Testimonials

"Today marks my 1 year anniversary as a proud member of CFB! To put things into perspective, I walked into CFB weighing about 116kgs and feeling very unhealthy and not entirely sure what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that I was ready to try and get fit again after hanging up my rugby boots and enjoying life as a first time parent. Thanks to my mate Peter Maxwell from CrossFit Newcastle (alot of CFB members may know Peter who recently won the NSW/ACT CrossFit Games Sectionals last weekend) who kept going on about this thing called CrossFit and said to at least give it go if I had the opportunity....this was late 2008. I told him I was member of Good Life Gym (which I hardly attended) and he laughed at me and said if you’re serious about getting fit then checkout CrossFit. Peter preceded to email me a couple of pictures of himself training at CF Newcastle and I honestly thought it was another bloke...it wasn’t the Peter Maxwell I knew (Peter & I played 1st Grade Rugby Union for Wests Bulldogs at Toowong in 2002 - 2003 and back then he was a 108 – 110kg hooker) so you can imagine my surprise when I see pictures of the Aussie version of the Incredible Hulk or the Aussie Brock Lesnar (current UFC Heavyweight Champ)...haha!! So I thought yep, I must check this CrossFit out and I was pleased when I jumped onto the website and saw it was located in Coorparoo...you beauty only about 10 minutes from home! But first I had to try and sell / transfer my Good Life membership. This took longer than expected but eventually I got rid of it. I rang a guy by the name of Matt Swift on his mobile and it went straight to message bank but I didn’t leave a message (turns out Matt was in Sydney at CFX’s CrossFit Certification which coincidentally Peter Maxwell attended and did his Level 1). I didn’t hear back from Matt so I decided to send an email and I still have a copy of it....see below.
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Hi Bill, Awesome to hear. I am currently traveling and will be back in the office early next week. I will ask my Gym Manager Danny to give you a call on Friday. Look forward to seeing you in the gym soon! Cheers, Matt

On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 4:17 PM, Bill Solofa wrote:
Hi there, A mate of mine is a member of CrossFit Newcastle and he's been recommending CrossFit to me for awhile now so I'm in a position to finally give it a go!! Can someone please contact me to discuss. Cheers Bill
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A week after the email exchange I had my Introduction Session with the one and only Danny Mellor on 25th February 2009 and as the saying goes, the rest is history!!! :) I currently weigh in at about 97kgs, feeling as fit and healthy as I’ve ever been and thoroughly enjoying the CrossFit training regime and all the people involved!! I’m striving to improve even more and become more efficient all-round but the effects of a fitter and healthier me has seen a positive impact in my life in general. My wife and kids are my life and they inspire me to keep turning up each day. The kids are growing up so quickly and I Iove it when they imitate me doing squats, push-ups or sit-ups at home....it’s pretty funny and cute and it brings a smile to my face!! I’m really looking forward to the QLD Sectionals next weekend and pushing myself to my absolute maximum effort and enjoying the weekend and seeing where the last 12 months of training places me!! :)"
 - Bill S

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"To my all friends at CFB, The time has come for me to depart Brisbane and head north to Sunny Townsville for the foreseeable future. I will be leaving this Sunday and just wanted to say goodbye to you all and a very sincere thank you to everyone I have met during my time at the box for making my experience what it has been……. In a word – SENSATIONAL Matt and Danny, you are both exceptional at what you do at CFB and more so in life In my opinion that is most evident for me in every aspect of what you both do on a day to day basis at CFB. This includes but is not limited to your Coaching (in Crossfit and life), the environment we train in, the community you have created, and most importantly for me the small and obtainable goals you give each and everyone of us every week that keep us coming back and hungry to succeed/achieve. I thank you for the personal effort you have put into making me a more functional human and a better person in general, I am in debt to you both! Wendy, the resolve you have shown in your recovery and never giving up on your training is something that I will always admire. I take my hat of to you and wish you all the best. To the rest of the coaching staff, your constant patience, guidance, effort and unwavering dedication to what you do is really appreciated, thank you very much. To everyone in CFB community and anyone else I have met on the way, my experience would not have been what is has been without all of you, as you are responsible for the environment that has bought what I consider to be the best out in me. If I can impart any thing to you all from my experiences at CFB it would be, to be consistent in everything you do and never give up on yourself, your goals and your dreams. My last WOD will more than likely be Saturday and I will be having breakfast afterwards, hopefully I will get to say goodbye to most then!! If anyone is ever in Townsville and wants the official tour, feel free to get in touch, I promise it will be worth your while. Take care and all the best. "
 - AP 100%

