How did CFU come about?
Let’s go back to 2009, well I’ll take you there anyway. I was teaching PE and coaching at Trinity Lutheran School; had been teaching or coaching in some fashion since graduating college in 1990 (yep, I’m THAT old!) During all of that time, I had 3 wonderful kids and was losing myself. I’m sure all the moms out there know what I’m talking about.
The first week of December I found myself depressed, lacking energy and not at all happy with my body or how I felt about myself. I knew it was time for a change. So I went back to a method that I knew worked and logged onto the Body for Life Community group online. There I met hundreds of like-minded individuals who were all wanting to change their bodies and minds.
I went into this venture weighing 215 and about 42% body fat; I was thoroughly disgusted with myself and I NEEDED to get back to the real me again. Having been an athlete all my life, I knew what needed to be done, but didn’t have the accountability or discipline to get it done. This is where the group came in…we’d log on in the mornings and chime in with the workouts/nutrition that were planned for our day. We even named the group “The Coffee Crew” π
Fast forward 12 weeks (the length of the “challenge”) and I was down about 15# and several inches! Feeling better but not quite there so I did another 12 weeks and started running and with that entered my first 5K! I think the attention to nutrition and the running really helped with my results that go around because I was down another 18# and felt STRONG! At this point I was leaner but not quite to where I wanted to be so a 3rd challenge was started. I was starting to lose motivation because the same monotonous exercises and cardio was wearing on me. Then an online friend mentioned that she was going to try this new type of fitness, CrossFit. I had never heard of it…
So I googled it and saw that there was a CrossFit Kids program! Cool, I could use it for my PE kids! Then my friend, Michelle challenged me to one of the workouts; I think it was deadlifts and burpees. She gave me her time to beat and being the competitive person that I am, set out to beat her…Well, that workout crushed me but that’s when I fell in love with CrossFit. (I beat her score by the way π ) So during this time of doing the mainsite workouts and some workouts she gave me from the gym she was going to I decided to see if there were any CF gyms around me. At the time, July 2010 there was one in St. Louis that was offering a foundations to CrossFit to where I could get started. I went to register one weekend and something held me back. The following week, CrossFit United in Columbia, MO popped up on the map and I scheduled my first CrossFit experience!
I was HOOKED…here I was teaching and coaching in Jefferson City then driving 45 minutes to a CrossFit class 2-3 times a week! I continued with the CF and running and finished the last 12 week challenge losing another 20# and dropping to 15.1% body fat. By far the best results and I finally felt comfortable in my own skin. In October of 2010, some of the Coffee Crew from that online group got together in Nashville and Michelle and I toyed around with going to get our Level 1 certifications. I really only wanted it so I could use the name of CrossFit for my kids in PE; I never dreamed that I would soon own a business.
So Michelle and I registered for our certs, mine in March 2011 and hers April 2011. Once I received my certification I did incorporated CFKids workouts with my PE kids, but then people (especially moms) started asking what I was doing to lose the weight and look so healthy. Then I told them the story and that’s where Mid-MO Fitness was born. I was running some boot camps in the early morning and one in the evening. During the summer we would have off site random meetings of “Fun” and after reading more into the affiliation process and presenting it to my bootcampers, I decided to apply for affiliation to own my own affiliate. Never in a million years did I think I could run a business. But nine years later, here we are…We are Mid-MO Fitness dba CrossFit Unstoppable; Wow, what a ride it has been!
The business was started because people asked me how I could help them. I’m in the business of helping people, I want people to succeed, I want people to feel good about themselves and their bodies, I want people to be role models for their children, I want people to be around for their grandkids, I want people to be healthier and happier, and last but not least, I want people to strive every day to be Better Than Yesterday!
This endeavor has ALWAYS been about the people and the community and will continue to be so. My mission is to make our world healthier and happier one day, one workout and one rep at a time.
If you would like some help, reach out…I’m here for EVERYONE! π
Work Hard, Eat Clean, Be Blessed!
