What I'd wish I'd known about fitness before motherhood

Over the past week my brother n law visited with his wife and son. Little Casan was born three days before Grayson and it has been awesome to walk through the past year with them.

One thing my pregnancy/mama twin and I spoke about was how much pressure was taken off our shoulders at the gym. We talked about how working out was finally fun, again.

I had to ask myself: Why?

When I was pregnant my focus was just on being healthy and with no specific gain (I was making gainz by growing a human).  I wanted to be fit but safety was paramount. I did not want to injure myself or my child. As a result I worked out with consistency but at a slow and steady pace and no competitive edge.

During my postpartum recovery period my focus has been regaining my strength so I can be an active, healthy mama. But, just like with pregnancy I do not push too hard. A hungry baby cares not about a pulled muscle. I also don't like to gas myself so I lack the energy to keep up with G-monstah the rest of the day.

I wish I had been like this all along. I wish I focused on how fitness can help me enjoy life and make me healthier as opposed to making fitness my life. I now workout so I can keep up with my family. I wish I had this same mentality before Little Man was here. I wish I had the same carefree attitude when trying for a one rep max or when competing in a competition a couple years ago. I would have been healthier and happier.

Crossfit is functional fitness. At its core it's to help you with life and not be your life. Unless you're making it to the games (which it then becomes your job) chill out, relax, and have fun. No one will remember your one rep max but they will remember how well you played ball with them or how you helped them move into their new house. Friends and family won't remember your Fran time but they will remember how fun it was to do the color run with you or how high you could thrown them when they were kids.

Oh, and if they do keep track of scores....they aren't true friends. Get rid of them. Challenge yourself because goals are healthy, but make it a challenge that has potential gains outside the box as well as in the mats.