TESTIMONIALS
I joined Crossfit back in May and have never seen results so fast! As someone who has always been active and been part of a gym or some form of fitness class for the past 10 years, I was certainly impressed with Crossfit Ireland straight away. I moved from Vancouver two and a half years ago, and since moving to Ireland I couldn’t seem to find the right gym/classes that had the intensty and variety that I was looking for. I settled for a gym membership at a mediocre gym to keep fit, the classes in it were terrible and it was not well maintained. I felt myself dreading going, starting to get out of shape, and not watching what I was eating as closely. I needed a change! I was recommended Crossfit from a friend back in Canada, and found Crossfit Ireland on the internet. After coming out for a trial with Colm I decided to give it a go. Man am I glad I did!
A few reasons:
- Variety, everytime you step in to Crossfit Ireland you do a different workout, your body never knows what’s coming
- Community, you’re meeting new people all the time and they are motivating you, they want you to do well and it helps (especially when you’re trying to finish those last evil push ups in a WOD)
- Education, you learn new things everytime you come, from squats, to handstand push ups (yes that’s a real thing), to nutrition, to running, etc, etc….the list goes on
- Motivation, the support and motivation from the coaches and fellow crossfitters is great, they believe you can do more than you think (they are usually right), they get you through the workout and make the time go by in a flash
- Challenge, the point is to better yourself; you are consistently lifting more, running faster, and doing more reps
- Coaching, they are there to advise you, pick out your strengths and weaknesses and help you improve on them, I always feel comfortable asking questions, whether it be about lifting, running or nutrition
- Fun, most importantly, it’s fun! You’re working out with others and you have a bit of a laugh, even if you are sweaty and wrecked, I still have a smile on my face at the end of class (once I’ve caught my breath)!
Those are just a few things that came to mind to sum it all up……I would reccommend it to anyone, I have lost inches, toned up, improved my eating and sleeping and overall I have more energy. I think I might be a crossfit lifer.
- Meagan McGuinness
I have trained in many gyms over the years and tried several different methods of training. I have noticed that most gyms now have more machines that ever before but offer little different in the way of training. They have become almost soulless places where nobody talks to each other and everybody wears earphones or watches television while working out.
I gradually became tired of this environment and was always on the lookout for something better. I had been following the main Crossfit.com site but couldn’t really put their workouts into practice in commercial gyms or at home.
When I found that Crossfit Ireland had opened in Sandyford I jumped at the chance to try it out. The first thing I noticed was a lot of clear floorspace and a complete lack of crosstrainers, spinning bikes etc. I knew I had come to the right place. Along the walls were several pull up bars, olympic weight lifting equipment, kettlebells, skipping ropes, rowers and just about everything you really need to train effectively.
When the classes are actually set up you see that there is enough equipment for everyone to train together. You can have say twelve people working on their squatting or pressing at the same time. Any commercial gym usually has only one or two lifting racks and pull up stations that are regularly monopolised by a few meatheads.
Having now trained in Crossfit for nearly five months I can honestly say that I am fitter and stronger than at any point in my training history. Considering that at 43 years of age I can lift more weight and cope with a far higher volume of workload than in my twenties and thirties, this shows just how effective the programming really is. Another benefit is that a shoulder injury that has niggled me for the past two years now no longer causes any pain. I put this down to the more rounded training that I am receiving.
I love the constant variation of the training. It genuinely makes me look forward to the next session and prevents any possibility of boredom setting in. Most people who join a gym fade away after a few weeks as they tire of plodding through the same routine. In Crossfit you get a true sense of accomplishment when you complete the workouts of the day. They are always challenging, but then if it was easy everyone could do it!
I also find the supportive environment of my fellow trainees can be very uplifting. When you are really struggling through a workout and have people come over to encourage you to the end it definitely helps you. It is the kind of camaraderie you normally only get in close knit teams. Neither is it a lads only kind of place. There are plenty of women there who are very capable of kicking your ass!
The best asset of Crossfit is the coaching staff. The lads really do take an interest in everyone’s training and are always happy to provide any advice on training or nutrition you may need. It is similar to a personal training level of attention without the associated price.
Crossfit Ireland is a unique training environment. For anyone who is prepared to move away from traditional bodybuilder-type programming or cardio-machines, you will be rewarded with an athletic physique, phenomenal work capacity, new friends and a place you will want to keep coming back to.
-Hugh O’Driscoll
Having mucked about in a number of gyms for a number of years and played a lot of sport at a range of levels for the past ten years or so I decided this summer that I’d try something very different. I stumbled across Crossfit Ireland thanks to an American friend who had been raving about how good he was feeling after just six months of attending Crossfit in California.
My first introduction session with Will was a no nonsense affair and it gave me a good insight into what lay ahead, I was also absolutely knackered after what I thought was a short workout.
With Crossfit there is no excuses and there’s no bunking off, unlike other gyms who forget about you once you pay your monthly direct debit the lads at Crossfit Ireland clearly pride themselves on your progress be it small or large. There is simply no way of skipping out of Crossfit classes for a few weeks, not just because they are very enjoyable but you also feel compelled to show up and beat your previous efforts, thanks mainly to the enthusiasm and interest shown from a dedicated team.
