Congratulations to Jen for earning this month’s Member of the Month award! This woman perfectly encapsulates what Firewall is all about. She’s drive. She’s devoted. She’s lively. And above all else, she’s on of if not the most positive members at Firewall! Jen has such a positive impact on everyone she meets. We’re so grateful to have her as a member! Check out the Q&A we did with her below!
How did you find Firewall, and when did you first start?
Coming up on 2 years! January 2019. Michelle Hastings and I wanted to start this journey together and literally looked around to see who offered classes at noontime (after work for us). The timing gave us the opportunity to get home for our kids and left no excuses as to why we couldn’t get a workout in! It was great.
If you could give your past self one piece of advice when she was getting started, what would it be?
Just keep moving and keep walking through that door 5 days a week!
What’s your personal reason for working out?
I had lost my motivation. I missed that competitive fire. We had gone on a trip a couple years back and we hiked a mountain with our girls. We had turned a corner – my girls kicked my butt and I thought I was doing to die!! I was huffing and puffing so much!! I felt like I was holding them up. Something clicked and I realized I needed to change big time. I am 47 and there is so much I want to do and see and I do not want to feel limited in any way.
Have you always been a super upbeat and positive person? Where does it stem from?
I have been and simply – my Mom. She sees the very best in everyone and everything if I can be a quarter of what she is then I am doing something right. I am incredibly blessed to be surrounded by the best family and friends anyone can ask for. How can I not be psyched every day that can I wake up and have them around me? The best.
What’s your favorite part about Firewall?
By far the COMMUNITY. Coaches & members. It’s truly incredible: the positivity, the encouragement – I am hooked. I can’t imagine going anywhere else. I feel safe and happy here. No judgment – all good vibes.
What’s your favorite part about CrossFit?
It’s something different every day and that you can scale a workout to your ability. I never involved weights in anything I did before, now I love the strength portion of a workout.
What improvements have you seen (physically and/or mentally) since starting?
Physically – I am doing things I have not done in years. To be honest some things I never did. I played sports most of my life (even in Mom’s leagues) but it was a very one-dimensional workout. I love doing things outside my comfort zone now. I like that feeling of being unsure of a movement and then crushing it.
Mentally – before FW I didn’t have anything that was just for me. Having this hour to work on myself, set goals and socialize helps keep everything else in prospective.
What’s your proudest accomplishment at the gym?
Well this didn’t really happen IN the gym so to speak but I was really proud of myself during the spring/summer shutdown. I stuck to the online workouts and really looked forward to “seeing” everyone online. It helped me in so many ways and when it was time to go back into the gym I felt great.
If you could have an hour conversation with anyone on the planet, who would it be?
Michelle Obama – she is amazing to me. She believes in family, community, and activism. She is funny and positive yet realist all in one.
Who’s your favorite workout buddy of all time?
I know some might be shocked by this but….Michelle Hastings!! Our families are close but life gets busy sometimes so to this as a daily touch base is awesome.
I am Nooner at heart but the 4/4:30 crew have been incredibly welcoming with my new schedule this year and I LOVE getting to know them better.