“As a new Cross-Fitter, I was a little hesitant to get involved, thinking my existing workout was just fine. After I joined River Market CrossFit, I realized it was a superior workout to anything I’d been doing before, getting better results and better workouts than any spinning or bootcamp class I’d been to before.  I’d been going to Scott Fitness and taking their idea of a boot camp class, Project Poolside, for nearly three years and have never seen the results I have at River Market CrossFit. I highly doubt the teacher knew my name, or noticed my form as she was much more into getting her own workout in. The instructors at River Market CrossFit are always incredibly motivating and help you improve your form and increase your weights, whether you like it or not.  The convenience of class times literally makes it impossible to skip workouts. Even if the lunchtime class is not doable, it would be impossible to get to another gym, get a workout in and be done with everything by 6 p.m., like the 5 p.m. class allows you to do. I stared with just the 10-pack of classes, thinking that I would rotate CrossFit with other exercise but the convenience, results and winter weather kept me coming back.”

-Lauren H. 

 ”Working out at River Market Crossfit gets my day started off right. My morning workout has helped me to be more focused at the office, and I have more energy throughout the day. I really enjoy the friends that I have made in the class. It’s nice having others push and encourage you to do more than you think you can. There is a real competitiveness and camaraderie that goes on during the workout. When I can’t make it to class I actually feel bad about not being there. Not only because I miss the workout, but I feel that I am letting the others in my class down by not being there to push and support them.”

-Darryl M.

“I really look forward to class at River Market CrossFit.  It’s a great break in my day and I feel more focused after the workout.  Most of the time it’s just what I need to come back and really tackle whatever I’m working on.  It’s a great stress reliever, too!  Ball slams a way better than a stress ball – trust me.”

-Ella B.

“Working out at River Market CrossFit allows me the opportunity to get a high impact, short workout in the middle of my work day. Tiffany and Brian are experts in the area of fitness and nutrition and their high energy and support keeps me coming back.”

-Erica B.

“Growing up I played every sport under the sun and in high school played a sport every season.  I thrived on competition, being part of a team, setting and achieving goals, and being the best. Like most athletes though, after high school or college sports come to an end and I found myself trying to fill a void that seemed could never be filled. If I wasn’t an athlete anymore, what was I?

Before I started CrossFit six month ago I had a membership at 24 Hour Fitness and I’m sure I shared similar feeling towards it as most, I hated it! It was always crowded and I was doing the same routine, working the same muscles, and doing the same lifts. Working out did not excite me and I had to literally drag myself to the gym. When I heard of CrossFit I had no idea what it was, but already bored with my routine at 24 Hour, I thought I would give it a try. To my surprise, River Market CrossFit has been everything I was looking for.  Once again I feel like I’m part of a team where everyone cheers each other on, gives advice, and pushing each other to work harder. I am able to set goals for myself and am actually held accountable to reach those goals. And my favorite part about CrossFit, the competition. Not only am I competing against the people in my class to get the best time, but I’m competing with myself to not quit, lift more, go stronger, and make another round.

To me CrossFit is more than just a way to get in shape, it allows me to be an athlete again.”

-Katie L.