There is an all rounded focus to Crossfit Ireland in terms of fitness, diet and motivation that is extremely impressive, they are prepared to offer a service that rivals any gym or personal training company going.
After just one month of training twice a week in Sandyford, keeping to the basic elements of the dietary advice and fitting in a few sessions on my own I feel a lot fitter and have seen marked improvements in the weights I’m lifting. I hope to use my time in Crossfit to motivate me to keep playing team sports for a few more years wgiven that I was already thinking about chucking it all in. More than that, I am sure that what I thought would be just an interesting experience for one summer will continue for much longer, well until I can do 10 unassisted pull ups anyway.
Neale Richmond – Councillor
Simply put I am addicted to CrossFit, or at least I’ve been told upon numerous occasions that I am. I have been doing CrossFit for around six months now and I love every second of it.
This is why Crossfit appeals to me:
It is whiteboards and wall balls. It is chalk and sweat. It is pull ups and push ups. It is burpees and box jumps (and hopefully not at the same time). It is Angie, Annie, Fran and Grace. It is racing the clock and gasping for air. It is simple and effective. It is high intensity and constantly varied. It is for kids and grandparents (like Tony) and everyone in between.
It is great coaching and advice. It is motivation and support. It is hard work and commitment. It is measureable and visible results. It is competition without the ego. It is friendship and community. It pushes me to my limits, it is stronger and faster.
It is doing things I never thought I would do. It is learning new skills and new things about myself, it challenges me everyday.
It makes me want to train regardless of the WoD. It makes me keep going when I normally would have stopped. It makes me want to work on my weaknesses and build on my strengths. It makes me feel terrible and it makes me feel great. It is always pushing me to do more than I believe I can.
My name is James and I’m a CrossFit addict!!
James Sunderland – Fitness Instructor
So I was searching for an alternative to the standard “gym”, from which I was getting very little results despite spending considerable time at. I’d tried running too, and that bored me. I came across CrossFit and decided to pop out for the free trial. I only wish I’d found it sooner.
After completing the Essentials course I was sure I wanted to keep training CrossFit. The instruction, intensity and atmosphere are perfect for pushing yourself and achieving goals. The CrossFit staff and all members are good craic and great support. I enjoy the team atmosphere and that everyone is there to train hard themselves but also help others achieve their goals.
I’ve now been training CrossFit for near 2 months on average 3-4 times a week and love it. For the first time I’ve no problems with going to the gym. In fact I look forward to it. I’ve been consistently losing fat I’ve carried for years. I’m stronger, and full of energy. Sleeping, which used to be unsettled, is now normal and I wake feeling refreshed.
I took advice from staff in relation to my diet and it has enhanced my everyday life significantly. I am eating all healthy food now and have eliminated much of the bad habits that were holding me back in my training. I no longer feel bloated, over-full or tired after meals. Plus indigestion and heart burn are a thing of the past.
I look forward to continuing with CrossFit and can’t wait to see future benefits.As a workout regime and gym I can’t recommend it enough to anyone. Just come and try it and you’ll be hooked. Just one hour of your day a few times a week and you’ll feel great.
-Aidan, Engineering Techician
I discovered CrossFit about 6 months ago when I had become fed up with my weight and general lack of fitness. I undertook to do a number of sessions with a personal trainer in a gym near me but I soon realised that this was financially unsustainable and not something I was going to be able to maintain for life. On discussing this, he recommended CrossFit to me as he thought it might suit my goals. I had never heard of CrossFit but on searching the Internet CrossFit Ireland was mentioned over and over. The idea of CrossFit where workouts are different everyday, undertaken in a group setting and with a certified instructor on hand to guide you seemed to tick all the boxes. This personalised approach definitely appealed to me and I decided to give it a go. By doing 3-4 sessions per week and following Will’s nutritional advice I have lost 16kg and I am so much happier in myself. Although in the beginning all I was searching for was something to help me lose weight, I am now also fitter and stronger than I have ever been in my life. I recently competed in the CrossFit Invitational, which was something I could have never envisaged when I started out on this journey. I am improving every week and continue to impress myself with my development.
What struck me initially is that CrossFit Ireland is not your typical gym. There are no mirrors, treadmills, or air conditioning. Instead you’ll find an informed, knowledgeable coaching staff, a great support network of fellow CrossFitters, classes on nutrition and the support you need in order to attain your personal goals. CrossFit Ireland can accommodate people at any level of fitness by scaling every exercise to the individual. The classes are small and therefore you get a lot of personal attention. Colm and Will are extremely supportive and motivating. It’s like having your own personal trainer who is constantly monitoring and supporting your performance development so that you continue to see results.
There is absolutely no way I could have come this far or achieved all this without the support, knowledge and expertise of the Crossfit Ireland team. I would highly recommend them to anyone. CrossFit is fun, challenging and it delivers results, fast.
