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Athlete"of"the"Month:"The"Fesolai’s"""

Family"fun"at"CFEA!""

"March"2014""

Anne"

I%think%I’ve%tried%almost%all%forms%of%diets,%eating%

variations,%joined%a%lot%of%gyms%to%try%and%accomplish%

my%forever%never%ending%new%years%resolution%of%

“losing%weight”.%%So%from%January%to%March%of%every%

year,%I’m%doing%ok,%then%the%colder%months%set%in%and%

it’s%time%to%park%the%weight%loss%goal%till%next%

summer,%because%it’s%too%cold%to%exercise%and%fast%

foods%were%a%winner%on%cold%nights.%%%

In%December%2012,%I%went%through%a%health%

experience%that%was%a%good%wake%up%call%for%me%to%

sort%my%body%and%health%out%once%and%for%all,%and%

then%my%CrossFit%journey%began%in%February%2013.%%%

A%good%friend%from%work%suggested%we%try%it%as%a%

team%building%activity,%but%it%was%around%that%time,%

that%we%had%set%the%goal%to%lose%weight%again!%%%

When%he%explained%CrossFit%to%us,%I%remember%talking%

to%Coach%Aaron%on%the%phone,%trying%to%suss%it%all%

out…”what%if%I%can’t%do%it,%I%can’t%run,%I%can’t%lift%

weights”…you%name%it,%I%had%every%question%ready%in%%

%

the%hope%that%he%would%say%something%that%would%

put%off%coming%to%the%first%on%ramp%session.%%%

me%%

First%lesson%learnt%–%no%such%word%as%“can’t”%at%

CrossFit%East%Auckland.%%So%I%turned%up%to%the%first%on%

ramp%session,%had%the%baseline%test%and%just%kept%

going%back%for%more.%%%

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As%hard%as%the%workouts%were,%it%felt%good%to%be%

exhausted.%%After%our%12%sessions,%I%was%even%more%

motivated%to%stay%on,%so%signed%up%on%a%CFEA%

membership,%and%have%not%looked%back%since%–%the%

best%decision%I’ve%made%about%my%health%&%wellbeing.%%%%

Since%joining%CFEA,%my%only%goals%were%to%lose%

weight,%get%fit%&%improve%on%my%cardio.%%Now,%after%

almost%a%year%with%CFEA,%while%my%original%goals%are%

still%in%play,%my%additional%new%goals%are%all%about%

acquiring%&%mastering%certain%CrossFit%movements,%

improve%my%lifting%technique,%doing%more%RX%

metcons/WODS%and%gaining%an%overall%confidence%in%

myself.%%%

Nutrition%is%still%an%important%part%of%my%goals,%and%I%

am%happy%and%confident%with%my%food%habits%and%the%

choices%I%make%(participating%in%the%Transformation%

Challenge%was%an%eye%opener%for%me),%and%also%

talking%with%our%CFEA%community%on%their%success%

stories%has%continued%to%inspire%me,%but%also%keep%me%

on%track.%%%

Since%joining%CrossFit,%%–%my%energy%levels%have%

improved,%I%am%a%healthier%mum%&%wife%for%my%

family,%and%I%love%the%challenge%that%CrossFit%gives%

me.%%I%would%never%have%signed%up%to%compete%for%a%

Powerlifting%Comp%or%the%CrossFit%Open%were%it%not%

for%newfound%confidence%in%myself.%

Hurdles%%=%1)%mental%strength%–%sometimes%I’ve%

already%resigned%myself%to%the%fact%that%I%can’t%do%

certain%movements%before%I’ve%even%tried%it,%or%I%

know%I%can,%but%I%second%guess%myself.%%%

2)%Had%to%get%over%working%out%in%a%group,%felt%

intimidated%by%others%and%didn’t%want%to%embarrass%

myself.%%Learnt%very%quickly%to%leave%your%ego%at%the%

door.%

For%my%family,%CrossFit%is%the%best%decision%we%have%

made%together.%%It%is%a%lifestyle%that%we%enjoy%and%has%

made%a%huge%difference%in%our%family%life.%We’ve%

always%been%supportive%of%our%kids%and%their%sports,%

but%since%CrossFit,%we%have%our%kids%coming%to%

support%us%and%watch%us%do%our%WODS.%%It%has%given%

us%more%family%time%together%because%we%now%share%

a%common%interest%and%our%goals%are%the%same,%

which%means%that%we%are%encouraging%each%other%to%

achieve%them.%%We%have%been%“Nobrepped”%by%the%

kids%which%is%awesome,%definitely%creates%a%good%

discussion%over%dinner!%%No%matter%where%we%are%

(home,%shopping,%out%&%about,%with%family%&%friends)%

–%we%all%talk%CrossFit.%

Avery"&"Sienna"

