My name is Elizabeth Becker and I train at the NMU Olympic Training Site in Marquette, MI. My life goals are to medal in the Olympics and to own an organic farm when I get old. This is a blog about my journey and how I overcome some of the obstacles that I encounter. Hope you enjoy, and feel free to comment!
Eight months ago I competed at the USA Weightlifting Junior National Championships. This was about a week after hearing a pop when I was coming out a max effort squat clean. A month later I was in a cast with the diagnosis of a slight stress fracture, a partially torn scapholunate ligament, as well as a ganglion cyst in my wrist. Six weeks later, in a splint, I was given a list of physical therapy exercises and a time frame of 6 weeks until I would be cleared to start lifting again. Fear kept me from putting too much weight on the barbell, but even though I was careful and did my exercises things weren't healing right. A couple MRI scans and X-ray's later they decided that an orthoscopy would determine the next step. This is basically where they take a tiny little camera and insert it near the sight of the injury, then they take a bunch of pictures to determine what exactly the surgeon needs to fix.
In my orthoscopy they found a couple of inflamed areas near the ligaments. After my surgeon took care of all that needed to be done, he put me in a splint. He warned me that if this doesn't work, healing my wrist may require a much larger operation (ligament reconstruction), but after that I would most likely never regain the wrist flexibility needed to perform the Olympic lifts at a high level; so basically this is my last chance to heal it right. I can look forward to a cast in the future and hopefully that will be it. Then maybe I can start picking up heavy stuff again.
In the meantime I am on a solid swim and squat program. The goal is to maintain strength and body weight without the use of my wrists at all. I am excited for what the future holds and I know that whatever happens, everything works out in the end. -Liz :)
Have you ever heard someone say, “I’ve finally found it! I finally reached my goal and now I am forever happy!”? No, you haven’t. No one ever says that because that’s not how it works. Everyone is out there searching for happiness. That’s what they want to be when they grow up, that’s what they want when they purchase “stuff,” whether it be clothes, accessories, furniture, or electronics, even relationships; we want them because they make us happy. All we want is happiness. Happiness is the sugar of life, our brains crave it.
The only problem is… you will never find it! Happiness is not meant to be found! Happiness is meant to be lived. Right now. Right here. Buying more stuff will not make you happy and neither will throwing away all your stuff! Even reaching your goals will not make you happy! Something can make you happy for a few seconds, maybe for an hour, a day, or even a year, but happiness is a choice.
You. You have a choice. Are you going to choose to be happy? Or are you going to choose to follow the crowd and blame others for your struggles and your fears? Every day we have the choice to be happy and take control of our attitude. We can get up, take a deep breathe, and smile. We are still breathing, why wouldn’t we be happy? Your car broke down, your dog is sick, you got an F on your essay, your parents are mad at you, you have no friends, etc. None of that can hold you back from being happy. You have the opportunity to find the good in all of those situations.
Stop chasing happiness. Just BE it.
*Note I am not saying that I am perfect. I fall victim to chasing happiness rather often. When overloaded with schoolwork I tell myself I would just be happy if I could get this paper done, or this assignment finished, but deep down I know that’s not going to fix everything. This is just a reminder to myself and anyone reading that happiness is a choice, not an object to be found.
Exactly three years ago in seventh grade, I was skinny. I would eat ¼ cup of oatmeal for breakfast, an apple for lunch, and a ham & cheese sandwich with a banana for dinner. I weighed about 105 pounds and I felt great, or so I thought. I could wear whatever I wanted and felt confident that people would like me because I was skinny. I had a phobia of speaking to overweight people because I thought it would catch on like a disease. I weighed myself at least three times a day and only allowed myself to drink certain amounts of water, so I wouldn’t gain water weight. This went on for quite a while, until I found Crossfit and learned that confidence is beautiful. Not size. Now I eat anywhere from 2500 to 4000 (nutrient dense) calories a day, I drink at least a gallon of water, and I weigh about 40 pounds heavier. The difference is that I am healthy. I’m not skinny, but I’m also not overweight and I wish that more people would realize that it’s okay not to look perfect in every outfit; people will still accept you if you aren’t a size 00.
Being part of the Crossfit community and training with people who are lean and strong has completely changed my definition of beauty. If you are confident, you are beautiful. Now go eat some steak!
We all get stuck in certain cycles at one point or another, it’s how our human brains work. Here are a few destructive lifestyle cycles to be aware of and how to fix them.
Let me give you an example of a day in the life of one of my closest friends, *Molly.
