Beautifully, many people used November to share daily gratitude thoughts on Facebook. I loved it especially in light of all the insanity around the election. This was my first time participating in this practice but I loved how it brought a new dimension to my daily gratitude practice. If you are not practicing gratitude daily, I highly encourage you to do so. The benefits are multi-fold. Just google and see how many articles there are around the benefits. For me personally, it brings me to the here and now and makes me love and appreciate every thing I have in my life rather than focusing on what I don't. As Sheryl Crow says "It's not having what you want, Its wanting what you got"
What are you grateful for?
Here are my 30 days of gratitude posts:
Day 1 I am thankful for my crazy kitties who are a source of whimsy, comfort, joy and some times a little exasperation. :). Feel free to share some thing you are thankful for.
Day 2 I am grateful that I regularly get 8+ hours of sleep. It helps make me healthy... And probably less cranky ... some times. :)
Day 3 I am grateful for my two crossfit homes in Richmond. I am lucky to live in a town that has quite a few crossfit boxes (8 or more?!). Several of these affiliates really work together to create a greater Crossfit community for Richmond. I regularly spend time at two of these gyms CrossFit Midlo and West End CrossFit . Crossfit Midlo gave me my start. Introduced me to the whole Crossfit movement. The coaches: Kevin, Ryan, Lindsey, Kathy and Tyler have made me a better athlete, a better coach and a better person and I am lucky to also count them as friends. West End Crossfit has continually made their doors open for me and welcomed me in for what ever I needed: questions, observational coaching, a WOD, time with Mandy. Jen and Tim are warm, generous people and who are damn good coaches. I have really appreciated having them so close as I try to find my work out passion again. ~simply filled with gratitude to these two places - or rather the people who are there, the coaching that they do and the community that they create~
Day 4 I am grateful for my Mom, Dad and 3 sisters. We share a lot of love and laughs and every one is in good health and for that I am very grateful.
Day 5 I am grateful for Metabolic Effect and JillFit Physiques..or really the people who run these fabulous companies. I love Metabolic Effect for several reasons. First off, I really dig what they have to say. Figure out what works for you from an eating perspective (the give you a starting point and tools) plus they advocate lifting heavy weights and short workouts. I have literally given out 20+ copies of their books to people. It is life changing stuff. Second, Jade Anthony Teta and Keoni Teta are some of the most warm and genuine people I have never met. Of course through, ME I found Jill. It is hard to say enough about some one who continually helps to make your life better. First I bought nutrition plans from Jillfit and got to know my amazing coach Jillian Sarno Teta - a beautiful, brilliant, enlightened badass. :) But Jillfit took me so much further than food. It brought community, challenges and focus on something bigger and better - knowing myself and being happier in life. I joined Jill Coleman's coaching group this past year and every month I get better. I have grown in so many ways.I love what Jill is creating in the world. I could go on an on here about more reasons and more people that rock just know that I am deeply grateful each day for having come across this group of amazing, inspiring people.
Day 6 I am grateful that I live in the United States. On this voting day it was the most obvious gratitude choice. While it is by luck of birth that I am here, I do enjoy being in a country where I do get to contribute my voice to who runs the government. I get the freedom of speech to voice the opinions that I want to voice with out fear of imprisonment or censure. I have had a great education which as a woman in this world I feel pretty damn lucky about. I got to choose who I married. I can make choices with my own amazing body - whether that be clothing, tattoos or birth control. I get the freedom of religion where I can practice any religion... or none at all. Many women in other countries don't have the same opportunities/choices for education, marriage, religion or control over their bodies. It is not a perfect country after all it is run by humans - imperfect beings but it is a damn good one that allows me so much and has given me so much. I am grateful to be here in the US.
Day 7 I am grateful that I have an amazing collection...er... group of friends. There are SO many people in my life that just take my breath away with how amazing they are. Smart, funny, warm, radiant, loving, honest, supportive. All different kinds of people and each so beautiful and precious.
