Wellness Wednesday| Staying Positive | Clayton, NC Family Photographer

When embarking on a fitness, wellness, healthy lifestyle it is easy to start picking apart the “I can’ts, I wishes, I’m nots…”  I for one am completely guilty of this. I go on this up and down roller coaster of feeling proud and accomplished to frustrated and defeated.  It is easy to compare yourself to others as well.  It’s only in human nature to do this.  But, one thing that has helped me to stay focussed on me is by telling myself a few things.

1. This is MY journey.  And can not be compared to anyone else’s.

2. Progress is progress no matter how slow.

3. Comparisson is the thief of joy. (One of my favorite quotes, because it fits every facet of our lives).

4. STAY POSITIVE! Be grateful!

 

After completing the Insanity program I was looking for a new way to stay active and challenged.  I saw signs about town for CrossFit Clayton, and I had heard great things about it so I decided to give it a try! (It is now my second home and family….seriously LOVE this place, coaches, and people!)

I started CrossFit at the end of October 2013.  I was BEYOND nervous, and excited!  I was a total newb, I had only done minimal weightlifting in high school (I was a runner and a gymnast back then).  There are SO many varried weightlifting movements, gymnastic type movements…how on Earth was I going to be any good at this?

Simple.  Just remember everyone once was a beginner.  I didn’t need to come into this being fit, knowing how to do a power clean, or how to climb a rope.  I loved CrossFit from the beginning because no matter if you’re a beginner or have been doing it for a few years it is challenging every single time.  You start making small goals based on your abilities and just start checking them off one by one, by one. And keep making NEW goals.

It was easy to “want” to be that athlete in the gym that was the fastest, or the strongest, or got that new “move” before you did.  It was easy to get defeated when you saw others ahead of you on wodify (electronic tracking/ranking system).  But again, it isn’t about THEM….and that I have to constantly remind myself that it is about ME!

You need to set your goals and focus on YOUR accomplishments.  Remember to stay positive, and that what you are doing is all about YOU!  It does not matter if you finished the workout 1st, 10th, or last.  What matters is that you are out there putting in the effort and making yourself better.  Take credit for that and be PROUD!  Every day you are doing something to improve yourself!  Even on the days you don’t feel you’ve performed well.

I want ALL of you to comment with at least ONE thing you like about yourself, a feature, a characteristic, a body part (dare I say this).  And STOP with the negative CRAP!

Take Care of Yourself!

~Kim

Photos below are of when I first started CrossFit. (I’m wearing a tutu because we were doing a fundraiser called Barbells for Boobs, I don’t normally wear tutus to CrossFit.)  I had to use a band when doing pullups (I can now do 100 without), I struggled to clean and jerk 55 lbs. multiple times (and now complete workouts that have 85lbs. plus).  It’s all about taking it day by day.  It takes time and for me I’ll probably ALWAYS have a goal to reach!