Becky and the whole Tyler fam are just the coolest. We’ve loved them since they walked through Blackbird CrossFit’s doors 4 years ago. Becky is the most down-to-earth, all-natural person you’ll meet. She’s consistent and patient in her training. She was such a trooper throughout her 2nd pregnancy. She listened to our advice and her body and returned to her training slowly after her birth. But once she was healed and ready, she has crushed it in the gym and in the kitchen. And through her hard work, she’s inspired so many of the moms in our community. With a focus on nutrition in the past few months, she is looking and feeling her best, and her performance and strength in the gym has soared. We are looking forward to seeing even more gains for her in 2019!! MEET BECKY…
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
Hi! I’m Becky Tyler and I’m 33 years old. I’m married to Ryan and we have two daughters, Hattie (4) and Fiona (20 months). I have my master’s in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) but I haven’t had the chance to use it yet since Fiona came along just after I graduated. I’m also currently studying to become a doula, which is someone who supports women during childbirth.
WHAT MADE YOU START CROSSFIT? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU DOING IT? HAS YOUR MOTIVATION CHANGED SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED?
I started at Blackbird in October 2015 when my first daughter was 15 months old. My workout routine prior to having a baby was going for a short run once in a while and doing YouTube arm workouts with 5-pound weights. So yeah, it was lacking. After having Hattie my body was just so different and I wasn’t satisfied trying to get in shape on my own, so I forced Ryan to go to a CrossFit class with me and we both joined that day! I needed a coach to show me what to do and a class to keep me accountable. I have kept coming to Blackbird because no matter what new abilities you acquire, you can ALWAYS get better. CrossFit will never get “easy” because you just get stronger.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE JOINING BLACKBIRD?
I played soccer and lacrosse while growing-up and in high school, but I never truly learned how to get stronger, faster, or how to properly move my body. CrossFit has given me the answer to all of this. I have also learned a MASSIVE amount about nutrition. This has been the most exciting thing for me. I feel like all my life I was trying to figure out the best “diet” to lose weight. Blackbird has given me the key and all I had to do was put in the work. It has been well worth it! I’ve lost nearly 20 pounds this past year and I feel great!
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST CROSSFIT MOMENT?
I was super proud that I kept coming to Blackbird all throughout my pregnancy with my second daughter. I truly believe that all my hard work was what allowed me to get through a really grueling labor with her without ending up with another c-section. This past year has also been really fun in the gym now that I’m not pregnant anymore! I finally got my kipping pull-up (still working on strict), I can bench over 100 lbs. and deadlift over 200 lbs. In the realm of CrossFit, these numbers aren’t all that impressive, but it’s exciting for me to see those bigger numbers on the board!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LIFT, MOVEMENT, OR WOD? LEAST FAVORITE?
I really enjoy tabata WODs. That 10 seconds of rest makes a big difference! I also like AMRAPs over for-time workouts. Partner and team WODs also make me work extra hard because of all the team energy and wanting to pull your weight for the team! I love any upper body lift we do like bench, strict press or push press because I need to gain more strength there. Least favorite? If I never do another wall ball again, I’d be totally fine with that!
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BLACKBIRD OR JUST CROSSFIT IN GENERAL?
I know this answer is used a lot, but it’s the community at Blackbird that I enjoy most. I love being in a group class and getting through workouts together or encouraging each other during lifts. We’re all there to become better versions of ourselves and that’s such a powerful and motivating thing to be part of. We are there to build each other up and I always leave feeling so empowered.
WHAT IMPACT HAS CROSSFIT HAD ON YOU IN AND OUT OF THE GYM?
Blackbird has been such a blessing to my whole family. My husband and I have become so much stronger and heathier and just having the strength and energy to keep up with two kids and be an example of health to them has been huge. Our daughter Hattie did the Tots class at Blackbird and had so much fun! Rebekah even taught the kids about nutrition in ways preschoolers can understand and it has helped us with getting her to eat healthier. My mom also recently joined Blackbird and I’m so excited for her to experience the life-changing effects of CrossFit!
