My husband and I joined CrossFit Garland on Labor Day, September 1, 2014. During our first workout, we were so out of shape we could barely do the basic movements. I have never been athletic, never even played any sports of any kind at all my entire life. I've never had a coach or been coached. Until that day, that is. Robert Selders met us that day, taught me how to do sit ups, how to do squats, he scaled each movement to my ability (scaled them to my lack of ability is more accurate!), and I actually was able to complete that first introductory workout. He cheered me on, he helped me understand how to keep going and fight that voice inside my head that started yelling at me to quit. He taught me to "just take one movement at a time." I thought there was no way I could do it, but I did! I actually did it! And from then on, I was totally hooked! There is something so powerful about accomplishing physical tasks that you thought were completely beyond your reach or ability. That is what I do during EVERY class at CrossFit Garland. On September 1, 2014, I could barely do a sit up, or a squat; I could not even do ONE push up on the floor even from my knees. During weight training activities, I only used a PVC pipe. Today, I can back squat 90 pounds on a dumbbell. I can do push ups from my knees, on the floor, 30 at a time. I can knock out 70 sit ups with no problem, and squats? Ha! I can do those all day! In October 2014, I was able to run my first 5k, and I ran the ENTIRE time! What is even more amazing is that I still have so far to go to achieve my new goals of doing push ups from my toes, pull ups, and more. That doesn't frustrate me--it's exciting and it keeps me going! Though I've never had a coach before, now, I have four awesome coaches--Robert, Todd, Chris, and Lonnie--each one has cheered me on, encouraged me, and challenged me. They haven't just taught me how to do sit ups, how to run with proper form, or how to do Olympic weight lifting, even though they have done all of those things. They have helped me achieve what I knew was impossible. They have re-shaped my thinking about myself. When I walked into CrossFit Garland the first time I was the overweight fat girl, wearing a size 24, who was always on the sidelines during sports and PE. That's how I saw myself. Today, I'm wearing a size 10, but far more importantly, I look in the mirror and see an athletic girl who can do anything with the proper coaching, effort and practice. If you are afraid of trying CrossFit Garland, please know that if I can enjoy it and succeed, you can too! My advice to you is what Robert said to me that very first workout I thought I could never do--"Go for it!" read more