Sponsored by BLUEZ ON 2ND
CONGRATULATIONS ALYSSA UZELMAN!!!
This has been a long time coming! She could have been named AOTM many times over, but being a coach on our staff we looked outside of our coaches. Alyssa has had many life changes since our box has opened and this year she has shown us she really has what it takes. She has had a very tough emotional year with losses of close loved ones and learning a new job she wasn’t prepared for. She went from living close to the gym, working at and working out in the gym to living 30 min away with a full-time job in Cut Knife with a ton of responsibility and feeding a crew of men on the Veikle farm.
The gym for Alyssa is the place you go when you need love and support and have stress in your life. It was hard to make herself go, but she always got back up and made it happen. You may not always see her in classes regularly but she doesn’t let her busy schedule keep her from training and getting her hands on a barbell. She will squeeze in a class last minute or do a workout in her garage. If you have a garage gym, you know that’s 10x harder to go in there to workout than it is to drive 30 min to workout with others! She does what she has to do.
When Alyssa walks into the gym, she is always smiling and laughing and nothing is more contagious than her infectious and beautiful smile and attitude. You will never hear her grumble about her workout or complain she is tired or stressed, she just gets to work and does her best for that day. She is always willing to take time to help and answer questions her fellow athletes may have about a skill. She believes in having fun while working out, and finds the balance between getting a good workout and having fun. She may look intense on the instagram but she is THE most fun to train with.
When people think of Alyssa they think a strong, badass athlete! She has competed in several CrossFit competitions and Olympic Weightlifting meets and has done quite well in all of them. She is always up to the challenge and willing to sign up for a competition with her fellow CrossFit athletes and friends. There is no doubt this is her; she IS a badass, but what makes her Athlete of the Month January in 2019 is that she is still crushing it, but relatable to others now. She has been crushing Mission Nutrition since the fall since she decided she wasn’t going to let life take control. She had a year from hell and finished off a shining star at Lair and with MN. She is an incredible role model and we are so incredibly proud of her!
Congratulations Alyssa! You are an inspiration to everyone around you, inside and outside of the gym.
Enjoy a dinner for two at Bluez on 2nd!
We asked her a few questions about her journey:
How did you first get exposed to CrossFit?
I did a few classes with a small group at the gym in Meadow Lake. A year later Me and Jenna Pool saw people leaving above Bluez with red faces and said “we could never do that”
I asked Carleen to join me otherwise I wasn’t going!
Tell us about your sports & fitness background prior to CrossFit:
I’ve played hockey most of my life but other than that I found it hard to make myself workout.
Favourite memory at the Lair?
I have so many! Training every afternoon with Lindsey.
Hitting big PR’s at the peak of my performance, the Christmas competition, etc..
What is your favourite part about The Lair?
All of the amazing people. The acceptance, positivity, and good vibes. It’s always the place that makes me feel better no matter what I am going through.
What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CrossFit?
I’ve had so many new beginnings all because of the confidence and self-love I have gained since starting. I’ve completely transformed my body and my mind. Like a complete overhaul. I’ve established a healthy relationship with my body and food.
What sort of changes in your life have you experienced from taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected?
I have learned that discomfort = growth. Going through hard times means we have an opportunity to grow. The same thing goes in the gym – intense workouts and training can be uncomfortable but if you want to change and become better, you have to go through it. If you want to build muscle mass your body needs to be put under stress. If you want to become mentally stronger you’re going to need to push yourself out of your comfort zone.
I joined to lose weight and found out I was capable of some incredible things inside and outside of the gym.
Do you remember your first WOD?
Meadow lake- Tabata sprints and jumping pull-ups
Unity- 7 min AMRAP (as many reps as possible) of burpees
Favourite WOD/Movement:
Any workout with a barbell. Chest to bar pull-ups, toes to bar, power cleans, heavy snatches. Anything shoulder to overhead.. okay, I have a lot
Least Favorite WOD/Movement:
Thrusters, running
Do you have any advice for people thinking about getting started?
You are capable of so much more than you think is possible. Give it an honest effort and it will change your life for the better. You’ll start for the workout, but you’ll stay because of the community and belonging. You’ll get so much more out of this than just getting fit. Now is a great time, so check it out and see if they have something for you, you might be surprised.