Featured Athlete – Beverly Mahan

Neal asked me if I’d consider being the Featured Athlete of the Month for Crossfit Beaumont. I wanted to turn and look over my shoulder to see if someone was standing behind me. I’ve never been called an athlete before. But then again, I’ve never swung kettle bells over my head or done over one hundred squats in one work out or ran a 800 M as a “cool down” before Crossfit either. And that was all in the same workout!

Beverly During a WOD

I have dieted my entire adult life. That’s because I had to keep losing the same 20 lbs over and over. I have even worked out at a fairly consistent rate. I’ve done aerobics, walked, used a treadmill, gone to spin classes, stair climbdr, and bow flexed. (Note all the equipment I have invested in.) I have always aspired to fitness: Fitness being defined by numbers on the scale. If the numbers didn’t fall the workouts fizzled out. But it wasn’t until I signed up for a Crossfit Boot Camp session at my job that I
truly embarked on a fitness journey.

Having turned 50 the year before, I was faced with my first health challenge. My routine blood work showed that my cholesterol numbers weren’t so great. I was so depressed. I was officially old. My Dr. told me to watch my diet (great!) and exercise and we would do blood work again in 6 months. So, I worried and did nothing for the first 3 months, typical, and then the Boot Camp was announced. I knew that I needed to do something because my time was running out so I thought the boot camp would at least get me moving and maybe inspire me to continue some kind of exercise after the 5 week session was over. 5 weeks, I could commit to that.

We were all so sore after the first workout we thought the next workout would surely have to be canceled. WRONG. Nothing like a few Spiderman Lunges to get your muscles loosened up! Every workout was more challenging than the last. I found that I could not even consider missing a class for fear of falling behind in my progress: My strength and endurance progress, not my weight loss progress. Wow. I had never worked out for anything other than weight loss before. Was the weight falling off? No, not really. In fact, one session all the ladies were complaining about the numbers on the scale and Neal told us to stop weighing. Weight loss will be a benefit, he told us, but it should not be the goal. Fitness should be the goal. But, in spite of not losing much weight, so many co workers and family members commented on my “weight loss.” My size was definitely changing. My body is still reshaping in front of my eyes. And people are still commenting. Although I have only lost about 15 lbs in 7 months I have gone down two sizes and I am still getting smaller. Weight is relative. I know I have gained a tremendous amount of muscle. In fact, thanks to my personal fitness progress my husband, my son, three nieces, a couple of nephews and two sisters have since joined Crossfit. I am witnessing the same addictive reaction to working out in many of them. They are each traveling their own road to progress which is a testament to the personal aspect of the program.

Co workers have also told me that they were impressed enough with my progress to sign up for a Boot Camp. I tell them all the same thing. I treat my workouts as appointments. I do not schedule anything for that time of my week. My son questioned my husband and I shortly before I started as to why we put our health, the most important thing, last in our busy schedules. I did not have a good answer. I do not put it last anymore. Three hours a week is so little to commit to so much benefit. I am stronger. If I am tired it is for good reason. I sleep better. I am less stressed. I am leaner. (I think I might be taller!) I am younger. I have friends that I work out with who inspire me to push harder and that I respect tremendously. It is the hardest thing I do in my week and nothing gives me such an immediate sense of accomplishment.

The workouts motivate me to watch what I eat. I need protein to build muscle. I limit my sugars rather than concentrating on calories and fats. Oh, and how was my blood work after three months? Lower levels for LDL (yea!). Higher levels for HDL, good. My triglycerides, very, very, low. Excellent results. I do still have control over my health. Age does not determine my fitness. I do.

Why does Crossfit work for me? Having a personal trainer makes all the difference. All I have to do is show up. He plans my workout. He knows my weaknesses and forces me to work on them. Heknows my strengths and expects me to push beyond comfort. He encourages me when I am working hard. I could never afford a personal trainer before Crossfit. Sharing a workout with a dedicated group also inspires me to endure. How can I stop when they keep running? If they increase the weight they
lift then so should I. You can lie to yourself but not to someone working right next to you. Not to someone counting for you. Not to someone you just counted for. And when you are pushing through that last round, or running that last lap, nothing else is on your mind. How’s that for stress relief? Someone asked me how long I would have to do this. I answered, “Forever, or at least as long as I possibly can. Why would I want to stop?” Wait, did I actually say that? Awesome! I guess that doesmake me an athlete.

17 thoughts on “Featured Athlete – Beverly Mahan”

  1. Beverly, you are SUCH an inspiration to me! I could have written about half of that story about myself. Isn’t it great that we can start this at our age (I am older than you!) and get so excited about it…and see results! I am the self proclaimed “Queen of Scale” but I am so motivated to do more every time. Hope to meet you sometime! Keep on working!

  2. Bev, U R AWESOME!! You are such an inspiration to me at every workout. Thanks for introducing me to Cross Fit and encouraging me every day to push myself. I follow your example in many areas of my life and, now, I follow your example in fitness and health. I look forward to working out with “the girls”…huh? Did I just say I look forward to working out??….yes, I did! And, I am not just saying all of this because you are my aunt! Love ya and let’s keep working our butts off….no, literally!!!!

