Get Fit contestant finds missing piece in fitness journey
Christine Pocratsky
Ray Newhouse Jr. warms up during week 4 of the Get Fit Challenge at Crossfit U-town.
Christine Pocratsky
Ray Newhouse Jr. does a goblet squat during week 4 of the Get Fit Challenge at Crossfit U-town.
Christine Pocratsky
Ray Newhouse Jr. warms up during week 4 of the Get Fit Challenge at Crossfit U-town.
Christine Pocratsky
Ray Newhouse Jr. warms up during week 4 of the Get Fit Challenge at Crossfit U-town.
Christine Pocratsky
Ray Newhouse Jr. warms up during week 4 of the Get Fit Challenge at Crossfit U-town.
It’s definitely what I’ve been missing in my life.”
That’s how Get Fit contestant Ray Newhouse Jr. refers to CrossFit U-Town.
“I was always fascinated with weight training, and I was intrigued by CrossFit,” Newhouse said.
A corrections officer with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections for the last 14 years, Newhouse said he’s always worked out and played high school sports. About two years ago, though, shortly after the birth of his second daughter, Newhouse said he noticed he was putting on more weight.
He started exercising and running more, but something was missing.
That void has now been filled by CrossFit.
“Just to be able to get into CrossFit, I was extremely excited,” Newhouse said, adding that he was hoping he’d be selected for the Get Fit challenge.
In the last month, New-house said he’s come to realize that it’s not too late to learn.
“I’ve been doing this for so long, but I was doing the wrong form or the wrong mechanics of a lift, and I’ve learned here that I don’t know everything,” Newhouse said with a laugh.
“There’s so much more to learn, that I can pass on to my kids. My son, he’s 7, he’s the burpee king, it’s great to be able to let him see dad doing those same exercises; it’s pretty fun.”
Newhouse attributes his success to his faith, saying with a smile that “I can do all things through Christ.”
“Over the past four to five years, my journey with Christ has become extremely close,” Newhouse said, adding that he’s been on two mission trips to central America with his church. “It’s really help me grow as a person and in my relationship with God.”
And when he’s not at work or the gym, the father of three says he’s got a strong support system at home, especially from Amanda, his wife of 10 years.
“We like to exercise together, we do races together, she’s really helped me lot in preparing my meals and the mass quantity of food and protein that Jason has us eating,” Newhouse said.
“She’s definitely a blessing to me.”
Newhouse laughed as he noted that he won’t be doing anymore grocery shopping.
“My wife let me grocery shop one time, and the bill was rather high,” he said with a grin. “I got a lot of protein bars and 30 pounds of chicken — it wasn’t an ideal situation for the pocketbook.”
“Needless to say, she’ll be doing the grocery shopping,” Newhouse joked.