Who is Kristen Graham?
American fitness model and CrossFitter Kristen Graham hails from New Jersey. Due to her success in the sport, she enjoys respect from both CrossFit competitors and supporters.
Short Career of Kristen Graham
Kristen’s weight gain with the birth of her kid in 2011 marked the beginning of her CrossFit journey. Kristen Graham always had a hard, fit body, so the extra weight irritated her growing up.
After a few years of training, Kristen got into the greatest shape of her life and began competing in the sport of CrossFit.
This is when she decided to turn to CrossFit as a means of regaining her fit body.
“Be brave, strong, and confident. Never let anyone make you feel like you are less than you are worth. I truly believe positivity spreads positivity.”
Body Measurements of Kristen Graham
| Full Name: | Kristen Graham |
| DATE OF BIRTH: | May 4, 1985 |
| ERA: | 2010 |
| PROFESSION: | CrossFit Model and Athlete |
| NATIONALITY: | American |
| AGE: | 37 |
| HEIGHT: | 5’4″ (162.5cm) |
| WEIGHT: | 145 to 155 lbs. (65.8 – 70.3kg) |
“Be a savage, but have fun doing it!”
Accomplishments
Comparative Statistics
- Back Squat – 280 lbs
- Clean and Jerk – 195 lbs
- Snatch – 160 lbs
- Deadlift – 400 lbs
- Pull-ups – 50
- Fran – 2:28
- Grace – 1:39
- Sprint 400m – 1:07
CrossFit Open
| YEAR | OVERALL RANK (WORLDWIDE) | OVERALL RANK (BY REGION) | OVERALL RANK (BY STATE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 273rd | 29th North East | 4th New Jersey |
| 2015 | 574th | 56th North East | 5th New Jersey |
| 2014 | 601st | 57th North East | — |
| 2013 | 1389th | 113th North East | — |
CrossFit Regionals
| YEAR | OVERALL RANK | DIVISION | REGIONAL NAME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 32nd | Individual Women | North East |
“The grind never stops. When it starts to get easier, it means you’re not grinding hard enough. Do work! Make it hurt.”
Biography
Background and CrossFit Beginnings of Kristen
In her younger years, Kristen Graham was an accomplished runner and soccer player.
Kristen’s participation in these activities allowed her to hone her amazing discipline and work ethic. Something she carried over into her CrossFit competitions and profession.
When discussing CrossFit, Kristen claims that it all started in 2011 with the birth of her daughter Kylee.
Kristen claims that after giving birth, she was consumed with thoughts of the “baby weight” she had accumulated during her pregnancy.
Before being pregnant, Kristen had always been in excellent shape, so this extra fat concerned her greatly. She decided to enter the world of fitness to get back in shape. in particular, CrossFit.
After that, Kristen began working out in a CrossFit facility, where it took her some time to get used to the new workouts and exercises.
But after learning everything there was to know about CrossFit, Kristen came to understand that there was much more to the activity than simply burning calories.
She developed an “obsession” with her fresh-found zeal.
CrossFit Results
Kristen started her CrossFit experience two years ago, and she has already started competing in regional and CF Open competitions.
She also started instructing aspiring CrossFit competitors and became a co-owner of a CrossFit facility in her neighborhood.
“My only motivation for joining was to shed the “baby weight.” I realized it was time to establish some new objectives once I had successfully lost weight.
I desired to gain strength, speed, and improvement. Kristi Graham
For Kristen, it was a realization of a dream. She not only regained her athletic shape, but she also developed her profession and rose to the rank of respected athlete and businesswoman.
Kristen keeps putting in a lot of effort during her tournaments and training because she wants to one day achieve even greater feats.
She pushes herself day in and day out to make progress, maintaining a high level of discipline to stay on top of her competitiveness.
“I often hear women tell me they don’t want to lift weights because they don’t want to get ‘bulky.’ I say embrace your ‘bulky-ness.’ Cheers to all my thick chick friends.”
Training
Dynamic Exercises
Kristen’s training is dynamic and constantly changing because she is a CrossFit athlete.
In other words, she will occasionally perform a lot of functional training, occasionally strength training, or occasionally a combination of the two.
Kristen increases all four of her athletic skills—strength, endurance, speed, and agility—by combining various training methods.
