Mama Pitbull

Name: Amy Albert
Age: 31
Occupation: Firefighter, Palm Beach Fire Rescue

As a mother of two, an accomplished athlete, and a Firefighter, it is easy to see why Amy is the perfect choice for Fashlete of the month.  But what makes Amy's selection extra special is that she was nominated by her twin sister Amber. As tough as this duo is, Amber's pride and love for her sister is touching and even brought a tear to my eye (okay fine, more than one tear). After all, success means so much more when you have someone you love to share it with...  Amy and Amber have the LIVE LOVE LIFT thing down! Here is Amber's tribute to her sis...

 “You don’t always have to give 110%” our mother would say to Amy all the time while growing up.  My identical twin sister Amy is by far one of the most remarkable athletes and human beings I know.  As long as I can remember Amy has been the most determined, compassionate, and hard working individual.  There are many stories of Amy’s athleticism that I could share, so I will give you a few examples of some of the good ones.  Amy is like a pit bull, she has no cut off, a high threshold for pain and will go to complete exhaustion.  Our mother would always tell her that “you don’t have to be the best” Amy would just smile and do her best, which was always above and beyond what most could accomplish.

Amy and I played water polo in high school, when we arrived at Florida State University our freshmen year we both realized that there was no women’s water polo team.  So you ask yourself, what did Amy do?  Amy played with the men’s water polo team, not an easy feat.  Amy took it upon herself her sophomore year to help establish the FSU women’s water polo team and become the first President.  After many water polo games Amy would complain that her arm would become numb, most would probably stop whatever physical activity they were doing if something like that occurred, not Amy!  In fact Amy was swimming half the game with her shoulder dislocated!  She would just push past the pain.  

After college Amy dabbled in figure competitions and nutrition.  About 2 years ago Amy fell in love with her next sport, Crossfit!  Amy not only excelled as one of the top female athlete in the gym but regularly beat out most of the men.  She was named athlete of the year for 2010 and is always striving to better herself and those around her.  She is quick to welcome new members and always motivates those around her.

Last year I had the pleasure of competing in the Ragnar Relay with Amy and we ran from Miami to Key West on a 12 person team.  Of course we decided to do this race as a fun weekend activity (with no prior training other than Crossfit).  Amy and myself had never run any distance greater than a 5K, so why not run 26 miles over the weekend!  Amy had the longest single leg of the race, a total of 11.9 miles, she ran in the dark through Key Largo with a head lamp and reflective vest at an astonishing pace.  I was extremely nervous running my second leg after her, in the dark and wasn’t sure I would be able to run 9 mile straight, she gave me the best advice that anyone has ever given me.  She said “don’t stop!”  I took her advice to heart and ran like Forrest Gump, passing my team at a rest station and yelling to them that “Amy said I can’t stop”.  I finished strong and owe it to her, she was my driving force to completing the Ragnar Relay.  By the way, I believe I forgot to mention that after the race, Amy found out she was a month pregnant.

My awesome twin sister is not only a wife and firefighter, but an amazing mother of two beautiful children, a little girl named Livia who is 2 years old and a new baby boy named Lex who is 4 months old.  She leads an active lifestyle with her two children.  Her little girl Livia has grown up at South Florida Crossfit Endurance, from learning to crawl, her first steps, to hanging from the pull-up bars.  Amy always has her kids at the gym showing them that an active lifestyle is a priority in her life and theirs.  

Amy is an inspiration to all women.  She has dedicated her life to fitness and motivating those around her.  She is my identical twin, but is truly an amazing individual.  She is a wonderful daughter, sister, wife and mother.  She exemplifies that strong is beautiful and confidence is sexy!    

Adventure in Nature's Playground

A sandstone tower is my jungle gym. My slide - fluffy, white snow fanning out from my feet as I glide down a ski slope. My treadmill is a rocky, single-track trail winding between tree, boulder, tree. The playground right out the door of my Colorado home offers adventures that engage on so many levels. Your feet flex over rocks on trails that wind forever; smells of pine and juniper wave by with each step, eyes catch glimpses of dew glistening on blades of grass, you can taste the bitterness of cold air at 12,000 feet and maybe hear nothing but your heart beat or perhaps the symphony of birds as they fly overhead. Playing outdoors electrifies all of my senses. 

