Training

"You don't have energy, you do energy. There is no pill, there is a process."
- Jim Kiwk 

A few years ago, I was at my local gym standing by the weight racks. There was a huge mirror in front of me. I looked at myself and thought, "I've been a lot of things but I haven't been strong yet." 

I've been hearing about the benefits of weight training for many years. I had difficulty knowing what to do with the free weights. Any time a trainer made a recommendation, I'd follow it closely but that was it. Most of my training life revolved around distance running. 

In mid-December, after I strained my calf muscle, I decided to really do something about weight training. I changed my workouts at the gym. Still, I didn't really know what I was doing. 

I heard about CrossFit a while ago. I've been following the trend every since. I never said never to CrossFit. I want to say that I said, not yet. 

I talked to a few friends who have been faithful CrossFiters for years. They gave me great insight and advice. One of my friends verbalized the same thing I've been thinking. She said, "Cintia, we are stronger than we think we are."

I decided to dedicate myself to this new sport. At week 5, I can say that it has been worth it. I feel stronger already and I am learning a lot.

You do get sore in the beginning. Very sore. The good thing is that I know how to recover thanks to distance running. I also told myself that if I keep showing up, I will get stronger and less sore. 

The main thing I am learning from CrossFit is that there is no easy to learn. I have to show up, listen to instruction, and put in the work. 

Today I heard a great quote from Jim Kwik. He said, "you don't have energy, you do energy." I never heard this fact put it this way. 

I hear a lot of people saying "I'm tired, I don't have energy" and I can sympathize with them. I've been there. I started sitting on my couch, tired, overweight and suffering with high blood pressure. The way I got energy was to do. I started small. 

While seated on that couch, I wrote in my journal: "I am a runner and I love running." I had never ran a mile for fun. Today, not only I am a runner but I ran 7 marathons for fun. You have to start somewhere, it might as well be from where you are, exactly as you are. 

The second thing that Jim Kwik said was "there is no pill, there is a process." A similar quote is posted in my CrossFit box. The quicker I accepted this reality, the easier it was to become who I was meant to be. 

I became so passionate about the power of process that I wrote the following quote here on the blog: "There are no results without the process." I began to embrace the process. 

Learning and loving the process will lead you to your goal. You've done this before. There was a process that led me to attain my degrees. I went to class. I took the test. I wrote the paper. I walked across the stage to get my degrees. 

There was a process that led to the birth of my children. While I was not 100% in control, I did what I could. I went to every doctor's appointment. I took the prenatal vitamins. I ate more vegetables. I rested as much as I could. I was there for the birth, I recovered from the birth. 

I want you to forget any excuses you have for a moment. What is the process that will lead you to your goal? What can you do to get there? Small steps will lead you to where you need to go. 

My goal with CrossFit is not to be a sponsored athlete. What I do want is to be stronger so my life as a wife and mother can benefit. I can tell you that I am benefiting already as a runner. I'm amazed at how much strength training helps my entire body and mind. I am close to being done with my WW journey but I am not there yet. 

I am telling myself that I have energy. I am also telling myself that the process (tracking my food intake, resting, drinking water, minding my mindset, moving) is important. There is no way to reach my goal without embracing the process. 

Lastly, I want to tell you that you too have what it takes to embrace the process that will lead to your goal. This is the year to achieve your goals and become all you were meant to be. You have what it takes.