FIND OUT WHAT OUR CLIENTS THINK!

9/22/2009 

Rene' Hardee

Three months ago, I walked into Crossfit with a skeptical mind and a bad attitude.  I mean, what kind of gym doesn’t have treadmills or elliptical machines!?  I sat down with one of the owners, JB, and for an hour I drilled him on why Crossfit was so much better than the $10/mth gym I had already been attending for years.  He dodged my verbal jabs and took my abuse with professionalism and style.  Finally, I barked out the mother of all consumer questions, “what kind of guarantee do I get for my money?”   JB looked me square in the face, and without blinking, he calmly responded, “if you put in the work, your body will be transformed in three months.”  That was the clincher I was waiting to hear. 

 

So here I am, three months later, and all I can say is…JB was right.  I began my journey barely being able to do a pull-up with a black band, and just the other day I did my first Rx kipping pull-up!  I’ve lost 15 lbs., 2 pant sizes, and nearly doubled the amount of weight I can lift over my head.  And the best part is, there’s no big secret; I just keep showing up J

 

Thank you Cathy, Donna, JB, Mike, and all the rest of the Crossfit staff for your support and encouragement.  You continually push me to be better, faster, and stronger, more than I could ever do on my own.  It is the best thing I have ever done for myself!

 

Rene’ Hardee – Physicist

-Crossfit skeptic turned believer-

This is chuck from gryphon this past week.  i just wanted to say thanks so much for having me towards the end of the week there.  it was great to get a couple workouts in with such a good group of people.  having seen several crossfit boxes throughout the east coast, i was truely impressed with the facility at harbor city.  the equipment was great (and everywhere!), the staff was knowledgeable and motivating, and the people training were high energy and positive, which is what i love. 

 

As a member of the special operations community, i know the importance of this type of physical training and have been involved with crossfit for quite a while.  i am also a crossfit level one trainer.  even with that background, the combination of the atmosphere of your facility and your training staff kicked my ass!  im still sore!  keep it up.

 

thanks so much again to you and your partners for such hospitality.  i love the crossfit community because that is what it is all about.  i will be wearing your t-shirt all around new england too! 

 

chuck

20th SF Group U.S. Army

CT Police Officer

Crossfit Level I Trainer

 If I can do CrossFit, almost anybody can do it!
I’m a fifty-year-old woman who slacked off from my exercise routine for a few years. I continued to look o.k. (just a few extra pounds) but knew I had lost some of my strength, muscle tone, and stamina. The walking a few miles and dumbbells on the floor in front of the T.V. was just not getting it.
Not wanting to suffer from the effects of osteoporosis, and not willing to be satisfied looking and feeling like some 50 year olds in this country I desperately searched for something to get me, and keep me in shape. After joining and quitting at least three different gyms, trying out dance, yoga studios, and having the use of my own private neighborhood gym with little or no results, I had taken to the couch and felt lost and sorry for myself.
 
Well- NO MORE! Now I am part of the Crossfit Success Story.
 
        It’s been only three months since I walked through the door at Harbor City CrossFit. I’ve done everything that has been asked of me by my trainers (well, almost, right Amy?). Each workout has been scaled to meet my current fitness level. Results where virtually immediate.
         I’ve moaned and groaned about being sore as little as possible to my friends and family (they put up with a lot). Then, the most amazing thing happened - everyone wanted to come see what I’ve been doing. I’m not sure if it’s the change in my body (awesome), or the glowing CrossFit high that surrounds me, but last week ten of my friends and family joined me and participated in their very first Crossfit workout.
 
Now they all know what I’m so high on every night at the dinner table.
 
My family is all in, as are five of my friends so far. My husband simply cannot let me look and feel like a million without him.   Our already very athletic teenage boys want “guns like Mom’s”. We all love that CrossFit is not a place to go to show off, instead, it’s a place to get the support and knowledge needed to make the very best of the body you have.  It’s an addiction, and what a great addiction to have!
The fact that I’m working along side of, and doing the same workout as “special forces guys” just blows my mind. No one ever laughed at me when I couldn’t do my first pull up; instead they encouraged and trained me until I could do More than I ever thought possible!
I love all the other Harbor city members and the Harbor city CrossFit staff is THE BOMB!
Thank you Harbor City CrossFit for helping me be Fabulous at 50!
 
