Senior NCO improves fitness with CrossFit

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melanie Holochwost
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Before trying CrossFit for the first time in January 2009, Master Sgt. Michael Helm, 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit production superintendent, barely passed his physical fitness tests. Now, almost two years later, he is a completely different person.

"I noticed huge results after just two short months of working out at CrossFit Luke," Sergeant Helm said. "I had muscles I thought I would never see again. More importantly, I saw an eight-point gain in my total PT score. I dropped several inches off my waist measurement and took almost two minutes off my run time."

And, the results were more than just physical; CrossFit helped Sergeant Helm improve other aspects of his life.

"CrossFit has brought my energy level through the roof while also putting me in a better mood," he said. "And, I'm able to focus better, both at work and home."

Sergeant Helm said it is hard to verbalize what makes CrossFit work for him, because it's everything.

"The workouts are different every day and the muscle confusion kicks butt," he said. "I personally haven't hit the 'wall' and I feel it's because of that. I like that CrossFit focuses on 'functional fitness' versus muscle isolation, and that cardio is incorporated into every workout."

Sherri Biringer, 56th Force Support Squadron CrossFit supervisor, said she remembers the first time Sergeant Helm did CrossFit.

"He asked for a core workout, and he definitely got it," she said. "He complained the whole time, but once he finished, he was hooked. Since then, Sergeant Helm has continued to improve by leaps and bounds in his fitness level and intensity. He just passed his PT test with a 93.4 percent."

Sergeant Helm also proves that age doesn't matter in CrossFit, Ms. Biringer said.

"He is a role model for his squadron," she said. "He can hold his own against some of the younger Airmen. Nothing stands in his way; if he wants something, he goes after it."