When Jessica Lehr pulled my winning elements ticket out of her hat at the Crossfit Open House Party, I was thrilled. I had never won anything before. In a situation where it could have easily been rigged (we are best friends after all), I was excited to have won fair and square. My elements classes were scheduled to start November 1, 2011. I had about half a month still left in October to wonder what it would be like to start something like Crossfit. One day I would be excited about the prospect, the next I’d be anxious and nervous. My anxiety started to take over my excitement as the day for the first class got closer. I had never done anything like Crossfit before. In fact, I hadn’t done much more than power walking and the elliptical since I got out of high school. I was worried I simply wouldn’t be able to do it. I imagined myself sweating and trying to catch my breath in a class where everyone else exceeded my fitness level. I almost talked myself out of going completely because I let my fear of the unknown take over. I even went so far as to text Danny the night before asking if I could start elements in December instead. His response was simply, “If you don’t do it now, what makes you think in December you won’t ask if you can start in January?” Danny was absolutely right. I wasn’t certain that I’d be any more ready in December then I was in November. So, when November 1 was upon me, I headed to the gym trying to remember all of the encouraging words I had been given when I won the raffle.

The class wasn’t what I expected. Everyone in my class had different fitness levels, different strengths and different weaknesses. By the end, all of us were sweating and congratulating each other over a class well done. I walked up to Danny to tell him thank you and instead I started to tear up because I had done it… I finished the first class! I was overcome with emotion because I had built Crossfit up to be this enormous entity that was going to swallow me up and laugh at me for being such a couch potato. This was not the case at all. I felt extreme relief and excitement at having accomplished the tasks of the first class. After sobbing, I promptly headed home to shower and pass out in my bed.

My first elements class was frightening. My second was less so. When the second week of elements approached I found that my anxiety had significantly decreased. It has now been two months since I started elements. I could not be happier with my decision to overcome my intense fear and begin Crossfit. Whenever I have started an exercise program and a new diet (I have been a yo-yo dieter my entire life) my mind has always been set on losing weight. Losing 40 lbs weight in my short CF journey has been icing on the cake, not the main goal.  Not focusing so much on the scale, but the things I am doing with my body has done wonders for me. I have Crossfit to thank for this. I am learning that I have to embrace every accomplishment I make at the gym, big and small. I am learning that feeding my body the right way isn’t about being on some miracle diet, it’s simply a way of life. I am doing things I never thought I could do. I am learning new ways to treat my body which have a direct effect on my mind and my soul. When I go to the gym I think of nothing else but being in the moment. The stressors of everyday life vanish and I am consumed with the WOD. I have met some of the most encouraging and motivating people in my life at a place I never thought I would, the gym. I can’t say that I don’t feel any anxiety when I head to the gym, but I can say that my anxiety has changed. I don’t worry that I won’t be able to do something, but instead am more concerned about how well I do it. I get anxious now because I want to kick ass and PR all that I set out to do!

Thank you Crossfit Excel members. You are all like a second family and I truly appreciate it!

Also I’d like to say a special thank you do Danny and Jessica Lehr. Without your encouragement and support I wouldn’t be this pinnacle of fitness that you see today  .

-Melisa