When I travel, I actually get outside of my Denver/CrossFit/Paleo bubble. You see, working at home or at my CrossFit gym puts me at somewhat of a disadvantage when it comes to understanding the general population. But since I’ve been traveling a lot lately, I’ve been able to open my eyes to what most people are doing, eating, and how they are living. And as we know, most people aren’t living a healthy lifestyle. And most people are finding any excuse why not to live that healthy lifestyle. Because excuses are truly easier. Busy job, kids, picky wife or husband, stress, loss of a loved one. Whatever it is, it’s so easy to use that stressor as an excuse to not to workout or not to eat healthy.
But excuses are excuses. And the more you create one excuse, the more likely you’ll create even more in your life. So let’s start with some basics and this is more so food related since more people have an issue with changing their diet:
- Busy job and kids: You need to plan ahead. Life isn’t going to calm down. Get extra meals made early in the week so it’s easy to reheat and have something on hand when school gets crazy and sports start up, all while juggling your own job. If you have things on hand, you’ll stick with healthy eating even when it feels like you have no time left in the day for it.
- Picky spouse: Then tell them they can figure out their own meal and you plan yours. My husband eats what I make him because that’s his only option. He doesn’t want to make his own food so he eats what he is given. Sometimes he makes requests and I’ll definitely make that happen, but if I’m eating something, he will be eating it too. I think it’s important to put your own health first and if your spouse won’t get on board with that, then that is a conversation that needs to be had while you eat a healthy dinner that makes YOU feel your best. Don’t let anyone drag you down with them.
- Traveling: People love the travel excuse. But I went on a 20 day book tour through 13 states last year and I didn’t have trouble, almost ever. Sure, I ate a couple sh*tty salads at some airports, but I was still eating a salad instead of sipping down a crown & coke with a cheeseburger and fries. I packed snacks, I made the best decisions I could, and I did my research for healthy options in the cities I was in. There are always better options even if it’s just a burger without the bun and a little side salad.
- Stressors in life (maybe loss of a loved one or even a job): Eating unhealthy will not make that stressor better. Honestly, it will probably make things worst by messing with your hormones. So many times I’ve had something happen and automatically I think about food and what I should eat, but over time, I’ve just found that eating something sh*tty just makes me even more unhappy. Food make bring us pleasure but it should not be a crutch.
Excuses are bullsh*t and we all know it. It’s not like excuses won’t ever happen, they will definitely occur. But the less excuses we come up with and the more effort we put into our own lives, the more likely we will live a thriving and fulfilled lifestyle. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. And excuses hinder that progress. So next time you’re about to say that you can’t do something, stop, think long and hard if that excuse is really true, then figure out what you can do to change that excuse into hard work. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth. Because you are.
Sunday – Barre Forte Lohi Class
Monday – CrossFit Broadway Class
25 minute partner AMRAP:
600m run
AMRAP of: 30 deadlift – 20 front squats – 10 hang power cleans (185/125)
We got 6 rounds + 38 reps
Tuesday – CrossFit Broadway Class
EMOM x 7: High Hang Squat Clean + Hang Squat Clean + Push Jerk. All @ 70% – 85#
Immediately into: EMOM x 7: Hang Squat Clean + Push Jerk @ 80% – 100#
Immediately into: EMOM x 3: Hang Squat Cleans + Push Jerk @ Add As You Wish – 120#
Then 3 x 3 min AMRAP’s Of:
200m Run
15 front squats (135/95)
Max Burpees
– 1 min rest between rounds –
*score is total burpees for all 3 rounds combined – I got 60 reps
Wednesday – CrossFit Broadway Class
20 mins Moving With Purpose
20 x Unbroken Front Rack Walking Lunges (2 x 70 / 55) – used 2 x 35#
10 x Bent Over Rows. Warm up to a challenging set of 10 and stay there. – used 75#
6 – 10 x Strict HSPU OR 45 sec HS Hold. If 10 is easy go to a negative. – I did a hold
I got 5 + 12
Then 7 min AMRAP Of:
25 Wall Ball
75 Double Unders
I got 4+3 rx
Thursday – Rest day
Friday – CrossFit Broadway Class
Tempo Sumo Deadlifts: Complete 70 Reps at 50% of your 1 Rep Max. Try to complete in 3-4 big sets. Descent MUST be slower EVERY REP!!! – I used 110# and did 25 reps, 25 reps, then 20 reps
After each set, spend 30 – 40 secs working on Hand stand skills. Walking / holding etc.
