If you don't know Alfred, you're missing out! There is never a dull moment when Fredo is present and he always knows how to lighten the mood. It has been inspiring watching his journey towards a healthier lifestyle and the progress he has made is visible both aesthetically and in his athletic performance. Learn more about his journey below!-Who are you? Tell us a little about yourself or something that would surprise us.I am a father of 3 young (adult) sons Christopher, Andrew and Adam. I have one still living with me so not quite an empty nester, but I’m in no rush. I was born and raised in San Antonio which is where my family still lives. I am the youngest of 4 children and something I’d like to share is that my parents had me when they were a little up there in age…. My pops was 55 years old and my mom was 44 years old when I was born. I have been in the oil drilling business for 23 years and I lived in Lafayette, LA for 8 years (Andrew and Adam were born there) then moved to Houston in 2002.Over the years, I’ve watched all my sons participate in various sports such as basketball, football, roller hockey, soccer and track. I’ve even coached basketball and soccer which I was grateful for since I was away about half the time for work while my sons were growing up. I’ve always been a happy-go-lucky kind of fella, meaning I never watched what I ate (well I watched what I ate) but I never paid any mind to it. Heck, working offshore on a drilling rig I knew what day it was cause seafood day was Fridays, steak day was Saturdays and fried chicken was Sundays, so I didn’t miss many meals - and I haven’t even gotten to the pastries such as pecan pie, apple pie, etc. There was a saying I emulated which was “I ate till I got sleepy and I slept till I got hungry.” What a life? Needless to say I got up to a biscuit over 300lbs and the doctor told me I needed to lose weight or I’d likely be facing obesity, heart disease or diabetes (or all the above). Since my cholesterol was slightly high (220), I was fortunate that my doctor never prescribed any medications to lower it. Instead, he preferred I go on a diet and move, so in 2008 I started working out again. This was the first time I worked out regularly since high school (Class of 87) so it had been a long time. I worked as a drilling consultant which meant I worked from project to project, so my office locations changed several times and wherever I’d end up I’d look for the closest gym to join so I could work out during lunch. I was a member at Downtown YMCA (barbell, TRX classes), Houston City Club (Body pump, spin), and Lifetime Fitness (Insanity, spin), and while getting back into the groove at the gym, I tried several diets but I always gained back the weight. I did not gain back all the weight though, because the most successful diet for me (may not have been the healthiest diet) was Quick Weight Loss Center. Part of the reason that diet partially worked is because I dropped a lot of money at the place so I figured I better not waste it. I went from 310lbs to 240lbs and I thought I had it all figured out, so I never went back for the maintenance part of the program. Next thing I knew Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled around, and in my neighborhood that is tamale season, so I gained back 30lbs and I’ve generally stayed that weight for the last several years. Did I mention I grew up in San Antonio?? Because the staple parts of our diet from S.A. is barbacoa and Big Red soda.-How and when were you introduced to Behemoth?I live close to Behemoth so I’d driven passed it several times, but I was always a little intimidated. I wasn’t sure if I could do the workouts. Actually, I didn’t know much about CrossFit until I met a friend that was a member. She told me that the coaches were helpful and she also mentioned the workouts lasted anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 or 30 minutes. At the time I was doing the Insanity classes which is 45 minutes or so of cardio so I figured I can do this. I joined the On-Ramp class in December 2014 and I haven’t looked back since……-What are you most proud of, physically, mentally or both since beginning with us?I am never one to say that I feel my age, but prior to joining Behemoth, I literally felt my age. Whenever I’d get up from sitting, either at the office or from a recliner, I was achy and crickety. My joints ached and I was popping Glucosamine for the joint pain. Heck, if I dropped something on the floor it was a chore to get down and pick it up. I was like the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz needing a little grease in my joints to get to moving comfortably. When I joined Behemoth my squat was a ¼ of what it is now and a front squat was not possible. I started out using the