Elizabeth Lynch
“If you want a family atmosphere to work on your physical and mental health, then CFM is the place to be!”
1. How long have you been a member at CFM?
I have been a member since 2021. I joined while I was finishing up my Master’s degree for about 10 months. After taking a gap year to travel the state, I came back to Morgantown in the Fall of 2023 for my PhD. Rejoining the CFM family was an easy decision and I have been back at the gym since October! (Almost 1.5 years total.)
I have been a member since 2021. I joined while I was finishing up my Master’s degree for about 10 months. After taking a gap year to travel the state, I came back to Morgantown in the Fall of 2023 for my PhD. Rejoining the CFM family was an easy decision and I have been back at the gym since October! (Almost 1.5 years total.)
2. Why did you join?
I joined originally because I missed lifting! I was a D1 NCAA athlete during my undergrad years in Delaware and fell in love with strength training. After I graduated and moved to Morgantown, I needed to find a physical outlet. I found that lifting provided at least an hour in my day to clear my head and give me focus. After searching for a while and visiting different gyms, I found that CFM was the only place that immediately welcomed me. The first time I showed up was during a Saturday community workout. I vividly remember that Maria Sedney walked right up to me, introduced herself, and answered my questions. She, and many others that day, helped me through my first Crossfit workout. I promptly signed up the following Monday.
I joined originally because I missed lifting! I was a D1 NCAA athlete during my undergrad years in Delaware and fell in love with strength training. After I graduated and moved to Morgantown, I needed to find a physical outlet. I found that lifting provided at least an hour in my day to clear my head and give me focus. After searching for a while and visiting different gyms, I found that CFM was the only place that immediately welcomed me. The first time I showed up was during a Saturday community workout. I vividly remember that Maria Sedney walked right up to me, introduced herself, and answered my questions. She, and many others that day, helped me through my first Crossfit workout. I promptly signed up the following Monday.
3. What do you love most about CFM? What keeps you coming back each month?
When I enter the gym, all my thoughts and worries are left at the door. I get to shake off the day, forget about what I have to do for school or the farm, and focus solely on what’s in front of me. It’s truly an hour of peace!!! One of the things that keeps me coming back is being able to see and feel progress with every class. I am moving more weight that I have in years. I am getting a couple of double-unders here and there. I can do a half-way decent wall walk. I don’t skin my shins up when I do box jumps anymore. (Ha!) In case you can’t tell, I am a firm believer in celebrating the little things. CFM fosters an environment where we are able to grow, develop our skills, and be proud of the little wins every day.
When I enter the gym, all my thoughts and worries are left at the door. I get to shake off the day, forget about what I have to do for school or the farm, and focus solely on what’s in front of me. It’s truly an hour of peace!!! One of the things that keeps me coming back is being able to see and feel progress with every class. I am moving more weight that I have in years. I am getting a couple of double-unders here and there. I can do a half-way decent wall walk. I don’t skin my shins up when I do box jumps anymore. (Ha!) In case you can’t tell, I am a firm believer in celebrating the little things. CFM fosters an environment where we are able to grow, develop our skills, and be proud of the little wins every day.
4. What is your current occupation? What are some hobbies, clubs, groups, or activities you participate in?
I am currently a PhD student at West Virginia University majoring in animal, food, and nutritional science with a focus on applied poultry nutrition, feed manufacture, and feed hygienics. Outside of school, I have been an equestrian athlete for 21 years, I am a member of the West Virginia Farm Bureau, and I am also part of the Miss West Virginia Organization as I held the title in 2022. I still travel WV and different parts of the nation as an advocate for the agriculture industry and as a motivational/keynote speaker. In my free time, I enjoy hiking through our Mountain State and spending time with my Pitbull, Rusty.
I am currently a PhD student at West Virginia University majoring in animal, food, and nutritional science with a focus on applied poultry nutrition, feed manufacture, and feed hygienics. Outside of school, I have been an equestrian athlete for 21 years, I am a member of the West Virginia Farm Bureau, and I am also part of the Miss West Virginia Organization as I held the title in 2022. I still travel WV and different parts of the nation as an advocate for the agriculture industry and as a motivational/keynote speaker. In my free time, I enjoy hiking through our Mountain State and spending time with my Pitbull, Rusty.
5. Who inspires you?
I have many people in my life who inspire me daily. My family has instilled a strong work ethic in me. They are constantly showing me that with a little hard work and determination, anything can be accomplished. They also make sure I don’t take life too seriously and have ensured that I try to laugh a little every day. My advisor inspires me to show up. Half of life is just showing up and being present in the moment. Vicki, Kate, and Brittley inspire me at the gym by providing incredible examples of fortitude, empowerment, consistency, and stick-to-it-iveness.
I have many people in my life who inspire me daily. My family has instilled a strong work ethic in me. They are constantly showing me that with a little hard work and determination, anything can be accomplished. They also make sure I don’t take life too seriously and have ensured that I try to laugh a little every day. My advisor inspires me to show up. Half of life is just showing up and being present in the moment. Vicki, Kate, and Brittley inspire me at the gym by providing incredible examples of fortitude, empowerment, consistency, and stick-to-it-iveness.
6. How has improved fitness impacted your life? Please provide an example of a result outside of the gym.
With improved physical fitness, my tasks at the farm, like lifting feed bags and stacking pallets or squatting over and over again to pick up chickens, have become much easier! I don’t feel nearly as tired at the end of the day as I used to.
With improved physical fitness, my tasks at the farm, like lifting feed bags and stacking pallets or squatting over and over again to pick up chickens, have become much easier! I don’t feel nearly as tired at the end of the day as I used to.
7. How do you think your time at CFM has helped your holistic wellness (physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual)?
On top of utilizing the gym membership, I have also worked with Eric for nutrition coaching in order to have my diet reflect my time in the gym. He has worked with me to develop a long-term plan with obtainable goals. I do think that working with CFM has given me the jumpstart that I needed to create positive daily nutritional and physical habits. In terms of mental health, CFM has provided me with the mindset of “just keep chipping away at it”. I say this phrase constantly. It keeps me going when I need to hit one more rep, stack one more bag, have one more hard day at the farm, write one more page, take one more exam, etc… I didn’t come this far to only come this far. If I keep chipping away at the task before me, I will be one step closer to my end goals.
On top of utilizing the gym membership, I have also worked with Eric for nutrition coaching in order to have my diet reflect my time in the gym. He has worked with me to develop a long-term plan with obtainable goals. I do think that working with CFM has given me the jumpstart that I needed to create positive daily nutritional and physical habits. In terms of mental health, CFM has provided me with the mindset of “just keep chipping away at it”. I say this phrase constantly. It keeps me going when I need to hit one more rep, stack one more bag, have one more hard day at the farm, write one more page, take one more exam, etc… I didn’t come this far to only come this far. If I keep chipping away at the task before me, I will be one step closer to my end goals.
8. What would you say to someone you love to encourage them to try out CFM?
I would tell them that the greatest part about CFM is that the people there have created an environment where you can make mistakes, learn from them, and come out on the other side feeling accomplished. If you want a family atmosphere to work on your physical and mental health, then CFM is the place to be!
I would tell them that the greatest part about CFM is that the people there have created an environment where you can make mistakes, learn from them, and come out on the other side feeling accomplished. If you want a family atmosphere to work on your physical and mental health, then CFM is the place to be!
