AngDesj - Athlete's Profile

Angela Desjarlais is a wife and mother of two daughters:

Age: 32
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 144 lbs
CrossFitting since: March 2008
Placed: 7th at Canada West Qualifiers 2009
Placed: 3rd at Toughest Competitor Alive 2009

Angela’s Stats
Fran: 4:44
Grace: 4:04
Isabel: 3:51
Cindy: 17+
Helen: 10:28
Diane: 10:14
Jackie: 9:33
Linda: 25:05
Elizabeth: 14:42
Barbara: 44:07
Heavy Fran: 8:28
FGB: 275

Deadlift: 285
Press: 105
Back Squat: 265
Snatch: 115
Clean & Jerk: 155
Max Pullups: 28
Max Pushups: 37
500 m Row: 1:45.5
5K Run: 24:01

Favorite WOD: Heavy Fran
Least Favorite WOD: Annie
Favorite lift: Bench Press
Least Favorite lift: Olympic lifts

Feb. 19/09 - Maxine P.

Wow 1 year...that's amazing considering I haven't stuck to anything in my life other than quitting smoking!!!! Even my marathon training has been on the weaker side.

When I first heard of Crossfit I thought it was just some silly new fad that would last with my friends for about 3 months and then I wouldn't have to hear about it any more. Well after 3 months they were still harassing me to go. I tried to say "I run, I train for marathons in the summer, that's good enough" nope that didn't work. I finally gave in and thought if I go once they'll leave me alone and that will be that. Well... the first time I went I thought "Where's the door and how can I sneak out!!!" these people were obsessed!!!! LOL!!!! Well I went back again, again, again, and... again. My first few months as a Crossfit member was only to help me look better for my wedding day. However I never had my heart in it. I did the work outs half fast and when Robin and Aaron weren't looking I would try to just waste time to make the 20 minutes go by lol... yes I will now confess to this.

I missed a few months during the summer due to my wedding and vacation and my marathon training (little did I know that Crossfit could have actually benefited my finishing time).

I decided to still come back in September and this time was totally different. I put everything I had into my work outs. I remember when I could only deadlift 75lbs and now I can dead lift 217lbs!!! I remember when I never thought I would ever go from using the green band to purple and now I'm doing standard pull ups!!! I can run up and down the stairs without dying. I can carry on with my every day routine without needing my husband to lift things, carry heavy bags, or even bring home the big bags of soft water salt. I can now do it myself. In fact I just might be stronger than him... he may beg to differ, lol. Crossfit for me has been a saving grace. It helps my moods stay normalized, my strength keeps increasing, the way I look at myself gets better every day, my back is NEVER in pain any more, and as of most recently my body is finally starting to change now that I have incorporated the nutritional side to fit living. I have made amazing friends and I have found a place where people care and love you both at the gym and outside of the gym. Even a very bad day at CrossFit is still a good day of healthy living. Everyone has encouraged me and inspired me in so many ways. I love you all!!!!

Favorite Workouts - Fran, 10's (10 box jumps, 10 sit ups, 10 bell swings)
Least Favorite Workouts - Jeff's Pick Nov 20th..I puked; Chris's pick GRINDY Nov 21 I cried and of course BURPEES yay Burpees!!!!

Feb. 5/09 - Christine F.

I have been agonizing for the last few days on what to write… there are so many things that I could say about CrossFit, but I’d just be repeating everything everyone else has already said. I mean, don’t get me wrong, all the things people have said in the testimonials up to this point have been very true and I fully agree with everything that’s been said. CrossFit is the best fitness program I’ve ever done, CrossFit has gotten me in the best shape I’ve ever been, and the people at CrossFit are the best support system a person could ever ask for. So instead of rewording all the wonderful things that have already been said about CrossFit Regina I’ll share a few of the things I’ve learned in the past 365 days:

1. If you can do one, you can do 100… but you’ll likely lose some skin in the process.
2. If you think you can’t… Robin and Aaron are going to make you try it anyway.
3. If the workout looks easy on paper… it’s not.
4. If anyone comes at you with a bag of salt… RUN!
5. Never add up the number of reps in a workout until you’re finished.
6. What goes up must come down… and if you are not ready for it, it’s going to hit you in the face.
7. You are WAY stronger than you think you are.
8. Your non-CrossFitting friends will get offended when you try to give them your fat pants… especially if they’re too small for them.
9. A cell phone, wallet, lipstick, hair elastic, nail file, athletic tape and band-aids are essential items to keep in your purse at all times.
10. That’s not sweat… it’s my body crying.
11. If you can wear the same clothing you wore to the gym yesterday… you did NOT work hard enough.
12. You will look at every horizontal bar and think to yourself… “I wonder if I can do a pull up on that.
13. Give CrossFit 30 days and you won’t believe what you are capable of.
14. Give CrossFit 120 days and you’ll need to buy all new clothes in smaller sizes.
15. Give CrossFit 365 days and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Favorite workouts:
Angie, Gates of Fire 2, Deck of Cards

Favorite exercises:
Shoulder Press, pull ups, GHD sit ups

Most Feared workouts:
Fight Gone Bad, 5k Run and anything with Wall Ball

*Click on "CrossFit Regina" above to see all one year testimonials to date.

