February Project: Operation Body Fail

This month we’re back to our normal regularly scheduled programming where the projects are monthly and all is right with the world!

This one is fun because you can do it this week and use the rest of the month to build on it. It’s also great for those of you who are doing Couch to 5K, it fits right in.

Say hello to “Operation Body Fail.”

“Body fail” is the term I use for when I do so many reps that I can do not one single more, when my arms or whatever body part I am using goes completely limp and is failing to go even an inch further. There are a few exercises without weights that send me into “body fail” almost immediately. ”Body fail” is when I do not think I can run another single minute or at a certain speed for another single second.

The project this month is to do something, anything, until you can do it no more. OR to do something further or faster than you ever have before. In this case you don’t have to go into “body failure” but you do have to set your own personal record in terms of going faster or longer at something than you ever have before. (Yes, more outside your comfort zone. We’re all about getting outside our comfort zones here.)

I’ve personally realized and I’ve realized this through a personal trainer that  I’m working with who is a very very sweet Jillian, that if I don’t push further, I will never be able to go further. The first week (a few weeks ago) I could do  10 pushups. Last week, I did 17. And not the girlie kind! I know that in comparison to people who regularly do pushups, 17 is not a lot. But 17 is a lot for me. 10 was a lot for me. I’m actually looking forward to my pushups this week! Because the original number of pushups that sent me into fail was 10 and now it is not. HOORAY!

The point of the project is to stretch your limits doing one thing this week. Maybe do more reps or do a higher weight as many times as you can. Maybe find yourself a new exercise (The V Up ab exercise) that sends you into “body fail” immediately and try to conquer it. Sprint on the treadmill at a 7 or an 8 for as long as you can hold it without flying off the back. Now, I’m just spouting out suggestions here, you have to work within whatever fitness level you are at currently — and just bump it up a notch. Maybe you have a “nemesis” workout in mind already. Maybe you are the worst jumproper EVER (me). The point is, pick something and go with it. Become its master. Or become your master. Whichever you want. And by “master,” we don’t mean to Olympic tryout levels although if you do something and find out that you are actually gifted in that area, HOORAY! (We will expect a special mention when you’re thanking the Academy.)

Anyway do it. And then blog about it. Blog about how hard it was, how you sweated, how it burned, how you felt, how oddly it made you feel like doing more. (Or not.)  Then next week, take that thing that you did amazingly and do it again — just a little faster or just one more minute of it or just one more rep of it. And then try it again the following week. And keep blogging about it.

For Couch to 5Kers, you may already be blogging about how you’re going longer than you ever have before! So blog about that and link it up here, we want to see your progress!

This project is all about finding a starting point and then seeing your progress week after week when you pass that starting point. It’s about non-scale victories and hopefully you will come away from it with stories of strength — both mental and physical.

Quickie disclaimer: Thou shalt not work thyself into injury! We’re not talking about working out until you throw up or going into “body rippage,” please listen to your body and do not harm it.  Mkay?

So are you ready to try it? Do you have something in mind already?? We’ll link it up every single Friday! Same project, ALLL MONTH! Have a great week!

Tags: featured, fitness, goals, MIND IT, Shrinking, sisterhood, support

Category: Christie O., MIND IT, The Monday Project, The Sisterhood