Then 3 Rounds For Time:
400m SPRINT!
15 Push Jerk (155/105)
– Rest 1 min after each round –
I finished in 9:58 using 85#
Saturday – Rest day – Travel day to Nebraska
____________________
Free Travel Workout:
2 x 7 minute AMRAPs (with 2 minutes rest between):
3-6-9-12…dumbbell squat clean and jerk
30 double unders
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I’m sure this comment will get deleted, but yeah, I’m in the category of using kids as an “excuse” and I refuse to feel bad about it any longer. Before I had my first, I Crossfitted 5-6 times a week and ran around 15 miles a week. I work full time outside of the home. I thought that after I had the baby, I could continue this schedule somewhat. Stuff happens sometimes and IT’s OKAY. Do I like that I am not as fit as I was? No, but I also have different priorities now. If baby is up most of the night, I am going to allow myself the extra hour (if I can get it) before work, not drag myself to the gym at 430 on no sleep then go to work for 8 hours and have to come home and function and be there for my child. Yes, I could go to the gym in the evening, but I am already away from my baby for the day, I’m not shortening that even more. We ended up building an almost complete Rouge gym in our garage- I still am only able to get out there maybe 3 mornings a week if I am lucky. I still eat well and do what I can, but I am so tired of this insistence that nothing should change once you have a family. For some it doesn’t, and kudos to them. For some of us, our priorities move away from ourselves for a bit, and that’s okay, too. Just my two cents.
i’m not sure why you would think this comment would get erased. the only comments i erase are the only that tell me i’m an ugly bitch, but i think that’s fair. so here’s the thing, you’re not making excuses, you’re still working out and eating healthy. you built a gym in your garage for gosh sakes. sure, maybe you’re not working out as much as you use to, but you’re still taking care of your body as well as your family. priorities shift and change, but keeping yourself healthy should always stay important, and you’re doing that!
I see nothing wrong with what you’re doing. You don’t need to work out daily to be in shape or be healthy, for that matter. Most of our health is in what we put into our bodies and how we handle stress and it sounds like you’ve got some good balance. I’m in the same boat. I actually worked out less while pregnant bc it hurt, but after having a kid, I workout anywhere between 3-5 times a week. Taking a break for the workout is honestly my sanity check. I need it to function. Having been both a full time stay at home mother and working full time, I’ve made sure to schedule in my workouts like I do brushing my teeth. It’s how I still have a social life. Seems like you’re doing great. Don’t feel that this message was shaming. I like Juli’s message. People have a ton of excuses. You don’t sound like one of them.
love your take on these excuses. I think travel is one that is the most common, and even something that I find myself doing more often than not. What is it about a roadtrip that makes me think its okay to scarf down a bag of chips, when I wouldn’t any other time?? It’s all about the mindset. You inspire and motivate me when i read about how you manage to eat healthy and normal, even on your long trips away. Thanks Juli!!
YES! I think the same way! I recently made a road trip to Utah (about 5-6 hours) and I packed snacks that would last me a week! I don’t know where that mindset came from where health aspects seem to cease on a road trip!
Thank you for this! I just had a convo with a coworker about how I’ve been paleo for a while and working out and she says she can’t eat healthy because her husband and kids wont eat it. I said straight up, I’m not a short order cook, what I make is what’s for dinner, if you don’t like it you can wait for breakfast.
Yesterday I did a 20 minute workout, and usually 20 minutes is all I can squeeze in, but my 4yr old sat and played inches away from me as i did the devil Burpees. My boys are older 9 and 4, so maybe it’s easier for me now to squeeze it in than if they were newborns.
Every Sunday I meal prep, I currently have turkey soup in the freezer, your jalapeño popper soup and cabbage roll soup in the fridge already cooked ready to pop into the crockpot!
