February Athlete of the Month: Sheri Kindred

Built to Overcome:

How Family, Grit, and the CrossFitBound Community Fueled Sheris Comeback

1: What motivated you to return to training after your injury, and how did you overcome the mental and physical challenges during recovery?

For me my motivation was and still is my husband, my children, my friends, and my career. Failure just wasn’t an option. I won’t lie emotionally and mentally it wasn’t easy. I felt defeated after I found out my right hip labrum was torn. It’s not an easy surgery when it requires your hip being dislocated. But the feeling was even worse when I learned my left labrum was torn as well. Add in a pulmonary embolism and a collapsed lung after the second surgery, which completely put me over the edge. I felt betrayed by my body. I was angry because I already had to start all over again after two c-sections back to back. But I wasn’t built to break. I did, even when I didn’t want to. I got up everyday and did, even if I didn’t want to. I did it for me, for my husband, and a little more for my children. Plus it always helps having wonderful friends pushing you, motivating you, being with you every step of the way helps.

2: How do you balance your training routine with the demands of your family and career?

I do it when my family is asleep. I don’t like taking time away from them so the easiest thing to do is to wake up early before they do and before I have to get to work. And I’m sure they appreciate it more that way anyway. Crossfit helps create endorphins, endorphins makes you happy, happy people just don’t toss their kids or husbands out the window (I’m kidding).

3:What has been the most rewarding part of your fitness journey since getting back in shape?

Finally feeling good and confident with everything in life. I was miserable for over a year with my injuries and I lost all the confidence in myself. It worried me that I would never be able to chase my kids again, go back out on the streets at work, or that I would never be able to do a burpee again (yes I am that psycho that loves burpees). I feel alive and I am loving it more and more every day.

4:How has your training at CrossFitBound helped you in managing the physical and mental demands of your job?

I think Crossfit compliments my career in many ways. It helps with the physical and mental. Depending on my day at work, I can find myself having sedentary duties such as sitting and typing reports, sending emails, or sitting in my car for long hours driving, or doing surveillance. Crossfit counteracts the sedentary with high intensity workouts which gets my heart rate up fast. It helps me in making healthier food choices and just improves my health overall. Crossfit has also helped make my PT test a breeze along with the physical training required to keep my skills up. Mentally, it’s helped give me the never quit mindset.

5:What advice would you give to someone recovering from an injury and struggling to find motivation?

First and most important, be kind to yourself and allow yourself grace and time to heal. Start with small realistic goals. When you reach those goals, celebrate them and set new goals. Everyday won’t be perfect or go as planned, try not to stress because tomorrow is another day to try again. Surround yourself with people who will push you but help you along the way and help you celebrate your wins no matter how small or how big.

6:How has being part of the CrossFitBound community supported you through your recovery and fitness goals?

Where do I even begin to talk about the Bound community. Regardless of your age, your physical capability, Bound members and coaches accept you, motivate you, push you to challenge yourself. The camaraderie and the togetherness makes you want to come back every single day. I would come in there some days just feeling defeated, but the coaches and members in class just motivate you to keep going and do better. And lucky for me, my husband and best friend are both part of the Bound community and they stand by my side everyday and support me and celebrate me no matter how small my wins are. Along with the members, Bound has coaches that take the time to help you, understand your body and what it may or may not need that day. Some days I would go MIA and those check ins made me come right back in. They were getting paid regardless, but they still take the time because the community matters.