Day 8 I am grateful for my husband. No one makes me feel more loved or spoils me more. I am still ridiculously in love with him and just in awe that I get to be his partner in life.
Day 9 I am grateful for my healthy body. It has seen me through so much. Years of soccer, biking riding to my friends house, marching band, step aerobics, weight machines, free weights, kick boxing, growing and birthing my daughter, being really over weight, 2 marathons and countless other runs, hours of sitting on the couch and in front of a computer, crossfit, countless meals and glasses of all kinds of liquids, and tattoos...just to name a few things. I have spent too much time berating it for not looking the way I wanted it to be. All of that was wasted time. All my parts work, my breath is easy and free, my heart beats strong, my muscles get me moving. I am grateful for it. ♥ What are you grateful for today?
Day 10 I am grateful for half and half. Yes, some times the little things mean so much. I am a big tea and cream kind of girl.(Or as my friends have some times pointed out I like to have a little bit of tea with my cream.) I have always loved half and half. I have very early memories of hitting those little creamers from restaurant tables. That amazing little burst of creamy goodness. It makes my brain happy.
Day 11 I am grateful for the men and women who have served and serve today in the armed forces. I would love it if we could live in a world where the military was not needed to keep the peace and resolve conflicts and disputes but that is not yet the case. Given that, I am thankful that there are those willing to go out and serve for their country. Thankful for their sacrifices and commitment. What are you grateful for today?
Day 12 I am grateful for water. In this country we have more access to clean water than most. I start my day with a big glass of water to rehydrate and refresh in the morning. Water is the base for all the yummy teas I drink.
Day 13 I am grateful for my sweet baby girl. Ok, she is not a baby girl any more but she will always be that to me. I stand in awe of the person that she has grown to be - smart, curious, self-aware, wicked sense of humor, beautiful, loving, affectionate, driven. My heart is bursting with joy thinking of her.
Day 14 I am grateful for my big comfy bed. I am not feeling well today and haven't been sleeping well this week and yet it hasn't complained that I have been thrashing around restlessly in it even once. :) Seriously, I am glad I have a safe warm bed to crawl into every night.
Day 15 I am grateful for people who have skills that I don't. I mean if society was dependent on me to design a car or computer... we would all be in trouble. My mind can't even wrap around how some of the things we use every day even works. I am thankful that there are those inventors and innovators with all kinds of skills and perspectives that make awesome things...or even mundane things.
Day 16 I am grateful for music. I love that just hearing the right song can turn a shitty day in to a dance party or move you to tears and give you goose bumps Music can totally change the motivation and effort in a workout. I got to see Peter Gabriel and Duran Duran in concert this year. Two big long time musical loves for me and seeing them in person was a high light. It is a part of my every day life and I love it.
Day 17 I am grateful a quiet start to the day. I love having my own time in the morning to get a little walk in, focus my positive attitude for the day, dwell on some gratitude and refuel my bod with some good food.
Day 18 I am grateful for double unders. For those of you not familiar with them it is simply the act of jumping rope and letting the rope pass twice under your feet with one jump. Sounds delightfully simple, yes? It is the skill I have been working on with intensity recently with the goal of doing 25 every day. What a learning experience that goal is providing. No exercise floods me with frustration like this one does. Some days I can get a few and some days it looks like I have never held a jump rope. I am grateful for the opportunity to have more presence with how I am holding my body, how high my feet are leaving the floor, where my hands are, what the frustration and struggle teaches me. After all it is the struggle that teaches. I am struggling there fore I am learning. :)
Day 19 I am grateful for getting to do what I love in coaching crossfit and personal training. It is fun helping people learn to move better, feel better, get stronger and do things they didn't think they could do. Plus I get the bonus of learning a ton by teaching.
