Name: Angel Naivalu
Occupation: Mother of 4 boys
Part-time interests: Nutritional Cleansing coach, mental health therapist
Something about you that we really didn't know:
I speak Spanish and lived in Spain for 18 months as a service missionary, I am a race director of an annual 1/2 marathon trail race on the north shore of Oahu, I'm left-handed, I've not ever seen the movie Titanic, I'm married to a Polynesian and I don't know how to ski!
How long have you been a member at Aspen Crossfit?
Since July 2011
What class time do you normally attend?
The BEST CLASS: 6 a.m. M-F
How did you find out about us?
Here's my story…
In the past, I've hibernated during the winter and then trained throughout the summer to run 1 marathon a year. That was the extent of my "workouts."
Last winter I invested in a gym membership and alternated between spin class and lap swimming 5 days a week. It got old after a few months, and frankly, I couldn't see it was doing much beyond improving my cardio endurance.
Then the unexpected death of my sister in February of this year affected me in ways I wasn't preprared for.
While I continued to function, out of necessity, and I thought I felt peace in my heart, I just lacked the competitive drive that I needed to get out of bed to exercise. The "fire" was gone. After 3 months, it really frightened me…I was not myself.
In May I volunteered at an Ironman Triathlon to support a good friend. When I saw her, I could not believe her physical form! She was ripped! She performed amazingly as did a group of her friends, all first-timers, all Crossfit Athletes! They told me all about their workouts and I looked it up online. I totally did not expect to find one in Aspen and I was thrilled when a friend told me where to find Aspen Crossfit.
On day 1, I was totally impressed with the whole philosophy and with the aura (for lack of a better description) of Mr. Erik. I was scared to death b/c the workouts were SO intimidating…for a week, I was truly afraid every day that I came to class.
However, in 4 weeks, I dropped 10 lbs and gained visible lean muscle. I'm big into nutrition research, and cleansing and replenishing, so the Paleo approach easily wrapped into where I already was with nutrition. I even got my 4 boys on the Paleo routine.
Some people asked me how I could start out attending Crossfit 5 days a week. "I just felt so good, how could I not?" I thought.
But then came a few days within my first 8 weeks when I didn't have my typical nutritional intake and I WAS SO SORE and worn out! I had a major epiphany: high density nutrition without a targeted, functional, intense, varied fitness routine, is limited. AND, targeted, functional, intense, varied fitness routine, is limited, without high density nutrition. Together, they were amazing! Body fat decreases rapidly, lean muscle increases, post-workout recovery time diminishes, and mental clarity and mood increase.
I realized that my life had changed, the "funk" was gone: I was getting up at 5:25 every morning ANXIOUS to get my groove on with my AMAZING, STRONG, SUPPORTIVE AND FUN 6 a.m. TEAMMATES! My ambition had returned and my love of life surfaced.
I tell everyone about Crossfit. Several of my friends have joined in various states. We love to text eachother our WOD outcomes and PR's.
What are you future goals in the gym?
In Oct. I completed my 5th full marathon and my first sprint triathlon (pictured). I am so grateful to the great training support and instruction from Clay and Erik, and my Team!
My next adventure is to experience Crossfit through pregnancy and to have the healthiest, fittest, pregnancy and delivery yet.
Personal message to anyone that might be considering Crossfit:
One day at a Saturday morning track workout, I thought I was toast….the field work had been brutal and then I had 800 meters left to run. As I dragged myself to the track and began to slowly move my feet, dreading the next 800 yards, I had a Crossfit epiphany that has since become my mantra and motto:
I don't think about what's behind me
I don't think about what's before me
I just focus on what's in me.
Being in the present and having this focus helps me get through many tough challenges. I attribute Aspen Crossfit with teaching me true principles while increasing my belief in my own potential.
I LOVE MY LIFE AND I LOVE ASPEN CROSSFIT!
