"What's most important is that you're changing yourself for the better."
Steve Gifford’s introduction to CrossFit occurred on a sweltering evening in July 2011. The heat index was 115 degrees at 7 p.m. The baseline workout was a 300-meter row, 20 air squats, 15 sit-ups, 10 push-ups and five pull-ups. It took him more than 30 minutes to complete for the 340-pound man.
Gifford researched CrossFit and watched videos before trying it out. He remembers thinking post-workout, “How am I ever going to progress from here to what I’ve seen other people do?”
At this point, his competitive nature kicked in. He had been a three-sport athlete in high school and a collegiate wrestler. He decided to continue with CrossFit and see where it took him.
One month later, Gifford attempted the same baseline workout. This time he finished in less than 20 minutes. He also lost 35 pounds.
“I was amazed at how quickly my body adapted to the work demands I was putting on it. Even when I had been in the best shape of my life, I was still 295 pounds. I had knee issues and rheumatoid arthritis in my joints. I just thought that’s what comes with being big your whole life and from doing sports,” he says.
Over the next few months, Gifford’s joint issues went away. He got stronger and more capable during workouts. His sleep and energy improved, as well.
Gifford completed his first food challenge last September, taking second place at his gym. After about six to eight weeks, he fully adopted the paleo lifestyle.
Around this time, CrossFit transformed from being something Gifford forced himself to do to a big part of his identity. He went from working out three days a week to six. It got to the point where the coaches at Capital City CrossFit in Illinois, where he trained, had to chase him out to take a break.
By Thanksgiving, Gifford weighed 255 pounds. He’d gone from a 46-inch waist to a 36-inch waist.
A new challenge presented itself this summer when Gifford took a job as a park ranger in Pennsylvania. At the time there were no CrossFit affiliates nearby. For four months, he continued to work out by himself at a globo gym.
“It was challenging going into a health club with no bumper plates and none of the equipment I’d gotten used to using and having to self-motivate and self-coach,” he explains. “You have to fill all the voids of a CrossFit box by yourself. You have to be your own community, your own trainer and do your own programming.”
In addition, he had to handle the funny looks and judgment his fellow gym members sent his way.
“My second week at the gym, I had a guy storm out of the room, cursing at me. He had decided I was being too loud,” Gifford says. “I had to avoid having stuff like that get to my head and instead focus on doing what I knew I needed to do.”
For the past month Gifford has been enjoying working out at a newly opened affiliate in Pennsylvania, CrossFit Sports Evolution. He values the community of CrossFit all the more for being removed from it for a time.
“I can go to the health club and set PRs, but it loses a lot of its meaning if I don’t have people to share that with,” Gifford says.
Gifford stopped weighing himself once he hit 211 pounds earlier this year. He estimates he’s lost a total of 130 pounds. He’s down to a large shirt size and a 34-inch waist, and is now focused on being the best competitor he can be.
“What’s most important is that you’re changing yourself for the better,” Gifford says. “Every time you step into the gym and give everything you have you’ve done that. Whether you have to scale and modify everything or you’re coming in Rx’d or Rx;d plus, you’re still making yourself better. Focusing on that will help you to be successful.”