This is the first time I've been in a training program that I liked, that pushed me harder that I would ever have pushed myself, and where I finally know the people around me. I was at my last gym for three years and did not know one single soul. The instructors didn't know your name and no one would you look at you. Plus I worked out almost every day with no results. Imagine my shock at not being able to walk for three days after the baseline I did with you at orientation. I love the community at CFLA and plan on being a CrossFitter for life! Thank you for your great orientation and to all of you for your excellent coaching!

If you want to know what has most impressed me, it’s the personal nature of the postcard and the voice mail from you, communicating encouragement, some training philosophy, and desire for feedback. I’m in the Training business too, and these things make all the difference, along with the virtually unanimous positive experience I’ve had at your place so far.

Frankly, this is intimidating stuff to me, which was why I was leaning towards private classes….but the encouragement and confidence that Michael gave me to dive into the community vibe of classes was powerful and is working out, though the workouts are tough and I’m not having “fun” getting started. I am very happy to leave class, though! I will say that both you and Becca have delivered what I think is a very healthy and adult balance of assistance, coaching, technique, and encouragement along with the “you need to do this yourself” “you need to know your own weights”, “you need to tell us first” kind of stuff, that takes me out of the typical gym trainer/coach handholding mentality. It’s a shift, for sure. And a good one, dammit.

That being said, with my age and few physical challenges (hips, etc), I think I do want to mix in some periodic one on ones to learn and perhaps even nail some of the new techniques (for me) and understand best how to customize workouts for my personal challenges and establish some realistic “stretch” goals for me. I’m pretty sure I just don’t push myself to the max yet; it scares the s**t out of me! In the meantime, I like being part of the group classes though it’s very new for me being on the bottom rung of the ladder, but being humbled in this is good for me! And while I’m a sweat hog, as your site says, no one ever drowned in their own sweat!

I've been meaning to 'thank you' for the post card you sent me back in January, I always forget when I'm at Crossfit because I'm so focused on my workout;) but it's sitting here in my office and I thought I would thank you now while I'm thinking about it! I really appreciate that you guys take the time to acknowledge your members, its the little things like that that really set your program apart from any other fitness program that I've seen, a little note really goes a long ways and it's just one of the many reasons why I love Crossfit LA so much!!

Leslie Macias

Crossfit has become one of the driving forces in my life. It not only has challenged me physically, but also mentally. I have realize that mental hurdles are often what really may keep a person from achieving a higher level of fitness; at least that's the case for me. I am stronger now in many respects by being part of the wonderful community that Crossfit offers. The community that you have all created is very welcoming, encouraging and professional. The level of expertise among the staff is evident in every class and every conversation. I am so glad that I joined Crossfit, and ecstatic to attend every class. I look forward to being there every time. I have to admit that at first I was a little scared about the drive there; I have a 30 mile drive to your gym. However, I can honestly say that every class is well-worth the drive.

I know that I probably haven't said anything that you haven't already heard-since your gym is just so AMAZING!!!! Thank you for all you do.

Norma Monroy

When I walked into CrossFit Los Angeles 8 months ago, I couldn’t do a single squat without falling head over feet; over, and over, and over (and over, and over…); last night, like a little 5 year old, I called out to one of the instructors, “If I get 100lb on the back squat, I want a picture taken!” We missed the 100lb mark for the photo-so, I did it again at 105lb-and had no problem doing it!

Everything I’ve learned at Crossfit LA helps me every single day of my life; I can lift, climb, hike like never before; my endurance is incredible and I can keep up with almost anyone. I just turned 30 and look and feel better than I ever did in my 20’s (and getting to buy a wedding dress for my May wedding in the smallest size I’ve ever owned doesn’t hurt either).

Karen Leah Womack
http://www.karenleahphotography.com

So we decided to learn how it works during our summer holiday in 2009.
After some research online we decided that the best place to learn it
would be Crossfit L.A. So we e-mailed Becca and received a schedule with
one morning session per day for ten days in a row.

We had four different personal coaches, all excellent athletes with
different perspectives on Crossfit: Jennifer, Becca, Jonesy and Michael.
In addition to that, we had group classes on the weekend with Andy and John.

We were absolute beginners. The first day started with a baseline
workout to check our general fitness. In the next couple of days we
learned Thrusters, Front Squats, Overhead Squats, Push Press, Clean +
Jerk, Deadlift, Kettlebell swings, Rope climbing and much more. "Helen",
"Fran" and "Jackie" became our friends. One day we even worked out on
Santa Monica Beach!

Our sore muscles did not stop us from returning every morning, eager to
learn something new. Two things made it easy for us. First: The people
at Crossfit L.A. Everyone was nice, down to earth and positive. People
you really like to have around you. Second: The endorphine and
adrenaline rush you get when you are doing Crossfit workouts. Try it.
You'll see.

This was really a life changing event for us. Back home we started to
build up our own "garage gym". As we run our own internet software
company in Germany and work 10-12 hours every day, we had to change our
daily life to add Crossfit to it. Now we workout four to five times a
week and we have changed our nutrition. After two month we now feel
healthier, stronger, more positive and relaxed. All-in-all, our life has
a greater balance now.

What did we learn? Crossfit is not a sport, it's a way of life and that
Crossfit L.A. is not a gym, it's a very special community. We also feel
that even though we are thousands of miles away and stayed only for ten
days, that we are a little bit a part of this community and we hope that
we will return soon.