Day 20 I am grateful for the constant movement of life. I am talking about the ups and downs, ins and outs. I used to hate it and rebel against it. I mean wouldn't it feel great to be happy and content 100% of the time? But that is not how we experience life. It has highs and lows, amazing experiences and experiences that bring us to our knees. Everything changes and flows. How can I appreciate how much I love that I get excited to go lift, if some days I really don't want to go? How much would I wrap my arms around energetic, productive days if I didn't also have days where my energy was barely enough to get me off the couch. Would I enjoy deeply connecting with my friends if I didn't also have times of being completely alone? What ever mood or place you are in today, it will shift and be different in a few minutes or a few days. It makes each moment that much more precious to me.
Day 21 I am grateful for my neighborhood. It is quiet and small and has been quickly filled with families that all seem to be nice people. This is the neighborhood I wanted 19 years ago when my daughter was tiny so that she could grow up in a safe place to ride her bike and play with tons of other kids. Too late for that part but it is a great place all the same.
Day 22 I am grateful for an actual day of thanks. I hope every one is surrounded by family, friends, food, warmth and love today. While I think gratitude should be a daily practice, I am thankful for day that allows people pause to think about what they are thankful for in their lives.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Day 23 I am grateful for the perfect evening with friends.
Day 24 Today I am grateful for the people who lead the way in change. I was reminded about this theme after watching Lincoln. I don't know that I have the bravery and courage and stamina that it takes to be at the leading edge of fighting for equal rights but I am so grateful that there people who are willing to lead in this space.
Day 25 Today I am grateful for books. So much learning or mindless escapism. :) I love getting wrapped up in a great book.
Day 26 I am thankful for laughter. I love sharing giggles with friends, laughing with joy at seeing a favorite person enter the room or just cutting up and being silly. As my husband will tell you, I think I am very funny and I crack myself up all the time. :D I love to laugh until I cry and my jaw and abs ache. I love the way genuine laughter can make you feel.
Day 27 I am thankful for an endless inspiring supply of paleo recipes on the internet. Since moving more to eating this way, I have really learned a ton about cooking. While I have purchased some cook books, I love googling for ideas. Today was breakfast chili and pumpkin granola. Yummers. Helps keep my body fueled and healthy. Thank you to all those paleo chefs out there keeping me inspired and well fed.
Day 28 I am thankful for my home gym. It makes me happy...not to mention healthier and stronger. While I love going to a CF box to work out it is nice to have something here to use.
Day 29 I am grateful for delightful connection time with some one who means a ton to me. I love my friends. I love time with my friends. It makes my heart happy.
Day 30 I am grateful for being alive for another day. We all know that life can change in an instant. So the fact I got to post every day about gratitude this month and woke up this morning and so far lived out this day is pretty cool to me.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
One Thing at a Time
If you have been following my blog for a while you know that I love running monthly experiments. Things I want to try, new skills to pick up, habits to change. It usually ends up looking like a laundry list of to do items.
Something like that. You get the idea. Recently however I have noticed that I get a panicked feeling when looking at my daily to do list. My experiments are turning out to be not so much fun and end the month I am not accomplishing what I thought I would.
A while ago a seed was implanted in my brain from my Precision Nutrition course. It was an idea that seemed crazy. It was brought up again recently in an email from a friend that made me take another look at it. The idea is focusing on 1 new habit at a time. Once you master that one, you move to the next one. Those of us pursuing better health know that it requires a balance of good nutrition, exercise, stress management and quality sleep. So what happens when you take all this in at the same time and you are trying to eat 20+ grams of protein with every meal, get more veggies, get to the gym 4 to 5 times a week, break that diet soda habit, try meditation and long walks, work on getting 8 hours of sleep and read books, blogs etc to help improve self awareness and loving-kindness? Of course this is in addition to the job, kids and whatever other social obligations you have. It is a bit crazy making.
How do you do it differently, deliberately and probably with better long term success? One habit at a time. Focus on getting 30g of protein at breakfast and that is all. Declare success that day. Only tackle your diet soda habit. Perhaps working on getting an extra 30-60 minutes of sleep each night is where your focus is. The idea is to pick one thing, focus on it, accomplish what you are going after, make it a habit and build confidence. Very few of us can completely change our way of eating over night and then if we can it is usually for the short term. Wouldn't it be better to move slowly, making progress and have greater success in the long run?
