I almost died the other day and I'm not exaggerating.  Ok, I am exaggerating but it really was the most scared I have ever been in my life.

Before I go on let me tell you a few things...
1.  I am not a wimp

Well that's the only thing I wanted to tell you.  I'm not a wimp.

I'm not a wimp.
Okaaaay Kathryn (you call me Kathryn when you're annoyed with me) we get it.  You're not a wimp.  Why?

Because... I was a wimp.

Come along with me on a little journey called The Most Scared I Ever Was.  That title needs work.  Yeah I got it.

I saw a sign posted at 480 that said "Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course Sign-Up."  I had really wanted to try it but was nervous...mostly because I get nervous around people I don't know well and worry that I'll have nothing to talk to them about.  You? Katie.  You talk to everyone...about everything...all the time.  I know, peeps, but I get scared with new people.

I signed up...well LC signed me up when I mearly mentioned I was interested.

We get up there and start going through the training.  We put our harnesses on.  I looked lame.  I'm not sure how but the other 4 girls made harnesses look cute.

The guy was going over the rules:
1.  You always have to be clipped in with both clips, or at least 1.
2.  Your clips have to face opposite directions.
3.  The clips can be above you but never below you.

He said that if you break the rule 1 time, they would give you a warning.  2 times, they might kick you off.  So we're going through the little training course.  Guess who got TWO warnings on the Training Course...ME!  That's who.   Possible foreshadowing for events to come?  I think so.

So, we finish that.  They let me go on even though I was a bit of a slow learner.  We climb up on the first course.  I WAS SO SCARED.  Now, logically, nothing can really happen because you're harnessed in but it was so freaky.  Guess who else in my group was scared?  NOBODY.  That's who.  I was with a bunch of girls and they were SO BA.  I was not so BA.  My A was super freaked out.

Only 35% of the people who start this course finish it.   We were only on the very first part and I was terrified.  We had to stand on these platforms and walk across a "bridge" and I put that word in quotes because it wasn't a freaking bridge.  It was a wobbly, movey, you could fall at any moment thing you try to and balance on.

I know it doesn't look high up and this part wasn't...and the camera's died before it was really high but you'll just have to trust me.

They said this is where most people have to be rescued.

There was one point where you had to swing from a rope.  Like Tarzan?  YES, like Tarzan!  And then you swung into a net and crawled on the net as if you were Spiderman.  My friend looked like Spiderwoman.  I. Did. Not.

Spiderwoman

The whole day went like this.  One of the memorable obstacles was where you rode a skateboard across a very tiny cable...while a million feet in the air.  Ok, it was 65 feet but who rides a skateboard in the air?  Nobody, that's who.

We were about 3 "bridges" away from finished and on one of the last ones all there were was a bunch of rings tied to ropes.  So you had to put your foot in 1 ring and swing and go into the next ring.  I was about to quit and somehow my Whole 30 Partner in Crime yells, "You're almost there.  Put your foot in the next one.  You got it."  Oh how I love her and  the Crossfit 480 way...always encouraging and never going to let you quit.


So, obviously all the BAMFettes that I went up there with, who never once made a peep about being scared, finished.  There was never any question.  They were so awesome the whole time but guess who else finished...ME!  So...let me recap...WE ALL FINISHED!  

It was the scariest thing I've ever done.

We're all done and I'm trying to catch my breath and remember that I really was still alive and the girls say, "We should do this again.  It was so fun."
"Hmm, I'll have to get back to you on that one.  Once in my lifetime may be plenty."

Then, as if to cap off my wimpyness one of the girls who is the most beautiful/fit girl I think I've ever met in real life says, "I feel like I actually got a little bit of a work-out without really working out."  I almost tripped her on purpose but my legs and arms were so sore they were shaking so I couldn't.

I think she did a WOD or 2 after this.

Afterwards we rewarded ourselves with some beer and burgers...but 2 of us just had burgers with avocados and no bun and no beer.

Overall...
1.  A fab day.
2.  It was super safe and affordable.
3.  I can do anything I choose to do.  You can too.
4.  It helps to have super encouraging, awesome BAMFettes with you.
5.  I aspire to be more workey outty in the future cause my friends work out WAY more than me...and I should join their fit club.

Just about 180 days ago I started this journey to change my body, mind and life 180 degrees.  At the time I honestly didn't think I would change.  I thought I might get a bit better in the gym but since I had always had a tough time shedding lbs in the past, I wouldn't change all that much.

I am convinced.  I have all my stats below but more, than any of that I have so many people to thank.  The gentlemen (Derek, Brian, Justin) for CF 480 have changed everything about me and I am forever in their debt (and those thank you cards are coming, promise ;) ).  And anyone else who has helped me along this journey...which has been SO many people, thank you.  Every compliment makes me want to push further and go harder.  Every, "Come on Katie, let's go," has helped me finish that WOD a little harder and a little stronger than I thought I could have.


