By Kami

For some people it's a favorite pair of jeans that no longer fit. For others it's a stinging comment that hits a little too close to home.

For me, it was looking at a photograph, a particularly bad photograph.

Afterwards I thought 'Oh my god, Chris Farley called – he wants his chins back.' The next day I signed up for a membership at a local gym.

But, two months into it, I felt like I was treading water. Despite dropping almost 15 pounds, I knew I had hit a wall. That's when I walked into The Body Compound and changed my life.

When I came through the front door, I was carrying more than just extra weight. The sudden, unexpected death of a close friend had made it hard to care about anything that didn't include eating bad take-out and sitting on my couch. I was determined to change my life, but I wasn't sure I could do it. After just three months at The Body Compound I shed 20 pounds, dropped three dress sizes and packed on more muscle than I ever thought possible.

But, the biggest impact was on my psyche. My attitude changed. My confidence and my self-esteem soared. The trainers pushed me harder and further than I ever thought I could go. There were times when I questioned their sanity. There were workouts that shredded my ego. There was failure. There were blisters. Then, there were calluses.

And, to my astonishment it worked.

When I began CrossFit, I only wore sweatpants and sweatshirts. As I continued coming to class, day after day, my beloved sweatpants began falling down during workouts. On a daily basis, for nearly a two week stretch, Jesse fashioned a belt out of spare speaker wire. It prompted me to invest in new workout gear and it shaped the type of bond that's difficult to explain.

So, you can understand if the last word I would use to describe The Body Compound is 'ordinary.' No day is easy. There are no shortcuts. I can't fake my way through a workout. And, that's the point. If it were easy, I'd still be unfit and unhappy. I'd also be without a slew of new friends.

When you commit to CrossFit, you are also entering a unique community. Everyone at The Body Compound wants you to do well. We cheer each other on, we challenge one another and we care about everyone that comes into the gym. That support helps you fight through the truly brutal workouts.

CrossFit is all different shapes, sizes, ages, and strengths. There is no prototypical member or body type. That's what makes The Body Compound special. I've watched people's faces light up after accomplishing things they never thought possible. Those experiences are irreplaceable. I know because I've had them.

I know because I plan to have more.