Member Spotlight

Thought we would take each one of you and get to know you all a little better with this Member Spotlight area.

Carlsbad CrossFit: Athlete Spotlight

Whitney Henderson: Member Spotlight

As you all know, Whitney has been accepted to NYU Nursing School and will leave in mid-January (she’ll be back in 15 short months!). Her committment and hard work in CrossFit has been awesome, a coach’s dream. She shows up, listens, works hard EVERY workout, asks questions to clarify “why” and doesn’t complain (exepct when she has severe collisions with box jumps and oly bars). Here’s a little more info on Whit and her experience with CrossFit.

Name: Whitney Henderson

Nickname: Whitter / Whitters / Whit / Whit Whit / Nene (sister Stephanies cute lil name for her)

How did you hear about Carlsbad CrossFit? My cousin was the one who really pushed my sister and I to start up with a CrossFit program so we browsed the internet for the closest CrossFit gym to our home in Carlsbad. We found one at Pure and signed up the next day.

What do you like about Carlsbad CrossFit? Carlsbad CrossFit has given me the opportunity to use my athletic ability to my greatest potential again. It has given me that push to really be accountable with my nutrition and fitness goals. Most importantly, I LOVE all of the people at Carlsbad CrossFit. I’ve made friendships that I know will last a lifetime. I can’t wait to come back from New York City and train with you all again.

What is your favorite lift? Back squat!!!

What is your least favorite lift? I actually don’t have a lift that I don’t like, but I do hate burpees.

What are your short term and long term goals? Short term: to get lean and super tone. Long term: to maintain that body once I get it and stay healthy. And get 1 pullup without bands

Name one fun fact about you or name something that no one knows about you: My best friend, JT, and I are currently writing a book of anecdotes on our personal observations about the many kinds of people—from the sublime to the ridiculous—that compose the current cultural landscape of America. Think of it as Chelsea Handler meets Andy Rooney.

What are your hobbies or activities outside of CrossFit? Watching sports; Shopping; Swimming, biking, running (in that order); cooking; keeping up with politics; and being a culture maven. Oh and hanging out with my amazing sister, shes THE bomb.

What motivates you? I want to do the best I can in everything I do. If something is that important to me (and health and fitness are), then I will do anything and everything to push myself to the top.

How do you stay on track with your diet? I ask Robbie about mostly everything, but I’ve relied on Paleo and Zone diet recipes. Having a set list of things I can and cannot eat and having portions planned for me really helps me stay on track. I do NOT ask Stephanie for ANY nutritional advise as she is insulin resistant and can literally throw down “spicey air” (flamin’ hot cheetos) with “lard” on top (canned cheese) and maintain her svelte hot girly figure.

Any words of advice for new members? Keep up with the program. You’ll discover how to do things that you never thought you could do, and your body will look great! Isn’t that motivating?!

Carlsbad CrossFit: Athlete Spotlight

Name:  Debbie Harleman           

Nickname: ” Deb

How did you hear about Carlsbad CrossFit? I heard about CrossFit at a holiday party last December and about a month later it was advertised at Pure Fitness.

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What do you like about Carlsbad CrossFit? I like the fact the workouts constantly change, are challenging, can be modified to different fitness levels, and most importantly the camaraderie.

What is your favorite lift?
I like both the dead lift and the bench press equally.

What is your least favorite lift?
Without a doubt, the front squat.
What are your short term and long term goals?
My short term goals are to get stronger both in strength and endurance.  My long term goal is to be able to continue to workout and be strong well into my old age.  (Well older age.)
 

Name one fun fact about you or name something that no one knows about you.
Some people may know but in 1997, I participated in the AIDS ride.  I rode a bicycle for about 5 ½ days from Minneapolis to Chicago.
 

What are your hobbies or activities outside of CrossFit?
Reiki, spiritual reading, hiking in Big Bear, spinning, walking Harley and lifting on my own.
 

What motivates you?
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002, I was participating in a boot camp at a fitness club in Minneapolis.  I believe being strong physically helped me mentally and spiritually beat the cancer.  I believe in the mind, body, spirit connection to this day.

How do you stay on track with your diet?
Because of the intensity of the CrossFit workouts I have learned that if I don’t get proper nutrition I won’t recover from the workouts.  The trainers at CrossFit have both inspired and encouraged me to eat healthier than I had in the past.

Any words of advice for new members  Don’t be intimidated when you first start CrossFit.  It’s important to remember we are all at different fitness levels, have different strengths and weaknesses.  We all have different learning curves as well.  I believe in a 6 month commitment because in that time I guarantee you will become more flexible, stronger and, if you eat properly leaner.  And as you get to know the group, you will have fun and lots of laughs!  J

Name:   Amber Galloway
Nickname: “Little Engine That Could”

 
How did you hear about Carlsbad CrossFit? My personal trainer, Keleigh Hall, told me I should give it a try because she knew it would be something I would like
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What do you like about Carlsbad CrossFit?  We are like a family of athletes.  We all look out for eachother, cheer eachother on, and push for eachother for those last few reps.

What is your favorite lift?  I don’t really have a favorite, but my strongest is the Back Squat.  I like Power Snatches too, now that I grasped how to get the bar overhead.

What is your least favorite lift?  Deadlift.  My deadlift is ugly, it just won’t click in my head.  I can correct form in others all day, but it’s just not looking right on me yet.
What are your short term and long term goals? Short term, 20% bodyfat.  Long term, get stronger!  Afterall, strong is the new skinny!

Name one fun fact about you or name something that no one knows about you.  Not long ago, I weighed in at 298 pounds.
What are your hobbies or activities outside of CrossFit? Volleyball, surfing, batting cages, chilling in Deb’s pool

What motivates you? The desire to be the best me that I can be.  I always give it my all, in everything I do.  There is no benefit in giving less.
How do you stay on track with your diet? I allow 10% of each week to just be.  A beer, maybe a burger with the bun on it…whatever it is, I just allow myself to do it and not feel bad about it.  Eating Paleo is a commitment, but I allow myself to indulge sometimes, usually weekends.

Any words of advice for new members? Buy epsom salt!!!

 Thanks for your hard work Marc and your great attitude and work ethic.

Carlsbad CrossFit: Athlete Spotlight Name: Marc Madison

Nickname: Rain 3’s over Joe

How did you hear about Carlsbad CrossFit? Through Pure Fitness .

What do you like about Carlsbad CrossFit? The challenge of pushing my physical limits and the group camaraderie.

What is your favorite lift? Dead lift

What is your least favorite lift? Back Squat

What are your short term and long term goals? Get stronger, faster and leaner

Name one fun fact about you or name something that no one knows about you. I was the second closest person to the torch lighting (Rafer Johnson) at the 1984 Olympics opening ceremony in Los Angeles….because I was a bass in the choir.

What are your hobbies or activities outside of CrossFit? Golf and basketball.

What motivates you? Staying competitive in both sports above as I get older. Keeping the Man Boobs Off!

How do you stay on track with your diet? Work out harder, eat in moderation during the week and cook, eat and drink to your heart’s content on the weekends.

Any words of advice for new members? Commit to eight weeks and you’ll be hooked on how your body is changed for the better.