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Deadlift 545 lbs
Back Squat 405 lbs
Muscle Ups
Double Unders
2k Row 7:37
Mile Time 7:21
AA in Physical Education and Health Science
BS in Kinesiology & Nutrition
MA of Interdisciplinary Studies with emphasis on Kinesiology
Education & Sports Psychology
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
Eagle Scout
I have over 10 years of coaching experience and have been at CrossFit Slake for 6 years. I have been with my wife, Pamela, for over 13 years. We have two kids, Addison (4) and Asher (1). I started CrossFit in 2018 to lose weight & get in better shape. My regular diet was fast food & spent the majority of my day sitting. At over 250 lbs, with very little muscle, I joined very reluctantly. It didn’t take long before I was fully invested & committed. I’ve lost around 75 lbs since I joined CrossFit Slake. My wife is a huge motivation, watching her workout and keep up with everyone even at 8 & 9 months pregnant was nothing short of amazing. Both of my kids have been in and around the CrossFit Slake community since they were born. It’s so much fun to see them watching and imitating the movements during the workouts.
I was always the “bigger” kid growing up. In college that didn’t change. I was picked on a lot growing up and in college and was often referred to as “Fat Chris” in classes or groups with more than one person named Chris. By late 2018, I weighed around 275 lbs. While my weight had fluctuated a lot, that was close to the heaviest I had ever been. Going upstairs was a feat on its own & I would get out of breath just tying my shoes. I had tried almost every fad diet there was & while I’d lose the weight, it always came back and brought more. One day someone asked me “Why are you willing to diet and capable of doing that for weeks at a time, but you’re not willing to spend an hour a day working out?” It was like a lightbulb was cut on at that point. About 2 weeks later, I joined CrossFit Slake, my first class was back squats and I could barely lift 135 lbs. I spent the majority of the workout trying to work on getting below parallel in the squat. Three years into CrossFit, I had shoulder surgery. Three days after the surgery I remember having someone drive me to the gym (wasn’t cleared to drive yet) so I could at least bike for a while. I was terrified that the progress I had made was going to just disappear. The motivation and determination would go away and I’d never get back into the gym. Luckily the Slake community didn’t let that happen. Even though I couldn’t do much, I had awesome coaches who gave me options & modifications. I had friends who checked in often and pushed me to get to the gym, making sure I stayed involved and active.
I have been the “fat kid,” the guy that can’t lift “X” amount of weight, the guy that gets out of breath walking upstairs or tying my shoes. I love seeing the transformation athletes see after they start their journey. The realization that one hour a day can make such a huge impact on the day-to-day life of everyone. While nutrition is a major factor, the workout is the easy & fun part of the journey. Helping everyone find the cue or point that triggers their “ohhh” moment to be able to get a new movement or PR is the greatest feeling as a coach.
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