Set Goals then Kick 'em in the Face
In May of 2012, I came to the realization that I
needed to make a change in my lifestyle.
At a weight of 210 pounds, I felt depressed, out of energy and I had a
low self esteem. I began by running with
the couch to 5K program on the ipod and I started attending Zumba classes as
well. During the time I started running
and attending Zumba, I learned that my diet was a big factor to my lifestyle change
that needed to happen. I tried Dynomite
180, which was a homeopathic type of appetite suppressant, coupled with a low
calorie diet. In doing Zumba, running,
Dynomite 180 and eating less, I was able to drop about 40 pounds over the
summer months.
I dabbled with Crossfit type training off and on during the
summer months, but I started attending regularly in November of 2012. Starting Crossfit, I weighed 170 pounds. In January 2013, I participated in the
Crossfit Lifestyle Challenge which consisted of eating a paleo diet and getting
at least seven hours of sleep at night.
The challenge also required that I exercised at least five times per
week and rested the other two. The
challenge lasted six weeks. I was able
to lose five pounds in those six weeks, but I gained a love for Crossfit and
the paleo diet. Shortly after the six
week lifestyle challenge, I participated in the Crossfit Open. I was very nervous about participating due to
the fact that I couldn't complete some of the required workouts and
movements. I couldn't even complete a
situp prior to starting this lifestyle change.
There were many movements/skills during the open that I was
unable to complete prior to the open, but I stayed focused and determined and
was able to accomplish many things that I couldn't do before the games, like
double unders, box jumps and wall balls.
I still haven't been able to do a pullup without a rubber band to
assist, but I'm closer than I've ever been.
At the start of Crossfit, I was using the widest band I could find (two
inch), but I'm currently using the half inch band.
On July 24th, 2013, I signed up for and
completed my first 10K race. This was a
great accomplishment especially considering I couldn't run ¼ of a mile without
stopping, prior to this lifestyle change.
I finished the 10K race in one hour and eight minutes. I fished 3rd
place!!!.....well....from the last, but what matters is I didn't quit. I have learned from Crossfit that things are
tough sometimes, but to always finish what you start and no matter how long it
takes – FINISH. In the workouts, it is
YOU vs YOU.
In September 2013, while Crossfitting five days per week
and doing Zumba twice a week, I was still at 167 pounds and still eating
paleo. I was feeling frustrated at all
the work and minimal to no results. My
husband mentioned that some guys at his work (Washington County Sheriff's
Office) had lost a lot of weight after visiting Dr. Brian Hardy and starting
his diet plan at the Institute of Alternative Medicine. After a few months with Dr. Hardy, along with
the continuation of my exercise plan, I lost more pounds and inches and
currently weigh 140 pounds.
During my visits with Dr. Hardy, I was diagnosed with
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease). I have learned that I have several food
allergies and Dr. Hardy and I have come up with a diet plan that has helped me
lose weight, gain muscle and feel better than I have in a very long time. Along with Dr. Hardy's plan, I am continuing
to workout with my crossfit family.
One of the most effective steps of this transformation was
setting goals. I learned how important
it is to set goals and challenge yourself in short steps. It is important to set goals, reach them and
set more goals in order to continue to grow and progress. There are always going to be cheat days
and/or times you don't want to get out of bed, but those are the times when you
grow the most. Even to this day, that I
have reached my “goal weight” and I still set goals to keep myself going to a
healthier me. For instance, working on
controlling the Hashimoto's, conquering my pull ups without a band to assist,
working on my PR's at crossfit. Anything
that keeps me moving forward!! One of my
favorite quotes is,
I Will Beat Her
I will train harder.
I will eat cleaner.
I know her weaknesses.
I know her strenghts.
I've lost to her before,
But not this time.
She is going down.
I have the advantage
because I know her well.
She is the Old Me.
There are many people to thank for helping me through this
journey I have made with my lifestyle change.
