Adventurers, I struggled with this week’s post, so preparing it took me a while. After sharing the highs and joys that I felt through my time actively engaged in CrossFit, this is when I share when our relationship took a change, when I started considering seeing other fitness activities. My obligations made attending a scheduled class difficult, but even after the hours for classes shifted, something felt different. I wasn’t dedicating the time that I needed to. I blamed school schedules and trying to keep up with everything my kids needed, but I knew that was an excuse.
I was falling out of love: burpees and jump ropes, desperate attempts to finally get a single pull-up, trying to kick into a handstand, and feeling like it would never come to pass. This was not for me anymore. I had outgrown this relationship and had to acknowledge that. But I did not want to walk away. I wanted to be healthy, keep striving and pushing for something new, and make myself new and better. Adventurers, I did one of the best things I can ever recommend: I took a step back. I talked to friends who had come and gone in my CrossFit time. I talked about where my frustrations were and what still brought me joy. Every conversation always returned to the same thing: I love lifting weights.
It did not matter what my day looked like or what my work schedule would bring. The days I picked up a barbell and moved weight were the best. I may never win a Strongman competition or set a world record, but it brought me so much joy. I do not think I will ever forget the pure joy and exhilaration I felt when I pulled 300lbs for my deadlift (325 now by the way). This was what I needed in my life. This brought joy and made me want to keep going to the gym.
I needed a new plan.
In my first year or so at CrossFit, I was lucky enough to spend a day at an Olympic lifting seminar with Stephen Butcher. Coach Butcher had come to our gym and spent a whole day working on snatches and clean and jerks. Initially, I had decided to take the seminar because snatches are a pain. They’re very technical, and you can mess up the lift or yourself if you aren’t careful. When I started thinking about my fitness future, I remembered that Coach Butcher, based out of North Carolina, did distance coaching.
My lovely Adventurers, I cannot tell you how I agonized over this decision. I would need to find a gym to lift in or buy the equipment for my garage. Did I have the discipline to work out at home without someone standing over my shoulder? Paying for coaching would help, but would it be effective? What if I hated it? What if I got lazy? What if I slacked off?
This is why you need people. I discussed my plan with trusted people, whose opinions and feedback were essential to me. I confirmed with a good friend that I had an accountability partner in them, someone who would make me tell them that I had worked out, and give feedback. Having that person early on was vital. They would text me in the morning before they went to work, telling me what their workout had looked like, and I would respond.
I will not lie to anyone; I miss some of the people I spent my mornings with. Though many of them have come and gone, much as I have had to explain to my children, this is a reality of life in a military town: people do not stay. But social media has allowed me to keep in touch with those people, and I will always carry wonderful memories of sweating and dying with them. I would genuinely not exchange that time with them for anything; it changed me for the better, both physically and mentally.
To finalize this series, I’ll give an update on what life has been like since Februar,y when I started with my new programming. Thank you, my most loyal Adventurers, for following me on this winding path!
Take me Home!
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