Success Stories

May bamf: John Steinhauer

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John in Strength Class.

May’s BAMF (Best, Amazing, Male or Female) is John Steinhauer. John has got to be the most upbeat and positive individual I have met. He has been incredibly patient with his progress, dealing with injury, mobility problems, and being a giant. He trusts the coaches and is compliant with the many modifications he makes to get the best workout possible, nicknaming himself “Johnny Mod.” As a result, his transformation has been remarkable.

Age: 49
Height: 6 5″
Weight: 209
How long xfitting: 5 months
Occupation: Sales
Family: Wife-Suzanne (who is already kicking my butt at MBS!)- 2 Daughters ages 13 & 11

What is your athletic background before coming to MBS?
Mostly road cycling for the past 10 years. On and off weight training. What brought you here?

My neighbor Nick- the reigning MBS Open scaled champion!

How did you get hooked?
The culture, the programming, the inspiring athletes of every level & the coaches- it is the perfect storm for me

What are some highlights of your progress?
Definitely the improvements in body weight movements due to losing 20+#’s and increasing my strength.
Also the occasional WOD’s that I can do ‘rx’ are huge highlights for me.

You’ve been dealing with some injuries. What are your thoughts on staying consistent at the gym and working around it?
I’m working around an injury now and I’ve used my injuries as a platform to improve in other areas. With the fractured Big
Toe I haven’t been able to run and started to focus on improving my rowing by taking some row classes and rowing when
the class run’s during workouts (got my 2K time down from 9:30 to 8:00 with Coach Aarons help!)

What is your favorite CrossFit exercises? Least favorite?
Least: Overhead squat & Ropes
Favorite: Clean, Bench, Ball slams, Box Squats (Thanks to Coach Sean).,Box Jumps

How has diet played a role in your CrossFit journey?
In December I had a broken rib and hand surgery and some really cool pain killers. I couldn’t train for most of the month and worked with Pat on getting educated on Paleo. I’ve been fairly strict (I’m pretty sure cavemen drank wine!) with good results. Started at 233lbs in December and broke the 210# mark this week. I am continuing to fine tune the diet - allowing cheat meals for example so I don’t burn out.

What goals are you working on now? Any goals reached recently?
Goal reached this week:stringing together 3 pull-ups. (Leah’s “pull up program” is helping me BIG time!)
Set short term goals for Clean, DL & Snatch (July)
Also working on getting my handstand against the wall by the end of June, it’s time!

Best advice for growing as much as you have as a CrossFit athlete?
Patience & Perseverance - also check your ego at the door and modify the WOD’s with the coaches assistance.
Get and stay out of your comfort zone, keep pushing and don’t get discouraged.

You have a very positive mental attitude. Where does it come from and how do you maintain it, especially during a tough workout?
I’m enjoying it and having fun! I’m proving to myself I can do it, also during tough workouts I play a lot of head games, I’ll stay focused on counting reps, watching the clock toward the end of timed WOD’s and just blowing it out, also watching fellow athletes is inspiring and keeps me positive and finally the thought that it will soon be over motivates me sometimes! 🙂
Here’s a favorite quote about attitude: “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz

Advice for how to convince wives to join?
This stuff is infectious - when your spouse see’s how excited you are about Crossfit and the results your getting its an easy sale!

What is your favorite animal? List three adjectives to explain your choice.
Pig
delicious
protein packed
paleo

What was the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
Sautéed Chicken Feet

If you were given 24 hrs to live, what would you do?
I’d make it a rest day and a cheat day.

Who do you admire the most?
Who ever has the best time on the whiteboard!

When was the last time you did something for the first time? What was it?
Waterfall Cliff jumping in Maui with the family!

April BAMF: Katie McBeth

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Age: 22


Height: 5’6″

Weight: 130

Career/Occupation: Umm I’d say in between

How long xfitting: 8 months

A few benchmark lifts: Deadlift 245 Front Squat 135

A few benchmark WODs: Maybe I should use my logbook more

What brought you to MBS?
Brian was actually pushing me to try it for a good 6 months.He would take me on Saturdays to show me how great it was. When he stopped pushing me or even talking about it to me, I told him I wanted to do it so I called Janelle (but I give him all the credit).

What made it stick?
I loved everything about it; the workouts, the people, the atmosphere. Through college I would go to a gym and run/walk on the treadmill while socializing and not even break a sweat, calling that my workout. It’s like a new challenge every day and it makes me want to go to the gym and try my hardest. It’s hard for me to make myself take a day off.

What kind of athletic background do you have?
I have always played sports growing up. I have been a runner since I was young, played soccer, lacrosse, and swimming. I have always been a big fan of competition.

You are involved in the Strength Program. What benefits are you seeing and what do you like most about it?
I can definitely tell I’m getting stronger and my lifts aren’t as ugly as they were. It’s nice to work on the little things that make up the big picture in wods.

Best CrossFit moment?
I think realizing my abilities all the time and how far I can actually go when I push hard enough

Hardest CrossFit moment?
Probably starting because I was so intimidated by all you crossfitters

What are most focused on right now at the gym?
I have been working on my ring dips lately and L-sits.

What kind of diet changes have you made since joining the gym and have you seen any changes?
I have actually completely changed my diet since joining. I try to eat paleo and have one cheat day a week (except sometimes it turns into more). I’ve been doing it for so long that I don’t have crazy bread or chocolate cravings anymore. I have noticed that I perform better at the gym when I eat well and I have gotten much leaner because of it.

What role do you think community plays at MBS? How has your experience been with that piece of the CrossFit world?
I think it’s probably one of the most attractive aspects of MBS. You automatically have CrossFit in common with everyone and you experience the same workouts (sometimes suffer through). I think the way that everyone pushes and cheers each other on is awesome and there’s no where else you will find that. I think that alone makes me want to be a crossfitter for life.

What do you do in your free time?
I like to do anything really. Hiking, skiing, going out with friends, date nights etc.

Best place you have ever traveled to?
I went to Rome, Italy about 6 years ago. It was an awesome experience and a great city. I would love to go back some day!

Favorite TV show?
Dexter

Have you ever jumped out of a plane?
Actually, yes. When I graduated college, Brian took me to throw myself out of one as a congratulations.

What one thing (modern convenience) you could not live without?
coffee pot

I was once mistaken for
… I don’t think I ever have been

If you could go only to one restaurant for the next five years, which would it be?
Sweet Cow. It’s in Old Town Louisville and it’s so good. Ice cream counts as a food group right?

___Challenge___ inspires me.