According to my Body Mass Index (BMI), I am considered morbidly obese. I always knew I was overweight, but I never thought I was obese, let alone morbidly obese. When I saw this diagnosis on my Personal Health Record on ibxpress.com, I lost my breath. I was ok with being the fat girl, but being the morbidly obese girl was out of the question. I knew I needed to change my eating habits and get moving.

In December of 2012, one of my best friends tried to convince me to give CrossFit a try. My friend Mal had started CrossFit over a year ago and was addicted to it. If you are not familiar with CrossFit, it’s mix of aerobic exercise, body weight exercise, gymnastics and Olympic weight lifting. You may have seen the CrossFit games on ESPN, where elite CrossFit athletes compete in an international competition. I would laugh every time Mal brought up CrossFit. I was not an athlete by any means. I was a morbidly obese 29 year old woman who could not run a mile and needed to lose weight, not an elite athlete. She kept insisting I try it and finally I agreed to attend the open house at CrossFit Fort Washington.

When I walked in the gym (or “box” as Cross Fitters call their gyms), I was instantly intimidated. Gone were the familiar sites of a gym. There were no treadmills or elliptical machines. There weren’t any TV’s or fancy smoothie stations. There were no dark corners where I could crawl into and hide, hoping no one noticed that fat girl huffing and puffing on a treadmill. All there was in this box was a big open room with equipment I had never used and people who were in much better shape than I was. I was the biggest person in the room and I was scared to death.

Since this was an open house, the Workout of the Day (WOD) was all body weight movements. We had 12 minutes to complete as many rounds as possible of overhead lunges, squats, and sit ups. Plus every 3 minutes we had to stop what we were doing and complete 5 burpees. When the buzzer sounded, I kept my eyes on the clock and just started the WOD. As time went on, every part of my body hurt and I looked like I had no clue what I was doing. My breath was chaotic and I was sweating profusely. Every part of my body wanted me to quit. When the buzzer went off again to signal the end of the work out, I fell to the floor and tried to catch my breath. I couldn’t tell you how many reps I did when I finished, but I did finish.

When the room stopped spinning and I could finally breathe, I introduced myself to the owner of CrossFit Fort Washington, Nick.

I said to him, “Ok, I have about 100lbs to lose. I am in horrible shape and I could barely do the workout today. This isn’t for me, is it?”

Nick smiled and said, “Just keeping coming. You keep coming and give it your best, you will see a change. I guarantee it.”

Maybe it was the 12 minute lack of oxygen I had just gone through, or the fact I was tired of all my excuses why I couldn’t do things. I signed up that day and have not looked back since.

It has been three months since I dedicated myself to CrossFit and Nick was right. I can see the changes every time I go to the box. I no longer fear the WODs. All I care about is finishing them and improving the next time. I’ve gained a support system at my box and we cheer each other on. I am not the best by any means and I often finish last, but I finish. Not too bad for a morbidly obese women who still has trouble running a mile.

I’m glad I didn’t let my fear of the box keep me from trying CrossFit. Tell me, is there something you’re afraid to try?

Toni-Marie

I am an internet communications coordinator at IBX. After years of struggling with my weight, I have recently made the commitment to lose the weight and keep it off for good. When I am not at the gym or resisting the urge to have just one Oreo, I can be found reading, sipping a non-fat latte at Starbucks or hanging out with family and friends. Keep checking back as I make my way to my goal weight!

I know I’ve talked a lot about my struggles with losing weight; it’s something I’ve dealt with for most of my life. One of my goals that I set for myself was to seriously lose weight before I turn 30 … “no more excuses.”

It turns out, I had a pretty big obstacle set against me, and it had nothing to do with food or laziness.

Not feeling like me
In the fall of last year, I started feeling less and less like myself. I usually like to keep busy, but I started to struggle getting through the day because I was always exhausted. I had the worst time getting up in the morning. If I didn’t have a pestering alarm, I’d sleep all day. I had zero energy. The gym was completely out of the question because when I got home from work, I’d go right back to sleep.

