Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had nightmares. Creepy, violent nightmares.
Until recently, I’d wake up from a horrifying nightmare and be haunted by it.
I’d see the images, think about the scenes & focus on the fear. One short nightmare would disrupt an entire night of sleep because I just “couldn’t” shake it.
Last night, I had a nightmare. I woke up from it startled and afraid.
Within seconds, I found my thoughts returning to the nightmare and going back to the pictures & scenes.
I smiled as the automatic thought interjected the drama:
I control my thoughts, my thoughts don’t control me.
I get to direct my focus.
It’s just as true in the middle of the night as it is in the middle of the day.
And it works.
I redirected my thoughts to good things that had happened that day, things I’m grateful for and things I am looking forward to in the next few weeks.
The nightmare faded away. By choice.
Today’s workout was another chance to practice controlling my thoughts instead of letting my thoughts control me.
“Big Clean Complex”
6 Sets of the Following Complex:
High Hang Squat Clean + Hang Squat Clean + Squat Clean + Push Press
High Hang Squat Clean + Hang Squat Clean + Squat Clean + Push Jerk
High Hang Squat Clean + Hang Squat Clean + Squat Clean + Split Jerk
*Goal is to build in weight each set
Let me explain this. It’s okay if you don’t know exactly what these moves are. You can always Google them if you’re curious.
One “set” is completed without putting the barbell down. So you deadlift the barbell and then, without putting it down, you do:
- a high hang squat clean
- a hang squat clean
- a squat clean
- a push jerk
- a high hang squat clean
- a hang squat clean
- a squat clean
- a push press
- a high hang squat clean
- a hang squat clean
- a squat clean
- a split jerk
That makes 1 set and you’re doing 6 with rest in between each. Since you don’t put the barbell down for all 12 lifts, it’s taxing on your grip, on your glutes, on basically everything!
When I saw the workout, I was instantly worried about two things: my grip and my strength.
I worried that my grip would fatigue as the weights got heavier and I worried that I wouldn’t be able to get progressively heavier with each set.
Within seconds of those thoughts of worry, I reminded myself:
I control my thoughts, my thoughts don’t control me.
I started thinking: I love barbell workouts! Plus, 1 set is done in less than a minute and then I can rest for a few minutes before loading weight for the next set. It’s the best of both worlds, metabolic and heavy!
Each time I approached the barbell I thought: I’m the lightening! I’m strong, fast & powerful!
I have it in me to bring my best effort for the next 40 seconds or so!
Someone commented on social media yesterday that I sometimes seem super human.
Oh friends, I am SO not super human. I lose my temper, I feel self-conscious, I make choices I later wish I hadn’t made.
But if I have any super power at all, it’s the same one you have too, whether you exercise it or not:
I know I’m in control of my thoughts and if I don’t like how I feel, it’s time to change my thoughts.
I know that I’m just one or two choices away from a good mood at any moment in time.
I think that’s one hell of an attractive super power!
On the food front:
I ate a couple hours before my workout today. I had a delish cobb salad.
After the workout I had another Paleo Power Meals speciality: steak strips and sweet potato fries. Why carbs before dinner? After a heavy lifting workout, it was the right call for my body today.
For that reason, dinner will be light on the carbs, including those from veggies. I’m sticking with grilled chicken and a small amount of pickled brussels sprouts.
PS: If you’re new to these posts, listen to this podcast episode to get the scoop on what changes I’m making in my life and you can start back at my first daily post here.