Fitting Fitness into Life: Crystel Armenta

My fitness journey started when I became a mom. Before I got pregnant, let’s just say I was not making the best decisions and was definitely heading down the wrong path. Once I found out I was pregnant, I knew I had to change my ways. It was time to grow up and start making better decisions. After I had my daughter, I was single and 210 pounds! I tell everyone that I am where I am today because of my daughter. I truly believe she saved my life.

I was heavy and didn’t like how I felt. I was always low on energy and started thinking thoughts like, “I can’t take care of this precious girl if I can’t take care of myself”, so I started to make changes. I started by changing my eating habits and taking her for walks. Then my walks became jogs and then the jogs became runs. I still remember that if I stopped to catch my breath, she’d call from the stroller, “Go mommy! Go! Don’t stop yet!” That pushed me to go harder. I became a runner and started to do races and then I even did a couple of marathons!

I wanted to do more, so I decided to try some workout videos at home. As a single, full-time mail lady working for USPS, I didn’t have the time or resources to get to a gym! But after remarrying and having my third child, I start CrossFit. I wanted something different and I always saw all these amazing women doing things that I grew up thinking only guys are able to do. Before, when I was overweight, all I wanted was to be skinny. But now I wanted to be strong!

So I started going to a local box and the only time I could go was at 5am. It was hard to keep a good schedule due to the kids and working full-time, so the 5am workout was right for me. That worked for about a year until my husband got a new job that changed his work schedule – which meant I was no longer able to make it to the 5am class. It was hard to make it in the evening – so hard! The kids always have homework and their activities. CrossFit is expensive (especially with a family of 5) so it’s tough and you never know if and when you’re going to make it to the box. My daughter started the CrossFit kids class, which made it easier for me to workout. When she started the weightlifting class, I joined her with that.

By this time, I was doing my own programming, so I decided to start saving money to get my own rig, barbells, and plates at home. Best investment I ever made! Shortly after I made the decision to start saving, we moved from California to Colorado. We didn’t join another box, but set up a gym in our garage. Since I’ve started working out at home, I have gotten stronger and faster. Plus, another added benefit is setting a good example for my kids. They love working out with me and I love it when they join in! So here I am. I am fitter and smaller than I was in high school! It blows my mind how far I have come.

When I originally started my home gym, all I had was a pair of dumbbells and a kettlebell. I was following Miranda and Julian of Street Parking because their programming allowed me to get my workout in with little equipment and time. I instantly fell in love with the type of workouts they were pushing out because they were simple and effective. Last January was their 1-year anniversary and they were celebrating by giving away a complete home gym package to anyone who submitted a video explaining why they should win, along with awarding extra entries for logging their workouts. This is when I started posting 5-10 workouts a day because I really wanted to win! I had recently moved to Colorado, so the news that I had WON could not have come at a better time! I was so ecstatic knowing I could finally get everything done in my own garage.

My home gym is now complete because I was willing to put the work in for something I really wanted. That's what makes me Fit from Home.

I'm Crystel Armenta, and that is my PRx Real Story.

Instagram: @23crystel