For me, spending time in nature is not just a way to get exercise or release tension, it’s a lifestyle. For the past 6 years, I’ve worked in the realm of outdoor/experiential education sharing with others the benefits of the life out of doors and helping people explore the challenges, and rewards, of the wilderness. And the great thing is, challenge looks different for everyone! Someone might be challenged by a barefoot walk through grass, another might put a climbing harness on for the first time and feel what pocked granite is like, or it might be someone’s 100th summit. To see that moment where someone has pushed to try something new, to take a healthy
risk, is amazing.

I feel lucky and humbled each day I play outside. Whether I am pushing myself to run longer on a trail, climb higher and harder, or simply challenge myself to stop and look at the horizon. Through nature, in all its intricacies, I've learned how to not only listen to myself, but everything that surrounds me, to teach me how to overcome obstacles, how to appreciate simple beauty, and come back to myself.

About Women’s Wilderness:

The Women’s Wilderness Institute, a non-profit based in Boulder, Colorado, believes that if girls can become courageous and confident women, they will lead happier, healthier, better lives and be more likely to change our world for the better. Based on current research, TWWI programs teach a curriculum that taps into girls’ unique strengths and needs, balancing physical challenge with the development of communication and leadership skills that are crucial for girls’ confidence and self-esteem. On our women’s courses, we teach women crucial skills for building self-confidence and personal strength through technical competence. Every day in the outdoors we empower girls and women to find and use their courage to act and think for themselves, because we believe that without courageous and confident women, we’re missing out on 50% of the resources available to the world! Strong girls lead to strong women, and ultimately a better world.

For more information, please visit our website: www.womenswilderness.org

The Ultimate Female Dilemma: Strong Vs. Skinny

Let’s face it, high school can be rough.  Trying to fit in when you still have no idea who you are is an almost impossible task.  And yet, so many teenagers put pressure on themselves to become what they think they are supposed to be in order to be accepted.

Tina viewed herself as an outcast in high school.  She was overweight, had no self-confidence, and no idea how to relate to the other students.  Instead of reaching out to Tina, her peers turned on her and not only drove her out of school, they drove her to a point of physical self-destruction.

"One morning, my junior year, I came to campus & found posters all over the school that said: “Don’t feed Tina” with my face on it & everything. I left that day & never went back. I decided to homeschool because what was the purpose of going to campus & not socializing anyhow? Three months later, I went from 150 pounds to 98 pounds (I’m only 5’ tall, so although it doesn’t sound like much when I say 150, keep in mind I’m a shorty). I threw myself into a downward spiral that was so twisted. I never thought I’d be the girl who would be skinny. I had thrown myself into a deeper ball of depression & swore to myself if I didn’t see double digits on the scale that it was the end of the world."

A False Sense of Power

"Anorexia gave me power, it put me in control. It controlled the numbers on the scale. The decision I made was to live off of vitamins and sugar water. VITAMINS AND SUGAR WATER. My family continuously worried about me, and I was threatened to be hospitalized. I tried to eat in front of them, a few nibbles here and there, but it ultimately went down the drain. I did this for months until my body finally went into shock and couldn’t take it anymore. I was always exhausted, always sick, obviously I had no energy.”

“One morning I just woke up, sat in front of the mirror and cried. I honestly remember just sitting there thinking....I am day by day watching and allowing myself to die. I felt like it was a slow suicide, and not only was I hurting myself, but I was hurting my family, the people who loved me the most. I felt selfish. I finally forced myself to make a change & began eating a little at a time."

Tina says that although her eating disorder was “short-lived”, it changed her.  She was eating again but still struggled with a distorted body image and continued to look for ways to lose weight.  Instead of starving herself, Tina planned to hit the gym and burn unwanted calories.  Forty-five minutes on the elliptical five days a week became Tina’s routine.  She did this for three months straight… and did not lose a single pound.  When Tina met someone with an alternative training plan she was all ears.

