CONGRATULATIONS TO LYSETTE!
A few words from her family, peers and coaches……
It would be of very little surprise to anyone that Lysette has always been an avid runner. From short three mile morning runs to half marathons, she loved going out there and raking up the miles. So how is it that she now looks back and says that she will absolutely never go back “just running” to fulfill her fitness needs?
The answer, of course, is CrossFit. The fitness program she once criticized as being too “dangerous” has become something of an obsession for Lysette. Her first ever WOD was the Filthy 50 and she fell in love, which is the last thought in most people’s minds after that WOD. Since then, she has approached CrossFit with a relentless pursuit to improve in all fitness areas. She has gone from someone who could do no pulls and did not pick up a barbell to someone who does Fran with bonus rounds!
But what makes Lysette truly special is how much she values and contributes to the PUSH511 community. Her talk at home has shifted from primarily being about her personal goals to how much she treasures and loves the community in the box. She feeds off the energy of the people around her and she in turn projects a positive attitude whenever she walks into PUSH511. Whether she is in costume or not. Moreover, she offers encouragement and motivates the people around her to push themselves even harder than they originally planned or even wanted (the morning crew can attest to this I am sure).
I will always count myself amongst those fortunate enough to have Lysette in my life. Her dedication to being better every day has inspired me to go from a couch potato to someone motivated to get up early in the morning, show up, and work hard. Most of all, being a part of the PUSH511 community has been an amazing experience that has made us more physically fit and brought us even closer together as a couple.
I am so proud of our August Member of the Month, Lysette Deshields!
Lysette is the definition of an athlete. Strong, fast, and always fighting till the end. I’ve watched her transition into one of the quickest athletes in the gym, and I’m in awe when I see her sprinting through a WOD which would leave the rest of us on the floor gasping for air. She’s achieving excellence by participating in a Hatch squat program, going to school, and being a great friend to many in the gym. Lysette’s incredibly enthusiastic demeanor and friendly smile is so comforting and uplifting. Plus she laughs at my ridiculous jokes everyday, so she’s automatically is an A+ in my books.
As my older sister, we have always played sports such as competitive year-round swimming and track & field so training hard has been ingrained into our system. At the time I was doing CrossFit at another box, Lysette was training for marathons. I remember she wanted to try a different fitness program that involved variety. I recommended that she try out the foundations program, at first she was hesitant but after much consideration, she became open to the suggestion. Upon completion of the foundations program, I remember she called to tell me how sore she felt and wondered if she could ever lift more than the #35 barbell. Even though there were doubts, she was ready to go back for more. Since stepping into the world of CrossFit, Lysette has faced every challenge head on with a smile on her face. Regardless of our competitive nature, Lysette has always been a supportive person inside and outside of the box.
Lysette always provides words of encouragement when I doubt myself on increasing weights for a specific movement such as the ‘oh so great’ squats. When I injured my spine and had to take a break from any type of workout, she was always there to lift my spirits whether to help pick out a new costume that would be worn at the 6am class or talk strategy on the next type of pizza to be made (shhhh). When I finally came back to PUSH511 on the day of Murph (what was I thinking), she reminded me that my only competition was myself. Not only is she an awesome partner to have during the partner WOD’s, especially when there is running involved, WATCH OUT WHEN YOU SEE HER! BUT she is a great reminder that if at first you do not succeed, try-try again until you can lift more than 100#. Diana aka THE NEWBIE in the Deshields family to join CrossFit, Jose aka Josah, and I are proud of you. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US!
My comment is she’s too fast and needs to slow down. But seriously, she’s awesome. Hard worker & always busting her ass while laughing the whole way.
Over the preceding 3-4 months, Lysette and I have become very close friends. I am constantly impressed by her commitment and diligence. She works on her weaknesses with fervor and is very coachable. She loves to push herself to be better and has experienced tremendous gains because of this.
In addition to her being the ideal CrossFit friend, she is also an ideal “real world” friend. Lysette is super supportive, encouraging, and tons of fun! She has a great sense of humor and great insight into most any situation I have encountered. She’s always got my back but isn’t afraid to tell me when I might be wrong about something. I am so blessed to have Lysette as my friend and I look forward to much more fun in the future!
You can’t help but enjoy yourself in Lysette’s company, she’s just one of those people. She’s fun, easy to get along with, a hard worker, an incredibly supportive teammate, and a fantastic athlete (let’s not even talk about her running!). Her willingness to put the work makes those around her strive for improvement. I’ve enjoyed watching her come SO FAR in the last several months - from just starting to Rx WODs to now doing many words CRx. We’re lucky to have Lysette in the PUSH511 community
Lysette pushes herself every day and brings a bundle of energy at 6 am that I’ve found to be, thankfully, highly contagious! And there’s only a 90 second window immediately following a WOD when Lysette isn’t smiling!
