Finding Solace

September 27, 2012

Josh Bunch

Theresa Weeks fought depression with CrossFit.

"CrossFit, plus paleo is the first truly successful program I have done."

 

Over the years, CrossFit has created a vast community. CrossFit created a sport. CrossFit created hobbies, treatments, charities and destinations.

“CrossFit helped me out of a hole,” Theresa Weeks says.

Five years ago, Theresa was depressed. Her mother’s death was stifling and she couldn’t figure out how to get out of it. Then she met CrossFit.

“I remember driving past a couple different CrossFits where I live,” she recalls. “I just went to the one with the light on,” Theresa says.

CrossFit marked a turning point in her state of depression. She found solace in CrossFit. The people she met genuinely seemed to care about her. The sheer activity and effort CrossFit demands left her too exhausted to worry at times. Something finally felt like it was going her way. “I have done lots of diets like South Beach and stuff. I even went somewhere every week that told me how to eat. Finally, after quitting P90X, I gave CrossFit a try,” Theresa says.

Over the years, Theresa and CrossFit had ups and downs, but she never gave up. Months become years and previous issues with food; her weight and confidence diminished. Her CrossFit community became her accountability. Her trainers became her motivation and knowledge. “CrossFit, plus paleo is the first truly successful program I have done,” she says.

Relapse

Four years after beginning CrossFit, Theresa felt a familiar feeling. Her doctor told her it was a nervous breakdown and she falling into a depression once again.

For some time after her relapse, Theresa continued to resist her husband's suggestion that she return to CrossFit. “I didn’t want to go back because I was just scared of what might happen, but finally my husband said, ‘You're going,’” Theresa recounts.

Now, she's glad she listened. Through CrossFit, Theresa fought back the depression and nervousness that had been closing in. 

Paleo Inspired

After going back to CrossFit, Theresa began to feel more like her old self. She became involved in a group at her box. Within the group, Theresa found what CrossFit was creating for her: a profession.

“A friend of mine said it was her husband's birthday, and cake isn’t paleo, so no cake,” Theresa says. “I thought, ‘Well why can’t we have a paleo cake?’”


That simple birthday wish for a paleo cake led Theresa into several retail establishments offering “Sweet T’s Paleo Inspired Baked Goods.” Her goodies range from muffins to cookies to cakes, and even post workout bars.


“Food has always been my demon,” Theresa says. “Now that I have ‘Sweet T’s’, I can give others, including myself, a way to remain on the right track.”

“After a few orders, my CrossFit family all chipped in and encouraged me to just keep going,” she says. “Here I am today with my own business. If it wasn’t for CrossFit, I would never have believed in myself enough to do it.”

It’s been nearly a year since Theresa’s breakdown and she has got her spark back, her husband got his wife back, and her community got something good to eat.