Cover Story
CrossFit Athens: Clean Food, Functional Fitness, And Community by Ali Elizabeth Turner continued from page 1
formation Sciences. It was at UNA that he met his truly lovely wife, fellow CrossFit coach and co-owner, Jordan. “She has been by my side all the way, and none of this would have been possible without her,” said Nick, as he pointed both to the fitness center, (known in CrossFit parlance as a “box”), as well as to himself. He is a “product of the product,” but becoming a CrossFit “box” owner was not a part of his life plan. In January of 2014, Nick and two college buddies set a New Year’s resolution that actually “took.” They bought a membership at a local gym and began to work out regularly. Nick saw results to the tune of becoming 80 pounds lighter, and then found himself stuck. At the same time, his job as a defense contractor specializing in utility mapping called for lots of travel, and he decided to move closer to work. It was at Empire Fitness and CrossFit Madison that Nick experienced for himself just how well the CrossFit approach could work. He lost the last 20 pounds, changed his nutritional approach to fitness, and began to feel a pull toward helping others the way he had been helped.
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With the help of CrossFit Madison, Nick and Jordan opened their box, which is located in Athens at 15258 Hastings Road, on August 5, 2019.They weathered COVID, have grown to about 90 members, and offer classes for kids on up to people of any age, any level of fitness, for any goal. “To join the adult class, you have to be 13, but here we have classes for kids aged 5-12,” said Nick, and helping kids become fit and healthy is something that is a true passion for him. Currently, CrossFit Athens members range in age from 5 to 65. What sets CrossFit apart from other fitness approaches? It is the focus on functional fitness, which essentially means that your body is the machine, not the treadmill. They do use barbells, kettle bells, weights, rings, high bars, rope climbing, and a rowing machine, but it is the use of all of your muscles to get the job done, rather than isolating your muscles, that makes the difference. “Everything is unplugged,” said Nick. The moves come from several genres: gymnastics, weightlifting, use of medicine balls, resistance bands, plyometrics (jump training), running, and at some facilities, swimming. Another feature is the continual change up in workouts. They are different every day, but each
day a member works out for an hour; there is a 20-minute warm up, 20-minute workout, and a 20-minute cool down/ stretching session. CrossFit is used by first responders, military, and anyone who wants to be “ready for anything.” In addition, CrossFit is used by the Royal Danish Life Guards, and the Miami Marlins, along with several American and Canadian high school sports teams. Here is what CrossFit says about their philosophy and approach: CrossFit is a lifestyle characterized by safe, effective exercise and sound nutrition. CrossFit can be used to accomplish any goal, from improved health to weight loss to better performance. The program works for everyone -- people who are just starting out and people who have trained for years. Crucial to the success of anyone “inside the box” is a lifestyle change when it comes to nutrition. There are no diets, portions, carb or calorie counts, but Nick told me people are encouraged to “eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not
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