We all have them. What's yours? I've heard just about every single one in the book. I've probably also given just about every single one in the book. Then, after I finished my list, I realized I had run out, and it was time to run in. I hope that's where you are - or somewhere close to it - because I'm telling you, I've been there.
"I can't." - I actually got that one this morning. "I can't do something 'intense.'" "I can't lift weights." "I definitely can't lift heavy weights." "I'll die if I try." Yes, I get that one often - to which my reply is - "Our goal is the opposite. To keep you alive - and well." You know, if you're telling yourself you can't, you're probably right. But do you want to know what we know? We know you can. It's not just in working out, but in anything you do, the first step is ALL you have to do to try. We've had plenty of folks walk in on the first day not lifting more than 0.5 pounds over their head. But they did it, then progressed, and progressed a little more. Again, like in life, we all progress at different paces. But what's the one thing we all have in common? We CAN start. We CAN make a commitment to what we hope for, even when we don't believe that it's possible as we're taking that first step. YOU CAN.
"I need to get in shape before I start working out." - Yeah, I thought that too. I actually worked for a company where I watched people work out every day and thought I had to get on some kind of other level to be able to give it a try. I don't know what I was waiting for. And I'm not sure what you're waiting for either. Working out IS getting in shape. CrossFit IS getting in shape. You don't have to walk in the gym and deadlift 400 pounds - not your first day, not even a year or two or three into it. You just have to keep making YOUR shape better every day. Doesn't matter what kind of shape you're in now. Everything - and I mean everything - is adaptable and modifiable. It's a beautiful thing when you walk into a gym not even able to hang from a pull-up bar, then progress workout after workout, to find yourself years in and knocking out 20 pull-ups at a time. I don't even think I had neared a pull-up bar in 25 years. I was not "in shape" when I joined the gym - not even close - and that kept being my excuse, until I finally stopped letting it become one. I now am in shape. And I love my shape. And I bet you will, too. I don't care if you can't do a pull-up, push-up, squat, handstand - I don't care. I just want you to realize that making a change can impact your body, mind, and soul. BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN START ON THAT PATH, EVEN KNOWING THAT YOU AREN'T NECESSARILY "IN SHAPE."
"I'm busy." - You know who else is busy? Everyone. You know what will help your day of busy-ness? Working out. I won't list off the things that make me busy, but will say that you and I may be equally busy. I used that one as an excuse for a while. Still do sometimes. But I know that there is not much else going on at 5 a.m. (or maybe not much else going on for you at 6 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., or 6:30 p.m. - got you taken care of all these times), so I make it a PRIORITY to make the gym my spot at 5:00 a.m. so I can fill my day with energy and confidence, learn from my coach, and create accomplishment in my day before some folks have even rolled out of bed. Whether it's better early, midday, or late for you. Make time in your busy schedule. Because if you're busy, you're likely also tired, distracted, drained. Know what will make you feel the opposite of those things - good food, good sleep, and good fitness! I learned the hard way. MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY IN YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE.
"It's too expensive." - This one was on my list, too, until I realized what a blessing being trained was - and until I saw the breakdown of what I'm paying for with CrossFit. I won't go down that rabbithole - you can see the breakdown here. A few years back when I was considering cancelling one of my disability insurances for myself with my agency, my financial adviser said - you'll pay insurance to cover your phone, your car, and your home, but you won't continue to pay the coverage for yourself? He had a good point. You need to invest in YOURSELF so that you can invest in all of the other things you care about in this precious life. I view my time at CFV as my investment in myself so that I can be a better person for my team, my employees, my family, my friends, the person on the street that God drops into my life for a high five, or a word of encouragement. When I looked at what I was spending my money on, I had to move some things around and realized I was spending too much money on things that were not of value. I also realized what this investment was doing to make every one of my days better, I knew I had to do it. INVEST IN YOU.
If you have other excuses I didn't speak to in this blog, you can email me at tanya@crossfitvirilis.com, and I'll be ready to share on my experience and how it may relate to you, too. Let's talk soon.