Molly wakes up early every morning and skips breakfast because she just isn’t hungry and her nervous stomach reminds her of the busy day ahead of her. She takes a 30 minute shower and loses track of time while she constantly worries about all the tasks she will have to complete when she gets to work. Because she loses track of time, she shows up 10 minutes late to work and is already behind. This stresses her out and slows her down. She didn’t have time to pack a lunch or snack, so she grabs a large coffee to get her through the morning. She is busy all day and doesn’t have time for a lunch break or even a short walk. She sits at a computer all day and by the time she gets home she is exhausted. Molly sits down in front of the TV and eats a rather large amount of processed carbs because she does not have time to cook dinner and she is very stressed out. She goes to bed late and starts the whole cycle over the next day.
I feel like this could be a pretty common daily routine for many people with a full time job and kids. As you can see this person is not eating right, exercising, or finding time to take care of themselves/relax.
Cycle #1 - Skipping Breakfast
After fasting all night you should be hungry when you wake up. If not, you have a hormonal imbalance. How should you fix this? Eat breakfast! Even if it is a small piece of fruit or a hard-boiled egg, something is better than nothing. Also try eating less right before bed. If you are used to eating a large dinner less than 2 hours before bed, you should try eating a smaller portion or eating earlier. If you are hungry when you wake up and you choose to skip breakfast because you think it will help you lose weight you are only making matters worse. Here’s why, “the brain interprets this as more starvation signals and further shuts down the metabolism. In fact the number one risk factor for obesity was skipping breakfast.” -Todd Burstain, MD & contributor to the website Hunger Hormones.
Cycle #2 - Fearing the Future
Have you ever made a mental list of everything you have to do for the day? It can be extremely helpful when planning which tasks to complete first, but if you take it too far you can find yourself wasting precious time worrying. Make a vague list and move on. I recommend writing your list down on a post it note or on your phone where you won’t lose it. Once your list is complete know that plans may change and you may need a backup plan. Trust yourself that you know what to do and you don’t need to go through the whole thing repeatedly in your head.
Cycle #3 - Fast Fix Caffeine
I don’t think it is healthy to have to rely on caffeine to keep your energy levels up. If a person is eating a variety of whole foods and getting enough sleep they will naturally be more alert throughout the day. Caffeine is a drug, and regular consumption causes mild physical dependence. That’s enough to keep me away from it. Another reason I am not pro-coffee is that most of the time people add sugary stuff to their cup-o-Joe. A little bit of black coffee along with a nice-sized breakfast would be stellar, because then you are getting a natural energy boost from food and you will be less likely to drink a large amount of coffee. I personally like to drink caffeine free herbal tea with my breakfast. It’s tasty and refreshing.
Cycle #4 - No Exercise
If you sit in front of a computer all day and do not participate in any physical activity outside of work, you are simply not getting enough exercise. Sitting all day can cause bad posture and muscle soreness. This can be taken care of by taking 5 minutes every hour to get up and stretch or just pace around. Also making more of an effort to take the stairs and finding any excuse to move is helpful. Even getting up 10 minutes earlier every morning to go for a quick walk or to practice your yoga will be extremely beneficial. This physical activity helps get your blood flowing and your brain working.
Cycle #5 - Fast Food
Processed carbohydrates are cheap and quick. As Americans we have easy access to tons of processed carbs; McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, etc. While these foods may seem fast and cheap, they really aren’t in comparison to whole foods. Our environment and our farmers pay the negative consequences of our processed food consumption. In the long run taking the time to buy whole, all-natural foods and preparing them yourself will save time and money. If you don’t have time to cook on most days, choose one day of the week and reserve a couple hours of it as time to batch cook. You can store hard-boiled eggs, yams, and other cheap foods as quick snacks. If you have a freezer, use it. Make a large stir fry, some vegetable soup, or a casserole (enough for the week) and throw it in your freezer. Now you have frozen meals ready to go whenever you need them. This works best if you have hot running water or a microwave at work (for thawing). If not you can make smaller amounts and keep them in the fridge, but be careful that your food isn’t rotten before you eat it. An easy way to tell is to take a sniff. If it stinks, throw it. Just don’t get sucked into the fast food thing because processed carbs are naturally addicting and they do nasty things to our bodies.
