It is October 2010; I am 4 months pregnant with our second child. My husband David (also a success story) and his father a retired, 32 year veteran of the LAPD SWAT, joined Walnut CrossFit.
Fast-forward 3 months. Yes, Still pregnant. Extremely hormonal, and oh so glowing with a soon-to-be-mommy-of-two radiance…. aka fat! I really disliked Walnut CrossFit at this point because every, and any conversation between my husband and my father-in-law began and ended with WOD(workout of the day), PRs(personal records), Time, and Round. I told them, “Great you have joined a cult!” My husbands pounds were melting away. I am incredibly proud of my husband but lets face it, I refused to let my husband be the hotter one in the relationship.
On April 22, 2011 I gave birth to our second child. I looked in the mirror trying to search for that girl that once existed; A girl that was now lost somewhere in the sea of loose skin, layers of body fat, and undesired kangaroo pouches. I had never struggled with my weight nor did I have to watch my food intake, but life happened and my body had become drastically distorted. I now found myself in a dark well that I couldn’t crawl myself out of.
When my daughter was 7 weeks old. My husband scheduled my Intro Class. As we drove to the class my stomach was in knots. I was scared, nervous, and anxious. Feelings I still get before a workout. I completed the workout and then sat in Coach Rob’s office as he explained the benefits of CrossFit. All I heard was blah, blah, blah because I was still trying to breathe and manage my urge to puke.
Without over thinking it I signed up and began my CrossFit journey and Paleo Diet lifestyle. My first months at Walnut CrossFit consisted of me fighting the urge to run home, as I knew that I was going to have my rear handed to me, yet again. I have never been called or considered myself an athlete by any sense of the word, but I have done things at the box that have exceeded my wildest of dreams. Just when I think I am “awesome” and my confidence is at its peak, I get brought down to reality with, what I think at the time, is the hardest workout yet. That is exactly what keeps me coming back. The sense of the unexpected and the knowing that I will never plateau nor will my body ever “get used to it.” I have grown in strength, endurance, speed and most importantly my self-esteem.
During my second fundamentals class Coach Rob asked me what my goal was. My response was not the typical “get back in my pre-pregnancy jeans” (I wasn’t flying that high with my expectations). I told him I wanted to wear a fitted, sparkly dress for my 30th birthday. He said, “We have 5 months. No problem.” By month 4 not only did I buy my sparkly dress, but to my surprise I was able to wear my pre-pregnancy jeans with pride.
I could have never reached such accomplishments without the guidance and never-absent support of Coach Rob and my family. The camaraderie and bond you form with other members is unexplainable. Just when you think you do not have a single ounce of energy left, it’s that distant voice from the person next to you, cheering you on, that makes you pull energy from the air and place all you have left on the mat.
I am constantly asked, “How did you do it?” People want to hear the name of a magic diet pill or latest fad. My response, “Ready?……. it’s crazy…Paleo Diet and CrossFit.” (Diet and real exercise. Not what you get a 24 hr Fitness or LA fitness. All of which I tried without success.) Sorry there is no pixie dust and no 2-week results, answer. Everything real and worth-it in life takes persistence, determination, true commitment, and is NOT easy!
When I was 3 months pregnant with my daughter, I was diagnosed with a rare case of Progressive and Advanced Meniere’s Disease. A disease, which alters my balance, ability to focus, makes vertigo consistently present, and is slowly taking away my hearing. I have a full time career as a teacher; I am a full-time mother of two; I married a deputy, and I am always on the go. How is that for excuses? Put yours aside and take care of you!