I admit. The idea of this one thing at a time gave me heart palpitations. How can I only work on 1 thing?! There are so many things I want to do! What I am finding so far is that it makes the daunting seem achievable. I stress out when I think I have to tighten up my diet that may have strayed a bit far off the fatloss path. I love my wine, cream in my tea and treats when I feel like it. If I think, I only need to cut out sugar during the week. I will leave the wine and cream alone for right now. That feels better and less anxiety producing to me. Chances are I will have better success in not trying to approach it with no more wine, cream or sugar and feeling super deprived which makes me cranky which makes me end up blowing it all anyway on some kind of binge.
More on this later as I continue to see how this plays out in my learning journey. I really challenge you to consider it. It could be the key to long term success with health that you were looking for!
- Meditate for 5 minutes a day
- Walk for 30 minutes a day
- Crossfit 4 times a week
- Only 1 treat meal a week
- Read 40 pages daily
- Blog 2x a week
- Do 25 double unders a day
- Do 10 pull ups a day
Something like that. You get the idea. Recently however I have noticed that I get a panicked feeling when looking at my daily to do list. My experiments are turning out to be not so much fun and end the month I am not accomplishing what I thought I would.
A while ago a seed was implanted in my brain from my Precision Nutrition course. It was an idea that seemed crazy. It was brought up again recently in an email from a friend that made me take another look at it. The idea is focusing on 1 new habit at a time. Once you master that one, you move to the next one. Those of us pursuing better health know that it requires a balance of good nutrition, exercise, stress management and quality sleep. So what happens when you take all this in at the same time and you are trying to eat 20+ grams of protein with every meal, get more veggies, get to the gym 4 to 5 times a week, break that diet soda habit, try meditation and long walks, work on getting 8 hours of sleep and read books, blogs etc to help improve self awareness and loving-kindness? Of course this is in addition to the job, kids and whatever other social obligations you have. It is a bit crazy making.
How do you do it differently, deliberately and probably with better long term success? One habit at a time. Focus on getting 30g of protein at breakfast and that is all. Declare success that day. Only tackle your diet soda habit. Perhaps working on getting an extra 30-60 minutes of sleep each night is where your focus is. The idea is to pick one thing, focus on it, accomplish what you are going after, make it a habit and build confidence. Very few of us can completely change our way of eating over night and then if we can it is usually for the short term. Wouldn't it be better to move slowly, making progress and have greater success in the long run?
I admit. The idea of this one thing at a time gave me heart palpitations. How can I only work on 1 thing?! There are so many things I want to do! What I am finding so far is that it makes the daunting seem achievable. I stress out when I think I have to tighten up my diet that may have strayed a bit far off the fatloss path. I love my wine, cream in my tea and treats when I feel like it. If I think, I only need to cut out sugar during the week. I will leave the wine and cream alone for right now. That feels better and less anxiety producing to me. Chances are I will have better success in not trying to approach it with no more wine, cream or sugar and feeling super deprived which makes me cranky which makes me end up blowing it all anyway on some kind of binge.
More on this later as I continue to see how this plays out in my learning journey. I really challenge you to consider it. It could be the key to long term success with health that you were looking for!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Don't Waste Your Time!
Over the past few months, I have strengthened my belief that negative self talk is a complete waste of time. So many of my women friends (and perhaps my male friends too although we don't spend too much time talking about these things) beat the crap out of themselves. Energy focused on berating themselves for thick thighs, not having wash board abs, not looking like you are ready to step onto a magazine cover or for not being as strong today in a workout as you might have been yesterday, what ever it might be.
None of us know how long we will have to be here. We may live a long life of 90+ years or it may end this afternoon. Regardless, do you REALLY want to spend any of that precious time kicking the crap out of yourself?
I heard a story the other day that I thought was powerful. Two friends are talking as they are getting ready to go out to a party. One of the friends was struggling with a serious illness. The other friend asked if her dress made her look fat. Her sick friend replied "You don't have that kind of time". I loved that. We don't have that kind of time to be letting thoughts keep us from being present, from connecting, from being our wonderful true selves.
