Copy of ANNOUNCEMENTS

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: MIKE D!

1. Tell us about yourself. My name is Mike Doughty. I’m 38 years old. I’ve lived all over western Washington my whole life, from Bellingham to Mossyrock (yes, that is an actual town). I have a beautiful wife named Ashlea and a 3 year old son, Aiden. We’re expecting our 2nd child in June. Along with my father and brother, I run a commercial framing & drywall business. No, I can’t fix the drywall at your house.

2. What made you start CrossFit? Throughout my 20’s, I was in the gym almost daily. As I got into my 30's, I think I just got burnt out on the routine. I was lifting the same weights, waiting on a group of bros to get done with the machine I wanted, making sure I went at “off-peak” hours to avoid the crowd, etc. It just got monotonous. It became more of an inner struggle to find the motivation to hit the gym. Around the age of 31, I started working out more and more sporadically. When I was 35, my son was born and I pretty much stopped working out. By the time I turned 38, back in March, I had packed on 50 pounds in 7 years and I was miserable.

I was completely intimidated by CrossFit before I joined Imperial. I was out-of-shape and, quite frankly, I thought I would embarrass myself if I tried to join a CrossFit gym. Crossfitters seemed so hardcore from stuff I saw online. They did crazy lifts I’d never tried and worked out in weird warehouse gyms that didn’t even have treadmills or televisions! Plus, like, almost everyday is leg day. Its not that I always skipped leg day at the gym, it’s that I never even scheduled one into my routine. I was always intrigued by CrossFit but told myself it was too expensive. By that time I had completely given up on the gym. Here I was paying $49 a month for a gym membership I never used and Crossfit was too expensive?! How’s that for an excuse? Then I started thinking about my son. If I kept on the path I was on, would I be able to run around with him in 5 years, 10 years? I look at it like this: I’m 38. How much time do I really have left to be this physically able bodied? What price would I pay to have longevity? I had to start working out again but I needed help. That’s when I found Imperial.

3. What do you enjoy most about Imperial and/or CrossFit in general? I’ve heard people refer to CrossFit as a cult and if it were I’d be happy to drink the kool-aid and worship barbells with everyone at Imperial. What is great about CrossFit is that you’re never alone and there’s always someone there to motivate you. I just remember that first month, always wanting to make an excuse to give up when a WOD was too hard. What motivated me was not wanting to be the guy walking when everyone else is running. I didn’t want to be resting while everyone was lifting. I needed that push. On top of that, the members and staff are a very welcoming group. We all push each other to succeed in healthy goals and lifestyle.

4. What’s your most & least favorite movement/lift? I have a love/hate relationship with snatches. They’re my (and probably everyone’s) most challenging lift to do correctly, but when I nail one there is no better feeling. I found myself skipping snatch day at first because they gave me fits. But thanks to the coaches’ constant nagging to finish my pull and keep my eyes and chest up, I stuck with them and nail a solid 3 out of every 10 or so.

5. What impact has CrossFit had on your life inside/outside of the gym? CrossFit not only gives me an outlet for exercising but also offers a diverse community of great people that I would never get a chance to otherwise interact with on a daily basis. That’s another reason to love CrossFit. You actually get to know the people you’re working out with instead of putting in ear buds and working out for 2 hours without saying a word. Obviously, working out regularly has improved my life beyond measure. I’m no longer trapped in my Dad bod that made me constantly uncomfortable. I’m motivated to eat healthier, I sleep better, and I think am generally a more positive person since starting CrossFit. 

6. When you’re not CrossFitting, what is your favorite thing to do?  I love spending time with my wife & son on family outings. I’m always intrigued by woodworking and DIY projects. I read daily. I love snowboarding even though I never make time to go. Also love the outdoors. Can’t wait to take my son on his first camping trip. I'm also thinking of doing my first Spartan race this year.

7. What piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out/thinking of joining? For those of you looking at Crossfit for the first time, don’t be intimidated. Anyone can do CrossFit. ANYONE. If you’re thinking of joining, stop thinking, just do it. If you’re willing to put in the time, CrossFit is a great investment in your personal growth and well-being. 

For those of you just starting out, don’t pay attention to how you stack up to others in the class. When I first joined, I would try to keep pace with people that have been doing CrossFit for years. I don’t care who you are, that ain’t happening. Just do you. Don’t think of it as a personal defeat if you have to scale back the WOD by a significant amount. Those scaled back movements are just baby steps. Eventually you'll find yourself doing lifts and movements you never thought you'd be able to.

8. What is your favorite workout fuel? Food & water. I don't take any supplements. 

9. Tell us about your results/how far you’ve come since joining! Since joining Imperial, I've lost 25 lbs. and gained back the muscle I had lost during my inactive years. While I'm still not able to RX every workout, I can usually get in 1 or 2 a week. If I could just get my double unders down I could really increase that average.

10. Free-write (anything else you’d like to share?): I’d like to thank the coaches at Imperial for all the teaching and support on my mission toward my fitness goals. And to my fellow members, you motivate me everyday just by showing up and working out alongside me. I have rekindled my passion for physical fitness and I have Imperial to thank for that. 

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: MINNIE!

1. Tell us about yourself.
I was born and raised in Pago Pago, American Samoa. I am half Fijian/Indian and Samoan – my Father was born in Fiji and my Mother from Savaii (a smaller island in western Samoa/Samoa). I am happily married to my husband Kevin and we have 2 amazing boys (3 and 21) that keep our lives exciting.