Firefighter to the Rescue!

"It wasn’t till July 2010 that my life would change. I participated in the Irvine Lake Mud Run & met a firefighter by the name of Kasra.  He told me I should check out CrossFit, and that one had just opened up near him in Westlake Village, CA. I figured what the heck. I walked into CrossFit Conejo Valley on July 21, 2010 where I met Steve Vanderbok."

Tina’s coach introduced her to the CrossFit methodology: constantly varied, functional movement such a squats, pull-ups, push-ups, deadlifts, and more.

"I thought to myself, holy crap - I can’t do a single pull up to save my life, push ups I was okay at, but when it came to squats, my legs were so weak & I lacked so much flexibility that I legitimately couldn’t do a full ROM (range of motion) AIR SQUAT! AN AIR SQUAT!!!!"

Progress: A Healthy Addiction

Since high school, Tina had been looking for a way to gain control of her body and have a positive self-image.  Anorexia was not the answer and neither was chronic cardio.  She thought her problems would be solved by being skinny even at the expense of her physical well-being.  Finally through CrossFit, Tina found a way to make positive changes and gain control of her body in a completely healthy way.  Instead of destroying her body, she began building herself back up.  The progress she saw in her strength and conditioning was addicting and far more rewarding than the destructive methods she had tried before. 

"I continuously went to CrossFit Conejo Valley, I was progressing so much. I was running a lot more, I was learning new movements like power cleans, jerks, overhead squatting, thrusters, etc. I was continuously PR’ing, but most importantly, my confidence was through the roof. I never imagined I’d feel this way. I felt good about myself, I felt great being around other people." 

A Greater Purpose

With a new-found feeling of self-confidence and purpose, Tina discovered that she was ready to help others.  I believe this is a true sign of being a completely healed person… when you have gained so much in terms of your own strength that you are able to give something back.  Now that Tina has learned how to take care of herself, she is ready to help others do the same.

" I realized this is what I’m passionate about, this is what I was born to do, I was born to be a warrior and I learned how to do things and make changes for MYSELF and be happy. If I could do this, anyone can. A few months had gone by & I realized this is what I needed to do with my life, I needed to help people reach goals, and make changes within themselves and realize that they’re amazing. I received my Level 1 cert and I began coaching classes, watching people progress gave me instant gratification."

"I’ve been Crossfitting for about 16 months now, & I’ve hit PRs I never thought possible. I did my first deadlift in July of 2010 where I hit 105#, I now deadlift 320#, just 25# shy of hitting triple my bodyweight. I’ve completed the Super Spartan race which was 9 miles long, I’ve hit a 44# weighted pull up, I can do muscle ups, I front squat 165#, I power clean 130#, my max one handed handstand hold on a kettlebell is 51 seconds, I have a sub 5 Fran, & I’ve even done Fran at the men’s weight for fun! My most recent PR is hitting a bodyweight overhead squat."

"I’ve learned to appreciate the little things in life. I’ve learned that life really is about YOU vs YOU. Who cares what people think? Make changes for yourself. Take that first step & never look back! It’s a road to happiness, & I thank CrossFit for making me realize this because I’ve never felt better!"

Tina is receiving a customized necklace inscribed with the words of her choice: "I will. I can." Fashletics is proud to present Tina with this unique piece as a symbol of her dedication to a healthy and happy life. Thank you Tina! STRONG WINS!

Lift

Name: Maggie Prior
Age: 30
Occupation: Medical Student

I received an email from Maggie after she completed the Detroit Marathon last week.  Maggie is an avid CrossFitter, medical student, and has more than a few marathons under her belt.  Yea, kind of an overachiever.  She is one of those people who has extremely high expectations of herself and is used to excelling at pretty much whatever she wants.  You tend to find quite a few of these types of people in CrossFit boxes everywhere. We aren't superheroes, but man, we sure think we are!  