Sondra Barchard
Satellite Beach, Florida
Very proud Woman age 50 5’3” 112    
Sport of choice- CrossFit

          

As a former division 1 collegiate athlete I have always prided myself in maintaining a high level of fitness. Today I'm almost 40 years old and I am in the best shape of my life thanks to CrossFit! CrossFit, with its varied movements, high intensity and great coaching has revolutionized the way I train and stay fit. As I look around the gym I see people from all walks of life: mothers, fathers like me, senior citizens, younger folks all having a blast and all getting in great shape. Thank you CrossFit family for greatly improving my quality of life.

Jason Anthony Palmisano 

My name is Ricky Connor, am 34 years old and have lived in 

Melbourne my entire life. I work for Brevard County Fire Rescue as a 

Lieutenant/Paramedic out of Firehouse 41 on Merritt Island. I've been 

doing the Crossfit program since late January of 2008. I have seen 

unbelievable results and have met or broken all of my personal goals 

that I set for myself when I began. I've never been able to do this on 

any other program or at any other gym. It truly is amazing.

One day I decided that I was not at all happy with my physical 

self which was also having an effect on my mental well being. I knew I 

had to do something to change myself and had been hearing good things 

about Crossfit from a couple of co-workers. I was 205 pounds on a 5' 

11" frame, barely squeezing myself into a 34 waist and no stamina or 

conditioning what so ever. I found myself becoming short of breath just 

from running to the firetruck to answer a call. I knew this wasn't 

right, especially when we as fireman are required to use respirators 

quite frequently but at the same time, I realized my personal health 

was at stake. I was also having chronic, terrible head-aches that I 

think were due to borderline high blood pressure and an un-healthy and 

stagnant lifestyle. I needed something new, something different from 

the "globo-gym, beautiful people" setting with stair-masters and 

treadmills. I'd tried all of that before with little results. I 

realized that there is no "E

asy-Button" for good fitness and would have to swallow my pride, change 

my lifestyle and commit myself to something better..... Crossfit!

After I realized all of this, I decided to give Mike Manning a 

call at BCFR Station 47 one morning to ask him if I could try it out. 

He told me to get off my ass and get to the gym and he would call 

Donna, his wife and also a trainer, and let her know I was coming. I 

walked into the gym for the first time and met the "Nasty Girls" right 

away. This was the workout of the day (WOD) and was a eye opening 

experience as to what I was up against.... but I loved it. I was hooked 

and immediately told the staff that I wanted to join. I continued to go 

to the gym every chance I got, working harder each time in an effort to 

better myself, my health and my fitness level. I also changed my diet 

dramatically. I cut out all of the garbage and began to eat more lean 

meats, leafy green veggies, fruits, nuts and tried my best to drink a 

gallon of water a day. No more cokes, no more chips, candy, fast food 

and most of all on the advice of the trainers, little to no sugar. I 

began to notic

e very quickly that my clothes were fitting more loose and I was 

gaining some tone to my physique. 

After many talks with the training staff at HC2, i realized that 

it takes a different frame of mind for good fitness as well. "Mental 

Fortitude" is a term that I kept hearing. Having the ability to 

mentally push your body harder when your brain is telling you to stop. 

I tried my best to adopt this philosophy and began practicing it with 

each workout. I noticed my WOD times getting better and my strength 

training numbers increasing all the while continuing to lose weight. 

Although the weight loss was important, I kept in mind that good 

fitness was my primary target and the new physique was just a welcomed 

side effect so I continued to push myself harder and harder. 

I have been doing Crossfit at HC2 for a little over 10 months. In 

that time I have taken over 8 minutes off of my 5K run time and am 

running it in 21:35 which I never thought I could ever do. When I 

walked in the gym that January morning, I could not do one single pull-

up. I can now do 150 pull-ups in a 20 minute work-out and have now 

progressed to muscle-ups (thanks to Donna and Amy) which are much more 

difficult. I am now writing times on the white board that are very 

close, if not sometimes better than the "Big-Dogs" in the gym. I have 

lost 40 pounds and weigh 165lbs. now, went from a 34 waist to a loose 

fitting 30 waist size and actually have abs which I thought I was born 

without. I am in the best shape of my life and love it and haven't had 

one of my usual, debilitating headaches in months. I wake up and can't 

wait to get to the gym to give it hell yet again. 

This is the best thing I have ever done for myself and cannot 

imaging living without it now. It has changed my life and the way I 

live it. I crave healthier foods and not the garbage that I was eating 

before. I pay closer attention to how much I eat and honestly, I cannot 

physically squeeze as much in my stomach as I once could. I make it a 

point to get more sleep at night and workouts are now a daily priority. 

I feel that I've met the good fitness goal that I set for myself and am 

now seeking "Elite Fitness" which is part of the Crossfit motto. 

