Written by Sammy Wall; CFHE Member August 2018 to Present
Where do I start? Having Joined CFHE back in August 2018 after my Boyfriend Jamie and Father in Law James had been members for the previous year and seeing their amazing improvements and results I decided I wanted in on some of that action and so on the 26th August 2018 my CrossFit journey began and I have never looked back.
At the young age some may say of 23 I have always been someone who has been in and out of fitness. My Primary years I was always doing extra-curricular activities you name it I’ve tried it – Netball, Football, Cricket, Gymnastics and even Ju-Jitsu – Yep that’s right … even a bit of martial arts although don’t worry I’m certainly not a black belt I left after a few months, that’s pretty much what I always did with sports I would always do something for a short amount of time and give up.
I found my passion in Secondary School when I started Dancing and did so for around 5 years as exam times came and I got older I lost the passion I once had for it and again I gave up which is something I still massively regret .
You will see a pattern forming above I always gave up and that’s how my fitness journey has always been. I was in and out of Gyms doing different classes and trying new things such as Power Plates and Bums and Tums, but nothing ever really stuck. They were boring – all very self-motivated and no one there to support you or keep you on the right track. It was repetitive.
CFHE is the first time I have ever joined something and been in total awe not only of the Fitness side of it and the progress you get from it but the friends and relationships that are gained there. I really do think it becomes a part of you and your life and I really couldn’t imagine my life without CFHE in it. If anything you become obsessed. By that I mean that because there is so many different elements to CrossFit you are always learning, always progressing and always wanting to better yourself.
After attending the Roots course, a 2-part session teaching you the fundamentals of CrossFit I was given a full month unlimited membership to see if it was something I wanted to sign up for at the end of the month. I couldn’t wait to get started although I was extremely nervous having gained over a stone before starting CrossFit and not working out properly in over 2 years I felt overweight , tired and so un-fit even in the warm ups I was out of breath and felt out of my comfort zone .
That was the last time I felt out of my comfort zone – from the moment I started everyone was so friendly so welcoming and the Coaches really take notice of new members and steer you in the right direction and give you so much advice and guidance. It can always be so daunting going into new places but at CFHE it really is such a welcoming environment.
I was hooked. I started off with the 3 x a week membership but very quickly changed to the full-time unlimited membership the following month finding I was going on average 4/5 times a week the unlimited membership worked perfectly for me.
6 Months into joining I decided to take the plunge and join the CrossFit Open. I didn’t know if I was even going to be able to manage this let a loan the fear of the unknown, but I did it anyways and the atmosphere in the gym on the night-time WOD’s are something I will never forget. Sadly, after only 2/5 work outs in I had an injury through no fault but my own I had to pull out. This was massively upsetting for me the Workouts were pushing me to places I didn’t know I could be pushed, and I was really starting to get into the swing of the work outs and what the Open was even all about. I was out of the gym for around 3 weeks and it really did get me down that I wasn’t being able to work out anymore I was desperate to come back.
