Chris is an aerospace machinist and a busy parent of two boys. In addition, Chris has dealt with some severe health problems over the years. Developing a wellness routine was a challenge, but Black Box Fitness has provided Chris with an engaging fitness option that fits into his schedule. Features in the Black Box Fitness app, and interaction with other members in the feed, keep him engaged and encourage him to strive for his next achievement in-game.
BBVR: Thank you, Chris, for doing this interview with us. We love to hear stories about people who enjoy Black Box Fitness for improved wellness, but first, could you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Chris: I’m 38 years old and a full-time dad and aerospace machinist. I suffered heart failure two years ago and had been struggling to find a routine of working out and making more healthy life choices.
BBVR: How did you find out about Black Box Fitness, and what made you want to try it?
Chris: A few months ago, I started going back to the gym again after a 6-month or so hiatus following the birth of my son. I noticed Black Box Fitness at EōS Fitness and was curious, so I signed up and started the onboarding fitness sessions, not knowing what to expect or knowing what the game was about.
BBVR: Heart failure is pretty serious. Do you think the Black Box workouts are making your heart and body stronger? Could you talk about that and whether you’d recommend Black Box as a fitness option for others with health challenges?
Chris: So before my heart failure, I was a pretty avid gym-goer, but I had many vices that were counterproductive such as smoking and drinking. As I’ve left that stuff behind, the struggle has been trying to get cardio in and enjoying it.
Not only has Black Box Fitness solved that issue for me, I actually enjoy the high-intensity workout. The way Black Box started slow with me and let me build up made it an easy way to get stronger at my own pace and push me to do a little better every session.
After my heart issues, I could barely walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes without breaking out in a sweat and gasping for air. Now I can spend hours in the park playing ball with my kids.
BBVR: Tell us about the first time you put on the VR headset and entered the Black Box Fitness VR world.
Chris: I was taken back by how good the graphics are, and the size of the arena made me feel small and kinda nervous. I haven’t been in VR since the 90s, and this game is unbelievable to me!!
BBVR: What are your favorite features of the Black Box VR fitness experience?
Chris: I enjoy the RPG-style power-ups and upgrades. Also, I enjoy the performance tracker in the app, the privacy of the rooms, and just being able to focus on the game while working out. When you’re that immersed, it doesn’t even feel like a workout.
BBVR: Have you played esports types games on PC or consoles? If so, how would you compare your fitness experience in the Black Box arena with traditional gaming?
Chris: I’ve always been a gamer. I played many RPG-style games like Dragon Age and Fallout and MMO games like Everquest, so I enjoy the grinding aspects of the Black Box Fitness game. Leveling up your characters and champions gives me that special feeling. Also, the social feed is an excellent way to interact with other players and makes it feel like a mass multiplayer even though we aren’t fully interacting in-game.
BBVR: You said you’ve done different types of fitness training in the past. How does Black Box Fitness compare with other workout programs you have done?
Chris: I’ve always done powerlifting/bodybuilding style exercises, and I like Black Box because I don’t get hung up in the rut of doing the same stuff every week. Every time I step into the arena, it pushes me a little more, and I do better every time I workout.
BBVR: What are some of your favorite exercises you can do in the Black Box Fitness experience?
Chris: Chest press and deadlifts are my favorite and strongest exercises. I love chopping down my opponent’s champions with a solid set of chest presses!
BBVR: Do you do any other physical activities to boost your fitness results?
Chris: I mostly do Black Box workouts these days, but when I can, I enjoy terrain racing! My two boys keep me pretty busy, so I would consider that another activity. Haha!
BBVR: What kind of results have you had since you started going to Black Box Fitness?
Chris: My endurance has skyrocketed. When I first started, after 15 minutes in the Black Box, I was gasping for air, and now I go the full 30 minutes. I’m almost to the point where I’m ready for another session. Outside of Black Box, I can also see a big difference in my body shape. My weight hasn’t changed much, but that’s my fault for not staying on my macros [a 40/40/20 nutrition plan]. But, overall, it has been a pretty amazing transformation.
BBVR: Don’t fret too much over the weight loss right now. It sounds like you’re at the stage of improving your cardio and building endurance, which is important. Has that made an impact on your daily life?
Chris: Black Box has been a pretty amazing experience, and I think it’s going to be revolutionary for many people who have the same issues I did. Cardio is boring, and the gym gets boring fast. Black Box Fitness has made getting stronger and healthier easier.
BBVR: What types of strategies do you have when it comes to the Black Box Fitness gameplay?
Chris: My strategy is mainly just overwhelming one gate with Tidal and Lighting Tigers and keep my opponent’s champions at bay with direct damage exercise attacks.
BBVR: The Black Box Fitness app tracks all fitness performance, battle logs, quests and has a fantastic community helping to cheer you on. What’s your favorite feature of the app, and why?
Chris: I like the feed interaction with other members and also the quest/achievement features. The streak is also fantastic because it gets me back in the Black Box even when I don’t want to!
BBVR: Do you have any advice for people on the fence about trying Black Box Fitness?
Chris: If you are not a fan of the traditional gym grind and like games or if you’re crunched for time, you can get in a good pump and an excellent session of cardio in 30 minutes. It has been great for a full-time dad like me!
BBVR: Thank you for taking the time to share your fitness journey with us. We appreciate you and look forward to seeing your future workout battles.
If you’re interested in trying Black Box Fitness for FREE, find a location near you, and unlock fast fitness results!
We’ll see you in the arena soon!
