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From Coach Pete: If I were asked what characteristics would make a great teammate, everything Damian is about would be my answer. Damian is humble, hard working, intelligent, and selfless. The fitness world is full of ego as well as loud personalities and bold claims. Damian is none of those things, his personality is refreshing and extremely coachable. His performance on just about everything is exceptional but you would never know because he’ll never brag on himself. Damian consistently finds himself among the best performers in the gym because he shows up, gets to work, and listens far more than he speaks on a daily basis. Damian’s best characteristics have nothing to do with fitness though. He is genuinely a great husband, father, and friend and is an amazing role model for our community. Thank you for for being a huge part of why our community is so great!

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1 – What was your motivation to join Roaster Barbell?

• I had gotten out of shape and was looking to join a gym, I was never really sold on CrossFit but wanted something with structure, schedule, and accountability.  I was living in Berea, so I searched for a local gym; after finding Roaster’s website, I reached out to Pete.  In talking with Pete and seeing his experience (education) in exercise science/coaching, it made Roaster stand up above the others.  

2 – What is your why? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

• Family – whether providing through work or leading by example, my family is always at the root of those decisions.  I take great pride in everything I do and am constantly striving to put forth the best version of me.

3 – How does your training improve your life outside of the gym?

• It has also given me the energy to stay active with my son.  Work and life in general can be draining, but it is great having the energy to chase after and play with my 2 year old, even after a long day.  All those heavy carries pay off now when halfway through a walk my son insists on being carried home.

4 – Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

• No set path, just continuing to enjoy what I do and those I surround myself with.

5 – What makes Roaster Barbell different than other training you have done?

• It’s varied and a lot of movements/programming that I would never do on my own.  I would never do 100 burpees for time on my own, but knowing there are others around going through the same pain makes you want to keep going.  I had also never done any Olympic lifting prior to joining Roaster, so it has been a humbling yet rewarding experience working to get better at something new. 

6 – What is your favorite movement in the gym?

• Concept 2 machines – I like the challenge they present mentally and how they can completely change a workout or impact other movements.

7 – What is your least favorite movement in the gym?

• Lunges – really any variation, no thanks.

8 – What is your sports background? 

• Soccer, I started playing around 3 yrs old and played competitively through college.  

9 – What is your proudest athletic achievement?  

• I was fortunate to earn an athletic scholarship to play soccer in college, and currently still sit in the Top 10 for career games played at the school.  Seeing that hard work and effort pay off with 4 years of consistent and injury free play is my proudest achievement over any other athletic accolades.

10 – What advice would you have for someone looking to start at Roaster Barbell but is unsure?

• Reach out to Pete and stop by the gym to see firsthand.  Pete does a great job evaluating and scaling movements to your abilities, the community is supportive and great, there is a ton of equipment (and more being added), the list of pros can go on and on, I wish I had found Roaster sooner.
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  Thank you for taking the time to get to know Damian! If you would like to learn how you could become our next success story, just email Coach Pete at ptaylor@mail.bw.edu and lets begin talking about how Roaster Barbell and help you reach your goals!

From Coach Pete: 2020 has forced many of us to make decisions about our lives and make us look a little closer at the decisions we make. For Ahren, the downtime in the spring shed light on just how much she needed to be in the gym consistently for both physical and mental health. Ahren’s spotlight was created because when gyms were given the green light to open, her commitment to herself and her goals were above and beyond anything we had seen from her before. A renewed sense of purpose and commitment has made Ahren one of the most consistent morning athletes in recent memory. Ahren’s commitment to herself has accelerated her progress as well as her happiness. The life of a realtor is fast paced and ever changing but Ahren has found a way to make it work, to hold herself accountable, and to make every appointment with herself. Thank you, Ahren, for being an inspiration to us all.

1 – What brought you to Roaster Barbell?

I have had a deep love/hate relationship with CF from the moment I completed my first workout 7ish years ago. Unfortunately, my first gym closed and I bopped around from gym to gym for a couple years. I struggled to find the community and structure I was looking for. My friend and colleague, Nikki Miller was the one who first suggested I try Roaster. I knew Pete through the community and reached out to drop in for my first class. The rest is history!