Somewhere around mile marker 14, Maggie's high speed life caught up with her.  When people rehash a marathon experience, I find they spend very little time talking about what it felt like physically.  "It hurt."  Wow.  Shocking.  In Maggie's words: "I had a rough go of it in the middle there."  What followed that statement was not a laundry list of aches and pains, it was an outpouring of the stress and anxiety that she had packed on through the months of her training.  Sometimes when you are as fit as someone like Maggie, it's hard to realize that you are actually carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.

I asked Maggie to share her story because I know that so many of you out there have been in her shoes.... literally and figuratively speaking.  Some of the the most beautiful moments in life seem to be inextricably linked to something painful.  The best is yet to come for Maggie, and when it does she will look back on this marathon with a smile, with gratitude, and knowing Maggie... with an overwhelming desire to do it all over again.

Lift

by Maggie Prior

Writing this is one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done, because I have to admit to a lot of vulnerability. It’s rare that I let people see that – to admit that I have feelings or doubts or insecurities. I’m starting to learn that it really isn’t so horrible if you do. You don’t have to be the strongest person in the world all the time. Actually, you just can’t be. But, the people that love you will step up to the plate and help you out, and you end up just fine. Better than fine; you end up much stronger, with amazing stories and memories of even the smallest things people will do for you that make your day brighter. So, here goes… 

I live life at 110 miles per hour. I’m in medical school, do research in a lab part time, am an avid crossfitter, volunteer in clinics and with an afterschool running program for kids and in my “spare” time, signed up to run the Detroit marathon with my best friend. I’ve always been able to handle this much, and I do it on my own. But, any sane person can look at my life and know it’s too much. In fact, when people see my Google calendar, they get so stressed out for me that they have to close it immediately. Lately, things have caught up with me, and I just can’t do everything I want to. 

I’ve always thought that if I work hard enough, I can do anything I set my mind to. But, I can’t. I’m spread so thin and pulled in so many directions everyday that I’m worried I won’t succeed, at least to the level that I’m used to and the level that everyone expects from me. It makes me really frustrated, angry, and sad and I’m not used to it. The hardest part for me has been actually admitting that I can’t do this all by myself, and to ask people for help. I have amazing family and friends that I know would bend over backwards to do anything for me at the drop of a hat. I brag about that fact all the time, but never actually ask them to do anything for me - because I thought it was a sign of weakness. But, admitting vulnerability and that I can’t do something isn’t actually the weakness. Not doing anything about it is. 

Midway through the marathon last week, during a particular low when I was literally kicking cups on the side of the road in frustration, Natalie made me pull out my headphones and talk to her.  At one point she asked me what made me happy and feel better and I said, "Lifting really heavy weight at the box". School is a mind f*#$ when it comes to self-confidence when you are constantly measured against 300+ other students every week on an exam (literally, I am ranked, every week, every exam). So, even when I do well, there's always a reminder I could have done better, and no real sense of accomplishment. I’ve never cared about grades, and can usually tune out chatter about them, but it’s gotten in my head that my best right now isn’t good enough. Not with lifting at the box. Sure, there are a few of us that are relatively in the same range and we trade scores and PRs, but everyone is totally independent and it varies day to day and lift to lift what we can pull.  

The one thing that I have in my life right now that I feel  like I can really celebrate and take ownership of and not feel like I've half-assed is lifting weight. And, a lot of it. So weird, but so true. Every time I snatch that bar, I concentrate so intently and hard and just will it to come over my head that it does. And there’s a little flash of euphoria and pride in what I've done. It’s for maybe 30 seconds and fleeting, but if I could transform that feeling into every minute of my day I’d be back on track. Little by little, I’m getting there.

After college, a few of my friends rode their bikes across the country. They crossed the continental divide on bikes. A feat that flat out astounds me. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t easy, but they didn’t do it alone – they did it together. I think about them all the time in the middle of physically grueling tasks I’m not sure I can finish. Before the marathon, Natalie and I joked we would trade off pushing each other over the continental divide. And, we did. I couldn’t have made it through miles 14-18 without her next to me. And she couldn’t have made it through miles 22-26.2 without me. Yeah, it sort of sucked, because marathons sort of suck when you’re going through them, but I wouldn’t trade that Sunday morning for anything in the world. I don’t know the next time I’ll have five hours, uninterrupted by life, to spend with her. According to my Google calendar, it’s not anytime soon.

