A while back I decided it was about time to improve my physical
condition by losing a few pounds and exercising more. I had recently experienced the 50 milestone and you kind of
have a little panic attack about it and where you are in life! To do this I knew I needed to kick
things up a few notches as what I was doing wasn’t cutting it for me. I started to investigate which piece of
equipment I could get to help me do this.
Around that time, I attended a lunch and learn session at work where Mike
was the guest speaker. He talked about proper training and nutrition and how
these are critical to help reach our goals. So I decided to check it out and go for a few personal
training sessions. Making this move was totally out of my comfort zone as I had
never really been to a gym before, let alone a personal trainer. Taking walks and playing around with 5
and 10 lb weights was about it for me up to that point.
At Catalyst, I was signed up with Tim Young who was just starting as a
Personal Trainer at the time; he is also a Physio Therapist (which really came
in handy when the soreness set in from the workouts). Well, a few sessions turned into over 3 years later on my
journey. With Tim’s training and
encouragement along the way, I now run and strength train regularly and I love
it! Over the last 3 years I have run a couple of 10k races and the local 1/2
Marathon.
Last Fall Tim told me about this "Cross fit" thing they were
doing and explained how the WOD’s worked and some of the exercises. He wanted me to try it out. The first
one we tried was the clean and jerk.
I thought I would never get it, coordination and remembering so many
moves for one exercise are not really my strengths. I wasn't sure I wanted to keep trying that – I wasn't good
at it! I secretly thought these
people were crazy – especially after we did Michael (now one of my favourites).
I am not sure what motivated me to change my mind because I had vowed
that Cross fit wasn't for me, but I signed up for Mike's WOD classes, and one
year later I am hooked. I am the strongest I have ever been both physically and
mentally and getting stronger.
Before discovering Catalyst and their training, I worked through every
lunch hour and would go home stressed and exhausted at the end of the day. Now my lunches are booked to run or go
for the WOD, and it's changed my life.
I handle the stress better now and I have more energy than ever.
We have a great group at Queen and Mike is a great cross fit trainer
(never say "can't" in front of him, newbies learn that pretty
quick). Working together in a
group is motivating, and we see each other improving all the time, its fun to
cheer each other on. Mike gets
some competition going sometimes which is fun. There are some days you think "why am I
doing this?" and you go to the class, and after you've accomplished the
WOD, you remember why you do it! Cross
fit is hard work, but you do things you never thought possible.
I am doing the WOD at least 3 x per week,
running 3 to 4 times per week, strength training with Tim, Mike's running class
and Whitney's kipping class.
I feel my strengths are running, sit ups, squats, push ups, kettle bell
and some of the lifting. I am
working on improving my pull-ups.
I tried double unders and really need to work on them!