Those negative thoughts are all just stories and patterns in our brain. It takes time and practice but once you become aware of those thought patterns they can be changed. You can be present. You can be your amazing you. Greet each day as the amazing gift that it is. We have no idea how many we get. Don't waste any more of your time.
None of us know how long we will have to be here. We may live a long life of 90+ years or it may end this afternoon. Regardless, do you REALLY want to spend any of that precious time kicking the crap out of yourself?
I heard a story the other day that I thought was powerful. Two friends are talking as they are getting ready to go out to a party. One of the friends was struggling with a serious illness. The other friend asked if her dress made her look fat. Her sick friend replied "You don't have that kind of time". I loved that. We don't have that kind of time to be letting thoughts keep us from being present, from connecting, from being our wonderful true selves.
Those negative thoughts are all just stories and patterns in our brain. It takes time and practice but once you become aware of those thought patterns they can be changed. You can be present. You can be your amazing you. Greet each day as the amazing gift that it is. We have no idea how many we get. Don't waste any more of your time.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Desperate (but not serious)
Finding my mojo post injury has been a struggle. I have put on some pounds and honestly, workouts that I previously did now make me nervous. I swing between being at peace with being slow, steady and coming back with better form to being in despair about the strength that I have lost. I flip back and forth between just eating whole nourishing food and scrambling for a tight, restrictive plan to get my eating back on track. I have gone through the whole "its not fair" blame game - totally playing the victim role. In deep anxiety about my expanding waist line, I have been desperate to find THE plan that will solve everything - make me lean, make it easy to turn down wine or chocolate, make me never struggle with food again. Magic pill anyone? :) And this is coming from some one who has consulted with nutritionists for years, bought countless plans from various trainers and holds two nutrition certifications herself. ha!
Then through some journaling and listening to some pretty wise people, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes "The struggle is what teaches". So apparently, I still have lots of learning to do in this area. (yay learning!!)
Here is what my struggle has been teaching:
1) Holy crap! When you are struggling and fighting with something so hard, take a damn minute, slow down and figure out what you need to learn here. Its much better than wallowing in that particular emotion.
2) I am choosing to be in victim mode. I can also choose to change my attitude. Being a little plumper is hard? Bitch please. Losing some one you love is hard. Dealing with a terminal illness is hard. Living with my jeans being a little snugger after not working out for almost two months when I have a healthy body, a beautiful family, amazing friends and an in general dreamy life? I think I will be ok.
3) My search for the next plan that would solve all my problems is focusing on controlling the food and not with all the other stuff that is going on. I can't do weight loss from a control stand point for very long. The harder I fight to control the more I break and binge big time. Making choices daily, minute by minute, that come from a place of love and self-acceptance? Now THAT can get me some where.
Upon reflection, I think my mojo is back post injury. It just looks and feels different than it did before so I guess I didn't recognize it. I am spending time doing workouts that bring me joy. I get filled with joy in nourishing my body. Every thing else will settle out. While I feel better personally being a little leaner, I am not a better person because I am leaner. I am me at any weight or body fat percentage. And that is cool with me.
Then through some journaling and listening to some pretty wise people, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes "The struggle is what teaches". So apparently, I still have lots of learning to do in this area. (yay learning!!)
Here is what my struggle has been teaching:
1) Holy crap! When you are struggling and fighting with something so hard, take a damn minute, slow down and figure out what you need to learn here. Its much better than wallowing in that particular emotion.
2) I am choosing to be in victim mode. I can also choose to change my attitude. Being a little plumper is hard? Bitch please. Losing some one you love is hard. Dealing with a terminal illness is hard. Living with my jeans being a little snugger after not working out for almost two months when I have a healthy body, a beautiful family, amazing friends and an in general dreamy life? I think I will be ok.
