Beyul Training

The short part: Programming will switch to monthly cycles that have clear goals that will be easily understood by all individuals participating in the Whiteboard programming.  The monthly goals will always contribute to a year long plan to make everyone a little more active, a little more athletic, and a little more healthy.  This doesn’t change much from last years programming except for the following: I want everyone involved to know exactly what they are working out for and what they are striving to do.

To help everyone accomplish this we will be holding a 30m Q&A before every Olympic Lifting class.  We will utilize this time to discuss the current cycle and what individual changes one may want to do depending on your current status.  First Session will be January 14^th 2012 (9:30-11:30).

There were three main areas I saw as failures on my part in 2011: I did not get enough gains for the more experienced athletes, I could have done a better job keeping people off of the injury reserved list, and I abandoned performing the programming myself.  For me to understand your struggles, I must work alongside of you.  This doesn’t mean at times people can depart from our program, but as the creator I have to be involved in a greater extent to the day-to-day struggles of everyone.  More doing, and more gaining in 2012.

Well, that wasn’t as short as I intended.

One more important thing to note is Dan and I originally intended for an “Athlete of the Year” to cap off the “Athlete of the Month” that we ran in 2011.  However, when I received the write-up for the Athlete of the Month for November, I realized something significant.  This was the first athlete that Dan and I had very little direct influence over.  Fred came to the group via Brian, and succeeded due to his will and the communities support.

Something significant changed in 2011.  No longer was Dan or I the necessary driver for change.  This program that we developed changed from two to many, and I hope you allow us to empower more of you to affect those around you.  Cheers to you all as everyone deserves the moniker “Athlete of the Year”. I need to stop writing as this is getting close to a lovefest with some serious self-aggrandizing stuff as well.

Thank you and I look forward to working with you all.

December Athlete of the Month: Fred Wissing (Write-up Curteousy of Brian McGuire)

I would like to tell three stories about Fred Wissing.  Each story describes how he changed his life in unconventional ways to achieved incredible results.

The first story is about taking a risk and making a change.

Fred’s changed started about one year ago.  He was working hard at work, enjoying beer, eating like a college freshman, and burdened by a bad back and knees.  The love of beer was exhibited by his at home kegulator and a mug the size of a Christmas stocking.  “Fran” to Freddy was the tavern that sold barbecue on Main Street.  A “push up” was the effort to get off the sofa to get to the keg.  Fred weighted 200lbs and it was the most he ever weighed.

Fred knew that he needed to make a life change in his diet and physical health.  One day, about a year ago, he was challenged to come to the gym one day a week and give crossfit a try. He had several questions,  such as why I was still sweating after returning to work and if his back would be able to take much.   Fred still accepted the challenge and on that day his change began.

The second story is about being unconventional: 

Fred is unique in many ways.  His uniqueness lives within his interests and ability to master skills through study and practice.  Fred is a retired New Jersey State Trooper and a competitive long range sniper shooter. He has several interesting stories about the a “stinky dead guy sweater” and how he can put a bullet hole in a deck of cards from 1000 yards.  Fred is not all commando.  He is a pianist, Asian cook, and can say how you are in more than 10 languages.

Fred joined crossfit two days after he accepted the challenge and  came to the gym to give crossfit a try.   He attended the afternoon crossfit group for several months.  He worked through banded pullups and modifications to assist him through the movements.  One of his modifications including attempting to doing banded muscle ups which involved several green bands tied to the rings which probably resulted in a phone call from Dan’s insurance company. Unfortunately, Fred could not do the banded muscle up, fortunately Dan’s rates stayed the same.   His first months can be described by him in vivid detail.  He was so sore his children had to pull him by each arm to get him out of bed.  He could barely walk, move, or do necessary bodily functions.  Fred kept at it at his own pace and with persistence.  He asked questions, watched, and studied the movements.   His commitment to his change was real.

Fred applied crossfit to his unconventional and unique interests so it would help him achieve his personal goals.  Crossfit have him confidence to pursue many goals that were previously not within reach.  He started to swim daily and added swim coaching and Navy seal time challenges.  He also installed a pull up bar at home, doing pull ups each time he passed it.  Fred started training for “ruck sack” competitions and rifle competitions involving running, climbing ladders, and shooting.

The third story is about being the result of the change you make:

Fred is the living result of the changes that he made and the goals that he set.  His results are described by him as the product of the Beyul Training programming and the New Hope Fitness Center.   He also describes it as the result of the environment and encouragement of the lunch crossfit group who challenged him each day.

Fred’s results include:

• Losing over 40 pounds. Physically he is a different person.
• He move from one pull-up to more than twenty.
• Surpassed many Navy Seal training time requirements.
• Completed a ruck sack competition that surpassed 25 miles, jumping in freezing rivers, and carrying logs.
• He has won several rifle competitions.  Several he claims credit to cross-fit.
• Recently Fred moved from trying banded muscle a few months ago to in one day to doing his first muscle up, two in a row, a strict, and a total of 10 for the day.  Incredible.

These are just a few of many of the results that Fred achieved.  I am proud of his hard work and what he has accomplished.  It is a pleasure to work out with Fred and participate in his growth.

Congratulations Freddy!