In the outdoors, everything is dynamic. A clear blue sky can give way to storm clouds and challenge you to change route, speed up or slow down, act quickly. I love the rush of setting out on an adventure; preparing myself and also welcoming anything that may come. -Lori Mathews, December 2011

Lori continues to live a life of adventure and exploration... of her surroundings, of herself, and of the people she cares about.  There is one word that will set the tone for Lori's 2012... here's where Lori is today and how she plans on approaching the future...

Risk. It can often have negative connotations: danger, hazard, threat. I would rather focus on what risk has granted me in life: possibility, opportunity, adventure. To risk is to try, and to trust. For me, taking a risk is to see what is possible and trust in my decisions.

As I move into the new year, I think about the healthy risks I choose to take that will open up possibilities. Leading a climbing route and trusting in myself that I (and the gear I place) will be solid and help me go higher. Advocating for myself; asking for and getting what I want. I look forward to challenges that push me physically, mentally, emotionally. These are the risks I love taking because I learn what I am capable of.  I look forward to the trust I build in myself and my capabilities by risking. As the year continues, I choose to take risks, to walk with courage, and hope to inspire others to do the same.

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Read Lori's December 2011 Story - Adventure in Nature's Playground

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. She was tormented by the other students and became obsessed with being skinny which lead her down a path of self destruction, anorexia, and a lack of confidence .  Tina serendipitously ended up at a CrossFit gym where she learned how to accept her body and focus on strong instead of skinny.

Tina has become a force to be reckoned with and continues to set big goals for herself for 2012. Here's where she is today...

HEY EVERYONE! I am so happy to have heard so many people read my article! It’s only been a couple months since it ran but I’ve turned over a new leaf! I just turned 25 & decided I’m going to make changes in my training. 

I’ve recently raised the bar & I’ve been doing double WODs a few days a week now & it’s been working out WONDERFULLY!  Last year, I hated running so I’ve been doing a lot more of that & I PR’d my mile time at 6:19, & my 40m sprint at 5.81! 

Since my story was posted, I also bench pressed for the first time in my life, ever (SHOCKING, I KNOW!) & hit a bodyweight bench press at 115# on my first attempt. I also hit a 325# deadlift! I did some research for California & apparently I’m only 39# away from breaking the California state record in my weight class!  

So, my goals for 2012 are to break the California deadlift record, have a sub 10 minute Man-Fran, run 300 miles, do at least 12 running events (I’ve completed one already!) bench press 185# & C&J 165#!  I’m LOVING life!

Vote for Tina 

Read Tina's November 2011 Story - The Ultimate Female Dilemma: Strong Vs. Skinny

"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." -Maggie Prior, October 2011

Maggie completed the Detroit Marathon but not without facing some hard truths about herself and the lack of balance in her life at that moment.  Somewhere around mile marker 14, Maggie's high speed life caught up with her and she almost didn't make it. With a friend by her side she carried on and crossed the finish line.... but it was only the beginning. Here's where Maggie is today...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote out some long term goals and posted them where I would see them everyday to motivate myself. They're not unattainable, but they're going require a lot of work to get done. Probably even more than I realize. But, if I've learned anything in the past few months, it's that I have to have balance. 

You have to take breaks before you're forced to take them. From school, from training, from work, from life. Otherwise, even the things you do in your everyday life for fun end up feeling like a chore and additional stress. 

So, this holiday, I took a much needed break. I spent a lot of time snuggled into couches with dogs, babies, cousins, grandmas and soul mates. I did some really hard WODs, but I did easy lifting days to focus on technique and I took a lot of rest days. I always work hard; I need to rest hard too to accomplish everything that's on that list. Which, is a daunting one. But, after a few days committed to resting my head and my body, I miss my study and workout routine and I'm ready to tackle it again.

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Read Maggie's October 2011 Story - Go Heavy, Be Happy

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".  There was a lot involved in her recovery but the aspect of healing that Jackie discussed with me was the implementation of an exercise regime and goal setting. 

"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... -Jackie Cheney, September, 2011

Here's where Jackie is today...

I am still running.  Some weeks better than others.  My first goal is to run the Great Idaho Potato Race 10k in May.  After that I will set the next goal. 

I have recently been working in the OB clinic, where I have had the opportunity to learn and grow in an area that has affected my life so much. 

My relationships with my family and friends have continued to grow stronger.  Even my mom joined our texting support group, where we check in with all of our success (and confess our cheats). 

