96 Days Out!

This is going to be short and sweet.  There is not going to be any deep or philosophical message today.  I am simply posting this to hold myself accountable for 96 days.  I am 96 days out from my first CrossFit competition in over 4 years.

Did you just read that?  I haven't competed in anything in over 4 years!  But I bit the bullet and signed up for a local CrossFit competition, Battle Royale that takes place on July 22nd.

This is exciting and a little nerve racking to me, because I haven't competed in FOUR YEARS! Also, because I am a business owner and my schedule is slammed.  I wake-up at 4:30am M-F, and typically don't get to bed until 10pm or later. For the last 3 1/2 years, my main focus has been setting up and running my gym successfully.  And while I still workout and train 5-6 times a week, I have placed my competitive side on the back burner.

If I'm honest, I have hidden behind the excuse that BPCF must come first and my fitness goals and potential come last.  That is going to stop now.  I am learning that my goals and dreams must come first if I am to be fulfilled.  I am also learning that adding a new challenge to the mix will only enhance BPCF and validate my credibility, because I will be walking the walk even more!

I thought I was going to make a run at the 2017 CrossFit Open that took place in March, but a small elbow injury set me back.  With that I decided not to enter in the Open, and left me a little disappointed in myself for not doing so.  The opportunity to sign up for Battle Royale presented itself, and I decided to take the plunge head first and sign up for the individual RX division.

I understand that I have A LOT of work to do.  I understand that I will probably be one of the oldest women in this division.  I understand that this will not be for the faint of heart.  And for these reasons I am fired up and ready to work my ass off to do my best.

My goal is to finish top 10.  That may not seem like such a big deal, but this is going to be a challenge.  Difficult yes, but not impossible.

I am 96 days out from my first CrossFit competition in over 4 years!

Join me on this journey as I track my progress and hold myself accountable via blog, videos, and pictures.

  

You Get What You "See"

What do you see for yourself?  What do you envision?  What is your story?  What is your truest self?  What is your biggest dream? 

What you “see” is what you get.  The “picture” you envision creates your reality.  If you place limits on your abilities, you should know that, those limits are imaginary and solidified by the story that you choose to believe.  Our imagination can lead us or it can limit us.  Author Jerry Lynch states that “our imagination can either lead us to our truest potential of greatness or limit us with “real” mental barriers that prevent us from our truest self.”

What is the image you have of yourself?  Is it positive?  Is it self-empowering?  Does your imagination fuel your confidence and self-esteem?  Or does your imagination have you believing in a negative self-image?  Do you believe in false stories that limit your abilities and ambitions?  Do you let the opinions of others steer the direction of your actions?  Do you tell yourself (or think to yourself), “I can’t do that.” Or “I’ll never be able to achieve that!”  Whatever “that” is…YES you can!

“Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they’re yours.” I don’t even know who Richard Bach is, but his quote is 100% correct!  Whatever you accept as your truth, is your truth…nothing but your truth.   Do you know who else was right?  Thomas Edison when he said, “If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.”  When flipped, a coin has two sides on which to land, heads or tails.  Just as the coin has two sides, you have two options; positive or negative, victor or victim, winner or loser.   The difference between you and the coin is that the coin’s fate is determined by a flip, and your fate is determined by a decision; your decision.  That decision belongs to you.

You have the power to decide your outcome.  You have the power to decide who you are.  You have the power to decide if you will believe in limitations, which are usually influenced by outside sources, or you can believe in yourself and follow your decision into greatness. 

It is okay to believe in your abilities.  No really, it is.  “You can have anything you want if you are willing to give up the belief that you can’t have it.” Here is another guy I know nothing about, but Dr. Robert Anthony makes a valid point…if you just believe in yourself, you can have whatever the fuck you want!  Sorry, that may have been a bit much…but am I wrong?

I never really was a big fan of Goldie Hawn’s movie’s but she had a point in saying “I finally stopped running away from myself.  Who else is there better to be?”  Exactly, Goldie.  Exactly!  Who else is there better to be than yourself?  Who else is there to believe in other than yourself?  Who else is there that is better fit to dream your dreams or live your life?  No one!  You are the only one that is capable of being uniquely you.

The only limitations that you have are the ones that you tell yourself.  Stop telling yourself and the rest of us, a bullshit story of your limitations.  Stop placing imaginary limits on yourself- yielding you powerless. Instead, start envisioning a positively powerful life that is limitless and filled with success and happiness.

Give Me The Ball

Yesterday was deadlift day.  We were to perform a 5x5 @ 70%.  Typically, 70% isn’t all that heavy.  I mean, it’s heavy, but it isn’t HEAVY.  Usually I get super excited for deadlift day. I love deadlifts.   Not today.  When I calculated my percentage and what I was to lift, it felt daunting.  I was actually nervous that I wouldn’t be able to finish my work.  I considered dropping the weight down.  I considered asking for more rest in between sets as we (Eric and I) have recently decreased our rest/recovery between sets to improve our conditioning. 

I was getting pissed at myself.  I was freaking out about a number that I knew I could do, but felt anxious about.  Negative thoughts were rushing through my mind.  “What if I fail? What if I injure myself?  I can’t get hurt.  Do I really want to be strong?  Is it worth it?  Do I really want this?” 

WTF?

How could I be asking these questions and having this doubt?  This was not like me, at all.  I have never back down from a chance at personal growth.  I have never been afraid of a challenge.  But I was.

Before we began, I asked myself “when was a time when I felt powerful?  When was a time when I felt fearless and confident?”

My answer: Basketball.  

Me hoopin' it up in 1982.  I was 3 years old.

