Yesterday when I was in the gym I learned a very valuable lesson or at least had it refreshed.  5 days a week I do Crossfit workouts at my local gym.  I have recently started doing them with three other people very regularly.  We always have a great time and healthy competition.  We have all definitely grown exponentially in both mental and physical strength over the course of our workouts.

Usually each day I am the second one done, every once and awhile I beat Jim but it’s rare! I will say that on the days I do he is more upset than I am happy (love ya, JIm)! But, today was very different.  Today the workout called for:

100 ft of walking lunges with 30 lb dumbbells

30- 30″ box jumps

30-30 lb weighted pullups (20 lbs for women)

**4 sets of all three for time **

We all knew it was going to be a hard workout so we got started! We first did our warmup of overhead squats, dips, sit ups, ghd sit ups, back extensions, and a few pullups. As Crossfit says, “Our warm up is your workout!”

The timers started and we were of with walking lunges which were difficult but definitely doable, then I was on to the box jumps which were actually a nice break from what was next.  Those CRAZY weighted pull ups.  Are you kidding me (AYKM)?? One word, WOW! Ok, so 20 lb weighted pull ups were very difficult and after 3 pull ups (yes, 3!) I moved down to 12.5 lbs. And I completed my first set.  The second and third set took forever and were so difficult. By the last set I was really contemplating losing the weight with the pull ups.  Pull ups without weight are NO problem but with weight they were unbearable.  But, I was determined! I pushed through and it took me 37:30 to finish the workout.  The longest a Crossfit work has ever taken.  And I felt awesome! Really amazing and extremely proud! Why? Let me explain.

I was the last one finished by about 10 minutes.  Which was a change and like any change it can be uncomfortable.  But I was also one of the only people to finish it full out with all weights accurate or atleast a derivative of it.  Jim completed it full out with everything down exactly and really did awesome! But the other two did less weight on the walking lunges and no weight on the pull ups, which is still acceptable and deserves a job well done.  And believe me I considered it a couple times during the almost 40 minute workout.  I kept thinking that “it would be so much easier with no weighted pull ups” but I kept thinking to myself easy isn’t always the right or best way!

During yesterday’s workout I realized that sometimes the right way isn’t always the easy way. This seems simple but it’s so true and really important.  A lot of times a few shortcuts will still get you to the end point but will you get the same end result? Let me explain.  If I would have taken the weight off for the pull ups I still would have finished the workout and  would have done 120 pull ups total so I would have still felt amazing but I wouldn’t have gotten the same benefit as I did by doing the weighted pull ups.

My personal take home from yesterday was simple, sometimes the most growth and results come from taking time and being detailed.  It wasn’t when I finished but that I finished and finished fulfilled. Be patient and persevere and you will finish as you should! The right way isn’t always the easy way!

How you do anything is how you do everything.

Be well. Love and light.

Love. Laugh. Adjust.