2. What made you start CrossFit?
I started Crossfit a little over a year ago because I wanted to work on getting better at the Olympic lifts.

3. What do you enjoy most about Imperial and/or CrossFit in general?
I love the community here at Imperial- it’s like one big family. You always feel the love and support.

4. What’s your most favorite movement/lift?  Least favorite?
My favorite lift is the snatch and favorite movement is thrusters. Least favorite lift will probably be the split jerk- still lots to work on as far as core strength and stability for that and box jumps.

5. What impact has CrossFit had on your life inside/outside of the gym?
My mindset has changed so much since starting Crossfit: Learning to focus only on what I can control (myself and my reactions), taking personal challenges/obstacles head on and “embracing the suck” in a productive and positive manner rather than complaining and avoiding them. There is always an opportunity to learn and grow from any setback.

6. When you’re not CrossFitting, what is your favorite thing to do?
My husband and I love to travel so the very few times I am not at the gym is usually because we are out of town. Reading, Hiking and participating in Spartan races are some of my favorite things to do.

7. What piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out/thinking of joining?
Just show up and do it! Anyone can do Crossfit no matter what age or fitness level. All the movements can be scaled to fit what’s comfortable for you.

8. What is your favorite workout fuel?
Pre workout: Nova 3 Labs Max Perform 
Post workout: FitAid 

9. Tell us about your results/how far you’ve come since joining!
I’ve really been focusing a lot on the basics and technique for all the lifts/movements and getting better at that before adding more weight and a lot of my progress recently has stemmed from working on that first.

10. Free-write (anything else you’d like to share?):
Sharing one of my favorite quotes: “A ship in the harbor is safe. But that’s not what ships are built for.” Go and do the hard things and learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Thanks for thinking of me for this month’s athlete spotlight!

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: NATHIN!
1.   Tell us about yourself.
My Name is Nathindra Prasad (go by Nathin). Was born and raised in the Fiji Islands and moved to the US just over 20 years ago. In 2 months, I will be 57. Am happily married to my first Love for 34 years. Proud parents of a daughter who is 33 and a son who is 32. Earn a living by working as Residential Real Estate Appraiser and have been in the profession since 1981.

2.  What made you start CrossFit?
Have been an outdoors person best part of my life. Enjoyed playing soccer, rugby, field hockey, volley ball and lawn tennis in my younger days. Got in to hiking and running when I moved to the US in 1998. As time went by, my knees started giving trouble, so I stopped running and joined Vision Quest which was later bought out by LA Fitness. High cholesterol number’s and other genetic inheritance kept me motivated to stay healthy. While in a spin class, a member asked my wife and I if we would like to try out CrossFit and mentioned the nearby Imperial CrossFit. If I recall correctly, it was a month or so before Memorial Day in 2016 when I walked in to Imperial CrossFit and have done three Murph’s since.

3.  What do you enjoy most about Imperial and/or CrossFit in general?
The community feel is what I like best. There is always a sense of belonging. I am one of the very few older member’s in the box and the youngsters are always welcoming and encouraging during the WOD’s.
The different daily workouts and strength training is also something that works well for me given my aim to stay healthy with good eating habits and exercise.

4.  What’s your most favorite movement/lift?  Least favorite?
I enjoy rope climbs and with my improved stamina, wall balls also seem to be fun these days. Least favorite are cleans and squat – I don’t think these movements are for oldies who are 6’2”.

5.  What impact has CrossFit had on your life inside/outside of the gym?
Being an immigrant, it took time making friends outside the Fijian immigrant community. CrossFit has made that a lot easier for me-I now have friends I get to meet and talk to at least 6 days a week. Vinaka Vaka Levu (‘a BIG Thank You’-in Fijian) to the Imperial CrossFit community for that.
With the time invested in vigorous workouts and reaping benefits, I have become more disciplined towards making sure that I eat right. From being a vegetarian, I have of recent adopted a vegan lifestyle.

6.   When you’re not CrossFitting, what is your favorite thing to do?
Spiritual reading daily and then sharing the knowledge is my favorite thing to do. Go out for day hikes when I can.

7.   What piece of advice would you give to someone who is just starting out/thinking of joining? 
In the 3 years that I have been with Imperial CrossFit, I have seen many, especially those who are in a not so good shape, come and leave in a short while. I had difficulty doing overhead squats with a ‘pvc’ pipe when I first started. I can now do that with 95lb’s. Take it easy, be consistent and you sure will come out strong. 

8.   What is your favorite workout fuel?
I don’t have anything. But I do pop my vegan 1000mcg B12 during my 5-minute drive to the box. Have vegan base protein shake post workout when I get back home. 

9.    Tell us about your results/how far you’ve come since joining!
I don’t have any set goals to be able to lift heavy or anything like that. I feel strong and healthy. My stamina has certainly improved and now you can see me with a 45lb plate on the GHD-do 50 reps every day I am in the box. 

10. Free-write (anything else you’d like to share?):
I want to thank everyone who crossed my path since I began on this CrossFit journey. My feeling great would not have been possible without your encouragement and support.
We all work to earn a living. We all eat right and exercise to keep our bodies healthy. Now, these are essential for a Loving, Happy & Peaceful Life. The one component missing in the equation is a silent mind. You can not stop the mind from thinking BUT you sure can slow it down and you can surely create pure & power thoughts. I encourage you all to meditate to achieve a higher level of living.
Aum Shanti (‘I am a Peaceful Soul’-in my mother tongue; Hindi)