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"just gotta say how THRILLED i am to have achieved my first ever assisted handstands.. just goes to show one is never too old to learn new tricks.. heartfelt thanks to matt, danny and cassius for their patience."  - Helen B

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"what a cool morning. I, like Whitey, have just celebrated my 1st anniversary at CFB. While there are numerous areas of physical improvement to be grateful for (and of course equally numerous areas of apparent retardation to receive focus) the standout for me has been the notion of continuous challenges to ones perceptions of the possible. As so many of my peers approach 50 with a fatalistic acceptance of decline I have found an environment where in the space of a few weeks I have gone from a 20" box jump comfort-zone to 30" this morning... all because we're encouraged and supported. The move from 20" to 24" had seemed insurmountable and yet here we are... What our individual limits are is clearly under the "unknowable" category of CF but isn't it just the best thing in the world to be on a journey to test those limits every day."
 - Roger S

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"Well today marks 1yr since being introduced to CrossFit by Drummond and it has flown!! I am forever grateful to have met so many great people and of course the high calibre of trainers that have transformed me not only physically but mentally as well!! I was in a bad state before starting as I was so angry that I had let myself go so far that it affected all of my relationships and I was a very negative person!! Matt do you remember when I first arrived I struggled just to do a simple squat hold!! Ando was even laughing that I was grunting and groaning and we were just stretching!! I was happy when I finally got the nod to attend the WOD's after 4 weeks of intro sessions and I haven't look back since!! I didn't have any real goals except for to lose weight, feel better and to be able to run around with my girls when they are of that age!! Now the eldest is a lil livewire and I'm behind her every step of the way. Some goals just naturally fell in line such as improving health & fitness, I became a happier and pro-active person and learnt to check the massive ego at the door (although some days it rear's its ugly head!! ha ha). My stats started from anywhere between 95-98kg weight and 38-40" waist now down to 83kg and a 33" waist so to say that I am ecstatic is an understatement. My balance for my loved sport Surfing has made me feel that I have never stopped whenever I get time to get into the water and my friends ask me what I have done to get into shape. So in closing thanks to all the wonderful people that are a part of and make CrossFit Brisbane a family (cause that is exactly how it feels!!) and also to Matt, Wendy, Danny, Miguel and any other trainer that I have missed for helping me regain my life. I look towards greater and more focused goal setting and enjoying the fitness ride called CrossFit. Cheers
 - Whitey

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"Hi Matt & Danny,

Another endorsement that CrossFit works.

Thought you would be interested to hear that I bettered  my PB for 1500m [swim] TT today by 01:26.  Now down to 0:27:36. Since I started CrossFit 18 months ago my PB has come down by nearly 4 mins, but I have seen the most improvement in the last 6 months or so since I have been more consistent in training...work allowing! The thing that I have noticed the most improvement in is increased core strength and stability which allows me to maintain my stroke and form under higher aerobic stress.

Thanks for your input guys….can’t wait to get back to the gym now.

Best, Niss."

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"When I first came to Crossfit, I could not deadlift 60kg for a single. Today I did 60 x 60kg in 3 min 30sec and the first 35 continuous.  Also I think I have more muscle  and less bodyfat than I did when I was "bodybuilding" when I was in my early 20's.  THANK YOU !"
 - Miles W

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"I would like to send a big thanks to Matt, I arrived at Crossfit Brisbane in April this year seeking some help to achieve some goals, I had a somewhat skeptical opinion of Crossfit. And when I said to matt what my goals were he told me that’s easy. I was 97kg slighty fit and had a goal of being selected to become a military fitness instructor. I showed him the standards to which I was well below. Last week I attended my PTI selection and passed. And now I’m 86kg fighting fit. Why? Crossfit, belief in the system and getting my head set to achieve my goals. I now have absolutely no doubt that Crossfit works. So Matt thanks for being part of my journey, for all the messages and phonecalls, and thanks to all the crew at Crossfit Brisbane for being so welcoming. Now to refocus and hit my course even stronger"
- Shaune I

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"Just thought being a newbie to CFB – I'd at least give you some feedback from my last 6 weeks.

So initially I thought I was fit when I was aged between 17-21 playing A-grade hockey for Brisbane and State.  I remember the 5k Road-Runs and the tedious laps around the oval and a couple of drills of sprinting and skipping.  I thought I was in pretty good nick….  So 20 years later I joined CFB because I did my ACL at hockey last year and was pretty devastated and hence put on about hmmm 9kg, ok well maybe 10.

