"There is nothing I can’t do if I only put my mind to it because if I can survive a Crossfit work out, I can do anything."


Kim and Jim Ridenour at Modesto's Turkey Trot

I spent years complaining to my husband about how 3 children and my 30’s have ruined my shape and reeked havoc on my metabolism. One day, he told me to stop sitting around complaining and to do something about it. After I started talking to him again, I decided that maybe he had a point and that it might be time to conquer my fears.

The initial fitness evaluation at Crossfit was a wake up call. After a few squats, the rowing machine and jumping some rope; I threw up. This wasn’t even an actual work out! I thought that there was no physical way I could ever do this or enjoy it. My husband insisted that Crossfit was what we needed, and he signed us both up.

While we were filling out the paper work, one of the trainers, Erika, asked me what my future goals were. I told her they were to have a flat stomach and to get rid of my flabby arms. She asked me what my physical goals were, like maybe running a marathon. I told her “no way, I hate running!” All I wanted was a flat stomach and maybe not to die during a workout, but I didn’t have any other physical goals.

I am now proud to say that I have survived 5 months of Crossfit, and I love it! I have learned so much about myself. It is no longer about the flat stomach and toned arms. It is about what I am able to accomplish if I only put my mind to it. Is it hard? You bet it is! Are there days that I want to avoid the work out? Yes there are! I’ve learned that it isn’t a competition between me and anyone else at the gym. It’s about how far I have come physically and mentally. I have even started running on my own and participated in my first 5K run [Modesto's Turkey Trot November 24th, 2010].

This place is unique in that it is like a small family. The trainers have become my friends, my kids now take the kids classes, and my husband and I actually work out together and have fun doing it. For the first time in a long time, I am confident in my physical abilities. I may not be the best in the room, but I’m doing the best that I physically can. There is nothing I can’t do if I only put my mind to it because if I can survive a Crossfit work out, I can do anything. Thank you Crossfit.

I have been participating in CrossFit classes for 5 months and I am very pleased with the results. CrossFit has proven itself to me to be the ultimate way of getting in shape.

I am now 30 pounds lighter, have much more energy, and my fitness level has improved dramatically.

I have had memberships at several gyms here in Modesto and I am excited to say that I have found a home here at CrossFit Modesto. No need to look any further, this is the place to be!

Kat Quellich

My nephew would come over to our house and tell me about his workout. He said it wasn’t a gym or a run of the mill workout session.  He called it “The Box” which was actually a place called CrossFit Modesto.  The workouts sounded brutal and definitely not for me. I knew there was no way a fifty year old; overweight, out of shape woman would be able to do a regimen like CrossFit.
Finally after weeks and months of urging me to go, I agreed.  I met the owners Denise and Mike Choate.  Denise took me into her office, sat me down, went over the regimen of the CrossFit Modesto program and asked me if I could commit myself to a 6-8 week course of Boot Camp.  I was nervous and afraid but I consented.
That night was my assessment.  Stretching, rowing, sit-ups and a myriad of other exercising that I hadn’t done in years.  I was so worn out that I couldn’t make my legs work.  I felt like a rubber band that had been stretched too tight then snapped back, but when I left CrossFit Modesto that night, I had a sense of accomplishment that I hadn’t felt in years.
I won’t say that it was easy; it was hard mentally and physically. For weeks I went into CrossFit to do a modified workout.  I was so out of shape, I couldn’t stand on one leg, couldn’t do a push-up, couldn’t even run around the building.  The night before a session, I would lay awake thinking of excuses not to go.  I was sore, discouraged and kept telling myself “I can’t do this.” 
I was embarrassed and felt out of place but the coaches kept assuring me that I would improve.  I would look around to make sure no one was watching.  Everyone else was so immersed in their own workout and struggle that I realized it didn’t matter. I lost all self-consciousness over the next few workouts.  Didn’t care if I looked ridiculous, didn’t care if I couldn’t do a full scale stretch, as long as I put my best effort in front of it, that’s what mattered.
The coaches kept pushing me a little farther every session, telling me I could do it.  They told me as that every time I showed up; I was overcoming 90% of the battle.  My nephew, my husband and the CrossFit Team keep me bolstered.  One night, when I was struggling with my workout, my nephew told me “Auntie, just make up your mind to get comfortable being uncomfortable.”  After that night, my attitude changed.  I started enjoying the sessions and looking forward to seeing the CrossFit crowd.
Since I became a student of CrossFit Modesto, in late November 2009, I’ve lost 15 lbs.  I have more energy. I’m getting stronger every session and more flexible.  I can do a squat! I even did “Clean and Jerks” with actual weights on the bar. I have started running!
I still have a long way to go, I still do a modified work out and I still have many more pounds to lose but I know I’ll get there with help from my CrossFit Family and my immediate Family. I’ve made some new and wonderful friends where we all have the same thing in common; getting fit and healthy and staying that way.  With the CrossFit family and my family, I know I’ll get there.

CrossFit Modesto was the first CrossFit affiliate in the
central valley. Founded in 2007 we have grown from a
small gym with One certified CrossFit trainer to a 4000sq ft
facility with Eight CrossFit instructors and Four krav Maga
instructors.

CrossFit Modesto has the most experienced training staff in
the Central Valley area. Our coaches have spent years training
in and teaching the CrossFit methodology. We put our focus on
you the student. whether your looking to shed a little extra weight
and feel better or if you have aspirations of competing in the
annual CrossFit games we can help you reach your goals.

CONSTANTLY VARIED
      A bodybuilder will smoke us if we compete with them in bodybuilding exercises. A distance runner will smash us if we compete with them in distance running. Get either of these guys out of their domain and we will crush them in everything else because we aren’t the best at any one thing, we’re really good at a bunch of disciplines. We vary our workouts because it gets us results quickly and the results keep coming! For example, if we always did three sets of ten in a lifting exercise we would be great at doing three sets of ten in that exercise – but that’s about it. We vary to keep muscles & the skeletal system shocked and adapting.

HIGH-INTENSITY

Intensity is the key to results. How loud we scream or what our heart rate is running is a weak indicator of intensity. Intensity is nothing more than a measurable exact equal of power. We measure intensity by how much work we do in a set amount of time.

FUNCTIONAL

We do exercises designed by our muscular and skeletal systems. Motions that nature intended! Isolation exercises and most machines and lifting routines use unnatural motions. Our exercises use what we call the “universal motor recruitment pattern” which, again, is how we were designed to move.

All our exercises must be efficient and effective, essential, compound, elemental and safe to be used in CrossFit. Efficient and effective are self explanatory. Essential movements are movements essential to function. If we lose essential movements we lose the capacity to function and end up in assisted living facilities. As human beings we must have competence in essential motions to function in society. If we are military, law enforcement, firefighters, etc. we must have dominance, not just competence, with essential motions. Compound means NO isolation. With isolation comes the loss of the essence of motion. Elemental means that it cannot be further reduced – basic body movements. Finally we have safe. CrossFit is safe because we are doing movements that the body is designed to do.
CrossFit has swept the nation’s elite athlete training as well as special forces military units, MMA fighters, law enforcement and firefighters because it gets real life results…..and the results keep coming.