It was about a year ago now that I started on this fitness quest: a few weeks before I met Corey for the first time.
I was running, albeit kind of feebly and somewhat sporadically. I was learning to tear up the forest paths as a direct way to pound out the stress of single Motherhood and full time career-ism, and I was finding it mildly more effective than immediate wine and cheese pounding the Exact Moment I put my 3 year old to bed. I ran the Sun Run in 52 minutes and experienced the rush of accomplishment, exacerbated by my sidekick's sticky Goldfish fingered hug at the end.
I remember thinking: I am getting older and soon the years will spin out of control and I will remember the time my body could do anything, and I will regret that I didn't exploit the hell out of it, run it to full force. I need to strengthen it, condition it, see what it can do, now.
I guess it was coincidence that I met Corey a few weeks later, but maybe it wasn't, because coincidences are kind of bullshit, aren't they? We are both obsessive compulsive Type-A personalities with a penchant for going overboard. We figured: if we're going to go overboard, let's overboard this fitness thing.
I've been accused here a few times of being addicted to exercise and I say: bring it the hell on. I'd rather be addicted to thrashing giant medicine balls against the wall than obsessed with cocaine or vodka or scrapbooking, for the love of all things holy.
Anyway - I went from reluctant runner and eater of Pudding Pops and Corn Chips to zealous Crossfitter and long-distance runner in a year. I now watch everything I eat, cheating occasionally, but foregoing bread, cheese and sugar very regularly. Most of my diet is stuff that can be plucked off the earth. My face is thinner and has more colour. I have an ass. My arms have ripples. I can do a pullup. I feel more alive than I've ever felt. And I've learned a few things along the way, things that have helped me and that I wish I knew from the beginning.
1. Good Shoes
If your feet aren't comfortable, your workout will suck. There's nothing worse than blistered feet and cramped toes or the way it feels when you go over on one heel when you run. After reading Born to Run earlier this year, Corey and I brought Nike Frees. We wear them to do Olympic Weight Lifting and run and box jump and everything. Neither of us have had an injury since donning these very thin-soled running shoes - I'm a believer in them, but find the shoe that feels perfect for you.
(These are Corey's exact shoes. They are comfortable as all hell, and also I can always find him in a crowd)
2. Extend
I can't claim that this elixir of the sweating gods is natural by any stretch. It's a product found in those intimidating supplement stores full of bulgy dudes with acne and a slightly chemical aroma -- the kind of stores I used to shy heavily away from. But this stuff - which claims to speed your recovery time when you're working your butt off -- seems to work. Both Corey and I swear by it - we drink a glass before the gym and take one with us and I feel more energized when I remember to bring it. It also seems to extend my endurance on our really long runs. It might just be the placebo effect - but it really does seem to work wonders.
3. Never Say Try
It's cheesy and it's true. I'm uncoordinated and my arms have always been weaker than chicken legs and yet, I tell them on a daily basis that they can do all kinds of fantastical stuff that they have never done before. Like double unders. Like a pull up. Like billions of burpees without dying. Before every workout, I envision myself finishing it, feeling strong. Don't say you'll try to do it, just say you'll do it. If you don't succeed, you're more likely to next time - if you believe you'll do it.
4. Track Your Progress and Have Goals
I've sung the praises of my Nike + running system before. It tracks pace and time and improvements and overall running mileage and it's truly motivating to see. With Crossfit, I'm now tracking all my workouts and it is exillerating to see improvements in the last few months. It's a pain in the butt, but track your stuff. Or, if you're a runner...invest in a Garmin or Nike +. I bet you'll find it's worth it.
5. Wear Cute Workout Gear.
I feel like I work out better in a cute sports bra and good butt lululemons than I do in baggy sweats and a rumpled tee. I know it's girly and it might be kind of stupid but I justify it as money well spent. I just bought these:
...and I totally can't wait to run in them. I justify these purchases by noting that I spend way less on wine and rice pudding than I used to.
How about you? What makes you exercise better and stronger? Tips are always welcome.
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