Transformation Tuesday

I bet you’re wondering how I got here. 

Okay what had happened was...I didn’t take my ass whopping in Arkansas very well. 

I had been working hard, and I saw glimpses of good things in training. I was finally not actively dying. Rather, I was healing and feeling pretty good in my body.

And then I traveled to Arkansas. Ran a time in the 60 I hadn’t run since high school. I jumped the same raggedy ass distances I had been jumping.

I was back on the jump leg I was used to. And so to see another 5 meter jumped. Fucked with me. Bad. I tried to keep a brave face on. Tried to practice what I preach. But truth is I came home. Dialed up my mental conditioning coach and asked one question: how am I supposed to know when I’m fucking done? Do I have to embarrass myself all the way to the end?

His first response was “relax” Arkansas didn’t have to mean a thing if I didn’t want it to. But he said it sounded like I wanted it to mean something and he asked me what I wanted my experience in Arkansas.

“I needed Arkansas to tell me if I’m on the right track.”

“And did it? Did it tell you that?” He asked.

“It told me I was too heavy.” I said. “But how will I know it’s time to walk away?” I asked again.

“How about you take care of the most pressing thing first. Lose the weight. Do that and then we can talk. Until then, you’re not even in position to know what you can or can’t do. Because you’re too heavy to do it well anyway. You can’t sit here and make a career decision from this place.”

I was holding my breath. “Annnnd” he continued- “if you find you’re unwilling to do what’s required to lose the weight...then that’s how you know you’re done. You’re done when you are no longer willing to even try to do what’s required”

Damn.

He was right. I spent so much time wondering if I’m supposed to be retiring instead of focusing on prepping the mind and body. 

I didn’t believe I was unwilling. But I was no longer in my wheelhouse. I know how to cut weight but I wanted to do so more slowly, more sustainably, and without sacrificing too much energy or performance.

I only knew of three types of athletes that cut weight. Fighters, wrestlers, and bodybuilders. I had recently seen a Real Sports episode about UFC fighters and what they go through to cut weight and I decided I was not about that life.

I was going to consult with a bodybuilder. Cue Clare. Clare follows me on instagram (@clareprofigure) and is a world figure champion. I sent her a dm and said “I need your help”

And the rest is history. I could have been embarrassed about asking a complete stranger for help with my body for such a huge task but I said fuck it. The only thing I have to lose is weight.

I told her and her husband Ian what my goals were, what my days were like. Sent over my food sensitivities and allergies, and bloodwork.

They returned to me three meal plans. One for track only days, days where I lift and train at the track, and active recovery days. Now, they’ve just given me my air travel meal plan too. 

Each meal plan features the time of day each meal will be, the foods I’ll be eating for each meal, the weight of each food, its calories, and the macros. 

I think I’m ten weeks in, and one question I see a lot in the comments when i post progress pics is “I hope it translates to the track”

You know what, Me too.

But if it doesn’t guess what, I was still willing. The body is gonna do what it does. But I’m already extremely proud of my willingness to take it there. 

And it’s already translating positively to my performances in training.

But the most positive thing of all is that I learned I’m still willing. After all this time and all of this adversity. I’m still willing. And I’m so fucking pumped about that. 

If you need there help reach out to them via email at lougarsgym@gmail.com

Tell em I sent you. Go ahead, be willing.

Two Months Ago

Today.