Lately, for a lot of reasons, everyday is like a continental divide for me to get over. A little too metaphorical maybe, but that’s how it feels. But, everyday, someone gets me through it. They stand next to me in the middle of a WOD when I’m exhausted and tell me to pick up the bar over and over and over again when I think that I can’t possibly do it one more time – and because they have faith that I can, they make me believe that I can. They bring me pumpkin spice lattes and put the dog in bed next to me when I’m too overwhelmed to even get up and start my day. They bring me coconut M&Ms when I’m holed up in the library studying because those are my favorite. They stand out in the cold and rain for hours to cheer me on in a marathon (and run a half mile in jeans and non-running shoes with us at mile 17). They lift me over that proverbial continental divide in really little and really big ways. Everyday. I can’t begin to thank them all enough.

I have a “lift” charm that I got this summer, but I didn’t even know how much that word could mean to me then. Now, I wear it as a reminder to ask people to do that for me, to return the favor whenever I can, and to keep lifting really heavy weights.

As a thank you for sharing her story, Maggie has been gifted with this custom designed "Go Heavy Be Happy" double tag charm to remind her that she has all the strength she needs to make herself happy. Keep lifting heavy stuff Maggie!

This Counts

Name: Jackie Cheney
Age: 35
Occupation: Mom, Medical Assistant at Primary Health Medical Group • Boise. ID

A few weeks ago, my sister Natalie introduced me to one of her readers, Jackie Cheney.  Natalie receives a lot of emails from men and women who have been profoundly affected by her memoir, Signs of Life.  This book deals with a universal emotion that I really wish wasn’t so universal: Grief.  That little word, a single syllable just sitting there in black and white, has the power to sink my heart to the pit of my stomach.  But the stories from women like Natalie and Jackie are ultimately about what lifts our hearts, not what makes them sink. There is a much better monosyllabic word to describe what I feel when I think about the Natalies and the Jackies of the world. It looks better in black and white and it feels better to say. That word is Hope.

Jackie lost her second son, Elam John Cheney, on May 22, 2009.  Elam was stillborn due to an abrupted placenta.  Not only was Jackie dealing with the loss of her son, she was dealing with the failure of her own body.  Jackie was able to get pregnant again but continued to be confronted with the fragileness of her body and her baby.

"There is something very defeating to have your body fail and lose your child.  I was far from a physically, mentally healthy person."

When Jackie picked up Natalie’s book, she found herself forced to live through emotions and grief that she had been ignoring for years.  But what she also found in that book and within herself was overwhelming inspiration to truly rehabilitate herself mentally and physically.  The aspect of recovery that Jackie discussed with me was the implementation of an exercise regime and goal setting.  Jackie set out to train for and complete a triathlon with her friend and constant support, Chelsi.  In our interview I asked Jackie to elaborate on her mental and physical transformation. Here are some excerpts from our talk that I hope will be helpful to others open to finding mental well-being through physical means.

Commit 

"There was no other choice.  I had to quit making excuses and just to do it and stick with it.  So I said it out loud right there in my bedroom as if I was saying it to Natalie and her support group as well.  I committed. It helped that I coaxed my friend Chelsi into committing with me." 

Breathe

"Exercising forces you to breathe.  90% of anxiety about anything can be calmed just by focusing on your breathing.  Every time I run, bike, train, anything, I focus on my breathing. I relax.  I love the feeling I have and what my body is capable of.  Now life is becoming so much more relaxing by just breathing."

Connect

"To me physical training is all mental.  The physical benefits are just bonus.  My favorite is runs in the morning.  I put Luke in the jogger and off we go.  Everyone we see is so at peace and content and pleasant.  Luke waves at everyone and we say good morning.  The rest of the day I am so peacefully happy no matter what mood anyone else is in.  I am finding that sometimes it is not about escaping from the world as I do when I swim, but more like connecting with the all the positive in the world."

