It’s all in a Year’s (And Counting) Work for CrossFit A-Game Athlete JJ Nese

CrossFit A-Game athlete JJ Nese, 43, can note the exact day he committed to making a positive change in his overall health and life. It was April 2, 2013.

“I first came in to the gym April 2 of last year. Initially I intended on just taking some Judo and Jujitsu classes. I know I liked martial arts and stuck with it when I did Taekwondo in my teens and 20’s. I figured I'd learn something new, grappling,” JJ said. “I took a few free classes and when it was time to commit Head Coach Damian O’Hara asked me if I was also interested in CrossFit. I remember my reply, "I'd tell you that I'd consider CrossFit once I get into a little better shape but I know that's B.S. So, yes, I'll do CrossFit too." I was all in with the Judo & Jujitsu and once I took my first CrossFit class I was all in with that.”

There were initial reasons JJ decided to join the A-Game family – to lose weight and get healthy. He said that more than 15 years of not working out consistently took a toll on his body. In addition to gaining weight he was also forced to take medications to keep both his cholesterol and blood pressure in check. However, the most important reason(s) he explained, were to be around to watch his two young daughters grow up.

“One evening I carried my eight-year-old daughter upstairs after she fell asleep on the couch. She is a skinny little thing – couldn’t have weighed more than 50 pounds at the time. I was breathing heavy getting her up to bed – way too heavy,” he said. “That was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. I have two little girls and I want to be there for them for as long as I can so I had to do something.  I know I'm not going to live forever but the least I can do for my family and I is to go down fighting.”

Besides getting in an “awesome workout” each day and making great friends, JJ has noticed additional results in himself over the course of the past year.

“I have more confidence in myself, not just physically but in everything I do,” he said. “It is also helping me with the Judo/Jujitsu. I am stronger and have more endurance. CrossFit has definitely helped me develop at these sports faster than I would have without it.”

As many children do, one of JJ’s daughters has taken a cue from dad and followed suit – registering for CrossFit Kids classes at A-Game.

“She is so much stronger and active now than before. Her fine and gross motor skills were a little slow to develop and now she is right on pace,” he said. “I know Crossfit Kids had a lot to do with that.”

According to JJ, there are so many factors that have gone into the success he has achieved at A-Game in a relatively short amount of time. On those days when he thinks he is too tired and sore to get to the box, his family and friends have been there to support him with words of encouragement. Once there, the coaches took the baton, cheering on JJ through some grueling workouts.

“When I'm sore or tired the support of my family and friends is what gets me up off my butt and into the gym to get the work done. I also saw results, real results, pretty quickly. The coaches (Kenny Updengrave and Damian and Viktoria O’Hara) at A-Game are to thank for this,” he said. “Pounds were dropping off, muscles were building and getting stronger; when that starts happening it's hard to justify not keeping it up. After about three or four months of CrossFit my blood pressure was getting back under control, my cholesterol levels were getting back in line. My doctors started dropping meds I was on or lowering the dosages. That felt great.”

To date, JJ’s results have been amazing. The hard work and dedication he has put in has seen him lose more than 50 pounds. He noted, however, in losing those pounds he has also added some muscle weight, so in addition to paying attention to the scale he has tracked his waist and collar measurements. So far six inches from the waste and two inches from his collar have melted away.

Apart from those amazing results, JJ said the best part of being a member of the A-Game family is the sense of community he has discovered and would encourage anyone who is on the fence about joining to just do it.

“Just go do it. It's easy to rationalize reasons you can't, but they are just excuses..."I'm too out of shape for CrossFit", "I'm afraid I'll get hurt", "I don't know how to do those lifts". The coaches here are great, they teach you what you need to know, the workouts are all scalable, so you still push yourself but don't overdo it,” he said. “The coaches know when to push me to do more and when to reel me in if I'm doing too much; so I don't get hurt. When I could barely do a push-up or had to use just the bar for a WOD the other A-Gamers didn't judge me, they supported and motivated me. There is a camaraderie and support that happens in CrossFit that I have not experienced in any other kind of work out class/regimen. Just do it. You'll like it.”