Name: Hilario Gonzalez
Age: 27
Occupation: Game Programmer
Which class time do you usually attend? 6pm (11am on Saturday)
Favorite WOD: Anything involving deadlifts or rowing.
Favorite Lift: Back Squat
Deadlift Max: 425
Back squat Max: 290
Favorite Food: Nachos
Favorite Movie: Scott Pilgrim vs the World
Favorite Athlete: Emmitt Smith
Dream Job: Game Programmer (I can’t imagine anything else I’d rather do)
Dream Vacation Destination: Japan
How long have you been CrossFitting?
“6 ½ Months”
What keeps you coming back/motivated?
“The feeling I get after each class when I complete a challenging workout, it’s a great sense of achievement!”
How did you find CrossFit?
“Like any good CrossFitter my co-worker Jamie Rollo would not stop trying to get to me to check it out, eventually I caved and signed up and haven’t looked back since.”
What is your athletic background (If applicable)?
N/A
How has CrossFit changed your life, lifestyle, level of fitness?
“When I decided to sign up I was the heaviest I had ever been and would actually sweat and start to breathe heavily whenever I had to go up the stairs. It was bad. Since I began I’ve started to eat better, I’m much more active on weekends and it has been a huge improvement overall, it has truly been a life enhancing experience.”
What is the one thing you have done here that you never thought you could do? (muscle up, double unders, heavy deadlift, run a mile, etc.)
“Dips, they were very daunting when I first attempted one in foundations I wasn’t even able to hold myself up with my arms locked out but this past benchmark week I was able to do dips + 35lbs. It felt unreal when I realized I was actually lifting myself up from the bottom of a dip.”
Who or what motivates/inspires you?
“Everyone else in the gym inspires me, when I see what some people are capable of doing it blows my mind and gives me goals to strive for.”
What is your proudest CrossFit achievement?
“The fact that I was able to deadlift 425 lbs. It still doesn’t seem real that I was able to do that.”
Name one goal/personal achievement you would like to achieve through CrossFit?
“A personal lifetime goal for me is to get my 3RM back squat, bench press and deadlift to add up to over 1000 lbs.”
Hobbies/Interests outside of CrossFit?
“Programming and building electronic gizmos.”
Any advice for new members?
“Try to make it in on the days that have a WOD with movements you aren’t good at, one great thing about CrossFit is that it has so much variety so I really enjoy the fact I can come in on a day that has a workout with my most dreaded movements and become a that better at them.”
Any additional thoughts/comments:
“I’d just like to thank all the coaches for giving that extra little push I need sometimes, taking the time to help me on the trickier movements and making sure I don’t kill myself (even though sometimes I’m pretty sure they are trying to kill me with some of these workouts).”
Coach Laura’s Take:
“Hilario has improved so much in such a short period of time. Hilario is consistent in the gym and his is dedication to improving his nutrition is evident. He has dialed in his eating and with some changes he is crushing workouts and looking like a different guy than when he started! It is always encouraging to see someone go “all-in” and reap the rewards of their efforts. Hilario is doing a great job, and I know he will continue to see improvements!”