Bismarck woman finds unique, new community after recovering from addiction

BISMARCK, ND (KFYR) – When the going gets tough, your friends are probably some of the first people you turn to. But what if you make a big life change, which is suddenly incompatible with yours?

Sarah Weiss didn’t always like fitness.

“I was pretty lazy,” Sarah said.

Eleven years ago, she decided she wanted to start taking better care of herself and kicked her substance abuse disorder. Although his family supported him, he had lost something unexpected, his friends.

“The friends I had before, they didn’t care what was going on with me, or if I was taking care of myself,” Weiss said.

He said that while he was recovering, he started to gain weight. Eventually, one of her friends invited her to come with her to a CrossFit class, and she ended up gaining more than just muscle mass.

“Coming here and being a part of this community, everybody always asks me, ‘How are the kids?’ and I really care about my life,” Weiss said.

It’s not even the class Weiss is used to when she comes to Beyond Borders Crossfit, but gym owner Loic Joseph said she’s made so many connections you probably couldn’t tell.

“Oh, she fits in perfectly. It’s 9 in the morning and that’s not usually the time she comes in. It doesn’t matter, everyone knows her, and she’s very good with everyone,” Joseph said.

Weiss said the new friends she made helped keep her on track with her goals and encouraged her to keep improving. He said it had made him a better person.

“I was only concerned about myself and not considering what I looked like to the people around me,” Weiss said.

She said that while she likes how exercise makes her feel, the community is still her favorite part, and it’s something others can find too.

“Find something that drives you, something that helps you lead a healthy life,” Weiss said.

He said one of the best things people who are trying to recover from drug addiction can do is find people who really care about them and want what’s best for them.

Weiss and Joseph met at the gym where she previously worked. When he opened Beyond Borders CrossFit in Bismarck, he joined as one of his first clients.

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