EDITOR’S NOTE: Welcome to the athlete journal of Allison Moyer. Allison is a nationally ranked NPC Figure Athlete, nationally and internationally published fitness model, an avid CrossFit athlete, BSN, C.P.T, C.S.N, C.N.W.C, and owner ofAlli Fitness Systems and Predator Diet. Read all about Allison’s unique approach to training and diet every other week.
“Confidence is acknowledging who you are, and loving yourself for who you’ve become, no matter what others think of you.”
– Nishan Panwar
Some people get excited by the holidays. They love the down time, the change of the pace, the hustle, the shopping, the carols, the whole big Christmas marketing scheme.
I love Christmas for the meaning behind the season. I detest Christmas for the same reason I detest any major holiday – it’s nothing but a schedule disruption. For better, or for worse, I’m a creature of routine. I like sameness in my days. I don’t look forward to sleeping in, being out late, sugar-laden cookies, or holiday travel. I hate crowds and I dislike the “buy more give more” mentality that seems to just be sweeping the country lately. I suppose that makes me a weirdo, but I genuinely prefer my barbell and my Tupperwared food. The holidays for me go relatively quietly. Not much changes. I might miss a training session, but for all intents and purposes, I continue to eat as I eat and train as I train.
I used to feel guilty for being this way, but as I get older and as the years go by I feel less and less so. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and I love the holidays, but I love them even more since I learned to be confident in my approach.
“You can’t go far in life if you’re always turning around to see what others think of you. Be sincere, be brave, and be yourself.”
– Unknown
What I’m trying to say is that it’s okay to do things your way. I get way too many emails from clients telling me about how they felt guilted into eating food they didn’t want while spending time with people they didn’t care for. In my mind, the holidays are about spending time with people you genuinely love and want to be with, and doing what makes you happy. If that means not eating grandma’s mashed potatoes with ten pounds of butter and sitting in pain with relatives you never see, then that’s okay. There’s no need to feel guilty about how you conduct yourself during the season.
For example, I will not feel guilty that all I do on Christmas is go for a long run with my dog and spend the day with only my fiancé. That’s how I prefer to spend the holidays. Quietly at home, in the company of my dogs and the man I love, with a fridge full of my prepared food nearby. This year my parents are going to be coming for dinner, but aside from that, there will be no nagging relatives attempting to force feed me food and no late-night Christmas parties.
Honestly, what matters is not how others judge your behavior or your actions but how you make people feel and how you carry yourself. If dressing up for the holidays is your thing, do it. If not and you prefer your sweats (like me), do that. If you want to sleep in on Christmas morning, do it. If you prefer to get up and get some training in, well then do that and don’t feel bad for it. And if staying all day at your mother-in-law’s makes you happy, well hats off to you. But if you can only handle a few hours, guess what? Stay for a few hours, then peace out. It’s okay!
If you know that nothing offered at your family’s Christmas dinner will fit your nutrition requirements except the turkey, just eat the turkey. And, if you’re uber-anal like me and you would rather bring your own food, then damnit bring your own food and don’t for one second feel guilty. Smile. Hug everyone. Be kind. Be gracious. But don’t ever make excuses or apologies for celebrating the holiday in your own fashion. Remember, the holidays are not about pleasing people. And the more you are confident in your own decisions, the less you need others to accept or approve of them.
Merry Christmas. Thank you all for being a part of my journal – and I will see you in the New Year!
Fasted A.M. Run Intervals
(I was stuck doing these on a treadmill due to snow. Not my first pick, but oh well.)
120 sec easy jog @ 5.0-5.5
60 sec @ 6.0
60 sec @ 7.0
120 sec @ 5.5
60 sec @ 7.0
60 sec @ 8.0
120 sec @ 6.0
60 sec @ 8.0
60 sec @ 9.0
60 sec @ 7.0
(Repeat for 2 total rounds)
P.M. Training Session
3 rounds (not for time): Row 1000m, run 500m, both at a moderate pace
3 rounds (not for time): 20x KTE, 60 second elbow plank
Jerk 3-2-1 then dropped to 65% for a heavy double every 30 seconds 6x
Barbell glute bridge 5×5 (only 20-30 seconds rest between)
Squat 5-3-1 (set of 5 @ 80%, then worked up from there)
Good morning 3×5
Superset: Kettlebell deficit deadlift/kettlebell deficit squat 3 rounds 8-10x each
Superset: GHD Hamstring Curls/ Pistols 3 rounds, 10 Hamstring Curls 5 pisols each leg
Overhead Alternating Lunge (held a 45lb plate) 3×10-15
5 Rounds: 1 rope climb, 10 burpees, 200m run
Today’s Thought: “Thinking too much of what others think of you ultimately changes what you think of yourself.” -Unknown
