Thursday, July 29, 2010

Say What?

What are those power clean - squat, shrug, jump, squat..say what?! Listen, this girl has about 43% of her brain power firing at that hour - complex moves are HARD. I wonder if we look like fat camp to the night folks...we definitely have some hard workers but sometimes the energy level is just low in the morning...the wake-up cycle is not complete and we look sort of laggy.

Today was a hard day because it was a lot of moves using body weight. In case you haven't checked out my stats, I gots a lot of body weight. I did, however, do 5 girlie push ups the right way today. The rest were a highly modified version because my arms and chest still are not quite ready to support all of this. My burpees are getting better - I can jump back up into a squat position about 45% of the time. That's much better than what I am doing before.

One more day, people. This week has been a hard one. One more day.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Me Aching Hamstrings

The 4,000 (or so it seemed) good mornings or morning glories..whatever...they are FELT this good morning. Yowza! I am fairly sure my triceps are going to be immobile tomorrow morning. Today, we did:

5x5 Benchpress- I did 80lbs!
30 dips - I did them on the weight bench - I need to build up some tricep strength

THEN - AMRAP in 20 minutes
25 chest presses (15 pound barbells)
15 kettlebell swings (I did the lightest one - don't tell Dr. G - I don't think I was supposed to)
15 toes to head (I do them on the floor)
15 second L-sit - once again used the bench

I did 4 rounds.

It is strange how some things feel so much stronger and others don't seem to be gaining much strength. Hopefully this food plan will help build that muscle so everything strengthens.

Alrighty, time to hit the showers - I have 30 minutes to get ready. GO!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Food Glorious Food

I never thought I would look forward to someone giving me an eating program. They have always felt like death to me. It wasn't a lack of discipline. It was the mental anguish that went along with them. I couldn't bear the constant condemnation in my head that I wasn't doing it right. I was a failure. I would never be able to lose weight.

This is where the spiritual preceeded the physical. I learned that nothing, like food, defines me. Food goes into the body and comes out. It has no lasting value. Sure, maybe for the next 20 years but in general, the physical will decline. Ultimately, what goes into and comes out of my heart is what defines who I am and what I will become for eternity. From that place, I was able to walk into Crossfit and start training. From that place, I am able to receive an eating plan and follow it.

I started Paleo today. Real Paleo. I was doing it about 80% of the time before. Now I have accountability and a little piece of paper with all the facts and figures weighed out. I love it. I needed someone to figure it out for me. I can follow this with no problem. I feel free. It is the next step. Nutrition really is a big part of this program. It impacts training. It impacts appearance. It impacts mood. It does not, however, define me. If I make poor eating choices, I am not bad. If I make great eating choices, I am not good. Food is fuel and I am on a mission. I will properly fuel my body to fulfill my mission. Day after day after day.

I love food. Good, bad, and indifferent food. All of it. Still, I look forward to trying a different approach to eating it. I can't wait to share the results with you!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

It Will Never Be Easy

That's the whole point of Crossfit. It will never be easy. Sure, there are days when it feels easier than other days, but there are never the, "Oh, I'll just go and stroll on the treadmill for 20 minutes" days. A new guy (or at least new to me) was asking one of the exact questions I asked in the first week, "Will this ever get easier?" The trainer answered, "It will never be easy." I would have added, "It will never be easy, but you will eventually enjoy that it is never easy."

The mental conditioning at Crossfit is as transformational as the physical conditioning. You look at the WOD and you think, "Oh brother. There's no way I can do that one." I even hear people say, "What, are you crazy, I will only get one round out." However, when the clock starts, something kicks in and that same person does three rounds and they feel good. Really good. Beyond good, I would say. That is what makes Crossfit addictive. You are daily breaking through, "I can't do this." Then your thinking becomes, "Wow, I really can do hard things if I just try."

This whole makeover is never easy but it is enjoyable. I see the scale drop. I see my face change in pictures. I feel parts of my body shrinking. That's enjoyable, but it isn't the best part. The best part is that my mind is finally locked in. I am in the zone. I am going the distance. I am getting stronger day by day and the physical is just the beginning. It is the manifestation of the mental and spiritual strengthening that is happening below the surface.