She is then able to set some spectacular personal records as a result of this. certain of them are;
- Deadlift – 400 lbs
- Max Number of Pull-ups – 50
- Fran – 2:28
- Grace – 1:39
- Sprint 400m – 1:07
Exercise Program for Kristen Graham
Here is an example of how Kristen’s CrossFit training might proceed, depending on her objectives;
- Kristen beings her workout with cardio, which also serves as a warm-up. She won’t do a typical 10-15 minute cardio on a treadmill. Instead, she’ll do functional movements, push-ups, jumping jacks, mobility work, jumps, squats, etc.
- After she’s done with the warm-up, Kristen moves on to the main part of her training session. Depending on what she wants to work on, Kristen will either do strength training, or skill work. If it’s a strength training day, she’ll work on her raw strength and power output with heavy compound movements like deadlifts. However, if it’s not a strength day, Kristen will do specific isolation exercises to balance out her physique, strength, and a certain skill.
- The other part of Kristen’s workout may include the so-called WOD, aka, the workout of the day. This is where Kristen does several reps of a particular exercise as fast as she can, in a limited period.
- After she’s done with the training, Kristen will then cool down, or stretch the muscles she trained that day.
“I like to premake all my drinks and shaker bottles for the morning the night before. That way when I wake up I can just grab what I need and head out the door.
I love the idea of using whey protein with zero carbs because it doesn’t spike sugar levels first thing in the morning, and I can still get 20 grams of protein. Also, all my meals are prepackaged and fit perfectly into my bags. I use a bag which is a perfect size to take to work and store everything!”
Nutrition
Remaining Strict
Kristen follows a tight and clean diet. She doesn’t leave any space for error and only consumes foods high in protein, good fats, minerals, and vitamins.
This gives Kristen’s body a consistent amount of energy throughout the day, enabling her to power through her strenuous CrossFit exercises.
When nutrition is optimized, as Kristen puts it, “everything starts to fall into place.”
when she is not engaged in competition or when she has no important plans for the foreseeable future. Kristen will treat herself to her favorite food a couple of times each month as a reward for all of her hard work.
Foods and Macronutrients of Kristen Graham
Kristen makes an effort to eat most of her daily fats and proteins for breakfast. while limiting her carb intake.
She will eat more carbohydrates throughout the day, especially after a workout when she needs a quick glycogen boost.
Last but not least, Kristen will once more consume more meals high in fat and protein in the evenings. Something that will provide her body with energy all night long.
A few of the meals Kristen consumes;
- Fish
- Greek Yogurt
- Skinless Chicken Breasts
- Brown Rice
- Beets
- Green Vegetables
- Kimchi/Kombucha for probiotics
- Almonds
- Avocado
“You put so many hours into sculpting your body, adhering to strict diets, sacrificing…. Don’t fear showing off your results. Be proud of what you have achieved. Dont let anyone make you feel ashamed.”
Influences and Idols
attaining new milestones while competing in CrossFit competitions.
Kristen’s successes are the product of her laborious efforts and commitment to the CrossFit sport, as well as the encouragement of her loved ones.
One of them is Kristen’s husband, who mentored her during one of her CrossFit Open competition preparations and helped her place 29th in the Nort East Regional CrossFit competition.
Kylee, Kristen’s daughter who frequently works out in the gym with her parents, is another factor in her life.
When asked about her family, Kristen said,
Sharing fitness with my husband and my daughter every day. The ups and downs, the personal records, and the dreaded failures every night, is my silver lining.” – Kristen Graham
“What I love about my fitness journey is that it has allowed me to feel confident and comfortable in my own skin.
None of us are perfect and we all have our own flaws but that’s life and this is the shell we were given. Mold it into whatever you want and own it.”
How Can Kristen Graham Teach Us Something?
Kristen joined CrossFit just to lose the additional weight she had accumulated while carrying her child.
However, after engaging in CrossFit for a while, Kristen’s drive to work out changed significantly. After a long day of exercise, the feeling she would get quickly became something she sought after every day.
In a way, Kristen’s love for CrossFit came to her by accident, which opened the door to incredible opportunities.
This demonstrates that sometimes it pays to have trust that things will work themselves out and that if they haven’t already, you’ll eventually find your passion.
But as soon as you do, stick to it and work hard to make it your way of life, just like Kristen Graham did.