Success Story – Alina Weinreis

Alina Weinreis 

Prior to CrossFit, I did interval type workouts at 24-Hour Fitness, incorporating lots of repetitions of several different types of combined movements. I would also use the stairclimber, elliptical machines, and bike for cardio, 30-45 minutes. I also tried Turbo Jam, P90X, and Insanity DVD programs. Those didn’t last long before I was bored again.

I heard about CrossFit one day when I was working out at 24-Hour Fitness back when I lived in Missouri about 5 years ago. I was doing a workout with a lot of intervals, of several different types of movements such as jump lunges, push-ups, burpees, and step-ups from what I remember. My friend and I kept cycling through and this guy kept yelling at us saying “you’re doing CrossFit aren’t you!” We didn’t know what the guy was talking about, but he kept claiming that we were doing “CrossFit.” He said “look it up, just go to crossfit.com.”

So later that night, I researched it like he said, and I started watching the demo videos and reading the articles and realized that some of the workouts I was doing were similar to CrossFit and I didn’t even know it. It was basically interval training at a super high intensity. I got very intrigued and tried to find a gym, near me, but it was not very popular in the are I lived at the time. So I continued to read about it and find workouts online and watch videos.  Once I moved to California, I was determined to find a CrossFit gym to really see what it was all about.

My first experience with CrossFit was a 7 minute “AMRAP” of push-ups, pull-ups with a band, sit-ups, and squats. I forget the rep scheme, but that 7 minute workout left me on my ass, breathless, and I realized then, I found what I was looking for in a workout and training program.

CrossFit has given me strength in not only my fitness, health, and physical strength, but also in my personal and work life. It’s taught me to keep on pushing and fighting even when you think there is no way out or you can’t get through something or don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It has also taught me a balance between all aspects of life including work, family, friends, personal, me-time, and fun.  When I first moved to California from Missouri, I didn’t meet very many people and it was hard to make friends, but after finding CrossFit, I’ve been introduced to a community of friends that I now consider my family, and could not imagine my life without, and it has really made me feel like I’m in the right place in this world.

I try to stick to a Paleo diet most of the time. This includes no bread, rice, grains, dairy, cereal, white potatoes, etc. I eat mostly protein and vegetables at almost every meal. I have some fruit in the mornings, post WOD, or blended in a breakfast or protein shake. I do allow myself to have a cheat meal or two on the weekend, and dark chocolate to cure any sweet cravings I may have during the week. I find that if I have similar foods all of the time and not too much variety, the diet is easier to stick to. I’m going to incorporating a Zone/Paleo diet, which consists of similar food choices, but in a more balanced ratio of macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fats) to see if my body reacts or transforms differently.

I work out 5-6 days a week. I have 2 “off” days, which I consider “active recovery” days. This includes a run, bike, yoga, or body weight, cardio based mini WOD.