So I'm about a year into this hardcore fitness endeavour. I've never felt stronger, more vibrant, more determined to peruse the deep mysteries of what the hell my body can do if I prod it earnestly enough. My friends all tell me I look better than I ever have, and that I seem so much happier. I weigh 16 pounds more than I did when I started this. I don't give a flying rat's ear about being heavier than a kayak anymore. I can lift shit, and do it ad nauseaum. I am simultaneously humbled and stimulated by the power of my body and grateful that I've been granted opportunity to enjoy it to its full potential.
Corey is a large part of this, of course -- the inspiration of discovering that you have a kindred spirit in the world, a dude who perpetually has your back - is maybe the most potent ingredient to fitness in the world. But there are others that I didn't know, that may or may not be blatantly obvious. They weren't to me.
1. Just cut out the bread.
Corey and I have been eating fairly strict Paleo for a few months now. We have nights, of course, where we binge wildly on yam fries and stinky cheese, but for the most part our plates are filled with vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts, and meat, and that's it. We've cut out almost all our sugar, salt, and gluten and I am continually amazed by the degree of difference it's made in my attention span, my well-being, and my abdomen. If a dairy, sugar and salt free diet sounds insane to you, try to just cut out the bread. I bet you will be amazed at the difference in your body and spirit.
2. Find your strength. Own it.
I am good at running. I suck at pull ups. I'm a wall ball mofo. I need to work on my double unders. I know what I'm good at, exercise wise, and rather than focusing on all the stuff I suck at (coordination, for example) - I've learned to revel in the stuff that I like. I'll do the hard lifts and I'll practice my pull ups because I know they need work, but I'll also run at an easy pace on a sunny Sunday and take delight in workouts that involve the cardio things that work for me. Working out doesn't have to feel like ass. In fact, it shouldn't, most of the time. This is the most important thing I've learned this last year: it can be fun. It should be fun. At the very least, you should feel like a rock star when you're done with it all.
3. Find a Workout Partner.
It doesn't have to be the person you share a bed with: it can be a roommate, a quirky colleague, that dude on the bus who looks like he might need a workout partner. When someone is doing it with you, they hold you accountable. They negate the easy excuses and push you to be better simply by being there with you.
4. Discover what motivates you and repeat the motion. Ad nauseum.
I was standing in line at Starbucks a few months ago, salivating at the thought of my impending vanilla latte, when a random woman in line touched my arm and asked me what kind of exercise I did to get arms like that. I looked at the barista blankly because she couldn't be talking to me. Because my arms? Were fatskinny chicken hinges. But when she looked at me with her head cocked, awaiting something from my mouth, I looked at her again, questioningly. Me? My arms? She nodded. It was the first time in my life I'd been complimented on my physique. I felt like I'd won the lottery.
Since then, a lot of people have commented on my "transformation". I keep these comments stored up in my head, like little Exercise Jellybeans of Delicious, and whenever I feel like having a nap instead of cranking out 50 burpees, I think: I don't want to mess with my hard work. I want to the the lady with the hard arms at Starbucks. It propels me.
It could be a picture on your fridge, it could be a "before" picture, an after one, the encouragement of a good friend. It might be the fact that your jeans fit for the first time since you got pregnant. Take what motivates you and cherish it, and look at it every time you feel like ice cream and a nap. You are so much more powerful than ice cream.
5. Compete against someone. Keep track.
One of my favourite things about Crossfit is the whiteboard: a list of set exercises and the top scores in the gym. I am at the top of some of them, at the bottom of others, and far off the board on most. I keep track of my personal records and strive to beat them every time. Competing against myself and others helps me to keep the intensity high. Sometimes, I'll get crushed by a 17-year-old soccer player. Other times, I'll be pleasantly surprised by my ability to heave more kettlebell weight than a superfit girl 10 years younger than me. Either way, I have new heights to strive toward.
6. Like the people at your Fitness Place. If you don't, find another.
My problem with the gym -- my old gym -- was partially with the repetition, partially with the bad radio, and partially with the people. There was no community, no spirit. Crossfit is not only a physical release from the day's stress, it's a place I look forward to attending because I dig the people. They're nice and they're inspirational and gentle and strong. I want to beat them in the Workout of the Day, and hang out with them and ask them about their spirits. This makes a world of difference.
The bottom line is: I'm proud of myself. And I want to keep feeling proud, and so I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
People at our gym who happen to all be amazing inspirations ib their own right. Our coach Lu, in the middle, is an incredible motivator. His website's here, if you're interested.
Pushing to the core. It feels pretty damned good. After, anyway.
It blows my mind that I can squat and hold stuff over my back at the same time, especially since I can't blow my nose and smile simultaneously without tumbling down the stairs: my coordination is obscenely bad. Conquering one impossible feat makes me wonder what else I'm capable of. What's next, world?
What's worked for you? What propels you to dig deeper, harder, richer?
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