A little over a year and a half ago, CrossFit Q.F.E., or Quest for Excellence, an affiliate of Southeastern Health, opened in Lumberton, creating a community of workout enthusiasts who have a passion for improving their health.
Active CrossFit Q.F.E. member Lori Dove, who is also SeHealth’s vice president of post acute care services and chief continuum of care officer, never intended to become a CrossFit enthusiast but loves the camaraderie and competitive nature the program offers her as well as the health benefits she has experienced.
“CrossFit is one of my areas of responsibility, and I felt like I needed to support the new service,” Dove said. “So that’s really why I joined, to say ‘we brought up this new product line and I was part of it.’ I didn’t really intend to stay with it.” Now, Dove works out as often as her schedule allows and enjoys the challenge of the workouts.
“The really neat thing about CrossFit is I don’t have to go in and try to figure out what I’m going to do today,” Dove said. “Someone else has already programmed it and it is safe.”
According to the CrossFit Q.F.E. website, CrossFit is a strength and conditioning program built on functional, real life, multi-jointed movements. Members participate in the workout for the day, or W.O.D., that can be adjusted for individuals based on their fitness levels. Each workout incorporates a wide variety of exercise and strength training techniques.
“The biggest barriers with CrossFit are that people think it is too intense and there is no way that you can do it or they are going to get hurt,” said Dove.
As a member as well as the staff’s overall boss, Dove has witnessed the coaches’ dedication to observe and instruct members during the daily workouts to ensure that techniques are performed properly and safely.
Dove said that because the workouts are already planned and the trainers are available in the gym, it allowed her the opportunity to try new things, like lifting weights, that she would have never done in a typical fitness center environment. Dove’s current favorite W.O.D. incorporates weight lifting.
“If I’m lifting something, I’m happy,” she said.
According to Dove, CrossFit Q.F.E. is working to keep up with the latest equipment and CrossFit trends by recently expanding the services offered at the facility, including incorporating Assault Airbikes into the workouts, and also adding new Olympic weight lifting and CrossFit gymnastics classes into the schedule. Open gym hours are still an option for members to work on techniques and beginner classes are offered for individuals starting the program. The CrossFit Kids and Teens programs are also available.
When asked about her passion for CrossFit, Dove says it is the people and the sense of being a part of something that encourages individuals, like herself, to continue with the program and succeed. Dove said that she is definitely stronger and has more stamina from a health perspective since she joined CrossFit. She also recently was motivated to participate in her first CrossFit competition with her daughter.
“I tell people all the time that it is so much fun. You push your body to do things that you never thought you could possibly do,” Dove said. “CrossFit incorporates everything and it gives you the competitive nature that you can explore and have fun with too. I love it.”
For information, call 910-735-8040 or visit www.crossfitqfe.com.
Contributing columnist
