Vision

By Megan Wallace

Ever since I had my surgery I have wanted to share my experience with everyone. However, I haven’t been able to put anything together that seemed worth sharing, until now.

It has taken a long time to realize what I wanted to share about my surgery is not about the ending, it is not how everything has worked out and I am back at doing pull ups and cleans and rxing my workouts. In fact, honestly, this all makes me a little sad, actually, a lot sad. The fact that I am not back to doing pushups, kettle bell swings or even burpees, that I can’t even demo my own workouts yet is so hard for me. But I am not and right now, even though at times it feels like those are the things that are most important, that if I could just do those things again, everything would be right in my world, I know that is not true.

My real problem is I have let myself become trapped by my limitations. I have put on a set of glasses that are distorting my view. I show up, I do a modified workout but I walk away feeling discouraged and disappointed, seeing my attempt as less than acceptable. I feel left out and as though I have little to nothing to give anymore. However, I have realized it is time for me to throw those tinted glasses away. To see myself as I truly am and to remember what I am capable of and how blessed I am. This is where the real learning, the overcoming, the becoming better begins for me. And thankfully, I can do all of this while I cannot do box jumps or switch lunges.

It has taken me three long months to remember what this physical experience is all about, why I keep showing up every day. The victory is not in the ending! Yes, I want the ending, I want to be back to doing everything, to throwing a bar over my head with fully extended arms without shrugging my shoulder and curving my back.  I want all of that and more and I will continue to work for it, but until that day comes, I will see myself as I really am. I will not limit myself or my potential because I am still becoming. I will start doing and giving and seeing the goodness in everything around me again. My victory will be daily doing my best and recognizing it as great.

I hope you will do the same. Realize who you are, see the greatness in you as you struggle and progress towards your goal. Remember nothing worthwhile ever comes easily but takes constant work, evaluation and commitment. Throw away any idea or view that is holding you back, become who you are meant to be! 

The GPP Soreness Scale

GPPeeps are roughstock.  They feel no pain most of the time. If they did happen to feel some pain they wouldn't mention it.

Although rare, there are times when GPP participants become sore from one or more of the workouts we perform daily.  Again, this almost NEVER happens.  But when it does, for scientific purposes (more to help others and rookies), we thought it well to classify the types of soreness one might expect to encounter down here at GPP.  These only apply to full Rx vets.  Rookies who progress above "kinda sore" are doing it wrong. 

The GPP Sorness Scale

Zero Sore

You cheated!  Totally dogged the workout.  Your effort was weak-sauce. You should be ashamed. Do better.   

Kinda Sore

You accidentally stretch into a position that faintly reminds you of the workout you did yesterday.  Secretly you feel guilty that you didn't do more.  And you should. 

Perfect Sore

24 hours after a workout you experience a bit of very manageable soreness at the extremes of your normal range of motion.  You love this.  You are happy.  You wish for it all the time.  You realize you are quite ill because of this. 

Good-n-Sore

You over-did it.  There really is NO position you find yourself in throughout your day (and 2, or 3 to follow) where you aren't encumbered by pain.  The pain you feel is at the outermost limit of cool.  Every now and again, you are tempted to be delighted that you are tough enough to have pushed yourself through this (it is surprising that any human would do this to herself) but, "Good-n-Sore" is too painful to relish.  At this point you are happy to take your 3-5 day beatin' and be done with it.  This type of soreness usually comes with a vow to avoid the workout that causes it.  Of course, if you are being honest, you said this the last time you did that workout.  Obviously, it couldn't have been that bad or you'd have really avoided it.  In any case, you'll cut back next time.  If you remember.  

Good-n-DAMN-Sore

Only those who know ... know. 

One step up from "Good-n-Sore" this type of soreness includes limping.  You'll not be making large movements if you get this kind of sore.  You can't.  In fact, this is the kind of sore where you start avoiding movements all together.  If you have ever been "Good-n-Damn-Sore" you know what it is like to fear your bodily functions.  Nothing looks more menacing to you than the seat of a toilet.   

Too Sore

This is a generic term used ubiquitously for any level of soreness experienced above "Perfect Sore."  

Thrust-O-Sore

 If you have ever done Thrust-O-Rama you KNOW this type of sore.  This type of soreness ALMOST wasn't your fault (except for the warnings).  It is sneaky.  It comes a couple of days after a workout (one of your GOATs) where you worked extra hard and thought to yourself,

"HELL YEAH!  I Finally Rx'd and made that workout my BITCH!"

