“Success is determined not by whether or not you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them. And if you look at these obstacles as a containing fence, they become your excuse for failure. If you look at them as a hurdle, each one strengthens you for the next.” ― Ben Carson, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
Has anyone ever asked you to describe yourself in 5 words? This has always been me:
- Hyper
- Happy
- Feisty
- Fun
- Committed Christian (that’s 2 words, but oh well)
I lost myself from July 2012 – March 2013. My new self looked like this:
- Lazy
- Uninspired
- Depressed
- Moody
- Empty
I had been training hard, wanting to eventually compete in the sport of CrossFit. One week after coming home from the 2012 CrossFit Games, I was involved in a car accident that resulted in bodily injuries. I lived with pain daily and eventually had to have steroid injections in my neck and surgery on my shoulder. Everything I had been working towards disappeared in an instant. I was devastated.
I had moments of joy, but overall I felt like nothing really mattered. Then in January 2013, I found out I was pregnant. I was completely full of joy and love and excitement and hope upon finding out the news. I met with a midwife, cleaned up my eating, and started taking my pre-natal vitamins. I felt like I was going to have a boy so I named him Axel Cruz. When I lost the baby, my world came crashing down around me.
For a period of 8 months I wallowed in self-pity. That wasn’t me, though. I had never been that person who allowed little blips on life’s radar to completely set them off course, yet I had done just that. I allowed obstacles to completely derail me. I gained 20 lbs. The funny thing is I wear workout clothes everyday so I never even noticed the weight gain. It wasn’t until I couldn’t get a pair of pants over my butt that I realized something was amiss. That’s when I knew I had to make a change.
Life has a funny way of making things happen. It was right around this time that Matt & Pam Munson approached us about Advocare. Now, I hated anything to do with multi-level marketing and every time I’d been approached with Advocare in the past, I put a wall up with an emphatic, “NO!” This time was different. I began my CrossFit journey with the Munson’s back in ’08. I trusted them and their judgment. Plus, I was too tired to put up walls. They suggested the 24-day challenge and a few other supplements to help with performance. We placed the order and took some (rather embarrassing) before pics.
Over the course of the challenge I cleaned up my eating some (meaning I only had 1 cheat meal per week instead of 3-4) and totally cut out the alcohol. In 24 days everything changed. I experienced greater energy. I recovered faster from my workouts. I lost 9 lbs, 8 inches, and 4.2% body fat. I PR’d (personal record) my back squat and deadlift by 40 lbs and my shoulder press by 20 lbs. I felt amazing!!!
I never, in a million years, thought I would be involved in direct sales, but I feel like me again, and it’s the best feeling in the world! I started coaching all the morning classes at my gym, 1960 CrossFit, which totally fills my bucket. I’ve been goal setting like crazy. I feel happy, energetic, feisty, and ready to take on the world! C.S. Lewis once said, “You’re never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.” Who’s ready to dream big with me?
Liani Oistad Fitness 