Jan. 15/09 - Sarah G.

"Where do I even begin…CrossFit has completely changed my life and how I view fitness. I was never really an ‘active’ person growing-up; I was never good at sports and never really pushed myself at the gym (i.e.: me and Lex would spend about ½ hour on the elliptical and barely break a sweat)… I was looking for something to really ‘kick me in the butt’ and something that I would hopefully stick with…When a co-worker of mine described the workouts at CrossFit I thought I would give it a try, seemed pretty simple, and working out for 10-20 minutes that seemed reasonable…Wow was I in for a shock! After the first workout I realized how out of shape I was, it was a real eye opener and I knew I had some work to do considering I was practically paralyzed from basic movements (e.g.: squats?)…

It has now been just over a year and I am proud to say that I truly enjoy working out… I have accomplished things that I never thought possible nor would I have ever pushed myself to do on my own. Not only are the workouts rewarding but the atmosphere at CrossFit is so welcoming and encouraging. Everyone is so friendly and supportive that I have never felt intimated or shy to try new things or push myself…I hope to continue on with CrossFit, the progress in a year has been so rewarding!!!"

-Sarah G.

Favourite workouts: Gymnastics workout (handstand, squat, hollow rock) and "300"

Favourite exercises: Pull-ups, handstands, sit-ups, lunges, dead lifts

# of workouts 1st year = 196

Jan. 15/09 - Lexi G.

"I first heard about CrossFit from a friend (Sarah) who heard it from a friend (Fabio). Sarah and I had been working out at the Lawson on the elliptical for about a year and hadn't noticed a change... strangely enough... We decided to try CrossFit and stick with it for as long as we could. We did foundations, we were stiff for the first few months and loved it.

Since our start in the basement, I have learned so much about Fitness and Health. I have done things that, physically, I never thought I would have been able to... like deadlifting 260 lbs, doing hundreds of pull-ups in a single workout, getting rhabdo... ok just kidding. I have noticed changes not only in my workouts at CrossFit but also in life. The constant variation of exercises have made me stay with this program for over a year without becoming bored or feeling stagnate in my workouts.

I have a great group of people to work out with and truly enjoy going to the gym and not only getting an exhilarating workout but getting to visit with friends as well. I appreciate CrossFit's supportive environment. Everyone works so well together and truly cares about each others performance. I mean, it isn't often that you picnic and have Christmas Parties with your gym!

I am looking forward to the next years at CrossFit. So much so that I have decided to go to the Level 1 Certification! I have really enjoyed all my workouts, well most of my workouts :) and know that that won't change! Thank you Robin and Aaron for working so hard to create such a positive environment. You guys have done such a great job. I am thankful that I have your guys wealth of knowledge to depend on to answer questions ranging from proper technique to serving sizes of meat! Thanks CrossFit for a great year!"

-Lexi

Proudest CF Moment: Doing Angie (100 Pull ups, 100 Push ups, 100 Sit ups and 100 Squats) with modified Pull-Ups and Push-Ups, then doing it again with standard Pull-Ups and Push-Ups a couple months later and still taking 2 minutes off my time!

Favorite CF workouts: Angie, Fight Gone Bad, Fran

Least Favorite and Most Feared: Wall-Ball, Running & Rowing, Run-Carry-Press

Favorite exercises: Pull-Ups, Weighted Squats, Barbell work

# of workout in first year: 184

Jan 1/09 - 1 year Angela K.

"RHM Darcy is a friend of mine and last year right before Christmas we got to talking about CrossFit. I had been an off & on member of Gold’s Gym for 2 years but was not enjoying it & was wanting something different. When he was telling me all about CF, I kept saying “no way – I can’t do that!” But he always replied with “everything is modified to what you can do.” The last week of December I kept checking the website, reading and looking at pictures thinking “It’s definitely different – maybe I should try it” and THEN I would think “nooo, I can’t do that stuff” to which Darcy kept saying “modified, modified, modified!” So when I saw there was a deal for new year’s resolutions starting Jan. 1^st, I finally phoned Robin on Dec. 31^st and signed up. The foundations class WODs were definitely like nothing I had ever done before and I wasn’t sure how much I really enjoyed them. I mostly felt like death afterward, but continued coming back. I felt really comfortable in the smaller setting and Robin & Aaron were very encouraging and supportive, along with the other Crossfitters. I had never been to a gym where the instructors seemed to take such a personal interest or had members cheering you on or gave high fives after a workout!