Our%CrossFit%journey%started%in%May%2013%–%Mum%was%

already%going%to%CrossFit,%and%she%found%out%about%

the%kids%classes%and%we%said%that%we%wanted%to%give%it%

a%try.%%%

%

At%our%first%class,%we%were%very%nervous%and%shy%

because%we%didn’t%know%what%we%were%going%to%do.%%

At%the%end%of%our%class,%we%felt%sore%and%a%little%bit%

dizzy,%but%it%was%good%because%we%wanted%to%get%

stronger%and%fitter.%%%

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At%school,%we%practice%some%of%the%things%we%learn%at%

CrossFit,%and%it’s%cool%because%our%friends%ask%us%

about%CrossFit,%so%we%get%to%talk%to%them%about%our%

WODs.%%%%

CrossFit%is%cool%because%we%talk%about%it%at%home%all%

the%time,%and%we%watch%lots%of%YouTube%clips%on%top%

CrossFit%athletes,%and%by%watching%them,%it%makes%us%

want%to%improve%our%movements,%and%also%have%the%

right%attitude%when%we%turn%up%for%our%class.%%

Sometimes%if%we%have%had%a%busy%day%at%school,%we%

are%really%tired%to%go%and%do%CrossFit,%but%Mum%

always%reminds%us%to%go%because%she%said%we%will%

always%feel%better%after%a%good%CrossFit%WOD.%

%

Avery%–%my%goal%is%to%get%a%ring%muscle%up%and%some%

abs.%%I%like%the%gymnastics%movements%we%do%in%

CrossFit,%and%I%also%love%the%running.%%I%want%to%

improve%on%all%of%these%things%as%they%help%me%in%my%

rugby%and%basketball%trainings.%%I%want%to%get%better%

at%my%upper%body%strength%so%that%I%can%be%strong%

enough%to%do%some%barbell%lifting%when%I%move%into%

the%teen’s%classes.%%I%would%like%to%compete%in%a%Kids%

CrossFit%games%or%event,%and%would%also%like%to%be%a%

future%CrossFit%Games%athlete.%

Sienna%–%my%goal%is%to%get%a%bar%muscle%up%followed%

by%a%ring%muscle%up.%%When%I%first%started%CrossFit%I%

was%not%fit,%I%didn’t%like%sports%because%I%couldn’t%run%

or%skip.%%Now%I%am%a%lot%stronger,%and%I%can%skip%really%

well%now.%%%

I%sign%up%for%all%the%sports%at%school,%and%I%know%it%is%

because%of%my%CrossFit%training%that%has%helped%me%

enjoy%team%sports%and%PE%at%school.%%I%have%a%lot%more%

energy%too.%%%

Because%our%family%does%CrossFit,%we%are%trying%to%eat%

healthier%foods,%and%I%want%to%eat%food%that%will%help%

me%become%stronger%and%fitter.%

A%hurdle%that%we%have%is%learning%to%work%together%

rather%than%against%each%other%because%we%are%very%

competitive.%%We%are%always%trying%to%beat%each%

other,%but%we%are%getting%better%at%supporting%each%

other%and%giving%tips%on%how%to%get%better%at%CrossFit.%%

Some%things%that%we%found%hard%when%we%first%

started%are%getting%better%and%it’s%because%we%keep%

going%to%classes%and%practicing.%%%

We%work%out%with%some%cool%kids;%we%have%made%

some%good%friends%and%have%awesome%coaches.%%We%

look%forward%to%CrossFit%every%week,%and%we%like%

cheering%our%classmates%on%when%we%do%the%WODs.%

George"

Fitness%for%me%was%playing%with%the%men’s%and%mixed%

competitions%Basketball%and%coaching%the%boys%under%

12’s%Rep%Basketball.%I%played%Rugby%for%the%Marist%Old%

Boys%Presidents%team,%and%my%main%claim%to%fame%

was%my%Bowflex%Gym%(I%still%don’t%have%a%Bowflex%

body%though),%all%of%these%combined%in%my%mind%

made%me%a%complete%athlete.%So%I%was%happy%in%my%

little%bubble.%

Then%one%week%early%last%year,%Anne%told%me%that%she%

was%going%to%start%CrossFit%with%work%colleagues.%I%

had%no%idea%what%that%was.%The%only%thing%I%knew%

about%CrossFit%was%Anne%would%take%off%early%in%the%

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morning%%(already%a%negative%for%me)%then%come%back%

home%wrecked%(in%sales%this%would%not%be%a%great%

start%to%a%sales%pitch),%so%when%she%asked%me%to%go%

with%her%to%give%it%a%try,%my%answer%was%always%…%No%

thanks.%%

"

