Fabienne HanksCrossFit East County podcast episode one:

Think for a minute if you were faced with possibly not being able to do physical activity any more or perhaps if you are faced with a major life-changing event. What would go through your mind?  If you were faced with making those types of decisions how might you react?  I know for me personally; I think I might react negatively.  I had an opportunity to interview Fabienne Hanks.  She was faced with this very difficult situation.  After turning 64 years old and entering into retirement having a lot of exciting opportunities in her life she was faced with a life-threatening brain tumor.  I talked with her about her about how CrossFit was able to be a positive impact for her. Fabienne faced this debilitating challenge with real optimism and courage.

Fabienne Hanks has had what many would consider a non-traditional athletic experience but she is a real champion.  Fabienne didn’t start working out until she was 45 when she decided to participate in the “Susan G. Komen, 3 day, 60-mile walk to end breast cancer”.  She official met Paul Flores 15 years ago when Paul became her personal trainer. Shortly after beginning the master’s program at CrossFit East County Fabienne began to feel that she was losing strength in her body in addition to some unusual physical phenomenon.  She went to some doctors and essential she was told what she did not have –i.e. Parkinson Disease etc.   Then they scheduled her for an MRI to see what was going on.   Within 10 minutes of the MRI they had her doctor’s office on the phone.  Fabienne had a Brain Tumor in the hospitaland they were going to be transporting her to the hospital.  She was then fast-tacked through the emergency room process.  The official diagnosis was a tumor in the center of her head that was 10 to 15 years’ old and about 3 centimeters in diameter.  She was at an extremely high risk of stroke or having seizures.  The ironic part to Fabienne is that she did not have any headaches or other symptoms that would be consistent with having a brain tumor.  Fabienne biggest concern at the time was that she would not be able to attend a prescheduled trip with her family.  So within 48 hours of the initial

The ironic part to Fabienne is that during this time she did not have any headaches or other symptoms that would be consistent with having a brain tumor.  Fabienne biggest concern at the time was that she would not be able to attend a prescheduled trip with her family.  So within 48 hours of the initial diagnosis they went in and perform the surgery to remove the tumor.  She was able to go home three days after the surgery. Other than the pain from the incision Fabienne says that she was pain-free.  She was able to attend that trip with her family and has had an amazing recovery. The doctor’s prognosis said that her brain would essentially be rewiring itself for about a year.

Fabienne went back to the Masters class with Paul and her concern was that she would be holding back the rest of the class. Paul assured her that he could scale certain options of the training.  Fabienne feels that this was an integral part of her recovery.  She feels that doing CrossFit has helped her with her balance and her strength and her recovery.  In talking about her recovery she feels that she’s more fit than she has ever been in her life.  What’s really hot tatie for your bodymiraculous about her recovery is that she is currently on no medication at all.

So what is this Masters CrossFit class?

Masters CrossFit at CrossFit East County is designed for older athletes to assist in developing core body strength.  Traditionally older women lose a lot of upper body strength as they get older and this masters CrossFit class is specifically developed to enhance and increase upper body strength along with endurance.  Ages for this particular class range between 60 and 78 years old and it has become not only a resource for recovery but is also more of a fraternity where she is getting a lot of support from other members as she makes her transformation.

CrossFit can help you find your bounce.

One of the areas that is most difficult to develop within CrossFit is having a strong core. This can take a long time to develop the necessary strengths in order to effectively have good rebounding and the ability to change directions quickly.

One of the greatest benefits to being involved in the community of East County CrossFit is the wide diversity of ages of people that attend.  There are athletes as young as 13 years old and as old as 78 years young.  Paul has the ability to connect well with athletes and he is committed to meeting them where they are at and assisting them in their short hairdevelopment.

The most amazing thing about this transformation is that Fabian had no physical therapy nor did she require any speech therapy during her recovery.

CrossFit East County has provided an environment where you can become the best version of your most physical self.

Start today.