I always wanted to be a badass. Just about any woman my age wants to be like the Sarah Connor character from Terminator II, athletic grace may be the best term for what I mean. Prior to joining CrossFit Central, I was in martial arts (badass, remember?). However, the class options for my belt level (2nd black) were limited. The weekly martial arts conditioning class had become my favorite class. The teacher had joined CrossFit Central at some point, and our classes had become CrossFit workouts with CrossFit nutrition advice, and I loved it. I decided that I wanted more classes per week, and that’s when I joined.

In April, I switched to about 99% paleo diet, and the pounds have dropped off. I lost 45 pounds without being hungry, which I didn’t think was even possible. I had to force myself to add some foods back in, since I’ve been at my ideal weight for about 2 months now. I am in awesome shape, better than when I was a teenager. I’m not faster, but I have much better endurance and strength and an incredibly strong core. I don’t generally compare myself to other people, I prefer to think how I would look and feel if I didn’t do CrossFit: pudgy, bloated, unable to lift anything overhead, unable to comfortably squat, aching knees, hips, and back. If I do a bunch of heavy back squats or overhead squats, my joints feel wonderful for days! I think I have achieved the desired ‘Athletic Grace’, which translates to a more youthful appearance.

Patty lost 45 lbs. and is in better shape than when she was a teenager.

CrossFit Central is quite expensive – there’s no getting around that. However, I spend much less on CrossFit than I would spend on medications, plus I feel wonderful. It’s worth every penny. Being fit equates with a more youthful demeanor; no concessions need to be made for me; I am rarely ill, and when I am, I recover quickly; I am clear headed and have a consistent temperament. My kids love my paleo diet – it means there’s plenty of really healthy food in the house for them to eat when they visit.