- What was life like before you became a member? My life wasn’t much different. I’ve always worked out so I would always get up early, work out, and then go to work. I’ve always tried to live a healthy life, so it wasn’t much of a change when I first started.
- At the time you enrolled, were you already exercising? What was your previous background in fitness? I’ve always been active and always worked out. I was always athletic, played sports, and was a runner for many years until that took a toll on my knees. I then transitioned to doing Peloton bike rides, which I love, but I needed something more challenging so here I am.
- What originally prompted you to seek us out?Doing CrossFit is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and I would talk about it now and then but never did anything about it. I saw an advertisement on Instagram and finally made the move I’d been wanting to make for many years.
- What was your goal when you originally signed up? My main goal was to find a workout that really challenged me and made me stronger while losing some weight in the process. It’s more about feeling as though I’ve accomplished something at the end of a workout than anything and that is something I feel every time I finish a WOD. I know I’m not the strongest or fastest and I’m okay with that. My goal each class is to give it my all, learn from my mistakes, and improve for the next time that same workout or move rolls around.
- What have you liked best about working with us? I like how I’m made accountable for my own progress while receiving support at the same time. I’m always up for a challenge so when I hear Tim say not to be a baby and add more weight, I take that to heart and will add more weight, even though I don’t think I can lift it. But sure enough, I end up shocking even myself when I’m able to lift more. No one will let you give up there from the coaches, and to the other members who also get their asses up for the 5:30am class. There’s so much support and camaraderie and those are the things I’ve missed about being on a team, so I feel like I’m on a team again.
- What are you most proud of achieving since you started? Sticking with it and not giving up, even when every part of my body hurts for days after a workout. It makes me proud of myself when my children tell me how proud they are of me. My son recently started taking CrossFit where he lives in Baltimore so it’s cool to be able to compare workouts with him. We’re friends on SugarWod so I love when I see he’s given me a fist bump. My kids have always seen me be active since they’ve been little so the fact that they, too, have always been active in sports and exercise lets me know I’ve set a good example for them so that also makes me proud.
- With everything that you have accomplished, has your view of yourself changed? I definitely feel more confident. I know I’ll never be the same size I was in my 30s or 40s, but I feel like I finally feel comfortable in my own skin, which is way more important than anything else.
- What would you say to anyone else who might be dealing with any similar struggles you did? The most important thing is to find something that you like to do, and you don’t know you’ll like something until you try it. Honestly, it took me a couple of months to really feel comfortable going to class because I felt out of place in the beginning, but I kept going back and didn’t let that stop me. Once those butterflies left and I started to become more comfortable and confident, I haven’t looked back. In the beginning, I remember talking to my daughter and telling her I didn’t know if I was CrossFit material and she told me I needed to get out of my comfort zone. Those words resonated with me every time I thought I was going to throw in the towel and her voice pushed me to continue and I’m so glad I listened to her.
- Do you have any special moments/memories? This sounds really silly and corny but getting my first postcard in the mail from Coach Taylor after I was finally able to jump onto a 20” box was a turning point for me. That has always stuck with me and really made an impact. I remember feeling like I wasn’t progressing and getting down on myself because I worked so hard, and I was thinking about packing it in and that little gift came in the mail and changed everything! So, thank you Coach!! I’ve met so many great people also that I know I never would have met had I not joined so I’m grateful for that as well.
- What is your favorite movement/lift? Burpees, for sure (said no one ever except Coach Taylor). My favorite lifts are back and front squats and dead lifts. I’ve always been a cardio junkie, so I really like to row and jump rope also. I’m getting better at dubz but still cannot do them straight through without mixing singles in so my goal over the next few months is to be able to string them together continuously. I just bought a mat for my garage, so I know what I’ll be doing all fall and winter.