It’s all about priorities! <3
love the “not a short order cook” that’s amazing! keep being awesome, getting your quick workouts, and inspiring other moms that they can do it too!
The love workout with wallballs and double unders, I might give that a try one day. Love your talk on making excuses. If you want something bad enough you will work for it and make it happen!
This post was amazing and completely clicked. Especially the fact the eating your feelings/stress away actually just makes things worse. Gotta love those paradigm shifts.
Juli,
Your workout posts have really resonated with me lately and I wanted to take a moment to thank you. I know you hear a lot of negative in your line of work, so I wanted to contribute to the positive. To keep it short, over the last two years I’ve made a lot of excuses as to why I can’t eat right or workout; going through IVF, losing my job in December, and having my twins in April. Because of bloggers like you, I’m now on day 7 of a Whole30. I’m committed to getting back to a healthier me. Your posts continue to encourage me to stay on track, but also let me know that it’s ok to mess up. What’s important is not letting one slip up completely derail my progress. I will continue to look to you for inspiration on the hard days on the long road to a complete transformation of my body and my mind!
awwww love hearing this, lauren! we all have bumps in the road. i’m watching a friend go through IVF and the hormones and weight gain as such a frustrating piece of the puzzle, but if you just continue to take small steps to feeling better, you will be able to take giant leaps in the future. good work with your whole30, i hope you are feeling better than ever and the body is healing itself after IVF and twins (plus, congratulations!)
Loved – LOVED – this blog until this post. I have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and sometimes my fingers swell so much that I cannot open doors or put my shoes on. I cook every meal at home and try to exercise (even if it’s just a short walk) five days per week. I try my absolute hardest to stay healthy, even though I sometimes can barely get out of bed. Some days, though, I fail. Sometimes, all I can do is try to stay breathing because my body hurts. It’s not an excuse – pain is my life. I can only dream of running more than three miles in the near future. You have some valid points in this post, but you have no empathy. Shame on you.
no need to shame me, i’m very sorry for the disease you have to endure. my mom has an autoimmune disease that leaves her feeling the exact same way, making it hard to even get out of bed in the morning. i think you read this the wrong way, i was more so talking about food in this post, not working out. so often we can’t change what situations we are put in, but we can find other ways to keep us healthy. you took my support for others taking responsibility of their own health as an attack on you and that’s simply not what i was doing. sure, you may not be able to workout right now, but you can take other steps such as making good diet decisions or get excited about any small progress you have in your own health. again, I’m sorry for what you are having to endure and it must be so challenging, but this post was not an attack at you or others who are dealing things. simply a post to help inspire and push others outside their comfortable boundaries.
Love your travel workout ideas! My husband & I are actually traveling to Denver/Breckenridge/Vail at the end of the month. Do you have any healthy restaurant recommendations while we’re visiting?
here’s a list of my favorites! https://paleomg.com/eating-gluten-free-staying-active-in-myrtle-beach/
I so agree with this post! Excuses are total BS…If you want to be healthy, you need to get your priorities straight. I know plenty of people who are so full of excuses but don’t do anything to change their lifestyle. And because I am a pharmacists I always get asked about some stupid supplement/magic pill to help loose weigh. People just don’t get it that there is no magic pill.
I agree with you completely! I just moved from FL to NY a month ago and have been living out of boxes and couch surfing in between with a toddler and husband who started work the moment we arrived. I feel like I could have made any number of excuses, but I took advantage of my surroundings. I worked out outside, I dropped in at CF gyms when I could, I finally joined a gym that provides childcare!!! OMG, what a game changer! So until things settle, I’m not getting back to CF 100% of the time but you bet I’ll be getting at it in the weight room as often as I can, which is surprisingly often. I could easily find other ways to occupy or waste my time, but you prioritize what matters even with chaotic schedules and random demands. Health and sanity are top priority for me.
i think so many people feel as though they don’t have time, but they just don’t often open their eyes to the time they do have. like being outside or the 30+ minutes spent watching tv. you can really do a quick workout anywhere! good for you for still kicking ass during all the craziness!