Getting Back on the Crossfit Horse

    We are all human, every once in a while life can throw us a curve ball to where we either fall off or jump off the proverbial horse.  Which in this case equates to missing or avoiding our Crossfit workouts (Yes this certainly applies to different workout systems, but since Crossfit is my main focus, I reserve the right to use it).  Perhaps its a personal or family emergency or an injury related or unrelated to Crossfit.  For whatever the reason before you know it, weeks have gone by and your physical gains as well as your emotional state (which you worked so hard for) have deteriorated. 

    I myself am not immune to such an occurrence.  Unfortunately, I end up kicking myself when I do get back to training as I am once again forced to get retrieve my gains from what I lost from time off.  I can tell you right now, it is much easier to stay with your momentum whether you train three, four or five times a week with Crossfit.  From an emotional or mental standpoint, staying on task with your workout is even more imperative as one goes through emotional upheavals in one's life.  Without emotional stability or clarity, we often times fail to make the appropriate choices and decisions that are best for ourselves as well as our family. 

    From a physical standpoint, I have learned that if you are healing from an injury, instead of remaining stationary for weeks on end, train around your injured area.  Granted, I understand if one is recovering from major surgery, one might have to take a certain amount of time to recover before your doctor clears you for resuming your training.  But, for most sprain/strain/tear injuries, modify your workout.  Train around the injury, lighten your load and avoid routines and positions that negatively impact your injury.  But whatever you do, don't stop working out.  It can be a bugger to get your momentum flowing again.

    It is often said, the hardest part of working out is just getting there.  Once you are there its all down hill.  And when you're finished with your workout, we all know how good we feel both physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Bottom line, if we want to be at our best to help our family in times of need and if we want to recover from an injury at the quickest possible pace, don't stop your workout, you may think you are helping you or your family in the long run but, if we don't take care of our needs first and foremost, then we won't be at our best when someone needs our help.  When this happens, we not only end up cheating friends and family not having you at your best, we also end up cheating ourselves for not being at our best.