yes, this is a post about CrossFit......
but not just CrossFit; but just a few reasons why I CrossFit and why I think Moms should CrossFit too.
I grew up with four brothers, so you could say I stayed pretty active in my younger years as far as any sports goes. I would throw a football, catch a baseball, shoot 3 pointers and the like. My passion sport was gymnastics and thoroughly enjoyed that in my younger years.
I've pretty much stayed active as an adult as well, as I coached gymnastics, played church and coed league softball, and kept my gym membership going....
until about 2 1/2 years ago...
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| 7mos in Crossfit, shorts that were snug from the previous summer...down 15lbs and two clothing sizes. |
When I closed Bellamia my whole life schedule that had been the same for almost 8 years had changed. I was a 5am'er (peeps that attend a 5am gym class) at a local gym during my work career and even when Elizabeth was a baby, I'd schedule her nursing time for 4:00am and head over to the gym. It was my "me time" , but shortly after closing the store had let the gym membership expire. Worst and best decision ever.
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| Laura-Jean Mom of Two; works full time. Started CrossFit Oct. 2013. Down from size 16 to a 10. Stronger every day! |
For one year I did pretty much nothing except run around the neighborhood a couple miles every now and then. My petite size 4 frame started to grow. I was having ovarian cysts show up that needed attention every month. I was in pain, I was tired ALL.THE.TIME, and my soft places on my body only got softer....and larger....
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| Sabrina- Mom of three(8,6,4) works full time..one lung..NO excuses people! Cancer survivor. Started CrossFit at size 18 and now size 8 is loose on her. |
I gained 16 pounds that year, for someone that normally didn't do anything but fluctuate 2-4 lbs every couple years. I was getting extremely discouraged as I felt terrible and was starting to out grow all my clothes...you know, the ones you even hang onto after you'd had a baby...the "fat" jeans.....
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| one of our awesome coaches Stephanie. Mom of two fun loving boys. |
well, it had been almost 9 years since we'd had a baby and the "fat" jeans were getting tight. Not to mention, my OBGYN kept pressing to put me on "the" pill to give my ovaries some time to breathe from all the cysts that had been making them crazy....
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| Tori- Mom of Four, works full time. Started CrossFit January 2013. Down about 15lbs, then up 7lbs from muscle gain, and back in a size 4 from 8. |
Well, this chicka had a partial hysterectomy 6 years prior....I hated birth control pills and how they made me feel. Not to mention that discouraged me completely because I knew I would feel bloated, have mood swings and gain more weight... and I didn't want to go back there. Who wants to be on birth control pills when you don't even have a uterus!
That was it. I was fed up and started contemplating where to go start working out again. I knew my fitness level was driving my physical health on a spiraling down fall, and I had family history that showed me where is was going if I didn't make some changes.....
I had heard about this CrossFit
Cult thing and was completely against it.....
I was NOT going to look like "
her". There is no WAY I could do what
they do anyway (whatever that is!). These CrossFit people are freaks.....insane....they must LIVE at the gym....
Yes, yes, I was one of
those critics....
sigh....
now, I'm one of those freaks.....
So what happened???
Well, some precious friends in their sixties....what what!...yes, I said sixties, talked to me one day about it and how much they thought I would love it. After hearing them talk of it, the real stories...not the ones I imagined in my head...I decided I'd contact an acquaintance (via Facebook and precious customer to Bellamia) and co-owner of
Circle City CrossFit here in Dothan.
After her sharing with me to come to the 101 class, a four session class that teaches you the basic movements of CrossFit and will gauge where you are physically; I joined the 101 class two days later...
I was TERRIFIED walking into the Box (the name of a CrossFit gym).....I went a little early and saw everyone working out with these intimidating large bars and weights as big as my head
or bigger, and I could feel my blood pressure rising....but it was too late....I had already done the hardest part...
Walking through the doors....
That was mid September 2012....
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| hate selfies.. but it is what it is... Started CrossFit in Oct. 2012 on left. Down from a size 8 to 4 on right. Scale difference is now only 8 pounds because of muscle gained. Total loss in the first 9mos- 15lbs. And cysts FREE since two mos after starting CrossFit..Whoop Whoop! |
because I avoided sleeveless attire the year prior, I don't have fabulous before and afters. So I grabbed a few other before and afters from mom's that I work out with that are all pictured throughout this post. So proud of them!
So here are my top 14 reasons why Moms should CrossFit, in no particular order...
1. You will look the best you've EVER looked...post children...and maybe even pre :)
2. If you're married, your husband will tell you that all the time.
3. You will not only feel like you can, but WILL accomplish any task, because let's face it, you already do, but I bet you are tired, ALL.THE.TIME.
4.You will look the best you've EVER looked....oh wait....I've already said that....well, it's true...
5. You will feel ab pain that you hadn't felt since your contractions from birthing...except these contractions will be your abs building and tummy flattening....whoop whoop! YES, it IS possible to have abs again, and not the ones hiding under the..(cough cough).... "skin"...
6. You will make the BEST of friends, that will become family to you. TRUTH.
7. You will look the...oh yeah...
8. You may or may not get a tattoo or nose ring because you will feel like a bad a$$
9. Speaking of a$$....... yep. It will SHRINK! Whoop Whoop!
10. You will have energy again.....your husband will be glad....wink wink
11. Your kids will think you are a rock star because you will either be keeping up with them on the run, doing cartwheels in the back yard with them (without seeing stars!), and you will inspire them to stay fit and healthy when they are your age. JUST because you are doing it.
12. If you WOD (Work Out of the Day) at 5am, you will either WOD as the sun rises or drive home to it and feel like you have already conquered the world...you will be ready to tackle the day, and you will have been filled with encouragement from your group of peeps that are not only there to get better; but to see and push YOU to get better!
13. You will look the.....ok, I'm done now
So, whether or not this CrossFit thing is a "fad"....I.don't.care.
It's a "fad" that brought awesome friendships, took me to accomplishments I never thought possible, took me (in my opinion) to my fitness goals the fastest then any other program I've ever done.
and, you don't have to "live" at the gym.....4-5 times a week will get you there. You will work the hardest you ever had, but you will be a new person for it.
For my one year anniversary, I celebrated with something I hadn't done in 15+ years and no way I would have tried before CrossFit.....
Sooooooo, let's do a Give-Away shall we!!
Now is the time to enter in a drawing for a free 101 Class (4 sessions=$75 value) at Circle City CrossFit!!
No strings attached! Try it...leave it, or love it! I guarantee you will LOVE it!
Here's what you will need to do to be entered for the drawing. Simply "share" this original blog post from my Facebook page. If you share from a friends page or from this blog and not via Facebook, you MUST comment below with your name and email address so we can enter you and contact you if you win.
Would you like to have a chance to be entered TWICE??? You must "like" their
FB page and comment "liked and shared" to be entered twice.
Please share all you want, but only one entry per like and share per person.
Now remember, it was Sixty Year Olds that inspired me to join a CrossFit Box, so all you peeps out there that think just because you have a grandchild or two can't do this, you are wrong. CrossFit is for everyone. You do what you can and you will be amazed that it was more then you think!
So Thankful for the people and coaches at Circle City CrossFit and the CrossFit community in general. It has blessed my life.
14. I am a better mom because of CrossFit.
Drawing to be held Tuesday, April 22 @ noon!
3-2-1-GO!
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