Our community members inspire us daily.
We’re excited to share their stories with you and can’t wait to be a part of
your own fitness story!
"3 years ago I was a very unhappy, unhealthy 22 year old girl. My nutrition was terrible, I was very unmotivated to exercise and was so self conscious. I then got really sick and learned I had Crohn's disease. This was it. One day I decided enough was enough and I messaged Mandi to set up a meeting to start doing some personal training sessions with her. She was just about to start her boot camp and recommended I try that out.
The first class was hell. I remember leaving feeling so defeated and I cried all the way back to work. I was so out of shape and didn't realize it. That was the moment I knew I had to stick with it if I wanted things to change. I couldn't walk for probably 3 weeks straight but each class got easier and easier and I felt better each day. I met so many amazing women in this class that both motivated and inspired me.
I did the boot camp from October to April then joined the regular CrossFit classes. Joining this gym has been the best thing I could have done for myself. I feel so much stronger, healthier and happier! I have lost almost 60 pounds and have learned so much about nutrition and more importantly myself. I can't thank Brandon and Mandi enough for their amazing support and guidance. I definitely couldn't have done it without them or any of my CrossFit family members!"
- Laura Knoblauch
"My testimonial is a bit different. In writing this I hope people, both men and women, see and understand the benefits of working out while pregnant. I am 28 years old and a mother of two. I joined CrossFit after my first daughter was born. Before and throughout my first pregnancy I was active, doing bootcamp classes, but I felt as though they were getting too easy for me and I needed to actually lift some weight and accomplish some gymnastic skills to challenge myself.
When I found out I was pregnant with my second child it wasn’t a question if I was going to continue exercising – I wanted to continue with CrossFit, and with my doctor’s consent I was able too. I was healthy my whole pregnancy and was able to most of the group class workouts with some modifications. At 37 weeks pregnant, I had just finished my workout of the day, and I felt a bit funny. After going to the hospital and being observed, tests were done and the doctors noticed a spot on the left side of my brain. I was so upset when I realized that at 28 years old I had had a stroke (which I found out happened more than people realize in pregnant women because of the increase of blood flow).
A lot of my family blamed my stroke on working out, but the doctor informed us all that working out was the best thing I could have done. The reason I had no harm and needed no therapy after was because I worked out and was fit. I had two extremely easy births that I give thanks to being fit and working out. I am very lucky to have had such supportive coaches and a supportive CrossFit family. It encourages me to work hard. And that hard work pays off – I was back in the gym 4 days after I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl named Harper.
Working out through my whole pregnancy allowed me to get back right into what I love! I wake up every morning and realize life is a blessing, and it is because of my stroke that my mindset has changed. Setting a good, healthy example for your kids from the start is something you will be forever thankful for. My oldest daughter loves going to the gym (and doing burpees!)."
- Kelsey Giroux
"The moment I decided to get my butt off the couch and join Crossfit Weyburn was one of the best decisions of my life! I've always hated going to the gym because the equipment always intimidated me and I was always afraid of making a fool out of myself by doing something wrong. With Crossfit Weyburn I never have to worry about that.
You receive personal training before stepping into a class so that you are actually prepared for them. You learn the proper forms for lifts and other movements so that you don't get injured while doing them, which makes classes a lot less intimidating. But, I think what I love most about this place, is the sense of belonging. You are never judged because you might still have to do box squats or you can't do a chin-up. And the excitement you see on the coaches and other member's faces when someone sets a personal record is pretty awesome!
So my suggestion for anybody thinking about joining Crossfit Weyburn...do it! The best investment you can make is in yourself."
- Lyndsay Moorman
"I began my self-love journey in July by being accepted into Mandi's RISE program. I call it my self-love journey instead of my fitness journey because little did I know by joining RISE it would change a lot more than my physical health. I heard about RISE from a Facebook post my friend shared. When I first read it I was extremely excited. I knew this was what I needed to stick to a work out plan. I had been on again off again with various "weight loss" methods, like Ideal Protein and the 21-Day Fix. But on top of being excited, I was also terrified. I knew this meant that I had to not only share my "story" to someone I did not know, but it meant I had to work out in a room full of women I did not know.
However I put that at the back of my head and messaged Mandi. From the first message I received back from her I could tell how extremely kind and supportive she was as a person. I had my interview with her and shortly after found out I was accepted. The workouts were three times a week all summer and boy were they tough. Mandi never allowed any of us to give up and even when we felt like we couldn't do another burpee, she was there to tell us to keep pushing. RISE was one of the best things to ever happen to my life.
CrossFit Weyburn and RISE gave me confidence to get to the gym. It made me realize I am capable of much more than I ever thought possible and it built some strong relationships between the women who were able to take part. After RISE I chose to go ahead with the personal training sessions with my sister in law because we both knew we wanted to take part in CrossFit classes. In personal training I felt that Lisa and I were able to learn at our own pace. I never felt rushed or stupid because I couldn't do it the first try. Mandi showed us nothing but patience and support through out the entire time. It didn't matter how many times I asked her to demonstrate it again, she did. Personal training was even scarier for me than RISE was because often times there would be faces in the gym that I had never seen before, but each and every time we saw nothing but kindness and support from other members. Since personal training ended I have taken part in regular CrossFit classes and I love them.
The whole coaching team at CrossFit Weyburn are all very much alike in the sense that I never feel worried or embarrassed having to ask a question. They all come around and remind you about proper technique so you don't hurt yourself and are able to get the full benefit of the work out you are doing. CrossFit has given me confidence. It has given me a sense of power. It makes me feel strong. It makes me proud of myself for taking care of my body. CrossFit has made me love my body. I may not be where I want to be just yet, but I know that with CrossFit, these coaches, the support from all the members of the gym and my own determination that I can in fact get to where I want to be.
The journey there is just as important and valuable as actually being there. CrossFit made me realize that I am worth taking care of and that I have as much of a right to physical health and using the gym as any other person does. Since July, I have more energy. I used to nap all the time because of how exhausted I was. I would be tired by eleven in the morning. I would toss and turn for hours at night before falling asleep. I didn't even realize this; my fiancé just pointed it out to me. Now when I go to bed at night and my head hits the pillow, I am asleep within twenty minutes. I am not winded carrying a laundry basket full of laundry up the stairs anymore. CrossFit benefited my life in more ways than I even thought possible when I first applied for the RISE program. I figured I would work out, lose weight, and feel better about myself. It is much more than that.
The sense of community and kindness you feel when you finish a work out and someone you just met tells you that you did a good job. I feel strong and empowered when I put more weight onto a barbell. It isn't just about losing weight for me anymore. I want to be strong. I want to be healthy. I want to be able to take care of myself for a long time and with CrossFit I know I will be able to do accomplish all of those things."
- MacKenzie O'Dell