Testimonials

It's been a year today that I became part of King Crossfit! I remember the first time I went....I thought I was going to PUKE! But I came back for more and now I come 4-5 days a week. This was one of the best things I've done for myself. Not only do I weigh less than before I had my twins, but I could fit into clothes that I saved...hoped to someday fit into them again & I do today! I've worked out in gyms for many years before, but I've never gotten this kind of results in just a year! KCF has given me the confidence in myself that I've never had before & has given me the strength that I thought I could never have, and lastly, I've gained some good friends that I hope to keep for a long time! Thanks to my family and especially my husband for his encouraging support! The pictures were taken almost a year apart. - Joy Osias

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"On the left, my first Sounders game and nearly 160 lbs. On the right,
same Sounders jersey - now a season ticket holder and 140 lbs. :)"

Being active and relatively healthy my entire life, I was confident that I would have very little trouble getting back into shape after my first daughter was born. I was right. The baby weight came off with very little effort. I was back into shape in no time. This was not the case with baby number two. The weight didn’t come off as easily, and a lot of the time it felt like it was never going to come off. I struggled with my weight, self-image and self-esteem for quite some time until I decided something had to change for me.

I saw numerous posts from an old high school friend about the CrossFit gym he owned and how he was always completing these crazy workouts. I was intrigued so I asked him about CrossFit and he told me everything I wanted to hear. Except, my friend was a Navy Seal, someone who had to be fit for his job. How was I going to compete with that? Then I started seeing random posts from other friends on FB about CrossFit and I really started to get interested. My friend Cara had been going to King CrossFit for a few months and invited me to try out this “addiction” they call CrossFit. I will never forget my very first WOD, “Baseline”. Running, air squats, sit ups, push-ups and pull ups; all body weight stuff, how hard could it really be? I mean I was in pretty good shape. I ran on my elliptical like three days a week. After the first round I remember thinking to myself as I ran, “Yeah I don’t understand what is so ‘ADDICTING’ about this stuff. It’s horrible!” I couldn’t walk for nearly three days afterward. Everything hurt. But then I came back a few days later. And I kept coming back, over and over, even when I didn’t want to.

Six months after starting CF I had lost 5 pounds. Sure I had gotten stronger. I had met many of the goals that I set for myself already. But even though my confidence was improving, my self-image was not. I decided to participate in the Paleo Nutrition Challege in January 2010 and that kick started my transformation. I lost about 10 to 15 pounds in all. But what amazed me the most was my overall body composition change in such a short period of time. All of a sudden my clothes were huge on me. Other people were noticing these changes too and that made me happy. I was a size 12 and around 152lbs when I first weighed in for the Paleo Challenge. Six months later I was down to a size 8 and 138lbs. Two years after that, I’m still a size 8 and I weigh 144lbs. I no longer worry about the number on the scale. I’m strong and healthy; a King CrossFit athlete.

King CrossFit changed my life in so many ways. In the span of almost 3 years, I have completely changed as a person. I love myself again. I am physically, mentally and emotionally stronger. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT KING CROSSFIT. You have inspired me, pushed me, taught me and cared for me beyond imagination. I not only consider you all awesome friends but I also consider you amazing people my family. - Coach Gretchen Fulmer

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It was June 22, 2010 @ 7pm, when I first walked into King Crossfit for a complimentary work out with Glen, I was about 220 pounds. Looking back at the email I sent Glen on June 23rd confirms I was hooked with that first workout.

I’d always been active with skiing/snowboarding/hiking/biking and was even a lifeguard when a teenager for a summer. But once in my late 20’s early 30’s I started to gain weight. It really was a case of "boiling the frog" - I never really realized what was happening to me since it was all incremental, but I was buying larger clothes. Having a partner that’s an amazing cook didn’t help my waistline, and although still active, my caloric intake far exceeded what I was burning. Time to hit the gym I guess.

Actually, I’d always belonged to the big gyms and even a couple smaller ones. Doing the Nautilus circuit, taking a class, using the treadmill. Boring. I prefer interaction with people and I needed someone to keep me accountable, enter personal trainers. First at the big gyms. Then later, I found out a friend owned a gym that was strictly 1-on-1 training. I liked it because the workouts always were changing and over a couple years time I had slimmed down from 240 to 215-ish. Felt good and was stronger and sleeping better. Then in February 2010 I fell ill with pneumonia. Really, really bad pneumonia that lasted for for nearly 5 weeks. For the first time in a long time I was at 200#, yay! (Not the recommended way to loose weight) Well, it came back, 205, 210, 215, 220...within 3 months time it was all there and even some bonus pounds. I hadn’t been working out at all since fighting off the pneumonia – just couldn’t get motivated and my energy level was low. Something had to give.

