If you’re anything like me, your health and fitness journey started because you played a sport or sports. I started skating at the age of two, which led to playing ice hockey all the way through college. I struggled year in and year out with not being at the “right” BMI. Each year, I would get placed in the “fat kids club,” which always meant more cardio, food becoming the enemy, and inevitably, a toxic relationship with body image.
The feedback was relentless: “Smiddy, if you just lost weight, you would be faster.” “Your quick twitch muscles are underneath all that fat,” and so on. Despite this, I was a good player. If you’re familiar with hockey, you’ll understand: I was a captain on most teams, selected each year for the USA Development Camp team, usually the top playmaker, and consistently among the top three for most goals. I was known for my back-checking skills, grit, and determination. Yet, it was still not enough. “If you could just lose the weight…”
Before kids – November, 2019
Through CrossFit and a new-found perspective, I have been able to work through some of my image trauma. I was a good person, athlete, teammate, and friend, even though I had 24% body fat. Seven years after finding CrossFit and my true health, I eventually got married and had two kids. As you can imagine, it was hard to keep the weight off with pregnancies. I had two pregnancies within 20 months, which wreaked havoc on my body. My youngest is now two years old, and my body is two years postpartum and currently I’m still waiting for my body to bounce back.
During – Sept 2021-Sept 2022
When I look in the mirror, I still hear my old coaches in the back of my head: “Smiddy, if you just lose the weight, you would be…” My immediate response is to want to do more cardio, more, more, more. However, over the years, I have learned that accountability, coaching, and consistency are where I have been able to make the most sustainable progress. Yes, I still have body image issues and work hard daily to reach my health goals. Yet, none of this would have been possible without great coaches and community.
May 2024 check in.
I love having a coach. I just have to show up, and the coach tells me what to do. Maybe that’s your first small step: Sign up for a free No-Sweat Intro and let Kelly tell you what you should do first. Or just do one squat and start tracking your food. After 365 days, if you improve by 1% each day, you’ll be over 30 times more impressed by what your body can do and the results that come with it!
PLEASE NOTE: This information is not meant to be medical advice, this is educational and how I approach this in my home. Please see your healthcare provider before changing anything or adding any supplements to your routine.