Oh, you'll live through this kind of soreness (probably), but you won't want to.  And once you've done it to yourself, you'll NEVER do it again.  Well, not til the next time that workout comes up and you decide to take revenge on it for making you it's BITCH last time!

STUPID Sore

This type of soreness was coined by an ER doc.  I was trying to convince him to check for elevated CPK levels in the blood of a guy who (despite our numerous "this can kill you" warnings) over did it.  He said, 

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"There is NO-WAY a human could do this to himself through exercise.  It would be ... (pause) ... STUPID."  

Those who become this sore have NO ONE to blame, but themselves.  If you become this sore, you meant to.  There would have been no less than a dozen different warning signs that let you know you had over done it.  That is, no less than a dozen points at which you said to yourself (or someone said to you), "I [you] should really stop."  Despite them all, you pushed forward.  

If you become THIS kind of sore, and you live to tell about it, and happen to be lucky enough to have escaped without muscle damage, kidney damage and/or heart problems, we think you'll come to agree that it is appropriately named.   

Do Diets Cause Rebound?

by Neil Anderson

Diets don’t deserve as much credit as we give them for our successes.  

I am lucky enough to be in one of those enviable positions in life where I regularly get to see people make astounding, life transforming changes to their health.  These changes have transfer.  They transfer to all other aspects of their lives.  When someone is going through these positive, healthy changes they can see and experience the far reaching effect of their own efforts.  It’s exciting.  

Sometimes in this excitement, humility prevents a person from taking full credit for such an outstanding accomplishment.  When asked how they did it (lost weight, got healthier) most will simply give credit to the diet they are on.  Deserved?  Well, let’s do the math.  YOU were the one who overcame your addiction to the bad stuff you were eating.  YOU got the headaches, the hunger pain, the fatigue.  YOU were the one who reorganized your life to get away from the poor health habits you once had.  YOU were also the one who did the hard things like learning to eat right and exercise.  None of these were small things.  They all took supreme effort and perseverance.  The common denominator?  YOU!

By contrast, diets don’t deserve as much blame as we give them for our failures either.  

Over the years I have noticed that those who become healthy and have success with weight loss tend not to take the blame for it when they revert to a portion, or all of their previous life style choices and gain the weight back.  I have often heard them complain, “I think it was that diet I was on.  I mean, I can’t be expected to eat like that forever can I?”  

The answer to this question is, “As opposed to what?”  Perhaps you thought your dieting efforts were someday going to end and you’d be fine going back to what made you unhealthy in the first place?  

I have NEVER been in a conversation with someone who was gaining weight who had a perfectly balanced, nutritious and portion controlled eating plan.  NEVER.  How do I know?  They tell me.  Usually, when someone complains about weight gain I’ll begin looking for holes in their programming by asking a lot of very detailed questions about their diet and exercise.  It is what trainers do.   

“What did you eat for breakfast?  What did you have for lunch? What did you have for dinner? What did you have in between?”  These are the most common questions.  They are very telling, and sometimes we find problems with someone's diet in these alone.  If not, I have more.  

“What was in that casserole?  What time did you eat it? What was the ratio of fat, CHO and Pro?  What were the portions?  Did you weigh it?”    

Those who don’t have detailed answers to these questions are not on a proper nutrition program for weight loss (diet).  They are guessing.  Some are lucky.  They guess well and will lose weight anyway.  Most of us aren’t that lucky.

The thing is, if you are guessing - YOU are the one not doing the hard stuff.  YOU are the one not overcoming addiction.  YOU are the one not getting the headaches, the hunger pains, the fatigue.  And if you are gaining weight back - YOU are the one who refuses to organize your life, eating, and exercise in a way that will facilitate the changes you seek.  Not judging you here.  Just making the point.  

The common denominator?  _ _ _ (please fill in the blanks)

Good people are usually quick to give credit where credit is due.  This is honorable.  And while SURLY there are exceptions to every rule.  And SURELY there are those who have medical conditions which prevent them from finding success (so far) despite a valiant effort on their part.  It is my opinion that IN MOST CASES your diet and exercise programs are secondary to the real influence of your failures, or successes.