Mark’s CrossFit9 Story

It started with a promise I made to myself.

I vividly remember that I took a glimpse in the mirror. I hardly recognized myself. I used to be athletic when I was younger and I came to realize I had really let myself go physically. At the time I was suffering from chronic back spasms that would leave me debilitated if I simply moved or twisted by body the wrong way. This was due to my increased weight, which was over 240 pounds at my heaviest point, and lack of activity. I made a promise to myself at that moment that I was going to be in better shape at 40 years old than I was in my early 30’s, not only for the myself, but for my young family.

I started dieting and working out on my own. This worked for a little while but I noticed that I wasn’t pushing myself harder and I had hit a plateau. One day my back spasms started and I was in pain for a few days. My sister in law recommended that I visit Dr. Lance at Rx Chiro. After looking me over he recommended that I check out CrossFit9 because even though I was working out on my own, I really wasn’t targeting the muscle groups that would strengthen my back enough to avoid injury. I agreed and decided to give CrossFit9 a shot.

I arrived early to my first foundations class on October 1, 2012 at 7:00 AM. The 6:00 AM class was wrapping up a 5K run (thank god they weren’t making me do that on my first day). Steve Ashton was my foundations trainer and asked if I could get down into a squat. No … not even halfway. Could I do a pull up? No, I struggled to inch myself up a little bit towards the bar. What’s a burpee? I realized how out of shape I was and it was exposed for everyone in the building to see, but the great thing was that I knew that there were others that went through the same beginning struggles I was experiencing. Everyone was very supportive.

I stayed consistent with my workout routine, cleaned up my diet and totally changed my life. In April, I hit my 40th birthday and I can honestly say that I kept the promise that I made to myself. I’m stronger and healthier than I have been in years. I am surprised by some of the accomplishments I have reached in the past 3 years but now it’s time to set new goals. Here’s to getting in even better shape by 50!

Mark Kacprowski

Age 40