Charlie Johnson

Charlie Johnson: “CrossFit taught me how to replace ‘Want To’ with ‘Will.’”

I started CrossFit because I was tired of being softer than the brownies I demolishing on a daily basis. From the time I could walk, sports have been my life. I was always finding ways to not only stay active but to excel at every activity I tried.

At the age on 22, I was completely spent. I woke up one day and said, “To hell with that, I’m tired of hurting all of the time.” I was done with physical activity. I put all of my focus into music and I hit the road. For four years, it was booze, smokes, microwave burritos, booze, smokes and… Oh yeah, music.

Over those four years, I went from college athlete (190 lbs) to Tons of Fun (245 lbs). Abs were replaced by stretch marks and a damn good jaw line was drenched in squish. I was 26 years old and I had to suck in to bend over and tie my shoes.

I moved back to Houston and began coaching. I ate better, ran a bit, became a little more active and dropped down to 230 lbs. It wasn’t enough for me but I could not stick with any “diet” or workout. After two years of bitching and making “I can’t today because…” excuses, I decided to give this CrossFit thing a shot. {This is where I give Joe Sims the first (sober) THANK YOU for getting my butt involved.} I think he was tired of answering my questions because he started to answer them with a simple “I’ll be there at 5pm on Monday.”

July 26, 2009

I quit smoking after 14 years… that’s right, I started when I was 14 yrs old. I was tired of being the guy I have always hated.

July 27, 2009

15 Thrusters (45 lb bumper), broad jump burpees, 15 KB Twists (used 20 lb. medicine ball), broad jump burpees… 4 rounds for time. DNF I threw up halfway through it and I wanted nothing more than to choke Joe… at the exact same time, that competitive athlete was born again. I was hooked. I could barely walk down my stairs two days later, but I gave it all I could to finish the next WOD. I’ve gone from finding a million reasons to NOT workout to doing burpees in a puddle of water during the LumberJack 20.

Over the past four months…

I have dropped almost 30 lbs and I have gained so much more in return. The same camaraderie I experienced playing sports is the same as I experience with CrossFit. It has opened my eyes to fitness, diet, discipline, determination, and countless others of life’s essentials. It has also opened me up to other opportunities in life.

I will go after my CrossFit Kids Certification in the Summer of 2010 in hopes of reaching people long before they become 28 year old chunks of bubble gum. My ultimate goal is to teach children ways to become physically active and fit for a lifetime. CrossFit has taught me how to replace “Want to” with “WILL.” Thank You Bayou City CrossFit!!!