I never understood people who were so passionate about this stuff. I respected them. I wanted a body like theirs. However, I never understood them. I thought they were dysfunctional. A little too locked in. Now I get it. That is how I know I am going the distance. I don't want it to be easy. I look forward to trying and triumphing hard things. They hurt. I sweat. My heart feels like it might explode out of my chest. Broccoli is no piece of cake. Regardless, nothing feels better than making hard decisions, pushing yourself to the limits and coming through it stronger.

Today, I am thankful that it is never easy.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

I done injured myself

I was brought down by a poorly executed deadlift. We were doing 5x5 this morning and I was fine but was encouraged to tweak it a little. Good coaching. Bad execution on the coaching. I was already feeling super tight on the left side of my body. Everything I did felt off on that side. I had a deep tissue massage on vacation and it may be related.

Regardless, I came up on a deadlift and immediately felt a spasm in my lower back. I did not want to be dramatic but I also knew that I should stop. I laid on the ground and tried to stretch it out. One of the trainers gave me a ball to roll on the spot. That helped and I made it through the Workout of the Day. The bad part was when I got home. I couldn't stand up. It loosened up as I got ready but my whole back was tight as I tried to stand up straight. Pain again when I arrived at work.

I have taken tons of anti-inflammatories. I hate taking them but I need the area to CALM DOWN. I plan to try a new chiropractor tomorrow. Perhaps he will help. You know your life has changed when the first thing you think is, "I can't be injured, I need to be at Crossfit." Before, I would look at it as an opportunity to give up. No way. Crossfit is changing my body one workout at a time and I need to be there every morning.

I am definitely going to be much more cautious. When I feel tightness like that on a side of my body, I am going to take the time to stretch and loosen my muscles before I lift. The warm up wasn't enough today.

I am praying for supernatural intervention to heal this back so I can continue on this path right now.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Thriving Through Vacation

Visiting family on vacation is fraught with peril. Food minefields are everywhere. There is always TONS of food with my family. It is shocking that I am the only one with a weight problem. Regardless, food is the center of everything.

The visit went well - tons of love and fun. The best part is that I navigated these waters fairly unscathed. I stayed on plan about 75% of the trip. I did not feel bad about the other 25%. The only exercise I did was running after my 2 year old nephew, playing soccer with my 9 year old nephew, and a quick 20 minute walk on a treadmill. I am ready to get back to Crossfit. I feel great though - I enjoyed myself without unraveling all of this hard work.

Back at it, people. Happy new week.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Oh me gersh

I have found an interesting dynamic. There are some people at Crossfit who sort of scare you. There is no way you would do a sit up near them when they are holding a kettlebell or get too close when overhead bar moves are in process. Something just isn't clicking and they are in a mini fog. Not sure if that's how they approach life or if it is just too early in the morning for some folks.

I may be one of these people but I am going to feign ignorance here. Sometimes, I honestly can't process what the trainers are telling me. A big reason is that it is so early in the morning and my brain is still in bed. A smaller reason is that this is a first step into weight training for me. I have no idea what these moves are or how much I should do. I didn't even know I should remember what weight I was lifting until about three weeks ago. I do, however, like to think I am safe to be around.

Anyway. I ended up in the wrong bench press group. I knew it when it happened. Instead of doing the exercise the right way, they wanted to start at their heaviest and go up. I honestly don't think they understood what we were doing. Then, they kept getting the weights off. They walked off when they should have been spotting. I really was a little afraid this morning. I was feeling the bar to the trachea.

I got up after my last set and looked Kelly (another girl there who started at the same time as me) in the eye and said, "Do not ever leave me alone with them, again." She laughed. I laughed. My trachea is still in tact. Thank the Lord!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Um, yea, so...

Perhaps I should not have invited my guy for a walk...three weeks later and waa-waa-waa. C'est la vie people. It is a good thing.

Thankfully, I am heading to New York for a weekend of relaxation..massage, manicure, and pedicure scheduled....when I return, I am going to do a 30 day Paleo challenge. No cheatin'. No excuses. Let's shed some of this fat so we can see some of the muscles underneath (and complete even more torture).

Movin' on.

Tuesday...ugh

Today was all about squats, lunges, deadlifts, etc...iggh. Not my favs. C'est la vie.

I think I did about 100 on my deadlifts. Oh yea.