In%May%Anne%converted%the%kids.%Taking%them%3%times%

a%week%to%CrossFit%kids%classes.%After%a%few%weeks%

they%were%fitter,%stronger,%loved%being%active%and%

their%newfound%confidence%was%amazing.%%I%would%try%

and%join%in%with%my%occasional%sports%stories%when%

they%would%talk%about%what%they%did%during%their%

workouts%but%it%seemed%as%though%Anne,%Avery%and%

Sienna%were%speaking%a%different!language!(CrossFitbTalk).%Frustrated%at%this%I%gave%CrossFit%a%try.%%

Long%story%short%bfrom%fast%tracking%with%Nina,%the%

twice%a%week%classes,%competing%in%the%open%for%the%

first%time%to%present%day%(where%I%am%an%Unlimited%

plus%member%going%3+%times%a%week);%I%love%it.%

It%has%been%amazing%being%a%member%not%of%a%box,%

but%of%a%community%and%extended%family%that%live%the%

same%values%as%my%own%family.%%%

Editor’s)Note:))The$family$that$epitomizes$everything$CFEA$is$about$:$family,$community,$participation,$support,$personal$achievement$and$so$much$more.$This$family’s$dedication$to$each$other$and$a$healthy$lifestyle$has$prompted$a$huge$CFEA$fan$club,$with$Members$and$Staff$watching$on$inspired$by$their$unity$and$achievements.$The$Fesolai$Fan$Club$says:$%

“Yes$awesome!$When$Avery$and$Sienna$are$doing$kids$classes$George$and$Anne$are$always$there.$And$when$the$parents$are$working$out$the$kids$are$in$the$background$watching.$They$all$love$CrossFit$and$support$each$other.$Hard$workers,$polite$and$all$round$super$nice$people.$Def$a$good$example$of$CFEA”$%

“Definitely$such$an$awesome$family.$George$has$an$infectious$smile$and$genuinely$is$happy$to$take$time$to$chat,$Anne$is$a$humble$power:lifting$machine$&$both$kids$are$definitely$CrossFitter’s$of$the$future.$Actually$Avery$could$kick$my$ass$today!”$$“This$family$is$such$a$good$example$of$commitment$to$a$healthier$lifestyle,$both$physically$and$socially$they$give$100%$at$CrossFit$and$really$make$an$effort$at$improving$themselves.$I've$only$seen$them$a$few$times$but$they$are$such$sweet$people$and$they$always$make$me$try$harder$whenever$they$are$around”$$

$

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Having$coached$Sienna$right$from$when$she$started,$the$change$in$her$is$amazing$from$fitness$level,$attitude$towards$training.$Polite$:$in$fact$impeccable$manners$:$has$never$failed$to$say$thank:you$to$Jo$or$myself,$perfect$example$of$the$CrossFit$kid$athlete$with$supporting$other$peers,$helping$them$if$they$are$unsure$of$a$movement.$Helps$clean$away$equipment$at$the$end$of$every$class$and$all$done$with$a$smile$$“Yes$yes$to$all$the$comments$above^^^$these$guys$are$super$supportive$of$each$other,$at$the$last$power$lifting$comp$not$only$did$George,$Avery$and$Sienna$come$to$support$Anne,$but$Anne's$sister$and$nieces$were$even$there$as$well!$They$are$always$a$pleasure$to$talk$to,$really$humble$people,$well$deserved$.........and$Avery$does$muscle$ups,$nuff$said!”$$

$$“The$Fesolai$family$are$a$true$representative$of$everything$that$CFEA$stands$to$and$we$are$lucky$to$have$them$as$members.$Not$only$are$they$extremely$supportive$of$each$other$but$also$of$everyone$they$workout$with.$Sienna$and$Avery$are$talented$and$polite,$delightful$to$teach$and$very$inspirational!$I$have$loved$watching$both$Anne$and$George$embrace$a$healthier$lifestyle$with$great$success.$And$Anne$is$a$godsend$with$Cooper!$Love!”$$Sienna$is$super$determined;$working$on$bar$muscle$ups$and$is$really$close!$Really$focused$but$also$a$lot$of$fun.$She$only$has$two$faces,$a$massive$smile$or$this$like$really$intense$determined$face$and$it’s$mostly$the$smiling$one.$Both$naturally$talented$and$a$very$very$hard$worker$so$has$huge$potential$to$be$a$pretty$top:notch$athlete.$

Getting"to"know"The"Fesolai’s"

