Former Navy SEAL Zach Forrest has been CrossFitting since 2005. Last year, he earned 12th at the 2011 CrossFit Games.

For Forrest, CrossFit started as combat training. It wasn't until later, after leaving the Navy, that it became his sport.

"I didn't know I was doing CrossFit until [my Navy instructors] Dave Castro and John Brown said it was CrossFit," Forrest says. "I just thought it was a sick way of torturing his students."

In this video, he talks about nutrition, video games, finding CrossFit, preparing for the Regional Workouts, and his favorite super hero.

He gives advice for Regional competitors: focus solely on what you can change in a couple weeks before Regionals.

"You're not going to get stronger in two weeks; you need to get more skilled in two weeks …  You have to practice what will save you the most amount of time."

Forrest is also preparing for Regionals, and shooting for the top. His goal? 1st place. But he won't let it get in the way of his calling: making people better.

Forrest will be competing this weekend at the South West Regional on May 4-6, 2012 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock, CO. Find more details here.