Member Achievements

Laura Adamiak

This months athlete is Laura Adamiak. For those of you who don’t know Laura, she is Dan R’s sister. She is an early morning member but sometimes makes a rare appearance in the late morning classes. She always brings a positive and cheerful attitude whatever class she participants in and still rocks the old school Chuck Taylor’s and headband! She’ll be the one yelling and cheering people on when the WOD is getting tough or if there is an ounce of silence in the class!

I remember her training with her bro before the morning classes in the nice cold dark winter we have! She got her technique down, intensity up and has been rocking every WOD since. She was shown how to do a kipping pull up and know busts them out in WOD’s without an issue! Competing may be in the near future for Laura!

Congratulations on being the August AOM!!

There are many CrossFit athletes and celebrities who can accomplish unfathomable feats, who give us a benchmark to chase and a jaw-dropping glimpse of how it’s supposed to be done.  But anyone who witnessed the competitive spirit inside FirePower during sectional competition WOD #3, amidst the deafening cheers with every single squat clean & jerk, or best-efforts to simply lift the bar off the ground, a life-changing moment was happening in our midst…

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To the FirePower Nation,

As a trainer, my job is pretty simple. Impart the knowledge necessary to complete the task, and inspire the individual to do so. But this past week, it was the opposite that happened.

In all of CrossFit the clean is bar-none my favourite movement. My work capacity doesn’t stretch far past five minutes, so this teeter-totter that was 11.3 was really tipping in my favour.

The problem was I couldn’t have cared less. My tires were flat. My A/C wasn’t working, and my muffler was making funny noises. I was burnt. The work-out that should’ve been mine was being whisked away at the hands of apathy and exhaustion.

On Wednesday morning, after ass-dialling the ex at 5:45 am, I came in ready to field complaints and concerns about Friday night. Instead what I got were ten or so athletes eager to dial in the cue’s they’d been punched in the face with since the day they first laid hands on a bar. My spark was lit.

The next day I started to contemplate my own performance. I accepted the fact that this workout would be my first after a week off, and as a result, negated the use any of my normal, tired excuses for putting on a less than stellar performance. Perfect! Just the spot I wanted to be in.

That afternoon I stood in the gym, smiling, as I let four athletes repeatedly hoof my excuses in the cashews. These competitors, three of which were woman, not only opted out of the days WOD, but came in special to work on their cleans. PR’s were hit, eyes were opened, and all of a sudden that spark of mine become an out of control camp-fire that usually results in a life-time ban from the park. The stage was set.

The next night brought a brackish air to our beloved box. From the moment my bag hit the floor, the battle between fear and hope was already waged. The fight had begun and the time wasn’t even on the clock.

Now at this point the coach’s job is to reinforce the basics and avert the athletes mind from distraction. There is only one task therefore that task is the only thing that exists. But five minutes to best yourself by thirty or forty pounds is no easy feat; especially in front of a live audience. But the fact that the collective “we” was not only willing to try, but determined to succeed was enough. The attitude had shifted and victory was inevitable.

For the next two hours, bars rose. Some to the knee, some to the chest and some to the ceiling. The height was irrelevant. All that mattered was that months and years of “I can’t” became “I can” in an instant. And for a coach, there is no prouder moment. I now had what I needed to get my own work done.

On Saturday morning as I bounced around the gym, readying for my five minute sprint, instead of reviewing strategy, I closed my eyes and saw the gritted teeth, beads of sweat and fists of glory from the night before. At that point I knew, regardless of my own outcome, I would not stop. I would not give up. And I would lay every excuse to waste in honour of those who went to war the night before.

So here’s to you, FirePower. For blazing a trail. For flushing life back through tired bones. And for reminding me why it is we do what we do.

Ready for the next three weeks?

Mitch

Cathy and Pino Porciello

March’s Athlete of the Month goes to Cathy and Pino Porciello!  Cathy and Pino participated in one of our hockey fundraisers last fall and were intrigued. Pino signed up for Foundations right away and Cathy was right behind him. From the start, they were very open to learning all about a new way to train. This has been a common thread among our new members who see early success.

Pino brought his great strength with his willingness to better his endurance and of course lifting technique. He was strong from the get go.”If he can lift that much without the best technique, imagine what he could lift once he learns the lifts!” He always comes in and tries to better himself whatever the WOD, skill, or lift may be.

Cathy brought great endurance and coordination with her. You regularly see her adding weight to her bar and is not afraid to do it! She pushes herself every time she walks through the doors and goes into every WOD with an upbeat and positive attitude.

They have become true CrossFitters over these last months. They are a true example of doing all the right things in the beginning to get the best possible results. They continue to journal their progress, go online to supplement the learning curve, and of course just to see cool CrossFit stuff! They come in religiously to classes and to open gym, always working together and doing couple WODs.

They are looking forward to competing in the ‘Sectionals’ next year…. (One reason Pino is excited to be one year older next year…Masters Division!)

