Quote of the Week

CrossFit For Hope – This Weekend!

{Photo courtesy of CrossFit}

Hey guys! This weekend I’ll be at CrossFit Redondo taking photos of their CrossFit for Hope fundraiser. If you aren’t already participating at another local box, now’s your chance to change your plans for Saturday morning (10am) and come support a group of people WODing for a wonderful cause. Plus, I’d love to meet you! CrossFit for Hope will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The goal is to raise 1.7MM – one day’s operating cost for St. Jude – to combat childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. Please help CrossFit Redondo reach their goal of $5K by Saturday! You can donate here.

The Workout:

“Hope”

Three rounds of:
Burpees
75 pound Power snatch
Box jump, 24″ box
75 pound Thruster
Chest to bar Pull-ups

“Hope” has the same format as Fight Gone Bad. In this workout you move from each of five stations after a minute. This is a five-minute round from which a one-minute break is allowed before repeating. The clock does not reset or stop between exercises. On call of “rotate,” the athlete/s must move to next station immediately for good score. One point is given for each rep.

Eating Zone: Postponed!

{Photo courtesy of Alaska From Scratch}

As much as I want to continue eating Zone right now, and show you all the progress that can be made from week to week, I’ve come to the realization that I chose the wrong time to start. I had to be honest with myself before I failed at what I set out to prove. The thing is, I’m just too busy! I know this sounds like an excuse, but let me explain. Of course I’m not too busy to eat healthy (that goes without saying), but I am too busy (right now) to measure out the food. Sometimes I’m even too busy to grocery shop, and worse: too busy to eat every meal I’ve planned out. My sleep has suffered due to studying for finals, preparing for a move, taking on extra side jobs in addition to my full-time job, and other various things happening in my life that suck up every minute of my day. So the time I would have spent in the kitchen measuring everything out, is now used for whatever sleep I can squeeze in, which has been around 6 hours or less each night, and believe me when I say, it’s showing (on my face, and in my WODs).  I’m an 8 hour kind of girl, so this (temporary) adjustment has severely altered my life, and so basically I’m in survival mode at this point.

The good news is, I will pick it back up in a couple of weeks, and resume where I left off with photos, meal break downs etc. But I wanted to say thank you for following along, and being supportive. In the meantime, I hope I can inspire & motivate in other ways.

xoxo,
Rebecca The Red

5 Things I Learned Hugging Complete Strangers

Global Free Hugs was started by Juan Mann, whose mission was to brighten people’s lives, or at the very least, their day. I watched his social experiment video a few years ago, and became totally inspired, although I never thought I’d see the day where I would be the one willingly standing out in a public square, soliciting free hugs to complete strangers… but alas, the day has come and (sadly) gone. Here are five things I learned in the process:

1. Foreigners dig hugs. Americans? Not so much.

So, in the process of facilitating this social experiment, we noticed that foreigners were way more apt to receive a free hug over Americans. Is this why I think Europe is so dreamy? Look, I know we (Americans) value our imagined little bubbles, but come on. . . . We were giving away HUGS . . . . for free! On the flip side, we did get a lot of thumbs up for the cause, and some smiles from people who were trying really hard not to smile. For me, that’s enough. So I’ll take it.

2. Our concept of “free” has been completely lost in our commercialized society.

At least half the people we hugged (and some who didn’t want hugs) asked what the catch was: “No really, how many donations are you soliciting?” When we explained that we weren’t taking donations, or that we didn’t represent a company etc. they seemed puzzled and asked, “Then why are you doing this?” More often than not I answered with: “Because everyone needs a hug.” And, in fact, it’s true! Studies have shown that a person who gives and/or receives about 12 hugs per day will lead a healthier, happier, and more fulfilled life. So what are you waiting for? Start hugging!

3. Receiving is awesome, but giving is more awesome.

I’m not gonna lie, I love receiving gifts. It’s actually one of my love languages. However, the joy I got from knowing I’ve directly helped to improve someone else’s life or day is on a totally different (higher) level than the joy I get from knowing someone was thinking about little ol’ me. To give is to receive. You cannot give without receiving joy in return. It’s all-encompassing and I highly encourage this practice! I hugged one guy and he said, “Thank you. I really needed that.” It literally made my entire weekend!

4. Contrary to popular belief, Karma is not a bitch (at least not always).

We gave free hugs away in Santa Monica on 3rd street promenade, and had to park in a nearby structure, which of course, is not free. We did our two hours of free hugs (which went by really, really fast) and when we went to leave and pay for our parking, the ticket spit back out with $0.00 on it. I’m not sure if this was a coincidence, but I’d like to think it was Karma working her ways in our favor. So if that was you, thank you. Free parking in L.A. is like winning the lottery. 

5. The best way to deal with rejection is to subject yourself to it!

I don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely terrified of rejection. So much so, that I will intentionally avoid certain situations in anticipation of this very scary element of life. What I loved about Free Hugs is that it forces you to step outside of your comfort zone and face that rejection head on. I feel way less intimidated by rejection than I’ve ever felt!

CrossFit Anywhere: No Excuses

 

{All photos courtesy of CrossFit.com}

I’m constantly inspired by people who refuse to let physical or geographical obstacles keep them from doing what they truly love. Rain, shine, snow, desert, war, home, missing leg … it doesn’t matter. When you want something bad enough, you will always, always find a way. What’s your excuse?