FIREGROUND360° - Fit For Duty

CrossFit For Duty: Winner Final Report 3

9/3/2014

Photo courtesy of Pioneer Valley CrossFit

My CrossFit Experience

At first I didn't know what to expect, I hadn't done any normal exercise for a long time. I was afraid to be sore and find out how out of shape I really was. I would dread going at first (sometimes still do), but once I figured out that the workouts could be scaled to my ability I started to gain more confidence. Along with gains in strength I have noticed quite the change in my flexibility. The staff is very Pioneer Valley CrossFit staff are knowledgeable and passionate at what they do. I greatly appreciate how they are there to help and encouragement me through the workout.

I can't quite say how much weight I've lost. I can only gauge my success by the way my clothes fit. My work uniform is falling off and I can now fit into clothes I haven't worn in a few years, as well as some of my 16 year old sons wardrobe!

I want to thank FIREGROUND360° and PVCF for the opportunity to start this journey. The free 3 months are over and I'm happy to say that I have continued my membership. I look forward to new experiences and goals.

Michael

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at:nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to: lorendavine@gmail.com

CrossFit For Duty: Winner Final Report 2

8/20/2014

The CrossFit for Duty Contest winner final reports are trickling in detailing their experience with Pioneer Valley CrossFit. We're really excited about everyone's results and how far they have come! Here's what Matt had to say...

Tell us about your experience at PVCF...

I had an awesome time getting to know the staff at PVCF and learning the workouts. I am not going to say they were easy, far from it, but everyone has been wonderful and supportive. The trainers are top notch and they kept me interested in working out, something that hasn’t happened for me in well, ever. I constantly wanted to get better, thanks to them.

What were your initial thoughts vs actual experience...

I was very nervous. I had seen the athletes PVCF had turned out, and I was intimidated. I thought I would go in there and be instantly behind the class and not enjoy myself. Was I wrong. I felt like part of the gang from my first class. The staff was awesome (thank you Liz, Sean, BK, Ari, Matty, and Ryan) and my fellow PVCF’s welcomed me to every workout.

What changes have you made in your life...

Well, first and foremost is that I enjoy working out. That is something that has never happened. My wife has also helped me to start getting my diet under control, using literature provided by Ryan. I know find myself setting my schedule around working out instead of trying to fit a workout in.

How will you continue to incorporate exercise into your life after this experience...

I have signed on to continue my membership at PVCF. I have set weight loss as well as strength goals that I feel are attainable. I look forward to getting into the best shape of my life and doing it sensibly (no fads anymore).

What changes have you noticed in yourself...

I have lost 25 pounds since I started. I feel great, clothes are fitting better, and people are starting to notice. Also I have noticed that my performance at work has improved. I can do much more than I used to be able to do, and I recover faster. I feel great!

What did you like and what you didn't you like...

I loved the diversity of the workout, how the WODs changed every day, but I tell you, it will take a lot longer for me to like running. I don’t understand how people like that (haha).

Favorite workouts...

I really enjoyed the strength cycle, and workouts we do as teams are really enjoyable. I attend both the 6am and 9am classes depending on my schedule at work and I truly enjoy being around those groups of Cross-fitters.

Least favorite exercises...

Running of course….not fun, EVER!

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at:nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to:lorendavine@gmail.com

CrossFit For Duty: Winner Final Report 1

8/13/2014

We've reached the end of the CrossFit for Duty Contest and our winners are beginning to report in on progress and their journey with Pioneer Valley CrossFit. We absolutely love the end of this wrap-up note, here's what Andy had to say...

"FIREGROUND360,

Three months ago I debated whether or not to put my name in the running to try to win the contest from FIREGROUND360 and Pioneer Valley Crossfit. I was nervous whether I was up for the challenge and if I would have the time to commit. I ended up talking myself into it with a little help from my family and friends, and I’m glad I did. The “On Ramp“ classes were pretty fun with great people and a very motivational instructor. From that moment I knew this was going to be challenging and how out of shape I really was. The first week of real classes went well and the instructors were great. They knew I just started and worked with me to make sure that I was doing all the movements correct and encouraged me to push myself. A couple weeks in you really start getting in the groove of how the classes go. You see the same faces and most of the time the same instructors. The instructors are great, they really work with everyone and try to get the most out of the whole class. I really like the format, you just show up and are told what to do instead of going to a regular gym and trying to figure out some kind of workout. It is also really high intensity so you don’t have to spend hours there to feel like you have got something out of it.

