Member Spotlight: Joanne Bryant

Health: soundness of body or mind; freedom from disease or ailment.

Fitness: health.

My workouts and fitness routines have varied over the years. Jane Fonda VHS tapes first sparked my interest in fitness. Around this same time, I also remember seeing Janet Jackson flaunting a six pack, and deciding I wanted a rock-hard midriff as well. In order to achieve Janet Jackson abs, I decided to do 55 sit-ups daily. My daily routine of 55 sit-ups didn’t quite earn me the six pack of my Janet Jackson dreams, but the sit-ups got easier, and I felt pride in my sense of commitment.

In junior high and high school, I dabbled in lots of sports (swimming, soccer, cross country, track). I was never the best at any of these, but loved the team aspect of sports: getting to know the other players, the camaraderie that comes along with team sports, winning, losing, practicing, improving your skills, celebrating victories, and working as a team.

As an adult, I continued to prioritize fitness in the form of running, gym workouts, and a few triathlons with my husband and friends. It wasn’t until my first pregnancy that I fell off the fitness wagon. Then, once the baby came, life was more complicated. She had a lot of medical needs, and my focus was on her well-being at that time.

After having my second baby, I recommitted myself. Once I was back to a regular workout routine, I quickly remembered how much better I felt (mentally and physically) after a good sweat session. As a stay at home parent, workouts keep my days on track, help me feel a sense of accomplishment, and are the best all-natural remedy for managing stress and anxiety. I continued to work out regularly throughout my third pregnancy, and that pregnancy felt so much easier than my first two.

After years of working out in a gym setting with trainers, and group classes, I learned a few things about myself, many of which likely apply to most of us.

· I work harder when someone is telling me what to do, or there are others around me doing the same workout.

· Workouts are more fun with friends, and a consistent group of people.

· Some of my best friendships over the years started at the gym.

· I have a lot to learn when it comes to form and technique.

· I don’t really want to plan my own workouts.

· Paying a trainer is worthwhile, but also expensive.

When I contemplate the points above, it just makes sense that my path led me to CrossFit. I started at CrossFit Bexley very gradually. For about a year or so, I came frequently to the Saturday morning classes. After just a few classes, I knew I would eventually make CFB my primary gym, but wasn’t quite ready to give up the babysitting room (and my training routine) at my other gym just yet.

During this time, I also started working with a nutrition coach at a separate CrossFit affiliate, and had tremendous success losing the baby weight I had tried so hard to lose by workouts alone (pro tip: you cannot outrun your diet). In addition to macro-tracking, she really pushed the idea of hitting your max heart rate with each workout. I knew the only way I was going to manage this was to commit to a more regular CrossFit routine.

I’ve been an official full-time member of CrossFit Bexley now for about 8 months. The programming is awesome. The group classes are perfect for me. The coaches do a wonderful job explaining the workouts, reviewing and practicing form, discussing modifications, and providing adequate warm-ups in addition to the daily workouts. There’s a wide array of diversity among members, and I love that all races, ages, genders, and body types are welcomed and celebrated.

Personally, I’ve achieved some fun personal gains since joining CFB, including my first strict pull-up, along with handstand push-ups. I’m looking forward to continued growth, which comes with consistency and great coaching. I registered for my first CrossFit Open this year. Realistically, competing to win will never be my goal. Competing to see where I rank among my age group / gender helps me set personal goals for improvement in the coming year.

At the end of the day, my number one goal is to manage my health as proactively as possible so that I can continue to live life to the fullest. Life will most certainly present unexpected challenges, but knowing that I’ve put my best foot forward with regards to my own health and well-being gives me a sense of strength. Bonus points for that Janet Jackson six pack.