I made it through the first two weeks!  Getting started is always so difficult for me.

I used to wonder how I would find the time to fit in an hour long workout several times a week. This thinking often kept me from getting in any type of workout at all...even at home if you can believe that! Well, after 2 1/2 weeks at Crossfit, I can say that miraculously (lol) I managed to get a workout to fit with my schedule and it's now just out of routine that I get up Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and work a gym session into my day.

On another note, I was also quite worried that the hardcore grind of a crossfit workout would leave my muscles in agony like they did back in 2012.  But I found that the most notable difference between the Crossfit that I attend today compared to when I was a member back in 2012 is that I get in a really good hour long session of pushing myself but it's not that 'hardcore grind' that used to leave me icing my sore body and sucking down motrin to ease the pain of climbing a set of stairs.

The only SNAFU of getting into my new workout routine was that I forgot my compression sleeve one morning so Coach Ryan had to modify my workout for that day which saved me from having to just go home.  There's no taking chances when it comes to protecting the breast cancer affected limb from possible lymphedema. I now leave my sleeve in one of the lockers at the gym to ensure this doesn't happen again!

My progress after 2 1/2 weeks is more-so in how I feel rather than in weight loss.  I only lost 3 lbs BUT as Coach Ryan has mentioned many times - muscle mass will be gained so tracking progress can't be done on a scale. Notably, I am not out of breath when I go from the basement to the 3rd floor with that laundry basket and when I take my jeans out of the dryer, I don't have to jump up and down or lay on the bed to get them on... they are actually loose!  That just goes to show you that I AM losing - the inches are more important than the pounds!  When I get to the top of that mountain in the Adirondacks this summer with ease, that will be all the progress tracking I need.

Cheers!

I have had my most recent membership at Planet Fitness for over a year and for Christmas this year, I got a Simply Fit Board.  Truth be told, I have likely spent about 20 hours in total at this gym and the fit board is working wonders at collecting the dust bunnies from under my couch.

There have been many memberships in my history, from Planet Fitness to Aspen to Gold's Gym and Champion Fitness, as well as a stint at Crossfit in 2012.

When I talk about all my past efforts at getting fit, I find myself praising Crossfit for being the only place that worked to get me in shape but in the same sentence - saying that I will never...like never - go again because it was too intense for my broken body that has been tainted with breast cancer.

You will never believe what happened this week... You guessed it - I signed back up for Crossfit. With the nudge from my better half who has always been an advocate of this type of workout, we decided that the best gift to give each other on Valentines Day was a good workout at a place that had worked for us in the past, for a healthier lifestyle.  Truthfully, what else could I ask for on this day other than for the love of my life to be as healthy as possible for better odds to grow old together.

Things have changed since my first Crossfit membership back in 2012. The workouts were 10 minutes of warmups followed by 20 minutes of a - hardcore, non stop, work as hard as you can until your muscles are in failure and you want to puke - WOD (workout of the day).  Today's Crossfit is a warmup, strength train with weights and then a workout - and all of this lasts for 60 minutes.  Which for me personally is good and bad. I used to be intimidated by the hardcore 20 minutes back in the day but I loved how quick it was just the same.  Time is the one thing that seems to stop many people from adding a workout to their day. I personally am always crunched for time as well, so a full hour will be difficult. It may limit the amount of days I can attend per week.

My first day back wasn't as scary as I imagined. Coach Ryan was just as I remembered him from years ago - patient, kind, helpful, encouraging, and very welcoming. Other coaches and gym goers were just as friendly.

The workout itself was doable. I expected to fail at my efforts miserably but in fact, I exceeded my own expectations and am thrilled to say I actually pushed through 120 situps in one setting, which was only part of the 60 minute session.  Had I been home in front of the TV, there's a good guarantee that I would have given up at about 30 or maybe 40 if lucky.

As well as getting fit and shredding a few pounds, my intention at Crossfit it to gain better range of motion in my right arm that has been negatively affected by all the surgeries and treatments for breast cancer.  I have to wear a compression sleeve in order to lift any more than 15 lbs - as required by the doctor because of the missing lymph nodes from my armpit. So far, so good. Some days, carrying a laundry basket to the basement is difficult. Today I pressed 35 lbs, 6x. Which may not seem like much but its a great start for me.

It is my opinion that life is truly about the connections made with other people. That being said, Crossfit really fits into my personal life path much more than the typical gym's I had spent time in. They are lonely. I walk in alone. Get on a machine and put in my earbuds. Only to run or stair step - alone. I appreciate the comradery that exists at Crossfit. I am working on a 'whole' well being effort - Mind, Body & Soul - rather than just a weight loss plan. I love the smaller setting of 10-20 people vs a cold atmosphere with 60 people and blank faces.

Weight is not everything but it is an easy way for me to gauge progress. Today I weigh 152.

*****
Writing is a release for me. I enjoy blogging about my life experiences. If you would like to be part of this conversation, don't be afraid to comment below. I would love to know your experience as well.