One of Melissa’s greatest traits is her willingness to be coached and learn (can you tell she’s a teacher??). She is never satisfied to move for the sake of moving – she wants to know what it takes to move WELL, and will practice until she gets it right. In the spring of 2019, she participated in one of our favorite local beginner competitions – the Rookie Rumble. She spent several weeks leading up to the competition practicing the workouts and barbell complexes carefully, knowing that preparation would give her the best chance of a strong performance on the day. Her perseverance paid off, and she (along with several others!) had an incredible day of camaraderie and tough workouts!
Melissa understands the importance of longevity and wants to be able to move well for a long time. Lately, she’s been loving feeling STRONG, and isn’t afraid to do hard movements in order to improve her form at the barbell.
Melissa has three adorable fur-babies, and is a strong-AF momma to be! We love watching her take her pregnancy in stride, modifying movements as necessary, listening to her body, and knowing when to just keep going, and when to take a well-deserved rest day. Melissa – your smile lights up the gym each and every time you walk through our doors. Your kindness and positivity make you stand out, and we love the way that you add another beautiful shade of color to the diverse fabric that is our Bellum fam.
What type of workouts did you perform before coming to Bellum?: I played rec league volleyball but decided to try out spin class a few years ago to give myself a new challenge. That sparked my interest in fitness and inspired me to set a goal to do a triathlon (2 down so far!)
Why were you looking for a new style of workouts?: I wasn’t! My friend Melissa C. kept talking about how she loved her new CrossFit classes so I had to figure out what a WOD was and what the hype was all about. I did my first box jump and was hooked.
What is your favorite CrossFit movement or workout?: Back Squats, Thrusters, wall balls and rowing. I’m starting to enjoy more weightlifting and eager to keep improving my form. I also love Strongman Sundays when we get to play with the sandbags and the sleds – so fun!
What is your biggest accomplishment since starting at Bellum?: 19.5 at the CrossFit Open made me feel like a superhero. I was so proud to beat the clock and complete all the reps. It was nice to have my family come to watch it happen!
It’s not a secret that you are a VERY active person – pickleball, swimming, spin class, biking, volleyball, soccer, triathlons – these are just a few of the things that you love doing on a regular basis. With so many other activities on your plate, what keeps you coming back to Bellum?: I play in several sports leagues and belong to another gym but enjoy my time at Bellum most because of the people. The coaches are top notch. They pay attention to the small details and they never give up on you, even when you invent entirely new ways to do a movement wrong, as I do regularly! I feel challenged but never overwhelmed. It also helps to have a supportive partner and friends who understand that working out is a priority.
What is your favorite out-of-the-gym activity?: Traveling. We’ve been to Italy, Arizona, Utah, Mexico, Maine, and Florida recently. I also love trying new restaurants, reading YA books so I can recommend them to my students and playing with my three dogs, Cooper, Dexter and Scooter
What’s your “Why”?: I feel lucky that my body can do so much and am wowed with my progress over time. I’ve seen real results since joining Bellum! I’ve never had any muscle definition in my arms before and I feel stronger with sports and in general. I know that “I don’t have to work out, I get to work out!” I want to stay active so I can hopefully enjoy a long life. Not to mention, it’s super fun to keep learning new things!