Stefan & Claudia

Good Morning (or whatever time of day it is in California)

I've been wanting to write CFLA for awhile now, but have never gotten around to
it. I want to thank you for introducing me to this wonderful sport that quickly
became an obsession for me. I have always been what my friends call a 'meathead'
and have lived in the gym since I was 16, but I struggled to find a training
program that matched my fitness goals. I'm a 6'5, 225 lb endurance runner
(5k-marathon), extreme sport enthusiast (snowboarding, rock climbing, white
water kayaking, etc...) and a stubborn masichist too proud to sacrifice
strength for endurance or flexibility. Most gyms and magazines didnt offer a
program that worked for me until I read about your gym in muscle and fitness a
couple of years ago. The day I read the article I went and did Fran, puked and
was hooked.

I was a Jr. at a small college on the Illinois Iowa border at the time and noone
in the area had ever heard of crossfit much less opened a gym so I trained off
of your site (and the mainsite & sealfit.com) I loved the community aspect of
crossfit and it wasn't until I started medical school in a different town this
august that I finally found a gym of my own.

Thanks to CrossFit, I'm in better shape than I ever could have hoped for. Even
better, I always have time to get a hardcore workout in (at home if need be),
even when my med-school schedule makes me want to beat my head into a wall.
It's the only thing that keeps me sane during test week.

I've been following you site since the day I heard about crossfit and will
continue to do so no matter where I train. So again, THANK YOU.

John Horberg

I wanted to share with you the positive results I've received from Crossfit over the past few months (not to brag, but rather to share my testimonial with you about you, your team, and it's ability to provide us with a means for success and improvement!). I apologize in advanced for the long email, but I can't share enough my enthusiasm for Crossfit and the results it can bring to anyone!

Since June, I've been in the application process for the FBI, and of course, one of the requirements to reach the second phase of the process is to pass a self-evaluation pt test. This test includes:

-max sit-ups in 60 secs
-300 m sprint
-max push-ups
-1.5 mile run
-4-5 mins of rest in between each exercise.

I've attached a scoring table for you to take a look. Essentially, you have to score a total of 12 points with at least a score of positive 1 in each category.

The first time I took the test in mid-June, I failed, scoring an 11. I completed 50 sit-ups, sprinted for a time of over 55 secs, 50 push-ups, and finished with a 11:53 run. This is what prompted me to join a Crossfit gym after trying to do the workouts on my own.

After seriously Crossfiting with you for a month, I retook the test in early August, scoring a 17. Incredible results just after a month and a half! I completed 58 sit-ups, sprinted for a time of 52.4, 50 push-ups, and finished with a 12:14 run.

I retook the test again last night. SCORED A 24!!!! I completed 57 sit-ups, sprinted for a time of 46.58, 57 push-ups, and finished with a 10:59 run.

I feel that if I continued to only work out on my own, my improvement would only be minimal. Crossfit is amazing, and I just felt like sharing this improvement with you!

I was sitting here reflecting back on the last six months and one thing stood out more than any other – joining Petranek Fitness (CrossFit LA). Hands down, joining your gym has been one of the best decisions I’ve made this year.

Naz, Chris and I went to dinner on Friday, kind of a last supper before the O’ course, and began talking about the accomplishments we had made since joining the gym. Whether it was pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups or double-unders, we all managed to triumph over a skill we found difficult or simply undoable a few months earlier. It was inspiring hearing Naz and Chris talk about their progress and realizing how far we’d all come, but also realizing how far we had to go. I know I am in my infancy in terms of skill level, but relish at the thought of getting better and stronger each and everyday. It is great to see people like Mike S., Dave or you workout to see what is truly possible. I think it is a real testament that Andy, the Navy Seal instructor, is a Crossfit member in San Diego. This is a guy who went through six months of brutal basic training, running nine miles a day just to get meals. For Andy to decide to do Crossfit shows that it is an effective workout for everyone, including ultra fit individuals such as Navy Seals.

It's weird telling people about the workouts I do and having them look at me as if I am from another planet. People cannot believe how hard we train, but oddly enough, I could not imagine working out any other way. I actually think it is strange that other people do not workout like us – yeah that’s how skewed my mentality has become since joining the gym and I love it! It is nice getting compliments from friends, but to me the true achievement comes from knowing that I can do things I did not think possible.

Yesterday reinforced what I had learned at the gym months before, which is using your mental ability to complete a physical challenge. Of course, you can workout to muscle failure and all the mental preparation in the world is not going to help. What is difficult is getting there, giving it your all and leaving nothing on the table, that’s what I’ve learned in the short time I’ve been at CFLA.

I’ve never been an addict or had an addictive personality, but on my off days I find myself craving a workout. The workouts are clearly addictive and you should put a warning label at the bottom of the paperwork when people signup. Maybe something like “This workout is great for your health and will help you in positive ways you cannot imagine. Also, highly addictive!”

Thanks for your help and the help of your great staff! It is great having people who really care motivating you through some of the toughest workouts of your life. I’m looking forward to another brutal workout tomorrow!

Mike Heayn

I had been working out consistently for a long time with extremely good trainers in excellent facilities. When I joined Petranek Fitness (CrossFit LA), I was just expecting to maintain my level of fitness or maybe experience a slight improvement. I'm also in my early forties and didn't think "old" guys like me could see results.

Much to my surprise, I've seen significant results, to the extent that my wife has even given me unsolicited comments on my improved physique (as opposed to the solicited ones of the past!). I credit the improvement to the overall intensity of the Crossfit system and the great trainers at CFLA. I'm also motivated by the internal competition during workouts and feel that everyone is pushing me to go faster and stronger. I've tried to use the "old" guy excuse a few times so I could be lazy in class, but thankfully that does not work at CFLA!

If you are really interested in getting in shape, you can do it at CrossFit LA. It does not matter where you start -- you will see results!

Alex Bentley
Partner
Coronado Investments, LLC