CrossFit Colosseum

Feed the Warrior Within!

Rest Day

Received by email from Michael (soldier preparing to deploy)

I Discovered CrossFit around the summer of 2005, after searching for fitness program to get me back into shape after a major surgery. After my first few WODs I was hooked and knew this was the program for me, even though my “Globo-gym” wasn’t adequate I still made progress.  This progress increased when I built my own home gym, and began doing regular WODs.  By early 2008 I had cast off my old unfit self and I was steadily holding my own, in workouts with my army unit during PT. At first people were skeptical, since I had never been known, as a “fit” person, but that skepticism soon vanished over time, as my numbers in various WODs kept going up. Soon people were coming to me for workout advice. Where regular infantry work would leave me gassed, I now find I have energy to spare. I have gone from being barely able to complete a 5km run, to setting a personal best 10km at 47mins. I went from barely being able to complete 1 pull-up in 2005, to setting a personal best 15 dead hang pull-ups last year.  If it were not for CrossFit, I would not be training to deploy to Afghanistan at this moment. I owe what I am today to this program.

Rest Day

Warm up, then PVC skills and drills

Received from Patrick via Face Book msg (High school student)

I played football this past summer before starting the workouts and was physically having trouble playing the amount of time I did.  After one month of CrossFit I noticed a big difference. I was able to play in 3 games this past fall where I didn’t leave the field and played the entire time afterwords feeling great.

Rest Day

Active Recovery with stretching.  Get the roller and soft ball out and work the knots out.

Received by email from Cameron Hodge (A Platoon Leader Humber Fire)

When I got accepted into the Pre-service Firefighter program at Humber I knew I needed to get in shape. We have to go through the same physical that any professional firefighter in the province would have to go through. My first months of CrossFitting were brutal, my ego was crushed daily and I felt like an idiot getting beat by a ball or a box. While that was going on I was getting stronger, faster and leaner than ever thought I could. Not only that but it was getting me used to hard work and high intensity. When it came time to do my physical I ended up finding it easier than some of the WODs that I had been through. I had more than enough functional strength for the carries and drags and my cardiovascular conditioning was well beyond what I needed to pass. In any of the practice drills we do in class I find myself prepared for whatever the demands are. Training specifically for strength or specifically for endurance leaves you weak in different areas. When your life, the lives of your team and the lives of the victims you are trying to save are all on the line I want to know that I’ll be ready to meet whatever the demands are and I feel like CrossFit has been getting me ready to do that.

Snatch

1-1-1-1-1

Received by email from Rob S. (Paramedic)

As a Paramedic, I truly appreciate the premise upon which CrossFit is built. Exercise through functional movement has developed my muscular strength and endurance and has done so through routines which represent many of my day to day activities. Safe, effective lifting instruction utilizing good form decreases the risk of injury and cardiovascular endurance training facilitates maintenance of good form and technique for extended periods.  The beauty of the exercise regimen is that it works for everyone! (Not just Paramedics)  I am very pleased with my physical gains and improvements attained through CrossFit. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an excellent,  results oriented exercise program.

As you all know, or actually none of you probably know or care, but I never plug a particular cause. I just haven’t found something in this category that I believe in. HOWEVER, I have a good friend, who is incredibly qualified as a fitness instructor, and more importantly, as a crossfit trainer. For those of you who do…n’t know what crossfit is, you need to head on down to the CF colosseum at kipling and lakeshore, or leave a message here or message Paul McIntyre directly. For those of you who do know, you might know that I was away for several months this past summer on an Army training course. Before that 4 month course, I took a 2 week course, where Paul (RSM) was the lead instructor. What Paul did for me in 2 weeks was more effective for my general body image, and overall health than 4 months of intensive training. Crossfit is the SMART way to work out. I suggest you give it a shot.