Funny thing, there is always someone in there who still doesn't have the form down but wants to fight for their right to lift more weight. I honestly don't get it. I pray these things on my way to Crossfit every morning:

1. Please protect everyone from injury
2. Please don't let me die there
3. Give Jason and Tuan wisdom in training us
4. Help me understand and nail the form

Sure, I am excited when I get to lift more weight but not because I earn some sort of value from it. I like it because I know the proper form, nutrition, and consistency are working! Someday I will be flexible enough to do lunges and squats with weight...but not today. My form is there but my flexibility and strength are not. They will get there. They will.

For the first time today, I was able to go down in a burpee and jump into a squat position to come up. Not every time...but about 75% of the time. I can't wait to really be able to do burpees..even though I hate them. Hate them. Hate them.

By the way, why do I blog? No one is really reading this, right?! One day, I will reach my weight loss goals and I will be nailing WODs and I will look physically fit. Someone will ask how I did it and I'll tell them. They will say, "I could never do that...too hard." I will point them to this blog and say, "Start at the beginning. It's one day at a time, one meal at a time, one movement at a time. If you don't start, you will never make it. Just start. Just start. If you don't think it can be done, look at my blog and remember that it can."

Monday, July 12, 2010

Excuse me, sir..have you seen my lungs?

ahhhh...Crossfit today. Holy cow.

We did overhead presses 5x5 (I got up to 55 - woo hoo - had no idea I could do that much yet) and then:

10 suppine ring pulls
10 tricep push ups (others did a variation..muscle up, pull ups, etc)
THEN the following (5x for time)
10 overhead presses
10 kettlebells (I did Rx weight on this - touch that, people)
10 slam balls (I did 8 - I should have done 12)
15 abmat sit ups (others did GHD)
Sprint 100 ft (or yards - I always get those confused)

I did 21:47....

You start out and you think, "Wow, I can do this..here we go..." AND THEN YOU HIT THE FIRST SPRINT....bye, bye lungs. I was SHOCKED at how great my body felt running...no pain, almost effortless...I have definitely gained some major strength/muscle stamina these past two months. My lungs were another story. I thought they would burst in my chest. I was wheezing..oh holy cow.

That's when Crossfit kills me. I'm wheezing, purple-faced and most people would stop and say, "Ok, great workout..." NOPE...we keep going...4 more times...by the 5th time, I am just thinking, "You have come this far...you have to finish it out."

I am still not running 95% of the time...to save my joints. I row ALOT. Row, row, row your boat..gently down Crossfit. Jason told me to get under 2:30...and I am doing that consistently now. I was so proud and instead of saying, "Great, you are under 2:30!"..he said, "Get it under 2 now." LOL. I just love that guy. "Sure, no problem - new goal..keep going." After feeling my lungs when running today, I need to push the rowing a bit harder....that's a different kind of lung feel..more like your legs are compressing your lungs.

Alrighty, full day ahead...off to the showers!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Eating Out


This is the wonderful deliciousness I enjoy when eating out. Excuse the goat cheese...but it was less than an ounce and thoroughly enjoyed. When I was done eating, all that was left was the turkey burger bun.
Ahhh....nice.

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Coconut Oil

No idea how it works but coconut oil is the miracle oil. Love it, love it, love it. When I use it, the scale drops. When I don't, it doesn't. It keeps me from getting man hands - you know, those ugly callouses. I want to be hand holdin'...and I don't care how hard core you are....soft hands are nice on a woman.

Coconut oil..try it.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Meet My Team























Encouragement. We all need it. I am blessed to have it in abudance. Meet MY life team. There are so many more people on my team than I had time to upload...but you get the point. These are the people who ask me how my workouts went. They agree to eat in instead of out. They change the food they serve or are happy to eat what I serve that fits 'the plan'. They are constantly telling me how great I look, how far I've come, and that I can't give up now. They know my heart's desire is to have a family and that I need to be healthy to really love and serve my family well.
The little ones just love me. Period. They want their 'aunt b' to be around for years to come. They want me to play with them. They want to climb on me. They want to swim, jump, and run by my side...not have them fetch me a toy so I can continue sitting in my chair.
This is my team. They may not be hard core fitness freaks. They are people who love me and want the best for me. You have a team, too. Crossfit is not just about you. It is about all those who are connected to you. It is about being the best to love and serve them well.
The greatest outcome so far has been how everyone has started to respond to my changes by making healthy changes in their lives. Good stuff, I tell you. I love my team.


Thursday, July 8, 2010

Some days you just GOT to do it...

