Friday, July 13, 2012

Posted by: gina

CFLB Member Profile: Ben Shanker

• Hometown:Los Gatos, CA
• Age:29
• Occupation:Physician
• When did you first start CrossFitting? 06/29/2010
• When did you first start training at CFLB? 05/15/2012
• Favorite WOD:Elizabeth
• Least Favorite WOD:Anything with double unders

Tell us about you sports & fitness background: I have loved playing sports all my life. As a kid I played basically every sport imaginable. In high school I played baseball, football, and was part of the roller hockey club team. I continued my baseball career at Pomona College, where I was team captain and a first team all conference outfielder.

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel? I was first exposed to crossfit while home from medical school for the summer. A friend, who was a personal trainer at the time, had discovered a website called "Crossfit Football," which posted a strength and a conditioning workout each day. We began following the program and really enjoyed it. I felt myself drawn to the variety of the workouts and the emphasis on functional movements. While I had worked out all my life, I had never pushed myself like crossfit demanded. After that summer, I did not have access to a crossfit gym per se, but continued to incorporate crossfit principles into my workouts. Incidentally, the friend that first exposed me to crossfit is now competing in his third crossfit games this July. 

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF? (before / after): I feel healthier both mentally and physically, and have much more energy in my daily life. 

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? Diet. One nice thing about crossfit is that it provides guidance on how to eat in order to perform and feel your best.

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFLB moments: The CFLB community is extremely supportive and welcoming. I remember during one of my first WODs, several other members spent time teaching me one of the movements that I was less familiar with. The athletes at CFLB work hard and are competitive, but also want others to succeed, which creates a fun and productive atmosphere.

Any advice for people just getting started? Just go for it! Don't be scared or intimidated. Start off slow and progress as you feel comfortable. Every workout offers levels of difficulty from beginner to advanced, so just do what feels right!

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? I enjoy science, live music, biking,and spending time with family and friends.