What A Difference A Year Can Make

One week ago today, I turned 26. Just a few days before that, I'd found the photo that was taken at my 25th birthday party. I hate the photo. Seeing myself when the server handed it over was truly embarrassing. It was one of those moments when you realize how much weight you've gained. I remember how I felt getting ready for that dinner, not even knowing that all of my friends were planning on surprising me. I'd practically been in tears. I felt like I had nothing nice to wear that fit my body. My confidence was close to an all time low.

Left: January 20, 2013
Right: January 20, 2014

Circle back, 365 days later and I am 100% healthier. I've been CrossFitting for almost 7 months and eat a much more clean and whole diet than any other time in my life. I've repaired friendships that I'd been damaging due to my own insecurity. I'm on the road to being financially free and my relationship with my significant other is built on love, trust, and respect. 

While I'm not looking forward to being another year closer to 30, I am excited for the progress I know I can make between now and my next birthday. 

Struggle Much?

This week has been tough. Its hard to put a finger on why, but I think I may just be tired. I pushed myself hard in my training last week, doing double WODs a few days plus comp work. Even though I took the weekend (Sat/Sun) off from working out, I still feel sluggish this week.

I'm trying to push to using higher weights in my WODs. I Rx'd cleans in a WOD this week and would've Rx'd the whole workout if I had my HSPU down. But I don't. There's so many little things that I modify that frustrate me. I'm impatient with my strength, mostly in my arms. I want to be able to Rx pull ups and HSPU so badly. And double-unders: didn't I used to be good at jumping rope? Haha, I would've been awesome at CrossFit as a kid.

I have to remind myself that it's only been 2.5 months. No one gets to the Games after 2.5 months, or ever, really. I'm not saying I ever will, but why not shoot for the top?

My list of aspirations seems to grow daily, much quicker than my actual progression towards those goals, it seems. Patience is a struggle for me. It always has been. I like goals that I can achieve quickly since my attention span isn't the greatest. This set of goals that is forming in my mind will be a true test of determination and resolve.

I have to keep reminding myself that health and fitness are what I always come back to when whatever job I have isn't fulfilling or I am unhappy in some other area of life. It is my passion and I'm not only hurting myself by not following it, I'm hurting all the people I could be helping along the way.