Melissa Watson - Coach
CFL1: 2017
Hi, my name is Melissa Watson, most know me as Moe. The words working out, fitness, nutrition, diet, these are all words that I have known ever since I can remember. I still have vague memories of working out with mom when I was a child. I can still see those socks that she stuffed with rocks and I used as hand weights. I’m so thankful that mom instilled these habits in me at such a young age. I’ve never been one that could lose weight easily, I have to really watch it or I will gain pounds so easily. And I lovvvvvve to eat so this of course does not help.
I still remember the day in grade school when “weight” and “body image” became a concern for me. I was standing in the lunch line and an older girl who was basically a bully was laughing at me and asked if I was pregnant. It’s crazy that I still remember that moment so well. Then high school came around, and the worrying became even worse. I was involved in all of the sports and was super active. I remember most days I would pretty much starve myself for the fear of becoming fat. I really lacked self confidence. Then college came around, and let me tell you, those first two years, I had a ball!!!! But then I started nursing school, the fun stopped and I gained about 30 pounds. I tried all the diets, all the different types of workouts, nothing stuck. I was what most would call a yoyo dieter. Then, I met my husband, Mark Watson. We had the same passion for fitness and you could say it’s what brought us together.
Fast forward a few years later and we got engaged and were going to get married in June of 2012. We started crossfit in May of 2012. I remember him initially trying to get me to start crossfit, and I was extremely hesitant, but did it anyways. I wanted to lose some pounds for that wedding dress. I still remember that first elements course. I remember doing the lifts with a PVC pipe and how awkward it felt, doing pull ups with ALL the bands, barely being able to jump on the baby box and puking on that very first workout. Why I ever went back? It was the first workout I had ever done since high school that my focus was on the sport and not losing weight.
One week after Mark and I got married, he left to Afghanistan for 3 months. This is when I truly fell in love with CrossFit. I struggled with him being gone, but Crossfit and the community is what I turned to. Those people helped me through those months whether they know it or not.
Here is what I really love about Crossfit, it has given me a confidence that I have never had, in the gym and out of the gym. I feel like the people at Activate are my second family, for sure my second home. It’s the place I go to and I don’t feel like I’m being judged. I feel like they truly want the best for me as I do them. I no longer dread working out, it’s now my escape. My focus is no longer just about body image, but it’s about bettering myself as a whole. From a personal aspect it’s about getting that ring muscle up again since I had Mia, it’s about achieving handstand walks and getting those PRs. From a coaching aspect, it’s about helping other people find what I found in CrossFit, it’s so much more then a workout, it’s a livelihood. It’s one of the best feelings to see a member get their first pull up or that first rope climb. I’m so extremely blessed and thankful to have the opportunity to help other people on a daily basis. Coaching CrossFit and owning our own box along with our awesome partners, Dallas and Alexis, is truly a dream come true.