Exercising a peace that it is indescribable.  I feel more focused on things that matter and so much less anxious about things that don’t.  That is not something that can be bought or sold, only worked for from deep within. 

I owe so much to others for the support and inspiration to me and many others.  I would not be here today without every one of them.  So to my friends, family and co-fashletes I thank you!!!  What you have done for me can never be paid back only paid forward and I pray every day that I can give to others what you have given me. 

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Read Jackie's September 2011 Story - This Counts

"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." -Jorge Ballerino, August 2011

Here's where Jorge is today...

My name is Jorge Ballerino and a year and a half ago in June on 2010 I was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Melanoma. 

Since my story was featured, I have continued in my healing journey achieving many things I have never would have imagined.

I lost 35 pounds, I have a BMI of 23, I have the energy of a 22 year old, and most importantly…I have NO EVEIDENCE OF DISEASE!

I now dedicate my life as Nutrition and Wellness Coach helping others find their Zen.  My mission is for everyone to believe in the very basic foundation of good health: “It is all about the food”.  I have been featured in many TV shows as a food and health expert, I have grown a business as a Nutrition and Wellness Coach helping others get healthy again and finishing a book that tells all about my journey and experiences lived while fighting cancer and how it all came together for me.  But the best news of all is the I will be the father of twins in May of this year making the best year ever!

I will never be the same.  I will never go back to where I was and I will only move forward aware that the present is all I have and I must make the best of every minute I am given.  

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Read Jorge's August 2011 Story - Faith, Action, Results

In June of 2011, Cindy was frustrated with not being able to do pull ups so she created a contest for herself and her gym members called "Don't Cheat on Cindy". The group trained for a friendly competition that involved a 47 day paleo challenge and doing the workout "Cindy" (As Many Rounds in 20 minutes: 5 pullups 10 pushups 15 squats) at the end of the 47 days. Here's where she is today...

After "Don't Cheat on Cindy" ended...and I still didn't have a pull up, I truly realized that success would never be defined by one thing or one movement. So, that is when I decided that in order for me to keep setting myself (and everyone else within my box) up for success, I was going to need support. It was then that Practice CrossFit's Ladies Accountability group was born. I wanted the support that we had during a WOD for everyday life...aka "CrossFit for Life." Every week the women get together and hold each other accountable for our actions and choices...inside and outside of the gym. The group has changed many lives…mine included.

I now also have been added to PCF website with a weekly blog post I call, Fight. Focus. & Forge Ahead. Along with that I started fund-raising through my gym. At Thanksgiving I raised enough money to provide 4 families with a Thanksgiving meal. And for Christmas I went bigger, we are sponsoring Christmas for entire local Abused Women & Children Shelter ("Get Into the Giving"). 14 women and 11 children will have a Christmas thanks to the Practice CrossFit family. Finally, I graduate with my BA on December 26^th 2011.   

Cindy is also a part of the CrossFit Central East Regionals "Writing and Interview Media Team"

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Read Cindy's July 2011 Story - Don't Cheat on Cindy

April and May Fashlete of the Month was dedicated to LIFT Florida. LIFT is an organization that encourages and develops young athletes (ages 12-19) in the sport of Weightlifting by providing athletic training and equipment.  

Last year 5 LIFT athletes qualified to compete in the Junior Olympics in New Orleans in July in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting.  The program continues to grow and just last week Coach Doug Lane was named Florida Weightlifting Federation's Coach of the Year.  

For Fashlete of the Year, Lift Florida would like to recognize Brandon S., a newcomer to the sport with some serious of potential and a few podium finishes under he belt already.

Brandon S competes for Sandbox Weightlifting as a Junior competitor (17-20 years old). He's a quiet leader of the team with a tenacious work ethic on and off the platform.  In his senior year of high school, Brandon is an exceptional student in the college coop program.  He is applying for admission to several universities, including the US Naval Academy and LSU Shreveport, where he will be able to continue lifting while pursuing an education in science.

Brandon is a newcomer to the sport of Olympic Weightlifting, training and competing for less than a year.  In this short amount of  time, he has placed 2nd in the Sunshine State Games, 2nd at the Junior Olympics, and most recently, he won the 85kg weight class with new personal records in the snatch (91 kg), clean and jerk (125 kg), and total (216 kg) at the Florida State Championship.  This first place finish qualified Brandon for the National Junior Championship in Chicago in early 2012.

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Read LIFT Florida's May/June 2011 Story - Olympic Lifting - Kid's Play?