To say that CrossFit has changed my life is an understatement. It might even sound a little overdramatic to some people. But to those of us who love CrossFit, it’s completely understandable.
I was a moderately fit and athletic young person, but because of health problems and life in general, I spent the better part of my 30’s 100+ pounds overweight. I was married, had 2 children and was just getting by on a daily basis. I finally hit “rock bottom” one hot summer day at Sea World. I was so heavy my knees were hurting and I was a sweaty mess. I went to the rental counter to rent an electric scooter. All of a sudden, I realized that I was so fat and miserable I was actually going to rent a scooter. I was beyond disgusted with myself. The next day, embarrassed and unsure, my friend Jena (AKA G.I. Jena) and I walked into a Globo gym and signed up for a membership and personal training. I didn’t know it then, but my life was about to change. I was so lucky to be paired with Mando. At first I was sure he was too quiet and that I’d be able to get away with being a slacker. I thought I’d be doing leg lifts on the machine or walking on a treadmill. But he had me doing crazy things. “You want me to carry this medicine ball up and down the stairs how many times?” I had never once in my life even touched a loaded barbell and there I was lifting it over my head. One day I asked him why all the other trainers put their clients on machines and I had to lunge around the gym with dumb bells above my head. He just said, “CrossFit.” I went home and Googled it and thought there was no way I could be doing what these people were doing. Certainly I was too old and overweight.
About 6 months after starting with Mando at the gym, he had the opportunity to be part of his own CrossFit gym. Without hesitation I cancelled my gym membership and went with him. Over the last 2 years, CrossFit (and Mando) have transformed my mind and body from an unhappy, frumpy, overweight, stay at home mom to some sort of super hero who can do just about anything. (At least that’s how I feel.) With over 90 pounds gone and the strength of an Amazon woman, I feel like a whole new person and I love it. I never knew I could love Olympic lifting so much. And each time I PR on something I think about the old me and how far I have come. An important moment came about 3 weeks ago when we were trying for our 1 rep max deadlift. I PR’d at 272 pounds. The number 272 made me emotional because 272 pounds was how much I weighed when I started this journey. To lift that heavy weight up and feel the burden it put on my whole body as I lifted it, just resonated through my mind about how far I’ve come.
Sometimes I wish I hadn’t wasted so much of my 30’s being fat and unhappy. But regret won’t get me anywhere. Instead, I am focusing on my 40’s and hoping to be able to compete in CrossFit Masters competitions some day. I still have a lot of CF skills to master and I look forward to reaching all my goals. “Thank You” to CrossFit, Mando, Ivan and all my amazing friends at RC CrossFit. www.rccrossfit.com A special note to all women who think they are too fat, too old, too weak, too out of shape to walk through the doors and try CrossFit…There’s a super hero inside you trying to get out.
