Happy Anniversary to Me!

Exactly two years ago today, I went to my first CrossFit Bootcamp workout. Suffice it to say, it was a life-changing event.

On my one-year anniversary last year, I threw down some major goals for 2008-2009:

  • pullup
  • a handstand
  • jumping on the tall box

How did I do against them? Meh.

Box jumps are conquered and now much-adored, which is pretty great. And if I’m well-rested, well-fed, and in a properly optimistic state-of-mind, I can do one unassisted pullup if my tippy-tippy toes are on the ground or a box. The kipping pullup still eludes me, and it’s a source of extreme frustration. The handstand? I’m still scared by being upside down, so that’s also in the keep-working-on-it category.

So… I thought about my goals and I looked in the mirror, and because I’m me, I started giving myself a beat-down for not accomplishing more, for not being skinnier, for not being able to f*cking swing on the bar and kip a freakin’ pullup already.

I felt like the awesomeness with which I’d started CrossFit had faded to maintenance.

But then I forced myself to reflect on the year, month by month, and realized I’ve done a bunch of stuff that, if someone had told me on September 30, 2007, I would be doing, I’d have called total b*llshit on them.

I’m sharing my list with you as a cautionary tale: Think you’re stuck? Think you’re not working hard enough? Not moving fast enough? Not making progress? Maybe you should think again. As the wicked smart and beautiful Erika says, we’re all enjoying a new normal. So it pays, once in a while, to slow down and reflect and acknowledge how far you’ve come.

Then get your hustle and swagger on to tackle the next WOD.

Here we go…

Let’s take a look at the obligatory photos first, shall we? That’s 2007 on the left – the night before I attended my first Bootcamp… and 2009 on the right, at the Fight Gone Bad after-party.

[Wow. Do I need to work on a new pose?]

So… not dramatically skinnier, but tighter. And definitely way, WAY happier. I’m not sure if y’all can see it, but I notice in my eyes. (Or maybe I just know what was going through my head at both of these moments. Saturday night after Fight Gone Bad? Pure joy.)

I know it sounds all glitter and unicorns to say this, but I’m gonna say it anyway: The most important CrossFit changes have happened on the inside, in the noggin. For those of you who listen to me whine about the stomach flab that seems to refuse to disappear, I know I sound like a giant fibber right now.

But in my heart of hearts, even when I’m scowling at my disproportionately chubby left arm, I KNOW my noggin is way better off now than it was before I started CrossFit. I hardly ever think f*cked things about food and my body anymore.

And that. is. huge.

It’s such a relief to not be scared of food and to not wake up every day wishing to be different. It’s invigorating to wake up and think, “I’m pretty cool, yo, but let’s go get even better!”

Healthier noggin? Check.

Healthier body? Check.

New skills and accomplishments? Let’s examine…

Since last October, I’ve done the following:

All of the above were accomplished with dear friends and my dearer Dave beside me. How sweet is that?!

I’ve been forgetting to be grateful lately. I’ve allowed disappointment at slow progress to make me forget the true beauty of CrossFit and – at the risk of being too Hallmark-y – life. To wake up happy, healthy, and loved every day, secure in the knowledge that I can keep working to improve… that’s plenty.

I’m a fortunate girl.

[Happy CrossFit Anniversary to Coach Heather Hodges who started CrossFit one year ago today!]

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Comments

  • erikajeanne says:

    Happy Anniversary!!! I'm so proud of you! It takes an amazing amount of courage to step off that cliff and never look back. You are an inspiration to many, and I'm super glad to hear that you are an inspiration to yourself xoxox

  • MelissaG says:

    That is beautiful and inspiring. hugs

  • Barbara says:

    Happy 2 yeariversary:)

    I've only known you a short while but you inspire me daily and have a huge heart! You're a real pistol girl!

  • Fontaine says:

    And I am grateful you share it so nicely with us. I look forward to your posts and take inspiration from them. Your writing is some of the best on the net.

