My Story

I started to CrossFit in the outdoor boot camps in February 2007. At the time, I was overweight, overstressed and overwhelmed with my previous failed efforts to get into better physical shape, and inability to keep up with my three girls. I've never been athletic - so this was all new to me.

With both parents overweight and dealing with being Type 2 diabetic, having limited mobility and in generally poor health - I did not want to follow that path. More importantly I have three girls to raise and wanted to lead by example.

I was intimated at first - but after each work out and the encouragement I got from Coach Jeremy Thiel and my friends who joined with me - I was enthused to stick with it and although it took a while and tested my patience - I started seeing results after a few weeks - and notable weight loss after a couple months. I became obsessed in tracking metrics - which was very motivting to me - even though my husband eventually hid the scale. After a few months in the program, I picked up taking Advocare supplements and following the Zone diet - which accelerated my progress.

Two years later, I'm down 5 sizes and have lost lots of weight, inches and body fat. More importantly, I...

Am stronger

Am faster

Am more confident in my self - physically and mentally

Am energetic

Am proud

A better example for my family and friends

Have finished several race events including several 5k, a 10k, 3 triathlons, bike races, the muddy buddy...

Importantly, I have made great friends along the way who are all a positive influence on my life and keep me motivated to CrossFit and live a healthy lifestyle. I enjoy going out in public now - and am confident in myself where as beforehand, I just hoped to melt into the walls and not really be noticed. Now I'm also working for CrossFit Central and it's brought such a positive impact on my life to be surrounded with confident, caring, energetic people who have the goal to positively influence the lives of others - and it rubs off! Though I enjoy tracking my weight and measurement metrics - the improvement in my life overall - both mentally, physically simply can't be calculated.

Yes, you have to eat your veggies...

This is my new screen saver. I'm three days away from starting the I Am CrossFit program and I'll have to do body measurements, start my food log (Oh, Carey - I mean continue with my food log), eat on the Zone, take my Advocare and Juice Plus supplements - and in general be a strict girl. This is good since my goals are to lose 15 lbs and run a half marathon in April, among other things. This is the kick-start I need. So - this photo is actually my encouragement... When I'm about to fall off the wagon, I will envision "The Gov" saying, "why are you eating those Teddy Grahams" or maybe "no, you don't need ice cream" or even, "yes, you have to get your run in with BMJ today"... no excuses.

Ran 3 miles yesterday morning and made it to the work out at the gym too - Today, can't move. Taking turns with my partner Suzy, - 5 rounds max reps of the dreaded wall ball (3rd worst hated movement behind burpies and jumping pullups) and dead lifts - used 85lb bar. Think our combined score was 417. Today, I feel like I've been beaten with a steel pole - and it's a great feeling (except when in the process of standing or sitting, or trying to roll over in bed). I LOVE CROSSFIT.

The Mountains Fear Us....

Our CrossFit strong legs and super strong core are helping BMJ (Kelly) and myself tackle the slopes at Keystone. Seriously, when I went skiing several years ago (in my size 16 gear) - I could only tackle the easy green and rested about every 50 yards. With my much smaller sized gear (yeah me), and all those squats, lunges, med ball work and all the pain Jeremy and Crystal bring every MWF at boot camp is clearly the reason for the fun I have had on the slopes this trip. The girls are amazing skiiers too - and the governor (aka Hannah) is known in ski school as the instigator of many snow ball fights. When she's ready for CrossFit kids, I'll have a lot of explaining to do! Merry Christmas to you all...

CrossFit Chicks

I was proud to be a part of our CrossFit Chicks program where we had over 100 Girl Scouts, ages ranging from 8 to 14 who came thru our gym doors last weekend to get a CrossFit work out. Below is my oldest baby, Emilee, doing some quick work on the run ladder. Love it when we can reach out and have an influence on girls to be fit! Just watch - in 2009, our CrossFit Kids program will be rocking the house!

CrossFit Christmas

Fun at the CrossFit Christmas party - lots of cheer and so far, our count on athletic shoes to donate to charity is 125 -- just 25 away from goal, and I know we will blow that away...

Shown - Shock & Awe, Mel and Bonita...

Turkey Trot

Second annual Ward family participation in the Turkey Trot. Don ran with Hannah in the stroller, Grace ran along side me. Emilee hung out with Grandpa waiting for us at the finish line.

Monsters Go Away

I'm putting up this post with a little trepidation - as there's the whole female thing of not wanting anyone to know what you weigh, or your age. Well I'm just going to be brave and show you my measurements - and my turning 40 was pretty well publicized last year.

So - I'm doing this for Mel - cause she's followed my same path in a way - and she worries about that monster that will sneak back into the closet and pull down the larger size clothes from that bin at on the top shelf. Hate that monster. And for those other gals out there in the CrossFit program who are keeping faith in the "no more freaking excuses" mantra.

So almost 2 years ago - I started wtih CrossFit, with seriously following the Zone, food logging and taking Advocare. It took me a year to take off 68lbs and 45 inches. This would have been Feb 08.

Looking across the last 10 months (Feb 08 to today), I've been a devoted attender to my Lake Pointe boot camp, did my best to get into the gym at least once for a "Carey attitude adjustment" and I started this whole fun side training stuff like Cap10k, Danskin, etc... I've kept up my Advocare, but will admit I dropped of food journaling, lost my intent focus on the Zone (though I'd say I'm in "Zone favorable" land 70% of the time), and hadn't done a body assessment since June 08. I used to go every month.

So - I did body assessment this week - and was worried. If those numbers went up, how would I cope? Would that monster show up? How much ground had I lost? Fortunate for me - I'm happy with the metrics - which is why I think I decided to post them. I've not changed much in terms of the scale, but I've dropped another 8 inches.

What does this mean to me? It's good and bad. It's good, cause I've not gone backward into the grips of the monster - my committment to CrossFit, Advocare and eating in my "Zone favorable land" has kept me stable. It's bad - cause I've wasted time not doing more to be healthier, smaller, fitter, stronger... but what a nice time of year to figure this all out.... New Year's resoluion planning is here and I AM CROSSFIT is the program I will use to get back on track.

Take that, monster. And you aren't welcome at Mel's house either - nor any of my CrossFit friends.