July Athlete Spotlight: Carrie Flesher

For the past 10+ years I have been gaining and losing the same 10-15 lbs. I would get on a kick of working out and restricting my calorie intake to drop weight. Slowly I would lose interest in working out and the food that I had eliminated from my “diet” would creep back into my cupboards. I lacked balance in my life and my metabolism was shot from the years of yo-yoing and controlling my calorie intake. I always felt like I was on a diet and I often obsessed about my calorie intake and food choices. My mentality on working out was negative too. I didn’t really enjoy the workouts I was doing and I was bored. I would find myself stuck on a treadmill or elliptical waiting to get to a certain calorie burn. If I couldn’t workout at least 4-5 times a week, then it wasn’t worth it and I wouldn’t do anything. I was setting myself up for failure each week and on numerous occasions I told myself I was “starting again on Monday.”

I am slowly learning to balance a healthy lifestyle and try not to get down on myself if I can’t workout or eat poorly for the day. My goal is to continue to create a healthy, positive relationship with food and to not let it control me.

1.  How long have you been a member at CFD, and what made you want to get started?

I started CFD in September of 2015. I was just getting back into working out since having my daughter in May and was having a hard time getting motivated on my own. One day I was doing a workout video at home and I got done, looked in the mirror and I didn’t even have a drop of sweat on me. I knew something had to change.  In August, I had visited my cousin in NC and she was telling me how she was loving CrossFit and how she looked forward to the challenging workouts each day. I came home and signed up the next week.

2.  What changes have you seen in yourself since your very first day?

I am definitely more confident. I was very timid and nervous about signing up as I had never really lifted weights.

I feel my overall performance in class has improved. I have also seen many physical changes. I have never had as many compliments on how tone my arms look as I have in the past 6 months! 

3.  What did you do for fitness prior to CFD, and what do you like most about CrossFit?

Prior to CFD I was doing workout videos at home and going for runs and walks sporadically. For many years before that I belonged to a couple gyms and would go but I wasn’t held accountable so I would slowly stop or go only on occasion out of guilt and continue my monthly dues until my contract was up.

What I love most about CrossFit is that the workouts are for all levels of athletes. I am stronger and fitter than when I started but the workouts are still as challenging. There are no limits and I love the feeling I get after finishing a tough WOD. I also love having a workout program that I don’t have to plan each day.  For the first time I don’t dread working out. I thought I would be more intimidated by strong athletes in class as I know I can’t compete with them, but actually it has given me more motivation to want to get better and be the best me in class.

4.  What type(s) of workouts are your favorite?

My favorite workouts are run/row combos and dead-lifts.

I love the variety each day and that I am not bored.

5.  What type(s) of workouts do you least like to see come up?

I am not a fan of any kind of burpee! I am so slow at them!! Thrusters and wall walks come in close behind.

6.  What are you goals going forward?

To continue to work on technique and get stronger. I would love to do a pull up one day and I need to keep working on double unders. I want to just keep getting better.

Also, I want to continue with working on my nutrition and fueling my body correctly. Since starting CrossFit I have been working with Mike on my nutrition goals. I wasn’t expecting to have a “quick fix” but I have learned I need to be patient and trust his advice. I have noticed some great results in the past few months and am now in a maintaining stage.

7.  What advice do you have for someone just starting out at CFD?