Mike Winter

Mike Winter – he may be one of the oldest members of our gym, but don’t
let that fool you! He can lift some mean weights and works to make himself
better each day. Not only does he work hard, but he also takes the time to
encourage others. He shows up early to class and figures out what he can
do to make the workout best for him. He gives great feedback to coaches
and always says, “Thank you,” and smiles on his way out the door. Recently,
he’s also had some major victories with his personal health and we want to
celebrate those as we are so proud of him!

Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a table games card dealer at Grand Falls Casino in Larchwood. I am
married to Kathy and have two sons. Josh lives in Sioux Falls and is married
to Madeleine. He has two children, Ashton and Adella, My second son is.
Sam who lives in Minneapolis. Josh is also a CrossFit Phos member.

When did you start CrossFit and why?

I started CrossFit about one and a half years ago. I joined at the urging of my son Josh because he thought it would be good for my health. There is a history of heart disease in my family, I was a bit overweight, I was recently put on medication for high blood pressure, and I figured it would probably be good for me.

Since starting, are there things you’ve learned in the gym that crossover into other areas of your life?

I like the example the people at the gym set – always helping and encouraging each other. That carries over to my daily life – helping
other people. I even hope that being a member at Phos will help others who are older realize that if I can do this, they can
too.

How has your health been impacted?

First of all, I lost some weight – about 20 pounds and my clothes fit a lot better. After about 8 months, my doctor reduced my blood pressure medicine by half. Last week, he took me off the medicine completely. He said my blood pressure was looking great. I also feel stronger and I think my balance is better.

Who are some of your favorite people to workout with?

Of course, my son Josh is my favorite, but all the people at Phos are fun to workout with because they are so encouraging. I also enjoy all the trainers – they are always helping me improve my technique.

What is one accomplishment in the gym that you’re really proud of and what’s a new goal?

I guess, at my age, I am really proud of all the things that I am able to do. I’d really like to be able to do a burpee the right way. I’m pretty competitive
and I feel like I want to continue this and strive to do better.