Sunday, August 19, 2012

Posted by: gina

CFLB Athlete Profile: Dave Brooks, one of the 1st place winners from our last challenge!

Photo: 3 of the paleo challenge winners -- Lauren, Emily and Dave (on the right...obviously).

• Hometown: San Francisco's East Bay
• Age: 32
• Occupation: Journalist
• When did you first start CrossFitting? 10/01/2011
• When did you first start training at CFLB? 10/01/2011
• Favorite WOD: This year's Open Wod 12.1 AMRAP of burpees over 7 minutes was pretty interesting
• Least Favorite WOD: Anything with thrusters or dead lifts is not enjoyed. Overhead and front squats are also not my favorite.

Tell us about you sports & fitness background: Don't really have much of one. Wrestled in high school and worked out on and off after college. I would go through periods of intense fitness, followed by intense gluttony. Mostly would get bored with my workouts and then languish trying to motivate myself back into LA Fitness to do a useless workout with bad form.

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD... what was it, and how did it feel? I remember my sister-in-law telling me about doing CrossFit in Santa Cruz, Calif. It sounded really intense and to be honest, I was afraid that I might puke or pass out if I tried it. I finally worked up enough courage to do a drop-in class at the gym, but I will admit, the entire drive over I thought about turning the car around and cracking a beer on the couch instead. On my first day, I met Chad and Gina and Carlos and after a brief warmup and some instruction, it was time to take the plunge. I remember doing some combination of three rounds of box jumps, beginner pullups and kettlebells. I actually charged through the workout and didn't slow down, but the full exertion caught up to me seconds after I yelled out "Time!" My lungs were on fire, my stomach was in knots and every muscle in my body ached. Panting, barely able to talk and soaked in sweat, I just laid on a bench outside, breathing so obnoxiously loud that Carlos came over to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack. When I finally recovered (like ten minutes later), I walked over to Gina and handed her my credit card and signed up. She started talking to me about some nutrition tips before I went to my first ONRAMP class, but all I could do was grip the edge of the counter and hold on for dear life. I was certain I was going to faint! Luckily I maintained consciousness and eventually made it to my car. Despite the walloping, I knew that I had just been handed the tools for changing my life.

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF? (before / after): I have lost approximately 25 lbs, my whole body from head to toe is toned and strong and my strength and endurance have increased exponentially. Whenever my fiance tells me I look hot, I know it's going to be a good day.

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected? Well....it's not an understatement to say that CrossFit Long Beach has totally changed my life. In the past I would come home from work at 6, watch TV until 11 and think "God, I'm so bored." Now I work out five times a week and my schedule feels a lot more full, and more importantly, my life feels more fulfilled. I'm also a follower of the Paleo diet, which has helped me shed the weight and feel a lot better digestively. Socially, I've made a lot of friends through the gym, which is a big bonus - I'm definitely a people person (and I like that everyone shares tips on Facebook). And finally, my self confidence has improved dramatically. Of course I can't get too big of a head - I have two sisters and my fiance Kristen has three. They do a good job of keeping me down to earth.

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFLB moments: June 30th was awesome! One CrossFitter [Emily C.] was having a hard time finishing one of the grueling weekend WODS and half-a-dozen people jumped to her aid and did the last part of the WOD with her. Not only is that a great motivator, it also shows that people at CrossFit Long Beach really care about each other and are willing to extend a hand when its needed.

Any advice for people just getting started? Most important, always listen to your coaches. They are trained professionals, people! Second, channel your fear into something positive. It's normal to be scared - I guarantee you that some of the best athletes at CFLB get terrified from time to time. Some workouts seem like epic battles on your body, and it's easy to feel like you're looking down the barrel of a gun. But if you pull through, and make it to the end (and I guarantee you will 99.9% of the time), imagine how you will feel once you overcome. Probably like a bad ass from your favorite movie. Mine is "300" and after completing some WODS, I'll occasionally scream out "This is Sparta!" (although I usually wait until I get into my car).

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit? Well, since you ask....I am the managing editor of a very cool entertainment magazine so I'm very involved in the music and sports business. Besides the day to day operations of the magazine, I travel all over the world (but mostly North America) writing stories, interviewing people and speaking at conferences and industry events. I was recently interviewed by the L.A. Times and NPR for a story on rock concerts in LA. I am very passionate about journalism, and love special projects like making viral videos and podcasts. My fiance [soon to be wife!] Kristen is my best friend and we enjoy bike riding, paddle boarding and going to concerts together (and we love eating too, but who doesn't right?). And I totally love the Southern California lifestyle. My life theme song is "I Love L.A." by Randy Newman.