Bonny Mancuso is the salt of the earth. Truly one of the most humble, gentle, and beautiful souls. We have been blessed to have her as part of our Blackbird community since 2016. Over the next four years she was working hard in between pregnancies. Always returning with a great attitude and strong work ethic. In 2019 after her last child, she came back with such focus and drive. She trusted the process and built her strength back up. Within a year she was doing pull ups and toes-to-bar for the first time, and crushing weights. In June 2021, she began working with Coach Chris’ personalized weightlifting program and that old Roller Derby Bad Ass officially came out to play. She qualified and competed in Masters Weightlifting National Championships! Bonny has also had big success working with Coaches Ashley and Steve with Blackbird Nutrition for 5 months.
Coach Chris has loved every second of working with Bonny, he says, “Bonny is an absolute blast to coach. She is adaptive, positive, hard-working, dedicated to self improvement, and ridiculously funny (even if she’s not quite as funny as her husband…)
Her weightlifting journey began one day during open gym when I convinced her she could easily clean 125#, and then had her do it again, and again, and again…
She then joined Barbell Club for a few 6-Week Cycles and was so engaged in the process and excited by her progress that she decided to dive right in and participate in our Personalized Weightlifting Program. A short time later, she’d already qualified for Masters Nationals, and I had the pleasure of coaching her on a National stage this past Spring. I can’t wait to see where her journey takes us next!”
The sky is the limit for Bonny and no one deserves this success more than her. We have loved watching her confidence soar when she stopped imposing limits and started to truly believe herself. She’s a woman of many talents and an amazing mother. Check out her inspiring story…
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
Bonny Mancuso, 35, 5 kids
WHAT MADE YOU START CROSSFIT? WHAT HAS KEPT YOU DOING IT?
I started CrossFit in 2016, four months after Caleb was born. I was encouraged by my husband and his sister Brittany who was a current member at Blackbird. Over the next few years my relationship with CrossFit became on and off again with each pregnancy (Abby and Eli). I was finally able to settle in to a solid, consistent routine after Eli was born.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE JOINING BLACKBIRD CROSSFIT?
I have learned that my body can do so many great, amazing things that I never even thought it was capable of!
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BLACKBIRD?
The community! The people are a huge reason to keep coming back. Also, the big fan. #blessed
WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST CROSSFIT MOMENT?
My proudest CrossFit moment would have to be the CrossFit Open 2020. One of the workouts had double unders, toes to bar, and 35# dumbbell thrusters. I was confident in my strength, but I did NOT have double unders or t2b. At. All. I decided to try to Rx the workout and set my insecurities aside. That night I got my very first t2b and my very first double unders. My t2b were singles, and I tripped on almost every single double under *bless you Paula White for counting for me and encouraging me to keep going.” 
That night opened up a whole entire world of possibilities of “what would happen if I stopped telling myself No?” Second proudest, Rx Murph 2021.
WHAT IMPACT HAS CROSSFIT HAD ON YOUR LIFE IN AND OUT OF THE GYM?
Wow. I could write a book on this question. To summarize, I have grown into the person I was always meant to be. There are too many to list but the biggest one is self-confidence and self-worth.
WHAT CROSSFIT GOALS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING TOWARDS?
At first, I think I was like a lot of people that discover CrossFit for the first time. I wanted a muscle up one day, to be able to run for forever, and walk on my hands. As my journey continues, I want to be able to keep functioning at a higher and higher fitness level, free of injury. Currently, I have goals of better hip mobility, a 60kg *132lb* snatch, 80kg *176lb* clean and jerk, and a free standing handstand.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LIFT, MOVEMENT, OR WOD? LEAST FAVORITE?
Favorite CrossFit Movement: the clean 
Least Favorite: wall balls 
Favorite WOD: DT
WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? HAS IT CHANGED SINCE STARTING CROSSFIT?
My outlook on food and nutrition has completely changed! Working with Ashley and Steve has been INSTRUMENTAL to my growth and success in what I have accomplished. Not just physically but mentally as well. I always joke that I should have paid Ashley more due to the amount of therapy she provided me! But in all seriousness, when you face your beliefs and weaknesses about food, it can be HARD. I suffer from binge eating as a coping mechanism for stress and self doubt. Having these resources (Steve and Ashley–and now Mary!) have not only provided a judgment free zone, but a place of TRUST. The thoughts of binge eating still occur when I start to approach my limit, but the actual binge eating itself has significantly diminished.
WHEN YOU’RE NOT CROSSFITTING WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO?
When not at the gym I am playing and hanging with my kids! When not doing that I like drawing, yard work, and singing.
WHAT IS ONE TIP YOU WOULD GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING CROSSFIT OR NEW TO CROSSFIT?
Rest! Take the rest day! And don’t forget to keep coming back, even if it takes 4 years and 3 pregnancies… just walk through the door!
WHAT IS ONE FUN THING WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?
Well, some people already know that I used to play Roller Derby! But, I also used to compete in Barrel Racing when I was younger and took 9th at State competition. I also very much enjoy singing.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT FUEL? WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPECIAL TREAT?
Favorite workout fuel: I’m a sucker for some good old chicken and rice. Throw some veggies in there and it’s perfect. In the morning before training I usually grab an apple sauce.
Favorite indulgence: Cookies or any type of baked pastry. Croissant, chocolate croissant, bear claw, cinnamon roll. Mmmmmmmm.
RESULTS! TELL US ABOUT YOUR RESULTS! 
I mean all I really need to do is look at old pictures. I weigh about 178lbs and feel physically and mentally strong, and healthy. I think the best part is knowing that my kids are watching. And they see my sweating and struggling, and pushing through no matter what my body looks like. And I know that I am doing everything I can to make sure that I am alive and healthy for me and them.
FREEWRITE:
This community saved my life. Honestly. The culture that has been cultivated in this space has attracted the most humble, honest, and hard working people I’ve ever met. Every coach has had an important impact on me and my fitness journey, and I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am today without every single one of them.