Greetings, Relentless Family! We are pleased to announce our February member of the month, Siva Kaliamurthy! Siva is a member of our evening classes – most commonly, the 6pm (though he’s been known to show up for the 4, 5 or 7 pm as well). Siva is one of our first on-rampers, and he is proud of his pull-ups. Read below to learn more about Siva!
What are your hobbies/interest/talents outside of CrossFit?
I enjoy reading , snow boarding, playing basketball and checking out new restaurants/happy hours around Hartford.
Share with us one thing that most people do NOT know about you?
I have a hard time seeing without my glasses and hate wearing contacts. So you might find me squinting a lot or standing really close to the white board to find out what the WOD is.
How long have you been with us at CFR?
I have been with CFR since August 2016
Take us back to your first week here. How did you feel? Remember the workout
I was terribly out of shape from constant stress eating for 3 years, had gained a lot of weight and was definitely in the worst shape of my life. I was nervous about starting an intense program like cross fit and was glad that there was an on ramp course I could go through. I had very little weight training experience before and was actually feeling overwhelmed by how heavy the bar bell was. I figured in my head, the worst thing I could do was make a fool out of myself and I was ready to go through it if it meant I could get back in shape. The three times a week commitment was harder than I expected. I do not remember a lot of the actual work outs during the on ramp but definitely remember how I felt after the work outs, so much soreness !
What moment/achievement are you most proud of at CFR?
My first weighted pull up. I started out with a blue resistance band for the pull ups and I remember how happy I was when I was able to add weights and do pull ups and this change happened in about 3 months.
Design your perfect workout?
I honestly hate working out by myself, that’s one of the reasons I like CrossFit, I never feel like I am working out alone. My perfect work out would definitely be anything that involves team effort.
What is your least favorite movement?
Overhead squats, that one’s easy.
Summarize your lifestyle in 5 words or less.
Stress out – Eat – CrossFit – Repeat … This is a pattern I hope to change. I want to to eat better.
Have you experienced any changes in your lifestyle now that you have been a CrossFit athlete?
My lifestyle has definitely changed.I eat a better diet, get more sleep and I also feel like I have more frustration tolerance in life in general!
What advice do you have for anyone who is thinking about joining or who has recently joined?
WHO [Editor’s note: World Health Organization] defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” CrossFit has all the above mentioned 3 elements to it. Maybe its just me but my frustration tolerance levels have definitely gone up since joining CFR. Starting CrossFit is definitely not an easy task, especially if you are not in good shape. However, with 3 days/week can pay great dividends.