2 – What are your training goals?

My goals are a lot different than they were when I first started CF. Most of the time my goals are more related to fitting into my pants… On a serious note, my competitive side will always be there so I always want to improve, however working out has become a much more mental health thing than a physical one.

3 – What keeps you coming back for more?

My first year as a member I struggled getting into a groove. I have a very demanding job that frequently keeps me up later than I’d like. After losing my gym time due to Covid and seeing what a major impact it had on my mental health, I promised I would make working out part of my daily routine at least 5 days a week. Of course the community is a large part of what keeps me coming back and it’s just a non-negotiable part of my day. Show up no matter what!

4 – What is your favorite part of the Roaster Barbell experience?

The structure and coaching. So many other gyms don’t start class on time, have inexperienced coaches, members with dangerous form. I am grateful to be somewhere that even after almost a decade of fitnessing I am able to learn so many new techniques and tips! I even coached and had my Level 1!

5 – How has training improved your life outside of the gym?

I am a different person when I am working out and eating healthy. My boyfriend is grateful that the mood swings are much less frequent! Again, I have a demanding stressful job and working out at Roaster makes me be a better business owner and leader.

6 – What have you accomplished that you never thought you would never do?

Consistently getting up, even on weekends, by 6:30 am and making it to a morning workout! I always said my schedule was too demanding and morning workouts were not for me. I have missed one class due to demand post Covid!

7 – What has training taught you about yourself?

Training has really taught me to stay in my lane and give up control. I am a very social and outgoing person. It is sometimes hard for me to let others lead. I also don’t like getting beat. Roaster is very humbling gym. We have so many high level athletes. Being honest, at first it was a little discouraging. Now I have learned how to block out what everyone else is doing and push myself to accomplish my own goals.

8 – What is your favorite gym activity?

I love the gymnastics movements, snatching, and overhead squats.

9 – What is your least favorite gym activity?

I hate, hate, double hate, WALL BALLS!… oh, and the bike sucks too.

10 – What advice would you have for someone who is looking to get started?

So many people think they have to “get ready” to start CF. It’s like they think they have to train for a few months to prepare themselves. That’s not true. Just show up and be ok with where you are. If you keep putting off the start, you will never reach your goals!

11 – Is there anything else you would like to add? 

I love my Dog, Luna! And, thank you Pete for allowing me to be apart of this amazing community!

The dust has now settled on the 2020 Masters Fitness Collective in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Masters athletes from all over the world converged on this one of a kind event to showcase their years and years of hard work and dedication. A masters athlete is a functional fitness competitor who is 35 years old or older. There are categories for men and women respectively with age groups that span 5 years each. Age groups at the 2020 MFC included 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 65+.

Our very own Theresa Demich earned her way into the 60-64 year old division and left her mark on the weekend finishing in an outstanding 2nd place overall while racking up 4 first place event finishes. Competition in the functional fitness world rewards those who stay consistent. Theresa had a slow start and needed to finish strong in order to inch her way onto the podium. The weekend consisted of 10 events covering a broad range of skills and tasks. Theresa has never been one to back down from a challenge. Her positive mindset and ability to overcome obstacles paved the way for her strong finish.

Theresa is not one to brag so I will do it for her. The amount of hard work and dedication that Theresa has been putting in on a consistent basis for years is truly unique. Ive been a professional coach for 10 years and Ive never worked with a 60+ year old who out trains athletes 1/3 her age like Theresa. To say she is an inspiration for all ages is an understatement. It has truly been a pleasure being a stepping stone on Theresa’s journey and we are looking forward to taking on the next challenge!

Congrats again to Theresa for taking home 2nd at the 2020 Masters Fitness Collective!

#TEAMROASTERBARBELL

From Coach Pete: When I think of Eric, I think of kindness and happiness. The past couple years have been a pleasure working with such a driven young man. Eric is a very intelligent, hard working athlete that has used his fitness experience to connect and form even stronger relationships with his family. A moment that sticks out to me that shows Eric’s progress through the years was at our 2018 in-house partner competition. Eric and his older brother Jack were partners and they were working on synchro power cleans at 140#. The weight was right on the edge of Eric’s comfort zone and the workout was very difficult for him. Fast forward to 2020 and a power clean at 140# would hardly be a warmup. Consistency wins. Eric is a great example of what consistency will produce. Thank you, Eric, for being a great ambassador for our community!