Time. Love. Gratitude.

"There is no time limit on when you need to be done grieving.  Grieve everyday for the rest of your life if you have too.  But find a healthy way to do so.  There are still people here today and now that need you and love you.  Including yourself.  When I run I am mentally connecting with Elam.  Spending time with him in my head.  I grieve his loss, appreciate the time I did have with him, the huge effect his short life has had on me, the gratitude I have for Steven (my husband), Seth and Luke (my other boys), and vow to not let his death be in vain or my survival to be a waste."

Words to Live By: This Counts

"Exercise is the biggest factor in keeping me balanced.  I do my best thinking and relaxing when I exercise.  It is the base of my life.  So the mantra “this counts” may come from my running steps, but it applies to everything in my life right now.  Whatever I am doing right now at this moment counts.  Am I working toward my goals or away from them?  My relationships, my financial goals, my healthy goals, the goals and desires I have for my kids.  Am I playing a game with Seth or worried about laundry?  Finances are so tight for us right now.  So every dollar counts, so I ask is this purchase working for us or against us.  Every step, every calorie.  They all count.  Not to say I can’t ever have a cookie again in my life.  But how far in the other direction do I want to go?  Because it still counts. Am I making my survival from Elam’s death worth it or am I wasting it?"

Jackie, thank you for sharing your story and for joining the Fashletics family.  This one-of-a-kind, sterling silver necklace is our gift to you.  We hope that it inspires you to continue your walk (or run) down the path to physical health and mental well-being. Good luck with every step you take!

Faith, Action, Results

Name: Jorge Ballerino
Age: 43 (but feels 23)
Occupation: Cancer Warrior

I met Jorge in 2009 through an organization called Team in Training.  We both joined the team to prepare for our first triathlon and raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Jorge is outgoing, charismatic, energetic, and athletic.  He is one of the first people I remember meeting on the team and we became fast friends.  His energy is infectious and anyone who was on our team would tell you the same thing: it just wouldn't have been the same without Jorge.  When we flew to DC for our first Olympic Distance Triathlon, Jorge convinced the entire team to board the plane dressed in white from head to toe because, after all... we are from Miami!!  Once you meet Jorge Ballerino, you will never forget him.

 In 2010 Jorge was diagnosed with Metastasized Stage IV Melanoma Cancer.  The survival rate for this type of cancer is 9-15%.  I still can't wrap my head around that statistic.  When Jorge called to tell me about his diagnosis I can remember thinking "This world cannot lose Jorge Ballerino."  The role Jorge played on our triathlon team is the same role that he plays in every aspect of his life: he is a leader, a care-giver, an entertainer... a strong man with a heart bigger than his biceps :)  I could not accept the fact that someone so full of life was being threatened by a deadly, unforgiving disease. Luckily, Jorge was not about to accept this fact either... and his fight began. 

FAITH

The words "faith" and "belief" came up over and over again during every conversation I had with Jorge throughout his treatment.  In spite of the unfavorable statistics, his focus was always on becoming cancer free and nothing else.  He looked at it the same way he looks at every finish line... it may be a struggle to get there but it is his for the taking.  He would tell you this is where any fight begins; with an unwavering faith and rock solid belief that you will accomplish what you set out to do whether it is bike 100 miles or cure your own cancer. There is no room for doubt, not for a second.

ACTION

Once Jorge set his sites on a cancer free body, he took immediate action. Unsatisfied with his doctor's recommendation of the traditional 30-year-old treatments, Jorge did his own research and found out about a new Biological Therapy.  After careful debate and with a full understanding the risk and aggressive nature of the treatment, Jorge entered into a Clinical Trial at Sarah Cannon Research Center in Nashville. 

