My name is Emily and I’ve been a member of the X-Project since September 2016. I am a 24 year old teacher, and I am getting married in July of 2017! Way before the X-Project (in high school) I was an athlete. I played field hockey and lacrosse and was in great shape. I loved being active and when I went to college, I didn’t make time for exercise or sports (and when I did make time, I had NO clue what I was doing). I gained a lot of weight in my first few years of college, and it continued to get worse as time went on. My small 5’4 frame weighed close to 170 pounds at the end of summer 2016. I felt so uncomfortable in my own skin. I hated the way clothes looked on me. I hated the way I looked in photos. Heck, I even hated the way my BRAND NEW wedding dress looked on me! I knew I needed a change, but I really didn’t know how to do it alone.
I happened upon the X-Project after seeing an advertisement for the first 6-Week Challenge. I wish someone took a photo of me when I walked into the gym for my interview. I probably looked sick to my stomach. It was about 100 degrees outside, and I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. I’ll never forget that interview. Michael asked me on a scale of 1 to 10 how committed I would be to the program. Not really knowing how to answer, I replied “8.” He said to me “We’re really looking for people who are 10/10 100% committed to this.” Although I still wasn’t sure of how classes would work or if I would even be able to physically handle CrossFit, I signed up. I knew that the challenge and the X-Project was exactly what I needed in that moment. It’s amazing how quickly my 8/10 turned into a 10/10 after a little thought. I needed to do this challenge for myself.
The first class was HARD… but I loved it! The coaches were so encouraging and helpful. There was not a single moment in time in those first 6 weeks in which I felt uncomfortable or like I was being judged for my lack of skill. The X-Project has honestly changed my entire life. I never thought I would look forward to working out and coming to the gym. The community of people at the X-Project are so loving and welcoming, that I instantly felt like I belonged. Had someone told me that the 6-Week Challenge would turn into a regular membership, and that it would change my life this drastically I would have never believed them.
I’ve accomplished so many things that I never even DREAMED I’d be able to do. I’ve lost around 30 pounds since that first weigh-in from the challenge and several inches. I can do push-ups from the ground, double-unders, deadlift over 100 lbs, back squat over 100 lbs, and I’m even learning how to do pull-ups and hand stand push-ups! Aside from the numbers, I am the strongest I have ever been in my entire life and I am confident in my own skin. Not only has the X-Project been amazing for my physical health, but my mental health as well. I can’t WAIT to put on my wedding dress in a few months, because I know that I am going to look and feel my best. Thanks to Michael and the coaches at the X-Project for pushing and encouraging me, for challenging me a little more each day, and for never giving up on me.