I've done things I absolutely never dreamed I could do.  Crossfit 480 has changed my life.  I wish I could just bring new members in droves because that's how strongly I believe in this.  They say that Crossfit is a bit cult-like.  I have to agree and I'm in.  I'm so in that I just paid for a year up front.  It was expensive...but worth every penny.  I am officially hooked on eating clean and training dirty.


I say this and I will also say, I really don't think Crossfit is for everyone and I think you need to find what works for you.  For some, it's Pilates.  For some, it's cycling.  For some, it's Bar class.  Find what works for you and commit to it and push yourself.


So...just how has CF changed me?
Sidenote:  I didn't post before/after pictures.  I took them every week but there are just some things (very few ;) ) that I can't share on here.  Perhaps, one day, I'll get really brave and post them...not today.  However, a few people can attest to the fact that I look a bit different.

Description	180 Days Ago	Now
Mind and Body
Weight	Big…effin fat…not a size I wanted to be.  There’s only a handful of people who know the number and I will keep it that way.	18 pounds less…18 pounds on a 5.2” body...and still losing
Ankles	Sprained at least 4 times with lots of torn ligaments so I walked like I was 88 until after my morning shower.	NEVER hurt…never.
Size	Big…should have bought Bigger but wouldn’t do it.	2 sizes…ok 3 sizes smaller…and going down!
Eating	Sugar addict, knew what to eat but didn’t do it.	Paleo baby!
At Crossfit 480
Burpees	A joke.  My stomach was huge and whatever I was doing certainly didn’t look like a burpee…perhaps like an army crawl.	My burpees actually look like burpees
Pull Ups	Ring Rows…and they were hard	Blue and purple band.
Thrusters	Weightless PVC Pipe	65#
Back Squats	100 lbs (This was my best exercise)	155#
Box jumps	On the curb, jumping up and stepping down.	On a – in box, jumping up and jumping down.
Running	Run 100 meters, Walk 100 meters, Run 100 meters.	I finished a 5K without walking.  I run every run in a WOD and never walk.  I’m signed up to run Pat’s Run (4.2) in April…Running is my biggest accomplishment!!!
Comments	“Katie, just do 3 rounds, not 5.” “See if you can squat a big below parallel.” “Good work Katie.  You’re going to get even better.”	“I saw you walk 3 steps, don’t let it happen again.” “Get back on it.  Let’s go.” “Go ahead and just do 3 rounds,” but he WASN’T TALKING TO ME!!!  I have to finish every WOD, every time.  “By the way, you look amazing.” “Lookin’ good.”
Life
Me	Unhappy, unhealthy, not confident, ran away from cameras…yuck.	180 degrees different.  I really didn’t think that I would be changing 180 degrees and I have.  I just paid for a year of Crossfit because if anything interrupts my gym time I would be devastated.  I am doing my 2nd Whole 30 (hoping to push it to a Whole 60) because I love how it makes me feel. Life is good great.

Ahh, I've been a bad blogger! I'm getting back on it.

Here's the update:
I did Biggest Loser with 23 of the staff members at my school. I busted my booty, eating right and exercising. I lost 23 lbs and got second place. It wasn't first and my competitive side didn't like losing but...I won.

Things I won:
My "Real" Clothes Fit.
All my good clothes (i.e. clothes that are NOT from Old Navy or Target) are in my regular size, and I haven't been in them for a while, but I'm back! Hello, beautiful clothes that I paid good money for. Oh, how I've missed you!

My Smile is Back.
My mom used to always say, "All of your happiness is wrapped up in your weight." It's a sad but very true statement. It's amazing the confidence you have when you feel good about yourself.

I'm Dating Again!
Due to lives extenuating circumstances for the past few years, I haven't really felt ready to jump into a relationship. I am a fairly happy person, but at that time I wasn't. So, I needed to get my head straight so I didn't end up attracting a man who wanted to take care of me and put me back together. Mission accomplished. About a year ago I got back to being myself, standing on my own two feet and ready to date. The only problem...no confidence because in the process of putting my head back together, I ate a LOT of sugar.

If you know me from college, you know that Social Butterfly Cartier was the name of my game...and I had game. Ha! Ha! Kidding (a little bit). But...when you put on weight and don't feel good, Socially Retarded Cartier was what you got. But I'm back! I'm ready to be dating. I have dates lined up, fingers are crossed, life is good!

However, question for my blog enthusiasts...where do I meet people? Everyone I know says, "Try online dating. You're a teacher, you don't meet people." All true. I know that online dating works. I have friends who have married their eHarmony "matches," but I just don't think it's for me.

When I think of all of the best couples I know, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have been a "match" on eHarmony. Also, why do I want someone who has everything in common with me anyway? That's boring!
"What are your political views?"
"Oh, really, mine too."
"What's your religion?"
"Really, me too."
"What was the economic background of your family."
"Cool, me too."
Zzzzzzzzz, Excuse me while I try and wake myself back up.

I once read a statistic that "Only 30% of single men over the age of 30 are mentally stable." AFKM (You can figure out that acronym)? Awesome, I can't wait to jump into this pool.