Open

" Confidence, like art, never comes from having all the answers; it comes from being OPEN to all the questions. " - Earl Gray Stevens

 

 

    Confidence is something I feel a lot of people struggle with, society is constantly sending us all mixed messages through the media about how we should feel about ourselves. Since I was a teenager, I feel into that trap of weighing my self confidence to other people's standards. I never felt good enough, smart enough, skinny enough...I was always selling myself short, always unhappy, viewing things so negativitly, especially when it came to my body. I never ever in my life felt comfortable in my own strength, and own skin. After this weekend, I am finally done measuring my confidence to other people's standards! My body is my machine, and what it can accomplish is an endless possiblity.

    On Wednesday I hung around after my WOD to watch some ridiculously AWESOME people take on 13.1 of the Crossfit Open. In all my years of playing a variety of different sports, even at the collegiate level, I have NEVER EVER experenced something like the Crossfit Open. The amount of positivity, support, and drive that happened that night was an intense, emotional experience. I watched miracles literally happen before my eyes as people PR'd their snatches, and pushed their bodies past a point they did not even know existed. I watched an entire group of people take time out of their lives to come support these amazing athletes.

   Later that night, one of my coaches called me out, and told me to sign up for the Open. I am going to be completely honest, I was really hesistant at first. I didn't know how I was going to compete against everyone else, or if I would be able to function with so many people watching me, I even told myself I wasn't GOOD enough yet. I had never competed in Crossfit before, and the thought of my first competition being the Open was a lot to wrap my head around. For a good hour, I ran every damn excuse I could through my head until I decided to face my fear, sign up, and enjoy the freaking ride!

   Yesterday I nervously showed up at the Box, and tried to physically and mentally prepare myself for what I was about to experience. Here is a run down of what 13.1 of the Open consisted of for females.

 

17 mins AMRAP

40 Burpees to a 6" target

30 Snatches 45#

30 Burpees

30 Snatches 75#

20 Burpees

30 Snatches 100#

10 Burpees

30 Snatches 120#

   

  In 17 minutes of awesome, physical and mental hell, I managed to PR my snatch by 22# for 13 reps and finished with a total of 113 reps on the workout! It was amazing to see the support of my teammates, and even people I had never met people. They cheered me on, and encouraged me that I could do this, and for once, I actually believed them! I was so inspired by all of my teammates who competed next to me, by working hard and being so determined, each one of them allow me to push myself that much further. My accomplishments yesterday would have never been possible with out my coach Rick, who one, called me out for not competeing, and two, stood by my side the entire 17 mins, and talked me through the work out. He allowed me to break when I needed, and pushed me even harder to reach beyond my comfort zone!

   What I learned this weekend was that being open to all the possibilites and opportunities in life is far more exciting then being scared or closed off from them. I would have never known what I was capable of, or how much support I do have if I had never been open to the idea of competeing. One simple choice of saying "NO" could have drastically changed the entire course of my life. Seeing where I rank amongst thousands of people all over the World makes me want to work harder, eat cleaner, and be better! The possibiltes are endless, it's time to get after it...

 

 

Today I am grateful for the all the awesome, inspirational, determined people at the box. In a little over a month I already feel like I am apart of something way bigger than myself. These are not just people I "work out" with, they have become family, friends, my inspiration! The amount of intensity, positivity, determination, and inspiration that each and every one of these people bring to the table is ridiculous, and has defnitely reinstilled my faith that there are still good people in this World.

 

What are you grateful for today?

 

 

Hope everyone has a great week!

 

 

xxx,

Hippie_Roots

 

This is a current picture of me, 2 weeks into the Paleo Challenge.

Here is a quick and easy Paleo breakfast receipe!

Bacon Egg Muffins

1.Fry Nitrate Free Bacon in grease

2. Pre-Heat oven to 350

3. Grease cupcake pan with Coconut Oil

4. Wrap cooked bacon on the inside of each tray cup

5. Crack a Cage Free/Omega3 egg into each cup (add other ingredients , mushrooms, onions, peppers, rosemary)

6. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, let cool and enjoy!