Did I really live through that?

   

First time walking at Cross-fit.

 Monday.  Sigh...Monday, the first of my 5 workouts for this week. I really love my weekends OFF from working out, however, I also hate them because it just seems that the Monday morning workout is harder than ever! Not sure who I'm trying to kid...they are ALL hard workouts! Today was no exception.

     I arrived at the Cross-fit gym, and The Blonde Goddess was there already....we chatted for a little while about my homemade ketchup making I am trying to attempt, laughing, then we did some push presses.  Some days, my warm up is exhausting and I say to myself..."If my warm up is making me winded, I'm petrified of the workout for the day!"

     As I'm heaving and sounding like a huge Mammoth gal doing push presses....in walks Dr. Biceps.  Dr. Biceps, he's an amazing chiropractor, the poster child for IN SHAPE, and very knowledgeable about all things fitness and health.  Doc is actually the one who convinced me to "TRY" Cross-fit! I remember that day, I actually laughed on the way home at the absurdity of the idea....I mean, a 428 lb. woman who could barely walk do CROSS FIT???  Yep, I thought Dr. Biceps had actually lost his mind.

     Fast forward to my warm up this Monday morning....I'm heaving my way through it and I overhear:
   
     "Are you going to have her do the workout for today that's posted?"  Dr. Biceps asks The Blonde Goddess.
     "Hmm, yeah, I think I might...she could..." replies The Blonde Goddess.
     Dr. Biceps says, "yeah, have her walk around the building for the 200 meter run."

Hello....yooo hooooo....remember me?  The obese lady that's STILL OBESE????    I'm still here!  I'm over here sweating enough to fill Lake Michigan...I hear you two chit chatting even though I can't breathe.....Did I hear you say "walk around the building?"  I prayed to Jesus..."please Jesus please...I can't walk much today!"  Well, Jesus answered my prayers. He helped me through it and I'm alive to write this now.

     I start my workout.... THREE repeats of this: 20 Wall Balls, I loathe these...they always seem to smash into my face....that's always fun...8 lb medicine ball...SPLAT....SMACK....repeat.

Wall Balls a.k.a. Hell Balls

Then, 300 meter row on the rowing machine....15 pull ups. I do these on rings still....some day I will get to "real" pull-ups!  Walk around the building......then, last but not least, finish with 5 bur-pees.  THREE times people.

     I am officially naming this WOD (workout of the day): HELP ME JESUS.

     I just pray....I hear my trainer's voice coaching me, encouraging me....and I still pray. Jesus help. I pray, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I continue to pray.

     I've told The Blonde Goddess since DAY ONE of Cross Fit that if I EVER go down....EVER fall down...do NOT..I repeat...DO NOT call 911.  I don't need the firetrucks and paramedics showing up to use the crane to help up the fat lady out at the Cross Fit gym, becoming front page news on the daily newspaper! Today, I think I came close.  On that 3rd walk around the building, I saw stars...real stars, then I realized it was 11am..the stars were ME becoming light headed.  I was scoping out a good place to land on that concrete.

     So, 30 minutes later, I finished.  I was exhausted.  I was so out of breath...I was almost crying.  Why do I do that to myself?  I'll answer....it's very simple really.   As grueling as that workout was, it was NOTHING compared to the days I couldn't walk ten feet!  NOTHING compared to the days I couldn't get on the floor or couldn't even pick up a basket of my boys's laundry.  Nothing compared to the countless days I sat in my vehicle as one of my boys had to run in to the grocery store.  Nothing compared to the days I would lose my breath walking only halfway around my son's football game to the bleachers hoping no one heard me breathing so heavy and loud..... NOTHING.

     Yes, that 30 minute MONDAY workout was incredibly hard, but, I DID IT!  I did it. I walked around that building 3 times.  Only 7 months ago I couldn't get up out of a chair without one of my boys helping me.  So, I will DO it again. And, again.  And, again. Because I CAN.  My Dad has always told me and my siblings that we can do anything we put our minds too.....and some days my Cross Fit workout is my mind pushing my body to it's limit.

     But, I believe with Jesus helping, my Blonde Goddess believing in me, Dr. Biceps coaching me and my family supporting me, I'll make it a lot further than just around that dang building 3 times! I will make it to my goal.


Melanie :)