Although it’s been a year and most of my WODs are still modified, I’m happy because this is the first fitness program I’ve consistently stuck with for a year and actually enjoy (except burpees…I mean, YAY BURPEES!) Some workouts leave me a bit frustrated and sometimes I have to really push hard just to finish, but I like looking back and seeing how I’ve improved my times & gotten stronger. One of the biggest and most exciting PRs of mine just happened a few days ago on my one year anniversary. My first ever max deadlift attempt last January was 135lbs. Well, I just more than doubled that by getting 300 lbs! Not only was that my own PR, but a new gym record for females at CFR! I also got my 1^st standard pushup and can’t wait until I can do 10! Doing CrossFit has also improved my ability to perform in some of the other activities I do throughout the year: boxing, volleyball, swimming and cycling.

I remember starting in the basement days and being the only girl in my time slot for a majority of the time. Sometimes Ferrah or Becky would be there, but mostly it was me with Harlan, RHM Darcy, D2, Simon and Fabio. It’s so great to see how much CrossFit has grown: with so many new members as well as many other excellent coaches. I am SO thrilled and proud to be part of the CrossFit Cult – I mean family J I am in the NYC (new year’s challenge) and am looking forward to another great year! YAY CROSSFIT!"

-Angela Krieger A.K.A. Hardcore Ange

Favorite WOD’s – The Bear, The Lion, Tabatas

Favorite exercises – Deadlifts, Push Press, High Pulls

Most feared exercises/WOD’s – anything with burpees, box jumps, overhead lunges

# of WODs 1^st year - 123

Nov/08 - Sherry & Maureen

"When my daughter told me about Crossfit, I thought it was, oh well, just another exercise class. But when she and her husband showed me some of the workouts; and when I learned how effective the workouts were for core and upper body strengthening, I decided to try it. (My biggest fear as I get older is developing poor posture). Many exercise programs have come and gone over the years, and I never stuck with any of them for very long because they were either boring, or didn’t seem to be effective. I can’t believe I have been with Crossfit for a whole year! Although my workouts are often modified, I am very pleased with my progress and would never have thought I would be lifting weights at my age!

I think my favorite exercise is Squats, and my most un-favourite are Burpees; although I will grudgingly admit that Burpees are probably one of the best all-round exercises, (in my view). I don’t plan on breaking any records, but I do know I will continue to improve and do a little more every week. The workouts are tough and I often think I will never make it to the end, but I do. Hooray!

I especially appreciate the encouragement, and the one-on-one service that the trainers provide. And the comradeship that is present with the rest of the group as we exercise is great!

I am a Grandma of two (a six year old and a 3 year old), and these little tykes keep me on the go. Exercises like Squats, and learning how to properly bend and lift, have certainly helped me with grand-parenting. I feel so much more fit since joining Crossfit- I plan to continue to run and play with my grandchildren for years to come!"

-Sherry F.

"So, here I am working through some situps and pushups to limber up for my next Crossfit session. For one year now I have been bending and squatting and stretching, running and skipping and lifting. I have gone home tired, found muscles I didn't know I had and now know the true meaning of "weak in the knees"..... and still I keep going back for more! Why? Well, because when all is said and done I just feel better!

It was my sister and niece who introduced me to the world of CrossFit. At first I thought, oh yeah, sure - at my age! At sixty three years old I thought to myself "how can I ever keep up with the younger ones?" Well, not to worry. The goal is not necessarily to keep up with the other guy, although competition can be good, but to do one's own personal best. The trainers at CrossFit are there watching and if necessary encourage more effort to push us to our limit but also recognize when that limit has been reached. I find some workouts are especially challenging, ie. those involving repeated pushups and the dreaded burpees - both of which probably do the most good! I enjoy doing situps and can push myself on this exercise because for me the results seem more readily noticeable.

For years now I have struggled with Restless Leg Syndrome and am pleased to say I have experienced much relief since working out at CrossFit. I am also happy to notice toning improvement and although my scale seems stuck on the same old weight (diet needs attention), clothes do fit better and that is good.

I do want to express my appreciation to everyone at CrossFit, trainers and participants alike, for making our workouts both fun and challenging. I will keep coming back for more and encourage others to give it a try!"

-Maureen N.