Cycle # 6 - TV as Stress Release
TV. Why do we watch it? To entertain, relax, take our mind off of things. Well that's exactly what it does. Studies show that when engrossed with a TV show our mind shuts down and our breathing gets shallower. Certain shows cause violence and commercials are suspected to make us more materialistic. Watching TV on a daily basis is just plain not good for our bodies. We are meant to move and act, not sit and watch. A good movie with some friends once in a while is alright. You can’t get back the precious time you lose sitting in front of the TV, so instead try reading a book or an article in the newspaper, go for a walk by yourself or with the dog or maybe even take the cat for a walk. Paint a picture, write a poem, sing your favorite song, treat yourself to an Epsom salt bath, go to the park, organize your closet, learn how to play guitar, cook, clean, whatever! Just don’t get into the habit of plopping down in front of the TV. It’s a nasty habit to break.
Cycle # 7 - Not Taking Time for Yourself
Life goes by fast when you never take a step back and reward yourself for your hard work. You don’t have to wait until you retire to enjoy yourself, start now by taking at least 10 minutes a day to meditate or breathe deeply or sit back and watch the sunset. It will release stress and help clear up many of the thoughts constantly crowding your busy mind.
These are just a few cycles that I see a lot of people get trapped in. Don’t be a victim! I hope some of these ideas were helpful and feel free to comment! What are some things you’ve seen or some tips for avoiding these cycles? Comment below!
Life gets better I suppose. I wish it would just get better on its own, I wish we all had all of the answers to everything and everyone was fearless, but we aren’t. We all have fears that hold us back and we all make so many mistakes. As a kid I always thought of adults as Gods. They had an answer for everything and for the sake of our sanity they stayed calm to let us know that we were okay as long as we were with them. I couldn’t wait to grow up and know all the answers some day. To my great disappointment I realized that no one has the answers to anything and that we all live by our own rules.
I could look at that as a disappointment or as another factor of life that keeps things spicy. The only problem with making our own rules and decisions is that most of the time it’s easier to be negative as well as to feel sorry for ourselves, rather than keep our head up with a grin on our face. What we really need is a little more empathy and compassion.
A ton of kids, teens, and even adults struggle with depression, eating disorders, cutting, suicidal thoughts, etc… There are some people who go through the feelings, but never get too caught up in them. E.g. it’s normal to feel depressed sometimes, but when it takes over your life you have let it go too far. This is where people need the most empathy. They don’t need criticism or lectures, maybe just someone to say, “Hey! I see you and your struggles. I want you to know that things will get better.” The only catch is that things will only get better if you decide to make them better.
Therefore empathy is the first step to healing your life. The next step is choose a positive attitude. Not like an ignorant, happy-go-lucky type of positive, but at least an optimistic positive. Just being able to say “Hey, today is going to be better because I am going to make it better by choosing a good attitude,” will assist you in tackling the third and final step; fixing the problem. Having the knowledge that others before you have survived this while also being optimistic will help you conquer the problem head on until it is eradicated from your worries.
It’s okay to feel depressed, hopeless, helpless, sad, or bipolar. Its okay to feel every emotion there is, but in the long run most of us are aiming for happiness so that is what we should practice most often; happiness. I think all we need is a little more empathy.
Weightlifting is one of those sports where you have to do it to fully understand it. There is so much emotion and hard work that goes into every single lift. It's terrifying, it's gravity-defying, it's insanity. We lift weights because we know that feeling that comes with a new PR, or just overcoming anything you thought you couldn't. Weightlifting is about overcoming the odds and growing stronger.
Check out this collection of videos that convey the passion and labor we embrace as weightlifters.
#10 The Dark Orchestra
Jon North is known for his ambitious attitude and
fierce rants. This man speaks through the barbell.
#9 Believe
A powerful mix of powerlifting and weightlifting clips
along with empowering audio that explains the
importance of believing in yourself.
#8 Strong Will
The story of Zach Krych's devastating injury and
his will to come back.
#7 Donny Shankle is Back
The Lion Killer Donny Shankle making his way
back after breaking his neck while weightlifting.
"If you're going to try, go all the way." - Bukowski
#6 American Weightlifting
A trailer to the best (and only) weightlifting movie
made in America. Check out the full movie at
http://www.americanweightliftingfilm.com
#5 The Artist and The Olympian
This video portrays the "art of weightlifting." With
anything there is good days and bad days.
#4 The Strongest Man in the World
This heartbreaking performance will give you
chills once you realize what he's been through.
#3 For Me.
The differences between a dedicated athlete and
a lazy athlete.
#2 Life of a Weightlifter
Once a weightlifter always a weightlifter.