You definitely know at the end of each class that you got an intense workout. There wasn’t too many workouts that I don’t like. The ones that really kick my butt where the ones that had a lot of running in them. I like the ones that we did weight lifting. But they are all challenging, and I have gained a lot of endurance, lost some weight and dropped my blood pressure by quite a bit. I still need to work on better nutrition. I took a couple of nutrition classes with Ryan Katz he was very helpful and explained how you needed to fuel your body before and after workouts. I have cut out some of the bad things that I eat, but that is definitely a work in progress. Now that the three months are up I have signed up and will continue with Pioneer Valley Crossfit until I achieve the goals that I set for myself. The only downside I see is the cost, but I think it is well worth the investment not only for the outstanding instructors but a healthier life. I wonder if I went to one of those $10.00 a month gyms and hired one or two trainers to work with me every time how much would that cost? I have not priced it out but I’m sure it’s more than Crossfit! Thank you to all that made this happen, FIREGROUND360, Pioneer Valley Crossfit and Loren Davine for putting it all together.

Sincerely,

Andy"

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at:nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to:lorendavine@gmail.com

Shout-Out

6/9/2014

FG360° shout-out to Matty Lemberg and the Pioneer Valley CrossFit gang! Keep up the good fight, we're all rooting for you!

Checking In: I've Gotten Much Stronger

6/9/2014

We checked in with CrossFit For Duty winner Bill for a little Q&A and this is what he had to say!

Q. What have you learned about nutrition since starting at PVCF?

A. I've learned the importance of proper eating before and after a workout. When I took the nutrition class he stressed the importance of having food within an hour of the workout to replenish the energy that was used up, as well as a pre-workout meal. I unintentionally tested this theory a few times, and I was useless. I was really surprised how big of a difference it really made.

Q. What changes have you made to your diet?

A. I have done a pretty good job of drinking more water and avoiding sugary drinks. Following the paleo diet and giving up bread, potatoes and rice is probably the hardest part of the whole experience. Its is a pretty big change since I am use to having them at most meals. I tried it for a while, but it did not last. Overall I would say that I think more about what I eat now, and that has lead to a healthier diet.

Q. What changes (good and bad) have you noticed in your body?

A. Well the most notable change would be the soreness. The workouts are intense, and I found more than a few muscles that have not been used in a while. I could definitely feel it the first couple weeks. Now it is not nearly as bad, but everyone once and a while I get a reminder of the previous days workout.

The good news is I have gotten much stronger. My strength training weights are going up quickly now. The weight that I used to struggle with is now just a warmup. My running has also improved greatly. I hate running and never have been any good at it, but I am able to run twice as far as I could when I started.

Q. What has been the hardest part?

A. The hardest part has been the diet. Keeping good food around and choosing to eat it is easier said than done.

Q. What has been the easiest part?

A. The easiest part is going to the gym every day. Its not not even and option for me. I get up and go every morning no matter what the workout of the day is.

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at: nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to: lorendavine@gmail.com

Checking In: My Mind Was Changed

6/2/2014

We checked in with more of our CrossFit For Duty winners this week and this is what another PVCF member had to say!

Q. What did you initially think CrossFit would be like vs. what has your actual experience at CrossFit been like?

A. Going into it I was thinking it was going to be a bunch of ripped people that looked like they have been doing CrossFit their whole life, but after the three on-ramp classes and seeing who actually goes to CrossFit, my mind was changed. There are many "average" people, like me, that have the same goal to get in shape. Don't get me wrong, there are some very fit people too! Everyone is very friendly here.

So, my CrossFit start has been good and I look forward to the next three months!

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at:nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to: lorendavine@gmail.com

Checking In: Confidence Boost

5/27/2014

We checked in with more of our CrossFit For Duty winners this week and this is what one PVCF member had to say!

Q. What did you initially think CrossFit would be like vs. what has your actual experience at CrossFit been like?

A. Well day 3 is officially in the book and I'm still alive! So far things are going great! It is actually going better than I had expected. I found a few muscles that have not been used in a while, and they are a little sore, but I have been able to keep up with the group.

Before I had started, I was a little intimidated by the workouts. It is a lot of different movements and all done at a rapid pace. Even though I had done most of the movements before, it is still a lot to remember. Even something as simple as a pushup has many elements to consider so that it is done in proper form.