They both have improved tremendously and continue to do so. Cathy looks phenomenal, and is so much stronger. Just the other week I looked at Pino and thought, his whole body composition is changing, they look great, they are loving it, really taking in the kool-aid, and that is why this power couple are our Athlete’s of the Month! Be sure to congratulate them at the gym!

Bess Trakas

Since her start, Bess has been flying low under the radar at the gym. Over the past month her presence has shown big time in the classes. Both her performance and her effort have improved leaps and bounds. She perseveres to finish every WOD. PRing on a box jump, rope climb, or an Oly lift is become routine for her. She never shy’s away from putting more weight on the bar if that is what we coach her to do. Her trust in our coaching and our philosophy is precisely the reason she has started to take her fitness to the next level. That is why she has been chosen CrossFitter of the month for January 2011.  Way to go Bess!!!!

Jen Culbert

Since coming through our doors in the new Year, Jen has had one goal: to win her first fight under FirePower Boxing.  With sheer determination and heart, she threw herself into boxing under the guidance of 4 FPB coaches, and George’s CrossFit training.  Using her own coaching skills, she jumped immediately into help teaching classes earning the respect of boxing members and establishing herself as an intense and motivating instructor.

This past weekend her efforts paid off with her first career win by way of TKO in the 2nd round.  She then completed the weekend as the 2011 Brampton Cup Silver Medalist.

Congratulations Jen!

I have a confession to make.  I don’t want to be a Has-Been anymore. A washed up competitive athlete who succumbs to complacency, laziness, fear of judgment, and sadness.

I’m 36 years old and I used to be a high performance athlete.  For the past 3 years since we opened FirePower in Milton, I have lost myself in a bad work-life imbalance.  I’ve poured 140% into building FirePower Training that preaches healthy living, lifestyle changes and embracing your fears, yet instead of leading by example, I’ve spent more time working on our business while letting myself go.  I counsel new members on how FirePower will change their life, how to get out of a rut, how to eat properly, how to find courage and more.  This shoe cobbler can make great shoes, just for other people.

Here’s what’s really going on:

• I’m 20lbs over my target weight (was in the best shape of my life until we opened our Milton location)
• After 3 years of owning a CrossFit gym, I can’t do a single pull-up without a band
• I can do a whopping 6 push-ups before going to my knees
• I do most of my double unders one at a time
• I miss my boxing training unbelievably bad
• Sometimes I workout 3 x a MONTH (talk about a rut…)
• I’m afraid to participate in CrossFit classes because I’m convinced everyone is shocked why the woman who owns a CrossFit gym is so weak and slow
• I’m embarrassed to workout alongside our trainers because I don’t fit in, so I hide behind the computer
• I secretly cry my way through workouts covering it with frustrated anger so no one sees my eyes
• My internal voice constantly demeans “How could I let myself get this way?”
• I cry every time I look in the mirror and I hide from my husband
• I don’t want to be a Has-Been anymore

Surprised?  Probably.  Sound familiar?  I’m not the only one.  80% of people who walk through our door are Have-Beens who lost themselves due to family and work priorities; who are desperate for a change; who used to be competitive athletes in great shape but aren’t anymore and don’t know where to start. Our staff and members help & support every single person who comes in… now it’s my turn to ask for help.

I’ve got my program for the next 8 weeks and will post it for you all to see and hold me accountable.  I will put all of my workouts on the chart so you can kick my butt if I slack.  I will be participating in more classes and will be running the streets of Milton.  I will be boxing in the ring and will be working on my pull-ups, push-ups and more. I’ll be tracking all my measurement improvements and will make available to anyone at anytime. By January 1, I will be down 10lbs, targeting 15 by January 19th (Geo’s b-day).  Dan R & Geo have a bet in place for themselves at the same time.  Ask them about the Burger Fran!

I’m going to be a champion for all the has-beens that come through our doors and the ones still too scared to try. Hoping my journey will pay it forward somehow.

We asked a few recent newbies for some feedback on their “Foundations Experience”.  We hope this helps more Soon-To-Be-CrossFitters gain more confidence on their journey!

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Stephanie Swayne

Before I tried crossfit, I boxed competitively for 7 years and then became a fitness instructor. I considered myself to be fit, but I was so bored and frustrated with my workouts, that I was prepared to pay for quality personal training, just to spice things up. Someone recommended that I try crossfit, and I was skeptical at first that I had to take lessons before joining this gym! However, I gave it a try, and everything about the foundations program and my time with crossfit since has been amazing!!! All of the trainers are so qualified and skilled that I feel like I am getting the highest quality personal training, with the added benefits of the camaraderie of the “firepower team”, all at a very very low cost as compared with personal training. And really, I feel like I get as much attention as I want and need – more would be too much!!! I recommend crossfit to anyone. The foundations program (and the rest of the month free) are also “scalable” (like all crossfit workouts) such that when I would be coming straight from teaching a spinning class to a foundations class to work out with others of all fitness levels, we would all enjoy a great workout together!! I am VERY glad that I found crossfit!