In addition to researching treatment, Jorge started investigating the effects of food on his body.  It is just like Jorge to take control and explore every possible way to keep his body healthy and strong.  I don't think Jorge ever saw himself as a victim, which I believe has been key to his success throughout his life.  Throughout his treatment, he was constantly proactive in his efforts to make himself healthy.  Jorge  took the cards he was dealt and played his hand without ever considering the option to fold.  This is the stuff heroes are made of. 

Jorge experimented with different diets and became acutely aware of how what he was eating was directly effecting his treatment and his body.  He was able to prevent side effects that other patients experienced by nourishing his body with organic raw and living foods.  An abundance of greens and the elimination of complex carbohydrates such bread, pasta, white rice, and potatoes were key components to Jorge's success.  Jorge's blog, itsallaboutthefight.com, documents his treatment, his diet experiments, and his fight with cancer in fascinating detail.

"When I started my journey with cancer I discovered that nutrition would be a big factor to my recovery. I started by understanding the true nature of nutrition and how our bodies are made up in order to implement certain foods that would create the right results.  The first thing I understood about the body is that we are all made up of cells, millions of them and in order for anyone to reach optimum health, we must think of our body as such; millions of cells forming organs, muscles, blood, bones and the most important...our immune system."

"Such cells are born, and regenerate every so often like red blood cells which die and regenerate every 4 months.  By applying the right nutrition which feeds all cells with the right nutrients, phytochemicals, macro and micro nutrients, anyone can achieve ultimate health." 

"Most of us have learned that nutrition is based on calories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats and have forgotten to mention the real hero behind food...micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals) which are the foundation of good nutrition.  I have found that food is the best medicine we can have and by far the biggest factor in my recovery and reactivation of my immune system."

RESULTS

The clinical trial was composed of 150 patients of which, only 109 remained by this past July.  Of the 109 patients, only one has fully recovered.  That one would be none other than our Jorge.  On May 23, 2011 Jorge announced that he is CANCER FREE.  Jorge's doctor has said that he has not seen such remarkable recovery in any other patient.  Jorge's current prescription: "Keep doing whatever it is that you are doing."

"I must still remain alert but at least I can rest a little easier knowing that I have taken my body from Stage IV with 7 tumors including involvement of the Lymph Nodes to No Cancer today!!!  This journey has taught me so many things and has changed me forever.  I am not the same as I used to be and I can only keep evolving and growing from this moment forward."

Nutrition was the "X" Factor in Jorge's recovery and he continues to research, experiment, and learn about this topic.  In addition to beating Stage IV cancer (as if that were not enough) Jorge is on a mission is to teach as many people as possible about how to restore and maintain optimum health by eating organic raw and living foods and detoxifying our bodies.  Since his diagnosis, Jorge has become a Wellness and Nutrition Coach, a Motivational Speaker, and creator of LetsEatOrganic.com - an organic buying club based in Miami, FL.  He is also currently writing a book on his battle against cancer and compiling a cook book based on his cancer-fighting diet.  Jorge also continues to be an active cyclist, stellar athlete, and dear friend.

Don't Cheat On Cindy

Name: Cindy Rhoades-Young
Age: 34
Occupation: Stay at Home Mom/Full Time College Student (graduating with her B.A. in December)

Affiliate: Practice CrossFit • Troy, OH

"For the first time in my life I actually get it and believe that there will never be a piece of pizza that will taste as good as my first pullup...Food is my fuel...not my comfort.... " -Cindy

The Beginning: Just over 47 days ago Cindy vowed to get her first pull-up.  Most of us have been there before, swinging around on an assortment of colorful rubber bands, cursing the bar, and dreaming of the day we can do Fran, Helen, or Eva RX.  In this case, it's all about Cindy (as many rounds as possible in 20 minutes of: 5 pull-ups, 10 push ups, 15 air squats).  One woman.  One Goal. One WOD.  It is a wonderful coincidence that Cindy and her muse share the same name.  Ahhh yes, another CrossFit miracle.

