Starting CrossFit and Laughing In the Face of Excuses

Hey Guys! Hopefully as you’re reading this I’m laying by the pool getting a tan or repelling down a waterfall in Costa Rica. While I’m gone I have some awesome bloggers sharing with you. Be sure to show them the love! Today’s Guest Blogger is Kacie. She gets cool points in my book for being from Texas. Hope you enjoy! – Courtney

 

Howdy y’all!

Oops, I gave away my Southern roots in the first line, huh? Anywho—I am more than ecstatic to be guest blogging for Courtney!  If we haven’t “met” yet, my name is Kacie Phillips.  On my blog, Savvy Sassy Me, I share my journey to optimal health.  I am a 19-year-old college student at Texas Tech University; and I am currently finding my way to happy, healthy, and strong!

First things first, I want you take a moment and ponder this question: Do you have any fitness “goals” or aspirations in the back of your mind?  Is there anything you have wanted to try, but haven’t yet?

Until about a month ago, I had one simple answer to that very question: CrossFit.

Ever since this past summer, I have been intrigued by the intensity and nature of the sport.  I like to describe this past summer as the moment I unearthed a serious passion for healthy living.  I began experimenting with exercises, seeking challenges, and gasp—started my blog.

Perhaps my initial interest in CrossFit stemmed from its reputation as intense, demanding, and difficult.  CALL ME CRAZY—those adjectives are serious what intrigued my from the start.  Before I lose you completely, you have to understand my personality—there is NOTHING I love more than a challenge.  If it’s hard, I’ll show you I can do it.  If it’s impossible, I’ll make it happen.  It’s just the nature of who I am.

During my “finding my way” stage this past summer, I discovered an initial passion for running.  Sure enough, simply running wasn’t enough.  Remember this challenge thing?  I just always need to take things to the “next level”.  Ergo, I signed up for a half-marathon and began a training regiment.  A few months into training, I suffered a stress fracture.  I continued to run on the undiagnosed injury for an entire month.  When I finally saw a doctor, the damage was done.  I had to wear a boot for six weeks, and running was out of the question for the foreseeable future.

Cue: Devastation.

Luckily, the injury was a blessing in disguise.  My time off of running allowed me to look within myself and I eventually found a NEW passion—weight-lifting.

 

I finally started to venture into the weight rooms—where I had ALWAYS been to intimidated to be.  I felt like it was full of macho, chauvinistic men who couldn’t say anything but: “I pick up heavy objects and put them down” in their best Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation.  Stereotypical assumption, much?

Regardless, I continued to lift and I was truly in love.  Building muscle and noting progress happied my soul.  I was seriously on Cloud 9.

But this CrossFit business was always in the back of my mind. 

As the Fall semester progressed, I began seeing Groupons and Living Social deals for CrossFit boxes.  At the end of November, I stumbled upon a deal for the CrossFit box near my parent’s house.  Since I would be home for a month over break—this was my golden opportunity.  Since I would be on break, I knew I could devote all my attention to CrossFit…and blog all about it.

 I had been making excuses after excuses for far too long…

I finally took the leap of faith, bought a month’s membership, and signed myself up.  I was nervous, excited, and READY.  There was no looking back when it was already paid for.

After my first session, I was in love.  So this was what everyone had been obsessing over for so long.  In a few short weeks, I have learned so much.  I have learned proper form for Olympic lifts, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, etc.  I have learned that I can and should lift heavy.  Not to mention, the lingo isn’t completely foreign anymore.

 

I have discovered that girls can be strong too.  In fact, strong and fabulous go hand-in-hand.  More than anything, I have discovered a sense of confidence and empowerment within myself.

Unfortunately, I also learned the hard way that accidents happen and you must train safely.  Read about my pull-up catastrophe here.  I won’t get into the details here, but this was yet another lesson: Train HARD, but train SAFE.

At the end of the day, I couldn’t be happier that I took the leap of faith to try CrossFit.  If it weren’t for this decision, I wouldn’t be starting 2013 with a renewed sense of confidence in my physical capabilities.

When I return to school, I may join another Box.  And I may not.  But regardless, I will go back knowing that I can do anything I set my mind to.  I can hang with the toughest of the tough.  And I am capable of whatever I set my mind to.

 CrossFit is no longer an aspiration; I am now a CrossFit-er.  And I love saying that.

Your fitness journey is all about variation and finding your passion.  Try new things; challenge yourself.  You’ll be glad you did.

Back to my question: What fitness “goals” or aspirations are in the back of your mind?
 

Whether it is CrossFit, Pilates, a half-marathon, or something else entirely—GIVE IT A GO.  Whether you stick with or not, you’ll never know until you try.

Take a leap of faith.  Accept a challenge.  Push yourself.  Live empowered. 

Now, let’s connect!  You can find me on my blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or feel free to email me anytime at savvysassyme @ gmail dot com.

Have a fabulous and empowering day!