My CrossFit story started in March of 2013. I was looking to find something to do with my time after recently graduating from college. I joined a gym in Florence, Alabama. I fell in love with CrossFit from the time I started. I got in great shape and was so much stronger than when I played sports in high school. In March of 2014 I got my “big boy job” which required me to move to Birmingham. Once I started working I thought that I would have time to work out and find a gym. My work schedule kept me busy so I thought I didn’t have time to join a gym or even work out on my own at my house. I fell off the wagon hard for a year and a half. I knew I was putting on weight but I wasn’t sure how much. In October of 2015 I went to the doctor for a normal checkup and weighed 282 pounds. My doctor sat me down and told me that in a years time since he last saw me that I had put on 75 pounds. I told myself I was going to start fresh in 2016 and get back in shape.
I had a reality check one night at church. I started having tightness in my chest and chest pain. For a moment I thought I was having a heart attack. I told myself right then I had to get in shape and get healthy. I couldn’t wait til the start of a new year. I was embarrassed of myself so I would not allow myself to join a gym. I had already purchased a barbell, weights and other items so I started back doing CrossFit in my garage. Once I started back I realized how much I had genuinely missed CrossFit. I worked out in my garage for a year and got to the point to where I hated working out by myself. I told myself it might be time to start looking into joining a gym.
In August of 2016 I moved to Alabaster. I literally knew no one. I was in a new city by myself. My second day of living in Alabaster I joined CrossFit Alabaster. This is where my story gets better. CrossFit on its own is a great workout program and way to get in shape. But CrossFit Alabaster is a family. Some of my closest friends are from the gym. I used to view working out as way of punishing myself for years of harming my body and putting on weight. But now it is literally one of the high points of my day. I get to go see my friends and get a workout in and better myself.
In November of 2018 year I officially hit 100 pounds of weight loss and have since lost an additional 25 pounds for a total of 125 pounds lost. I can honestly say that CrossFit saved my life. If you are on the fence about starting, do it. Take it from me. It is for anybody. I did it when I was in shape, out of shape and now getting back to being in shape.