1 – What brought you to Roaster Barbell?

My family did. Abby and Jack started going to the gym before I did and they really pushed me to join them. After seeing the positive impact it had on them, I decided to try it out. Have been doing it ever since!

2 – What are your training goals?

My goal is to just stay healthy. I am still young and plan on living a long life. I know that if I start these habits now, they will stick with me for the rest of my life.

3 – What keeps you coming back for more?

The great coaching and community always brings me back. Every time I come in, there is a workout that will kick my butt and make me better. On top of that there is a great group of people that will suffer and grow with me.

4 – What is your favorite part of the Roaster Barbell experience?

My favorite part of the Roaster experience is the community. Whether it’s dancing with me at 7:30 in the morning or cursing out Pete because of an extra hard workout, it is always a good group of people to be with. Everyone has the right mindset of wanting to get better, not just in fitness, but in everyday life. When you have an off day, everyone else will push you through it.

5 – How has training improved your life outside of the gym?

Outside of the gym, training has made me more confident in myself. In high school and growing up I had trouble with being the person that I know I am and wanted to be. Going into the gym every day and growing mentally with that has helped give me the strength and confidence to come out to my family and friends, something I used to think I would never be able to do.

Training has taught me that the only person you can count on is yourself in the long run. Like the community at the gym, there will always be people there supporting you, but only yourself has the ability to push through the roadblocks and walls.

My favorite workout will be the one where I kick my brother’s butt, but I will always love a work out that will push me farther than I thought I could go.

Anything that tears my hands. I must have soft baby hands because no matter how much chalk I use or how many times my calluses heal, I always rip.

If it is kicking your ass, then you are doing something right. Just stick with it when it gets hard and you will see major self-improvement.

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Thank you for taking the time to get to know Eric! If you would like to learn how you could become our next success story, just email Coach Pete at ptaylor@mail.bw.edu and lets begin talking about how Roaster Barbell and help you reach your goals!

From Coach Pete:

Dale is about at OG as one can be when it comes to Roaster Barbell. His desire to improve his own life through fitness is 2nd to none. There is a short list of people I’ve met in life that I would trust full heartedly, and Dale is on that list. His compassion for others, his realistic outlook on the world, as well as his ability to brighten your day, are exactly why Dale is everyone’s favorite guy. His daughter Kennedy has also begun training using our program and our 1 on 1 offering. Kennedy has a way with words and knows just what to say to get you to smile. As much as Roaster Barbell has taught the Smith’s about fitness, I think the Smith’s have taught all of us even more about life, commitment and over coming obstacles. Kennedy, being an adaptive athlete, has always struggled to find common ground in the physical world. The past couple years, she was able to compete alongside the others in our community in the worldwide open. Talk about inspiring! Kennedy’s participation in the open was a great moment for both our community and for Kennedy.

Thank you for being an important part of our community, Dale and Kennedy!

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From Dale:

I prioritize training, not because I want to win the old dude category at the #games, instead because it keeps me sane. I care about maintaining my values and this clears my head and allows me to focus on what matters: Family, Health, Relationships, Experiences, and Freedom. When I don’t train, I have stress, which negatively affects me in putting my values first.

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From Kennedy:

1 – How has Roaster Barbell impacted your quality of life outside of the gym?

Confidence to be like my peers

Tell my friends at High School

The workouts make life easier and better.  Better focus

2 – What was your exercise background prior to Roaster Barbell?

Special Olympics: basketball, soccer, bowling, golf, track

45 minutes of activity per day (jump on trampoline, go for walk, scooter, etc.)

3 – What has the gym allowed you to do that you never thought you would do? 

Plate hops, Goblet squats, “butt to ball” synced to Moby’s song Flower “bring Sally Up…”, knee-ups, wall balls, The Open, meet peers

4 – How has Roaster Barbell changed you mentally?