How"did"you"discover"CrossFit"and/or"why"did"you"decide"to"give"it"a"go?"Avery/Sienna%=%we%watched%Mum%do%her%on%ramp%

class%in%the%mornings,%and%wanted%to%try%it%too.%%She%

looked%so%wasted%after%her%class%

Anne%=%Discovered%CrossFit%through%a%work%friend,%

who%continued%to%support%me%through%the%journey.%%

No%harm%in%giving%it%a%go%

George%=%Through%Anne%and%the%kids%–%all%they%talked%

about%was%CrossFit,%so%I%was%peer%pressured%into%

signing%up.%It’s%been%all%me%since%though☺%

%

Favourite"CrossFit"exercise?"Avery%=%pull%ups%and%mostly%gymnastics%movements%

Sienna%=%kipping%pull%ups%

Anne%=%anything%with%the%barbell%and%wall%balls%

George%=%Thrusters%

%

Most"hated"CrossFit"exercise?"Avery%=%man%on%fire%burpees%

Sienna%=%burpees%

Anne%=%It%USED%to%be%running%–%but%after%14.5,%going%

to%have%to%say%it’s%those%burpees%

George%=%Inch%Worm%(I%know%it’s%a%warm%up%but%they%

suck),%I%couldn’t%sleep%the%first%time%I%did%these.%

%

What"were"you"doing"sport/exercise"wise"before"CrossFit?"Avery%=%Rugby,%Basketball%and%lots%of%PE%things%at%

school%

Sienna%=%Rugby%but%otherwise%watched%Avery’s%

games%

Anne%=%Basketball,%walking%

George%=%Basketball,%Rugby,%Touch%and%Weights.%

%

What"changes"in"your"health,"physique"and"performance"have"you"observed"since"starting"CrossFit?"Avery%=%my%core%is%getting%stronger,%and%I%can%run%

longer%than%what%I%used%to%

Sienna%=%I%am%stronger,%and%I%feel%healthy%

Anne%=%have%noticed%clothes%are%loose,%body%shape%

has%changed,%squats%are%below%parallel%and%definitely%

getting%stronger%

George%=%I’ve%got%an%ab%now%and%I%think%he’s%getting%a%

twin☺%I’m%working%towards%a%sixbpack.%

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What"advice"would"you"give"to"someone"with"regards"to"starting"CrossFit?"Avery%=%during%the%workouts,%just%keep%moving,%and%

push%yourself%

Sienna%=%If%I%can%do%it%–%so%can%you%

Anne%=%“Take%the%challenge,%you%won’t%look%back!”%b%

CrossFit%has%changed%my%life%for%the%better.%

George%=%I%learnt%early%that%“The%only%person%you%

should%be%competing%against%is%yourself,%when%you%

conquer%your%fears%and%limitations,%look%out%world”.%

I’m%chipping%away%at%these%every%time%I%go%to%a%class.%

%

Favourite"Place"to"eat"a"paleoUish"meal"in"Auckland?"Avery/Sienna%=%Eight%and%Wildfire%

Anne%=%As%long%as%it%has%meat%with%veges%or%salads,%

I’m%happy;%otherwise%no%place%like%home!%

George%=%I’m%a%massive%Eight%Fan.%

%

The"song"that"gets"you"pumped"up"for"a"workout?"Avery%=%Safe%&%Sound%

Sienna%=%Timber%

Anne%=%“Tricky”,%or%“Mr%Saxobeat”.%%Lots%of%old%

school/hip%hop%–%as%long%as%it’s%bangin,%I’m%happy!%%

NB:%%love%Reggae%too!%

George%=%anything%with%an%old%school%baseline,%love%

my%hipbhop.%

%

The"last"thing"you"ate:"Avery%=%Roast%lamb%

Sienna%=%spare%ribs%

Anne%=%chicken,%beans%and%pumpkin%mash%

George%=%Prawns%and%salad%

%

Proudest"accomplishment"at"Crossfit?"Avery%=%my%bar%muscle%up%

Sienna%=%banded%bar%muscle%up%

Anne%=%CrossFit%Open%2014%

George%=%I%have%2,%Participating%in%the%CrossFit%Open%

2014.%The%environment%was%awesome!!!%And%

dropping%in%waist%measurements%with%the%nutrition%

challenge%with%Jo.%

%

What"are"your"goals"for"2014?"Avery%=%get%better%at%LbSits%

Sienna%=%improve%on%my%fitness,%and%get%stronger%for%

sports%

Anne%=%Sort%out%my%goats%ready%for%CF%Open%2015%

George%=%Stay%heavier%than%Anne%with%the%Weights%

movements%and%beat%her%time%at%a%WOD.%

%

Name"a"CFEA"member"that"has"inspired"you?"Avery%=%adults%because%they%always%cheer%me%on%the%

run%and%help%me%with%new%skills%

Sienna%=%my%coaches%Jo,%Dean,%and%Alysa.%%They%have%

helped%me%a%lot%and%encourage%me%all%the%time%

Anne%=%Everyone%in%CFEA%has%something%different%

that%inspires%me%

George%=%I%love%watching%the%young%ones%smash%

WODS%but%my%main%inspiration%comes%from%the%older%

members%of%our%community,%too%many%to%name.%If%I%

were%the%youngster%I’d%be%looking%out%for%the%older%

members%“We%Rock”%

% %

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