Mentally, Crossfit has helped me to have a completely different 

frame of mind. "I CAN" instead of "I CAN'T". Mediocrity is no longer 

acceptable for me now. "Mental Fortitude" is a great friend and has 

allowed me to better myself, not only mentally and physically but also 

professionally and personally. This program has positively affected 

almost every aspect of my life and I am truly greatful for it. 

The last and final thing that has helped me to succeed and excel 

at this is the gym itself.... HC2. When I walked in, I was overweight 

and completely out of shape yet there was not one person in there, 

whether it was a trainer or client that treated me poorly or looked 

down at me for not being at their level. Everyone there gave and 

continues to give me total encouragement to better myself which helps 

my motivation level. To date, I have yet to hear anyone talk down or 

treat anyone else in there with disrespect. By rule, it's 100% 

encouragement, whether its your first day or your 356th day. Each and 

every trainer has had a hand in my development, as well as a few fellow 

clients and I do my best to help others as well, whether it be clients 

or even a trainer from time to time (ie. progressive muscle-ups.... 

Donna). You all (Donna and Mike, Amy and Juan, Cathy and J.B., and 

Debi) are a great group of folks and I am very greatful for your 

encouragement, leadership and frie

ndship.

Thank you,

Ricky Connor 

Harbor City Crossfit offers something that you can't find at other gyms.  Other gyms don't have people that know you, that can tell how you're feeling when you walk in or that truly care about your well being like HC2.  People are excited to see you when you show up and it's always a positive atmosphere.  The trainers are certified and really take the time to help each and every single member of the gym.  It's nice to be important.  Plus with Crossfit, you look better naked.   Trampas Howe “T-Rex”  1Lt. USAF

 

I have recommended Harbor City Crossfit to a lot of people. To anybody who listens I tell them about the positive changes I've experienced since I started with you last April. I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far and I'm thankful to you, Mike, JB, Kathy, Jaun, and several others for giving me a place and a chance to push myself and improve. Everytime the subject of fitness or a work-out program comes up, I'll continue to suggest Crossfit as the best alternative and I'll tell them exactly where they can find it: at HC2.  

Jeremy Fischer, Professional Firefighter

 

I would definitely recommend Harbor City Crossfit to everyone I know. The training environment is great! The trainers are amazing and very knowledgable. The whole atmosphere is supportive which makes me want to work harder. Plus the results are great!!  

Sam Cody, 1LT USAF

 

I would recommend HC2 to a friend because of the amazing results, the camaraderie and the environment. It's a place where you can sweat, grunt, make noises and dump weights, if you have to. You get coached for intensity and techniqe every single time you're in there, and everyone there encourages you through each workout. We can let it all hang out and there's nothing to be ashamed of.

 I would caution people, though, to listen to their bodies, and be mindful of pushing beyond limits too soon. It's smart to lift with a lighter weight sometimes in order to avoid injury. Some workouts are more effective with a slightly lower weight if you can keep up the aerobics of it, instead of dumping it every two reps.

 I joined another gym, in addition to CrossFit, just so I can use the pool. But I worked out once in the weight room and felt out of place. CrossFit is definitely the place for me... now if you could only build your own pool....!!! 

 -Lee Nessel, Florida Today Sports Editor

Why would I recommend HC2?  Hmm.....for me, the people are a big reason.  Not only you guys running the gym, but also the other people working out.  It's a very cool atmosphere.  I've been to a few of the globo-gyms, and no one talks to anyone else, works out together, etc.  Here, everybody knows everybody, we all cheer each other on, we all suffer through the same workout.  Even if HC2 wasn't doing CrossFit, I'd probably stick around just for that atmosphere. 

 I also like all the instruction and encouragement that you guys (the people who work there) give. 

 Oh, another part of the atmosphere I like is having Moses or the dogs running around.  It makes the gym feel like you're with extended family.   

 Earl Stephans

 ps.  I'm out to sea right now, but I'm still doing the workouts.  I'm psyching myself up for Fight Gone Bad tomorrow.  3-2-1 Go!

 

 I would and have recommended Harbor City Crossfit.  It is very hard to argue with the results Shane and I have gotten.  Unfortunately, most people are unwilling to put in the work necessary to see any results.  These days if anything is in any way difficult or uncomfortable it is automatically categorized as “Too Hard” so people choose not to do it.  As I have told you, I have made more progress in the short time I have been at Harbor City Crossfit than I have in all the years at Gold’s/Sunbay fitness.  Shane has also come a long way from where he was when he started the Boot Camp.  The atmosphere is great also, it makes all the difference in the world to have people cheering for you when you are nearing your limits.

Regards,

 Michael Hill