Pushing past boundaries

5 – What have you learned about yourself through training with Roaster Barbell?

Roaster Barbell has taught me to be a better learner

I like being pushed to be like Serena, Kasey, and others

I love to talk about my dad’s shenanigans

6 – Why did you start training?

Want to be like my friends and tell them about what I am doing.

To work out with my dad

So I could be like my dad

7 – What is your favorite part of Roaster Barbell?

Talking with everyone

When all the athletes clunk all of the weights “slam bars”

Rower, Coach Pete, talking to anyone and everyone

8 – Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you to my parents and Coach Pete

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Thank you for taking the time to get to know Dale and Kennedy through their Member Spotlight. If you would like to learn how you could become our next success story, just email Coach Pete at ptaylor@mail.bw.edu and lets begin talking about how Roaster Barbell and help you reach your goals!

Jenienne’s journey with Roaster Barbell has become one of the most rewarding experiences a trainer could have. Teaching Jenienne the skills to improve her strength and function has opened up a whole new perspective on what CrossFit really is. CrossFit is much more than just high intensity group classes and high level gymnastics and weightlifting. CrossFit can also be 1 on 1 in a much different kind of environment. We use the phrase, “Technique-Consistency-Intensity” when describing the path to improved fitness. 1 on 1 is undoubtedly an effective route to begin learning technique as we build towards earning intensity. Thank you Jenienne for taking the time to effectively describe your journey with Roaster Barbell and we look forward to helping you for years to come!

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1) How long have you been a member at Roaster Barbell and what made you begin?

My niece in Detroit is a personal trainer (and a CrossFit member) and as a Christmas gift in 2018 she bought me 4 personal training sessions at CrossFit Roaster Barbell in Berea where I live. After my free sessions were over I was hooked and wanted to continue, so since January of 2019 I have been doing PT with Coach Pete.  

2) What are your training goals?

Until I started at Roaster Barbell, I didn’t have any training goals—just wishes. I wished I were stronger.  I started to notice in my 40s that I was losing my upper body strength and by the time I hit my 60s it was really obvious.  And getting frustrating.

Over the years, I did what a lot of women do — take a yoga class, a few aerobics classes, a body sculpting class….  I bought exercise equipment and videos I didn’t seriously use. But occasional attempts at exercise won’t get you the muscle tone you one day find that you need to get back because you didn’t really work to keep it.  

Thanks to getting started at Roaster Barbell, I have real goals now to develop core strength, muscle and balance.  It is obvious to me that I really need to work at this and that I have found the right place to get it.

3) What has been your biggest accomplishment while training at Roaster Barbell?

Some months into 2019, I turned around and discovered I had actual muscles in my arms and legs that I didn’t have before. To me, this was a big deal and I was delighted. It still spurs me on because I don’t want to lose the gains I’ve made.  

4) What do you look forward to doing most when we are able to open back up?

Just to getting back to the in-person training again.  Self-discipline doesn’t come easy for me and I still need the accountability that having a trainer provides. The virtual training videos are great but nothing beats being at the gym.  Pete doesn’t pamper me – he knows when to push me. 

5) How has the gym affected your life outside of the gym?

It has opened up for me a new focus on my health and fitness that I just wasn’t paying enough attention to before now.  I’m developing a mindset.  I cut out the bakery and take the stairs more. There are so many benefits to strength training for your heart, brain, bone density, etc.  I feel like I’m making an important investment in my health not just for now but for years to come.  

6) What is your least favorite gym activity?

Lunges.  They are challenging for me and I just don’t enjoy them but they are probably what has given me the strength in my legs the fastest.   

7) What is your favorite gym activity?

I like using the rower and the lat pull down machine. And I like trying to hit the mark with the wallballs.  

8) What have you learned at the gym that has been most impactful on your life?

I see what others in the community have accomplished in their training and I want to keep challenging myself and not give up in my own training.

9) What is the best part about CrossFit Roaster Barbell and our community?

