Thanks guys. I couldn’t have done it without such a great support system. I look forward to seeing what I can accomplish in another year!  :D
I’ll post a picture from the reunion soon. Saw lots of bald guys and some overweight previously skinny people. What made me the most happy though, was knowing that I could outdo 99% of the guys that were there, in a physical challenge. Only a couple were in decent shape. That was the sweetest part!!

I could tell you the news about how much better I feel and how much stronger I am. I could discuss my weight loss and reduced body fat. I could also tell you about the changes in my attitude that my family has noticed since I started CrossFit. These are all true and extremely exciting.

But I’d rather tell you this: They say exercise makes you look and feel younger, and it must be true. For the 3rd time in 2 months, a grocery clerk has asked me for identification when I attempted to purchase a bottle of wine. I told her she had made my day. She understood when she saw my birthdate.

It takes all kinds of motivation to keep me going.

Should I have posted this in crazy talk?

No way! It’s not crazy! I tell you it’s the little things that bring us joy.  8)
Girl power!

I think this goes here: On Saturday during the Ramona Death March, my partner was Bobbi. (Bobbi, how tall are you?)

Although I’m sure it was not cake walk for Bobbi to pick me up, I felt really good about being able to carry her the 5-6 steps required during the marching parts of the drill. Lucky for us, Sifu Dan did not make me complete the entire 100 yard carry when everyone else had reached the end.

Bobbi,
Thanks for being a good sport about a little git like me picking you up without fearing me dropping ya.

Grit walk

Laura, That was way fun, and you are wonder woman.  OSHA regulations say you are not supposed to carry over 40 pounds.  You are right at four and a half times that with me….Go girl. 

For my own testimonial, I have lost 53 pounds and my pant size went from a size 22 to a 14.  I still have 16.5 pounds to go to get to 20% body fat, my goal.  I now know what lats, tricepts, bicepts, and traps are and I have them.  I tried Chealse the day before Christmas a year ago.  It took me a week to recover and I still decided on Jan. 15th to come back.  Why? Because Jim R. told me in his sparing workshop that I was having endurance problems and I should try Crossfit.  I would get so whipped after a few two min. rounds that I think Jim was glad the emergency number had been simplified to 911.

When I started I was in such bad shape, my first post to the Crossfit site was on pain management and what they thought of taking drugs for pain.  The days were OK, I could deal with it, but at night I could not sleep.

In the last work out I did Pack with 90 pound dead lifts, and the legs are still good.  I regularly row a 5 K, which I would never have even thought to do pre Crossfit, and it feels great.  I am backpacking, and hiking again.  I started out with hip, knee and sholder problems, and of these only the sholder is giving me minor problems.  I took a tread mill test and the tech was totally amazed at my test and the one min. recovery heart rate.  For me it is not what I can do in the gym, but how it translates to Krav, dancing, yardwork, and etc. 

All that said, the biggest change for me has been mental.  The Krav, along with Crossfit .... well, it has been emotionally empowering as I no longer feel totaly vulnerable. 

OK, I now like my body, I said it, and for the first time in 20 years, when my husband says he likes my body, I believe him.  Oh, I can’t belive I just typed that, but if you are looking for motivation, this is key stuff.  OK, way too serious…..

I am now over my fear of push ups.  Is there a word for push up phobia?  My first day I could do two on my knees before my sholder felt like it was being ripped out of the socket and my arms were like noodles.  Jim started me out doing 50 twice a day against a wall.  Yep, that would be in the vertical position.  I would pray in my first Krav classes that Jeff would not give us more then ten push ups because at that time, that was all I could do—-on my knees.  I can do lots and lots of sets, five at a time.  :D

And lastly I have gotten over my fear of spandex.  Yes, I had spandexiphobia.  I read in a book called the New York Work Out Plan that you should ware spandex so you see the good, the bad and the ugly.  So, spandex it has been, and now recently I have also gotten over my fear of looking in morrors.  A size 22 in spandex, motivating or frightening?

Bobbi- very motivating !
Fantastic job - You have been consistant and have worked hard
for those results !
But the best part is that you feel better and your fitness and confidence have improved your life ! It shows !

Bobbi, that is an awesome testimonial! Keep going! You’re my hero.

Let me share my TESTIMONY! Can I hear an AMEN?

This stuff is LIFE CHANGING. I tell everyone I know about it. I started CrossFit about 1 1/2 months ago. At that point, I had lost about 85 pounds. BORED. I was BORED. I could run for an hour but I hated it. Where did the girl go that I was in college? I was a professional singer and dancer (not that kind of dancer!) when I got married.

Now? 103 pounds down and feeling STRONG. I look forward to coming to Brand X every day. I need to be pushed. Yeah, it does something for your body. I went from a size 18 and now I am in a 10! More important is what it does for your SPIRIT. The other day Satan walked over to make sure I was still breathing after a work out and there I lay, in tears. Why? Because one year ago, I was close to 300 pounds and couldn’t walk to the corner without getting winded. Look at me now!

I look better, feel better, sleep better. How can anyone argue with that?

DRINK THE KOOOOOOLAID and pass the cup back to me ‘cuz I want some more.

Arlene

[quote author=“buttercupcrimefighter”]The other day Satan walked over to make sure I was still breathing after a work out and there I lay, in tears. Why? Because one year ago, I was close to 300 pounds and couldn’t walk to the corner without getting winded. Look at me now!

Right on, BCCF. Amazing journey for you and this isn’t even the end!

Satan’s not as evil as he’s cracked up to be. But don’t tell him I said that!

Satan

He he he…

:evil: I agree with your assessment of Satan not being as evil as he looks. He’s not evil, he’s just drawn that way!”

Having trouble typing…can’t lift my arms from Monday…

Arlene

LOL @ Jessica Rabbit reference.

Arlene - my back and arms are still stiff. Also, for about 3 hours, my arms were like rubberbands.

Now I am REALLY impessed! You got my Jessica Rabbit reference!!

My arms hurt soooo bad.

A

Well who hasn’t seen Roger Rabbit like a 1000 times?! You’re doing a great job, Arlene. Keep up the good work. You won’t believe what you can do this time next year. Girl power!

I have been doing adult crossfit for about two months and i see a HUGE difference in my strength, especially my running. I am doing the Presedential testing at school and ran a mile in ten minutes and already passed the push-ups on the first day and beat alot of the boys. Crossfit has changed alot of things like how i can lift a 50lbs bag of grain. Crossfit works!

Delaney- I know that you are going to be even more amazing as you grow !  Your pullups were great today, too.