IN SHANA’S OWN WORDS:
For me, CF was never about losing weight. It was about getting stronger, healthier, and finding enjoyment again with my workouts. I needed a change, and a drive. I had belonged to a few gyms in the past few years, sometimes more than one at a time, but I wasn’t sure what I was doing, how to improve, and I never liked the personal trainers at the gyms when I had 1:1 sessions. My running also wasn’t improving anymore.
A friend of mine had been telling me about CF for about a year. I decided to finally contact Chris, and I had my first session. I wish I could say I loved it, but everyone knows how that first workout is. After a day of thinking, and recovering from what felt like a near death experience, I couldn’t give up just yet after only one session. That feeling has stayed pretty consistent since I started. I can’t give up yet. Everything started to change. I was motivated again, I was getting stronger, my running times were improving, and I was more aware of my eating habits. One might say I had become hooked. The challenges I would face each day became exciting. Chris keeps track of your progress, and you really see results in the numbers, and visibly on your body. I also enjoyed seeing everyone that I had started to become friendly with. I saw that this gym was going to be different than any other gym that I belonged to. Typically, I never spoke to anyone in years and years at any other gym. This place is special. Every day when I came home my father would say, “So what did they make you do in the torcher chamber today?” He was also so impressed, and complimented me on my new strength. He noticed the changes in my body, and overall well being. My father felt CF was a great change in my life.
Four months ago today (8/5/10) my father passed away, and everything changed again. I lost my motivation, mental and emotional strength, and good eating habits. I stopped running, and each day was only about figuring out how to get through the day. I came back to CF occasionally, but it wasn’t the same. I got the call when I was at CF, and my father died at NY Sports Club. I couldn’t help but think why should I work out? What’s the point? My father did everything right. He watched his diet very closely, went to the gym 3-4x a week for the past 25 years. What’s the point? I didn’t want to finish the workouts, and the daily stress had been making me so tired and mentally drained by the end of the day. As time has passed I’ve been slowly trying to get back on track. At times I believe I was suppose to come to CF to help prepare me for what was about to happen. I needed to find my inner strength. Even if I couldn’t do as well during the workouts, lift as much weight, work as hard and fast as I was before, it wasn’t about that. If I take small steps, and just worry about finishing without stopping that was my new goal. First get to CF, then worry about the workout, then finish it without quitting. CF has shown me what I’m capable of before, and I know I will eventually get there again.
If I never came to CF I would still belong to a regular gym, and I know that I wouldn’t have been going at all for the past 4 months. CF has done so much for me mentally and physically. I love the atmosphere, the people, and the strength it’s given me inside and outside the gym. One day at a time, one wod at a time, and I can’t quit now.