“I was bored. I was getting old. Like most people I had been a competitive athlete growing up and so in my mind I still considered myself as an athlete but my workout routine had become stale and uninspired. I did the same lifts, the same weights, the same everything over and over again. I did not feel agile, quick, or strong. Basically I was getting older and my athleticism was on the decline. I wanted to feel like an athlete again… I wanted to get in the best shape of my life. In January of 2011 that was the goal I set for myself. I tried a personal trainer and found it to be too expensive to do with enough regularity to make a difference. I had done P90X before but knew I’d break my TV if I had to listen to Tony Horton’s voice again so that was out. I tried to change my workout both in intensity and with new exercises but the changes were nominal at best. Desperate to not let my goal slip away I bought a 12 pack of classes for something called ‘Crossfit’. I’d never heard of it but I liked the video I saw and decided to give it a try in preparation for a vacation. I also decided that with my kid’s schedules that I was going to have to workout in the early morning for the first time in my life. That was where my Crossfit experience began. I enjoyed the workouts and the competition and did my 12 classes. I didn’t see any results but I felt them. I felt the old fire rekindling and it felt good to be pushed hard and I was actually looking forward to workouts instead of dreading them. I wanted to continue towards my goal so after my 12 class pass expired I began my search for the right gym. I wanted to find a place where there was more personal attention and smaller classes. I was referred to RMC and have found it to be just what I needed. The trainers and other athletes are great motivators and I’ve ramped my schedule up to 5 days a week and now, three months in, I can honestly say that I am certain that if I am blessed to avoid any major injuries I will reach my goal this year. On Dec 31st, 2011 instead of having to look back on my year and think about what could have been or what I should have done differently to reach the goal I had set, I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I did what I said I’d do. At 36 years old I will be in the best shape of my life thanks to Crossfit and my friends at RMC. 37 is just around the corner…I’m sure you can guess what’s next. If I’m going to get old… it’s just going to be a number…”

-Jon

“I’m new to this Crossfit thing. I recently graduated from the University of Kansas Medical Center. Currently, I work as a Pediatric Audiologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital. My fiance, Brandon, and I are getting married this fall. Hence, the reason for joining River Market Crossfit.

“Before starting Crossfit, I had heard that it would be an intense workout that will get me in shape and toned. After starting I realized it is much more than that. No one told me when I signed up that we would do wall balls everyday! However, being pushed to work just a few minutes longer and add more weight is starting to paid off. I haven’t noticed big dramatic results on the scale, but my clothes do fit much loser. I have started to stick to a primarily Paleo diet, but I have a ways to go still. Cutting out grain and sweets does make me feel much better and I have more energy. I don’t experience the same 2pm crash after lunch that I used to get.

“I’ve really enjoyed the ‘friendly’ competition that goes on between Brandon and my friends everyday. It’s a great motivator! I really only started at RMC to get in better shape for the wedding, but I’m afraid I’ll be too addicted to stop after the wedding.”

- Katie B.

“Twenty years ago, I was an accomplished athlete and coach and still find a competitive spirit in my heart. However, jaw surgery, two knee surgeries, a broken leg and collar bone have taken its toll on my body. That doesn’t count the pulmonary embolism suffered following a motorcycle accident. Even though doctors tell you to exercise; frankly it hurts, so I became a couch potato and gained a lot of weight.

“Tiffany convinced me that I needed Crossfit to be strong enough to pick myself up if I fell when I was older. I thought she was talking about “old” age … you know, elderly 70- and 80-years old. Then I realized, at age 54, I was overweight, fatigued and have a hard time picking myself up now. It was difficult to do simple things like reach my shoulders to put on sun screen, or to bend down to grab a crock pot out of the cabinet, take the stairs, etc.

“Since I joined River Market Crossfit, I’ve experienced increased stamina, energy and improved flexibility, in just 8 weeks (3 days per week). Thanks to Tiffany & Brian for their ability to modify the work outs to my level and their gentle push that gets me into the zone where I continue to get stronger. Thanks, too, to the River Market Crossfit athletes for their support and motivation and never letting me feel out of place.

-Debbie H.

“When I first started doing CrossFit with Tiffany I couldn’t even use the 45 lb. bar. I was using the 15-20 lb. bar and maybe adding another 10 lbs. to that and could still barely finish a workout. After a few weeks I was able to complete our WOD and found myself looking forward to what I referred to as ‘pleasant torture’. After a few more weeks I was working out with the 45 lb bar and felt euphoric once the workout was over. The motivation Tiffany gave me made me push through what I thought would be my last rep only to realize I had 5 – 10 more reps left in me. The results were almost immediate, with a healthy diet in place too of course, which Tiffany and I also discussed. CrossFit has helped me gain muscle and has restored the confidence in myself that I can do anything I put my mind too.”

- Amanda H.