I first stumbled onto CrossFit in 2009. I had started the year with a resolution to lose weight. More than 10 years of corporate life had not been kind to my body; I had gained 40 pounds and got to the point that I felt badly after most meals.

Initially, I started weight training a few days per week in my own garage. After a few months I plateaued and realized that I needed to change my diet. I changed one thing for a few weeks, then changed another, then another…

I was feeling really good towards the end of the summer, but decided to look for something to change up my training routine. I stumbled onto CrossFit.com and decided to try some of the workouts of the day. Wow, that was humbling. I was strong, but not aerobically fit and it showed.
I kept at CrossFit in my garage for about a year, then joined my first CrossFit box (CrossFit Thames) when I moved to London in October 2010. I still remember my intro session with Coach Jami.

For time (as fast as you can)
500m row
40 air squats
30 sit ups
20 push ups
10 pull ups

I had never been on a rowing machine so I came out too fast, then tried to hold on. I nearly collapsed when I tried to do my first squat, but kept moving. During the sit ups, I stopped to rest and Jami told me (or maybe yelled at me) to keep moving. I fought my way through the rest of the sit ups, push ups and pull ups. Afterwards, I was completely useless.

Of course, I signed up immediately. I realized that training on my own had prevented me from experiencing the high intensity that is the hallmark of CrossFit. Training with a coach who pushes you to give your best effort totally changed my experience.

Once I started going to classes, I experienced the biggest benefit of CrossFit, community. Training and suffering with others pushes you, but you also develop connections. I met many of my friends from London at the CrossFit gym. In comparison, I never made new friends in all of my years of globo-gym training.

It did not take long for me to dive deep into the world of CrossFit. In 2012, I started coaching and even did some competitions. I later realized that I had forgotten why I started CrossFit (to get fit) and had become obsessed with getting better at CrossFit.

In 2014, I stopped taking CrossFit classes to train with a movement coach, but I still trained at Thames. After 18 months, I made another change. This time I focused on handstand training closer to home, so I stopped going to the CrossFit gym.

When we moved back to the US, we chose to live in a new area where we did not know anyone. Remembering how much the CrossFit gym helped me feel at home in London, we decided to join Swift River CrossFit in Conway.

As expected, we were quickly welcomed into the community and met lots of great people. It took a while to get my strength and fitness back, but it feels good to be more well-rounded again.

What do I do differently on my second go-round in CrossFit?
1. Always try to move as well as I can
2. Avoid workouts that are likely to make me worse

Have you ever left a big passion behind, then returned to it a bit older and wiser?