Oswego Couple Leading Legions to a Healthy Lifestyle

What began as a handful of people doing high intensity workouts in the basement of Dave and Melissa Kiest’s Oswego home has turned into a business with about 150 clients.

The Kiests, along with partner Jason Heller, opened up Bare Bones CrossFit at 125 Wheaton Ave., Yorkville, in July 2010.

“It’s been huge,” Dave Kiest said. “Word-of-mouth got out because people were seeing results so quickly.”

Bare Bones CrossFit tries to build a friendly but competetive atmosphere where people "support one another in obtaining optimal physical fitness and health," according to the company's website. The workouts are short, intense and designed to produce results, the website states.

“It’s kind of like a personal trainer in a group setting,” said Dave Kiest, who graduated from Plano High School before joining the military. “We change it up so it’s a random workout. Every day you’re doing something totally different and working new muscles.”

Clients who come in regularly generally see results within weeks, he said.

“People who come in three days a week, what they’re seeing is that within the first month to month and a half their pants sizes are getting looser,” Dave Kiest said. “Within the second or third month they’re seeing they can go farther than they thought they could. That’s normally what limits people — their minds telling them it’s too hard and they need to stop.”

And their minds sometimes tell them initially that the high-intensity workouts at CrossFit might be too hard for them.

“We get a lot of people that come in and say, ‘I haven’t worked out in 20 years. I don’t know if this is for me.’ Then two months later they’re the ones other people are looking to,’” he said.

He and his wife look forward to introducing these philosophies and practices to more area residents. So far, they've have a positive response.

"Our athletes are our best source of advertisement," Melissa Kiest said. "Everyone is there for the same reason — to be healthy and fit, and what better way to reach your goals than to do it with a community of individuals who share those same goals and are there supporting you during your journey."

For more information about Bare Bones CrossFit, visit the company’s Facebook page.