6 MONTHS WITH KJ.

KJ fully committed to a serious game of tag at the beach!

    I believe that the first 6 months as a CrossFitter will either make or break you.  You’ll learn more about yourself and what you’re made of, about fitness, about nutrition, about teamwork, camaraderie, friendship and respect than anywhere else in the free world.  This is the KJ’s story, in her own words, about the first 6 months of her incredible CrossFit journey.
     KJ, we love you.  We love your cursing, we love how nervous you get before workouts, and we love the fact that you show up anyway and give it your all.  We can’t teach dedication, and even if we could, you don’t wouldn’t need any more it.  You’ve made us laugh countless times, and your email was the first one to make us cry.  Thank you for openly sharing your story with everyone here and for being such an awesome part of our CPC story as well.  Folks, please enjoy “The First 6 Months” by KJ.

 “Before I started Crossfit I thought of myself as healthy, active, and in shape.  I would run the stadium stairs, do circuit training/ weight lifting at Spectrum, and took spinning classes.  I worked out about 60 – 90min a day 5 days a week.  I was at a steady weight, which I never seemed to lose, but was trying to, and I never seemed to get stronger, but I didn’t think there was any more I could do, I was already really fit, or so I thought.
    I started Crossfit in July 2009 because a coworker of mine would tell me about her Crossfit workouts and I got jealous.  I was jealous because she was doing things I’d never even heard of, her workouts took a lot less time than mine, she was losing weight, and she really liked doing it.  Really liking working out that hard?  I thought she was crazy.  So, I decided to give Crossfit a try and see what she was talking about.  My only goals when I began were to lose a little weight and become more toned.
    My first month at CPC was tough, I began going 2 days a week, and then would go to the gym or do yoga another 2 days a week.  I was pretty skeptical about all of it, so I kept my Spectrum gym membership.  At CPC I was learning how to do push ups/ pull ups/ snatches/ over head squats/ perk jerks/ cleans.  I couldn’t do a “boy” push up to save my life (now I call them “toe push ups”) and wasn’t even close to doing a pull up.  After going twice a week for about month, I decided to start going 3 days a week, because I loved it. 
    First, I loved the coaches and people.  Eric and Traver were fun, positive, nice guys who really helped me get good form and pushed me to work hard.  Everyone I met before or after a workout was unbelievably nice, welcoming, excited, and very encouraging.  I remember being in awe of Su, she’s such a beautiful woman who just kicks ass, she is fast/ strong/ nice/ helpful and everything else wonderful and she was helping me out, teaching, and inspiring me. 
    This is even an e-mail I sent them after only a month of working out: I wanted to thank both you and Traver for pushing me and helping me get through the workouts, sometimes I just want to give up in the middle of them.  It’s hard, but it is amazing to know what you have accomplished one you are done and lying on the ground thankful that it’s over!  I would never ever be able to do this on my own.  I sweat and cuss more than I ever have when I’m doing the WOD and I love it  : )  I’m excited to start coming 3 days a week.  It’s nice to finally workout with people who are pushing it, working their hardest, and still take the time to cheer others on.  I’m really happy that you guys decided to open a crossfit here in SB and I’m really happy that you guys are so awesome!
    Second, I loved the fact that everything we did was scalable which meant if I couldn’t do a pull up, I was able to use a green band to assist me, which eventually I went down to a blue band (harder) and now, I’m using no band! 
    Third, it was amazing to me how short and hard the workouts were.  One workout only took me 8 min, another 17 min 30 sec, and another 25min- it always varied, as did each workout.  It was shocking to see how much I was able to accomplish in such a short amount of time.  At the end of every workout I was physically exhausted, lying on the floor with sweat dripping off me, because the workouts were so hard, and intense that they just kicked my ass.  The workouts were also fun and invigorating because everyone I was working out with was cheering me on and helping me out.  They were the best workouts I had ever done, and I was noticing results.  And, after just 2 months of going to Crossfit, my boyfriend decided to join because he was noticing results on my body (yep, I was looking a lot better naked!) 
    By mid October (only 3 ½ months after my very first CF workout) I did my first pull up and was doing the workouts using the prescribed weights! 
    Now, 6 months later, my goal is not to lose weight because that just comes naturally with doing Crossfit, and I don’t need to lose any weight.  My new goals are to get a faster time on Fran, dead lift #190 pounds, overhead squat 90 pounds, do a handstand push up, do a muscle up, and I have so many other goals that deal only with how fast I can do it or how much weight I can lift.  I’m not big and bulky like everyone thinks will happen when they use weights; everyone I know who does Crossfit is lean, strong as hell, and SO nice! 
    Since I joined Crossfit Pacific Coast my boyfriend, a coworker and her mom, and 2 friends of mine have joined, and they are just as hooked as I am.  I will never go back to a gym full of treadmills and TV’s, I know what it means to workout and I like finally being able to see results and measure my improvements.”

Stats before joining CF
Height: 5’ 9”
Weight: 138 lbs
Pants size: 8
Can not do push ups on my toes
Can not do pull ups
One Mile Run: in a little under 10 min.

Stats 6 months after joining CF  
Height: 5’ 9”
Weight: 133 lbs
Pants size: 4
CAN do push ups on my toes- a lot of them
CAN do pull ups- a lot of them
One Mile Run: 8 min 17 sec
I’m leaner, stronger, and faster than I ever have been.
(And 2 months from now, I know I will be able to run faster and be even stronger than I am today)

Today’s Workout:
“Helen”
3 Rounds for Time:
400 M Run
21 KB Swings (1.5pd/1pd)
12 Pull Ups