This is my commitment: “Never miss a Monday”. It is my motivation and gets my week off to a good start that carries through for the rest of the week.
I’m not new to fitness. You name it, and over the years, I can virtually guarantee you that I’ve done it all. In my younger years I went to the gym regularly. Then “life happened”. As we were planning our family, I experienced a miscarriage. Life changed. I found myself in a funk. I couldn’t escape from it, and it left me with zero energy to devote to anything. Over time, we recovered and focused again on family planning. This time with more success.
We had three children in 3 years, and I became a stay-at-home-mom. Fitness re-entered my life and I joined my local YMCA. About a year later I completed an 8-week boot camp. The desire to get back into shape was there, so much so that I felt like working out had become had become my job!
As time went by and the kids became older, I went back to school, taking on a full-time class load (while also working part-time at the YMCA). This took care of my membership dues and allowed me to continue to focus on my fitness. As soon as I graduated I started to work. I was lucky in that I found a position that allowed me to go from part-time to full-time within a month of employment.
What I didn’t expect is that full-time life, while being a mom of three, took its toll. I couldn’t quite figure out how to stay on top of all mom-requirements at the same time. I fully dedicated myself to my children and my profession. But something had to give and it was me who fell by the wayside. I ‘let myself go’.
I didn’t feel as strong and capable as I wanted to, and I started to question what kind of example I was setting for my kids. They say that time flies. It’s true. Yesterday, they were toddlers. Today, they’re halfway to grown-ups. Yesterday, I was in shape….
Somewhere in between being a mother and a professional, I took some time to scroll through Instagram. I stumbled upon an add from a local gym “The Athlete Lab” (TAL), that they’re kicking off another 6-week Specialty Program, guided by coaches and designed for people to get back on their feet, or find their fitness for the first time.
It was a now-or-never moment for me. I knew that if I didn’t act fast, I’d lose my motivation and ambition. All it took was a little bit of initiative: I emailed and Kate (owner of TAL) and emailed me back promptly. We immediately scheduled a meeting within the week, so I could get to know the gym and get a full introduction to what the program is designed to do for me. This was just last January and I haven’t looked back!
My personal transformation has been amazing. For me, it wasn’t about my weight, but that I wanted to feel better and set a good example to my kids. To do that, though, it has to be OK to take time out for yourself, while everything else can wait! You have to make yourself a priority. After all, how could I take care of anyone else, if I didn’t take care of myself? TAL has changed me and the way I look at working out. Everyone that I’ve met, from members of all walks of life and fitness abilities, to the coaching team, the community is extremely helpful and delightful!
Being my best self, starts with kicking each week off to the best start possible. This is where Mondays became so important.
Since becoming a TAL athlete, I’ve only missed two Mondays. One, because of spring break and another, because I had influenza. Every other Monday is a ‘must workout’ for me. I even did Murph* this year because it was MONDAY!
- Jen
*”The Murph” is a “Hero Workout” dedicated to Lt. Michael Murphy, who selflessly sacrificed his life in service to the United States. The CrossFit community observes “Murph’s” memory every year by completing a: 1 mile run + 100 Pull Ups + 200 Push Ups + 300 Air Squats + 1 mile run. Athletes can complete “The Murph” in any variation and scaling, up to wearing a 20 lbs vest. It is the workout that brings us together, but remembering Lt. Murphy is what makes this day meaningful.