I also had hardly an appetite, but I was steadily gaining weight. I was feeling increasingly down about myself. I thought I was in a funk because I was depressed about turning 29, but after a while, it seemed like there was more to it. Then things got worse.

Around February of this year, I started having panic attacks. Now, I’ve always been a worrier, but these would literally pop up out of nowhere, even when I wasn’t feeling anxious. It would happen if I was out to dinner, or at band practice, and even at work. I couldn’t pinpoint what would trigger them — sometimes the lighting could be dim and my eyes would have trouble focusing, or I would get vertigo, and the next thing I knew, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

The obstacle in my way
I was so sick of feeling like I was crazy and out of control that I finally went to the doctor. After a simple blood test, I found out I had hypothyroidism (aka: an underactive thyroid). Your thyroid makes hormones that control the way your body uses energy. The symptoms I had been experiencing were all caused by my underactive thyroid: exhaustion, weakness, depression, and panic attacks. What’s more, the doctor told me it was nearly impossible to lose any weight with this condition.

Getting back on track
To know that there was something actually wrong with me was such a relief. I began taking medicine to correct the thyroid problem a few weeks ago, and I already feel better. I have more energy, I’m more upbeat, and am ready to get back on track with my weight loss goals. I can honestly say that I have no more excuses!

My plan is to start slow, working out at least three times a week. I also am trying to be more active in general, like taking the stairs to and from the train platform and at work. I will also make time during my lunch break to walk around the city. I’m taking it one day at a time and hopefully will see results sooner.

What are some obstacles you face when trying to reach your goals?

Ashley

I'm a copywriter at IBX. I enjoy Philly sports and know everything there is to know about the Phillies, Eagles, and Flyers. I'm always looking for new ways that I can reach my goal weight. Follow my posts to find out what has worked for me and how it can work for you!

One of the best feelings in the world is knowing your voice is being heard.

Our voices are a big part of our identities – the way people know us on the phone and how we add inflection to our words and body language. Yet, unlike seeing our face in the mirror or in a photograph, we usually only hear our own voice broadcast through our own cheekbones. That’s why so many people dislike hearing recordings of themselves – it never sounds real.

Finding My Voice

Maybe that explains why I was so surprised to learn that I was a bad singer. I was sixteen at the time, and I thought I sounded pretty awesome through my cheekbones. My friends didn’t agree. I was forbidden from singing during our lunch period, and I utterly failed in my attempt to join the choir.

I didn’t let that stop me from singing. In college I got my minor in music and took ear training, and then voice lessons. Finally, I was good enough to join a choir, and then an acapella group (in the style of The Warblers from Glee), and finally to start my own harmony-laden band.

That journey gave me more than a singing voice. It gave me confidence. It reduced my uncertainty in how I was being heard.

Trial By Karaoke

I knew my fellow blogger Ashley had a singing voice, too, but in nearly five years of working with her I had never heard it. That’s how I wound up singing karaoke in a West Philadelphia bar on a Thursday night last year.

I was a little nervous when she told me her pick was Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” It’s a song that has experienced many karaoke murders over its lifetime, as evidenced by the way the entire audience whipped its head around to the stage when the title appeared on the monitors.

I waited with bated breath as Ashley climbed the stairs to stand under the spotlight. I had to face her when she came down the stairs, and at work the next morning. I really hoped she wasn’t awful.

Don’t Stop Believin’

She was the polar opposite of awful. Ashley hit every note and run, every high “oo” that Whitney belts on the original. By the end of her first verse the entire room had heaved into motion, legs pumping and arms pumping as they danced along. She received the biggest ovation of the night.

Afterwards, I couldn’t help but ask – “Why don’t you sing more often?” Ashley didn’t really have an answer, other than – “Sing where?” Despite her obvious talent, she didn’t have her own rock band to go home to every night. It was all shower singing and karaoke for her.

I don’t know if either of us realized it at the time, but a new band was born in that moment. Ashley didn’t need a journey to find her singing voice, but she needed an excuse to use it a little more often. I was happy to be the excuse.

Don’t Forget to Listen

We spend so much of our lives inside our own heads (and cheekbones) concerned about how we are being heard and perceived that we can forget that every single person we meet is struggling with that same uncertainty.

