What?! A week off???

Yes, I haven’t gone to Crossfit in 6 days..that’s right 6 whole days. I was busy on some days and just plain freaking lazy on the others. I did join a group on Saturday for a leisure 38 mile bike ride that felt great and I even did 40 minutes on the elliptical Sunday evening. It’s time to get back on track. My jeans no longer fit me (and not the “OMG..I don’t need to lie down to squeeze into them!!” type of way) All the squeezing and grunting in the world is not going to get my ass into my jeans. That’s okay..for now. 

Today’s WOD consist of Pullups, Clean & Jerk, & Pushups. Hmmm..not a WOD I’m going to enjoy that’s for sure. 

Muscle What??

Friday's warm-up was more difficult than the actual WOD. (50 squats, 40 sit-ups, 30 kettle bell swings, 20 burpees, 100m spring. 2 min rest, THEN: 100m spring, 20 burpees, 30 kettle bell swing, 40 sit ups, 50 squats) Yep...I was ready to say my good-nights and head on home, BUT I was the only one present for the 5pm class, so I decided to take advantage of the time.

The WOD consisted of 1 min ring dips (or hold, which I did using a band) 1 min muscle ups (or jumping up and down on a box, which I did) and 1 min V-ups, which I don't mind X5. My traps are STILL sore! I think today's WOD is back squats. Not bad. I enjoy the strength WOD..

Until later...

Hang Cleans

Since starting Crossfit, I've learned a lot about myself. Patience is the # 1 thing I've learned (well, still learning as you'll read).

Last night's WOD was 3x3x3x3x3x3x3 hang cleans. Confused? Yeah, I was, too at first. Do 3 reps of hang cleans. Rest. Add weight, do 3 more reps. Rest. Add more weight, etc (7 sets of 3 reps) Hang cleans aren't so difficult..unless of course, like me, you're a mental MESS.

I started off doing well. Hell, I used a 35lb freaking bar..of course I did well. Duh. Completed 3 reps, laughed at myself a bit then added 20lbs making the bar 55lbs, which wasn't so bad either. Completed the 3 reps, the added more weight. Hmmmm...now I'm starting to feel, I don't know, not tired, nor lazy, but it was as if I was afraid of challenging myself. I was afraid of NOT being able to clean 65lbs. I stepped to the barbell and picked it up. I stood there for a couple of seconds before lowering it to my thighs. I stood there for a couple of seconds before the coach reminded me I was there too long. Oh yeah, so I stood up straight again, procrastinating somewhat. Brought the bar to my knees and cleaned it. Okay, I did it. It wasn't so terrible. My reaction was the same at 75lbs and finally at 85lbs. I did one very sloppy clean (hahaha..sloppy clean!) before calling it quits.

I left after class once again tormenting myself: "I know I could have done that better.:" "I probably could have lifted heavier." Oh shut up already! I am doing something I couldn't do a couple of months ago. My mind really attempts to mess with me sometimes.

I am looking forward to tonight's WOD, knowing that WHATEVER effort I put in, is better than not putting any effort in at all.

Good day, All!

I'm getting stronger..

When I started working out 7 years ago, I worked out HARD. I was in the gym 2 hours a day for 6 days per week. I was strong..very strong. 

Now that I've gone back to weight training (and let me tell ya, starting over SUCKS, but...I am VERY GRATEFUL to have the opportunity to start over), I feel good again. Going to Crossfit has really been good for me. When I say good for me, I don't just mean physically, but emotionally. It's nice to take out whatever stress I may have on the weights. Grunting while squatting with weight doesn't seem so silly. :) 

It  was definitely very hard for me. I went from not being able to do an overhead squat (still something I do NOT enjoy doing) with an empty 35lb bar, to squatting (not in perfect form) with 80lbs overhead. I see the results in my strength. I don't necessarily see the physical results and that's only because my diet sucks. I plan on doing the Paleo Challenge next month with my box. I will post how I'm doing with that and the workouts daily to help keep me accountable. I currently weight a 156lbs (I'm only 5'5) and would like to see a strong 140 by spring. I look forward to more milestones in my life and am grateful that I'm able to make them! 

Expecting Good Results from Little to NO Training.

I don't always learn from my mistakes nor have I cut down on the mistakes I make. :)

This past April, a couple of friends of mine & I registered to run a marathon this fall. We are all runners and had PLENTY of time to properly train. This would have been my first marathon I've run since 2010 so I was looking forward to that sense of accomplishment as well as that finisher's medal. Summer rolled around along with the heat & humidity. I started running before work since it was somewhat cooler out. Getting up earlier to run SUCKED. So, I stopped. Running. 

Fast forward...to the marathon weekend. I did not run much. I did not do a long run (which, whether you believe in long runs or not, for me, it is somewhat of an assurance that I can do it...the distance. I'm weird that way. In fact, when I was training for my first half marathon, I ran 13 miles to make sure I was able to run 13.1 on race day. Not normal, I know). I didn't do much running period. The weekend of the race I spoke to a friend of mine who was running as well. He had completed a marathon 2 weeks prior and was planning on running this one SLOWLY, so I asked if I could join him thinking I had a shot at finishing the marathon. I was not running for time (as if I really had a choice there) but for that shiny medal. He was happy to have me run with him and even encouraged me. 

The morning of the marathon I was mentally prepared to run 26.2 miles. The horn blows and off we go. Aerobically, I felt great..I mean, we were going at a 10:35 pace or so. First few miles were not bad at all. I was confident that I was going to finish the marathon. Then it hit me..that lack of training that is. By mile 10, my lower back started to tighten. Then my toes on my right foot started to cramp. That's right..my TOES STARTED TO CRAMP. Have you ever heard of such a thing??? What made me realize I was not going to run 26.2 miles was my left ankle. Ughhh..I don't know what I did, but it swelled up and started to hurt to the point of me limping. I tapped my friend on his shoulder and solemnly shook my head. He saw it in my face. I was not going to complete the marathon. 

I made the decision to split off with the half marathoners and finish the run. I had a heavy feeling in my heart. I was disappointed in myself...for not doing the marathon. I cried..for a short time then it dawned on me: Of course I didn't finish the marathon...I DIDN'T TRAIN. I stopped feeling sorry for myself because I know I would have KICKED ASPHALT if I would have trained. 

It amazes me how hard I can be on myself. I am constantly learning things about myself; my strengths along with my weaknesses. I can say this with complete honesty: I am grateful for all my experiences...even the ones I didn't "train" for!  

It's NOT easy...

..but it's possible.

I don't really compare myself to others. I compare myself to myself..the way I USE to look. My early 30s were spent at the gym..many, many hours. I was a very strong 135lb woman. Then one summer I started to feel extremely tired all the time. So much so, that going to the gym after work stopped. I was in bed by 7-7:30pm and woke up feeling as if I hadn't slept at all. I gained some weight, which I attributed to me not going to the gym as often, but I still rode my bike & ran 3-5 miles daily.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Yep, I have an under-active thyroid that doesn't like to stay regulated for long. Once the medication kicks in, I feel great..but only for a 8-12 months before I start to feel like crap again. Then it's back to the doctor for more blood work which results in increasing my synthroid dosages.

So, I'm now in my late 30s and about 20lbs more than I was 5 years ago. I am not happy about that, but I'm not completely devastated my it. It's giving me a chance to prove myself (to myself) once again. Cross-fit has been an amazing outlet for me in proving  my own strength to myself. I am definitely not as kind to myself as I should or want to be, but I am aware of it and working towards a happier me.

I look forward to challenging myself at the box (as I will tonight) and with running. :)