Success Stories

My experience with Crossfit East Cobb (CFEC) began in December 2009. Prior to this, my workouts primarily consisted of standard upper body workouts targeting the chest, back, triceps, and biceps mixed with a small amount of running and abdominal work. Every week I did the same exercises, working the same muscles, over and over again. I also primarily worked out alone at the local big name gym. Not only was this extremely boring, but it also created imbalances in my body that would have eventual led to injuries.   In addition to a poorly planned workout strategy, I also didn’t think much about the food and drink that I put into my body which worked against optimal health in many ways. I was definitely on a ͞see-food͟ diet. If I saw food, I ate it and drank excessively. Fortunately, I was blessed with a high metabolism and was pretty active. However, as I was getting older and into my mid-30’s I noticed that I was getting a ͞ dad-bod͟. I could no longer outwork my poor diet, and if something didn’t change my weight and health would get much worse.   The change I was looking for came when I discovered CFEC. Every day, a carefully planned workout of the day (WOD), is posted on the whiteboard at the front of the gym by the highly experienced coaches and owners of the gym, Jason Sobczak and Chris Sims. This removed the guesswork about what to do while at the gym and freed up my mind to focus on other things. The owners and their team of high performing coaches worked with me to correct my form on many lifts. In addition to the coaches, the members also have a vast wealth of knowledge providing guidance, inspiration, and a physical challenge daily. I found that I worked out many times harder as part of a class, than I ever would on my own. The coaches and members also provided guidance on improving my diet resulting in very significant results in just a matter of three months.   I was hooked and people started noticing the drastic changes in my body as it became more balanced, lean, and muscular. Over time I was able to almost double the amount of weight that I could deadlift and squat and made major improvements in strength and endurance across the board. I was able to achieve a Crossfit total score of over 1000 lbs, which was a major goal of mine. My body fat went from over 21% down to 15.2%. I was able to maintain that through Crossfit classes 3-4 times per week and proper diet. I also was able to complete two 50K ultramarathons through supplemental long runs on the weekend during the times I was training for those events. Having success in shorter ultras, I moved my sights to completing the Pinhoti 100 mile ultramarathon. This is an event that the owners of CFEC and a number of members have completed, some multiple times.   However, all of this progress started going backwards in March 2015 when I injured my ankle and shoulder in a mountain bike accident. I used that as an excuse to stop working out and lost focus on my diet. I was back to some of my old ways but this time I was older. By November of 2016, my body fat had climbed to 25.7%. I was slow and had low energy. I had attempted the Pinhoti 100 in that condition and could not complete it. I knew I was overweight and undertrained. I made a commitment to improve the result in 2017 and complete the race.   Jason Sobczak (co-owner/coach) and Sarah Williams(coach) who both completed the Pinhoti 100 have assisted in helping me prepare to reach that goal. They have guided me with both supplemental strength training and running advice to go along with the regular Crossfit WODs. They have also guided me with information related to improving my diet to eliminate excess fat and improve performance before and during the race. So far my weight has dropped by nearly 30 lbs and 9% body fat, while maintaining my previous strength. The members at CFEC also have invaluable advice from their many accomplished athletic goals. This advice is critical to the success of my race. I am looking forward to November 4th, the date of the Pinhoti 100, to see the result of my efforts. Wish me luck, but I don’t think I’ll need it because I am prepared!

Completing a one-hundred-mile trail run across challenging terrain in less than thirty hours “tested and highlighted my breakthrough fitness results enjoyed since joining CrossFit East Cobb.” I made that statement seven years ago when I was only 43 years old. Now, at the age of 50, I can say that CrossFit East Cobb (CFEC) continues to be the foundation and crux of my healthy lifestyle. The results are real and it only made sense for me to become a lifetime member at CFEC. Since my first testimonial, I have completed another Pinhoti 100 tail run, completed many 50K trail runs and even hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro with my two teenage sons.  I hope to be throwing kettlebells around and tackling the next workout of the day (WOD), well into my twilight years. My passion for CFEC has not changed and like I said back then, “[CFEC] is the answer to improving your health and unlocking your individual fitness.” 

As a lifelong athlete, I have enjoyed many sports but finding the time to implement a sport or training program that produces results and fits into a busy schedule is a challenge. About ten years ago I read the book “Younger Next Year” by Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge, M.D. It provided a high-octane approach to getting lean and staying fit as we age. The roadmap to become functionally younger and living with vitality is simple but it takes effort and dedication. To employ this ethos means you must train, be active, and you must do it everyday, not just once or twice a week. You must also eat healthy and minimize the fastfood, processed, sugar-laced foods that are too easy to consume. The challenge is finding an effective fitness program that works with the demands and time constraints of everyday life. 

I found the solution when I walked into CrossFit East Cobb (CFEC) back in 2009 and attempted my first workout of the day (WOD). That first WOD crushed me but I have not looked back and have been enjoying the benefits of this, ‘younger-next-year’ programming, for the last nine years. You may have heard about crossfit but not all crossfit locations (aka boxes) are created equal. I have had the opportunity to visit many crossfit boxes over the years and few offer the weight training and longer WODS (grinders) that are programmed by Jason and Sarah at CFEC. The high intensity functional programming allows you to implement strength and conditioning training in only one hour a day. This is the most import hour of my day since this provides the foundation for healthy living and gives me the ability to enjoy life’s treasures and adventures.

In addition to a challenging workout program, CFEC provides a community of camaraderie and support which serves to motivate and inspire you along the way. CFEC is a family that pushes you, encourages you and keeps you coming back for more. This journey is a challenge but it is also fun. The great people and supportive environment make the fitness journey inspiring, motivating and measurable. CFEC provides foundational information about proper nutrition and diet.  Coupling healthy eating habits and a supportive environment with an effective fitness program provides the tools you need to make dramatic gains in your fitness and overall health.

I recently celebrated my 50^th birthday and I am stronger, leaner, healthier and have more energy then I did when I was 30 or 40 years old. CrossFit East Cobb has given me the foundation to enjoy life and live with vitality. If you want results and have the motivation, then CFEC is the place for you. Jason and Sarah manage CFEC with a passion and they can help you produce real results for a complete transformation.  If you are looking for ways to improve your fitness journey, then you have found your answer.  The rest is up to you.  Hope to see you at CrossFit East Cobb.