Deadlift: 425 pounds
Squat: 365
CrossFit Level 1 Trainer
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
Weight Loss Specialist
I grew up in Missouri as a fairly normal, American kid that was fortunate enough to play a lot of organized sports. I played soccer, basketball, hockey, football, and baseball, and even tried my hand at tennis camp one summer. In high school, I narrowed down my focus to soccer, basketball, and track & field, and it was during these years that weightlifting became a part of my life as well. But, being a slightly above-average athlete at best, the high school marked the end of my formal athletic career. Fast forward through college and an overall lack of attention to all things diet and exercise, I slowly gained around 35 pounds. I lifted occasionally and hooped at the gym through my early to mid-twenties, but there certainly wasn’t any rhyme or reason for my training or nutrition. And because of that, I didn’t make any meaningful progress in the gym. I was just a guy spinning his wheels. And then one night I stumbled onto the Revive Stronger podcast via YouTube while making a five-hour drive to Memphis to visit my fiancée. All I remember is that it was an episode with Steve Hall featuring Dr. Mike Israetel and that I was immediately fascinated by the concept of evidence-based training and nutrition. From that moment on, I was hooked. I started tuning in to every evidence-based podcast I could, reading articles on my own, and following successful fitness YouTubers to learn more about practical, real-life applications. Ultimately, this was a renewed beginning of an old journey, which later resulted in my desire to start studying for my certification and begin training people just like me. In September 2021, I stumbled into a CrossFit gym for the first time. And, like many, I fell in love with the idea of becoming the fittest version of myself I could possibly be. Since then, I haven't looked back.
For me, the turning point in my life was when I turned 30 and realized that my "fitness journey" up until that moment had mostly been a lie. Although I looked fit on the outside, I was experiencing a ton of inflammation from poor eating habits, I was wildly inflexible, and my cardiovascular health was suffering. To me, the greatest enemy was complacency. And that's when I decided to make a change. Rather than pursuing the most aesthetic physique I possibly could, I chose to start pursuing a life of true physical fitness. Why? Because someday I wanted to be the guy who could keep up with his kids until the sun went down, always had the energy to be active and social with friends, and never had to miss a moment of life simply because he was "too tired" or exhausted from unhealthy nutrition and exercise habits. I thought to myself, "If I don't do this now, when am I ever going to do it?" Fortunately, I made the investment in myself and sought change. I cleaned up my diet, committed to doing CrossFit 5-6 times per week, and reevaluated my rest and recovery habits. And since then, I've done nothing but improve in all areas of my life.
I coach because I'm passionate about leading people toward the healthiest lives they could possibly live. Honestly, the increasingly abysmal statistics surrounding obesity and chronic disease are terrifying to me. So, as much as possible, I want to be a part of rewriting that narrative. Specifically, I love working with people who've never truly believed in themselves. People who would maybe say they "grew up as the fat kid" or never fit in with the cool kids. Maybe they were not pro athletes or never had someone in their corner cheering them on. If you relate to any of those things, know that there is a place at CrossFit Verus for you. I also really enjoy coaching anyone who is motivated to improve themselves so they can serve others well. So if you're a father who wants to love his wife and kids well, I'm the coach for you. If you're a mother who wants to reclaim her confidence after the trials and tribulations of raising children, I'm the coach for you. My motivation is simply to bring out the best in everyone while showcasing the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle.
