So it’s been a while since I posted. It’s been a long month – work has been full on and I’ve had to go to the US, which was stressful for many reasons, least of which is that I’m petrified of flying… Weight loss is pretty slow, which I’m putting down to me not being hugely careful what I’m shoving in my face. Crossfit progress has been pretty slow too- WODs are long and hard at the moment, and people I normally life the same sort of weight as, have begun piling on the kilos, which is a bit discouraging. Generally, it’s been a bit discouraging. I’m discouraged. While I am well over the half-way to goal hump, it still seems like a long, boring road with painfully small gains.
In an attempt to take some good things from the last few weeks, here’s some things I’ve learnt:
1) Sometimes, you just have to keep going. Doesn’t matter how slow, you just have to get your head down, grit your teeth and keep going. And that applies to a WOD lasting 10 minutes to a month when everything just feels a bit crap.
2) Planning is everything. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, until I learn to do it.
3) Flying to and from the US in 48 hours will make you tired for about a week. Also the food on planes/in airports is rubbish
4) On the above, you might sleep better if you remember to put your seat back (and if there aren’t small babies on your flight)
5) Daniel Craig in Casino Royale is pretty much the top of my list of 5 at the moment – buff but still with plenty of meat on him, a bit craggy, pretty fighty, well-dressed, flawed. Lovely.
6) There are 26 mentions of ‘Roxanne’ in the song Roxanne. I know this because Crossfit Veracity in NJ made us do a burpee every time Roxanne was mentioned.
7) Bouldering is fun, but I’m too scared to get to the top. It was good to try something new, but it’s not for me. Crossfit is fun, mostly, but sometimes I hate it. This is like when you meet someone who is perfectly nice and pleasant, but you know you’re not going to be friends, and sometimes you meet people that you love immediately, although sometimes you fall out with them for a short time.
8) You don’t get better by not trying hard – I’m not going to lift bigger weights by not lifting bigger weights. I am taking this philosophy into next week. However, better to lift heavy for you, then try to do more and fail.
9) Sometimes thing seem like a good idea at the time. They usually end up still being good things
10) A 13 mile walk is quite a long way. Have some conversational topics ready to go
11) White bread gives me stomach ache, all of a sudden
12) You don’t need to finish your food if you’ve had enough, especially in America
13) There isn’t going to be a time when I’m done with this. When I can go back to eating crap and being lazy. This is how it is – and wishing it were different won’t make it so. Embrace, remember why you’re doing it and how much better you feel, and get the fuck on with it already.
14) Stop moaning so much
15) Be pleased with what you’ve done so far. But don’t think you’re done. You can slip back into old ways in the blink of an eye – so be vigilant
16) Don’t drop heavy things on your boobs. In crossfit as in life
17) Buy new kit – you’ll feel better if you’re not slopping around in ill-fitting schmutter
18) Good support is essential – emotional as well as practical. And I put a good sports bra in this category
19) Running is just hell, however you slice it. Just get it done and go home
20) Listen to other people – coaches who know better, your husband, your crossfit colleagues. BEtter to listen to them than the monkey on your back/devil on your shoulder
Rachael Parkman
Rachael is a late 30s south Londoner, who’s always been bigger than she wants but thinks she’s found the solution. Lives with her husband and cat, and enjoys cooking, gin and tonic and wearing nice shoes.
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