Community starts with the coaches.  Pete is great at challenging and encouraging everyone.  From a personal standpoint, Pete has developed training that is geared for me and what he knows I need to be challenged to do.  I might be his oldest trainee but I consider it a privilege to be a part of this very supportive community.

10) What advice would you have for someone who was on the fence about getting started?

The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll begin to reap the benefits of strength training.  I’ve started this training later than most and I know I’ll never qualify for the games, but it has been fun and rewarding — it doesn’t take very long to see real results.

11) Is there anything else you would like to add?

I feel fortunate that I started at the old gym and got to see the exciting transition to the new gym.  CFRB is just a great place to be!

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Thank you for taking the time to get to know Jenienne through her Member Spotlight. If you would like to learn how you could become our next success story, just email Coach Pete at ptaylor@mail.bw.edu and lets begin talking about how Roaster Barbell and help you reach your goals!

1. How has this pregnancy changed your training, if at all? (Andy) We’ve been extremely lucky so far, as Luisa has been crushing this pregnancy. Luisa is still coming to the gym several times a week and completing workouts (better than I can sometimes). The pregnancy is something that’s always in the back of my mind though. I’m lucky that she is taking a smart approach to the workouts and listening to her body. There are times that I’ll take a peek in her direction after I notice that she’s taking a quick break, she’ll give me a thumbs up, and I’ll know that everything’s good.
2. What do you anticipate your training to look like in a couple months? (Andy) I picture the small details changing, but the overall picture remaining the same. There are several other gym members that have gone through, or are currently going through that same situation. The takeaway I have from watching others is that it just comes down to priorities. Frankly the gym will no longer be my priority. My family will. I would love to continue to come to the gym six times a week and stay later to try to work on some skills. Realistically though, the hours spent in the gym will drop. And I’m perfectly fine with that and I’m happy to make the change. I’ll make the most of the time that I do get to spend at the gym and spend the rest of my time trying to figure out this whole “dad” thing.
3. What got you and Luisa into CrossFit in the beginning? (Andy) We’ve both been pretty active all of our lives . I went to a regular old gym for years and did your typical isolation exercises. Luisa liked to change up her workouts pretty often and has done a variety of different workout regimens from swimming, triathlon training, and boxing to name a few. We started training for the Cleveland half marathon a few years ago and I knew that I had to work on my endurance (knowing that I would get bored if I just ran every day). Luisa went to high school with Pete, we happened to see a post online about drop-ins to his CrossFit class, and the rest is history. We’ve both been full time members for the past three years now.
4. How has CrossFit changed your perspective on fitness? (Andy) It’s certainly humbled me. Going into my very first class, I drastically overestimated my abilities. I hadn’t focused on endurance since high school sports, but still thought that I had maintained some of that capacity. Boy, was I wrong. The first several classes kicked my butt. By far the most that I had sweat in the past decade. It probably took me a while longer than it should have, but I eventually learned to slow down and not go all out in the first minute of a ten minute workout.
5. What has CrossFit allowed you to do that you thought you could never? (Andy) Watching athletes snatch has always been something that has impressed me. Even though someone who is proficient at the movement almost makes it look effortless, you know that a movement that complex is incredibly difficult. I’m far from a professional athlete, but is there a better feeling in the gym than loading a barbell to the fringe of your comfort zone, having the stars align, and smoothly hitting that new one rep max on snatch? Becoming competent at snatch is not something I thought I could have achieved before starting CrossFit.
6. What is your biggest victory in training? (Andy) I could go with any number of PR’s that I’ve had in the gym here. Everyone loves to lift more weight or go faster than their previous attempt. I think my biggest victory though is just being generally physically “fit”. The percentage of the population that is now considered overweight continues to rise. Sometimes I will take for granted the things that I am able to do until I look at some of the other people that are my age (that I don’t see at the gym on a regular basis). I’m not trying to compare myself to anyone else, but it is nice to keep things in perspective.
7. What is your favorite part of training? (Andy) I am the epitome of a “creature of habit”. I would eat the same thing for every meal every day without complaint. That being said, I love that the programming forces me to do things that I would never do on my own. I can say with absolute certainty that I would never row a half marathon on New Year’s day by myself.
8. Is there anything else you would like to share? (Andy) To anyone that’s considering CrossFit: Just give it a shot. You could be one of the many people that look forward to going to the gym all day. Or maybe you’re someone that would prefer to go for a hike, swim a few laps, play some recreational sports, or any other number of exercises. The important thing is to stay active. It feels good.

