The past 20 years I struggled with my weight and at one point I was well over 400lbs.
I would lie about how I felt about my weight and say that I felt comfortable in my skin in hopes that I would believe it. I met my wife Tracie in 2009 and I knew she was my soulmate from first glance. I tried eating healthier with her help, but when no one was watching I was sneaking snack foods. I started hating myself and was unhappy. I wanted to be more active, but moving was a chore and aches and pains were a daily feeling. I knew I had to do something drastic to change my relationship with food, so I made a decision that saved my life.
I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery and my life has changed for the better. My relationship with food has changed since I can’t eat much… and that is ok. I get to eat what I want but at a amount that is satisfying. My aches and pains are still there but for a different reasons.
My wife and I joined CrossFit Off Grid in July 2017, and it was the best decision we’ve made. I am more fit then I was in high school. I have energy, I can breathe, I look forward to climbing stairs… and I can RUN. In my best Oprah voice “I love running!” Even though my body was transforming, my brain was still saying that I was “Fat Tony.” It screamed that I could not do any of the things CrossFit had me doing. So, I kept pushing my body ignoring my brain. I did a Spartan Sprint and it was great, I felt like I accomplished something, “Fat Tony” died that day in Citi Field but he needed to be buried. I went to West Virginia to do a Spartan Beast and a Spartan Super in 2 days. I got my Spartan Trifecta and buried Fat Tony on that mountain.
I am proud of who I am becoming and best of all I love myself.
I keep coming back to CrossFit off the Grid because of the coaches, the programming, and the people. Things I have accomplished both physically and mentally keeps me locked in and focused on doing better than the previous day. The encouragement you get from others is simply amazing.
