What brought you to CrossFit in the first place?

I was never much of a gym guy. Always active, playing hockey, I never enjoyed going to the gym and couldn’t find a partner to push me to go. I heard from a friend who had been doing CrossFit for a while and he swore it was nothing like a regular gym. I headed out to the first intro class that same weekend, spent the entire post-workout explanation trying to not pass out but it was all I needed to stay motivated. Working as a group, pushing your limit every class because the person next to you is doing the same and continued learning as you try to master the lifts and the gymnastics!

What was your first impression?  How has that changed?

My first impression was that everybody that steps inside the box is there for the same reason as you. Nobody is ever in a bad mood (unless they didn’t do well in a workout) and nobody cares if you finished in time or if you didn’t do RX. You form a special bond with the people in your class and that is what makes you strive to push yourself and become better everyday. To some this might sound scary, but it should be the total opposite! There is no better environment than this one to learn and become better! I must say that throughout the years, my impressions have remained the same!

What was your first highlight?

It is tough to say what was my first “win”. I think showing up at the gym ready to make a change is what it was. I must say though that my first bar muscle-up was quite exciting 🙂

What are you working on improving now in CrossFit?

General fitness would be the best answer here. I am trying to achieve a level of fitness that I have never reached in the past (certain habits need to go as well but that’s a different story). I am trying to become stronger at every lift, perfect my techniques and build my engine so that I don’t gas out after a first round because I can’t catch my breath. I’d love to go back to my old PRs and surpass them.

What is your favorite CrossFit Westmount memory?

There is not one single moment I can think of. As some of the members know, I have been a member for 2 years now but have been quite inconsistent in showing up (this has changed!) What I can say is my favorite memory at the box is seeing how everybody keeps progressing and keep pushing their limits. How even if I didn’t show up for a month, I’d still get a warm welcome and people seemed genuinely happy to see me back! The community feeling at CF Westmount is very strong and that’s what keeps me coming back (and Hisham too.)