My appreciation for fitness came in high school. I took two classes: dance and weight lifting. They forever changed my perspective on body image-in a good way! (Too bad I didn’t learn about clean eating at the same time. Growing up, corn, potatoes and peas were staple “veggies” at my house.) I worked out off and on, even had personal trainers here and there. But I was never serious about getting strong, just “tone”. My idea of losing weight was warped at a young age. “If you want to drop pounds…just don’t eat!” So, when I wanted to lose weight, I just didn’t eat. It worked like a charm! What I didn’t know is, as you age… that changes, along with many other things. For instance my body after three babies and gravity taking a toll on my aging vulnerability. Enough was enough! I was getting my pre baby body back! So I hired a personal trainer. He rambled something about… “Olympic Weight Lifting” and I thought for sure I was in WAAAY over my head. I explained my not wanting to look bulky or manly. He assured me that would not be the case. Within a couple of short months I saw physical changes that I had never seen before! I HAD MUSCLES!! After six months of logging 300 minutes of cardio per week and lifting 3-4 times weekly, I met my goal! I lost 22 pounds and 15% body fat. I was STRONG too! I was able to bench and squat my own body weight and doubled my body weight in my sumo deadlift.
Well, I met my goals, now what? I sought out another goal. I wanted something to push me mentally and keep me active and accountable. I registered for a half marathon. During training I sustained an ankle sprain that took nearly a year to heal. Feeling cheated out of an accurate performance record, I demanded a “mulligan”. So I registered for another half marathon. As my milage increased, my weight lifting decreased. My logic was to preserve that energy used for lifting and use it for running. That makes sense…right? NOOOOO, wrong on so many levels! I started getting injuries right and left! Nothing major, little things, like issues with my IT Band and hamstring, knee pain, low back pain, tight calves, and for the first time ever-plantar fasciitis. I was breaking. I started PT and slowed down (after my race of course!). “Slow down” consisted of boot camp classes instead of running and lifting heavy weights. In February 2014 I went to a Valentine Couples Workout at my husbands gym. This was my first exposure to crossfit. I enjoyed the workout and felt sore the days following. But it hurt so good. I joined his box and worked out regularly. Slowly, I started to see results. I wasn’t coming close to PR’s but I was making progress nevertheless.
In early May 2014, my back began to ache. It made sense to stretch more (in hopes of releasing the tension in my posterior chain). The pain grew more intense…simple things like sneezing and coughing were excruciating. After several doctors appointments and an MRI, I was told I had disc degeneration (not uncommon to see at my age) and “several bulging discs” in my lumbar spine. I was advised to “slow down” and focus on core strength. While in a lot of pain and being fearful of making things worse, I did nothing for 3 months. As a result of the many injuries that lead up to, and included this, I gained all 22 pounds back plus another 10! After a depressing summer, I started working with a trainer who had experience with crossfit and olympic weight lifting movements. I worked with him until joining MBS in February 2015. I did my free week then had to leave abruptly for California to help care for an ill family member. Again, I found myself stagnate for ANOTHER three months, after working so hard to get my back rehabilitated. But Finally! I came back to MBS in May. I only started with 2 days each week then slowly added more. I remained fearful of re-injuring my back (or anything else for that matter). I started with very low weights (15lb bar)-wasn’t even ashamed. I milked the low weights as long as I could. I started increasing my weights and even moved up to the 35lb bar.
In the few short months I have been at MBS II CrossFit Arvada, I feel like I’ve accomplished quite a bit. For starters, I’ve tightened up my nutrition and lost 10lbs. Thank You Coach Jeremy! A lot of my fear is minimal, or gone. I’m beginning to re-train my lungs (asthma) to handle more endurance. I have even crept up on some of my old PR’s and surpassed others. My former 1 rep max for front squat was 95lbs now it’s 140lbs! I have never been able to climb a rope. Frankly, I gave up on the thought of it ever occurring. Well…I have successfully climbed a rope! Having said that, I still need to perfect coming down (yeeeooooow). Most of my workouts remain modified but I am OK with that! I feel blessed to be injury free. I am excited to see what milestones are yet to come. I see kipping pull ups in my future. Even muscle ups in my more distant future. I have committed to enjoy the journey and not stand in my way by comparing myself to where I “used to be”. With hard work and dedication that will come. I look forward to my continued progress. A very sincere THANK YOU to our amazing owners and coaches here at MBS!!