Lysette is capable of using that next gear to work harder and finish faster. She does it with a smile on her face.
Lysette is an incredible person! She manages to work full-time, attend law school in the evenings and somehow wake up to workout in the mornings with a smile. She is friendly to everyone who walks into the gym and genuinely wants to know how you are doing. If you feel like you are struggling through a workout, she always has encouraging words for you! She goes all out in her workouts and even in the short time I have trained with her, has improved leaps and bounds!
Lysette has shown extreme dedication and strives to progress to the next level every day. She always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude.
Lysette puts the “friendly” in “friendly competition”. I truly appreciate her kind and supportive demeanor, which she extends to everyone she encounters at the gym. No matter how sucky the WOD, Lysette always finishes with a smile and grace. Well deserved!
Lysette brings such a positive energy to 6 am, that is super contagious - even if you haven’t had your morning coffee yet. She is the first person to come around after a challenging WOD with a high five and a big smile.
She is an absolute joy to coach and be around. She is also the fastest runner of all time. Seriously. Have you ever had to chase her on a 400M?! She turns the corner and is gone.
Now for some words from the person herself Princess Leia, I mean Lysette Deshields!
Started CrossFit: October 2014 – thanks Tylisha for introducing me to it!
What is your fitness background: I grew up playing sports and was a huge tomboy growing up. Before college, I was a competitive swimmer, and in high school I fell in love with track and field. I ran track (800m and 1600m) and cross country throughout high school and my first year of college.
Favorite Movement: Running – does that count? Tied for second are burpees (I know, weird) and deadlifts.
Least Favorite Movement: Overhead squats and squat snatch.
Occupation: Full-time pharmacist at the Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring and part-time law student at the University of Maryland.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family:
I grew up in Rockville, MD and went to Rutgers University in New Jersey for pharmacy school, which is where I met my wonderful fiancé Jose. I am the oldest of two sisters and a brother and have a very loving furbaby named Pepper. My family is everything to me. After college, I developed a very monotonous routine of running five miles a day with the occasional spin and Zumba class (sadly, I have no rhythm!). So, my sister, who many of you know is Tylisha, suggested that I try CrossFit. Fast forward a year after I started CrossFit, I got Jose into it as well! Lately, CrossFit at PUSH511 has become an awesome family affair for myself, Jose, and Tylisha and has allowed us to spend quality time together as a family given our busy schedules. Our time at PUSH511 has created a strong, common bond among us and for that I am truly thankful!
Tell us something we don’t know about you: I am a lieutenant commander in the United States Public Health Service.
Words to live by or Favorite Quote: Treat others as you would like to be treated.
How has CrossFit affected your life outside the gym: CrossFit has created a new obsession for Jose and I; although I think I am a bit more obsessed than he is! CrossFit has definitely changed my life in such a positive way: it makes me feel so good about myself, and I love how strong, confident and healthy I feel.
What do you enjoy most about PUSH511: Sports have always played a huge role in my life. Unfortunately, after college I lost the strong competitive and team-oriented spirit within me that I developed from being so active in sports. Being a part of PUSH511 has truly been a blessing not only because of the great coaching staff but also because of the friends I have made. I absolutely love seeing everyone at 6 am to joke around, be pushed to my limits physically, enjoy the yummy baked goods that Emma oftentimes brings on Friday mornings, and most importantly, to dress up in costume on Thursdays with the crew! My PUSH511 family has allowed me to tap into a dimension of myself that I never knew existed which has ultimately made me a better version of myself.
Fill in the Blank:
I like…eating anything with A LOT of sugar, being obsessed over CrossFit, and spending time with my friends and family.
I eat…healthy 6 days of the week and eat everything that is terrible for me every Saturday.
I do…need A LOT of sleep to feel decently rested (at least 10 hours). Too bad, getting 10 hours these days is impossible to get!
I am…very silly.
Favorite Cheat Meal…Pumpkin cheesecake with cherries on top. If I could, I would eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
Favorite Real-Life Hero/Athlete…My mom and dad hands down. I have the best parents in the world and feel extremely lucky to call them my best friends.
With all of the amazing athletes at the box who I strive to be like, I am so honored to have been picked as the member of the month. Thank you so much!
