One Successful Event Can Change Everything

Last April I decided that I needed to get into shape. I have been a jock all my life and after a few bouts with cancer and heart disease I could not recognize myself.  I saw a picture of myself-what a site.

I went to the local YMCA but could not get myself to really work hard- I could find too many excuses for not going.  I tried other venues but none get me excited.  I realized that I needed competition and a  feeling of belonging to a team or group.  Then, someone said that I needed to try Cross Fit and I did.  I joined the local Cross Fit club and have been going through the agonizing process of learning how to properly do the exercises and moreover getting into good enough shape that I do not want to throw=up in the middle of a routine or worse faint from exhaustion.  A year later, I am still trying to get some of my frozen stiff joints to become flexible enough so that I can actually lift weights correctly.  I did not realize that I was so stiff.  It took almost a year to be able to do a full squat and then they add weight to the process and that really hurts. Well, phase one- learning what to do and getting the body ready- is almost over.  

On to phase two-Working to master the skill sets and gain confidence that I can actually do the routines with the right weights and within reasonable times.  I hate coming in last and with the 30 year olds who have muscled up it is hard- not to say that the girls aren’t in phenomenal shape.  The task now is to get better at each skill and to start recording my performance scores so that I can figure out what needs more work.  Right now that is not hard- jumping rope, pull ups- need to lose more weight to make that happen-and hand stands. As time went on the confidence started building and the times came down and the weight went up.  My  confidence was such that each WOD (workout fsoor time and reps) was a challenge rather than a survival event

Then a trigger event:  I went to the gym to watch a completion.  The event was a deadlift and the competitors topped out at 330 lbs. After the completion I went over to see if I could even get the bar off the ground. to my amazement and to the shock of those still there I lifted the weight- without that much effort. Watch the tape.

Update July, 2016: Well three months after the post above things have progressed quickly. I added another 30 lbs. to the deadlift, I push pressed 160 lbs., can do handstands and did my first toe-to -bar. I did not realize the progress until I sat down to write this.

What happened. I credit a lot to Shaklee Performance and Physique products. I have more energy and do not get too soar after my workouts. In fact, a number of my buddies want to know what I am taking. Second is the confidence factor: once you know you can do something and are successful at performing, you jump a hurdle into accelerating the performance. Once I did one handstand the rest are much easier.

So there is a huge psychological factor in all of this and I want to share the psychology part of this with our readers in future blogs.