFit.  As time went on he was getting so much stronger then he already was. GO JOE!

Joe then tells me he decided to open a gym with two other guys and that I should come down.  I was hesitant about the workout because of the Olympic Lifting involved, but I went with an  open mind. I was impressed with the coach's ability to assess strength and safety, so I joined with confidence March 2010.  I was 180 pounds, size 12 pants, a 10' mile and barely lifting the 35# bar comfortable.  It is now January 2011, I am 145#, a size 6 pants, 9'mile, and I can clean 95# and as Coach Kimmie puts it I am learning to suffer better. :)  My diet has improved so much over the year that I can now eat vegetables and enjoy healthier foods.  Oh and the motivation comes from the great people at the gym who strive and achieve so many great athletic personnel bests and from the coach's who want nothing but for us all to succeed safely and lead by example.

Thanks ECC for the motivation and confidence to beat my fears and to accept failure leads to success.  All the while having fun and meeting great people.

Bonnie Longley, ATC/L, CSCS, EMT

Testimonial 3:

I would like to give a testimonial to the real life outcomes of going to ECC regularly...Before I joined I was overweight for my body size, eating real crappy, high blood pressure, high sugar levels and high cholesterol.  Less then one year from joining and changing my diet with the coaches’ help...I dropped 27lbs, blood pressure is normal, cholesterol went down 31 points and sugar levels dropped 20pts.  My doctor actually thought he put me on medications to achieve these new levels. 

I know ECC has made me Faster, Stronger and Leaner but more importantly it has added years on to my life.  This is something I am eternally grateful for...and I know my wife and kids are to. 

So if you are ready to stop making excuses and start living I challenge you to give Elm City CrossFit a try.  

Erik Larka

Testimonial 4:

Elm City CrossFit (ECC) embodies a holistic concept of fitness and wellbeing like no other organization. The coaches build functional body movements, healthy dietary models, mental integrity, and camaraderie within the people they turn into athletes.

I came to ECC after many frustrating years on competitive sports teams, oscillating from athletic achievement to injury. I had years of knee pain that limited my running, cycling, and eventually most general activity. Through ECC, I have transformed both muscularly and skeletally. I run with a different gait and without pain; in the fall season I had three 5K PRs. I am thankful to ECC for helping me realize the potential that I had in my own body.

The coaches saw an athlete in me and, therefore, I saw an athlete in myself. They took me seriously and so I learned how to take myself seriously. I learned how to set achievable athletic goals and how to reach them. The coaches helped me to tame my over eager personality by focusing and training strategically. This gave me a mental peace and tranquility that spilled into all other aspects of my life: academic and social. The integrity and poise that I am encouraged to muster in the ECC workouts has become a mental resource that I am also able to tap into when I am not at "the box". The work I do at the gym prepares me for the work that I do in medical school because living with poise, focus and integrity becomes a way of life, not just a way of working out.

Like something between a race and recess, the community of Elm City CrossFit athletes come together to compete in an environment that ingeniously harnesses the truest manifestation of sportsmanship. Every workout has a design that allows any individual to be inspired by the effort of their peers. The scaled workouts allow athletes of varying abilities to compete side by side and achieve equivalent benefits. We work together to support each others athletic goals, we build upon each others energy and efforts, our competition comes from inspiration. This is a community that puts great effort into living as well as we currently know possible.

-Rhabdo

Testimonial 5:

I am the walking testimony to Elm City Crossfit. Its never too late to get physically and nutritionally fit. I thought that after 8 years of triathlon training I was as fit as I could possibly be.....I was wrong. Our trainers at ECC are educated, dedicated and motivated to help us help ourselves to perform to the best of our abilities and our abilities continue to broaden......I am filled with Gratitude.......(does this get me outta wallballs?)

Woody

Testimonial 6:

Vin! Just wanted to drop a quick note and say "hi." Starting a new box in September, it looks like, (Crossfit del Norte) and missing everyone there every day. Please say hello to Kimmie, Jason, Larry, Joe, Jill, Elicia, Nick, Mike and Crystal and Glitter and Shirley and Woody and, and, and uh...Life is good and all, but ECC performed the impossible--made me love New Haven!

Hope all is well with you.

Tony Barnes

Testimonial 7:

Vin,

I cannot begin to thank you and all of the other trainers at ECC enough for all of your help.  I signed up for the race because a group of my friends did and was not really sure what I was getting myself into having only run a 5k prior and have never really considered myself a runner.  Thanks to the training schedule you put together for me I was able to far surpass my goal of finish under 2 hours and most importantly beat my friends handily all of which I know, I would not have been able to do without your help.

Thanks again. 

Jared W. Bloxsom

Testimonial 8:

Not to get all sentimental on you, but it has been a year since we first met and I would like to say a huge THANK YOU for teaching me how to live a better life. After that first intro class I really thought you all were truly insane, but soon realized that I was the insane one doing the same wrong things for 18 years and thinking I would get results. I'm down from 295 to 238 and dropping (even my "skinny" clothes are now baggy on me), I'm feeling great and I no longer fear being taped for the Navy PFA. I'm running road races and long mud runs/obstacle course races, something I thought only crazy people did. I never realized how much fun they were.

Thank you!
My next goal is to not be afraid of getting under the bar and to finally be able to do non-banded pullups!

Tony Barnett

Testimonial 9:

Thank you ECC for training me and supporting me! It's been almost 2 years, and I can't believe how much better I feel and how much stronger and faster I've gotten by following all the coaches advice -- not to mention all the great friends I've made!

Thanks for everything :)

Rachel