How has Crossfit changed my life?
There are not enough words to properly share how Crossfit has been a life changing experience, but I will try!
I started Crossfit in late January 2017, 5 months after tearing my left shoulder while working out at home. After a successful surgery, recovery, and 3 months of physical therapy, I was approaching 270 pounds and let bad habits come back into my life. Throughout my life I have always struggled with food and my weight, and this was my first ever major surgery. Scared? Yes. Depressed? Yes. I had battled for years with losing and gaining weight and I wanted to find an outlet that would help me find consistency. I had always wondered about Crossfit, but thought it was for “elite athletes” and was out of reach, especially after tearing my shoulder.
I couldn’t have been MORE WRONG!
After being referred to Crossfit 47, it took a couple of weeks for me to finally send the message that I was interested in trying Crossfit. Once I did, what I found was an AMAZING community of people. One of my fears going into Crossfit was that it was all about lifting heavy stuff and everybody would ignore form. Absolutely not the case! The team of coaches at Crossfit 47 patiently worked with me in my recovery to help build me up and make Crossfit accessible.
I also feared that I would be judged because I couldn’t lift heavy things, couldn’t do handstand walks, or would be known as the “fat guy.” All the athletes I’ve met at CF47 were so encouraging throughout my recovery and journey! They cheered me on as I built myself back up from nothing. They helped me when they didn’t have to at all. No one judged me. This community had faith in me and for that I am eternally grateful and thankful.
Over the past 10 months, Crossfit has helped build me up physically, but even more so, got me through many rough times emotionally. Crossfit became my safe haven, the place I could go to feel support and love all around me. I have met and found so many life long friends through this first year of Crossfit. Crossfit, and specifically CF47, is my family. Family is more than blood, it’s the bonds you build together. Family is people who love and care for you unconditionally and support you. There were days that the laughs, positivity, and push from my CF family got me through days of depression and anxiety. I can never thank my CF family enough for the role they had in building me up and better than before!
Crossfit has made me stronger, faster, and more physically fit than I could have every imagined and there’s so much more room to grow. I’m down 25 pounds within the past several months (thanks Erika for referring me to Stronger U) and doing movements I never thought I could do! I did the Crossfit Team Series and my first Spartan race recently and the support I got was just tremendous! From not knowing my future after shoulder surgery in August to thriving in Crossfit today, it’s been a truly amazing experience!
Crossfit has helped me to live a healthier life so I am around for a long time for my wife, family, and friends! Crossfit has revitalized me as a person and lit a fire for fitness and helping people brighter than ever before! My Crossfit family truly saved and changed my life and inspires me every day to be a better man, athlete, husband, friend, and family member.
If you are out there and thinking about starting Crossfit, DO IT! I’d love for you to come join our family here at CF47 if you are in the Vineland area. If you aren’t in the area but are thinking about doing Crossfit, you won’t regret it! Crossfit is about so much more than lifting stuff, it is about bringing people together and building people up to heights they didn’t even imagine they could achieve.
That’s why I do Crossfit.
Jose Vazquez
#thisiswhyicrossfit