The Challenge: Cindy's coach, Josh Bunch, suggested that she also challenge herself to a 100% pure paleo diet for the duration of her pull-up challenge (great coach).  And thus, the "Don't Cheat on Cindy Challenge" was born:  Do Cindy. Go Paleo for 47 days. Do Cindy and record your progress.  The "one woman, one goal, one WOD" aspect of this challenge lasted about a nano second.  Before she knew what she had done, Cindy's coaches were posting "DON'T CHEAT ON CINDY" signs on the walls of the box and 15 other Practice CrossFit members had signed up for her challenge.

The Rewards: Prizes were awarded on July 1st for Most Improved Cindy Score, Most Weight Lost, and Most "Paleo Points" Acquired (points were awarded and deducted based on the individual's level of "purity" during the 47 day paleo challenge.  For example, points were taken away for drinking alcohol, not getting enough sleep, etc.  Honor system people.)

The Woman: I had the pleasure of meeting Cindy at the Reebok CrossFit Games Central East Regional and we've stayed in touch since.  I have been following Cindy's progress and she has shared her milestones with me which include a near 20lb weight loss and a 5% reduction in body fat since starting the 47 day challenge.  She also gushes with pride when she describes the accomplishments of the other men and women in her gym who took on the Cindy Challenge.  WOD scores improved, paleo cakes were baked, body fat was shed, and there is no doubt that the community at Practice CrossFit is stronger than ever.

A note from Cindy: As for me, I did not get a pull up...and I struggled with that for a bit. Feeling that I had failed the people of the box and my trainers...until Josh told me something that slapped me out of it....he said " "A pull-up is just a tool to make the job easier, and no good carpenter creates success with one tool"...I know I will get my pull up...maybe not today or tomorrow but I will and it will still be just as sweet...and I will still cry...because never in my life did I think that I would be able to do a pull up.

I am a firm believer that 80% of what we do in the gym is based on diet...but I also believe that eating is 90% mental...it is for me and I know it is for others...for the first time in my life I actually get it and believe that there will never be a piece of pizza that will taste as good as my first pullup...Food is my fuel...not my comfort....I did lose almost 20 pounds and lost 5% body fat but what I have gained is the real prize...for the first time in my entire life my self confience is not coming from the outside and what others think about me...I now have true self confience because I believe Cindy can do these things...and reach these goals....

I came up with this during my second month of CrossFit and I tell myself this every single day....

"Pain is a pathway...NOT a stop sign"....my journey will have bad days...sad days...and days that are filled will doubt....but one thing my journey wont have is an end...because I finally believe that Cindy is worth more than quitting....

Cindy for president!  I don't think that there is any doubt that Cindy has brought something special to Practice CrossFit.  What started as a simple personal goal ended in a box-wide, multi-dimensional challenge.  Simply put, Cindy has changed lives.  

Something else that Cindy has had from the beginning, aside from determination, is amazing coaches.  Practice CrossFit is an elite training facility.  Their Affiliate Team place 9th at the Central East Regional and they had 56 athletes participate in the Reebok CrossFit Sectional Open.  But that is only half of what makes the Practice CrossFit team amazing.  When I met Cindy's coach, Josh, at Regionals he was just as excited about Cindy's paleo/pull-up challenge as he was about his competing team of elite athletes.  I imagine he was physically and emotionally drained from competition by the end of day 3 but he still took the time to stop by my booth and tell me how happy he was for Cindy and how great she is doing.  CrossFit is for everyone and the coaches at Practice CrossFit understand that on every level.  Josh is proof of that.  His athletes, whether competing at Regionals or in Cindy's challenge, are also proof of that. CrossFIt Practice is a place where individuals are encouraged to achieve greatness whether they are fighting for a spot on the podium or for their first pull up... and that's CrossFit.

Final Thoughts: I asked Cindy for one word that describes her experience with CrossFit so far so I could make her a one-of-a-kind piece of CrossFit jewelry... 

"As for my word....I am going to go with "Redeemed" for every sense of the meaning it is me...CrossFit saved me...the people within CrossFit and Practice CrossFit have helped saved me from such an unhappy Cindy...there is no other word that will work!"

Congratulations Cindy, our Fashlete of the Month!