Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts

Monday, January 7, 2013

T-Minus 19 Days to Compete...

So, it seems last month, I got this CRAZY idea that I can compete in a CrossFit Competition: the Garage Games....

AND DAMN, I'M EXCITED!


Now don't get me wrong, I'm basically peeing my pants over the idea that I will have to do things like hand-release push-ups, push-presses and front squats in front of people who are JUDGING me....but honestly, I've never done anything like this before.

"Wait, wait, wait, Rachel: you're a performer! You put yourself out there to be judged all the time!"

The old me would never allow
pictures of me in sweats without
makeup heading to the gym!
Well, I've been singing in front of people since I was 5 years old and I've been acting like a fool to make people laugh for even longer. But this, my friends, is completely different. This is new and terrifying and unfamiliar and just completely out of my known-zone! I'm used to knowing that I will be dolled up, well-dressed, and doing EXACTLY what I know how to do. I've always wanted my outward representation to be my "best" and then I got rid of all that didn't do me justice.

*Flashing back to moment in high school where I finally realized that if you just kept walking to the back of the line, you never actually had to do the pull-ups for "Physical Fitness Assessment." Also, if you made sure to partner with a friend for the sit-ups, you could just pinky-swear to make up "reasonable" finishing scores.*

But this is a RESOLUTION I made to myself--not just for 2013--but when Jaclyn and I decided to bring Pretty-Sick to life: that I need to be the best example I can be for my clients, my family and my friends. I need to put myself out there and yes, MAYBE fail, but show that it's still worth trying. And that next time, no matter what, I will do better. Because taking control of our health/lives/diets/jobs is about that constant and consistent drive to succeed. At these Garage Games I am going to succeed because just DOING IT is a ridiculous jump into Success Town. And I'm going to be sweaty and gross and loud, but no matter what, I'm still going to be a Pretty-Girl, a CrossFitter, a Yogi, a Performer...all those things will be present, because I plan to bring it all.

12 Days of Christmas Workout at CFMTL
I have to give a shout out to the fact that I will also be surrounded by some AMAZING people, both competing with me, and cheering us on. A huge part of these crazy steps towards awesomeness should be credited to them. And when you can find heart-melting, beautiful, talented, compassionate and supportive people to work with, all of these life changing choices just seem...well, easier. 


AND I'M TOTALLY HERE FOR YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY!!!


So let's do this?! Screw those people who scoff at your resolution, because we're changing for life. And NO, that might not happen in those first two weeks at the gym after NYE...but we're not looking for quick fixes, we're looking long-term results.

What are your goals? Where are your benchmarks? What can you do to push yourself to keep going?
I've got a competition in 19 days....an audition in 21....and a tattoo to work on.
Tell me yours. ;)

Oh, and if you want to know the Garage Games workouts, here you go! (FYI: I'm doing the scaled version...NEXT time you'll get me at RX!)

STONE FACE
RX: 5 Minute AMRAP
Ascending push press@115#/75# and kettlebell swings@70#/45#, (1/1, 2/2, 3/3, etc.)
Scaled: 5 Minute AMRAP
Ascending push press@75#/55# and kettlebell swings@55#/35#, (1/1, 2/2, 3/3, etc.)

DOUBLE'S TO HEAVEN
RX: 12 minute AMRAP
100 double-unders, 63 hand release push-ups, 36 front squats@95#/65#
50 double-unders, 42 hand release push-ups, 24 front squats@95#/65#
25 double-unders, 21 hand release push-ups, front squat@95#/65# until time expires
Scaled: 12 minute AMRAP
100 double-unders or 200 singles, 63 hand release push-ups, 36 front squats@65#/45#
50 double-unders or 100 singles, 42 hand release push-ups, 24 front squats@65#/45#
25 double-unders or 50 singles, 21 hand release push-ups, front squat@65#/45# until time expires

PVC MANIA
RX and Scaled:
5 rounds for time, 12 min cap
5 PVC shoot-thru’s , 10 lateral burpees over PVC, 20 PVC dips

Until next time, Cave-Kids.

Grr...urg...LOVE,
This Primal Yogi

Friday, December 14, 2012

Get me your "Before & After"

Let me begin by saying, I'm not one to look back.
It's in my Sagittarian nature, as well as my yogi-code, to live "in the moment" and without regret as much as I can. There were times...years even...where I let myself fall into the woe of not-letting-go, and I just didn't jive with it. I'm going to be me, NOW, and live each moment as my lil' heart tells me to live it.

Which is why--when earlier this week Strapping-Young-Trainer-Tommy yelled over, "Rrrrrach! Send me your before & after"--I may have panicked.

"I'm pretty sure I've burned all those old photos..." 
Yes, I'm quick to the joke, but really I had no idea if I even had photos of myself from before. Pictures get taken and I leave them behind. I leave the thought of who I was in the moment...well, IN that moment. And when you get down to the nitty-gritty of it...there are a lot of previous "Me's" that I don't want to see. I know each of them...and there is that teeny, tiny, doubtful voice in the back of my mind that says,

"Don't look back. What if you really haven't come that far?"

"I really don't think I've changed though..."
I can admit now that I greatly appreciated his reaction: a scoff of disbelief and a punch in the arm.  Even Awesome-Idol-Trainer-Dana gave me a squeeze and a "You're so skinny!" But let me tell you, stepping up to the plate of my laptop the next day to sort through photos was a challenge I hadn't expected.  I started out with blinders on, just looking for something from RIGHT before I started at the gym. Photos from February 2012, during the run of RENT I was in. I stared those images down as if I could burn a hole through the screen, Superman-style. I was not a happy girl then. It was a tumultuous time in my life and just about EVERYTHING was in upheaval. I reflected that physically.
And I accept that now...because I've taken control.

SO: I rolled up my sleeves and said, "Rachel...let's do this."
I went  back 6 years.
In 6 years, I have been so many people. So many sizes. So many degrees of happy, sad, tired, alive, loved, left...
But this is the first time in 6 years, I feel completely in control and on the right path--with my body, diet, and all around wellness. And it is because of that, that I'm going to share with you the journey I have been on; photos that I haven't even been willing to look at my self for years!

If I'm going to act like my opinion matters...I should show you why I think it does.
Because I'm happy. Because I HAVE come a long way.
And dammit...because I look good.

Layin' it all out there.


I can only hope that whether it's our bodies, our states-of-mind, our careers, that one day we all can take the time (obviously, coming from a SUPER positive place) and reflect on where we've been...and where we're going.

Until next time, Cave-Kids.

Grr...urg...LOVE,
This Primal Yogi