  • Victoria says:

    For what it's worth, you can add to your two-year list that you inspired someone else to start participating in a regular workout regimen. I started bootcamp on Tuesday and had my second session today. All in envy of your extreme awesomeness. If I can do half of what you've done, I'll be happy. I'm especially hoping for the changes on the inside, which you so beautifully described. So thanks for being exactly who you are and sharing your journey.

  • Melicious says:

    Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I can't believe it's been two years… it feels both like I've been doing it forever and like it's a new thing. Which is really pretty awesome!

    Erika –> You are a most excellent partner-in-crime, and you keep me honest and keep me pushing myself.

    Mel G –> YOU beautiful, girl. Keep fightin' the good fight.

    Barbara –> Right back atcha on the inspiration. I love seeing you at the gym in the a.m.

    Fontaine –> You make me blush. Thank you so much! Writing this blog is one of the best things I get to do, so thank you for reading.

    Victoria –> Congratulations on joining Bootcamp. That's AWESOME! I'm so excited for you. Tell us what you did on your first day. Was it hard? Was it fun? Tell us!!!

  • steffy says:

    I recently started reading your blog. I do a crossfit style bootcamp and have been doing it for a year and 3 months now. Reading your blog is so much like reading my own words – you offer support to me without realizing it. I read on your blog a few weeks back: about the Phantom Roll. I copied that paragraph and put it on my own site. It seriously sounded like my own words. Keep up the great committment and work. You look great!

  • girlblake says:

    Go Mel! My past year with crossfit wouldn't have been the same without you. i'm so proud of you and thankful for you. and thank you for reminding all of us that the mental AND physical challenges we take on in crossfit are so very valuable. i consider this to have been the happiest year in my adult life. i'm so glad to be on this journey with you. here's to another year of adventure!!

  • Aaron says:

    Happy 2 year anniversary Mel! You. Are. Awesome. Keep rocking girl!

  • Melicious says:

    Steffy –> Hi and welcome! The Phantom Roll is a bugger, isn't it?!

    Blake –> You are one of the people for whom I'm most grateful. And yes, 2009-2010 is sure to be packed with new adventures. WOOT!

    Aaron –> XOXOXOX

  • Heidi says:

    You are AWESOME! An inspirational and exceptional human being! Thanks for being YOU!

  • Cisco says:

    great job — and i agree with you 100%. It's not about the amount of muscle you gain or weight you loose. It's not even about your Fran time.. it's about how you feel and it looks like you are feeling great.

    keep it up 🙂

    cisco

  • Team CS says:

    Mel, I'll never forget my first day of bootcamp at deep eddy. I was soooo nervous! During the warm-up I already felt out of place and I was practically out of breath. Then after the first round of warm-up, you came running from the parking lot to join us in the grass. Your braided hair bounced up and down as you ran, and you had a huge smile on your face. You were dressed in black. I remember thinking to myself, "she's sooo cool."

    You pretty much flew threw the workout, which was very impressive. When it came to med-ball partner work, you and I were paired up. My stomach dropped, as I didn't want you to think I totally sucked and that I would slow you down. When it was my turn to do the work, I remember you looked down at my leg and said, "I really like your dove."

    Not only is she a bad-ass, she's really nice too! – I thought.

    So, after a year now – Do I still get nervous when we're partnered together? Yes. Do I still believe that you are one of the coolest people I've ever met in my life? Ummm…stupid question. YES!

    Thank you for being there during times when I needed someone. Thank you for helping me stay positive. And thank you, for being you. 🙂

    -Carla

  • Melicious says:

    Carla! That's so nice, I hardly know what to say, except… I remember your first day at Bootcamp, too. You immediately showed yourself to be a fighter, and I fell for you right away 🙂 I'm so glad to have found you.

    I miss you like crazy. So excited that you're launching your new life, but I wish you could be in two places at once 🙂

    XOXOXOX

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