I'd like start with a more personal note as to why this CrossFit City Limits is so important to me. Since I was 18, I have heavily self-medicated with drugs and alcohol to deal with depression and social anxiety. Even during bouts of sobriety, I was using large doses of anti-depressants and mood stabilizers to keep my mental state in check. I've been to rehabilitation centers three separate times and I've struggled back and forth to stay clean despite how terrible things got when I wasn't. A couple months before I joined CrossFit City Limits, I had one final weekend of using anything and everything under the sun. I came to the end of that weekend jobless and homeless. For a month and a half, I lived out of my car around Austin until I was able to pick myself back up and find a great job that I still have today. Within a week of work, I had signed up for my first month at CrossFit City Limits. It was a huge financial sacrifice at the time but it was essential to my survival at this point. I was now completely sober and off my psychiatric medications as well and the gym and the community proved to be a fantastic outlet for my depression and anxiety. Even after all I had been through, it took me a few months of coming and going before I finally made the commitment to come to class 4-5 times a week and clean up my diet. Now, I could not be happier with this decision. I needed God to get clean but I needed to stay active and eat better to stay clean AND happy.
As I come up to my anniversary of joining CrossFit City Limits, I've been reflecting on the positive changes that have happened in my life over this last year. I am mentally and physically a completely different person. I have taught myself, with the help of great coaches and a great community, I am capable of doing things I told myself for years I could never do. I no longer look at tomorrow's workout with dread but with the excitement of the challenge ahead. This is not only the strongest I have ever been, I also sleep better, and carry around very little stress in my life. The people at CrossFit City Limits (including some friends that I've dragged in along the way!) are amazing. Whether you are a long-time athlete or just getting started, you'll find a welcoming environment to grow with other like-minded individuals. I can't wait to see what the next year holds!
CrossFit can be for anyone. We have all kinds of people from all walks of life at our gym. When you first come check it out, you might see some crazy people running around and picking up a lot of heavy stuff like we've got nothing to lose. Give us a try for a month. You'll be doing the same and loving every moment of it.