CrossFit. WTF? Heard about it first on the radio, read an article about it, and then had several friends that were doing CrossFit and they looked great! Trim, full of energy, and they enjoyed the workouts and the camaraderie of the box they belonged. Hmmm. More research and I landed on the Kings website. Time to send an email and check this out.

First workout: Tabata Row. Welcome to CrossFit. Pukie bucket is over there....just in case. Subsequent workouts had me doing things I never thought I could do, would do, or want to do! Running 800m around the box had me gasping for breath like a fish flopping on the floor of the boat. One year later I ran my first 1/2 marathon in 1hr59min.

I think the pictures speak for themselves. When I came across that pic of me I just thought, OMG! I didn't realize how much weight I'd lost nor the dramatic change in my face. Friends were commenting about it, but I didn’t really notice. Sure my pants were a bit loose and the belt was out of buckle holes, but I hadn’t changed that much, had I? Today, I weigh in around 180, went from a tight 36” waist to a loose 32” and feel friggin fantastic. Still lots more work to do and will be adjusting the diet as well to get leaner and dispense with the rest of the fat.

Without the King CrossFit family pushing me on at each workout I wouldn’t be here today. It’s the feeling of family, belonging, that keeps me coming back for more. The varied workouts keep it from getting boring and every workout will challenge you, if it doesn’t your not trying hard enough. And if you don’t try – why bother – save your money and go to the casino. You’ll get the same results. - Dan Lane

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I remember walking into the Dosono Garage on a Sunday morning 3 years ago to do a my first "WOD" I was scared, nervous, and most of all anxious to see what it was all about. I just about died at the end. It didn't help that I was a smoker. Back then I was only going once a week and I dreaded it. I was sore all week but I came back for more. I want to say i only lasted a few weeks. There was about a year gap that I hadn't gone.

2010 came around and I didn't know my life was going to change. My mom was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of being down about it I wanted to change my life for the better. I quit smoking and took up Bikram Yoga. It wasn't until June 2010 that some friends talked me into coming back to King Crossfit. At that very moment those same feelings of being anxious, scared, and nervous came back. But I had no excuses!! The very next day my husband and I stepped foot into the box. That was one of the best decisions I've made!! I walked in not knowing how to do a push up, pull up, and let alone lift a barbell.
2 years later, each day is still a challenge and that's what I love about Crossfit. I am my own competitor. Nothing is more satisfying than beating my previous time. I've grown to be stronger, healthier, and really step outside my bubble. King Crossfit is a huge family and everyone has been by my side each step of the way...it's my second home! Thank you King Crossfit for changing lives especially mine! - Mish Castro

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In August of 2008, I was laid off from my job and decided to join a gym to stay active. Three months later in December, I saw Coach Glen who noticed I have been working out. He brought up Crossfit and mentioned that he sometimes holds workouts in his garage. I quickly became part of a small group of people who got emails from him mentioning when the next workout in his garage would be. I became curious and watched some Crossfit videos on youtube. Big mistake. After watching a few videos, I got intimidated and started deleting his incoming emails (sorry Glen). After a few months, I was starting to lose motivation to go to the gym, so on a Sunday afternoon, my wife and I decided to stop by his garage and check out what Crossfit was all about. I remember pulling up to his house and seeing rowers and boxes in his driveway and there were abmats, weights and pull-up bars in his garage. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was scared – plain and simple, but there was no turning back – Glen and I made eye contact. He brought me along slowly and had me do some basic body weight movements (sit-ups, push-ups, air squats), jump on some boxes, row, do some basic weightlifting and run up his hill – all the while making sure I was doing things correctly and with proper form so I wouldn’t injure myself. I don’t recall my first workout, but I do recall how I felt afterwards. I was physically and mentally beat up, but for some reason I was anxious to return. The sense of accomplishment after completing that workout was pretty overwhelming. Stopping by his house on a Sunday afternoon started to become somewhat of a weekly routine.

