![]() Welcome back to the blog, everyone! I am so excited to dive deep into this topic that I have for you guys. As most of you all know, I have been weightlifting since I was 14. So almost 10 years now! Anyways, I want to give a basic breakdown of the past decade in my athletic career, where I am now competitively, and what my future plans are. Especially now that I'm going to nursing school, working full time, and a full time Momma! To make this somewhat brief, I started weightlifting competitively around age 15. I placed 7th at my first Youth Nationals in the 58k class. (I was literally like 53.3k, but my then coach didn't have me cut) I then competed as a 58k again at Junior Nationals when I was 17. I may have placed 6th? Then after 5 years, I decided to break out of my extremely toxic athlete/coach relationship (I will not be talking about that as the situation doesn't deserve any of my energy after years of healing myself) At that time, I was 19, and I went on to drop to that 53k weight class, find quality coaching, and compete at a higher level with a whole lotta fire in my belly. I placed at my first Junior Nationals when I was 20. Throughout those couple of years, I also competed at the local/state level often. I had hopes to making a USA team, but... at 21 I found out I was preggers with my Leo. ;) Now, 18 months later, I am in the 49k weight class (only because my wisdom teeth surgery fudged me up so bad that I couldn't eat solid food for almost 2 weeks and I dropped from 121 to around 113). Then I thought why not! Let's drop a few more lbs to compete lighter. My 4ft 11in frame fits the 49k lifter body type more anyways. I also want to mention that "Mom strength" is real. I've broken almost all of my pre-baby PR's while cutting to a lighter weight class. So with all of this being said, here is a low down on what goes on in a day now that I'm not only an athlete, but a nursing student, full time worker, and Momma. I wake up around 6:30AM, set up medical supplies for Leo's nurse, grab my breakfast (I use MyFitnessPal to track my meals/meal prep the night before, so I don't have to worry about making anything before work). After that it's 8 hours of sitting behind a desk, nothing too exciting. Around 4:30 when I come home I will immediately take my vitamins/pre-workout. They usually take an hour or so to kick in, so in between that time I hang with the Bubs and/or do some homework. Once I'm ready, I will train for the Catalyst Athletics' free WOD downstairs in my basement. Takes about an hour.... After that it's dinner time, snuggles with my Hubs and Bubs then I study/clean until around midnight so I can feed Bub at that time. Then I finally go to bed around midnight/1ish. In college I heard that you have 3 things - Sleep, Social, and Study. Yet, you can only choose 2 to do well in. It's somewhat true for what I am going through right now except it's - Work, School, Weightlifting, and Momma. There are days when I'm downstairs longer than anticipated, and I have such mom-guilt for leaving my Bubby in his room; so I lack in the Momma factor. Then there's times when I just sit and lay down with Leo and watch a movie, but then I lack as a nursing student because I know my ass needs to study. Then there's days when I don't go into work because I need to take Leo to the hospital - great Momma, not a reliable worker. There is absolutely no such thing as perfect balance. Let me tell ya that. You prioritize what you think is right in the current moment. I have to really think to myself sometimes and say, "well when was the last time I read Leo a book before bed time?" so I plan to cut my training short or make that day a rest day. Or if Finals/exams/research papers are due soon. I get quick Leo snuggles, maybe a quick sauna sesh and I study for the majority of my night. And just because Leo is disabled, it doesn't matter. I'd still have to make priorities between these things in my life even if he were average. Like MANY other mothers have to. So those picture perfect, insta moms - I praise you for handling it all with such grace and beauty because I sure as hell don't. The purpose of this blog/my social media isn't to fabricate my life into something that makes it seem as if I have it all. Because I don't. I lose my shit all the time, and life is just hard. But I do want to say that though it's hard taking on these roles as an athlete, momma, worker, and student. You can do it. It's all about prioritizing and choosing which role you want to excel in, in the current chapter your life is in. Well that's a wrap guys. Keep coming back to see what my future goals are for lifting AFTER nursing school! I mentioned a few accounts/people that I follow to better myself as an athlete on my Insta post. I truly rely on other people on Youtube, social media, etc. when it comes to my training since I do it 100% alone, so here are their names and why I follow them. Thanks all for the read, and until next time! - @catalystathletics: I follow their FREE daily wod. You just have to sign up on their website. They also offer many other weightlifting programs that may better suit your goals. @simplymander: I follow her because she taught me EVERYTHING about macros. I would literally cut 10lbs of weight a few days out from a meet because all I knew how to do is make myself sweat to lose weight. I didn't have much knowledge as far as nutrition, tracking food, and what/how much I should eat in order to cut weight HEALTHILY. I also aspire to have the kind of positive energy she has as well. @aimees2cents: Since I follow Catalyst, I have to follow Aimee, right?? But seriously, she provides such truth in her social media, and with having such a traumatic relationship with my first male coach I really look up to her/respect the content she provides her followers. @alyssaritchey: I've followed her journey for so long and as a fellow 49k'er, I feel like we have similar body types/mechanics. She is one of the few women who I really try to mimmick/learn from technique wise with lifting. Some people may see that more as comparing myself to her, and I wouldn't necessarily disagree with that. I just use comparison in a healthy way to better myself as an athlete. She also hosts the bittypodcast which provides great, free content for athletes. @coffeeovercardio: I mainly follow this group for the community. I've connected with such strong women in this group, and with the quarantine it's hard to stay connected to people like that. Everyone just empowers one another and that's the kind of positivity I'm trying to surround myself with.
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AuthorPresley T. Cruz Archives
January 2021
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