“There were so many things that I wouldn’t even try because I just assumed that I couldn’t do
them or that it wasn’t “me,” but now I am starting to realize
that I can do hard things; that I am 
strong.”

The fabric of our community rests with each individual member. If not in person, we invite you to shake hands with them virtually. Meet Cheri: 

Why did you join The Athlete Lab?

My husband and I did a Whole30 and the effect was like a lightning bolt for me. I had more energy and felt better physically. My sugar/carb cravings that seemed to come every 2 hours diminished. I felt better about the food I was giving my kids. I had wanted to make a change in the way I exercised and was looking for a new challenge, so started looking into how people who were geeked out for Whole30 exercised and discovered CrossFit. A google search brought me to TAL.

Why have you stayed?
Oh my goodness, so many reasons, but probably the biggest is the community. I have never seen so many positive, encouraging, caring people in the same spot! And it has been amazing to see the gains that everyone has made over the last year. To have the example of Melissa, Jeanne, Paige, and other 6-AMers before me – to see how hard they work and how much they have accomplished, it’s inspiring. And to have the support of the coaches who not only take the time to encourage and ensure that you are doing things safely and properly, but who also believe in you and give you the push when you need it. And then personally to be able to see progress in myself and celebrate some forward progress. Sometimes life can be a grind, so it is helpful to start the day out with some good friends, get some endorphins flowing, and be able to think, “hey, I climbed a rope this morning, not bad.”

What is your biggest accomplishment since joining? Do you have any new goals?
I think my biggest accomplishment is conquering strict pullups and being able to string together some kipping pullups (again with lots of encouragement from 6am and the coaches!). I’ve been pretty intimated by the Olympic lifting, so now I am trying to get more comfortable with that.

What are one or two things that you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
For me it is most helpful to live in an atmosphere of growth. So, I’ve been trying to pick out a little goal, meet with my primary coach, (thanks Megan!), and come up with a plan on how to tackle it. Then I try to dedicate 10 minutes a day to working on that goal. Somehow 10 minutes seems like not a big commitment, but can make a big difference in the long run. The other huge thing has been trying to stick with a mostly clean diet. After our Whole30 we backslid a little bit and immediately saw the effects in our energy/performance levels.

What are the main obstacles you face in prioritizing your health and how do you overcome them?
Time – as the mom of three young boys and someone who is also working, etc. it took me a long time to “allow” myself the time to exercise or meal prep. I would feel guilty about taking the spare time away from my family, but I finally realized that when I exercise or take the time to make a healthful meal I feel better both physically and mentally and this allows me to be all in and fully engaged when I am with my family. I also realized that I wanted my boys to grow up with a model of someone who takes care of themselves and works hard to accomplish things and makes health a priority.

Did you and your family make large changes in your lifestyle?
Yep. My husband has been HUGELY accommodating in being willing to shift his schedule/take on more tasks with our boys in the morning so that we can both get time at TAL. He is also the more natural cook in our house and has been willing to cut down carbs and add lots of veggies to our daily meals. He even makes me breakfast to go every morning so that I start the day off with a good meal. While it seemed like a big lifestyle change in the beginning, now that it has been a
while, it has easily become our new norm that we are used to.

Is there anything else you would like to add that speaks to your personal story?
Another thing that I have appreciated about TAL is how it is helping to shift the way I think about myself. I never played sports growing up and I have always shied away from playing volleyball or other group games at get-togethers because I did not think of myself as athletic or
coordinated. There were so many things that I wouldn’t even try because I just assumed that I couldn’t do them or that it wasn’t “me,” but now I am starting to realize that I can do hard things; that I am strong. I never would have thought that I’d be able to push 100 pounds straight overhead or do pullups or ring dips, but now I can. I’m realizing that who I actual am is different than the image I grew up with.