I’m a gymnast. Always have been, always will be.
I’ve really been missing my days of being a badass gymnast. I miss being able to bust out a million pull-ups with no problem. I miss being able to swing through the bars or fly through the air with ease.
I miss the hard work. I miss the rips on my hands. I miss spitting on my hands before I got on bars. I miss feeling like I am a part of a team.
Today I did something about it.
I hit up my old stomping ground because I had a goal of doing giants again.
You can get going so fast and you get into such a soothing rhythm. I missed that feeling that only giants can give.
There’s nothing like the smell of a gym. It’s a mixture of sweat and chalk. Sounds gross, but it feels like home to me.
There’s nothing like the pit. The pit allowed you to try new skills without fear. It’s no big deal if you fall–in fact, the pit actually makes it fun to fall.
I grew up on that rope.
For the grand finale…
I got to hop onto the strap bar and do something I haven’t done in 12 years. It was as great as I remembered it to be.
No Pain No Gain.
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That is such a bad ass party trick!
Ruth recently posted..Craigslist Crush: in the bedroom
That’s so cool that you got to go back and do that! I was a dancer for many many years, and I really miss it. I would love to go take a tap or jazz class again!
Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy recently posted..Why I Like Fall
omg–was that actually you in the video?! Looks like fun but I think I would be too scared to ever try anything like that!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape recently posted..Pasta with Eggplant and Tomato Caponata
You are badass
That looks like so much fun, but I’m pretty sure I’d pee my pants out of fear.
Sylvia @ Frolic Through Life recently posted..A bit of Fall Baking
I totally have ex-gymnast envy right now. I am sure the strap bar would have destroyed my wrists too! Gone are the days of scabbed and calused (sp?!) skin. Sooo cool!
Great job! That is so awesome.
Your love for gymnastics sounds like my love for horses, which were my childhood obsession. Horse poop and hay? I’ll take it.
P.S. I have always been fascinated by gymnastics… you don’t know how lucky you are that your body does those things! I love the show Make It or Break It because I get to watch all those badass moves.
I miss gymnastics too! Such a fun video – your skills are still rockin’! Happy Thursday, love! xoxo -Andi
Holy crap you’re awesome! Can i say freakin goosebumps?!? WHY HECK YES I CAN!
Brittany recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
Pretty cool! I’m glad you had fun.
Ann recently posted..Biscottis
Oh Lisa! So cool of Jeff to let you come do this! Just watching made my hands sweat like old times and made me nervous about hitting the box through the bottom with too wide of a straddle. haha!
I am so jealous! Watching you do that almost making me teary considering we used to be in there together. I agree about the chalky sweat smell being “home”… Every once in a while I will smell that same smell and it immediately takes me back! Man, I used to have such a love/hate relationship with the strap bar… I hated having to do those silly front giants on that thing.
I think of everything, I miss giants, fulls, layout step-outs and front aerials the most. I would give anything to be able to still do floor and beam routines with no pain
Meg recently posted..Eat to Live
Oh. My. Gosh. What a timely post! I actually was the president of the TExas Tech Gymnastics club team and am barely surviving my first 3 months of “retirement” now that I’m in Galveston for OT school with no access to a gym! I’m actually driving up to Houston to visit my friend’s gym tomorrow after class-and you can BET I’m bringing my grips.
You’re right-nothing can compare to that freedom and that feel of giants-looks like you still have a decent tap even after all these years! Just wanted to say that you just made me THAT much more excited to go back tomorrow-eeee!
Rachel recently posted..The importance of being in the moment.
Oh wow, you are badass! I’ve always wanted to do gymnastic, but unfortunately I live in a very small ”town” and it was just not an option.
OK, that is cool. I sucked at gymnastics, so I danced. Now I don’t feel so weird for still doing “step-ball-change, chaine” in the kitchen while waiting for pasta to boil
And the dance years explain nearly everything about my feet…
‘Dee @ ‘Dee’s Garret recently posted..The Topic I’ve Avoided for Too Long
Way to go, You still have good form.
Denise recently posted..Video to DVD Transfer
oh gymnastics. I can totally relate to the “always will be” a gymnast thing. Me too. And the smell of chalk. I still live for it. Giants, though, not so much…I was never a fan of bars…
but that’s SO impressive that you just got on the strap bar though. I don’t think I have the strength (physical, I mean) to do that anymore.
debbie recently posted..i did it, i’m doing it
What a great idea!
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food recently posted..Book Review: Dominique Browning’s ‘Slow Love’ Journey
So cool! I remember loving the pit when I did gymnastics…although I think we called ours the cheese pit because all of the blocks were yellow. I bet you had so much fun doing that…you should go back more often!
Lindsay@ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..Potato Jacket with Ground Turkey
I LOVE gymnastics!
I used to do it when I was younger too, but never really got into it like I did with running, but I kind of wish I did now.
My best friend growing up was a HUGE gymnast- she even went to the Jr. Olympics for gymnastics (beam & vault) & then got a full ride to the University of Alabama (roll tide) for gymnastics. I’m amazed! Now she owns a gym & trains other girls! So cool, right?!
Glad you got to experience it again!!!
Holly recently posted..It Was A Sign.
You looked great!! Just like you haven’t missed a beat!
I used to play soccer in high school and I miss it a lot sometimes. it just feels GOOD to get back in that familiar rhythm and feel like it is all just “right”.
Taylor @ Crumbs Don’t Count recently posted..Back Into the Swing of Things
You are amazing!! I’ve always thought it would be so cool to be a gymnast…I quit when I was 6 because I hated doing bridges. ha.
