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Meagan’s Story - From Out of Breath to Unstoppable
“I never once considered fitness to be for someone like me.”
That’s how Meagan Powell felt before walking through the doors of CrossFit North Charleston back in January 2018. At 40 years old, she works a full-time desk job as an office administrator, which means lots of sitting—and not much movement throughout the day.
In her early 30s, Meagan was nearly 50 pounds heavier, out of breath just getting up from the floor, and stuck in a cycle of eating and drinking whatever she wanted. The idea of fitness, let alone CrossFit, felt completely out of reach.
But one day, when the gym she was going to shut down, her husband reminded her of a CrossFit gym right down the road. She decided to try.
“I was intimidated to walk through the door and it was scary to learn the new movements. I was googling acronyms every day. But I told myself I belonged here and set my mind to showing up at 6am every day.”
It wasn’t one big moment that changed everything—it was hundreds of small ones.
Her blood pressure dropped. Her body started cooling itself more efficiently. She wasn’t getting winded anymore. She was sleeping better. Feeling stronger. Lifting heavier.
“From the moment I got under a barbell, I felt like I came alive. I’ve never been particularly fast or athletic... but I discovered I’m strong. And that strength started bleeding into every corner of my life.”
And now? Meagan has maintained her 50-pound weight loss. She moves better than she ever thought possible. She’s off antidepressants and manages stress through movement, mindset, and routine.
“What I have now is strength in my body, in my mind, and in the way I live my life. My mood and mindset have made a complete 180.”
She credits that transformation to one choice—to walk through the door.
“I often find myself saying to others, ‘I wish you could have what I have,’ not to brag, but because I know what it’s like to live without it. The heaviest weight in the gym is the front door. But on the other side of it, you’ll find strength, friendship, and a happy escape from the stress of life.”
We’re proud to have Meagan as part of our community at CFNC. She’s proof that showing up for yourself consistently, especially when it's hard, can completely change your life.
-Coach James
