Dec 2016--Chris DeLallo

Chris DeLallo—December 2016 Athlete of the Month


1.Tell us about yourself, your family, your occupation, hobbies/interests.
I was born and raised in Kansas. I am 21 years old. I work at Onyx. My hobbies are hiking and reading.

2. When do you start CrossFitting? Why did you start? Why do you continue now?
I started doing CrossFit in November 2013. I had a back injury and had been going to chiropractors and physical therapists for about a year and a half. My progress was minimal. At this point in my life I had to quit my part time job due to the intense pain. I couldn't sleep or stand for any length of time. Even just sitting was painful. Doc talked to me about CrossFit and he told me I should give it a try since I had already tried all the other options. Now I am able to work a physical full time job 50 hours per week. I continue to do CrossFit because my physical therapist told me that my back would break down again if I stop. (Editor’s Note: Chris has been the “poster boy” of transformation going from a debilitated 18 year old youth who struggled with a 15# training bar to now being one of the absolute best athletes in our Tribe who has no holes in his CrossFit game and is always at the top of the leaderboard no matter what the workout.)

3. Do you remember your first WOD? What were your thoughts after your first WOD?
I remember it well, it was Nicole and I was able to do 29 pull ups. I was in really bad shape but after the work out my back felt better than it had in the past two and a half years.

4. What do you enjoy most about CrossFit?
I like the programming and camaraderie.

5. What is your proudest CrossFit moment?
Getting the first bar muscle-up at the box.

6. What is your favorite movement or lift? What is your least favorite?
Pull  ups are my favorite movement. Rowing is my least favorite movement.

7. Have you had one or two challenging CrossFit goals that you've achieved recently? What are your current goals and how close are you to reaching them?
I got into the 300 lb club for dead lifts. I want to get into the 400 lb dead lift club. I am 50 lbs away.

8. What makes CrossFit different from other fitness programs that you might have tried in the past?
With CrossFit I keep improving but with other programs I would always reach plateaus that I couldn't break.

9. What impact has CrossFit Benedictus had on your life, in and out of the gym?
It has changed by life because I can now function normally. Exercising at the box has also helped build my mental toughness.

10. Tell us about your nutrition and how it has changed, if any, since starting CrossFit?
I eat more vegetables, protein, and (complex) carbs and eat far less sugar.

11. If you could write a WOD for the classes to do, what would it look like?
Max effort of pull-ups. Rest 2 minutes. Sit-ups for 2 minutes. Rest two minutes. 3 mile run for time.

12. What advice do you have for others about the importance of the dedication of taking care of yourself, of investing in yourself?
As St. Augustine says, 'Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever, and take care of you soul as if you were going to die tomorrow.' I couldn't word it better than that.

13. What advice would you give to someone new to CrossFit or who is thinking about giving it a try? The work outs seem almost impossible at first, but over time you will see it is worth it even though they never get easy.