Today is a perfect day for change.

I’ve talked a lot lately about getting ahead of the holiday season typical gains, that now is just as good as January 2016 to start putting steps into action for next years goals. Because it is. Say if you knew on June 1, 2016, all the money you had in a specific jar by that date would be tripled, and you could start putting money in that jar right now….you wouldn’t wait two months to start would you? Of course not. But when it comes to our health and fitness it’s easier to say ah, I’ll start that tomorrow, next week, next month, in the new year. But the benefits work just like that jar. Work put in now, builds your momentum, results come faster.

What that change looks like for you might be different from the person next to you. Depends on current habits, current interests. One of the best tools to help you determine what changes you want to make are to look at some goals. Make em specific, make em about what you want to achieve, not someone else’s yardstick. It’s never too late, never too tough to create real change in you health and wellness. Never! So pick that goal. Maybe it’s a race, maybe it’s a pull-up, maybe its to give your kid a piggyback ride around block without getting winded, all are the same. There are tools, classes, people, exercises that will help you get to any of those destinations. All it takes is a decision from you to start! And if you start now, by Christmas you are that much closer, and you will feel healthier, busted holiday stress, and maybe even drop a few pounds in the process.

I know, I know. Tonight’s post is pretty sunshine and rainbows. Not a lot of specifics. I’ll get to that in the near future. Promise. But for now my point is to inspire you to take a step. Make you realize that now is always the best time to start a new fitness habit or start working towards that goal. Every day the best parts of my day come from watching athletes-moms, dads, old, young, do things only weeks or months ago they couldn’t. Don’t get me wrong, work is put in day after day, but the biggest step was to get out of their cars and into the box for their very first class.

Here’s what I hope you take from this if nothing else. Don’t wait. Start now. -m

Happy Friday, folks!

As the holiday season inches closer, (with Halloween tomorrow!) I’ve decided today to share a couple new habits I’ve committed to now in order to keep my routine and focus during the upcoming season of busy-ness. I’ll follow those with a few things I’ve discovered lately that I think you’ll love too…..just for funsies! 

1. I have consistently struggled with daily quiet time. Scriptures. Prayer. A minute to focus on starting my day in the right direction. I needed a starting place, with the goal to make this commitment even bigger into the new year. First5.org. With an alarm feature this app for my iPhone reminds me to stop and give Him the first five minutes of my day.  

   

    
2. Schedule everything. Track everything. Workouts. Meal prep. Dish planning. Not just the events and social stuff. I mean every day carving out workout time, reminders to prep dishes for the rest of the week. If you’re scheduling and tracking, you’re less likely to forget things like your workouts or nutrition….or let them slide. Two basic tools I love are good ol iCal that pops up on all my devices and myfitnesspal (myfitnesspal.com) that I can access from anywhere as well. iCal keeps my schedule handy, while myfitnesspal lets me keep an eye on my macronutrient intake. Tracking will become your voice of reason when you’re facing the third holiday party of the week (hello sausage puffs or pumpkin cheesecake). Logging workouts will give you that sense of accomplishment that you’re sticking to plan during this time. Over the years I’ve done this intermittently, but this season I’m all in committed!
3. Ok….funsies alert! So I mentioned a post or two ago how my love for coffee has become rekindled! While doing the Whole30 this second time around I discovered an awesome recipe for non-dairy creamer which allowed me to once more partake in the magical powers of coffee! So I gave a local brand a whirl at a recent farmers market here in town and instantly fell in love with Porch Culture Coffee. I fully committed as a monthly subscriber and love the fact that I’m supporting local!  

   

4. Ok, so this last one is sort of a combo of my latest favorite CrossFit accessories! I recently won a giveaway on Instagram by RokFit and took the chance to order one of their t-shirts I’ve had my eye on. Super soft, washed well, lightweight….and features coffee, my most days’ pre workout of choice! Secondly, I’ve been a fan of FitAid for a while for recovery, while being Paleo friendly. Tastes great and makes me feel much better after an exceptionally intense WOD. Last of my favorites in this group would be Progenex Recovery in Peanut Butter Smash. Ah-mazing. One of the best tasting protein shakes I’ve had in a long time! Definitely feel a difference in my recovery as well. When on a Whole30 I take a break from it (some non compliant ingredients) but get back to it afterwards. Great stuff!   

   

    

Well, hope you picked up a tip or two, or maybe saw something new you’d like to try! As for me, setting the coffee pot up for in the morning, heading out to our box in Lindale for a Halloween fitness party! Don’t forget to start tomorrow with a little fitness, and make it fun! -m

The key to happiness is lifting heavy things.

I’m currently sitting at over a week post-Festivus. Whew. The competition experience is like no other. Going into it my goal was simply to use this as a measuring stick of where my fitness has arrived. Festivus did not disappoint. As I mentioned before, I entered my very first one two months into my CrossFit journey, coming from a nonexistent athletic background other than running a handful of races for fun, and placing last. Dead last. When after three workouts I realized I sat in 3rd overall, it got real. I have an engine, and this last season of work was just the first tuneup. Unfortunately, the last workout didn’t go as I planned so I ended with a 6th place overall finish out of 19 in my division. Not too shabby. The workouts were as I expected, and it was quite the day. Lots of friends, family, and athletes around. All the other athletes from our gym all did well, with a couple making it into the final workout. Win, win, win. Next time around I’ll be in those finals. I honestly didn’t expect to love the experience as much as I did, while coaching and competing at the same time.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. And most likely will this coming April. And here’s why. To really grow, to see change, we must be tested. Challenge yourself. Crave the test. All the fitness in the world is great, but we can’t forget why we spend the hours in the gym. Using your fitness is what counts. Chasing kids. Climbing stairs. Lifting stuff. whatever the case may be be. But without the fire, with out the test, we miss out on striving for the next level. And I don’t mean always in competition, but in the constant test we call life.

So here’s what I walked away with from this round of competition. I’m better than I was a year ago. I’m better than I was a month ago. No matter if I’m doing in in front of a room full of people or an empty gym between classes, I’m going to lift heavy things as often as I can, row, run, even do burpees. Because it makes me happy. Because it makes me feel amazing. And because it makes me better prepared for life.

During “Dead, Deader, Deadest….”

And on that note…..oh look! Weights! See you guys in a few days! -m