Members of Inspiration – September 2020

Name: Qiana ‘Q’ Hasberry
Age: 43
How long you have been a member at CFSC: About 1.5 years, was a previous member with my husband, Aarick in 2015

How you got started at CFSC: After having two boys (Stone, 4 and Titan, 2) I found myself weighing 243lbs and miserable. I was a heavily medicated. I had hypertension, my new circulation left both of my hands numb and I felt completely helpless, I couldn’t even work. I was super depressed. I couldn’t even pick up my kids.

I was prescribed 5 blood pressure meds to be taken around the clock. With every dose I had to check my pressure. I own 3 different blood pressure machines. For real. It was awful. I had to wake up in the middle of the night to take pills, around a nursing schedule.

I didn’t know myself anymore. I used to race cars and motorcycles, and I was told by doctors not to get my pressure up. For a thrill seeker, that’s the kiss of death. I was VERY afraid to exercise because my doctors kept warning of stroke signs, cardiac arrest, etc. I just kept gaining weight. I felt like the pills made me even sicker. At this point, I had to make a decision to defy my doctors. I kept thinking that this is no way to live. I don’t ever want to be stuck on the beach. I wanna jump in the waves! I wanna boogie board with my boys! I still need to learn to surf!

My mother in law, a 35-year veteran nurse, worked with me to help wean me off blood pressure meds. In short, she would help with dosage, and I broke a ton of the doctors’ rules. I started juicing fresh garlic, turmeric and ginger root cocktails. I would take two shots a day to thin my blood. I called it nature’s tequila. I switched from coffee to tea. I meditated a ton to keep my pressure down. I would prescribe myself silent therapy days, and music only days too. When I got back to the doctors, they were very surprised that my blood pressure was near normal, with some weight loss. I didn’t tell them I was completely off the meds. I was told, “Very light activity only, don’t want get those numbers too high.” They had no solutions, only pills. I did my best to move more. I swam a few times a week, walked my dog and ate mostly homemade baby food to get my weight down. It worked, and I lost 27 lbs but I knew it wouldn’t stay off and I would definitely plateau if I didn’t sign back up at CFSC. Before I got started again Brian adjusted me a few times and my hands came back to life, so did my business. Thank you, Brian.

Now, I’m living prescription free with pretty normal blood pressure. I’m about 200lbs and building muscle, and I can even jog a little. Jogging for me is a miracle, because I have metal in my hip, and thanks to CFSC, I don’t have hip pain anymore. No more pain meds. Yay! I recently worked with Coach T to learn how to eat smarter and more often; did I mention that T is amazing? I’ve learned so much from her about food mixing, macros, and all the fit people stuff. I feel a lot healthier after quarantine now; thank you T.

So, when you see me doing a victory jog after the WOD, I really am celebrating. I can slap my husband around, pick up my kids, I’m off blood pressure meds, pain killers, and I can jog.

(Don’t worry about Aarick, he can totally take a punch) Next goal…booty shorts, cause Maury already said I was a Bad Bitch!

Favorite CrossFit movement: Deadlifts

Least favorite CrossFit movement: Overhead Anything (why is this still scary?)

Favorite healthy food/meal: Sushi

Favorite part about CFSC: Anything can be scaled

Something we don’t know about you:
I’ve been a Pescatarian for 20years (yes I get plenty of protein)

Words of wisdom for people who are new to CrossFit or interested in trying it: Don’t give up. These coaches didn’t get fit overnight and neither will you. Have patience with yourself and be nice to yourself always. Oh and great health is priceless.

 

Name: Ryan “Zeke” Zickos
Age: 45 this month
How long you have been a member at CFSC: 5.75 years

How you got started at CFSC: So my wife and I were driving around one day and she sees this guy jogging with his shirt off and goes, “nice!”  I said to myself, I guess I know what I need to do now. That’s right…….murder. Calm down, I’m not murdering my wife, I’m murdering him.  Geez, I’m not an animal.

The next day I ride by at the same time and I see shirtless, ugly, dumb face guy.  We have words…he ends up dead…nice.  I stuff him in my trunk and drive home to ponder my next move.  Where is a desolate, shady place that dead bodies get tossed all the time? Of course! Westinghouse Blvd!

I wake up early the next morning, like stupid early when nobody would possibly be awake, and I head out to this sketchy area behind old warehouses off Westinghouse.  I park my car and carry the body back in some woods, toss it, and head back to my car.  When I get to the previously deserted parking lot, multiple car have arrived!  Again, this is like 5am.  Well, there also happens to be a cop parking his car.  There seems to be people running in a group, so I smile at the cop, say “good day for a run”, and join the running group.  Well damn if the cop didn’t start running too!  I thought this dude is on to me, so I follow the group into some “warehouse gym” and start squatting, or whatever it’s called when you pretend like you’re sitting down, but just kidding, stand back up?  Whatever.  The cop says, first time, eh?  I’m thinking, yes, first time I murdered someone. But he means working out.  I made small talk and stupidly said, “See you tomorrow!”  So dumb.  Now I need to show up tomorrow to not raise suspicion.

So the next morning I wake up stupid early and walk into the gym like I own it, and proceed to “work out”.  Apparently, people pay for this?  Whatever, I tell the cop it was great to meet him, and I’m totally committed to this “work out” thing, but I’ll need to come later in the days, because I’m allergic to mornings.  He understood and said he’ll also come at nights.  Crap.  So here I am, coming to this thing called CrossFit, not paying, covering up a murder.  Good thing there’s such thing as a statute of limitations, right?  Right?  Damn.

Favorite CrossFit movement: I’m really good at the rest periods in between rounds. Sometimes I Rx those.  I even finds spots where they weren’t planned, and rest, thinking I’m really killing this WOD doing extra reps of rest.

Least favorite CrossFit movement: Deadlifts and farmers carry remind me of this one time I carried a dead body, I’ll tell you about it later, but it makes me sad and anxious.

Favorite healthy food/meal: I feel like this is a trick question. Definitely chicken…….wings……..with ranch. But, chicken, right?

Favorite part about CFSC: Definitely the openness of the gym and ease of fitting in, and nobody questioning if you’ve paid or are a member. And the coaches. Yes, I’m a fan of at least one or two of them. Especially when Chuy says “glutes”.  Glooootes! Makes me so happy J

Something we don’t know about you: Murder is always my go to answer for this question.  But I suppose you know that already.  Hmmm.  I do all sports lefty, but I write with my right hand.  Nah, that’s lame.  I have a twin sister.  Meh.  How about, I hate all things seafood.  That’s so controversial!  I’ll stick with that.

Words of wisdom for people who are new to CrossFit or interested in trying it:  First, always pay for your membership.  Not doing it and keeping it bottled up is not healthy.  Luckily, I’m grandfathered in.  Right?  After that, I’d say that if I can do it, anyone can.  I mean, I was eating a Totino’s pizza and half a bag of Dove chocolates every night.  Do I miss it? Hell yeah, it was pizza and chocolate.  Did it make me happy?  Well, yes, I would get home from work with a big grin on my face waiting to inhale pizza and chocolate.  Wait.  I got it.  Was it healthy!?!?  Hmmm, to be determined.  But working out here gets me less fatty and makes me feel good, so that’s gotta count for something.