3) My search for the next plan that would solve all my problems is focusing on controlling the food and not with all the other stuff that is going on. I can't do weight loss from a control stand point for very long. The harder I fight to control the more I break and binge big time. Making choices daily, minute by minute, that come from a place of love and self-acceptance? Now THAT can get me some where.
Upon reflection, I think my mojo is back post injury. It just looks and feels different than it did before so I guess I didn't recognize it. I am spending time doing workouts that bring me joy. I get filled with joy in nourishing my body. Every thing else will settle out. While I feel better personally being a little leaner, I am not a better person because I am leaner. I am me at any weight or body fat percentage. And that is cool with me.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Books That Have Helped Me Make Shifts in Ways of Being
This year has been a big year of mental shifts for me. There are many things I can attribute to why this happened (coaching group, deliberate practice, just getting a wee bit older, etc) but one piece I would like to share about is some books that I have read.
These three books have helped me be different in this world. Happier.
1. Loving What Is by Byron Katie - With her simple set of questions, what she refers to as "The Work" she helps you see that you don't have to believe your thoughts and that arguing with reality causes suffering.
1. Is it True?
2. Can you absolutely know that it is true?
3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
4. Who would you be with out that thought?
I haven't internalized all that this book contains and some of the concepts that she addresses are hard for me to grasp but I get it enough to know that this is an important tool. It has helped me separate reality from my story that I bring to what is happening. Powerful beyond measure. By the way, she gives all of this information away for free on her website.
2. Being Happy: You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Lead a Richer, Happier Life by Ben Tal-Shahar
I have never considered myself a perfectionist. I feel like I am a "good enough" kind of person. However, this book really struck home for me in several ways. It made me see how in certain areas I was setting impossibly high standards that I could never meet and there for living in constant disappointment with myself. It also stated another point which I talked about in more detail in a previous blog post, that there is an assumption that happy people must be happy all the time and that if you are not then you are not really happy. This of course is not true. As obvious as it might be to some, this was a mind blowing realization to me. It allowed me to think that maybe I am a happier person than I thought even though I do have mood swings and get sad. I am happier person on a daily basis with this realization.
3. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin - I started this book as more of a "have to" read. It chronicles a writer taking on a one year project to be happier. Every month she has new things to try. As you all may know I am a HUGE fan of running monthly experiments! There are many resolutions that she tries that I like a lot. I think the biggest piece I am taking away however is make time for what you are passionate about and forget results. That is inspiring me to focus on a month of learning new things every day. I am passionate about learning... really for the sake of learning and not to get me anywhere. So I am going to purposely track learning one new thing each day for a month and see how I enjoy that. The forget about results part is pretty interesting too. For me for body image stuff, I had been driving for so long to get six pack abs or a low body fat percentage and I was making myself miserable. Now? I focus on filling up with nourishing food, delightful culinary experiences and challenging my body in ways that bring me joy. I am much happier and you know what? I did NOT balloon up to 200lbs!
What books have brought about big changes in your life?
These three books have helped me be different in this world. Happier.
1. Loving What Is by Byron Katie - With her simple set of questions, what she refers to as "The Work" she helps you see that you don't have to believe your thoughts and that arguing with reality causes suffering.
1. Is it True?
2. Can you absolutely know that it is true?
3. How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?
4. Who would you be with out that thought?
I haven't internalized all that this book contains and some of the concepts that she addresses are hard for me to grasp but I get it enough to know that this is an important tool. It has helped me separate reality from my story that I bring to what is happening. Powerful beyond measure. By the way, she gives all of this information away for free on her website.
2. Being Happy: You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Lead a Richer, Happier Life by Ben Tal-Shahar
I have never considered myself a perfectionist. I feel like I am a "good enough" kind of person. However, this book really struck home for me in several ways. It made me see how in certain areas I was setting impossibly high standards that I could never meet and there for living in constant disappointment with myself. It also stated another point which I talked about in more detail in a previous blog post, that there is an assumption that happy people must be happy all the time and that if you are not then you are not really happy. This of course is not true. As obvious as it might be to some, this was a mind blowing realization to me. It allowed me to think that maybe I am a happier person than I thought even though I do have mood swings and get sad. I am happier person on a daily basis with this realization.
3. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin - I started this book as more of a "have to" read. It chronicles a writer taking on a one year project to be happier. Every month she has new things to try. As you all may know I am a HUGE fan of running monthly experiments! There are many resolutions that she tries that I like a lot. I think the biggest piece I am taking away however is make time for what you are passionate about and forget results. That is inspiring me to focus on a month of learning new things every day. I am passionate about learning... really for the sake of learning and not to get me anywhere. So I am going to purposely track learning one new thing each day for a month and see how I enjoy that. The forget about results part is pretty interesting too. For me for body image stuff, I had been driving for so long to get six pack abs or a low body fat percentage and I was making myself miserable. Now? I focus on filling up with nourishing food, delightful culinary experiences and challenging my body in ways that bring me joy. I am much happier and you know what? I did NOT balloon up to 200lbs!
What books have brought about big changes in your life?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
An Interesting Place
A few weeks ago I hurt my back while working out. (Don't blame Crossfit. It happens.) These weeks have really been an interesting journey. Emotionally I have been all over - in disbelief that it happened, sadness at feeling like I may be losing the muscle and strength I have gained over the past few years, desperation in dealing with the moment to moment chronic pain and relief at getting a chance to step back and rest.
Lessons I have learned while injured:
1. It is REALLY easy to get used to not working out. You all know I am a workout freak. I love Crossfitting and was doing it 5 days a week. Now I am back to having it scheduled on my calendar and thinking "well I could work out now or I could go and do X,Y and Z". I now have a little more sympathy for those who fall off the wagon or have never started working out at all.
2. There is no "there" to get to. I believe good work outs consist of lifting heavy things and sprinting. Neither of which I can do right now. It started me in a bit of a panic. Who am I with out that? How the hell do I work out any other way? Breathe. Its going to be ok. A few months of not doing that is not going to suddenly make me an obese couch potato. I am working on shifting my perspective to joyfully explore what my body can and can't do now and discover new ways of working out.
3. Maybe 5 days a week of Crossfit is too much for me. This injury has also helped me refocus on dealing with my fatigue. It is something I have been trying to trouble shoot for years. Ideally I am hoping it can be solved through good nutrition, proper sleep and stress management. I met recently with a paleo nutritionist to see if there was anything else I could be doing in regards to heal possible adrenal burn out. Her first recommendation is not to Crossfit 5 days a week. Ugh. What? Of course at the moment I am doing 0 days a week. Part of my plan going forward is 3 days a week and long walks on the other days. THAT is going to be a big adjustment.
4. Focusing eating on nourishing my body is so much more fun than thinking about fat loss. I have been using this time to maximize on my nutrition. I am making an effort to try and give my body all the nutrients that it needs to heal the best it can. That has felt so good having my eating just focused on just nourishing my body... which of course does my brain pretty good as well. Meal times feel more relaxed and oddly my cravings for wine and sugar have really dropped off. huh.
What have your injury or down times taught you?
Lessons I have learned while injured:
1. It is REALLY easy to get used to not working out. You all know I am a workout freak. I love Crossfitting and was doing it 5 days a week. Now I am back to having it scheduled on my calendar and thinking "well I could work out now or I could go and do X,Y and Z". I now have a little more sympathy for those who fall off the wagon or have never started working out at all.
2. There is no "there" to get to. I believe good work outs consist of lifting heavy things and sprinting. Neither of which I can do right now. It started me in a bit of a panic. Who am I with out that? How the hell do I work out any other way? Breathe. Its going to be ok. A few months of not doing that is not going to suddenly make me an obese couch potato. I am working on shifting my perspective to joyfully explore what my body can and can't do now and discover new ways of working out.
