Kat Quellich
My nephew would come over to our house and tell me about his workout. He said it wasn’t a gym or a run of the mill workout session. He called it “The Box” which was actually a place called CrossFit Modesto. The workouts sounded brutal and definitely not for me. I knew there was no way a fifty year old; overweight, out of shape woman would be able to do a regimen like CrossFit.
Finally after weeks and months of urging me to go, I agreed. I met the owners Denise and Mike Choate. Denise took me into her office, sat me down, went over the regimen of the CrossFit Modesto program and asked me if I could commit myself to a 6-8 week course of Boot Camp. I was nervous and afraid but I consented.
That night was my assessment. Stretching, rowing, sit-ups and a myriad of other exercising that I hadn’t done in years. I was so worn out that I couldn’t make my legs work. I felt like a rubber band that had been stretched too tight then snapped back, but when I left CrossFit Modesto that night, I had a sense of accomplishment that I hadn’t felt in years.
I won’t say that it was easy; it was hard mentally and physically. For weeks I went into CrossFit to do a modified workout. I was so out of shape, I couldn’t stand on one leg, couldn’t do a push-up, couldn’t even run around the building. The night before a session, I would lay awake thinking of excuses not to go. I was sore, discouraged and kept telling myself “I can’t do this.”
I was embarrassed and felt out of place but the coaches kept assuring me that I would improve. I would look around to make sure no one was watching. Everyone else was so immersed in their own workout and struggle that I realized it didn’t matter. I lost all self-consciousness over the next few workouts. Didn’t care if I looked ridiculous, didn’t care if I couldn’t do a full scale stretch, as long as I put my best effort in front of it, that’s what mattered.
The coaches kept pushing me a little farther every session, telling me I could do it. They told me as that every time I showed up; I was overcoming 90% of the battle. My nephew, my husband and the CrossFit Team keep me bolstered. One night, when I was struggling with my workout, my nephew told me “Auntie, just make up your mind to get comfortable being uncomfortable.” After that night, my attitude changed. I started enjoying the sessions and looking forward to seeing the CrossFit crowd.
Since I became a student of CrossFit Modesto, in late November 2009, I’ve lost 15 lbs. I have more energy. I’m getting stronger every session and more flexible. I can do a squat! I even did “Clean and Jerks” with actual weights on the bar. I have started running!
I still have a long way to go, I still do a modified work out and I still have many more pounds to lose but I know I’ll get there with help from my CrossFit Family and my immediate Family. I’ve made some new and wonderful friends where we all have the same thing in common; getting fit and healthy and staying that way. With the CrossFit family and my family, I know I’ll get there.
