What's Your Crutch?
by Grace Lin
Crutches. We’re all guilty. We all have them.
A crutch is defined as anything used for support or reassurance. Now, with that definition in mind, think back to your past workouts. Is there something you commonly use during a workout that is supplemental, meaning unnecessary? Something that you go to when you get tired or want a small break before getting back to the workout? If you can’t think of any, let me jog your memory with some examples…
Water – Okay, don’t get me wrong. Water isn’t evil or anything. I mean, it’s vital for life. But you don’t need to drink it during a workout that lasts less than 25 minutes! There are appropriate times to drink water during class, and that would be before and after the conditioning (e.g., during warm up, strength, cool down, or designated rest periods). When water is grabbed during a metcon, 99% of the time it’s an excuse to take a break. If water is your crutch and you can’t resist the temptation to grab it when it’s next to you, then don’t put it next to you during the workout. Keep it out of sight and out of mind.
Chalk – Ahh, the chalk bucket. Chalk is great… when used appropriately. Re-chalking is a fine line during a workout. Yes, the bar can get slippery due to sweat, and so it would be smart to get some more chalk. But have there been times when you’ve gone to the chalk bucket with already chalked up hands? Why are you really there? Maybe to breathe? Go to the chalk bucket for chalk, not to catch a breath.
Music – Usually a hidden crutch. I mean, we all like to work out with music in the background. But do you need it? Like really NEED it? Can you work out to your least favorite genre and perform the same? Or how about with no music at all?? If the answer is no, then music is probably a crutch.
Towel – This is another fine line item, similar to chalk. There are many times when we need to wipe off our hands with a towel to prevent equipment from slipping. But do you really need to wipe your face off during a workout? Or your arms? Or your chest? Next time you reach for your towel, ask yourself if you really need it or if you’re grabbing it to get some air during the WOD.
Fan – I truly believe that this is all mental. Please don’t be a fan hog. No one needs to work out right in front of the fan, or walk over to the fan in the middle of a workout to take a break. “But Grace, it’s freaking hot in Houston! We’re going to get a heat stroke.” Need I remind you of the original gym? I’m talking about the OG, not the garage. We never had fans in there! And guess what? People worked out just fine in that space. You don’t need the fan. They are there to circulate air, not as personal air conditioning. Perceived temperature is all mental – get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
”Resting” Positions – Possibly my biggest pet peeve is seeing athletes rest with their hands on their knees or in a kneeling position during a workout. Just don’t do it. One, it’s a posture of defeat and mentally breaks you down without you even realizing it. Two, it’s a black hole for time - you waste so much time down there. If you’re taking a small break, do it with your head held high. Don’t go to your knees or kneel down.
Equipment – This is my crutch. I have pull-up bars that I favor over others. I have rings that I go to over other rings. We are creatures of habit, and so when we find something that works, we gravitate towards it. That in itself is fine. But it becomes a problem when you are unable to do a workout without that specific piece of equipment. So, try going to a different pull-up bar or using a different pair of rings. Ditch the Olympic lifting shoes, the belt, or the wrist wraps every now and then. Don’t rely on equipment to perform well. Let your athleticism speak for itself.
Take a good look at this list and take note of any that resonate with you. If none of these connect with you, then try to think about what your crutch could be. Once you identify it, try to remove it from your workout next time. Again, these things aren’t bad by themselves. But when we use them as an excuse to take a break, or worse, when they become habitual, then they negatively impact our fitness. Ain’t nobody got time for that.