Member Since: August 9, 2021
“Deb walked to our door for her first on-ramp session (she literally walked the 2 miles from her house) looking to just try something new. In just a short two years, Deb became a regular face at our 9:30 class, got her first rope climb (plus many more!), and added a jumping bar muscle up into her skill set. With an unmatched upbeat personality and a desire to see what limits she can push, Deb is always ready for a challenge, and a good joke! She shows up each and every day with the will to work hard but have fun at the same time, even if it is burpees!!”
– Coach Sara
Tell us about you! What’s something that other members may not know about you? Some of your hobbies or favorite things to do.
A few years ago I decided to stop working and focus on ME! Staying active, healthy and strong is a big part of that and CrossFit certainly helps. When not working out, I enjoy working with wood. Give me a palm sander and a bunch of different color stains and I’m good to go. I refinish furniture, make clocks, picture frames and update things I find around the house. My favorite things to work with are used wine or whiskey barrels. I love refinishing them and turning them in different types of tables. Some I sell, others I give as gifts, but usually I have a hard time letting my creations go once I am done and so I keep them. If you want a really cool pub-style Wine Barrel Table, let me know, and I’ll make you one. I am always looking for a new project and my husband will kill me if I make anymore and keep them (we have enough)!
What was it about CrossFit Torque that made you want to join?
I’ve always enjoyed working out in a group class setting, but was bored with the gym group exercise classes I’d done for years. I needed a new challenge. Plus, now in my 50s I really wanted to add more structured strength training to my workouts. I’d seen CrossFit workouts before, was intrigued, but never tried it. I live off Rt 140 in Wrentham, less than 2 miles from CFT, so have driven by a million times and one day decided to stop in and check it out. I told myself I would give it a go for 3 months for a change of pace and see if I like it. That was over 2 years ago!
What has kept you coming back to Torque day after day? And/or favorite thing about CFT?
So many things keep me coming back day after day – the daily variety, the challenge, the people, the progressions, the sense of accomplishment. I was truly surprised how much instruction there is in each and every class. Thank god, because I’d never really done barbell work before and the gymnastics stuff is WAY harder now than when I was 7-8 years old.
What is your proudest accomplishment thus far?
After the first year, I committed to increase from 3 times/week to 4 or 5 times/week and saw significant gains. The weight on the bar got consistently heavier, I gained skills like rope climbs, handstands against the wall and the sporadic toes to bar. I also lost about 10lbs, while gaining 4lbs of muscle, and I feel great!
What has been your biggest challenge?
For me consistency is the biggest challenge. Even though I am no longer working, committing to 4-5 times/week is still a challenge. If I don’t work out in the morning, it just won’t happen. Although I hear the 5 and 6 am classes are super fun, those days are over for me. I like the 9:30 am class, with the 8 am as my back-up, but it’s still a balancing act with aging parents, a desire to travel and life in general.
Do you have a favorite movement?
I don’t really have a favorite movement, basically anything that is not a burpee or front squat. My favorite style workout is a long grind (non-barbell) type workout where you can get into a rhythm and push through lot of different movements. I also really like the Hero and Benchmark type workouts where you can measure your progress from year to year.
What piece of advice would you give to someone who might be hesitant to start CrossFit but hasn’t yet?
Doesn’t hurt to try it – keep an open mind, listen to the coaches, and focus on what YOU can do not what others are doing. But at the same time, use the other members as inspiration because if they can do it, so can you (and they will be there to cheer you on!)
If you could have a super power what would it be?
My super power would be to sing. I get that anybody can technically sing, but I mean sing well, really well. I know it’s not a typical super hero kind of thing, but I think it’s such as incredible gift, like a super power.
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