FIT FOR CROSSFIT

Clint Lowery, 45, is not your typical vacationer who enjoys lying in the sun and soaking up rays. When he travels to various destinations, he would much rather push himself to the limits by waterskiing, snow skiing, and hiking. Fortunately for him, he never has to worry whether he is fit enough to enjoy these challenging activities.

Two years ago, Clint discovered CrossFit, a popular, high-intensity fitness program that combines cardio, gymnastics, and weightlifting movements for a powerful whole body workout. Today, he helps others ‘shape’ their lives through this fitness program. He and his wife, Maci, are instructors and operate Sweat Factory CrossFit in Minneola.

“CrossFit is a well-rounded workout program and helps you become fit and functional for everything in life,” says Clint, a resident of Clermont and paramedic for Lake Emergency Medical Services. “Clients are tired by the end of a workout, but at the same time, they feel like they’ve accomplished something significant. We scale the exercises to an individual’s ability.”

His 12-year-old stepdaughter, Victoria Hattabaugh, has been hooked by this fitness craze. Each day after school, she is at Sweat Factory CrossFit practicing rope-climbing and pullups before heading to gymnastics practice. In June, she will compete in a CrossFit competition.

“Some of our clients watch her perform certain moves and say, ‘I wish I could do that,’” Clint says.

However, Clint’s 17-year-old son, Corbin, has yet to be bitten by the CrossFit bug. Corbin is an honor roll student whose only means of physical activity is competing on his high school bowling team. “He’s more of a computer kid,” Clint admits.

Clint, who follows the Paleo diet, eats whole fruits, lean meats, whole grains, and vegetables. He eats five or six times a day. He allows himself one cheat day each week.

Advice for anyone considering CrossFit:

“The hardest step is taking the first step to get there. If you can get through the first day and make it to the second day, you will have confidence that you can follow through. It takes discipline.”

Some CrossFit exercises

Clint performs:

• 40-meter runs

• Overhead squats

• Hand-release pushups

• Pullups

• 1.5-mile tempo run

• Kettlebell snatches

• Wall ball

• Situps