Meet the McNaughton family: Justin, Candace, and their daughter Kirsten! Aftern living in Nashville for 13 years, they made the move to Toronto in 2021. As the family remembers, “it was an "exciting" time to move, the border was still closed at the time!” Justin works in intellectual property, while Candace is an ER doctor and researcher at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Kirsten is currently a freshman at Penn State, taking her classes online while living in Toronto.

How They Found CrossFit

Their CrossFit journey began in April 2024 when Justin heard rave reviews about CrossFit from a co-worker. Excited by the idea of joining a virtual program, he was fortunate to discover CrossFit CL. Candace and him joined soon after, and this summer, their 18-year-old daughter Kirsten decided to give it a try and has stuck around since!

First Impressions and Evolving Goals

When they first started, their initial thoughts were that it was “good and tough,” setting the tone for their fitness journey. Their main goal has been to increase strength and stamina while having fun. They find pride in making small improvements every day, whether it’s lifting a little more weight or completing a few more reps.

Favorite Workouts and Challenges

Justin's favorite workout? Burpees! lol The most challenging aspect for both him and Candace has been overcoming an bit of a intimidation factor that can come with starting something new. However, they’ve found the CFCL virtual community to be incredibly friendly and accepting, helping them feel comfortable trying new things and asking questions.

Community Impact and Inspiration

Being part of the CFCL virtual community has been great for the McNaughtons to connect with a “great group of people!” They have found everyone is generous with their knowledge and experiences. Candace shared appreciation of coach Val; “she has an amazing ability to spot issues with form and make suggestions that are almost supernatural, and she makes her skills and knowledge look easy!”. And through a screen at that, who knew?!

Staying Motivated and Balanced

For newcomers, their advice is to be open to trying new things and to enjoy the process. They emphasize that the hardest days are often those following missed sessions, but “it's huge to know that we're welcome without judgement, with a chance to just pick up where we are and move forward.” The CFCL Five Factors is a huge foundation for them, “without them life gets out of balance and gets overwhelming pretty fast.”

Fun Facts and Future Goals

A fun fact about Justin is that he was involved in trademarking Pitbull's famous grito (his trademark mexican shout)! As they look ahead, Justin is looking for ways to stay fit over the winter, when his "Canadian biking gang" pauses for the season. Kirstin and Candace are focused on making workouts a routine part of every week.

Reflection on Their Journey

Reflecting on their CrossFit experience, the McNaughtons have discovered the joy of having fun while working out. They are grateful for finding the CrossFit CL virtual community, and especially Val for providing fantastic online classes. It has made their fitness journey enjoyable and fulfilling, and they are excited about the prospect of continuing their journey toward getting stronger and healthier together.

We are so grateful to have the McNaughton’s as part of our community and can’t wait to see how you grow your fitness as a family!