Allen Duckworth’s Story

At the beginning of this journey, I wanted to be in better shape for my job. I became a firefighter later in life at age 41. Entering this career at an older age, I wanted to show that it wasn’t just a young person’s career; that someone can do this even when they’re older. Additionally, I faced a family history of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

I started CrossFit in February 2014 with the goal of getting into shape for the physical fitness tests required for the fire academy. Recruit school was physically demanding; I passed all of the physical requirements and dropped around 10 pounds in 6 months. During recruit school (see top left picture above). At that time nutrition was not much of a priority. After being assigned to my first station, I ate with the guys on my shift on the “meal train” where everyone throws in $10/day and we buy our food to cook for the day. At the time this seemed like a tough budget to create healthy meals. I continued to work out consistently but still managed to gain some weight (see bottom left picture above).

In February 2017 when C2 announced its “Whole 30” challenge I decided to jump on board and get back in better shape. I had seen the benefit of tracking calories and macros experienced by my wife and other friends. The “Whole 30” was not difficult for me but I did have to plan ahead since I work 24 hour shifts. I batch cooked food for my wife and I, packed it for work, tracked all my calories and macros, had a body fat analysis at Nutrishop and lost 16 pounds in that 30 days of eating “Whole 30” approved foods. I introduced some foods back in after “Whole 30” and have continued to track calories and macros and to increase the amount of food I eat, all while continuing to lose weight. I have introduced some healthier eating into the fire stations I’ve worked at and am able to eat on the meal train with the guys at my station most days. Additionally C2’s endurance class was a huge catalyst for improving my distance running, my mile time and my overall endurance during workouts. I continue to run 1-2 miles after every CrossFit group class and have retained most of my strength by training 6 days a week on average. I’m wearing clothes I wore in high school and some are even smaller. I continue to weigh in at Nutrishop every two weeks to track my progress and despite having an injury in March which resulted in me having to scale CrossFit workouts for months, I’ve lost a total of 53 pounds and 16% body fat in 9 months. C2 has helped me to go from someone who dropped only a few pounds while working out rigorously during recruit school without focusing on nutrition to someone capable of losing over 50 pounds with a consistent and focused training and nutrition plan.

This is a new lifestyle for me and it is a continuous journey and I feel so much better overall. I need to say a big thank you to Mike and Kristin and all the C2 members that push me every day in workouts. The biggest thanks goes to my wife Katie for showing me the support and love during this journey and mostly for being my role model for great health and strength. Together they have all shown me that through proper nutrition and exercise you can become a new version of yourself!

 

Top left picture: April 2015, recruit school graduation

Bottom left picture: March 2016

Right picture: November 23, 2017

Alvin Ferrouillet’s Story

C2 Community,

Tomorrow marks my two years of Crossfit and what an amazing journey so far. We all have our reasons for joining Crossfit but mine was about Cher, Ava & Zoe and challenging myself to become “the very best version of me.” While we all strive to achieve PR’s in our WOD’s and lifting, my goal was simple, do the right thing for my personal wellness and family.

All my life I struggled with high cholesterol which may be genetic or just being a fun loving person from New Orleans but either way it was beyond comprehension. Over the last 20 years, I let the so called finer things in life defeat me. As a result, on December 31, 2014 during my annual physical, I weighted over 240lbs, I was told that my cholesterol was 438, blood pressure was way above 120/80 and there were signs of prediabetes. My doctor (a friend J. Hennessey) told me that I was at risk of a heart attack in the next 5 years if drastic changes were not made in my life. Upset, shocked and maybe a little disappointed, I went home and thought about the conversation. I took another 6 months or so before I would begin to change. The first real step was on June 13, 2015, I decided that I would never drink another Coke in my life (that is soda if you are not from the south) and I began walking a few times a week. While I made some strides, it was time for Crossfit.

On November 1, 2015, I walked into Stonington Crossfit and met Al Furtado for fundamentals. Al immediately showed me that Crossfit was not a gym but a lifestyle. I remember starting with 6lb WB, 12in Box Jumps (3-45lb plates) and just a bar. I felt like I was going to die but I survived. For the next 10 months, Al and the rest of the coaches provided an environment that allowed me to work toward becoming “the best version of me”. Even today, Al & Stacie, Meg & Bill, Steve, Mellissa and Redfern’s are friends but more importantly an extended family. Thank you, Crossfit Stonington….

So on to C2…. you guys are an amazing group and thank you Mike and Kristin for creating a home for us. From the day, I walked into the box, I knew this was it. I see every day a culture of steady encouragement and improvement that is second to none. I see so many striving to be the very best version of themselves and that is just wonderful. So, thank you and the other coaches for all that you do because it is making a difference.

If you know me, Facebook and social media has never been my thing and writing something like this is not me but we all evolve….so on to why share this story…. I started Crossfit because of people sharing their success…. who thought I could drink black coffee but watching Allen D’s success made it easy….I am inspired by the range of ages and skills that push every day to be their very best…. This is why I felt it was important to share.

In conclusion, I had my annual physical and got my numbers back. I weigh now 186lbs, total Cholesterol is 135, blood pressure is well below 120/80 and no signs of diabetes. The doctor asked how did I do it and I said Crossfit and eating to live…. Onward and Upward!!!!

Its OK…..Yes I look like I ate the entire menu….