Guest blog post by TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY success story Shawn “Beard” Crosswhite:
When Derek told me I needed to write my story I was a bit shocked to be honest. In my mind I didn’t realize the changes I had made to be worthy of it.
If I look at where I am now compared to the rest of my life I know I am in the best shape I have ever been (so far).
I grew up playing soccer until I was a teenager and then I took up track for a few years. That is pretty much the extent of my sports/workout activities in my life.
I never even lifted weights or exercised most my whole life until a year ago. I just liked to relax, eat anything I could and drink beer.
I never gained weight so why not right?
I do have to carry heavy ladders, climb poles and stairs to apartments at work often. I wasn’t able to walk a flight of stairs without being winded. You can’t judge a book by a cover or a person by their shape and size.
Being fit can be anyone and I wasn’t, people called me “skinny fat” which seemed funny but had a truth to it.
A little over a year ago my wife wanted a change of her own. I was proud of her and loved hearing her stories every night after each workout session. Sure I looked up the site to see what it was about and saw pictures of her being posted.
My jaw dropped when she told me she flipped a 250lb tractor tire.
She had been going a month or so when she asked me to come one Saturday morning I was off of work. She was explaining to me what takes place on Saturdays and when I tuned back in (from looking at a squirrel…did I mention my ADD?) I said yes.
Saturdays were a relay competition… “easy” day how my mind perceived it. I don’t know what we did that day but it ended up with a “Cadillac run” (aka getting sick, aka PUKING).
I am glad I went even though I was nervous and felt out of place. I was instantly hooked.
Around this same time frame we signed up to do a night mud run with my sister, who now attends bootcamp, along with some fellow bootcampers and friends.
I wanted to attend bootcamp but with two little kids it was going to be hard. We worked out a plan over a few weeks and gave it a shot so I could get in shape for the run.
The mud run lit a fire inside me that I have had ever since. I know I couldn’t have done it had I not attended New Port Richey bootcamps.
I have completed many more mud and obstacle runs since then including the Spartan Run at Raymond James Stadium.
It’s hard for me to believe that the 3 and 4 ft hurdles at bootcamp that scared me initially, were the same hurdles that prepared and trained me for the 8ft wall during my Spartan race.
I have now been weight training with Rich Berrian as well for a few months. Now, combined with my love for obstacle racing, I set a goal to race in the competitive heats. I have two I plan on doing this year and many more to come.
Did I mention I am not just skinny I have muscles now too? This was hard for me to grasp since I was the same size most my life.
I have made the most changes when I have a goal set. If you are feeling complacent and not making changes set a goal and have new goals right behind those ready to go so you’re never without a goal.
If you haven’t come out and tried a bootcamp session yet, you are missing out.
I just want to thank my wife Sara for letting me tag along that Saturday and turning my world upsidedown. To my kids for being rockstars with our crazy schedule. As well I want to thank every single person from, friends to family, who has been there to support me and give me that extra push when I needed it. (WHICH WE ALL DO!)
Beard out.
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