Jess Beristianos

Goal

Originally, I signed up seeking some help to lose a few pounds so that when the open came around, my gymnastics weren't going to be SO bad. I wanted to get lighter so that body weight movements were easier. Going into OPEN 2017 - I realistically want

Testimonial

There is not a word LARGE enough to explain how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to be a part of Working Against Gravity. It is about so much more than losing weight. Its about learning to believe in the impossible and believing in SURPASSing your goals.. and making BIGGER and LARGER ones.. which I did with the help of Working Against Gravity.

Growing up, I had always been an athlete. I played softball my entire life and I even was blessed enough to play for a Division One college on a full ride scholarship. I loved to work hard towards my goals physically. I always struggled with my weight. It was a constant uphill battle that I never really wanted to admit was a problem. In college, I showed up freshman year 160ish... and when I graduated I was approaching close to 190. That weight definitely creeped up on me as well as bad eating habits. Throughout my 4 years.. I would gain weight.. then lose it.. then gain it again.. then lose it. The constant yo-yo! Never in a healthy way.

Once I graduated, I no longer had softball to identify with. I had always been the 'softball player' when people asked what I did. It was such a strange feeling that I had when I couldn't say that anymore. It had been such a huge part of my life.

Post college I tried different quick fix diets. I tried the master cleanse, I tried weight watchers, everything! You name it. For exercise, I tried all SORTS of methods. Hot Yoga, Running, Barr Method, Globo gym stuff. Nothing ever stuck or gave me the drive to keep going.

In 2013, my world changed and I found CrossFit. FINALLY, something that drove my competitive spirit. That kept me coming back for more because I was seeing measurable progress.

Fast forward a few years, I decided to compete with it and try to take it the next level. I had always been the 'STRONG' girl. The one the could lift heavy weights. I just had raw strength, Not the best technique.. but I was strong. Being strong, I always felt like I needed to EAT like a strong girl. If I didn't eat enough I wasn't going to be strong anymore.. There's one thing about CrossFit that I was missing... I struggled hardcore with ALL gymnastics movements. Pull-ups, HSPU.. I couldn't even imagine doing more than one Chest to Bar pull-up in row. Muscle ups were not even a thought. I was always just so HEAVY. If I wanted to be a competitive CrossFitter I needed to get better at my weaknesses. The only way I was going to get better at them was practicing them and doing something about weight.

I tried Paleo, I tried the ZONE, I tried no Carb/High fat.. I would do so good for a few weeks and lose a few pounds.. but it never stayed off. It was just a matter of time before I couldn't be SO strict anymore that I would eat whatever I wanted and the same pounds would latch back on. Even a few extra.

I finally decided.. I needed help! There was a pattern here. Before, when I needed help with hitting, I had a 'hitting coach', when I needed help with weightlifting, I had a weightlifting coach, and with CrossFit, I have a coach that programs for me. So why didn't I have a nutrition coach? I clearly needed the help and the guidance. What I was doing before wasn't working. I needed someone to keep me accountable. To be an outsider, looking out for my goals and guiding me in the right direction.

So, I took a leap and signed up for WAG. I was originally on the waitlist. When I got the email that a spot had opened up, I knew my life was about to change. The help I needed was being given to me!!

I was assigned my coach Alexa! Even though it has only been a few short months that I have been with WAG.. Alexa has come to be such an important person in my life and one of the best people to have on my fitness journey! I seriously look forward to every week when I get to share all my numbers and data. I truly feel her happiness for me through her words! She always has great tips and knows just what to say. I always want to make her proud. Alexa helped me reach my goal this year in the OPEN - top 100 in NorCal was the goal and I ended at 74! I also can now do high sets of chest to bar pulls ups and string ring/bar muscle ups together!

WAG as whole has such an amazing culture. Everything behind it.. It is about Lifestyle and creating a better YOU. It is way more than just a 'diet' program. It reaches out to ALL aspects of life and encourages you to better EVERY part of it. It is crazy how at first you sign up just trying to lose a few pounds.. Hoping to get some help with eating. In reality, you get so MUCH more out of it. Control, Confidence, Integrity, Optimism, PRIDE! I can go on with 1000s of words to describe all the ways I feel and hope that all the members who sign up get a chance to feel the same way I do. I am just so PROUD of myself for doing what I've been doing and knowing that I can keep going!

Thank you ADEE and the rest of the WAG coaches for providing such an amazing program!

Keep up all the great work!!

Love you guys!!