Consistency is key: Why cherry-picking your workouts is a bad idea

Have you woken up to see a WOD you didn’t like and decided to take the day off? If so, this is referred to as “cherry-picking” your workouts.

We all have those days when we see a WOD we don’t like.  Maybe you don’t like what’s on the table, maybe you’re a bit scared of the movement (especially when upside down), or perhaps you think the workout is just too hard or too easy.  No matter what the reason, it’s never a good idea to skip out on your scheduled WOD.

Your coach has programmed your workouts for a reason, and consistent programming means results. As soon as you start cherry-picking your workouts, you have now entered into random programming, which means slower and less effective training. No matter what you are skipping on, you are missing an important part of your fitness puzzle.

The bottom line is: you can’t get any better if you aren’t practicing. The WODs are designed to work you into a slow of upward progression, so be patient with yourself. There are always scaling options available, and there ain’t no shame in that game.

Check out this article on How to Scale Cross Training WODs for Measurable Improvements.
How can you avoid cherry-picking?  One simple answer is not looking at the WOD ahead of time.  If that’s not how you roll, make the commitment to the WOD no matter what it is.  Remind yourself how awesome you are and show up. It’s actually most of the battle.

So the next time you see your dreaded WOD, remember the bigger picture. With consistency in your training, you’ll see better, faster results.  Your weaknesses will become strengths. Be patient with yourself, relish in the small victories, and enjoy the ride!

You are killing it!