-Lisa, PA
Well I can’t believe I’ve become a born again fit person in just seven months, considering how far I went out of my way to avoid physical activitity and consume carbs for the first 27.5 years of my life, skiving out of PE in school to go to the chipper comes to mind, it’s quite a transformation. Having joined in a bridezilla panic two months before my wedding I didn’t imagine i’d still be there months later as I’ve tried tons of exercise stuff before and never stuck at anything. I never thought I’d enjoy exercising but crossfit is actually fun, and i’d never use the words exercise and fun in the same sentence lightly. The group classes are really good for someone who is naturally lazy like me and I like that the individualised trainig means I can work at my own pace and not feel that sinking feeling of inadequacy I usually associate with sports. Which is probably down to the encouraging coaching, I’ve done loads of stuff I never ever thought I could do and I’m quite excited about the prospect of doing more. The idea of weights was a bit intimidating at first I was a little worried I’d ‘bulk up’ but it’s quite exhilarating now and it’s really refreshing that no one disses the girls/beginners as I had assumed a gym full of guys lifting heavy stuff would.
The diet advice has been super helpful too, it’s a little disappointing to realise that there is no way that any magic berries or shakes I purchase from the internet are going to work but I’ll probably save a fortune on glossy magazines advertising magic diets. I’ve developed a way healthier attitude to diet and exercise too, staring at a calorie counter on a treadmill and starving on rice cakes is super depressing and totally unsustainable for me. These days my goals are more positive stuff like being able do a proper pull up or run 400m faster rather than obsessing over numbers on the scales and the calories in a low fat packet of crisps.
-Eve Keeley, Researcher
After many years of training in a gym and only achieving any goals from my own motivation, I was on the look out for something new. I had always been a bit of an ‘aerobic junkie’ mainly because I loved it and because to weight train properly in a gym is quite off-putting with lots of ‘hard-men’ strutting around looking at you curiously if you even attempt to lift something heavier than 2kgs. I was introduced to Crossfit by my boyfriend, as he was convinced that I would love it due to the variety of training. He wasn’t wrong. I started back in November 08 and I am really enjoying it. The training in a group gives great support and great motivation. Crossfit is great for girls, as I am just getting stronger each time I go, but not bulking up, which is most girls fear. I had feared being quite aerobically fit that the Crossfit would not sustain that fitness, but it does. The mix of weight training and cardio work is a great all-rounder. I would recommend Crossfit to anyone that wants effective training but in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere.-Susan McGrath, HR
Hey Guys,
Just wanted to drop you a quick mail to tell you how impressed I was with Crossfit Ireland. The coaching, equipment and group spirit made for an incredible and productive atmosphere. At times I’ll admit I’ve been critical of Crossfit, but I can DEFINITELY see now why it’s becoming so popular – It’s so much fun!! Ever since the open day I’ve begun to adjust my diet and adopt some of the Crossfit methodology into my own training and the results have been great. My weight’s down almost a stone since April and my conditioning is through the roof.
The biggest benefit that I see is the community spirit. It keeps you motivated and honest with yourself. The best way to make progress is actually to look forward to training, and that’s what CF Ireland provides. I’d happily recommend the guys at Crossfit Ireland to anyone looking for a fun, enjoyable and, most importantly, productive all round gym and training program.
-James Hanley
3x Irish national Junior Powerlifting Champion
Hi Colm,Just a short mail to let you know the things that I have noticed after just one week of crossfit ( 6 sessions ) .I am falling asleep right after hitting the hay and waking up fully refreshed. I have lost the ability to veg out on the couch in front of the TV, I just have to be on the move now. I have also lost 5 lbs. My wife has also told me that my general day to day form is just miles better. I can’t wait to see what other improvements are on the way !
Go raibh maith agat.
-Derrick Dawson, Engineer
Before Crossfit I had limited success in the gym, often joining and going for only a few months then letting my membership expire after a year. The reason was that there was no incentive and no measurable results. With Crossfit I can easily track my progress and because the training program is constantly varied there is always another challange around the corner.
I can’t recommend Crossfit highly enough for fittness. Whether its the friendly open and helpful people or the workouts you are guarenteed to enjoy it be back for more!
-Shane, IT
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[...] STARTEDWHAT IS CROSSFIT?SCHEDULELOCATIONCONTACT USBLOGTESTIMONIALSArticlesEVENTSNUTRITION CHALLENGEINTRODUCTION TO BARBELL MOVEMENTSNutritionMeet the [...]
[...] STARTEDWHAT IS CROSSFIT?SCHEDULELOCATIONCONTACT USBLOGTESTIMONIALSArticlesEVENTSNUTRITION CHALLENGEINTRODUCTION TO BARBELL MOVEMENTSNutritionMeet the [...]
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[...] STARTEDWHAT IS CROSSFIT?SCHEDULELOCATIONCONTACT USWORKOUTSTESTIMONIALSNUTRITIONEVENTSArticlesNUTRITION CHALLENGEINTRODUCTION TO BARBELL MOVEMENTSNutritionMeet the [...]