I wrestled all my life which led me to college. Once I left college and joined the Marine Corp, there wasn't anything to fill that space that wrestling had given me. While in CA, I discovered CrossFit through YouTube and went to a local box to delve deeper into this new world. That was about two months before I got orders to come out to Albuquerque where the consensus among my peers and coworkers was to join CrossFit Sandstorm. Having only been at one box and having only been there for 2 months, I was intimidated to have a contract with another box where I didn't know anyone. But as everyone knows, we are a family no matter your skill level, your age, or where you're coming from. Sandstorm has catapulted me into a competitive mode every time I work out and in everyday life. They see the potential in everyone and challenge everyone. I personally found that void I've been missing since wrestling. The coaches push me and I push them. It's an ongoing battle and whenever there is that work out that can be modified to the extreme, I'm that guinea pig. From the bottom of my heart, when I do leave to another duty station or get out, it's going to be hard to leave my home. 

Joaquin Moreno  
(Started January  10, 2012)  

"I've always hated exercise. I earned straight Cs in PE. I've never been an athlete. But a few years ago, my husband and I adopted two incredibly athletic, strong kids who could bound over giant chasms and do five million pull-ups and fifty thousand push-ups, all in skinny jeans, while we could only gawk in amazement. It was a little embarrassing and eventually I realized that I needed to get fit. I visited a few gyms in the area but I need a challenge; 30 minutes on an elliptical followed by some bicep curls and a few reps on the leg press machine wasn't going to cut it. I sent an e-mail to Crossfit Sandstorm and soon I was in the On Ramp class and absolutely loving everything about it. My husband joined two weeks later, and now our daughter has joined, too. I never knew it was possible to love a gym, but I love this one very much. I love the variety and challenge in the workouts. I love the coaches and how encouraging and knowledgeable they are. I love the warm welcome and support I get from the other athletes (that's right, I said other athletes because now I'm an athlete). I love setting personal records and doing things I never thought I could. I love the feeling of excitement and a little nervousness before each workout and I love the feeling of triumph and exhaustion afterward. Most of all, I love my daughter's new nickname for me: Mama Hulk. For the first time in my life, I look forward to working out and every week, I'm stronger than I was the week before."

Jennifer Kinyak
(Started April 9, 2012)

"Everyone always asks us, what is CrossFit? Our answer to them, 100% results! We’ve had several gym memberships and have trained 1:1 with personal trainers, but never really got the results we were after. Working out at CrossFit Sandstorm has become part of a family tradition where the other member athletes act like our family, rather than strangers in a gym. The coaches are motivating. The people that work out with us are motivating. And most of all, the results we are seeing are simply phenomenal. In just 3 months, we’ve lost almost 9 inches combined. Rather than weighing in each week and hoping the scale presents a lower number, we are measuring our results every month and fitting into clothes we haven’t worn in 2 years. Our two boys participate in many sports and as they’ve gotten older, it’s been harder to keep up. But, with our new fitness we can now participate in the games and activities with our boys instead of sitting out. And best of all, we no longer get that dreaded, going-to-the-crowded, long-lined gym feeling. We now satisfy our fitness addiction at CrossFit Sandstorm and look forward to each and every class."

Veronica & Antonio Lujan
(Started March 23, 2012)

CrossFit Sandstorm is a place I look forward to going to each and every day. Being a big guy at 6’2” and in the military, I have always been in decent shape but after long hours, kids, several deployments and a divorce, my shape was closer to “round” and I was tipping the scales at 260lbs with a 40 inch waist. I knew I needed to do something. My friend and now coach, Shellie Schoenberg told me that she and a few others were opening a box near my house so I had no excuses. After going through the CrossFit introductory program “On-Ramp” with John and Stephanie, we entered the world of the WOD. I can happily say that today I am down to 223lbs with a 34 inch waist! And, I am in better shape now than I was at the ripe old age of 18. My endurance, muscle tone, and lifting abilities have gone way up while muscle fatigue, soreness, and waist size have gone way down. The coaches and athletes at CrossFit Sandstorm always make me feel welcome and they always push me to reach that next goal. I can honestly say the people at this box are like family."

Darren Ice
(Started July 27, 2011)

"In March of 2010, I took the first step toward getting healthy and I quit smoking. The thing that scared me the most about quitting was gaining weight. I tried everything to combat it: P90X, excessive cardio, calorie counting, weight loss competitions and even diet pills. The result was a roller coaster of weight loss and weight gain. Determined, I continued to do online research and discovered CrossFit and the ‘Paleo’ lifestyle. Three months ago I transitioned into primal eating and almost instantly felt better. My 'IBS' disappeared. My energy increased and sleeping became much easier. It took me a little longer to finally brave CrossFit, but CrossFit Sandstorm’s initial email response to my ‘nervous request for information’ was encouraging and got me through the door for a visit; what I saw next excited me beyond words. At first, I thought I was joining CrossFit Sandstorm to continue on my path towards healthy living. And yes, in just 2 months I’ve managed to lose an entire pant size however, what I have gained is so much more important: confidence, focus and the courage to face my fears. Each coach at CrossFit Sandstorm brings something different to the gym and performs their duty without judgment or bias. They don’t see the former smoker who is a little soft in the middle. They see a woman who can accomplish anything. It is in the midst of their cheering and encouragement that I am finding what I’m made of. CrossFit Sandstorm, has changed my life."

Stephanie Walker
(Started July 27, 2011)