Focus, fight, and forge ahead with Cindy: Numbers

Sometimes our failure is huge and loud. Sometimes failure, or success, is as small as a Calorie. Below, Cindy describes just how important each and every Calorie can be, especially when you begin to be honest enough to write them all down.

The following is authored by: Cindy Young

If you know me, then you probably know that I do not believe in scales. Meaning, I have been getting on a scale for the past three months, but I could not tell you what I weigh. For a very big portion of my adult life, my scale was my measurement of happiness and when I started CrossFit I vowed to never let that happen again. I have stood by that; each time that I get weighed and my numbers are taken…I simply do not look. I ask if the numbers have gone up or down and then I walk away. It took me a long time but I have finally come to a place of not letting numbers define who I am.

But…a funny thing happened on my way to success, I found out I was doing things wrong.  

About four weeks ago, after getting my numbers taken I was told to add in 15% more protein into my diet. Easy I thought. I go about my next week of preparing food for me and my family and I find myself having trouble really knowing how much more protein to eat. So, I email Josh and say “I think I should start tracking my food so I can get a better idea of what I need to do to add in to get more protein”. Of course he says something like, “should have been doing that all along.” 

After inputting my food intake for a few days I found myself thinking, “this cannot be right”. I cook Paleo, I measure my meals with cups and portion size, and I do not snack. The plan wasn’t the reality that I found in my numbers.  I was taking in, on a good day, 1400 calories and maybe getting 100 grams of fat & protein. Josh reviewed my food journal and had one thing to say to me….

You’re Fired. 

I had always been under the assumption that I was doing everything right, so why log it? I found out “Why log” very quickly.

I was shocked to see what I was actually doing. In my mind I was doing everything right.  I had started to add in more conditioning and stability workouts, and I was getting my numbers taken every two weeks, and of course, I was eating all the right things. The missing pieces were accountability, confirmation, or new direction. Even in the midst of feeling empowered you need to be strong enough to ask for help.

So, I have changed things up. Every day I enter in all my numbers to Fat Secret and make sure that I am fueling my success. I can see and feel my body changing already and this week I will get a new set of numbers taken. I still will not look but I will get them taken.

Never be afraid to get a second set of eyes on your journey. One that values you enough to tell you that you are doing it wrong, and then give you the tools to make you better. I am writing this because I think that in true success you have to fail, learn, and then teach.  I still will never be defined by my numbers. But numbers add accountability even if you won’t look at some of them. And accountability is the source of our success.

Strength:

Back Squat
1×10@60%
1×10@65%
1×10@70%

Jerk
1×3@70%
1×3@75%
1×2@80%

“Double Trouble”
*Pick two movements you want to improve. Alternate between movements every minute on the minute focusing on improvement not so much score.
AMRAP 14 minutes

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