1. What has been your biggest challenge with training through your pregnancy? (Luisa) 1^st trimester: holding back. It was a challenge to not push too hard and listen to my body in the first trimester, especially when you are not ready to let the cat out of the bag and your friends are cheering you on to get that last rep.
   2^nd trimester: scaling. The easiest trimester by far, but as my belly started to grow I had to find alternative movements to scale to that still made the workouts challenging and fun.
   3^rd trimester: Repetitiveness.  As the pregnancy has progressed there are less movements I can do safely/comfortably.  Now that I’m towards the end I do quite a bit of biking and pushups, it’s hard to find enough variety to keep the workouts exciting.
2. What is your advice to expectant mothers who want to train during their pregnancy? (Luisa) First, decide if it’s right for you. Do some research, understand the benefits and risks, I found the book Exercising Through Your Pregnancy by James Clapp, MD to be very educational. Ultimately the decision to begin or continue a training program should be made by you, your physician, and your partner. Once you have established boundaries, work with your trainer to clarify your goals of exercising during pregnancy and the help you will need to get there. Keep in mind this is not the time to set PRs, your health and the baby’s health are of utmost importance. Listen to your body and don’t push past the limit you have set for yourself, for me it was 80-90% effort.
3. What tips have helped make training easier for you during your pregnancy? (Luisa) Changing my mindset has been the most helpful. Healthy baby and mamma are what matters, if that means making a 20 min workout a 15, that’s ok. I’ve tried to find different scaling alternatives to movements I can no longer do, and sprinkled those into WODs as appropriate.
4. What precautions have you taken during training for your pregnancy? (Luisa) Scaling, resting, and recovery.  I stop movements if they don’t feel right or cause pain.  I’ve changed many movements mid-workouts, scaling jump-ropes to air squats, strict/jumping pull ups to ring rows. Sometimes the plan I go into the workout with just doesn’t work out, and it’s ok to deviate from it. Also, I take more breaks during workouts to catch my breath or drink water.  Lastly, I make sure I’m taking rest days and sleeping enough to keep up my recovery.
5. What activities have you had to stop during your pregnancy? (Luisa) First thing I cut out was running due to round ligament pain, and rope climbs for fear of falling. Then came kipping, in an effort to avoid over straining my abdominals, with that went toes to bar and pullups. As my belly got bigger, burpees, box jumps, hand stand pushups and double unders were cut out. Lastly cleans and snatches with a barbell, once I started to hit myself.
6. Why did you decide to train through your pregnancy? (Luisa) I actually didn’t start hard set on training through pregnancy, I figured I would play it by ear and stop if it became too difficult. As my pregnancy progressed I learned more about the benefits and I felt so good that I figured why rock the boat. Looking at the last 9 months, I’ve had an incredibly easy pregnancy, I have very few aches, my balance is pretty good, my energy level hasn’t dropped as much as I anticipated and my weight gain is exactly what it should be. I can’t help but think some of this is a result of maintaining my exercise routine. At nearly 9 months pregnant, I notice that after the gym my ankle swelling goes down and I tend to feel better (mood and energy). I hope staying active has helped me prepare for labor and helps make recovery easier.
7. What is your biggest victory in training? (Luisa) Doing a freestanding handstand, even for just a couple seconds. Somehow I went my entire childhood never having done a handstand. Will I ever do a cartwheel? Time will tell
8. What is your favorite part of training? (Luisa) Just staying active, if I sit around too long I just feel very sluggish. It’s also a good stress reliever, and helps me satisfy my sweet tooth while remaining at a healthy weight.

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Thank you to Andy and Luisa for sharing your story! If you would like to learn more about what we do and consult with a coach about how you can get started, email Coach Pete at ptaylor@mail.bw.edu today! Check us out on Instagram and Facebook too!

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