If you were to ask me to describe my childhood and adolescence in one word my answer would be; basketball.  Basketball was my entire identity in my youth.  Before I started making stupid teenage decisions, basketball was my world.  I ate basketball.  I breathed basketball.  I dreamt basketball.  I was head-over-heels in love with basketball.  It was my first love. 

When I played all I wanted was the ball.  I wanted to shot the ball.  I wanted to pass the ball.  I wanted to rebound the ball.  I wanted to steal the ball.  My focus was to play ball.  My focus was playing basketball relentlessly working to be my best.

I never backed down to a big moment.  In fact, I wanted the ball the most during the big moments…when everything was on the line.  I thrived off of pressure situations.  I wanted to guard the best player of the opposite team.  I loved competition.  I found joy in risk-taking.  I got lost in the rush of working to be my best in hopes of being victorious with no guarantee to victory. 

I stepped up to any challenge.  I would play anyone, no matter how big or tall.  I was a beast, and I wanted a chance to prove my ability and skill.  I believed in my ability.  I trusted the hours and hours that I spent practicing skills and visualizing details of execution.  Even if I didn’t come out the victor in each game situation, I was hungry for the next game and the next encounter I would have with an opponent to prove I was the best.  I was never scared. 

I decided to create a mantra right then and there.  “Give me the ball! I got this!” I repeated this mantra, silently in my head again and again.  “Give me the ball!  I got this!”  “Give me the ball!  I got this!”  I said this over and over until it turned into, “Give me the barbell!  I got this!”  “Give me the barbell!  I got this!”

I started to embody and embrace the feelings that I had as a basketball player, confident, strong, and competitive.  I literally got fired up thinking about lifting the heavy barbell off the ground.  I wanted that barbell in my hands!  I wanted to lift!  I actually started to grin when it was my set, because it felt like when I would step up for a free throw shot in my youth.  I was ready.  I was pumped!  There was no question in my mind.  I knew I would crush it. 

I know I’m not the only one that gets a bit anxious when attempting something difficult and challenging.  I know I’m not the only one that second guesses my ability when you are called upon to perform.  I am not alone in this battle of the mind. 

For that reason, I encourage you to create your own personal mantra that instantly transforms your mind from meager thoughts to a super-confident mindset! 

Here’s how:

Think back to a time, a situation, or competition where you were confident.  Recall an instance where you had a flawless performance.  Remember all the details and embody how you felt.  Embrace the confidence, joy, and personal power that exhilarated you.  Were you playing a sport and have a near perfect performance?  Was it a presentation that you were well prepared for?  Did you make a really good impression during a job interview that led to employment for your dream job? 

Whatever that moment was or memory was, I ask you to tell yourself NOW what you told yourself THEN to get pumped and confident for that particular situation.  Now imagine you are there.  Imagine you are about to step on the court or take the stage, how does it feel?  Feels great, doesn’t it?

Now that you have that memory fresh in your mind you can develop, create, and rehearse a mantra for yourself that you can apply to present day pressures or challenges that you face.  For example, Simply interchange words in order to give your current situation the appropriate energy and focus that is needed to supercharge you with belief in your abilities.  

I used basketball as motivation for lifting a barbell.  I changed “Give me the ball!” into “Give me the barbell!” 

If you have great memories with of a performance you had in theater, for instance, you could take “It’s show time!” and replace the word “show” with “it’s lift time!”

There are no rules when it comes to finding inner motivation and drive to take on a challenge.  Be creative.  Have fun! 

Decide to Control

We are constantly in a state of learning how to think and remain positive in a world full of chaos and difficult challenges.  We are at war with ourselves, and many times we are unaware that a war is even taking place.  We are at war between negative influence and empowering positivity.  Due to this constant battle- we sometimes fall into a trap of believing we have no control over our outcome.  This is not true.  Do not believe the lie of others, which states you can’t or that you won’t or that something is impossible.  That is bullshit.  Don’t buy into the idea that you can’t, won’t, or shouldn’t.  You are in control of your life.  Listen to the voice inside of you communicating your truth. 

The most limiting factor to your success is the internal negative bullshit that you are thinking.  Not only do you believe this nonsense story, but you’re buying it in bulk and eating it every single day of your life.  Stop polluting your mind with this crap.  The story that you keep acknowledging is the one that will be acted out in your day to day life.  The thoughts that you create in your mind will be reflected in real life.

Who you are, what you do, and where you go, are the direct results of the thoughts that you choose.  Choose wisely.  Choose boldly.

You are in control of your thoughts.  No really, you are!  You are in the driver’s seat of your very own thinking.  You have the wheel.  You are in control of your final destination.

You can either think like a loser or think like a champion.  You can either think like a peasant or think like a queen.  The choice is very simply, yours.  You can either live free and be empowered with positivity or be a prisoner to a negative mindset.

Don’t worry.  Your thoughts don’t own you.  You own your thoughts.  You are in complete control.  You can change your stinking thinking RIGHT NOW and start RIGHT NOW down the path of positive thinking!  No Really!  You can!

How? You ask.

The answer is simple.  Decide to take control.  Decide to change the way you think.  You must make the decision that you are in control of your life and your thoughts.  Do it now.  Remember that simple does not mean easy.  Sometimes we have to rewire our thinking in order to understand that we have personal power and complete control over our lives. 

We can learn to control our thinking by rewiring and reprogramming the story that we have survived and thrived on for so long.  To do this we must first make the conscious decision that we must change our thinking.  Once the decision is made, only then can the journey begin.  The first step on this journey is to understand that you have control.  This is the most difficult of all the steps.  This can make or break many people, so buckle up…it might get bumpy.