Attacking Your Weaknesses
Hi Everyone, my name is Aimee and I'm the Partnerships + Outreach Manager here at VoyEdge RX. Marc and I (yes, we're married) have been having a BLAST creating 'How To' videos for the VRX YouTube Channel and also writing blog posts. As coaches at CrossFit Blue Diamond, Marc and I are always teaching people how to 'attack their limits.'
As you know in CrossFit, everyone has a story. Whether you're a newcomer, an oldtimer or a regular, we all have limits and weaknesses and I wanted to share a story about my background and conquering those 'self-imposed' limits. It's about turning off your brain and saying, 'Yes, I can.'
Like many females, I seriously struggled for a long time with push-ups. Why are they so darn difficult?! Are we just not built for them or what?!
A few years ago I was venting about my frustration with push-ups to a friend, and he mentioned that he found a program online that helped develop the movement. The idea intrigued me, so I decided to give it a go! I had nothing to lose, right?
The program began with working 5 sets of 10 perfect push-ups (chest to the floor, lock out at the top, tight core, etc.) into my morning routine every day for 2 weeks. I would wake up, do 10 push-ups, get dressed, do 10 push-ups, go to the bathroom, do 10 push-ups, etc. until the sets were completed. These first 2 weeks weren’t too bad, but I had my doubts for success in the weeks coming up. The next 2 weeks switched to 4 sets of 15 worked into the morning routine. Not going to lie, the first week was ROUGH, but I got through it, and by the end of the second week I was feeling pretty good! I thought to myself, “WOW! I’m doing this!! I'm getting better at push-ups!”
The sets continued to build on each other every 2 weeks to 5 sets of 15, 4 sets of 20, 5 sets of 20, 4 sets of 25, etc. There were times when I had to add a third week before I was ready to move forward, but before I knew it, I was banging out sets of 30 perfectly streamlined push-ups, and it felt GREAT!!! In just a few short months, one of my biggest weaknesses and most dreaded movements became something I didn’t mind doing!
Part of the lesson here is: patience, plus persistence equals success.
It's never been about who has the best genes. Or the hardest work ethic in the gym. It's about what you do outside of it, that's a measurement of success. Whether you can't do a push-up, or can do 100, take the small steps to improving those numbers. Gains don't happen overnight, they happen through many small steps of doing the right thing over time.
And from this self-taught lesson, I now understand on a personal level the phrase “attack your weaknesses.” Sure, everybody says it, but how often do you actually do it??
This idea can be applied to more than just a physical movement, which is something I've learned a lot about in the past few years. Face your fears head on, test your limits, and try something you never thought you could do. But do it in small steps, don't just leap outside your comfort zone, take those small steps to getting outside of it and take in that beautiful view.
That's what VoyEdge RX is about. We are traveling around the world helping strangers find these feelings of accomplishment and joy. Whether it's trying your first slice of real Italian pizza or hiking a tough mountain, we want to be there to give you the extra push you need to dive outside your comfort zone.
My next leap is going to Northern Italy and Switzerland in August...I hope to see you out there!!