So I’ve signed up for a 3x/week membership at CrossFit Kent Island. Yes!!! That’s an awesome step toward accomplishing my fitness goals, and I’m ahead of the pack compared to 99% of the population! Alright, next step – on Monday afternoon I sign up for Monday’s 5:30pm class, and come in and kick ass. Awesome!!! I’m rocking it! Let’s keep it going. I should probably spread out my fitness, so I plan on coming in on Wednesday sometime, and then maybe Friday or Saturday, depending on what the workouts are. I decide to come in on Wednesday morning, but then I sleep late on Wednesday, so of course I’m going to come to the 5:30pm class instead. But what’s with this traffic coming back from DC? So I miss the Wednesday workout, which seemed pretty sweet – Pull-ups and Power Cleans, they’re in my wheelhouse. On Thursday, I’m a little hung-over from the happy hour I hit on the way home because I knew I wasn’t making the 5:30 Wednesday class, but it’s no big deal, I’m going to go on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s WOD has burpees in it though, so I guess I’ll wait for Saturday’s WOD and really crush it. On Saturday, I show up, get crushed because of course it also has burpees, and waddle away thinking that maybe I need to change to 2x/week.
Does that sound familiar to anyone? If so, are you looking to reduce your membership cost to 2x/week? Or maybe instead you’d like to increase your fitness and get your money’s worth. Keep reading if you’re in the second camp.
Here’s an alternative scenario, and the difference is characterized by an increased level of planning, and commitment.
So I’ve signed up for a 3x/week membership at CrossFit Kent Island. Yes!!! That’s an awesome step toward accomplishing my fitness goals, and I’m ahead of the pack compared to 99% of the population! Alright, next step – on Sunday evening I sign up for Monday’s 5:30pm class, Wednesday’s 5:30pm class, and Friday’s 5:30pm class. Each of those days, I plan out how I’m going to make it to those classes, and I make it happen. I got 3 tough workouts in in a week, but I’m feeling good knowing that I pushed myself hard this week, and I’m ready to do it again.
In the second scenario, I’ve not only gotten in three varied workouts that will increase my physical fitness, but I’ve also strengthened my ability to commit to a plan and see it through. This is an area of mental toughness that must be trained, and will become stronger with time. And although the physical benefits from working out more consistently are huge, the advantages to be gained here go beyond physical fitness, as training your ability to plan and stick to a plan will transfer to your job, your schoolwork, and your life in general.
In summary, I hope you can picture yourself as someone who can consistently create that second scenario. Someone who can plan out your week of workouts, and even expand to your week of nutrition. Plan it out on Sunday, using your work and family schedule as known constraints. Starting on Monday and each day through the week, attack your plan, knocking out workouts and eating healthy meals, and just blazing through other tasks you’ve planning for yourself for each day. You will feel amazing at the end of each day, and your ability to keep planning effectively and generally getting shit done will improve and evolve over time. And that will manifest itself in an improved level of physical and mental fitness that others will marvel at.
So next Sunday make a plan. Carry it out throughout the week. Look back and feel good about it. You’ll be ready to go again!
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