Caroline:  CrossFit Gives Me Confidence and Builds My Self Esteem

I’ve come to the point in my life where “skinny” isn’t the ultimate goal.

Hometown:  Richmond

Age: 27

Occupation:  Athletic Director 

When did you first start CrossFitting:  

2012

When did you first start training at CrossFit Prelude:

January 2015

Favorite WOD/Movement: 

I love me some American kettle bell swings.

Least Favorite WOD/Movement:

I hate running and burpees equally.

Tell us about you sports; fitness; and/or life background:  

I was a dancer, swimmer and cardio queen before entering college.  Part of my exercise science major was learning Olympic lifts with the football conditioning team.  After the first night in the gym I knew that lifting heavy was what I wanted to do.  I still dance now and love spin and barre classes.  Nothing beats throwing some heavy weight around, though.

What is your “Something Better” that you hope to achieve with CrossFit Prelude: 

My something better is body image.  I’ve come to the point in my life where “skinny” isn’t the ultimate goal.  I like that my body is strong and is capable of doing 100 burpees (even though I’d hate every second).  CrossFit gives me confidence and builds my self-esteem.  I may not be a size zero but at CrossFit I feel like superwoman.

Just show up. Showing up is, hands down, the hardest part of a workout.

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel:

I didn’t even get through the door for my first workout.  I had signed up for my first class and when I got there I sat in my car and totally psyched myself out.  I drove away and thought “I can never go back there.  They will know what a wimp I am.”

My first actual workout took place about a week later at a completely different CrossFit gym with people who had no idea how terrified I was on the inside.  I don’t remember the exact numbers but it was a combination of rowing, deadlifts, box jumps and ab mat sit ups.  I actually finished third out of eight people that day and felt awesome.  After the endorphins wore off, I thought for sure I’d throw up.

 What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CrossFit (before/after):

I’ve been very on again, off again with my CrossFit habits.  At my peak I saw almost a ten percent decrease in body fat and was definitely in the best shape of my life.  My CrossFit training gave me a totally new body and allowed me to run a half marathon.  I was amazed with my improvements every time I went in.  CrossFit has significantly improved my eating habits.  As a dancer growing up, I was no stranger to calorie restriction and even had bouts of disordered eating.  My CrossFit experiences have taught me that the right food is so important and that good food is never the enemy.

 What keeps you coming back.  What motivates and inspires you:

The potential for improvement is what keeps me coming back.  There is always something to strive for in CrossFit whether it be a new weight lifting PR, a faster workout time, or improving technique in a lift.  It is impossible to walk into a box and not improve on something.

 Please share with us any favorite CrossFit Prelude moments:

CrossFit Prelude has been the best CrossFit experience I’ve ever had.  I have so many positive Prelude moments.  My most recent favorite CrossFit Prelude moment was during a workout at the park.  It was Saturday morning and the workout consisted of sprints, farmer’s carry, and sprints with sandbags.  About half way through, another Prelude member showed up at the park with his young son.  The boy grabbed some kettle bells and a sandbag and finished the workout with us.  Seeing this 7 or 8 year old smiling and working so hard boosted my energy and gave me a fresh outlook on the rest of the work out.

 Any advice for people just getting started:

I have two pieces of advice for those just getting started.

1.  Just show up.  Showing up is, hands down, the hardest part of a workout.  When I’m having trouble motivating myself (which is more often than I’d like to admit) I remember that the whole thing will be over in 45 minutes.   If I can just put on my clothes and get in the car, the entire thing is over in less than an hour.

2.  As a trainer and instructor I find that a lot of people are concerned with what others are thinking of them.  I would bet my life that not one person at CrossFit Prelude is thinking a single negative thing about you.  No one is thinking “Why are they here?”  “They are too weak.”  “That person is too fat.” “They will never succeed.”  Not one person is thinking those thoughts.  Everyone at CrossFit Prelude wants you to succeed.  We are excited to see you!  We are excited that last week you lifted the bar and this week you are putting five pound plates on.  We are so happy for you when you finish that workout.  If you are struggling, we cheer for you.  If you rock, we cheer for you.  CrossFit Prelude is an uplifting, motivating, and extremely positive environment.  If you don’t think you can do it, CrossFit Prelude is the perfect place to prove yourself wrong.