This month I made it a goal to set goals… wait, what? Is that even allowed? Well, it’s my site so yes, it’s allowed.
I already have a goal, which I laid out at the start of this whole shindig: to be healthy. That’s a great goal, but it’s a big, somewhat nebulous goal. Ideally it will be a life-long goal. But life is a really long time and I thrive on more immediate gratification. I don’t do well with things that last a long time, unless of course it’s a massage. Or a Glee marathon. Don’t hate.
I recognized the need for some intermediate goals to chase after, in the month to a year long range.
I’ve talked about how chasing body comp goals gave me something to do, but left me feeling a wee bit neurotic and unsatisfied. Everything I ate and did fed into the goal of being leaner. I need something else to channel those activities towards now that my body comp isn’t the goal. So I’ve set some physical acts I’d like to achieve. For some of you, these might seem laughably easy, and I’d be happy to direct you to my derriere. They’re going to be a challenge for me, and that’s all that counts.
Susie’s Performance Goals
1. Get a strict pull up – I don’t know why, but I’ve always felt this insatiable need to be cool. I think it probably stemmed from the fact that I was so un-cool when I was younger (can you say unibrow?) My first car was a ’91 Ford Taurus… maybe I’m still recovering my street cred from that. Regardless, I gravitate towards things that make me look cool. And I think very few things are cooler than a chick being able to do a pull up without the aid of kipping, resistance on a machine, or an unwelcome boost from a meathead trainer’s palm. Plus, doing a pull up is a good signal of upper body strength, which I could certainly use some more of. Timeline: May 2013.
2. Complete a Tough Mudder (even the scary electric shock part) - Mud races are just cool. You get to run through all this stuff, get electrocuted, get dirty, and drink beer after. I think doing a Tough Mudder will exponentially increase my street cred. I did a triathlon one time, and I really loved having a date on the calendar to work towards. TM is the more badass answer to the triathlon. I even think a few people from my gym are going to form a team with some of the strapping gentlemen who are officers of the law with my boyfriend, and I’ve almost twisted his arm into doing it too. So, even if I suck at it, I can always have him carry me. Timeline: June 2013.
3. Back squat: I want to back squat 200 lbs. Right now I’m around 150, bodyweight-ish. Adding 50 pounds to a lift is no joke, but it’s definitely something doable. Timeline: I don’t freaking know… 5 months? 10 lbs. a month?
4. Deadlift: For this lift, I’m gunning for 250 lbs. My max right now is around 200#. Again, adding 50 pounds to this lift won’t be super easy, but I think that’s a good number to aim for. Timeline: See #3 timeline.
5. Do “Fran” Rx’d. Whoa that’s a lot of Crossfit lingo in that statement. I don’t want to have relations with another woman in a pharmacy, if that’s what you’re thinking. Fran is a classic Crossfit benchmark workout. 21-15-9 reps of thrusters and pull ups. Thrusters are also not nearly as fun as they sound. You can see Talayna Fortunato do the workout here. Let’s just be clear – I just want to be able to do the workout. I have absolutely no goal or expectation around how fast I can do it. I am pretty sure I can thrust 65# – that’s what she said – but the pull ups are really holding me back. See performance goal #1. Obviously people do kipping pull ups for this workout, but getting a strict pull up would probably mean I can do a kipping pull up. Timeline: July 2013.
So those are my performance goals. In true junior high fashion, I’ve posted them on my mirror so I can see them every morning when I wake up, and keep them top of mind as I eat, work out, sleep, etc.
Does anyone else have goals for their fitness? I mean, obviously a lot of people do, but I want to hear about them! Comment something fool!
I also dream of doing pull ups unassisted, but for now… I still feel pretty cool doing them with the help of a machine
I think these types of goals are great!
I dream of seeing my abs this summer… think I’ll have to get stricter with my diet though!
Just went to an my cross fit intro series class and they had me do pull ups… it was pretty pathetic… had to use two bands.
While I can do 1 pull up unassisted… to do the pullup in a WOD fashion with kipping motion is impossible for me without those helper bands!
Don’t feel pathetic, pathetic would be not going in the first place! Have fun with your intro classes. And keep doing strict pull ups – I think it’s a travesty that some people can only do kipping pull ups and don’t see the need for strict pull ups too. Both are valuable.
Everyday ask myself, “How can I be more badass?”
I had my first grass fed burger yesterday. Bangin’.
Workout goals are not defined. I go 2-3 times a week, depending on how much recovery time I need. My body tells me by getting antsy when it’s time to go. I just do whatever is required until I feel satisfied and I remember to not cheat the workout.
Grass fed = Bad ass. Good for you. Someday you’ll start looking at buying a fraction of that grass fed cow, and you’ll know you’ve arrived in BAMF Town.
I’m trying to find one!!! I SO want to live in that town.