After 3 ½ years of intense fertility treatments and trying to get pregnant, depression set in when I learned I was not able to have a biological child of my own. My self esteem was low and my body was soft and out of shape. I was in a sad physical, mental and emotional place back then, that is until I found CrossFit Chicago.
Thus, my CrossFit journey began on May 5, 2008. After taking a hiatus from exercising for two years prior to that date, I was encouraged by my brother who is a member of CrossFit 801 in Salt Lake City, Utah to give CrossFit a try. When I started cross fitting eight months ago, Rudy Tapalla had me fill out a goal sheet in order to get me thinking like a CrossFit novice should think. He told me to be realistic and set goals that would be achievable. He explained to me how important it is to check your ego at the door and give every ounce of energy you can to the workout of the day (“WOD”). At that time, I was determined not only to lose weight but to become healthier, stronger and more physically fit. But more than that, I really wanted to heal myself and help not only my body physically to become stronger but also my mental and emotional state as well. CrossFit Chicago was the answer for me. It was there that I found a physical outlet for all my stresses and frustrations. But that was not to be all because in addition to healing my body, I forged new friendships with some of the most amazing and supportive people in the process. This CrossFit Chicago community is something that cannot be explained in words. The energy, support, encouragement and education I have found there from my trainers and fellow Crossfitters is just one example of what I experience on a daily basis when I go to our “box” and perform a WOD with the other members. Rudy taught me to work through my frustrations by redirecting that negative energy toward every single workout. I took his advice.
As you can see from my before and after pictures, there is a marked difference in the way I look, stand, feel and exist. Not only do I have more energy for my everyday activities, but I have surpassed most, if not all, of those goals I set for myself back in May, 2008 when I first started. I have lost over 17 pounds in the process. I have gained strength, endurance, flexibility, muscle and a new sense of who I am. It is hard to explain the transformation one goes through when they put their mind toward improving one’s self by doing CrossFit. It is something you must decide to do for yourself and it can work. For me the whole CrossFit Chicago experience helped me to make that happen. I say this today with all honesty, that if I can make such huge strides in only eight months of training at CrossFit Chicago, then anyone can.
Don’t get me wrong, it takes discipline and courage to be a Crossfitter. But at CrossFit Chicago I had a whole lot of encouragement and support to help me in my efforts from not only Rudy and the other trainers but from the other Crossfitters as well. It is this community that makes you want to try harder, run faster, lift heavier, kip higher and push yourself farther than you ever thought you possibly could.
I had always been an athletic person in the past but this experience has taken me to a whole new level of fitness. I am not only exceeding my expectations at CrossFit Chicago, but I will be anxious to see how far I have come in other areas on the athletic front as well. I have a ski trip planned in March 2009 and I have signed up to do the Shamrock Shuffle also in March 2009. I am curious to see how my physical wellbeing, abilities, stamina and endurance from my CrossFit training experience will help me to achieve my new goals in these and other areas.
If I could say one thing to someone about my whole transformation, I would say this, CrossFit Chicago gave me the ability to take charge of my life. It gave me the courage to say yes there are things like infertility that have happened to me that I cannot change, but it also taught me that there are things in my life that I can improve upon and change for the better. I have the ability to take charge of who I am physically, mentally and emotionally and that is what I have done for myself. CrossFit Chicago helped me to achieve those goals.