Firstly, I realised pretty quickly I wasn't fit 20 years ago and my technique was shite.  I consider myself (now 6 weeks in to CFB) to be at my fittest ever, but still nowhere where I want to be – only because now I have reference points (Donna, Carmel, yourselves et al) on how fit everyone is around me, and now knowing the true definition of "fit and technique" certainly helps in that decision process.

CFB has given me a new lease on life.  I've lost over 8kgs, getting some nice canons on me, and I think I can see a twin-pack (in the vicinity of my lower stomach) ...

The enjoyment I get going there and looking on that stupid whiteboard for the WOD - is the same for me turning up to a game of hockey – because you just don't know what's going to happen, except you know you may want to threw-up at some point in time (which of course I love).

I go on holidays tomorrow, and have already packed my skipping rope and chin-up bar ...  I think I'm starting to languish already that I won't be at CFB for another 2 weeks.  But it's more than the exercise and the tangible progress it’s the people as well.  The people are great.  Except when I've spent 10 mins setting up my equipment for the WOD and I turn around a bloke has hopped on my dead-lift bar.  What the?? ....  My progress has been phenomenal.  But my goal by Xmas is to chin-ups WITHOUT Mr-Elastic, continuous double-under WITH Mr-Skippy and maybe pump out 1 decent squat keeping my chest-up.

All I can say is thank-you and the time you spend with me and others around me and teaching us new tricks is just fantastic.  And I never thought I would be emailing you to say "thank you for smashing me every time I turn up".  I suppose I'm a CFB junkie ??"
- Lisa W

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"80kg (PB) on the Cleans and then got a muscleup before I left!

stoked!

CrossFit (brisbane) is the business!!!

For perspective; when I got to CFB about a year ago I had a (shitty) 60kg back squat, no deadlift and didn't know what a clean was - let alone a muscleup! I know I've still got a long way to go but, compared to the Colin of Nov '07, I am officially a freaking beast and that makes me happy! (it is difficult to express just how utterly IMPOSSIBLE both these 'feats' would have been to the pre CFB me ... but now? ... well now they're just the beginning ;)"
- Colin T

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"Hey team - into my 2nd week of crossfit now. amazing how quickly life adjusts to the desire for a new routine!  A quick note to say thanks for the patient, repetitive instruction you all give.  I still have a fear of the sessions but not that tingly scared feelings as last week!
catch you later.

PS. thought i would share with you.......
my 3rd crossfit session was after the rowing machine session.  I sat in the car out the front of your studio until 1mins to 12midday still telling myself its a free world and I can drive off at any time, I don't have to be here.  I gave myself a talking to and walked in.  Jarrod then told me that my 4th session was Tabata.  what's Tabata?.....and then all you instructor guys thought that was funny."
- Peter R

(Ed. Note: Tabata is a hard painful session, hence our mirth at Peter not knowing what he was in for.  "What's tabata?" asked by the uninitiated always causes anyone who has done it to smile)

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"Big thanks to you guys at CFB for your help with getting my diet tuned in. In the 3 months since I started  I've dropped from 92 - 80kg (along with adding muscle) and couldn't be happier! Every CrossFit affiliate has testimonials proclaiming CF to be a magic bullet, and I just assumed that it would be so rough my body wouldn't have any choice but to lean out. Boy was I wrong! 6 months of crossfit and not a single change in my body composition. Out of frustration I decided that for the next 5 days I was going to challenge myself to prove I was capable of eating healthily rather than shoot for any results. Approximately 300 pushups and ten thousand squats later I just couldn't bring myself to ruin it all, and before I knew it 5 days had turned into 2 weeks, then a month. It was at about the one month mark where I had what I like to call an epiphany, but was more like realising the same thing Danny told me every time I asked him why I was still fat - becoming lean was ALL diet. CrossFit made me fit, diet made me lean. The most interesting part of all was how easy it was. After those first 5 days the cravings disappeared, and I started accidentally becoming aware of when I was eating out of boredom rather than need. Glad to say I'm now a happy convert, my only grievance with the process was that I wish somebody had warned me about getting groped in nightclubs, but as far as problems go thats a pretty good one to have. Fortunately the CrossFit makes me strong enough to fight off their angry boyfriends! Thanks again for all the support and advice, I just wish I'd properly listened sooner."
 - John H

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