Major NSV published today

cheri0627 · July 2011

I've known for a few weeks, but it was published today. In my gym's newsletter every month they have an "Athlete of the Month" section. I was picked as this month's athlete! Here's my write up:

November 1, 2010 is a day that I will remember forever. It was the first time in my life that I had ever gone to a real workout class. Really, other than gym class in school and playing as a kid, it was the first time I’d ever worked out in my life. Boy, did I need it. Overweight and out of shape, I’m not quite sure how I made it through that very first class. I know I couldn’t do a real sit-up that day and I’m sure my squats were terrible. Somehow, Melissa got me through it. I went home and slept like I don’t think I have ever slept before, and the next day I could barely make it down the stairs from my bedroom.

The day after that was even worse, but I went back to class. I don’t know for sure what all I did, but I know it wasn’t pretty. (Based on my old statuses on Facebook, that was the first time I did a burpee and I do know that cried when Jenn made me do a wallsit. Real tears.)

But I stuck with it. I just kept coming back to class. In January, I started working with Melissa on nutrition as well.

Today, I can do lots of sit-ups; I have great range of motion on my squats. Wall sits are still horrible, but they don’t make me cry. Wallballs. Box jumps. Burpees. Pushups. Kettlebell swings. Dips. Shoulder press. Thrusters. Lunges. Sometimes sit-ups include wallballs and burpees include box jumps. Some days we do things I’ve never heard of or imagined, but I try them out and continue to amaze myself.

I’ve gone from just boot camp classes at 777 two days a week to also coming to Joust for CrossFit and O-lifting. And what seems craziest to me is that I love working out. I love how tired it makes me and energized at the same time. I love feeling sore but knowing it’s because I did something to make myself better.

I still modify a lot, and I’m almost always the last one done with a workout, but I am not ashamed of that. I’m proud that I’ve done it. I’ve lost my fear of being laughed at for how slow I am or how little I can lift because I know that the people I workout with are cheering me on when I need it.

I’ve also lost 35lbs. and 7” off of my waist and 5” off of my hips. I’ve lost pants sizes.

I still have a long way to go, but I know that my Joust friends and trainers are with me on the journey to keep me going, and they’ll stay with me even once I reach my goals. At that point, there will just be new goals.

I was just about in tears when I was asked to do a write up. I was so proud and amazed. I know I'm not there yet, no where near, but I'm having fun and feeling good about myself and making myself a healthier person.