Do you have something, a place, person, or action, that gets rid of your stress?
Wake up and make some coffee. Get dressed, do some work, and then make way! It’s time for the gym. Not any gym, but the CrossFit gym. It’s different than going to the YMCA or going to Planet Fitness, where you make up your workout as you go.
I’ve always been active. I was a competitive swimmer since I was five—right through all four-years of college. Nothing will ever compare to swimming laps in a pool. The smell of a chlorinated pool seems to bring me a sense of calmness, unlike anything else. Head under, surrounded by water, my thoughts are clearest—maybe this is why I take such long showers. Once college was over, I had to make my own practices, and they never were the same intensity. I missed having a teammate next to me. Someone to complain with, to cheer for, and to keep myself moving.
I went for the occasional walk, jog, and run. I did Insanity, Kayla BBG, and I made up oh-so-many dryland workouts. I used YouTube to look up yoga and Pilates classes too. However, there was something missing. The Beachbody team might give you a virtual support system, but nothing beats having your teammate right there with you. Someone to tell you to fix your form, so you don’t get hurt. Someone next to you, struggling to complete the challenge, just like you are. Someone to give you that fist bump of achievement. Working out alone just makes it so much harder.
The first time I heard about CrossFit was through a swim friend. We got together in New York and went for a hike.
I can see the muscle shapes in her arms. “Wow, Katie, you look amazing!”
“I’ve been doing CrossFit,” she says. “You should look in your area for gyms.”
“Isn’t it pricey though?” I ask.
“You are given the workout and a coach though. It’s better than paying for a private instructor, and everyone is doing the workout with you,” she explained. “You would really like it! It’s like having a team again.”
When I got back to South Carolina, I started my search for CrossFit gyms. I compared prices and tried free classes at different locations. It gave me a feel for what the program and people were like, at no cost. I found my fit at CrossFit Vivamus! I started in October 2017, and it easily became a part of my everyday routine.
I’ve paid those cheap membership fees, and within the next few months, I stopped showing up. I stopped doing the dance videos. A day off became weeks, then months. I felt lethargic. I didn’t want to wear jeans or dresses. I just wanted my stretchy-pants and baggy shirts. I was depressed, and I never wanted to go out. I’m one of those people who gain weight throughout my entire body, and I see it mostly in my face. Each body is different. To find your body type, I suggest checking out Gauge Girl Training. It doesn’t matter where you are at right now, everyone has a different starting point. At one point or another, everyone has experienced these uncomfortable feelings of being in your own skin. We are all our own worst critics, and this is the single, most important mode of transportation we have for the rest of our lives. Exercise, getting the heart pumping, can revive you—no matter what age.
I go to CrossFit every day! When I don’t show up, other members and coaches always ask where I’ve been. I’m even stronger than my swim-shape. Being a distance swimmer, cardio is my strong suit, but lifting weights and toning arms was always a struggle. Now, I can do multiple pull-ups and ten strict push-ups in a row. I can even do handstand push-ups and double-unders too. It takes practice, but my fellow CrossFit friends have motivated and pushed me to succeed. I started with an empty, 15-pound bar, a 10-pound wallball, and I scaled the workouts to fit me. Being scaled, and adjusting the workout, helps me finish with everyone else. Some of the movements I still scale, knowing what I can and cannot do. There’s always room for improvement.
Show up! Take a look at the CrossFit gyms in your area. And if you live around Myrtle Beach, come check out Vivamus Crossfit, and workout with me!
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