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#MyFitspiration

Setbacks

So, yesterday I was at Crossfit212 (I know surprise, surprise)…and the WOD was the type that I usually KILL. Anything with Olympic lifting in it I not only love, but I have found it to be something I excel at. Anyway, I was feeling good & working up to my “working weight” for the WOD on the deadlift. The actual workout consisted of 3 deadlifts, 6 one legged squats, & 9 dead hang pull ups…as many rounds of that as possible in 12 minutes. The prescribed weight for the deadlift for women was 185 pounds. Now, the awesome thing about Crossfit is you can modify anything!! Most of the women were lifting much lower weight. BUT, of course you all know me so well by now to know that I was going to do the prescribed 185 pounds. Usually that weight is not too heavy for me. However, yesterday it just was too heavy. I ended up doing the WOD, but only lifting 165 pounds. Instead of really embracing the workout at 165 pounds all I could see was a setback. Sigh.

After leaving Crossfit I started really thinking about setbacks. We find them in ALL aspects of life, but they are especially hard with weight loss. These emotions that were bubbling up inside really reminded me of a certain setback I had at the ranch. It was a couple months into being at the ranch & I was approaching a number on the scale that I had NEVER been able to overcome. Never. I just had decided that like every other time I had tried to get over that hump this time would be no different & I was going home. Jillian, & her super powers of discernment picked up on this immediately. She pulled me aside during a workout & said “Pookie, (she has AWESOME pet named for everyone) what’s going on?” I began to share with her my fears about the impending setback. Jillian simply looked at me and said, “What’s wrong with you? Don’t you believe in science? More importantly…Do you not believe in me?” I stood there with my mouth on the floor. What did my possible setback have to do with science? AND why on earth would she think I didn’t believe in her? She is superwoman mistress of the universe in my eyes. Per usual I dropped in a puddle of tears. She hugged me and looked into my eyes & said, “You are doing everything right…you are eating on point & putting in the work in the gym. Trust your body…it’s science and it will let the weight go. Let me believe in you while you’re not strong enough to do it alone. When you are strong enough to believe in yourself again I’ll give it back to you.”

Amazing…simply amazing. That was the week I not only overcame a number on the scale, but I also lost 16 pounds.

Ok, now what does that have to do with my setback at Crossfit? I was brought back to that moment because I needed reminding that it’s all a process. Our bodies are not machines…when it comes to weight loss 2+2 doesn’t always equal 4. Sometimes it adds up to 1.5…sometimes it’s 16!!!! The point is progress WILL happen you just have to believe in yourself & trust in the science. That’s what I’m doing…I’m believing in myself & trusting that if I continue to train faithfully the next time deadlifts come around in a workout I’ll be lifting 185…no problem!

Lastly, (I know this has turned into a novel) Jillian also gave us this tip: don’t concentrate so much on the number each week…average your weight loss over the month. Especially us ladies…our bodies fluctuate with water etc throughout the month. If you are keeping on point with everything, you will be amazed at how consistent you are month to month.

How do you handle setbacks?? Are you a glass half full or half empty person?? Let me know in the comments…I’ll be checking back in to answer questions in the comments tomorrow morning. Let’s chat!!

XXOO,

Olivia

Ps. If you are not strong enough to believe in yourself yet…I got your back. I’ll hand it back over to you when you’re ready!

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#MyFitspiration

Empty the Tank!

This statement will not come as a surprise to anyone. I love CrossFit…and yes, I will fully admit Im slightly obsessed with it. Fear not this is not going to be a propaganda blog post about the glories of CrossFit…I’m saving that for one day soon. It just so happens that in addition to getting a lot stronger physically I’m learning so much mentally in these WODs (workout of the day).

Jim McDade of CrossFit212 rowing back in the day

Last week I had a major “lightbulb” moment in a workout. This particular workout was pretty simple in design, but a BEAST when trying to perform. Jim, who is the owner and head coach of the box I go to (CrossFit212) was an elite rower…do you hear the Jaws theme music yet? Anyway, we do quite a bit of rowing on the rowing machines in our WODs. This workout was a 5,000 meter row…not TOO bad right?? Well, the kicker was the women had to complete it in under 22 minutes. Now, if you’ve ever spent time on a rowing machine you know that is FAST rowing for a long period of time. Now you understand my slight panic. If you didn’t complete the distance in the time frame then the penalty was 1 double under (YouTube it) for every second you went over. Whew. I was going to be there a long time paying the penalty.

Jim immediately sensed my panic & sat with me to discuss what my strategy would be. You all know me enough by now to know that this immediately made my inner “Type A” jump for joy!! The plan was that I would row at 27 strokes a minute & keep my splits below 2:10…a very lofty expectation, but I love a challenge. Ok, so I had my plan & although I was still about to pee my pants I was off rowing. I’ll tell you the hardest part for me was to keep things consistent. Funny enough when I got tired I wanted to chuck my form & just go fast. Jim continued to coach me through stage by stage keeping me where I needed to be. It was right around 4,000 meters in that he stepped in front of my rowing machine and simply said, “Ok, Olivia…at 4,500 meters you are going to sprint & completely EMPTY THE TANK!”

WHAT????? Empty my tank??? No, no, no, no, & NO!!! Immediately, I went to that very “Olivia Place” in my mind…you know the one…the control area. Well, let me tell you she was not happy…What if I started “emptying the tank” & I ran out of gas too early? What if I couldn’t finish? What if I emptied my tank & it still wasn’t enough? Meanwhile, I’m rowing closer & closer to those last dreaded 500 meters. Before I could even really protest I was there…time to sprint!

It was in those last 500 meters that I completely “Emptied the Tank” for the first time in my life. It was the most amazing feeling when I crossed that finish line…AND, I crossed it at 21:27…no penalty…33 seconds UNDER time.

This really got me thinking…what was I saving my gas for all the time??  Really, if you think about it what good does a semi full tank do for you when the workout is over?   I learned what it really feels like to leave nothing on the table & just go for it!!  I’ll tell you what…I left that day feeling the best sense of emptiness EVER!! Sounds weird but it was awesome.

I know now that I want to “Empty my Tank” and give it ALL in every workout…no matter what it is!! I want to encourage you all to explore this idea.  What are you holding back on?? Or, does it come naturally for you to “Empty  the Tank?”. If so, I want tips!! Let’s chat in the comments…see you below.

xxoo Olivia