The First Time You Do Something You Thought You Couldn’t
The First Time You Do
Something You Thought You Couldn't
Elene nearly let the fear of "not being fit enough" stop her from starting. Here's what changed once she gave herself the chance to begin.
Last updated: September 2026 · Reading time: 5 minutes
When Elene First Joined 1864, She Had a Couple of Goals in Mind
She wanted to get fitter. She wanted to get stronger.
But she also wanted something that would keep her motivated and interested.
There was one thing almost standing in her way, though.
The fear that she simply wasn't fit enough.
That feeling is more common than you might think.
Walking into a new gym can be intimidating. You see people doing movements you've never tried, lifting weights that look heavy and moving with confidence, and it's easy to think, "I'm not at that level yet."
Elene nearly let that feeling stop her.
Thankfully, she decided to go for it.
And one of the best parts of her experience has been discovering just how much can change once you give yourself the chance to start.
The First Toes-to-Bar
When we asked Elene about a moment she was particularly proud of, one immediately came to mind: her first toes-to-bar.
It might sound like a small thing.
For Elene, it was something she genuinely thought she couldn't do.
Then one day, she did it.
Those are the moments we love seeing at 1864.
Progress isn't always about adding another plate to the bar or hitting a new personal best.
Sometimes it's finally doing the movement you've been working towards.
Sometimes it's realising that something you once thought was completely out of reach is now something you can do.
And those moments can change the way you see yourself.
Your first breakthrough is waiting.
Come find out what you're capable of, starting exactly where you are.
Book Your Intro ChatThe Changes Go Beyond Getting Fitter
Elene says she feels much stronger mentally as well as physically.
She's also become more disciplined.
That's one of the reasons training has become such a big part of her routine.
She usually trains around 5 or 6 times a week, depending on work and everything else going on.
Even when she's tired or busy, she says she always feels better after training.
That's a pretty powerful shift.
Training has gone from something she wanted to make herself do into something she genuinely looks forward to.
And that's often how lasting habits are built.
You start because you have a goal.
You keep going because you begin to notice the changes.
You discover that you're stronger than you thought.
You achieve something that once seemed impossible.
Then you start wondering what else you might be capable of.
You Don't Need to Be Fit Before You Start
If you're reading this and thinking, "I'd love to start, but I'm not fit enough yet," Elene has some advice for you:
"You don't need to be fit or strong before you start. That's what you're there for."
"Just go!!!"
We couldn't agree more.
You don't need to arrive at 1864 already knowing what you're doing.
You don't need to be able to do every movement.
You don't need to be as strong or as fit as the people who have been training for years.
You just need to take the first step.
The rest is something we can work on together.
And somewhere along the way, you might surprise yourself.
Maybe it will be your first toes-to-bar.
Maybe it will be your first pull-up, your first heavier lift, or simply the first time you realise that training has become one of the best parts of your week.
Those moments add up.
CrossFit 1864 is a coached small-group training gym in Poplar, East London, helping adults build strength, confidence, fitness, and long-term health through expert coaching and scalable training.
