Athlete of the Month: Cat Galli

Salus • February 7, 2016

We are excited to showcase Cat Galli as Athlete of the Month! Cat as been a member since April 2013 and has recently shown a strong interest in Olympic Lifting. You’ll find her perfecting her lifts not only in Oly class, but basic training, too. She has even signed up for her first Oly meet in March! And like many of us, Cat has struggled with a pesky goat – double unders – so to motivate her to finally attack it, we had her sign an agreement to get them by February. And she did!!

If you haven’t been to see her yet, Cat owns her own massage business, StressFree Body and is also a CrossFit Mobility Trainer. She also juggles being a busy parent to two crazy boys and also manages to find time to donate to the community by designing and creating magical hand-cut mosaics at Keyport’s Waterfront.

We’re proud of all the hard work Cat puts in; check out her story below!

1. When and why did you start CrossFit?

I First joined CrossFit at 38. I was quite active for most my life and health conscious so physically I was happy how I looked, I didn’t look to do things to change my appearance. But at 38, and a mother of a 3 year old & 1 year old, inside I didn’t feel as I once did…

After having my boys I felt physically exhausted, weak and wanting to do anything but exert myself. But I was 2 months away from my 39th birthday and I knew I was at a crossroad in my life where I could just do nothing and continue on and just roll “over the hill” with age and ultimately become weaker, more tired, less fit, & less mobile with each passing year.

OR I could decide and commit to F*ck “Over the hill” and instead continue to climb up, & just keep climbing despite it being harder, I’d be getting stronger.

I knew thats what it would take for me to feel good and live as long as i possibly can as best as I can for my boys and because I do love life.

I personally CrossFit so I hopefully can sit on a bowl when I need to, on my own, for as long as I’m alive, I CF so I can run as best I can from a falling building, I CF so I can fight Disease and illness with everything I got, I CF so I can battle life and feel strong, and live my life, happy.

I knew I was at a crossroad in my life

I CrossFit so I can battle life and feel strong, and live my life, happy.

2. How has your performance changed since you started CrossFit?

I can RX WODs and the effort it takes to push through them feels more conditioned.

I also feel more confident and solid in my lifts.

3. Are there exercises you can do now that you couldn’t do before?

ABSOLUTELY! Hand stand push ups, pull ups, Oly lifts, mile run.

4. How has your body physically changed since you started CrossFit?

More muscle definition & more muscle!

5. How has CrossFit changed you in other ways?

I roll out of bed easier and earlier & with motivation.

6. How do you describe CrossFit to your friends?

So much fun, you’ll be getting into the strongest shape of your life and the aesthetics are guaranteed to just happen.

7. What keeps you motivated to continue?

My boys, the fun I have & living the best I can.

8. Favorite WOD or lift?

Snatch & L2: Peppa metcon

9. What advice would you give to a newbie just joining CrossFit Salus?

It’s best to check your ego at the door, be prepared to crawl around on the floor like a bear, feel like a kid, feel like you have no idea what your doing and totally step out of your comfort zone.

It’s totally normal to feel awkward at first, we ALL have at some point, do it anyway! Ya can’t feel intimidated by those around you, instead feel inspired! You’re capable to do it all everything can be scaled, and eventually one day you just amazingly do your first pull up or handstand push up. We all need to learn to crawl before we walk

We all need to learn to crawl before we walk

10. What is your next goal to accomplish…or goat to kill?

Ten smooth linked butterfly pull ups, and dare I say muscle up

11. If you could design your own WOD, what would it look like?

Cat’s 300

teams of 3-30 Rounds
10 Pistols
10 Handstand Push Ups
Shuttle Sprint
10 Double unders
Shuttle Sprint

12. Favorite healthy dish….and favorite “cheat” meal.

More like a healthy bite than a dish, Bacon dates!

Ok, Avocado pesto zucchini noodles with chicken sausage & crushed toasted almonds.

Cheat-Pizza of course!

13. Create your own unique question and answer it.

-What movement or exercise is your arch nemesis and how do/did you cope?

Running and double unders! For running I just kept doing it, showed up to all running WODs & never cherry picked. I started running with my dog. It took two 1/2 long years before I felt I made it over the hump and no longer cursed each step.

Double unders I made a promise to someone other than myself, I put it in writing on the white board, so I had to buckle down & just put the time in. I basically went through a transformation where I just got sick of fighting the fight and decided the weekend of blizzard 2016 that I WOULD dominate my double unders.