Bench Press: 120 lbs.
Deadlift: 190 lbs.
Back Squat: 150 lbs.
Overhead Squat: 105 lbs.
Rope Climbs (Yeah!!), 93 burpees in 7 minutes.
CrossFit Level 1 Certification
Pretty much all my life I wanted to be thin. I lifted weights in my garage and ran in the mornings, mostly. So I lifted weights and I ran; a lot. I dieted and used running as a way to buy my calories. If I could run then I could eat what I wanted. It worked for a long time. I got and stayed thin. How boring!! I had always wanted to learn the Olympic lifts and I could never perform a real pushup or pullup. A coworker mentioned that he was doing this thing called CrossFit. I had no idea so I googled it and found CrossFit Sand Springs was right on my to and from work. Every time I drove by I would slow down and would try to see inside. I must have looked at the website a million times before I summoned up the courage to walk in the door at 5 am. That was in June 2014. I was so nervous that first day, but I was immediately involved in the class doing the movements, scaled of course, and I was hooked. I didn't play sports in high school, except softball and I wouldn't consider myself an athlete. However, all I needed was the guts to walk in the door, listen to the coaches, and be consistent. Anyone can do that! So I did and have been doing that ever since. Doing the workouts with others pushed me to get better. My only regret is not doing this sooner! Now, years later, I am not as skinny as I was. That is a good thing. But I am stronger and my confidence is so much higher. I can do real pushups and pullups. This is one of the reasons I wanted to become a coach. If I can do this anyone can.
It wasn't long after I started CrossFit that I started to notice that my little accomplishments in the gym were spilling over into the rest of my day. Finishing a particularly tough WOD or setting a new PR sets you up for success for the rest of the day. That kind of positive mental state bleeds over into your work. The encouragement you get from the other folks working out with you also sets the tone for how you treat others. If it was a tough day at work, believe me, there were a ton, and I would work off the crazy in the gym. It is mental therapy. I just want to share this with everyone. Coaching means that I can give to others what I have gotten from CrossFit.
I chose to become a coach for two reasons. Number 1 was to try to give back what was given to me by the coaches who shaped me, and continue to do so. Number 2 was for more selfish reasons. In order to coach well you have to learn the movements inside and out, upside down, backward, and forward. In other words, I get to learn more and then share it in a way that others can use it. I think I get more excited when others accomplish their goals than they do. It's so rewarding to see the smile on someone's face when they progress. It's the BEST!!!