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Jason Gervais

I found FirePower when I searched online for “Personal Training Milton”.  I watched some videos, which looked extreme and pretty intimidating but after reading a lot of the content I got excited about the workouts and the fact that it’s like personal training without the high cost of over $60 per session.  Foundations gave me a taste of just about everything we do at FirePower.   It was the most intense workout I’d ever experienced but I left feeling invigorated and wanting more!  It only took a few weeks for my wife to start noticing results in my shoulders and back.  I had never felt as good as I did by the end of the first month and decided unequivocally that I was going to be a CrossFit enthusiast.

Now I’m in my 3rd month at FirePower and enjoying every minute of it.  I’m working out at least 4 times per week and feel myself getting stronger and fitter.  I’m 37 years old and have never been in such good shape.  I still have lots of room for improvement but I know I’m in the right place to get it.
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Christine Tavener

Before I did the Foundations program I would look at the Workout of the Day (WOD) and systematically dismiss the possibility of being able to do anything on it with my simple checklist: too hard, too heavy, too high, and then I’d figure ‘To hell with it’ and give up before I even tried. There are days when I still feel that way, but now I know I can do whatever the WOD is. Doing Foundations made me see I am much stronger and more capable than I thought. I might have to scale the WOD or it may take me longer, but doing it at all has more dignity in it than not trying. Is it possible to get better value than that?

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Paul Oldershaw

The thing for me was once we showed up for that first session with Kim, I knew I was going to be around for a long time.  The way she explained and showed us how Crossfit was different than what we’d all seen as “working out” before was a total sell.  The fact that each subsequent orientation session was in fact an ass-kicking workout was surprising, but also refreshing.  Too many times have I packed it in early because I’d felt I’d done enough that day – it took Kim and the rest of the Firepower team to convince me that the only way to get stronger was to push myself far further than I would normally have.  It’s been nearly 4 months now, and I’ve lost 30lbs.  Every week I get leaner and stronger.  The weight loss is nice, but I have also noticed a huge increase in my performance in sports like Ultimate, Hockey, and mountain-biking (which was my main reason for joining).  Combine that with an overall increase in energy, and just a satisfying feeling of being able to “do things” better, and I can honestly tell you that showing up for that first session with Kim on March 20 was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

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Alex Wong

I have never been able to do any olympic lifts before Firepower CrossFit.  I would always go to the gym and workout on my chest, back,
shoulders and arms.  I rarely did any leg workouts as most of them consisted of lifts.  After getting introduced to CrossFit and going
through the Foundations Program where I was taught all the proper movements of the olympics lifts it has become part of my workout
program.  I never thought I was going to be able to do all the lifts but after a couple of months I was seeing huge improvements on my form
and strength with the help of all the knowledgeable trainers at Firepower.  Not only do I feel stronger physically but I feel stronger
mentally from all the workouts, as you are able to challenge yourself and have trainers at every class to push you out of your comfort zone.
I don’t see myself going to any other gym other than Firepower unless I move far away as the trainers and members make it a wonderful place to push ourselves to becoming better athletes.

As many rounds as possible in 25 mins of:

Penguin Pete on the tire

• 2 lengths of the Dung Beattle  ( ball is no less then 12 lbs )
• 7 thrusters  115/85
• 7 pull ups
• 7 knees to elbows

Congrats to our team good luck today as they traveled to Waterloo to compete in an CrossFit Challenge! First reports: they came in 2nd and 3rd out of 15 teams.  Way to represent!

For time:

30 Handstand push-ups
40 Pull-ups
50 Kettlebell swings, 1.5 poods
60 Sit-ups
70 Burpees

Tammy & Jay’s Lifestyle Change.  How putting a little FirePower into your life can make a BIG difference!

Before

Jay and I joined FirePower Training in October and cannot believe how becoming members of FirePower can change you both mentally and physically. I just had our second son 6 months ago and was trying to work off the excess baby weight I put on (80 lbs of it) and over the summer with Jay’s busy schedule he was slowly adding the pounds.

He decided to check out the facilities one day and asked how many classes in a day you could do.  George replied I don’t think that your body will be able to do more than one.  We both decided to try out a week of the beginners class and have never been in so much pain, I think child birth was easier. After that week we were addicted.

FirePowered Jay

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In only a few short months I have noticed such a big difference in Jay. In the 16 years that we have been together he has never looked better. We would like to thank the trainers for always being there to guide us and of course, yell at us when we need it. Actually, the real reason was we were having nightmares of George yelling at us when we got back for being out of shape in only a week.

Before

It has become a lifestyle change for us,  when we were on vacation we continued to keep up with our workouts everyday, using dumbbells to do kettle swings, workout benches to do box jumps.

We have not changed how we eat, what we have changed is making sure we get to workout at least 5 times a week. It has become such an addiction that we try to find someone to watch both the kids so we can go at the same time or we will do a switch off. Even on days when we are so tired we make it in and we feel awesome after the workout. Each day is a challenge, but each day we get stronger.

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FirePowered Tammy!

I have attached pics of us…Jay at a size 42 and now a 34/36….me at a size 12/14 and now a 5/6.

Tammy