When was the last time you took a moment to help someone else be heard?

Photo by mikeyil

Peter

I am a lead communications representative at IBX. After years of developing materials about healthy steps, I decided it was time to take some of my own. I’m a lifelong Philly resident, pescetarian, gym-newbie, and recent yoga convert. I sing and play guitar in a local rock band, and I love to twist and shout.

There was no way to prepare, predict or plan for the events on Monday, April 15. The world watched, heartbroken, the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings. I was there upholding my end of a commitment to three of the greatest friends (and runners) I know. When my friends crested the hill onto Commonwealth Avenue and approached the 25.5 mile mark, they saw me and other familiar faces, holding signs and cheering them on. My friends and I greeted each other with hugs of joy – not knowing what the day would bring.

I’ve done a lot of thinking, talking, crying, laughing, writing and running over the past two weeks. Like others who experienced it, I have a story and it’s personal. My commitment to run Boston, or any race, has not changed as a result of the tragedy.

This Sunday, along tens of thousands of you, I’ll place a “From Philly to Boston with Love” sticker over my heart and with red calf sleeves on my legs, I’ll run one of my favorite races – the Blue Cross Broad Street Ten Mile Run. This commitment is something we can all be proud of. I’m excited and I’m feeling the love and support that my fellow Philly runners have for Boston.

So, this is my cheer to all of you making it happen. From folks organizing a solidarity run, and wearing red socks, to the partnerships that created the “From Philly to Boston with Love” initiative, to the generous donations to the One Fund Boston and thousands of spectators, law enforcement officers and volunteers who will keep us running to the finish.

I’ll see you out there.

Editor’s note: Please support those affected by the Boston tragedy. Make a donation at www.onefundboston.org today.

Heather

I am a Foundation Program Analyst for the IBX Foundation. When I'm not writing about running, I'm usually outside running. Thanks for tuning in to my never-ending adventures on how I (successfully) navigate life as a runner. My journey is made possible by my ginormous dog, supportive friends and family and many pairs of sneakers.

Besides wanting to be a “nurse pediatrician” at the age of four, I also had big dreams of becoming a singer.

My parents knew I had a knack for singing and bought me my very first microphone stand, where I would belt out hits like “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Take Me Home Tonight,” and “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” And no, I’m not kidding about that last one. My life was a stage, and I was always performing, whether in dance recitals, school plays, church, or even at a family party.

Somewhere along the line, I lost my need to perform. I started getting shy and refused to sing in front of anyone without the help of a karaoke machine. Unless I was in my car or in the shower, no one would ever hear my “real” voice or what I could really do. I guess you could call it stage fright. I knew I could sing, but it would be my own little talent that only my family and friends knew I could do.

Then one day, my fellow blogger, Peter, and I started talking about music and realized we loved a lot of the same music, but most specifically, our own holy trinity of women in pop – Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Kelly Clarkson. He convinced me to come over one night after work for a jam session. By the end of the night, we had sung what seemed like hundreds of tunes. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I also felt invigorated. I forgot how much I loved to sing and forgot that I was actually pretty good at it, too.

The next day at work, Peter informed me that he thought we should start an acoustic cover band, and Smash Fantastic was born.

It’s now a year later, and we practice at least once a week, know over 60 songs, and have even had a few public performances. We have an awesome time. Most importantly, being in Smash Fantastic really helps me blow off steam after a stressful day at work. I don’t have to think about what project is due tomorrow, or what I have going on this weekend. When I’m singing, especially a song where I have to scream or belt, I get all my stress and frustration out in just a four-minute song.

Some people play pick-up basketball, some join a crochet club — I sing. I’ve found my voice, and I’m not looking back! I’m looking forward to a less stressful life with a killer soundtrack!

How do you blow off steam after a bad day at work or school?

Ashley

I'm a copywriter at IBX. I enjoy Philly sports and know everything there is to know about the Phillies, Eagles, and Flyers. I'm always looking for new ways that I can reach my goal weight. Follow my posts to find out what has worked for me and how it can work for you!