  3. Way to go Mrs. Mahan! You’ve done amazing work in the last 7 months and will continue to do so. CONGRATS!

  4. Beverly it’s been so awesine having you at CFB! I can’t wait to see what you’re capable of a year from now.

  5. I couldn’t say this before for fear of sexual harassment lawsuit you’d throw at me while we were working together, but Dear Lord you look amazing!!!

  6. to truly inspire someone to be better is the best compliment i can think of and mrs mahan you are that person, that athlete. well deserved!

  7. WooHoo! Way to go sista! I am so proud for you…I hope I have the same story 7 months from now. Working out with you and the other girls has been a great experience…MWF’s are the bomb!!!!!

  8. Beverly, you are amazing and you have always inspired me. You look awesome! Congratulations on your very hard work. Thank you for introducing me to Crossfit and the Crossfit Family. I love you Tony

  9. Awe, shucks, everybody. Too kind. Stephen, it’s not harrasment if the guy is good looking. Your safe. Thanks to my Crossfit family. (Which is rapidly blending with my real family, craaazy!)

  10. Your success has reached the Rio Grande Valley!!!When you started this program the first day of Easter holidays,I was there when you got home.My reaction-Disbelief!I saw you again in June.You were still at it.My reaction-Impressed!By the end of the summer,you were still going.The girls were all telling me how great you looked.My reaction-Jealous!!And now, to see that you have received this title of Crossfit Beaumont “Featured Athlete”, my reaction-over-the-top excited and proud.Not just to be your sister.But, because I know it is well-deserved. And I, too, am inspired to find Crossfit in the valley.
    Love, Dujuana

  11. Wow! I am inspired! I love your story! I actually did on-ramp with 2 of your family members! Thanks for sharing! It is those stories that keep me motivated!

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I started at CFB almost 8 months ago. I will say JJ thoroughly disappointed me in promoting the atmosphere and the fun in suffering I have experienced. At least Neal would tell me to try it out from time to time. I am husband to Heather of 9 wonderful years, and father of crazy, wild, and awesome kiddos Bryson (3) and Bailey (5). Through the years since college, I really have just got into that sedentary life style that I always knew I needed to get out of. I needed it for my mental health as much as for my physical health. I have always done a month here and a couple months there at these globo gyms in town, just to never hang on and not find anything that got my competitive juices going. I have found that in life you will always find time for things that you enjoy and things that are important to you. And these gyms were never anything I enjoyed or became a priority. I now look at my schedule every week and see what classes I can make because CFB checks those enjoyment and important boxes. Since joining CFB, the fellowship and encouragement from members/coaches (now many friends) have been things that stuck out to me. Always someone there encouraging when you feel like you don’t have that last rep or those last 10 calories on those horrible assault bikes. Oh and I’ve also never been this fit in my life and look forward to the progress I know is still in front of me. Thank you to all friends and coaches! Can’t wait to get another pair of shoes……….

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I have always been an athlete, from swimming, volleyball, basketball, softball and powerlifting, but college changed a lot of that for me. As I moved to Beaumont in 2014, I started getting into a little routine at a local gym, but it wasn’t feeding my need, just checking off a task on the to-do list. I hadn’t touched a barbell in what seemed like ages and lost sight of my self-confidence. All of that changed when I came to Crossfit Beaumont. It’s funny, reminiscing about that first day you walked in, those feelings and that slight anxiety, but it changed my life. The workouts were like nothing I’ve been through before, the motivation from other athletes, who were complete strangers then, was a new concept all together and the fact that we were doing it all together really changed the dynamic of working out for me.

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Growing up I always wanted to be a ballerina! I stayed active in dance and in swimming throughout the years. In 2012 post college I needed some structure in my workouts and habits. Oh my did I fall hard for Crossfit! Since joining Crossfit I have found a balance with my workouts and nutrition that I desired. As a coach, I love bringing other people into the wonderful community we have here at CFB.

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CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Coach I have always had a passion for sports and fitness and love to compete no matter what. I thought myself in pretty good shape until trying my first CrossFit workout, Fight Gone Bad. Afterwards I was left on the floor unable to move wondering what the hell had just happened to me. I was hooked. Since starting I’ve gotten stronger, faster, and gained more endurance than I thought possible. CrossFit Beaumont is my dream come true of bringing a new level of training to everyone willing to put in the blood, sweat, and tears to attain elite fitness.CrossFit Olympic Weightlifting Coach I have always had a passion for sports and fitness and love to compete no matter what. I thought myself in pretty good shape until trying my first CrossFit workout, Fight Gone Bad. Afterwards I was left on the floor unable to move wondering what the hell had just happened to me. I was hooked. Since starting I’ve gotten stronger, faster, and gained more endurance than I thought possible. CrossFit Beaumont is my dream come true of bringing a new level of training to everyone willing to put in the blood, sweat, and tears to attain elite fitness.

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My whole life I’ve been involved with cheerleading, gymnastics, track, the whole nine yards; so when I stepped into my first CrossFit class as a collegiate cheerleader in January 2011 I was expecting it to be just another day at the gym and no big deal. Wow, was I mistaken! The first fifteen minutes of class I was sweating more and working harder than I ever had in a gym. I knew that I had found my new sport, CrossFit. The more I came the stronger I got, the faster I moved the more I was hooked. I love that the hard work we put in constantly reaps results and that no matter what you’re doing there’s someone there pushing you or dying along side with you. Training others has been the biggest blessing and I love seeing our community at CrossFit Beaumont thrive!

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