Over the past six months my training regime has been pretty heavy. I have trained five to six times a week with multiple workouts and practice sessions. They have been constantly varied and intense, just as Crossfit prescribes. In that time I have achieved personal bests improved on my overall cardio performance and strength. This hunger has seen me wanting to achieve more.
However, over four weeks ago I started feeling like the fuel tank was running low and certain movements were beginning to feel a struggle to perform, some of them easy functional movements.
I did an Olympic Lifting comp and performed well, continued my weekly training sessions and prepared for a Strongman competition. Things were ok but something was not right. I was just about to start the power strength program and found it difficult. Easy lifts now felt like lead weights. So with some reluctance I decided it time to talk to Dan Williams and see which course of action to take.
It was like a punch in the gut when he said “you need to have time off!” FOMO or fear of missing out, I was devastated. I went through a gambit of emotions. I’m going backwards, I am going to lose my fitness and the one thing that I had worked hard at was keeping the weight down, it would all be at jeopardy. Deep down I knew I was worn out and needed the rest. Others saw the signs but I didn’t.
Watching people working out for the first couple of days was ok. I convinced myself if was like a rest day. Having that endorphin fix, which exercise gives, was starting to kick in and I was not allowed to use it. I started getting grumpy and irritable and frustrated. People would post up their wods and results and yep I had FIMO….F. I missed out.
So whilst everyone else was getting their fix I resorted to comfort food, another novelty for my system. I have tried so hard to stick to the food and fuel that my body was more accustomed and within about an hour of eating junk, I ended up curled up in a ball in agony. So many times I have heard Dan say, it’s like putting crap in a prestige car and expecting it to perform. So not only was I not allowed to train my body didn’t like what I put into it. NOT IMPRESSED.
Dan made a point on the importance of the Pre- and Post- Exercise Routines and I made these my best friend for the week along with the agonising “torture” mobility that I needed in order to get things working again. I made an over concerted effort to eat properly and hydrate. Amazingly I still managed to drop a kilo without trying.
So after a week I was keen to get back to training and when Monday came along I was jumping out of my skin with excitement. I restarted the power strength program and my first training session with Dan. I was glad to be back. I completed the work out with satisfaction and was glad to have that exhilarating feeling of 3,2,1 go…… I was left gassed! I recovered well but still at the back of my mind I had not quite performed how I wanted. But I was grateful.
So I am back, I am still always striving to improve I guess I always will, but that is Crossfit, always challenging you always testing you mentally and physically.
What did I learn? Listen to your body. Spend the time doing the Pre- and Post- Exercise Routines, even in your spare time. Look after your body with healthy eating habits and hydrate. And understand its ok to take time to rest and recover. I don’t need the “I told you so’s!” AND don’t sweat the FOMO ‘cos there is always another WOD to smash and another day to perform at your best.
Dawn Gregson
Lvl 1 CrossFit Coach
Range Of Motion
www.rangeofmotion.net.au
