Week of Workouts, Mirrors and Motivation

I had a solid week of working out that has left me more than ready to kick my feet up most of Sunday, and given me a few things to reflect on…

Starting back on Saturday… I got outside for a short mile jog to a hill, did 5 hard hill sprints (each about 1:15) with easy jogging in between, and a slow jog home.

Sunday I did ZWOW #9, a great 10 minute home workout with no equipment. 10 minute jog after to cool down.

Monday, as I shared a few posts back, was all about the benchmark workout “Helen” at Crossfit. 3 rounds for time of 400m sprint, 21 kettlebell swings, 12 pull ups. We also worked on power cleans for strength that day.

Tuesday I got in several miles of walks throughout the day to and from class, to and from work, and work itself. Also planks and pushups.

{Something in my mind has shifted when it comes to working out and rest days. I used to have a very all or nothing attitude. Back when I was running, if I didn’t hit my target mileage for the day or week I felt defeated. And if I didn’t have a shceduled run that day, I did nothing.

These days I don’t think so black and white when it comes to rest days. Sometimes I feel like doing planks and pushups, or going for a walk, or practicing handstand pushups in my room. I do something if I feel like it, and I don’t if I don’t feel like it. Just living I suppose. Life doesn’t need to be scheduled out and and black and white, and rest days don’t necessarily have to be rest days. Why not just a regular day? }

Wednesday’s crossfit workout was outside in the blazing noontime sun. We did 400m medicine ball clean and throws, 400m sled drag, and 400 m sprint. Finished in about 16 minutes. Just brutal, as always. Also worked on push presses for strength and had a PR which I felt great about.

Thursday, another day of walks and planks (doing a little over 3 minute planks now most days of the week, working my way up). A couple miles of walking plus waitressing kept me active.

Friday I got up to our university gym with a friend for an evening workout. I had already had a long day of early classes and a busy day of waitressing lunch, but since she wanted some extra motivation to go I decided to get in a good strength workout.

The gym was a little more crowded than I’m used to, I haven’t been to a traditional gym in a long time. I’m not used to females talking on their cell phones while ellipticizing,  to people staring and comparing, I’m not used to treadmills, mirrors, or 3 lb weights lining the racks.

Sorry, I’m not trying to say Crossfit is better (okay, yes, it’s a hell of a lot better), it’s just very different.

So I wandered into the “guys’ room” that has heavy weights and actual barbells. There were about 20 males crowded into this room and they all stared at me when I walked in, as if a female had never stepped foot in there. I felt a little awkward at first but just turned up my ipod and got into my own little world of lifting. Worked on my deadlift doing 5 heavy sets of 5 getting up to 170lb. I felt great and strong and confident doing them, despite being the odd woman out.

Then I did two mini metcons (metabolic conditioning, like WODs in crossfit) each 5 minutes or so. I was right in front of the room, face to face with… myself. I haven’t worked out in front of a mirror in so long, it felt very odd. Most, if not all, crossfit boxes don’t have mirrors. It’s about body functionality, not body image. And although mirrors can help with form, its important to feel the correct movement patterns and be fully engrossed in the them, instead of being concerned with how you look.

I didn’t recognize my legs in the mirror. As I was squatting and thrusting the weight overhead  doing the metcons, they were working hard and it showed. Sure, I look at my outfit in the mirror most mornings and have seen some changes in my body since starting crossfit, but it’s entirely different to see yourself actually working out. Even though I prefer to workout sans mirrors, I sort of loved seeing how strong my legs looked.

Great workout, and left with lots on my mind (hence this post).

 

The other thing I was thinking about was my younger brother, Matt. As I’ve mentioned, he is off at Marine boot camp in Parris Island right now. He’s at the 3 week countdown until he graduates, and has endured  a grueling 7 weeks so far. My whole extended family and myself have been writing him letters, keeping him motivated. I love hearing from him, his letters have been highlights of these past few months. His tone has gone from uncertainty and what sounded like exhaustion (I can only imagine), to confidence and enthusiasm. He’s written to me about some of their grueling workouts as well as a typical day of what he eats. HOLY amount of food. It’s more food that I think I eat in a week.

My Dad has been telling me that when he’s at the gym busting out a few final reps of a particularly tough exercise, he thinks of my brother . He thinks of all those tough reps that my brother has gone through over these past few months. He thinks about the exhaustion he faces everyday, and how he has persevered through it all. Lately I’ve been dedicating my workouts to my brother. Before crossfit I think of what he might be doing in that moment. How he’s been awake for 7 more hours than I have and probably worked out for 7 more hours than I have that day. And how he’s stayed strong and positive through it all. And he gets me through the WOD.

I cannot wait to see him in a few weeks at his graduation. Then I get to spend a whole weekend at home with him, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m hoping to get in a fun WOD with him (although I’m sure all he’ll want to do for his 10 days home is kick his feet up and order me to cook him bacon).

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How do you feel about working out with or without mirrors? Do you think of working out and rest days as black and white or more of a gray area? What helps motivate you to be active?