Erin SChulberg
Tell us about you!
My name is Erin Schulberg and I'm 36. I was born and raised in Oregon and moved to Georgia when I was 29. Outside of working out with the coolest people around, I pretty much get to hang out with tiny humans or my not-so-tiny husband. I dabble in reading, try my hand at painting and absolutely love to eat good food.
How long have you been a member and what has your experience been at DSSC?
I have been a member of DSSC for two years and have absolutely loved every minute of my time here. Mike and I came from a gym in the city and it gave us a great baseline for starting Crossfit, but I feel like I have grown leaps and bounds since joining DSSC. Not only do I feel more challenged in my fitness, but I also feel I have made the most incredible connections with the people I've met here. I feel so lucky to have experienced my second pregnancy while being a member. SB and Kacy (and Dan?) helped me to be as safe and healthy as possible throughout and it is clear my body has benefitted from their guidance. Also, being surrounded by such amazing athletes is so inspiring. Can I please be like Jess Miller when I grow up?!
You have a full time job and have kids... What's the secret to managing it all and finding time and motivation to workout?
I feel like this is so simple; because I want to. Exercise has been a part of my life since I was a kid. My parents exercised throughout my life and I always played sports, so it is ingrained in me to participate in fitness. I want to take care of my body in this way, so it is a high priority for me. I also want my children to see me working out so they build the same values and patterns around exercise.
Admittedly, I don't have to work full time and I am lucky enough to build my work schedule around my gym schedule (most of the time).
What tips do you have for someone who is thinking about joining?
Just do it!!! I was so intimidated by CrossFit before I started. I had expectations that I would not fit in or I would be laughed at or looked down upon for not being good enough. That could not be further from my experience. From the second I walked into the first gym and since moving to DSSC I have felt welcomed. It is always awkward to be the new person but I still found my footing and felt like I always deserved to be in the gym. No one judges you for scaling a movement or doing something different altogether but you are also encouraged to try new things that are scary! I never would have done a real pull up if I hadn't become a member of DSSC.
How does it feel to win the first Spirit of the Gym award at DSSC?
I have to say this was VERY unexpected. I still feel like this was a possible mistake by the coaches...maybe they need to check their notes again?
In all honesty, it is incredibly humbling. I have always strived to be the person who shows up, listens, encourages, and expresses gratitude, no matter the situation. I want other people to feel welcome and included, I think because I have always been someone who felt a little bit like an outsider. I can be a hard person to get to know, maybe because I'm shy or quiet until I am more comfortable, so to be seen as someone who brings spirit to the gym is really special. I am very grateful.
Do you always have the fastest times or lift the most weights at DSSC? Does that matter to you?
HAH. No, I definitely do not. The competitive side of me would love to be first at all times, but the logical side of me does not care all that much. I want to keep getting better and make sure I am as functional as possible as I get older. I feel proud of myself when things improve, like my cardio fitness or my strength, but I have no unrealistic expectations for myself at this point.
Has working out affected other areas of your life?
To be very vulnerable, it was paramount to my ability to recover from an eating disorder that started when I was 17 and lasted far longer than I would like to admit. I am also sober and exercise has given me something healthy and productive to focus my energy on. Battling both of those things at a young age made it so I had very little self worth, but getting back into exercise gave me the ability to focus, set goals, and work on myself in positive ways. My mind does not immediately go to my body being wrong anymore, instead I think about all the cool things that I can do with my body now. It has allowed me to be a better parent because I have learned more patience and to accept that things don't always go my way. It has also made me strong enough to wrangle my kids, both of which are dense like their parents. It introduced me to some of the best people I know and your girl needs to have a community of people around her. DSSC has created an amazing, loving and accepting group of people to work out with and I could not be more grateful to be part of it.