"I love the challenging workouts that feed my inner competitiveness AND being able to bring Lena with me"
October’s Athlete of the Month is Jaelynn Ringer! We were so excited to welcome Jaelynn to the gym this summer, along with her new baby, Lena, who watches wide-eyed as mom puts the work in! Having a background as a collegiate athlete, Jae is hard-working and has a competitive spirit. She is crazy strong, determined to perfect her movement patterns and a great example of what the body can do “after baby”. Jae has joined a wonderful community of new (and seasoned) moms at Crowned and proves to be an amazing athlete everyday. She is setting a wonderful example for young women who want to improve their fitness levels and for her baby girl! We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in her new sport, CrossFit!
Give Us Your Story:
My name is Jaelynn Ringer. I’m a 29 year old wife and mother that was born and raised in Michigan. I’ve been married a little over a year, to my husband Javon, and we now have a beautiful daughter, Lena, who is 6mos. I graduated from Michigan State University with my Bachelors and Masters in Kinesiology. Also during that time I was a sprinter/hurdler for the MSU Track and Field team, where I earned a few Big Ten medals and All-American titles. Fun fact: I also have a degree in music as a singer- songwriter, but anyway…Being active has always been a part of my life and I wanted to make sure that wasn’t something I lost after having a kid due to a busy schedule. During pregnancy I continued a high level of fitness and exercise, it was something I prided myself in. It wasn’t until after having Lena that I wasn’t sure what route to take to get back to my “normal” self. After my home birth of Lena, I was on a 3week “no exercise” rest period to allow my body to recover and I was super anxious to get back after it. Once that time had passed, I began doing at-home AppleFitness body weight workouts, just to get moving again and regain my strength and tone. After about 6wks, I knew I needed/wanted something more, I needed to get back into the gym regularly, but I had a child and nowhere to take her while I worked out in the evening because daycare was closed, my husband works late and I wasn’t getting a babysitter for one hour on days I wanted to workout. So I am grateful to have been told about this place. Coming to this gym has been nothing short of amazing. I love the challenging workouts that feed my inner competitiveness AND being able to bring Lena with me!
What CrossFit Means To You:
CrossFit means a jumpstart and push to getting back to feeling like myself again. There was a time post-pregnancy that I didn’t like the way I felt and looked still, although I had made great changes physically already. With CrossFit I’ve regained confidence through competition with myself and others, I’ve gained greater strength and endurance. I’m excited for this journey I’m on to bounce back even better than I was before!
Advice For Someone New Or Considering Trying CrossFit:
To those who are just starting or considering starting CrossFit, do it and stick to it! Don’t worry about what the workout for the day is, just show up. Trust me, deciding to show up is the hardest part. I promise once you’re there, the warm welcoming family there makes coming back so much easier, and you’ll get in a great workout too! Consistency is key to results and new habits.
What is your favorite movement in CrossFit:
My favorite CrossFit movement would be too many to name, so I vote ALL OF THEM lol! If they challenge me, great! If it’s something I can continue to perfect, even better!