When was the last time you stepped outside your comfort zone and tried something new?
For me, it was Monday.
Over the last few years as CrossFit has been picking up popularity, I’ve been intrigued to give it a try but quite honestly, I’ve been intimidated. I may workout 5-6 days/week but I workout on my own vs in a group so heavy weights & WODs aside, I wasn’t sure this would be my thing. I had to get over the fear of group fitness, the fear of CrossFit, and the fear of trying something new.
But I did it. And I loved it.
Lately I’ve been finding myself feeling a little bored in multiple areas of my life – my workouts included. I love running and strength training but it was getting too repetitive. Strength + stretching on Mondays, run on Tuesdays, cross-training/strength on Wednesdays, strength + run on Thursdays, cross-training/strength on Fridays, rest on Saturdays and long run on Sundays.
While my runs have (for the most part) been enjoyable the last several weeks, when I’d hit the gym to do any kind of cross-training or strength-training sessions, I found myself going through the motions. I’d maybe increase the weight a bit or switch up the session, but I wasn’t getting the kick-in-the-butt workout that I needed.
Having some of my close friends really into CrossFit helped peak my interest but also offered me the support that I needed to know I could do the workouts, scaling them as I needed. Also tagging along to a CrossFit competition a couple weeks ago definitely gave me some inspiration to give it a try.
Sunday night, I emailed the owner of CrossFit AMRAP (the box my friends go to) and asked if it was too late to join their May Foundations class and asking if we would be able to make up the final two classes I would miss by traveling for work next week. He responded “I’ll see you tomorrow!”
Monday night I arrived a little early and sat in my car reminding myself to breathe, relax and just have fun. I walked in, filled out the necessary paperwork, and joined 5 others as we started to learn a few lifts and eventually made our way to completing our first WOD.
I was nervous about the comparison trap – not completing as many rounds as the next person, lifting less weight, etc. But to my surprise as I made my way through our 8 minute AMRAP WOD, I didn’t have those thoughts. I focused on my goal at hand – 7 burpees, 10 push-press, don’t lose count and just keep going! I saw the girl next to me out of the corner of my eye and I think we were subconsciously using each other to pace ourselves (we finished the same number of rounds and were only 1 rep apart!). She was lifting more weight but I didn’t care. I left sweaty, tired and feeling on top of the world.
It’s amazing what can happen when you push your fears aside and take the plunge.
When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and tried something new?
Thinkin’ Out Loud today!
Glad you enjoyed it and tried it out! I hear ya on getting bored with workouts..I’m off to hot yoga in a bit and this will be my first hot yoga at my gym…we’ll see how it goes!
LOVE hot yoga! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Now ask me why I haven’t gone lately…
AAAAH love love love. Love.
P.S. Your blog is once again blocked at my work. I’ve been waiting all day to read this and the post you put up today! (Going there next.)
UGH! I wish I knew why that happens…so dumb.
Yes, yes, YES! There’s definitely a comfort in routine and familiarity, but boredom as well. I used to be terrified of trying new things because I had a hard time making changes to my routines, but after taking those initial baby steps and learning to trust myself that I WAS able to handle things, I’ve actually come to love novelty! It keeps life interesting 😀
Exactly! 🙂
Awesome! CrossFit scares me, but I could see myself trying it sometime because honestly, I like trying things that scare me! I’m glad that I know that about myself. Good for you!
You should try it! One of the things I’ve loved is how they say “it’s all scale-able to YOUR fitness level” – I was always afraid of comparing myself to the others there who are lifting super heavy or moving faster, BUT they’ve been doing it longer, so it’s expected they WILL be faster and they WILL lift more. But recognizing you’re doing something good for yourself and staying true to what’s best for your body is what’s most important.
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! right on my love so freaking proud
Thank you, love!!
Awww that so great! that is one of my favorite quotes; life begins when you step outside your comfort zone. It is so true, in so many ways! I did that when I went to yoga classes. As much as it annoyed me that I wasnt very good, I stuck with it, and I am improving! I push myself outside my comfort zone every week in my running, but I know that well…and it is kind of my job so I have to! Congrats, and keep up the good work!
Good for you!! 🙂 I love yoga, yet I find myself having to push myself to go every single time so it doesn’t happen as often as it should and then I wonder why I’m not improving…funny how that works.