I’ve been participating in Crossfit for a little over six years now and for the last two years I’ve been at Freedom. Over the past 4 year I’ve put in a lot of hard work to really improve myself on all levels; spiritual, mental, emotional, physically and socially. I’ve come to realize over the past several months that I was using food as a coping mechanism to deal with some unwanted feelings. It has been a cycle since high school. I would lose weight for the summer, but during the difficult winter months I would gain it all back in an unhealthy way. I decided to try @rpstrength again (having tried it 2x prior), but now mentally I was ready to commit and be disciplined both through and after my cut. At the same time I signed up for remote programming with @sharktanktraining where I would complete workouts on my own during open gym @freedomathleticacademy. I was amazed at how my mindset changed dramatically during this time. I stopped comparing myself to others (both in WODs and body image). I also began looking at food very differently. Now when I feel the urge to binge I ask myself “Why? What am I not allowing myself to feel? How can I deal with those feelings in a healthier manner?” Over the past 6 months I have lost 15 lbs and am proud to have kept the weight off. Normally, I would have gained it back by this point. It’s not about the weight, but about a new relationship with food, exercise and myself. I finally feel comfortable in my own skin for the first time in 39 years. I thank God for bringing me on this journey and that @freedomathleticacademy, @sharktanktraining, and @rpstrentgh have been amazing resources for helping me reach my goals. I am forever grateful!
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