My husband for ALWAYS encouraging me, supporting me, picking me up when
I couldn't keep going, and listening to me during my frustration and
excitement. The many great friends I
have made during this journey too. My
Cross fit family for pushing me by their amazing examples and their encouraging
words. To some I want to punch in the
face, but with love!! :) My Zumba Family
for making exercising so much fun, and
pushing me out of my comfort zone and to Dr. Hardy for working with me and
helping figure out the problems I've been having.
Trudy Jessop
December 9, 2013
Age 33
Enterprise, Utah
"I don't run"
It was May of 2012 and I had finally had enough. I was 50 pounds overweight and was in the worst shape of my life. I had no energy and my clothes just kept getting tighter and tighter and I refused to pay for bigger clothes! I had gained 5 pounds in May and after my birthday on June 3rd I decided that was it and I needed to change everything I was doing. I'm in my 40's and not getting any younger! So I decided to eat lots of protein and quit eating anything with flour or sugar in it. Then after a few weeks of that, I decided I needed to add exercise. I started doing some workouts at home and that was going to get old real quick. One night my husband came home and said that he did a Crossfit work-out up at the high school and that I needed to come with him, so I decided to try it. My first night I thought I was going to die! That's the first work-out I've ever done where I thought I was actually going to pass-out and throw up. What was weird is I went back even when I found myself being so afraid of the work-outs and worrying if I could even do them, but I just kept going and eventually I could sit down and stand up without screaming in pain from being so sore! Crossfit really has changed my life. I've lost over 50 pounds and am the strongest and most in shape that I think I've ever been in. I feel so good now and I have so much more energy! There's a lot of women out there that are afraid if they work-out with weights that they'll bulk up, but since I've been lifting weights I've gotten a lot smaller and a lot leaner. The first week we came and we had to do a work-out on the track and it had a lot of running, and I told Jesse and Shauna that I didn't run and I couldn't at first. I couldn't even run a whole lap! But back in October I ran a 5K with my husband and kids and it was a blast! Thank you Shauna and Jesse for bringing Crossfit to Enterprise and I love the way I feel right now! And thanks to all my Crossfit buddies that cheer me on every day and give me support!
Michelle Schimbeck
“Tipping the Scale”
I had been counting calories and running. My knees hurt and I still had about 15 pounds
left of my 45 to lose. I was living on
caffeine. By 2 every afternoon, I was
fighting off sleep with massive amounts of pop and coffee. I was miserable.
Jesse had been going to the box down in town for a while and
was seeing results (I attributed this to the fact that it was Jesse—the guy
that could casually say, “I think I will give up pop .” and instantly lose 5
pounds). He had been eating clean and
working hard. And he looked good. But I had lots of excuses.
Jesse told me that the workouts were addictive. He warned me that the workouts were just part
of it. The rest of it was nutrition, and
adequate rest. Finally, in April, I gave
in and started doing some of the workouts in the backyard after work. The warm up was almost too much for me some
days. Swinging the 35 pound kettle bell
was torture. I could not pull myself up
to the bar to do pull ups. It was so
hard. For some reason, I kept at
it. It was challenging. Every day was new. There were days I could barely move, but I
wanted more.
I was getting stronger but not really seeing the results I
had hoped for. I took the paleo plunge
and started eating clean. Suddenly I had
energy and the workouts became more manageable.
I recovered quicker. We took
before pictures and then pictures every few weeks after. I didn’t see the results as quickly as my
family did. (I am my biggest critic.)
Then we started getting a group together—it was fun working
out with friends. I was still trying to
beat my last time, but my friends pushed me too.
I used to have weight loss goals, now I have different
goals. I want to lift more weight, move
faster and be able to recover after a workout faster. I have stopped using the scale as a
measurement of my success. I love the
dread and anxiety and pain and soreness and relief and excitement that each
workout brings.
Thanks for sharing my fitness journey with me!
Shauna
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