Same gym. Same girl. Different mindsets and grit.
“The picture on the left is from April 2019. I was uncomfortable in my skin. Avoided mirrors or my reflection and whatever cost. And attempted to give the facade that I was happy and push through struggles by focusing my attention on my family, my job, and any need I could fulfill around me. That supportive husband in the back pushed and encouraged me to come to the gym, and that’s really the only time I would go, but I complained all the time. About the workouts. About the heat. About the soreness. All I did was gripe and complain. And then eat anything and everything in sight because I “earned it.” But I would cheer anyone and everyone on to dig deep and complete a workout. To me, that was enough. I’d show up, try to make friends with these people that I was completely intimidated by, and maybe put forth a little effort to consider myself a “crossfitter.” That girl on the left was not happy and not willing to see a change needed to be made. A girl who was stuck on a broken wheel with no sense of how to get off, so she just sat in the wheel and sulked.
The picture on the right was taken the first week of the 21.1 CrossFit Open. After losing relatively 45lb I felt better but hit a wall on my weight loss. I reached out to Ashley in frustration because of her vulnerability and her sincerity and asked for help on how to kickstart losing the last few 20lbs I wanted to lose. Since January she has helped me to see that it is not just about the scale. Being able to not think in such a black and white mind frame, focusing on my nutrition, being mindful of how I speak and how I view workouts or anything in life, being able to have crucial conversations with myself and others, all of this is important impactful to nutrition. Where I was lacking, Ashley helped me to see that the hard work I’d put in wasn’t gone or for nothing because the scale hadn’t moved. I’ve grown so much in the months I’ve been with her. The woman on the right is not the same person as the girl on the left. She is strong and determine. Flawed and a work in progress, but the beauty of progress is there’s room to grow. I’m achieving goals I never thought were possible. Completing movements such as toes to bar, handstand holds, and rope climbs that I never thought were possible. To have the confidence in your worth and in your abilities is like an unlocked door you always thought was bolted shut. Simply open the door to what you’re achieving. ” – Victoria H.