It wasn’t until the coaches moved from Glen’s garage to their old box behind Renton High School, that I became hooked and started to attend more and more Wods. I was still intimidated and early on I would only attend Wods that had movements I knew I could do. For instance, if a workout consisted of box jumps, pull-ups and double unders, my thought process would be – “I can do box jumps, but I’m not good at pull-ups and I hate double unders.” Needless to say, I wouldn’t go to the Wod. Soon enough, I realized that everyone sucks at something and the only way I was going to get better was to go every day and practice the movements I hated and weren’t good at - so that’s what I did. I forced myself to go to the Wods I would normally avoid. It took a lot of motivation and confidence to go, but if I wanted to become a better Crossfit athlete, that’s what I had to do. Soon enough, the movements I hated became easier and I grew to love them (well, not hate them as much anyway). When it came down to it though, this was all about living a healthy and active lifestyle and Crossfit was the driving force behind that.

It is no exaggeration to say that King Crossfit has absolutely changed my life. It has made me physically and mentally stronger. My endurance is better than ever and I have more energy and feel less lethargic. Before joining King Crossfit, my only physical activity consisted of weekly pick up basketball games with my friends for a couple hours. If someone were to tell me that someday I would run a half marathon, I would’ve said they were crazy, but King Crossfit changed that. In June 2010, I ran my first half marathon (the Seattle Rock & Roll) and to this day, I have ran 3 half marathons in addition to numerous 5k’s, 12k’s and everything in between. If there’s one thing Crossfit has made me realize, it’s that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

I’m in the absolute best shape of my young life thanks to the workouts and all the athletes at King Crossfit. Two years strong as a member and I still get nervous walking into The Box, but I’ve learned how to turn that nervous energy into positive energy for each Wod. Every time I walk in there, I know I will be challenged and I always want to leave there knowing that I gave everything I had in me that day. The environment and the support system at King Crossfit is like no other. They’re my family and in that respect, I consider The Box my home away from home. The athletes there push me to my physical limits. They refuse to let me underestimate myself and they won’t let me fail. No matter how often or how loud they yell at me to “pick up the bar”, “get on the box”, or “run faster” I know that in the end, all they want me to do is just finish the Wod knowing I gave 100% because they know what I am capable of doing. Every day, I continue to learn how to get better and I constantly surprise myself by becoming faster, stronger and being able to physically do things I NEVER thought I would be able to do. This is validated by every pat on the back, fist bump and high-five after each Wod from the coaches and athletes.

As each year passes, I get another year older, but I also feel like I’m getting younger every day.
Thank you King Crossfit for changing my life. - Jason Guerrero aka DJ J-Tyme

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A long time friend, Eric Borja introduced me to KingCrossfit back in the spring of 2010. After my first workout, which was base line I didn’t want to come back and thought that these guys were freaken crazy! I was convinced to try it again in the summer of 2010 and my thoughts about it did not change!! “They are still out of their minds and once I get feeling back into my arms I’m going punch the living hell out of Eric for bringing me back to this madness!” In a way I needed that push! I was having major health issues, but was too stubborn to admit it and do anything about it. I didn’t like the person I saw in the mirror every morning and I knew I needed a change. So in December of 2010, with the encouragement of my wife we decided to sign up.

I started off weighing in over 300 plus pounds. This was heaviest I have ever been in my life! My health was suffering, but I was too proud to show that my health issues were starting to catch up to me. I had sleep apnea because I was overweight and a heavy smoker. My heart was over working itself and numerous of times parts of my body would go numb like I was having a minor stroke. I smoked a pack and a half of cigarettes a day! I was smoking like I was on fire and drinking like I was trying to put it out. I hated whom I saw in the mirror. I also hated what kind of an example I was setting for my kids. I knew that at the rate I was going it would be a matter of time before my kids would follow and my life span would be cut short. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. I knew I needed to make a drastic change in my life or continue on my path of destruction!

A month and a half into it, KCF started the Paleo challenge and that's when the results and the changes I've made became very noticeable. I have lost 70lbs since starting crossfit. I have come a long way and I am proud to say that I am addicted to crossfit. It’s been one year and a half into crossfit and I still can't get enough of it. Crossfit is my stress reliever! This place is like a second home for me and my family. I love the fact that I can throw weights around, scream my head off, throw jump ropes across the room and its all good. That’s common practice at KCF! I love it!

The Familia at Kings has embraced my little family. My wife and I along with our kids have developed great relationships with so many folks here. Words cannot express how thankful I am to the 3 Kings, the coaching staff, and I can’t forget about our members! The support we athletes and coaches give each other is hands down astonishing and the best!! I can proudly say that I am in a better place than where I was a year and half ago. My health has improved dramatically along with my wife. I finally stopped smoking cigarettes after 17 years. My lungs thank me every time I do a WOD now! I am now driven to want to be in the best shape of my life! Thank You KING CROSSFIT!! My life has change and you guys helped save my life. - James Utu