3. Maybe 5 days a week of Crossfit is too much for me. This injury has also helped me refocus on dealing with my fatigue. It is something I have been trying to trouble shoot for years. Ideally I am hoping it can be solved through good nutrition, proper sleep and stress management. I met recently with a paleo nutritionist to see if there was anything else I could be doing in regards to heal possible adrenal burn out. Her first recommendation is not to Crossfit 5 days a week. Ugh. What? Of course at the moment I am doing 0 days a week. Part of my plan going forward is 3 days a week and long walks on the other days. THAT is going to be a big adjustment.
4. Focusing eating on nourishing my body is so much more fun than thinking about fat loss. I have been using this time to maximize on my nutrition. I am making an effort to try and give my body all the nutrients that it needs to heal the best it can. That has felt so good having my eating just focused on just nourishing my body... which of course does my brain pretty good as well. Meal times feel more relaxed and oddly my cravings for wine and sugar have really dropped off. huh.
What have your injury or down times taught you?
Sunday, August 5, 2012
The Happiness Assumption
I am not sure if many of you know but I am participating in a coaching group this year with a small group of women and it is headed up by Jill Coleman, who if you don't know her... find her and see what she is all about. My life is better because she is in it. Anyway... each month we get a book to read. This month it is Being Happy by Tal Ben-Shahar. I am only a little ways through the book at the moment but I am blow away by two concepts and I can't wait to see what else I learn from this book.
1) Assumption of happy people always happy - The author talks to a wide spread assumption that he covered through talking to people about happiness. It is the thought that "that truly happy people are some how immune from feeling sadness, fear and anxiety of from experienceing failures and set backs in life. " It is a sign of perfectionism.
Now I would not have consider myself a perfectionist. If you know me I try to be a comfy, casual, roll with it person. However, I have spent many an hour beating the crap out of myself for feeling more sad or moody than I feel like I should with the amazing life I have. In essence, I completely buy in that happy people should always be completely, floating on the clouds happy. Huh. Will need to think and practice around this one a little more.
2) The book provided an insight to me on at least one reason Crossfit makes people better. - "Taking on challenges instead of avoiding them has a great long-term effect on our self-esteem more than winning or losing, failing or succeeding. Paradoxically our overall self confidence and our belief in our own ability to deal with set backs may be reinforced when we fail, because we realize that the beast we had always feared-failure-is not as terrifying as we thought it was. "
I get a chance at least several times a week to feel afraid. I see a workout that makes me start thinking "I can't do this, it is too hard." I get that deep pit in my stomach that makes me want to run, get in my car and go home. But I do the workout anyway. Some days I just barely get through, some times I thrive. Either way I know I am a better person for it on the other side and I am happy that I made the choice to stay. It is good to have it confirmed that facing challenges regularly is good for the self-esteem.
1) Assumption of happy people always happy - The author talks to a wide spread assumption that he covered through talking to people about happiness. It is the thought that "that truly happy people are some how immune from feeling sadness, fear and anxiety of from experienceing failures and set backs in life. " It is a sign of perfectionism.
Now I would not have consider myself a perfectionist. If you know me I try to be a comfy, casual, roll with it person. However, I have spent many an hour beating the crap out of myself for feeling more sad or moody than I feel like I should with the amazing life I have. In essence, I completely buy in that happy people should always be completely, floating on the clouds happy. Huh. Will need to think and practice around this one a little more.
2) The book provided an insight to me on at least one reason Crossfit makes people better. - "Taking on challenges instead of avoiding them has a great long-term effect on our self-esteem more than winning or losing, failing or succeeding. Paradoxically our overall self confidence and our belief in our own ability to deal with set backs may be reinforced when we fail, because we realize that the beast we had always feared-failure-is not as terrifying as we thought it was. "
I get a chance at least several times a week to feel afraid. I see a workout that makes me start thinking "I can't do this, it is too hard." I get that deep pit in my stomach that makes me want to run, get in my car and go home. But I do the workout anyway. Some days I just barely get through, some times I thrive. Either way I know I am a better person for it on the other side and I am happy that I made the choice to stay. It is good to have it confirmed that facing challenges regularly is good for the self-esteem.
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