Antonio M. is the January Member of the Month!

Croga Fitness
February 22, 2023
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Antonio is the Member of the Month! This was a long time coming. If you have been paying attention to our Croga Committed Club, you have noticed that we can't get this guy out of the gym. He attends 25-30 classes a month and he has been doing that for the last 5-6 months. 

Antonio is what I would call a fiery man with a passion for wine, pizza, warm weather, a snarky attitude, and pushing his limits in the gym. He is someone that will look at a workout or movement and will attack it with 100% effort. After workouts, you can usually find Antonio stretching in the corner of the room or practicing a skill that he wants to have. 

If you see Antonio in the gym, congratulate him and thank him for the awesome workout we will be doing in his honor. Everyone loves Antonio, he is the man!

When did you join Croga?
Somewhere around march of 2022, it was a gloomy day and Cody opened the door and he looked like he had not shaved for the past 27 years! So I thought well that must be the wrong place! And then he said “are you Antonio”…. I wanted to say no, but I can’t lie much hahahah

What were you doing before for fitness?
Working out on my own for several years, trying to make the most out of any online workouts I could find, such a waste of time. But for the longest time I believed I did not want to work out with others. In a certain way, I was wrong. The longer I exercised on my own, the more depressed and undriven I would get.

What was your first workout? First reaction to your first workout?
Oh after my intro with Ari (hello ma'am!), I thought Orange Theory was gonna be my only future, then Cody charged my card so at that point I was like well….” I paid for the month, lets's just go experience gym shame and get over with this!” At my very first class, Ari was showing toes to bar and when I saw it I gently yelled “jesus christ” in a respectful religious way. Almost one year later I can proudly tell you I can do 2 maybe 3 toes to bar.

What improvements have you seen in the way you look, feel and perform?
Generally, every single one of my joints, ligaments, and muscles HURTS, but every WOD accomplished gives me an energizing feeling that goes beyond any impediment.

What days and times do you come to Croga?Any time, any day (myself and few other crazy folks should have a copy of the key …..Cody!!!!!!!).

What's your favorite WOD?
Every single workout that Ari writes is a great workout (gotta keep our relationship intact).

What's your least favorite WOD?
Anytime Ari puts a farmers carry somewhere and in the middle of the workout she tells me to go up in weight, that’s the absolutely F…….worst!

"The Antonio" WOD! What would it be?
Oh oh oh listen to this ….. barbell suicide mission.

5 sets of 10 hang clean, 10 push press, 10 hang clean high pull, 10 front squat, 10 deadlifts, 10 thrusters all at the same weight. When I did it, it was rest as needed….but yeah I died inside!

What’s your favorite post-workout routine?
My 45g protein shake, cause I am hungryyyyyy!!!! And a 20 min slow pace walk on a treadmill.

What's been your favorite culinary discovery since joining Croga?
Well, I have never had to eat that much protein in my life and never considered using fish oil either. But I have to say those things used consistently, they do make a difference.

What's your biggest fitness goal for this year?
I haven’t set any, there are several movements I still cannot do and that makes me impatient. I would say improving gymnastics is definitely a goal (also surviving Ari’s workouts is another goal).

What do you love about this type of fitness?
It was only after Coach Taylor helped me achieve my first handstand EVER that I realized how CrossFit really made me challenge all those mental and physical barriers that I have had and I still do by the way. The journey of fighting the uncomfortable, that’s what I love! How am I gonna step into a 24hrs Fitness? Even if I wanted to…..oh wait that’s much cheaper, mmmmhhhhh nahhh!

What words of advice do you have for new members or people considering joining Croga?
“Balls to the wall” should be your religion, whether you are doing the workout as prescribed or with any other sort of modifications (for us common mortals!), just do it. It doesn’t matter if Dave is doing the workout next to you and he is doing 1000 burpees and front squats in only 13 minutes and 10 seconds, let these kind of people become your inspiration….then go home and have a glass of Italian wine! hahahah only the finest.

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