Thank you to Teri for sharing her story with us. Her title for this success is "From Couch Potato to CrossFit!"
CrossFit is truly for anyone, I am proof. Before I started CrossFit, I hadn't done any physical activity for years. I was very good at being a couch potato. I was severely overweight, my self-esteem was gone and I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything. I was unhappy and had retreated from life. I hadn't realized HOW unhappy or how deep my retreat had taken me…..yet.
I decided to make big changes in my life and the first was to get healthy. I knew trying to accomplish this at home wasn't going to work for me. I needed to take a leap of faith and get out of my comfort zone. I wasn't very comfortable in my own skin anyway. I walked through the doors of Flower City CrossFit on November 8, 2012 for my free trial of their Bootcamp class.
To say I was in the worst possible shape ever would be an understatement. In that first class, I could barely do three burpees in a minute. I didn't even know what a burpee was before that night. I was supposed to jump rope and I thought, "I can at least do that." But when I got to that station of Bootcamp, I found I also could not do that. I was really in that bad of shape -- I could barely jump rope! I couldn't get close to parallel on an air squat. For lunges, I fell over sideways. Needless to say, I was a MESS... a hot sweaty MESS. When that first class was over, the trainer asked me how I felt. I said, "okay." That was all I could muster out of my mouth at the moment. He said to just keep coming back.
You would have thought after that disaster that I would have given up. But while I was sitting there at FCCF trying to regroup after that first class, I noticed this UNBELIEVABLE energy/vibe around me. It made me want to come back!
By the time I reached my car, I was already feeling muscle soreness and it felt as if I was having an asthma attack. I was exhausted, yet completely exhilarated! I hadn't felt that way in very long time. On my way home, I started to cry. I completely broke down. It had hit me... just how far I had removed myself from life. I realized how much I missed feeling alive. By the time I got home I knew this was the place for me. I signed up the next day for a month of Bootcamp classes and I haven’t looked back!
Before and after Bootcamp, I would see these amazing CrossFit classes in action and I thought to myself "WOW!" Even though I was beyond nervous, I transitioned into CrossFit one month after starting Bootcamp. My first CrossFit class was on December 10, 2012. I can’t remember what the WOD was but I sure remember how awkward and goofy I felt. I was waaaay out of my comfort zone. I still wasn't very good at anything but that didn't matter now. I knew to just keep coming back!
As of today, I have lost 64 pounds and 33.25 inches overall. Woooo Hoooo!!!! I have competed in a couple of the FCCF Food & Fitness challenges and I have learned so much. I am not the best CrossFitter in the gym, but I am very consistent about going (and I can do many WODs at the Rx level now). I am happier, healthier and stronger than I have ever been in my life. I can squat to full depth now. I don’t fall down too much anymore during a workout either -- only when I have to bail on a heavy back squat or overhead squat!
This has been such an incredible 12 month journey and I can’t WAIT to see what happens next! These words sum it up pretty darn good for me: “There’s a new wind blowin’ like I’ve never known, I'm breathin’ deeper than I’ve ever done and sure feels good to finally feel the way I do!!!” (from a country song… don't hate).
Flower City CrossFit is TRULY an amazing place. Jeff and Laura have created this incredible community of passionate/caring people. ALL of them want YOU to succeed! It’s hard to find words to express the deep gratitude I have for Jeff and Laura Rice and for the amazing community of trainers and athletes they have nurtured. I have seen over and over how they help change lives (emotionally and physically) and in some cases... save lives like mine! Get Some!
CrossFit is truly for anyone, I am proof. Before I started CrossFit, I hadn't done any physical activity for years. I was very good at being a couch potato. I was severely overweight, my self-esteem was gone and I didn't want to go anywhere or do anything. I was unhappy and had retreated from life. I hadn't realized HOW unhappy or how deep my retreat had taken me…..yet.
I decided to make big changes in my life and the first was to get healthy. I knew trying to accomplish this at home wasn't going to work for me. I needed to take a leap of faith and get out of my comfort zone. I wasn't very comfortable in my own skin anyway. I walked through the doors of Flower City CrossFit on November 8, 2012 for my free trial of their Bootcamp class.
To say I was in the worst possible shape ever would be an understatement. In that first class, I could barely do three burpees in a minute. I didn't even know what a burpee was before that night. I was supposed to jump rope and I thought, "I can at least do that." But when I got to that station of Bootcamp, I found I also could not do that. I was really in that bad of shape -- I could barely jump rope! I couldn't get close to parallel on an air squat. For lunges, I fell over sideways. Needless to say, I was a MESS... a hot sweaty MESS. When that first class was over, the trainer asked me how I felt. I said, "okay." That was all I could muster out of my mouth at the moment. He said to just keep coming back.
You would have thought after that disaster that I would have given up. But while I was sitting there at FCCF trying to regroup after that first class, I noticed this UNBELIEVABLE energy/vibe around me. It made me want to come back!
By the time I reached my car, I was already feeling muscle soreness and it felt as if I was having an asthma attack. I was exhausted, yet completely exhilarated! I hadn't felt that way in very long time. On my way home, I started to cry. I completely broke down. It had hit me... just how far I had removed myself from life. I realized how much I missed feeling alive. By the time I got home I knew this was the place for me. I signed up the next day for a month of Bootcamp classes and I haven’t looked back!
Before and after Bootcamp, I would see these amazing CrossFit classes in action and I thought to myself "WOW!" Even though I was beyond nervous, I transitioned into CrossFit one month after starting Bootcamp. My first CrossFit class was on December 10, 2012. I can’t remember what the WOD was but I sure remember how awkward and goofy I felt. I was waaaay out of my comfort zone. I still wasn't very good at anything but that didn't matter now. I knew to just keep coming back!
As of today, I have lost 64 pounds and 33.25 inches overall. Woooo Hoooo!!!! I have competed in a couple of the FCCF Food & Fitness challenges and I have learned so much. I am not the best CrossFitter in the gym, but I am very consistent about going (and I can do many WODs at the Rx level now). I am happier, healthier and stronger than I have ever been in my life. I can squat to full depth now. I don’t fall down too much anymore during a workout either -- only when I have to bail on a heavy back squat or overhead squat!
This has been such an incredible 12 month journey and I can’t WAIT to see what happens next! These words sum it up pretty darn good for me: “There’s a new wind blowin’ like I’ve never known, I'm breathin’ deeper than I’ve ever done and sure feels good to finally feel the way I do!!!” (from a country song… don't hate).
Flower City CrossFit is TRULY an amazing place. Jeff and Laura have created this incredible community of passionate/caring people. ALL of them want YOU to succeed! It’s hard to find words to express the deep gratitude I have for Jeff and Laura Rice and for the amazing community of trainers and athletes they have nurtured. I have seen over and over how they help change lives (emotionally and physically) and in some cases... save lives like mine! Get Some!