KB for the front squats. Working on my flexibility was a priority for me (and still is). Today my squat is much better and I’ve graduated to using the barbell for front squats. I still have room for improvement, but I am most grateful that the coaches have taken the time to not only warm us up prior to our workout, but they’ve shown me other stretches I can do improve my mobility outside of class. I no longer fret when I’ve got to pick something up, I feel fine after driving from Cypress to downtown (sometimes almost an hour ride) and I can get out of the car. I feel great!Lastly, I’m most proud that I finally get it……I figured out the fountain of youth. I am eating cleaner, I am a teetotaler (I was a social drinker as some may know), I am getting my sleep…good sleep and I feel much better getting through the workouts. All this has definitely helped me get over the mental aspect of completing some of our workouts because there was a time when I’d dread the run or the burpees, but now I just get it done. Overall, I’m feeling great!!-Why Behemoth?This is easy and it is all because of the Barto’s (now that includes Leah) and the Behemoth community. The coaches have been persistent with educating me on what I need to do to lead a healthier lifestyle (nutrition, sleep, stress, community). For the better part of 2 years I’d listen and work on eating better, then I’d fall off the wagon. Somehow I reasoned that if I had a good workout….heck I deserve that cheeseburger, and I deserve them hot Buffalo wings with blue cheese. Finally, in June of this year for some reason I decided to read a book that had been sitting on my shelf for over a year titled “Eat Fat to Get Thin” by Dr. Hyman, and I audible booked “Wired to Eat”. Those 2 books reiterated what the coaches had been preaching so I decided that I wanted to get healthier not just for me, but to set an example for my sons so hopefully for them it will not take half their life knowing what I know now. I love the coaches for helping me, and for their persistence and for telling me what I needed to hear. Since I work downtown, I have pondered moving closer to work, but now I am staying in this area because of them. I’ll deal with the drive because Behemoth is a part of my circle…….my family.Also, I have met some great friends in our community. It is great to be around self-motivated individuals. I am most appreciative that everyone accepts me even though I’m Cowboys and Spurs fan.-What next? What are you excited about pursuing here in the future?Since I’ve started my journey to a healthier lifestyle in late June of this year I have lost 25lbs. I am going to continue this journey and my goal is to lose another 25lbs. Also, I look forward to becoming more proficient at double unders, overhead squats and at some point I’ve got to do a pull up (Unassisted).“3, 2, 1…Go” Mad Lib section-My favorite lift is…Front squat, power clean, WBS-My most frequent class I come to is…During my days off 9:30, When I work either 6am or 6 pm classes.-I have always wanted to… Travel the U.S.A. I have worked in California and N. Dakota, but there are many places I’ve yet to see such as the Grand Canyon, Hot Springs, Arkansas, Washington D.C., Coeur d’Alene Idaho, Alaska…..and many other places in this great U.S.A. Also I want to do some more bike riding in the Hill Country and participate in the Hotter’N Hell Hundred Bike Ride in Wichita Falls, TX-When I’m not crushing weights, my favorite thing to do is… Talking to my Behemoth friends after our workout is always great, but I also spend the other part of my time in San Antonio helping my mother (92 years old and still going). I tell her she is the only woman in my life so I am most grateful that we are able to spend quality time together. QT with my sons, all 3 of them are different and it is never easy but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love them. Learning to cook some new recipes. Getting a pedicure too. I recommend watching Game of Thrones…I binged watched it and it was solid.-Favorite “application of fitness” outside of the gym is… Cycling (Rode in 4 MS150s and other rides around Houston), cutting the grass (lawn mower broke a couple of months ago so right now got someone cutting but I’ll get back to cutting soon), Walk my Border Collie “Luna” to get my (and hers) much needed Vitamin D.-Favorite Pandora station… I like all kinds of music so Audioslave, AC/DC, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chris Stapleton, or heck…..even some Sade, or Miles Davis-Beast mode engaged when this song comes on… Depends but here are 4 songs “Forty Six & 2” – Tool, “Hail Mary” – 2Pac, “Fantastic Voyage” – Lakeside, “Sara Smile” – Hall & Oates….bro that last song takes me back to San Antonio for some reason…a cruising classic!!
