Brielle, Doug, J9 & Pat:
February 20th 2013 marks my 1 year anniversary as “ShedHead”. Some days, I feel like I started yesterday
and other days it feels like I started a decade ago. While 1 year
really does not mean anything in the grand scheme of life, I personally
choose to mark some milestones in life that are important to me. 1
year of consistent CrossFit workouts makes my list, as I now know that
most people do not attain this achievement.
The direct impact
for me has been physical change, but the mental change has been as
equally important. Every day I feel stronger, healthier, more confident
and generally just plain happier. Ironically, before CrossFit I had
already achieved so much personally and professionally, but now I look
back at times and wonder how. It is making me great at the things I
was already good at and adequate at the things I chose to ignore
“because I sucked at them”.
I started my official “diet” in
December, 2011, with a Dr. managed program and my normal workout routine
of weights/cardio. I was just too fat for a 34 year old guy who was
scared I would leave my family alone in this world too early one day.
My diet was effective and I was moving in the right direction, but I
knew that one day it would slow. Several months in, Brielle, Steve,
my wife and I talked about this life changing “thing” call CrossFit as
we shared a dinner at my house (pizza, yum, my kryptonite). I
eagerly/nervously agreed to meet Brielle the next morning for my
introductory workout. AMRAP in 10 minutes (10 pull-ups, 10 pushups
& 10 squats), simple enough, simple enough… Ha ha ha, that would be
the last time I uttered the words “simple enough” and the first time I
felt like I might die! Somehow, I came back again and again and again
and over the course of this year I have been pretty darn consistent with
my morning workouts. I might even take credit one day for being a
founding father of the “morning crew”!
I remember feeling so intimidated at first (I still do today
at times), as I watched my peers do things that were unattainable to me
(some still are, but one day will not). But, I credit the supportive
nature of each of you to drive me to simply “keep moving”, which has
been my motto and inspiration. The first few months were rough, but I
loved them. Many of my mornings were simply Brielle and Doug watching
me WOD by myself, I can only imagine what they were thinking, but their
words never embarrassed me. They saw many of my big first milestones..
be it a OHS with an empty barbell, a pull up where I did not need the
band made from a car tire or a 24” box jump. J9 then became a morning
person and has been anther driving force for me since then. The list
goes on and on and now some of my biggest weaknesses are my
strengths..and some of my weaknesses, well they are still my weaknesses.
All
and all, my perspective has changed. My quest to lose weight is now a
quest to be fitter. My quest to be perfect is now a quest to be better
than yesterday.
My quest to compete vs others is now to compete against myself.
These seemingly insignificant changes in how I approach life were formed
at 6:30 am Mon, Wed, Friday, over the course of this past year.
I
know I said weight loss is not my primary driver anymore..But it sure
still motivates the hell out of me and I do like looking at old
pictures.
I cannot
imagine the sacrifices you have all made to create what I have been
able to experience. I know your motivation has been sincere, so I thank
you for that and share my words a proof that you are doing good, each in
your own way.
Thanks again, very much looking forward to the next phase of growth for “The Shed”.
-Pete
