You Are What You Eat.

I woke up sore today, but I can't stop smiling. My back doesn't hurt. Even after today's workout it is fine. It has been so long since this was the case that I forgot what it feels like. However it didn't make me want to come in today. Today's workout was intimidating for me. In fact I really had to convince myself to go.

For time:
100 Perfect pushups
Every time you have to come to your knees and/or rest you must complete 300 meters on the row machine, 200 meters running, or 100 double-unders.
During your pushups you may not pike your body up. You must keep a rigid spine, so no snaking the pushups. You must touch the ground with your chest and chin, all simultaneously. Your chest, hips, chin, etc. must also leave the ground simultaneously and you must completely lock out the pushups. Basically, you can only rest in the locked out position of a perfect pushup or on the ground, in which you would have to row, run, or double under.

I scaled it by using bands for band assisted pushups. I started with one tan and finished with one blue and one tan. I also chose to row. I knew there was no way I could do 10 double unders much less multiple rounds of 100. I also figured that if I had to run it would slow me down and as much as I hate it might cause me to quit. Looking back the running would have saved my arms a little bit. At any rate I DNF in the time cut off although Ricky and Joe did allow me to finish. I think I had 82 before time.

On my way home I got to thinking about my diet. I wish I had a fraction of all the money that is spent on books, tapes, cds, etc. about diet. If I wrote a book it would be something along the lines of the "Get Off Your Fat Ass and Put Down The Chocolate Shake Diet". I have come to understand that this is what it boils down to. But most people (either people that write these books or people that have always been fit) don't realize how hard this really can be. There are a million reasons why a person can't change their habits and just knowing that you should isn't going to help. Guilt wont help and telling people how great it is won't help.

I think there are two reasons that this time has worked so well for me and all other times have failed. The first is Crossfit. I could spend hours on the benefits of the Crossfit and all the things that are great about it (which I whole heartily believe) but the important thing is that it matches up with what I like. I enjoy the team atmosphere. I enjoy the social aspect. I enjoy the coaches and the valuable information that they have. I have fun at Crossfit. I am in no way saying that it is easy. In fact it is still hard every time I go, but I HAVE FUN. Any exercise program I have done in the past got old really fast. Hell, watch the Biggest Loser and tell me that those workouts look fun. And the idea behind these workouts is that you should do as much as possible. This is a road to failure. Tell a person who is unmotivated that not only should they do something that isn't fun, but tell them to do a lot of it. Crossfit is fun for me. It may not be for you (give it a try you might be surprised) but if it is not then find something that is for you. Not something that you endure but something that you really enjoy.

More importantly is diet. I have heard (I think it might have been Dr. Sears) that 80% of weight loss is diet and 20% is exercise. I don't think people realize this and spend most of their time trying to work on exercise. The problem with starting ANY diet is that you have to give up some of your freedom. As I see it the true problem is that people believe you have to give up all freedom. Most diets fail when people can't stay with the diet. They cheat and then give up. It becomes a chore to get back on the diet (which they didn't truly like in the first place). I have been there many times. This time my answer is to cheat without guilt. When I cheat I know how many calories I can have and I know when I can treat myself. I don't do it every day, but I try not to go too long. It doesn't give me a blank check either. I do it in moderation. Does this slow down my progress? Probably. Is it the most efficient way to lose weight? Probably not. But that is not the important question for me. The important question is ,"Is this something I can live with or is it a diet that I have to endure?". My answer is that I can live with it. It works for me. I don't dread it. Do I have cravings that I fight? Yes and No. I get cravings all the time. Who doesn't. I will not say that I refuse all cravings. That would make me a liar. But thanks to my Body Bug I have to answer for what I put in my body. And when I do eat I have an idea of what I eating.

Here is the key. With this new tool (my Body Bug) I am forced to see what I am eating. I am forced to look at labels. I have to know how much worse a slice of pizza is from my favorite place is than a piece of chicken and I have to be accountable. I know that many Crossfiters will state that The Zone would make it so I didn't have to do it. The trade off is that you have to measure everything and are limited to what I can eat. I will admit that it would be perfect for getting the most out of my Crossfit experience. I know that there will be a time when I switch to the Zone. This will be a time when I see diminishing returns with my current trends. But at this time I am seeing weight loss, improved fitness and it is something that I can live with. And for me the last thing is the most important.