WHAT ARE YOUR CROSSFIT GOALS? HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO REACHING THEM?
I really want that strict pull-up and I need to learn how to string together my kipping pull-ups. I also need to string together my double unders. I have to get up that rope as well. Physically I’m pretty sure I can do it, but it’s just a mental block. I’ve never really set numbers for lifts. I’m just trusting the process and I keep getting PRs, so I’m happy with that.
WHEN YOU ARE NOT CROSSFITTING, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?
I stay home with my two girls, so getting them out to experience and learn new things is what takes up most of my time. My friends and I love to camp and hike, so we try and get that in during the warmer months. Ryan and I also love to travel and we’re going sailing in Croatia this coming May!
WHAT IS ONE FUN THING ABOUT YOU THAT WE MAY NOT KNOW YET?
I actually really like to sing and I play a little piano as well. Anyone want to start a band? A weird thing that I do is make my own deodorant. It’s a little bit hippie of me, but I don’t think I stink…do I? **Editors Note: She most certainly does not stink!
WHAT IS THE ONE TIP YOU’D GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING CROSSFIT OR WHO IS NEW TO CROSSFIT?
Oh my gosh, just go! You won’t regret walking through those doors. You’re just going to regret not doing it sooner. No one is going to care what you can or can’t do. No one is judging you. Also, joining a gym and improving yourself is not a selfish act. I do this for my family so that I can play with my kids and, one day (maybe), my grandkids. I do this to be strong for everyday life and I think becoming the best version of yourself automatically improves the world we live in.
WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? HAS IT CHANGED SINCE STARTING CROSSFIT? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT FUEL?
My diet has changed so much! I did my first nutrition challenge in January 2018 because I was intrigued by the tray system and liked the simplicity of it. I was 8 months postpartum then and looking to lose some baby weight and feel more like myself again. I lost 11 pounds after doing Phases 1 and 2 and tried to continue to eat like that. I signed up for the new challenge in November 2018 even though I was worried about it being different from the tray method. This Healthy Steps Nutrition challenge had specific recipes to follow and involved weighing food, tracking it in My Fitness Pal, and allowing for snacks. The first week was difficult because there was a lot to get used to, but then it became easy and took all the guesswork out of meals. I was also always really satisfied and full and never hungry. I ended up losing another 5 pounds and my body changed so much! I’ve tried to stick with the meal plan and I’m excited to see where it will take me. I’m also still using the Ascent protein powder mixed with coconut water after workouts. It’s basically dessert, it’s so good!
IF THERE WAS ONE THING YOU’D IMPROVE UPON AT BBCF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Honestly? I can’t really think of anything! Matt and Rebekah work really hard to make Blackbird such an incredible and life-changing place. They are always improving the gym with things like new equipment or working on new certifications to bring more knowledge in their coaching and through offering nutrition counseling and challenges. All the other coaches are also really invested in what they do and have so much to offer!
RESULTS! TELL US ABOUT YOUR RESULTS!!
My results since getting serious about my nutrition have been so rewarding. I weigh less now than what it says on my license! I honestly did not think I’d ever look or feel like this, but it turns out that if you put in the work, the results will come.
FREEWRITE (Not Required. Add anything you want to say about CrossFit, Blackbird specifically, the trainers, athletes, facilities, etc.):
I just want to say again a big thank you to Matt and Rebekah. These guys work SO hard! The space they’ve created with Blackbird is incredible and the other coaches they’ve found add so much value to the gym. Thanks also for this honor to be the Athlete of the Month. I can think of about 10 other people I’d give this to right now, but I’m incredibly humbled and will wear the name with pride. I’m also really thankful for the 9:30 am class! It’s awesome to see all these amazing women and moms show up and give it their all during that one hour they take for themselves. You all are my motivation! Thanks for making me a better person and a better mom. I’m so glad we have one another. <3