In reality it was not bad at all. The on ramp program did a great job of explaining everything simply in under a week. Even the first official workout wasn't anything to be concerned about. Going with the level 1 scaling and chipping away at it one movement at a time, things went very smoothly and simply. Finishing the whole workout, even though it was scaled down, was a huge confidence boost.

After this first week I have found some strengths and some weaknesses. I have a pretty good idea of what I need to work on, and the best part is there is no shortage of people who are willing to help.

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at:nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to: lorendavine@gmail.com

Checking In: CrossFit intimidated the hell out of me

5/19/2014

We checked in with our CrossFit For Duty winners recently and this is what one PVCF member had to say!

Q. What did you initially think CrossFit would be like vs. what has your actual experience at CrossFit been like?

A. When I signed up for the CrossFit for Duty contest, I admit, CrossFit intimidated the hell out of me. Some of the guys I work with have been doing it for a while, and all are in tremendous shape. I had also seen the CrossFit games on television. Those people were ripped. I was unsure if this would be the right fit for me, as I am not in the best of shape. My fears were allayed, however, at my first On-Ramp class. My trainers totally put me at ease learning the lifts and proper techniques.

I was also under the impression that this would be what I had seen at gyms I have belonged to in the past; people come in, work out, don't talk to anybody, and go about their business. Wow, I was wrong about that. The members and trainers at PVCF have been amazing making me feel welcome. I go to the early classes and I'm getting to know all the members. I feel like I am becoming a true member of this community. I would like to thank Sean, Liz, Ryan, BK and all the others that have helped me on my road to better overall fitness.

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at:nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to: lorendavine@gmail.com

Part 3: Meet the trainers

5/12/2014

Almost all of our Fit For Duty contest winners have checked in at Pioneer Valley CrossFit, ready to begin their journey. After speaking with them, it's been an exciting, but nervous time starting something so new. Please know we are all here pulling for you!

Here are three more trainers who will be helping you on your journey!

Pioneer Valley CrossFit facility

Brian Kazak is a Level 1 CrossFit trainer and a firefighter with the Northampton Fire Department.

Ryan Katz is a Level 1 CrossFit trainer and PVCF Hadley’s General Manager.

Sarah Gillio is a Level 1 CrossFit trainer and teaches PVCF’s Boot Camp.

Pioneer Valley CrossFit
220 Russell St. Ste 100
Hadley, MA 01035
Phone: 413.584.3140
Email: info@pioneervalleycrossfit.com

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at: nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to: lorendavine@gmail.com

The Essays: I need to get fit for myself

5/12/2014

To be eligible to win the CrossFit For Duty Contest people from the public safety community we're asked why they should be chosen for a FREE 3-month Pioneer Valley CrossFit membership. Applicants would then be chosen by the essays they submitted.

Here's what one applicant had to say...

"I am really out of shape. This would not bother me nearly as much if I had a career where fitness was not vitally important. I am paid to lead men and women into hazardous environments on a daily basis. I trust that they are able to do their jobs to the best of their ability, and that they are in the right shape to do it. Well that makes me a bit of a hypocrite. I am not in shape, and I have struggled with losing weight for as long as I can remember. How can I, as a supervisor, expect them to be at their very best when I myself am not? I have had gym memberships in the past, but I dropped back into old habits, and all that work went out the window. With exercise programs, boredom usually kills me. I need variety, and I need structure as well. Many of my co-workers are CrossFit members, and I have never heard the word "boring" when they are describing CrossFit. I have seen how the people that I work with have improved their fitness levels and their overall job performance with this program.

I need to get fit for myself."

Copyright 2014 FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

Loren Davine, M.Ed., C.A.G.S., is the Executive Director of NoFires, Inc. and a former high school guidance counselor. She is also a full-time mom and the wife of Deputy Chief Jon Davine. Loren has been a member of Pioneer Valley Crossfit since 2008 and offers a unique perspective to our community on family, fitness, and fire safety for juvenile firesetters.

Loren can be contacted at: nofiresjfis@gmail.com for questions about the NoFIRES program or to make a referral. All other inquiries can be made to: lorendavine@gmail.com

SPONSOR

This blog is sponsored by Pioneer Valley CrossFit,
Western Massachusetts’s premiere commercial strength and conditioning facility.

Copyright FIREGROUND360°. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the consent of FIREGROUND360° and it's authors.

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