This February, we’re thrilled to celebrate Jay as our February Member of the Month! Jay has been part of the CrossFit Virilis family since July 2022, embracing the challenge of CrossFit with a love for long, endurance-based “chipper” workouts and a newfound passion for the clean and jerk. What started as a way to push beyond his comfort zone quickly became a source of joy, motivation, and connection.
1. How long have you been doing CrossFit?
2 and a half years. I started in July 2022.
2. What's your favorite workout?
I can't think of a specific workout, but I like longer, endurance based "chippers" rather than short sprint workouts.
3. What's your favorite movement?
Clean and Jerk. I had never done it before joining CFV, but it is really fun.
4. Why do you do CrossFit?
When I moved to Texas, I knew I needed to get back into a gym. I got really into Peloton and virtual training during COVID lockdowns. One of the virtual programs I tried was called Street Parking, an online CrossFit training plan. However, when I would look at the workouts, if I didn’t like the WOD, I would just skip it. I knew that if I actually went to a gym, it would be a forcing mechanism to get me out of my comfort zone.
I’m really glad that I found CFV and started coming in person because I find the other people in the class extremely motivating. I remember watching the CrossFit games and one of the announcers made a comment like, “what makes this sport awesome is usually the person finishing last gets a bigger ovation than the person who finishes first”. That has always been my experience and one of the things that keeps me coming back, people you have never met want you to be great. Everyone wants you to be better today than you were yesterday. I love how everyone celebrates when someone in the class hits a new PR, gets their first pull up, or accomplishes a goal. It’s such a supportive group, that after a while, you look forward to seeing those people everyday and they become your gym family.
5. What meal could you eat every day for the rest of your life?
Chicken Wings, Nachos, and Shiner Bock (or Diet Pepsi).
6. What has CFV helped you do, achieve, overcome, etc?
When I joined CFV, I was in a bad space. I was overweight, depressed, lazy, and just getting through each day. At work, I always felt “imposter syndrome” like I didn’t deserve to be at the job I had, I was underqualified, etc. I was nervous about starting CrossFit because of being an introvert and dealing with the “meat head” stereotype.
After starting CFV, the weight started to shift from fat to muscle and I began having more energy. Also, I am an afternoon workout person. My wife is training for a 50K Ultra Marathon, so she gets the early mornings to run, I get the afternoons for CFV. Since I workout in the afternoon, I learned that I need to be strategic with my food intake during the day. I strictly remember one afternoon where I had a large Chipotle Burrito for lunch and then stress ate a pound of peanut M&M’s. That afternoon was my first introduction to “fight gone bad”. That was a bad day!
As I continue to get healthier, I gain more confidence and that really helps me in all aspects of life, including my job. As an introvert, this confidence allowed me to take the lead on some very high-level projects that I would have avoided in the past. I’ve always hated public speaking, but now I’m routinely in front of classes of 40-50 people. I have no issue talking to high ranking military members that used to intimidate me.
I think the biggest thing they helped me understand is that it’s okay to not be perfect. No one at the gym judges you for the way you look, the amount of weight you are pushing, or how fast you go. They are just happy you are there and realize sometimes you need to scale things and that is okay because scaling is cool.
7. If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I feel like I'm supposed to say someone profound like Einstein, Leonardo DaVinci, or Plato. There are so many great choices; my wife, famous athletes, world leaders, my dogs (if they could talk for one meal).
I would probably say my grandfather on my dad's side. He was a top turret gunner on a bomber in WWII and flew over D-Day. When I was in high school, I had to do an interview of someone who was alive during WWII and I picked him. Back then, I didn't realize what I was asking and what his reactions to those questions were. Looking back on it, he was experiencing PTSD during that interview, but that generation never talked about mental health or struggles, they just went on with life. When I first deployed to Iraq in 2003, I felt the weight of all the people who fought before me, it was a strange feeling of comfort and terror. Knowing what I know now, I would love the opportunity to redo that interview with him, not as a grandson, but as a brother in arms with shared experiences.
8. Top three favorite movies.
9. What makes you the happiest?
Watching my daughter (8 years old) grow up. Her joy when she learns something new. Her smile when she accomplishes a goal. Shes' such a cool kid!
10. Anything else you want to add about CFV, CrossFit, or yourself?
I just want to thank all of the 4:00 and 5:15 classmates for being awesome and accepting me throughout the years. I want to thank all of the coaches for providing such a great atmosphere and world class coaching. Being a Midwesterner, I don’t think I will ever fully assimilate into a Texan, but having a group like this has helped make Cibolo feel like home.
Are you interested in trying out a class or learning more about our CrossFit community? Schedule a No Sweat Intro HERE
