When Joy joined CrossFit Dwell in October 2022, she was looking for a way to get back to working out. Life had gotten busy, especially after becoming a mom of two, and exercise had gradually fallen off her list of priorities. But Joy knew she needed to make a change. She missed moving her body, she knew how much exercise helped relieve stress, and she had another important goal in mind: being able to keep up with her kids, and maybe even outrun them someday. Now, with three children, including a one-year-old, that goal has become even more important.
Like so many busy parents, Joy had found herself putting her own needs on the back burner. There was always something else that needed to be done, someone who needed her attention, or another reason why working out could wait. But eventually, she realized that getting back to fitness wasn’t just about exercise. It was about having more energy, managing stress, staying strong, and being able to fully participate in the life she was building with her family.
And what she discovered at CrossFit Dwell was even better than she expected.
Joy says Lauren and Natalie have been a huge part of that experience. “Lauren and Natalie are really gifted not only in coaching but in including people and bringing them into the fold,” she says. “They are amazing at making people comfortable and they want you to come as you are.”
That idea of come as you are is at the heart of what makes Joy’s story so relatable. Wherever you are in your current fitness level, you simply need to take that first step.
As Joy puts it, “Getting there is the first step. You just have to walk in and they will help you every step of the way.”
Since joining CrossFit Dwell, Joy has experienced changes that go far beyond what she can do in a workout. One of her favorite benefits might surprise you: she’s more patient with her kids. “Ha!” she says, but there’s a lot of truth behind it. Exercise can be an important outlet for stress, and having a regular place to move, challenge herself, and focus on something positive has helped Joy show up with more energy and patience at home.
And energy is something she definitely needs. With three kids including a one-year-old, Joy has plenty keeping her busy. Yet she says she has more energy now than she did before. That’s a great reminder that exercise doesn’t simply take energy from us. Done consistently and appropriately, it can help us build the strength and stamina we need for everyday life.
CrossFit Dwell has also been there for Joy through one of life’s biggest physical changes: pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Rather than viewing fitness as something she had to stop and start from scratch, Joy has been able to work with her coaches through different seasons of life. The workouts can be adjusted to meet her where she is, and the coaches continue to check in on her goals.
That coaching and accountability have been especially valuable as Joy works toward her current goals. Right now, she’s focusing on improving her running and push-ups, and she’s already seeing progress in both areas. Her goals are specific: she wants to run a 10-minute mile by the end of the year, achieve “RX” push-ups, and continue attending CrossFit Dwell four to five days each week.
Having goals is one thing. Having a plan and people who help you stay accountable is another. Joy appreciates that the coaches don’t simply hand her a workout and send her on her way. They check in, help her stay focused, and give her a plan to work toward. That makes her goals feel achievable instead of overwhelming.
But perhaps the thing Joy is most proud of isn’t a particular lift, running time, or number of push-ups.
It’s showing up.
Getting to the gym four or five days a week isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes it’s really hard. Joy’s kids often come with her, and she admits that there are days when it would be much easier to simply stay home rather than get three kids and herself out the door. But she has learned that when she makes the choice to go, she never regrets it. In August, she was able to make CFD’s Committed Club for the very first time! This means that she attended 15 classes during the month! That is a huge win!
That’s a lesson that applies far beyond fitness.
There will always be days when staying home feels easier. There will be days when you’re tired, busy, stressed, or tempted to tell yourself you’ll start again tomorrow. However, Joy has discovered that consistency isn’t about feeling motivated every single day. Sometimes it’s simply about making the decision to do what you know is good for you.
And there’s another bonus for Joy: her kids love coming to the gym, too. They get to see their friends and all of their gym “aunts and uncles.” What started as something Joy needed for herself has become something her family enjoys.
Of course, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Having a baby and finding the energy to get to the gym has been Joy’s biggest challenge recently. The newborn and early parenting seasons can make even simple things feel difficult. But as her youngest has gotten older and reached the one-year mark, getting to the gym has become easier.
Joy’s story is a great example of why fitness needs to be flexible enough to fit real life. There will be seasons when you can train more. There will be seasons when you need to scale back. There will be pregnancies, babies, busy work schedules, family responsibilities, injuries, vacations, and countless other things that can affect your routine. The goal isn’t to have a perfect fitness journey. The goal is to keep moving forward.
Joy has found a mindset that helps her do exactly that. When a workout feels hard or she’s tired and doesn’t want to keep going, she reminds herself, “I GET to do this, my body is able and I am thankful.”
Then she repeats it until she pushes through.
That simple shift from “I have to” to “I get to” can change the way we approach exercise. Instead of seeing movement as another obligation on an already-full schedule, Joy chooses to see it as a gift. Her body is capable of moving, strengthening, running, lifting, and improving. And she’s grateful for the opportunity.
She also understands that choosing something difficult now can make other parts of life easier later. “Sometimes it’s hard but choosing that hard will make a lot of my life easier because we are created to move,” she says.
That’s exactly what functional fitness is about. It’s not just about what happens inside the gym. It’s about being able to chase your kids, carry groceries, climb stairs, get up and down from the floor, travel, play, work, and enjoy the people and activities that matter most to you. It’s about building a body that can support the life you want to live.
Joy’s advice to anyone considering starting or restarting their fitness journey is simple: “No matter what stage of life you are in, there is a place for you and a plan. Come as you are and just start. You will not regret it. YOU GOT IT!”
That’s a message worth remembering.
You don’t have to wait until life slows down. You don’t have to wait until you feel stronger. You don’t have to wait until you lose weight, have more energy, or become more confident. You can start exactly where you are and let the coaching, community, and consistency help you move forward.
Joy is grateful for the environment she’s found at CrossFit Dwell. She describes the coaches and the positive, encouraging atmosphere as a gift. Even if the coaches just saw her the day before, she says they’re “SO happy you’re there” and that members are welcomed immediately.
That’s the kind of place we want CrossFit Dwell to be: a place where you can walk in exactly as you are, whether you’re starting for the first time, starting over, returning after having a baby, or simply looking for a better way to stay strong as life gets busier.
Joy walked through the doors in October 2022 because she wanted to start working out again. Today, she’s working toward a faster mile, stronger push-ups, and continued consistency. More importantly, she’s building the strength and energy to keep up with the three people who call her Mom.
And maybe, one day soon, she’ll outrun them.
If Joy’s story sounds familiar and you’ve been thinking about getting back into fitness, don’t wait for the perfect time. Come as you are and just start. At CrossFit Dwell, we’ll help you figure out where to begin, meet you at your current fitness level, and create a plan that fits your life. Ready to take the first step? Schedule your free intro and let’s get started.
