When Jess first walked into our community in August of 2020, life looked very different than it does today.
Like many people during that season, his routine had been completely disrupted. Covid shutdowns had changed work schedules, daily structure disappeared, and suddenly there was more free time than expected.
For Jess, that unexpected pause became an opportunity.
He decided it was time to try something new that was not just for fitness, but for life outside of work.
Starting for More Than Fitness
Jess had spent years serving in the military before becoming a pilot, a career built on discipline, structure, and purpose. When the shutdowns slowed everything down, he realized he needed something meaningful to fill that gap.
He also had another important reason for starting.
He wanted to spend more time with his wife, Melita, who was a long-time member of the gym.
What began as a practical decision quickly turned into something much bigger.
Like many new members, Jess wasn’t sure what to expect walking into a CrossFit gyms. The workouts looked challenging. The movements were unfamiliar. And stepping into a new environment always comes with uncertainty.
But something surprising happened.
When asked if CrossFit was what he expected, Jess said simply:
“I was surprised that I grew to like it as much as I did.”
That’s a sentence we hear often. People come in unsure, and somewhere along the way, the workouts stop feeling intimidating, and they start feeling rewarding.
Changes That Go Beyond the Gym
Over time, Jess began noticing changes that had little to do with numbers on a barbell.
He experienced:
- Better sleep
- More daily structure
- A strong social outlet
Those three things might sound simple, but they are powerful.
Fitness often starts as a physical goal, but the real transformation usually happens in everyday life. Having somewhere to be, people who notice when you show up, and a consistent routine creates stability that carries into everything else.
For Jess, coming to the gym became part of the rhythm of his week. It was dependable and grounding.
Consistency Pays Off
One of the things Jess is most proud of isn’t a single lift or workout.
It’s consistency and increase in strength. He is averaging about five days per week in the gym.
Many adults assume their strongest or fittest years are behind them. Jess proved that progress doesn’t have an expiration date. With patience and steady effort, he worked his way back to strength levels he hadn’t seen since he was a teenager.
At his February goal review, the results told the story clearly:
- Bench press increased from 185 to 200 pounds — matching his max at 18 years old
- Deadlift improved from 285 to 300 pounds
- Hang clean increased from 180 to 190 pounds in just one month
- Push press grew from 135 to 150 pounds between May and October
- Added an extra round on The Chief at Level 2
- Averaging about five days per week in the gym
But the improvements didn’t come from workouts alone.
Jess committed to the small habits that often get overlooked:
- Daily stretching
- Extra core work 2–3 days per week
- Embracing heavy strength days with built-in rest
As he put it best:
Consistency has paid off.
The Hardest Part: Adjusting Expectations
Every fitness journey includes challenges, and Jess’s biggest one might resonate with many people.
“Adjusting what I want to do and the reality of what I can do.”
This is especially true for athletes with strong backgrounds or high personal standards. The mind remembers what the body used to do easily, while the body asks for patience.
Learning to scale workouts, modify movements, and focus on long-term progress instead of short-term ego can be difficult, but it is also where real growth happens.
Fitness isn’t about proving something every day. It’s about building something that lasts.
Jess embraced that process, and it allowed him to keep progressing safely and consistently.
A New Chapter After Retirement
In February 2025, Jess retired from his career as a pilot, closing one major chapter and beginning another.
Retirement often brings freedom, but it can also remove the built-in structure people have relied on for decades.
Because fitness had already become part of his routine, Jess entered retirement with something many people struggle to find: purpose, community, and momentum.
The gym wasn’t just a place to work out anymore. It was part of his lifestyle.
Looking Ahead
Even with impressive progress already behind him, Jess isn’t finished setting goals.
Right now, his focus is clear. He wants to return to running and have pain-free knees.
It’s a reminder that fitness goals evolve. Sometimes they’re about strength numbers. Sometimes they’re about quality of life by moving comfortably, staying active, and doing the things you enjoy without pain.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress that supports the life you want to live.
Advice Worth Hearing
When asked what advice he would give his past self or someone thinking about starting their own journey, Jess shared something powerful:
“It’s a lifelong journey that sometimes requires patience and it’s ok to ask for help and even to fail.”
That perspective captures what long-term fitness really looks like.
There will be setbacks.
There will be hard workouts.
There will be days when progress feels slow.
But growth happens when you keep showing up anyway and when you allow others to help along the way.
More Than Workouts
Jess’s story isn’t just about lifting heavier weights or attending more classes.
It’s about building structure during uncertain times.
Finding community.
Learning patience.
And discovering that improvement is possible at any stage of life.
What started as a way to fill extra time during Covid and to spend more time with his wife became something far more meaningful. It became a sustainable routine that supports health, relationships, and purpose.
And that’s what we hope every member finds when they walk through our doors.
Ready to Start Your Own Story?
If you’ve been thinking about getting back into a routine, improving your strength, or simply finding a supportive place to move and feel better, we’d love to meet you.
At CrossFit Dwell, we start with a free intro which is just a conversation about your goals, your history, and what you want your future to look like. No pressure, no workouts that day, just a plan built around you.
👉 Schedule your free intro today and take the first step toward your own lifelong fitness journey.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to start. And we can help.