Clare @ Fitting It All In recently posted..Early Morning Lesson Learned
I was a gymnast too! It’s crazy to think about the insane tricks we did EVERYDAY without a problem. Giants were always so fun and easy… until you had to dismount. Good thing you were on the strap bar! You make it look so easy after 12 years! Being a gymnast makes you realize the importance of muscle memory and how you should trust your muscles not your brain. It also makes you realize that no matter how much you lift, you will never be that strong again! Although I’m not sure if I want to still be that short and stocky =P
Kirsten recently posted..China: Neon and Night Lights
Wow, impressive. I did gymnastics as a kid and now wonder how the heck I DID that. I wish I kept up with it!
jobo recently posted..Juxtapositions.
Ahh Lisa, I loved this! I just wrote a post about gymnastics this week…totally love that you got a photo of the foam pit!! I do miss those days
Ericka Andersen recently posted..Run: Dream a Little Dream
That was so freakin awesome!! And beautiful really.
Lindsay @ Lindsay’s List recently posted..neuroses exposed!
will you teach me? please?
seriously. in my next life, I want to be a sicknasty gymnast/dancer.
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss recently posted..A Lil’ Bit Gangsta
I can teach you both how to be a sicknasty / epic cajun dancer
Brittany recently posted..half-birthday
I miss gymnastics too!! I know exactly what you mean by sweat and chalk… such a comforting smell
Holy crap! I’m so impressed!
Beth @ Beth’s Journey recently posted..Single.
I am so incredibly jealous. I haven’t been in a gym in like 12 years. We had a tramp runway into a foam pit. It was my favorite thing. Ever.
Kelly recently posted..Mother Effing Rain
Oh that looks like so much fun!!
How cool!!! I was always SO jealous of the girls who did gymnastics at my school– I am SO not flexible and way too tall for gymnastics, but I love watching the competitions!
I used to go to gymnastics every other day for 3 years. I loved it. I loved testing myself and trying new tricks. It was an exhilarating feeling
Sara @ The Foodie Diaries recently posted..Through the Years: Sophomore Struggles
I’m impressed! I’ve never been coordinated enough for gymnastics (read: never even done a cartwheel), but I miss my soccer days sometimes. Memories!
Tiff recently posted..Beer n’ Food: Spent Grains
That’s awesome!!! You rock girl
Leanne (Bride to Mrs.) recently posted..Happiness Matters Most
How unbelievably fun! I always loved the vault best. Now, I wish I had a place to go try it out again! It’s good to get back to your roots, isn’t it?
Melissa recently posted..The Word That Shall Not Be Named
Hey! Have you ever tried crossfit? It’s a wonderful full body work out that adds in gymnastics. Hand stand push ups, ring dips, pullups, etc. It’s quick (most work outs takes around 20 minutes, but some are 5 minutes) and easy to fit into a busy schedule. I crossfit and LOVE it.
Actually just tried Crossfit this week and loved it! Hope to make it more of a regular thing!
It’s neat going back to something you did as a kid. I was the same way with ice skating, although was never as good or competitive; I just learned a few tricks and fancy stuff, but went every single Saturday morning. I miss it and feel nostalgic, happy and even a little sad when I get to do it again…which isn’t all that frequently
miriam recently posted..Things That Rhyme With Cheese: Part 2
Awesome. I used to do gymnastics (P.S. I sucked), but I still did it for years, and I know that smell! And those pits! Oh man, I do miss it. But, I tried to do a simple back walkover a few months ago, and it was a mess. I’m impressed and envious that you still have some skillz!
How fun!!! I am super impressed.
Allison recently posted..{This week on Pinterest}
I remember those days. I think what I miss most about being a gymnast is being so passionate about something. That and the schedule. I really was lost when I retired and had 4 hours a night to kill. Since then I’ve been running which doesn’t compare. The only thing that came close was mysore style ashtanga yoga. But now I live in a city that doesn’t hangs it but once or twice a week. Not the same as everyday! Okay I will quit rambling now.
How fun! Good for you for returning to something you love! I’ve been thinking about returning to ballet classes because I just loved it before.
Meg recently posted..Recipe: portobellos stuffed with greens and mozzarella
GO. YOU.
I’m a former gymnissta too and I love that you did this!!
Missy recently posted..Moment of Zen: Blog Fog
Soooo cool! I always wanted to be able to do that! You looked so graceful flying around that bar. I remember that smell. We used to go to gymnastics places for cheerleading practice. I kind of like the smell too
Jamie (Sometimes Healthy Girl) recently posted..Everyone Loves a Good Comeback
I know what you mean with the smell thing — since I swam my whole life, whenever I come into contact with chlorine or even just bleach, I feel at ease. Makes doing laundry fairly therapeutic
Congrats to you for getting back to the gym!
Liz recently posted..Quinoa Eggplant Lasagna
You’re awesome. That is all.
nice one!
why don’t you do the gymnastics/workout regularly? 
Jassy @ Healthy Egg recently posted..Dying inside
I’d love to go once or twice a week to play around and do some of the old things I used to–I’m just not sure my body could handle it if I did it more than that. Skills just don’t come nearly as easy.
great job, congratulations!!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio recently posted..Rain, Rain Please Go Away
Loved the post … I was a gymnast, not a very good one since I started too late … my forte was the floor and for some reason I can’t do a split now … age it must be …
J @ … semplicemente j … recently posted..… no posts … no followers …
awww love this post! I wish I had been a gymnast – I this this looks so incredible and freeing!
Wow! That’s pretty amazing. And badass, too
Jo @ mostlyfitmom recently posted..Last Minute Preparations
AWESOME grand finale on the bars. Gymnasts are so badass. I wish I was a gymnast growing up! Plus, gymnasts seem to really excel at CrossFit.
Awesome! I used to be a gymnast when I was little. Now I have difficulty doing a backbend
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