A sedentary sophomore now enters CrossFit competitions.
By Sabrina Griffith
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The choice to participate in CrossFit, an intense boot camp-style team sport, has changed one student’s life.
Communications sophomore Ryan Truss, 21, has gone to Mission CrossFit, 8842 Broadway, at 5 a.m. every day since February 2014.
Since he started working out, he has lost nearly 100 pounds.
“I used to weigh 330 pounds; now I weigh 232,” Truss said in an interview March 30.
Not only does Truss go to CrossFit religiously, he sticks to a paleo diet.
Truss explained the paleo diet includes meats, vegetables, fruits and fish but no bread or dairy.
He drinks only water, which adds up to about a gallon a day.
He has a “cheat day” once a week in which he chooses to eat either chocolate or pizza.
The paleo diet forced him to give up his favorite restaurants such as Chick-Fil-A and Whataburger, but Truss tells himself his health is more important.
Improving his health has changed his lifestyle, and “lifestyle” is the way Drew Bignal, owner of Mission CrossFit and head coach, describes the workout program.
Truss finished his second CrossFit competition March 29 and was chosen Athlete of the Month in March at his CrossFit location for his determination and effort, Bignal said.
His outgoing personality and drive to exceed the efforts of the average person in a gym are impressive, he said.
Truss also runs and participates in 5K and 10K runs and Spartan races, obstacle races that vary in distance and difficulty.
Truss explained what led him to begin the journey of improving himself inside and out.
“I looked at myself in the mirror and I was like holy moly,” he said, “I wanted to look good for once.”
Truss said he feels great and has more self-confidence.
“I did absolutely no (physical) activities in high school,” he said, “I was like a garbage disposal … I just ate, ate, ate, ate, ate.”
However, he was homecoming king for four years and prom king his senior year at St. Anthony Catholic High School. He managed multiple sports teams and served on committees for social functions.
“He was very popular,” said Jacob Fernandez, kinesiology sophomore and Truss’ friend of seven years, “He always tried to get involved in a lot of things.”
When Truss worked at Chick-Fil-A 2012-2014, he gained 75 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame.
After a few months of participating in CrossFit, he got a new job at San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter as a bellhop.
The first day Truss started CrossFit, he recalled that he couldn’t perform any exercises and vomited.
He told himself it would get better.
“Now I can deadlift 435 pounds, I can do box jumps, (and) I can do burpees like it’s nothing,” he said.
Bignal said Truss has come a long way and is at a point where he can challenge himself.
The CrossFit coaches are helpful and supportive, Truss said.
In contrast, others did not believe he could do it. Even his parents told him CrossFit was too expensive.
“If I’m paying $120 (a month), I’m going every day; I don’t rest,” he said.
Truss said he often thought, “Is it worth it?”
He goes to bed by 8 p.m. and no longer stays up late for concerts, such as seeing live performances of Miley Cyrus, George Strait and Lorde.
When he goes out to lunch, Truss has to pick the restaurant to ensure he’s eating paleo foods.
But his parents now support him as well as the handful of friends who have stuck around his rigorous and health-conscious lifestyle.