My schedule for June was class/lab 8am to 3pm Monday- Friday, and CrossFit Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings, and studying/practicing assessments every hour in between, and eating and sleeping somewhere in there too. July through August was not much different except for the actual clinical experiences with live patients and more sign-offs including catheter's, medication administration, and head to toe exams thrown in. I think all of us (the BAT's) were exhausted with our day to day schedules and could barely find time to breathe, never mind time to keep up with work, social lives, or a new exercise schedule, I even had to miss a dear friends wedding back home because I had two exams the following Monday, and I know I'm not the only one in the program to have missed out on exciting events with friends and family. We are all certainly making sacrifices to be successful in this program but I am more than sure that it will pay off 10 months from now when we can ourselves nurses. I was worried that there wouldn't be time for CrossFit, that it would wear me out more than the commitment of the BAT program itself but it has actually turned out to be the opposite and I make sure to have time for it.
CrossFit offers me structure, it makes me more accountable, it gives me more energy, it makes me stronger, and overall it just makes my day better. It's been three months now of consistent three times a week workouts, I'm doing things I never thought I'd be doing, like back squats with 125 lbs, deadlifts with 135lbs, and climbing ropes to the ceiling (I finally got all the way to top yesterday)! It's liberating and confidence boosting and most of all it is a lot of fun, even when you're dripping sweat and collapsed to the floor in the CrossFit recovery position you're still having fun, and that's why you come back the next day, at least that's why I come back. I landed myself in the hospital at the beginning of this month (everything turned out okay, and I'm all but fully recovered) and the whole time in house I was contemplating getting a work out in, IV's, tubing, hospital gown, and all. I didn't but I was back at the box less than a week from my initial admission. So, really if you want your body to heal, get your body moving, in ways you weren't sure you could, I promise you'll feel better, at the least you'll feel better about yourself. It's no secret that I have rheumatoid arthritis and it's no secret that this disease does put limitations on me and sometimes stops me in my tracks, for example with a three day hospital admission during finals week, but it's also not the be all end all, of who I am and what I'm capable of, and it's certainly not an excuse not to do CrossFit. And for those of you reading this that are thinking I could never do CrossFit, watch this video of other folks with plenty of 'excuses' not to do CrossFit for some encouragement.
So, the biggest thank you is owed to mine and Ian's friend Yasha who has his very own CrossFit success story, is now a Level 1 CrossFit coach and is the reason Ian and I started CrossFit (only after two years of gentle nudging ;). Yasha, I cannot thank you enough for introducing CrossFit to me (and Ian) and encouraging me despite or rather in spite of my looming "limitations". And to Leslie and Barry of Southern Tier CrossFit for making it all possible!
Come fall, you can find me still making time for CrossFit despite class three days a week and clinicals four days a week, it may mean a few 6am workouts, which for me is relatively unheard of, but I'm sure it will be more than worth it. I invite you all to give a try!
