winnipeg's biggest loser

Why we do it

As the competition wraps up, I think back on the past 3 months and wonder  if we have really changed lives.  I think so.  I wish the winner of the competition wasn’t determined by weight loss, but by what the participants have learned, the medications they no longer have to take and the wonderful new things they are now capable of doing.

Why do we exercise?  Most people call it “working out” and do it strictly for aesthetic purposes.   At CrossFit Winnipeg, we call it training and the staff are called “coaches” and the customers are called “athletes”.   The slogan on my T-Shirt says it all – we train for life and Shirley, Jerri-Lynn, Marie and Trish are truly athletes.  We have a whiteboard in the gym to keep track of our athletes personal records, and also the top performances in the gym.  One of our Hot 103 Team Intern athletes has made the leader board.  Congrats Marie for the 245lbs Deadlift at 4 reps!  Won’t be long before you’re pulling 300lbs!

Here’s a collage of photos celebrating Team Intern’s accomplishments and some favourite moments.

Jerri-Lynn

And now, for Jerri-Lynn’s Story…

So, today was our team’s last day together. It was kind of sad to go to Crossfit Winnipeg today. To walk though those doors one last time as this competition was coming to a close. I remembered walking into Crossfit Winnipeg for the first time. It’s not your typical gym. I wondered where all the treadmills and elliptical trainers where. I wondered HOW I was going to get fit with no gym equipment. When I first looked around I saw 3 massive tractor tires, gymnastic rings, rowing machines, GHD’s, and chin up/monkey bars and a WHOLE lot of weights. Wow, I thought, this was going to be a challenge. Tania, our trainer, and owner of Crossfit, took us under her wing and showed us all a new way of exercising. It was awesome. I can flip over those massive tractor tires. I can deadlift 175 lbs. I am stronger because of Tania and her team. Being able to use your own body and what equipment Crossfit had, made for a really intense, but great workout. Workouts that are possible and doable at home too. The coaches who helped us along the way were also awesome, they all took time out to help teach us and care for us and this competition.

Because of the great generosity of my friends and trainers, I was able to do this. When this first started, I has just had a baby. She was almost four months old. I was kind of scared. I didn’t know how I would do this. But they helped me by holding her, by giving me some slack when I had to stop during a workout to nurse her. They made this experience possible for me, and to them I am thankful. Oh, and I totally cannot forget about LTI. He would come and workout with our team when he could, and he would also help with baby Monique. Just so you all know….YOU GUYS ROCK!!

What an experience! I learned so many great things that I will take with me in life! I will never EVER forget this wonderful journey! And all the awesome people I got to meet, and to make already great relationships, even better.

Thank you HOT 103/QX 104 for picking our team, you really don’t know how much you have helped make our lives better, great big virtual bear hugs!!! :0)

–Jerri-Lynn Chester