Neurofeedback Training Lifts Crossfit Champ to Victory

Steve Hamming is a Mad Man. He works out every day. He adheres to a disciplined Paleo diet, free of processed sugars and high-fat foods. He is the fittest 55-59 year old man in American according to Crossfit. And that’s just what he does for fun! In “real life”, Steve is a professional psychotherapist who recently took up a business partnership with veteran NeurOptimal^® neurofeedback trainer Molly Raaymakers in Western Michigan. And that’s when things got interesting.

The combination of his psychotherapy and Raaymakers brain training produced “eye-opening” results with clients suffering from depression, anxiety – even closed head injuries. Given these unprecedented successes, Hamming decided to incorporate neurofeedback into his training regime for an upcoming fitness competition. The result? This past July, Hamming took home the “gold” in Crossfit – a grueling 3-day ironman event – in Carson, California. To what does he attribute this impressive victory? His email to NeurOptimal^® Co-Founder Dr. Valdeane Brown pretty clearly states that like many elite athletes, Hamming chalks up his stellar performance to neurofeedback training with NeurOptimal^®.

Dear Val:
I have lifted weights and competed athletically for 30+ years and in Crossfit for the last four years prior to adding NeurOptimal^® neurofeedback to my training regime. What first stood out as remarkable to me as I prepped for my competition for the World Games: by adding neuro-training tandem with [NeurOptimal^® Trainer] Molly Raymaakers, I was able to add 15 pounds to my Personal Record (PR). It’s considered ‘normal’ to add 5 lbs to a PR, but I added 15 lbs and could have gone higher but my coach advised me to cap it for now. This really got my attention!

From that point, I strategized with Molly to create a workout regime for the California world championship games. The results of our neurofeedback training strategy were multiple. I competed free of performance anxiety, slept great across all days of the competition, felt a serene ability to focus on my workouts while able to stay calm and maintain my physical training plan, and for 3 days of grueling workouts felt completely fresh each day.

These results were mutually recognized by my Crossfit Coach, family, and those who have watched me compete before. Comments from others were: “Wow, I’ve never seen you this relaxed during competition!” “You’ve never competed like this before.” “You’re able to stay mentally at ease and so intently focused at the same time.” “It’s day 3 and you still look like you feel good.” And I did feel good. I felt awesome! I hope my personal experience and sharing here is of value to you and to the greater therapeutic community.

Sincerely,
Steven G. Hamming
PsyD Licensed Psychologist
Clinical Sport Psychologist