Got up. Got dressed. Got in the car. Got to Crossfit. Got on the rowing machine. Got through the warm up. Got through bench presses. Got through 6 AMRAPS of presses, step ups and sit ups. Got through 10 Turkish get ups (even though the mat I was laying on smelled like vomit). Got in the car. Got home. Got in the shower. Got on the computer. Got on Blogger. Got to this post.

Somedays, you just GOT to do it. Doesn't matter how you feel or what you want when your bed feels better than the box. You just GOT to do it. It's easier than feeling the regret of not doing it all day long.

Got to go to work. Got to say bye now.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Burpees

I hate you, burpees. That's all I have to say this morning. I hate you, burpees.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

When The Going Gets Tough....








...the tough get to cookin'.




There's No Crying at Crossfit

A dear friend passed away yesterday. Talk about devastating. Grief is such a weird thing. One minute, I am fine. I think through her life and her assurance of salvation and I am fine. The next minute, the thought of her breaks my heart into a million little pieces.

I wanted to stay in bed this morning. There is something about the familiar that is comforting in times of sorrow. However, I knew I had to keep going. The moment Jason started sharing the WOD, I felt the tears coming. How crazy would he have thought I was if I burst out in tears at that moment? The hilarity of that alone kept me from breaking down. My workout definitely suffered as the sorrow washed over me time and time, again.

Life is fragile people. It can be over in an instant. Make the most of it.

WOD:
25 (I did 15) pullups (I did suppine ring pulls)
25 military sit ups - holy cow those are hard
400 M run with medicine ball overhead (wasn't a lot of running out there today)
Repeat 4 x for time - I think I was around 41 minutes - I didn't really care - it was enough that I was there.

Tomorrow is another day!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Crossfit is Closed?!




Yes, even Crossfitters need a holiday! However, I am off the charts proud of myself for waking up, putting on those exercise clothes and hitting the pavement for a close to 3 mile walk. It is a gorgeous morning. Talk about reviving the soul - 75 degrees, the sun is shining, the wind is blowing, the streets are quiet - nothing finer.

The last few days have been challenging on a nutrition level. So many parties. I am right back on track this morning and looking forward to preparing for a week of excellent nutrition.

Get out there and seize the day people (or sit on the couch and vegetate if you've already seized too much!)

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Envy

There were a lot of new folks at Crossfit this morning. I love it. I so want everyone to give it a try. A couple of the new girls were tall and slender. I was envious. They will start to see amazing results in about four weeks - you will be able to tell they do Crossfit. I, on the other hand, have a million miles to go before it is evident. Stupid pudge.

I made-up one of the workouts of the day this morning - I thought I was going to take it easy on my super sore legs. Not so much.

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
Bench Press (50 pounds)
Sumo high deadlift (is that it?) (50 pounds)
Deadlift (65 pounds)

Thursday, July 1, 2010

The Cost of Crossfit

Crossfit is expensive. It isn't the monthly fee that is expensive. $150 is an investment each month, but I definitely get what I pay for - quality training. It isn't the food that is expensive. If you cut back on eating out and don't consume a whole 16 ounce steak in a sitting, you probably break even. Shoot, longterm, you probably come out ahead. Why, then, is Crossfit expensive?

If you do it...and do it consistently...you have to buy new clothes every 6 weeks. From bras to workout clothes to underwear. When you shrink, your clothes have to shrink, too. That is the kind of expensive I can handle. Granted, I buy clothes at super cheap places because I know I am only wearing them for 6-8 weeks. When I hit my goal weight, you better believe I am going to splurge. I must start saving now. So far, I have bought new bras and new workout clothes - one size smaller. Yahoo!

Today's workout was the following:

Row 800 Meters (as fast as humanly possible) - I sucked wind here - first I was on a rower with the foot straps in the wrong places (finally figured out why I had such horrible blisters) so I moved to find the other one was left on a hill - leaning to the right. Have you ever tried to row on a leaning machine? Not fun. I had to get off, move it and start over. agggh.

50 box jumps (I did step ups)
15 ring pull ups (others did pull ups)

10 supine ring pulls
10 toes to the head - I did reverse sit ups (not sure what you call those)
30 sledge hammers
100 meter broad jumps (I jumped today..woo hoo)
Row 1000 meters somewhere in there...(I didn't get to it..not enough rowers)

AMRAP - I did 3 but I don't feel accomplished because I didn't get in the 1,000 meters. Oh well, life goes on..I did get a good workout. Moving on! Almost at the 3 day weekend! wahoo.