WED: January OB Members of the Month

Alex is easily one of the most consistent members we have here in OB. Not only does he show up most days ready to go, he puts in the work to get better at technical elements, trust the coaches on pushing strength, and his conditioning is on fire. Alex is also one of the most welcoming and open members, always sharing and teaming up with new folks, actively getting to know the community. We are always stoked to have him in class and see the progress he makes from week to week, and really happy to congratulate him for his commitment to hard work. Well done, Alex!

How old are you, and where are you from?
36, I grew up in a small town called Brawley, CA and have been in San Diego most of my adult life.

What do you do for work?
I am a social worker. I run an adventure therapy program for the Wounded Warrior Project focused on combat veterans and active duty transitioning out of the military diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other forms of trauma. It can be difficult at times, but it is very rewarding to help those who have served in the Armed Forces.

What do you do for fun outside of P360?
Hanging with my son in the bullpen or batting cages, surfing, hiking, running, sporting events, binging Netflix, watching movies, watching the news. I try to keep an even balance of being outdoorsy and a home body.

How has P360 affected your life?
Having routine structure for physical health and wellness, I have seen noticeable health improvements both physically and mentally. I am an insulin dependent diabetic and PSC has had significant positive impact on my overall health, but more so on my lab results for diabetic management. It is a nice in between for work and homelife to shake off the workday and be better for my family.

What are your favorite, and least favorite exercises?
Favorite: snatches, cleans, anything fast pace with lower weight
Least Favorite: assault bike, pull ups, burpees

What is the hardest thing you have done, physically, in the gym?
Pay to Play workout. I think it took a week to recover.

What is your most proud achievement at P360?
Running 1 mile in under 7 minutes.

What is a hidden talent of yours?
90’s song recognition.

What is an embarrassing fact most people don’t know about?
I have horrible short-term memory and lose count of movements during the workouts and tend to error on the side of caution resulting in extra reps.  

If money was no concern, what would be your dream job?
Cannabis connoisseur and probably a competitive eater immediately after that shift

What is the biggest overall improvement you’ve made, since joining P360?
Not focusing on what other people are doing or lifting and staying within myself. When I first started, I never wanted to partner because I had little to no lifting experience. I enjoy partnering now and can change weights like a NASCAR pit crew.

What’s your favorite song to sing out loud/karoke go-to?
Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell – Drop it Like It’s Hot

What is the most valuable piece of coaching you’ve received?
Lenny told me to stop thinking so much and just move… paraphrasing. I get over analytical about things sometimes especially when I am challenged or “stuck”, so I try to keep that mentality to just keep moving and stop thinking during most workouts. And to add weight.
Julianne corrected my breathing for squats, super helpful!
Adam gave me pointers for hang clean that helped me increase weight over the last month.

Which public figure or celebrity would you put in the dunk tank?
Tomi Lahren dunked by Cardi B.

What’s your favorite place to eat in San Diego?
Sombrero’s Taco Shop

What famous person (alive or not) would you  most like to have a drink with and what would you buy them?
Chris D’elia, a sour beer to hear him bitch about it.

What are your Top 3 movies of all time?
Jurassic Park, Rogue One – A Star Wars Story, The Conjuring

Do you sleep with the sheets tucked in or out?
Out. I toss and turn all night so they are usually on the floor by morning.

What’s a funny story from your childhood?
Age 6ish, I was afraid of the Palm Springs dinosaur statues, my older cousin told me they didn’t eat kids who had pickles with them. I would take a pocket full of pickles with me on any road trips through that area. I was a kid so would leave said pickles for my mom to deal with when she did laundry. Sorry mom.

What’s your favorite naughty food?
Carne Asada fries

If you could travel to any point in the past, where would you go?
1860’s to early 1900, explore the Sierra’s with John Muir.

What’s your favorite thing about training at P360?
Because I had very little to no experience with lifting prior, I love to push myself and learning something new each class. I do not know what my physical threshold is, and I am having a blast figuring out what my body and mind can do. 5:30-6:30 (primarily) is my “happy hour”

What is your biggest goal moving into 2019?
1) Join a club – gunning for row club
2) 10 pullups
3) Push myself to consistently use advanced weight recommendations