My story is a very simple one, but perhaps familiar to others.  As a middle aged wife and mom, I began the journey of getting healthy back in March of 2010.  With the support of Weight Watchers meetings and a dear friend I learned how to eat healthy and to use portion control for weight loss.  In a little over sixteen months, I was able to reach my goal of losing 107 pounds!!!  Though I was thrilled with this accomplishment, it left me feeling surprisingly dissatisfied with my overall physical strength, and stamina.  I knew I still needed to exercise, but I had never done any physical activities due to my painful struggle with Psoriatic Arthritis.  Frankly, I thought the Arthritis would get better because of the weight loss, but it didn’t.

In January 2012, at the gentle nudging of yet another dear friend, I attended my first trial class at NHB CrossFit.  I don’t think I would ever be able to put into words how scared I was that first night.  Fortunately, Charles and all the coaches assured me that CrossFit was for anyone, even ME!  I was quickly convinced of their expertise and sincerity.  The coaches were so supportive and patient in their instruction, that I knew I was in good hands. They recognized strengths in me that I never would have.  I had never played sports, had a gym membership, and quite frankly, can’t even dance! They started me out slow, always focusing on proper technique with minimal weight.  This helped me build confidence and experience successes early on.  I was HOOKED!  It was also in that very first class that I experienced the excitement of being around all of the other athletes.  They were patient, welcoming, and genuinely helpful to the “newbie”.  I was  essentially assured that my current level of fitness was irrelevant IF  I always give it my best and never give up.  I have also been exposed to an abundance of instructional information on Paleo “clean” eating.  The Paleo lifestyle is one that has been so easy to incorporate into my life.  My whole family has reaped its rewards.

My story would not be complete without mentioning one of the most special parts. Upon learning the HERO WOD’s were named for fallen heroes, it really put so many things into perspective for me.  I cannot help but feel honored to continue my quest for healthier living.  As I celebrate my 47th birthday this month, I am more motivated than ever to continue the CrossFit journey .  There are no excuses for not doing the  absolute best for myself and my  family.  Thanks to Charles and all the coaches at NHB, I have finally found my own personal recipe for success.