Meet Ryan Claypool, 27 years young. He has been an avid goer of the 5am warrior team at Jefferson City CrossFit for several months now. You will find him always cheering everyone on and displaying a true attitude of gratitude. Being true to himself and truning up the volume. We need more people like this in our world!
Getting to know our CrossFit Community.
I started my CrossFit Journey on March 25th of this year because I was very “out-of-shape.” I have not really been active since high school and have failed many attempts over the years to get back “in-shape” using a lot of different programs. One thing I noticed about all of the programs I was doing, was that I was by myself. I heard that CrossFit was something that you do with a group, and that there is a very encouraging social aspect. I was contemplating whether I should do it or not, but then one day I got tired after going up two flights of stairs (which was very embarrassing), and in that moment, I knew that I was ready to pull the trigger and try CrossFit!
Since March 25th I have gone through a lot of mental and physical changes. When I first started the coaches were very encouraging and modified my workouts for me. Every person there introduced themselves and was always willing to push me on when I didn’t think that I was going to finish. Slowly overtime I was able to start doing the same workouts as the rest of the group. Physically, some of the changes are: I have gone from 238 pounds to 216 pounds, I am more active throughout the day, and I can finally fit in some of the old clothes that I had gotten too big for. Some of the mental changes that I have encountered are: Once I have worked out I feel mentally prepared for the day, I feel motivated to eat healthier and am able to avoid bad foods (most of the time), and I don’t feel mentally overwhelmed with the idea of working out. That is because every time I show up, there are people going through the same journey I am, and there is already a workout prepared for me, so I don’t have to worry about it.
If you could give any advice for a person new to CrossFit, what would it be?
The advice that I would have to give for someone who is wanting to try it would be to simply “try it”. There is a mentality at CrossFit that is different from any other environment. There is a trainer at every class that will modify the workouts for you and teach you every move, every time. They will be there every class to make sure you are doing it correctly and don’t get hurt.
Second, keep at it. The environment can be slightly intimidating at first, but don’t let that stop you! Overtime you will get better and be able to do the workouts in the same fashion.
My last advice would be to come and introduce yourself. The group of people here are the most encouraging people that I have ever worked out with. They will cheer you on to finish, and you will cheer them. It becomes one of the most motivating environments that is unmatched anywhere else.
At the start, I didn’t really have a goal that I wanted to accomplish by doing CrossFit. I just wanted to be in shape. However, it came overtime that I was able to define that word for myself. In shape for me now means: down to 210 pounds, going at least 4 days a week, and also being able to have a fighter’s chance at being the best in the gym that day compared to everyone else. I am still working on these of course; especially that last one, but I am very excited to keep trying.
Ryan’s Favorite Quote:
“All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.”
T. E. Lawrence