#1 We Are Weightlifters
Life is about breaking your own limits and getting
We are going to be the best in the world some day. We will applaud ourselves in jubilation. No one else will mind, and that’s quite alright. They won’t understand all the hard work we put in and the desire that drove us day after day. They won’t have the capacity to taste the same flavor of success as we. We’re going to beam through our core with satisfaction and when we pass you on the street you will instantly feel like a crisp breath of oxygen. We will inspire you to pursue your wildest ambitions with an ineradicable grin on your countenance.
The attitude we put forth towards living is all we can deal with at any given moment. The unbreakable will break and the unbroken will never realize what they missed. We will take what we have and turn it into gold. We will spread positivity like jam over humankind and unleash our limits. We will defy all the laws of abstinence and ignorance towards the potential of the human brain. We will die in a fit of laughter in our archaic age. No trace of pain or struggle left behind. The impact we left on the people we loved is all that will be.
Needles. They said it wouldn’t hurt, they said it would be over in the blink of an eye. I trembled as I thought of everything that could go wrong. What if they put the needle in the wrong place and I bled to death? What if I lost the feeling in my arm and was never able to move it again? For the last two weeks leading up to my injection that was all I could think about. Everything that could go wrong was always in the back of my mind, preoccupying my every thought. When I finally went in to get the injection I was almost in tears. The doctor was like “Now dear, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” I thought, of course I don’t want to do this, are you crazy?! She even went so far as to assure me that no one has ever died from this procedure before. When they finally numbed me up and stuck the needle in I couldn’t even feel it, and it was over in less than 10 minutes. All that worrying for nothing.
Raise your hand if you have ever let the fear of the unknown hold you back from enjoying life to the fullest. I’m guessing that everyone raised their hand. Whether it was an important job interview or going out on a blind date or giving a speech in front of a large crowd. All of those “what if” questions start popping up and we start to imagine the worst. As humans, we have a bias towards noticing negative news over positive news (Altucher). Same goes for having negative thoughts over positive thoughts. It is just plain easier to be pessimistic than it is to be optimistic. When I ask my friends what they want to be when they grow up or what their dream is, the most common answer I hear is, “I want to be happy.” We fall into this common misconception that if we make this amount of money or we get this type of car or have this many friends we will be happy. The truth is that being happy is a present-day activity, it’s a choice. It’s not a destination, or something you work towards. The people that are happy choose to be happy. They choose to be optimistic instead of pessimistic. No one has everything perfect. No one is perfect. Even the people that are happy have their bad days when they can’t stop worrying about a certain upcoming event in their life. The difference is that they notice it, pull out of it, and keep trudging forward with a smile on their face.
Next time you catch yourself worrying or having irrational fears about an upcoming event try to imagine everything that could go right. Look at all the positive possibilities. Try seeing yourself getting that job interview, making a great connection on that date, and giving the best speech in history. If we can learn to be automatically optimistic in everything we do and stop worrying about the future we can enjoy life in the moment.
Set yourself up for success and happiness by being optimistic. :)
Sources:
Altucher, James. "HOW TO GET AN MBA FROM EMINEM." Altucher Confidential RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 July 2014.
Cycle #2 - Fearing the Future
If you sit in front of a computer all day and do not participate in any physical activity outside of work, you are simply not getting enough exercise. Sitting all day can cause bad posture and muscle soreness. This can be taken care of by taking 5 minutes every hour to get up and stretch or just pace around. Also making more of an effort to take the stairs and finding any excuse to move is helpful. Even getting up 10 minutes earlier every morning to go for a quick walk or to practice your yoga will be extremely beneficial. This physical activity helps get your blood flowing and your brain working.
Cycle # 6 - TV as Stress Release
Raise your hand if you have ever let the fear of the unknown hold you back from enjoying life to the fullest. I’m guessing that everyone raised their hand. Whether it was an important job interview or going out on a blind date or giving a speech in front of a large crowd. All of those “what if” questions start popping up and we start to imagine the worst. As humans, we have a bias towards noticing negative news over positive news (Altucher). Same goes for having negative thoughts over positive thoughts. It is just plain easier to be pessimistic than it is to be optimistic. When I ask my friends what they want to be when they grow up or what their dream is, the most common answer I hear is, “I want to be happy.” We fall into this common misconception that if we make this amount of money or we get this type of car or have this many friends we will be happy. The truth is that being happy is a present-day activity, it’s a choice. It’s not a destination, or something you work towards. The people that are happy choose to be happy. They choose to be optimistic instead of pessimistic. No one has everything perfect. No one is perfect. Even the people that are happy have their bad days when they can’t stop worrying about a certain upcoming event in their life. The difference is that they notice it, pull out of it, and keep trudging forward with a smile on their face.
