Heard in the House

Me to Legion: Do you want me to blow in your vagina?

Heard in the house

Gina: About to get a stranger's hands all up in me...

Heard in the house

Ppffffffffssssttttt...

Josh: Abbi, did you fart?

Abbi, looking at her butt: Nope, I looked.

Progress...Finally!!!

For the last month-ish, I've been in a funk - I haven't felt motivated to workout at all. I mean, I was still going to the box but when I was there, I would just go through the motions. There was no desire to move heavy/heavier weights, the negative attitude was affecting my workouts, and I just didn't want to do ANYthing. Then one night, one of the coaches PUSHED me in a workout to do what he knew that I was capable of but I didn't think I could do. That finally busted me out of the funk. Ever since then, I've been actively listening to the coaches (DUH!) and pushing myself in the workouts. So what if I'm last?!?! I'm getting stronger and my abilities are increasing. I strung together five pull-ups the other day. FIVE PULL-UPS!!!! I would've NEVER have thought that I could ever do that.

I need to start documenting my workouts, the weights used, the times, and even how I felt going into the workout and how I felt when it ended. And my eating...I really need to start writing all of that down.

I still hate rowing though...

So I'll begin with last night's workout. For the strength part of the workout, I partnered up with one of the girls that I'm "chasing" that can lift most weights heavier than I can...for now.

STRENGTH:

Supersets of Push Press and Pendlay Row, increasing in weights every set
3-3-2-2-2

I'm not sure of the weight that we started with but we ended with 135# on the Push Press and 115# on the Pendlay Row. It felt really good to lift heavy like that and to hear the encouragement from my coach.

WOD:

3 Rounds for Time

5 Touch-and-Go Power Clean at 70% of 1 rep max - 115#
7 Pull-ups
5 Burpees over bar

I totally forgot to look at the clock when I finished!! I was last to finish but I sure pushed myself and was lifting the heaviest weight for the girls. NICE!

I did realize though that in the last round of burpees, that I was truly and efficiently jumping over the bar. Another small milestone. It might have helped though that everyone was watching and cheering me on to finish. Whatever works, right?!?! :)

Filthy 50!!

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo (??) we did Filthy 50 for our workout and it kicked my butt!! The only other time that I've done it was for my FIRST workout out of the On-Ramp program so it was much different this time. I don't remember what my time was last time but tonight I finished in 28:20. I had to step outside for a minute to catch my breath because I couldn't breathe. I don't know if it's my allergies, the stagnant air in the box, the mold under the mats in the box (...), or what but something has really been getting to me and it's making it difficult to breathe during workouts. Kinda frustrating... But I finished and have a time to compare against the next time that we do this (awful) benchmark WOD.

Wings!

Who doesn't love good, messy, finger-licking chicken wings?! I just made these bad boys to put in the freezer. Can't wait to bake them up, along with some sweet potato fries. Yum!

Hurt...

Mt hands hurt...still.

14.4 and a few rips

On Sunday, I completed the Crossfit Games workout 14.4. The workout was a 14 minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) 60 calorie row, 50 toes-to-bar, 40 wallballs, 30 cleans, 20 muscle-ups. I had mixed emotions after I'd heard the announcement of this on Thursday because I'd never done a toes-to-bar movement and I didn't think that I would get past the 60 calorie row. I'd even gone to the box by my work on Friday to practice the toes-to-bar and wasn't able to get my feet up to the bar. I was so disappointed. And scared. I haven't been scared like this since I first "graduated" from the onramp program and was thrust into the real world of Crossfit.

So Sunday morning, I hemmed and hawed to Josh as I was drinking my protein shake, telling him that I was scared and anxious and that I didn't want to go. He kept encouraging me though, as he's been doing this entire time, telling me that he believes in me and knows that I will do fine. Such a good cheerleader, isn't he? I got to the box just as the previous workout was ending and I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Why was I so nervous?? One of the other girls that I'm friendly with did her first attempt at 14.4 on Friday so she shared her toes-to-bar tip with me. Following her advice, I jumped up on the bar, big kip back, threw my legs back, body leaning back, huge kip forward, big kick up, and HOLY CRAP, MY TOES JUST TOUCHED THE BAR! I added excitement and accomplishment to my bag of mixed emotions.

There was still time left before the Open workouts started so I stretched. I went for a warm-up jog. Stretched again. Paced. Stretched again. Paced some more. Looked at the door to see if I could escape unnoticed... Then it was time to start. Crap. I missed my opportunity. I set up my rower. Find the bar that I'm going to attempt to do toes-to-bar on. Set up my wallball space. And after being chastised for not thinking I'll get there, set up my barbell for the cleans. It's my turn now...3..2..1..GO! I pull as hard as I can at that rower because I don't want a whole lot of time eaten up by rowing. I hate rowing, by the way. I'd actually rather run than row. For a lot of people, it's the opposite. The 60 calories racks up fairly quickly and I'm off the rower in about four minutes. I'm more confident now, knowing that I completed that one toes-to-bar, but still uneasy about it. I have about 10 minutes left for the workout and an awesome cheering section for me. The guy that judged me gave me a piece of advice before I jumped on the bar: "small numbers get big results." Basically, focus on doing one at a time and you won't die. So I jumped up, did the same movements as before, and busted out 24 toes-to-bar. I was so happy!

No, I didn't get to the wallballs or cleans but I'd accomplished a HUGE milestone: walking in that day, I'd never done a toes-to-bar and at that moment, I had just completed a total of 25.

I've honestly amazed myself while participating in the Crossfit Open. It's made me push myself to perform at a level that exceeds, or exceeded, the one at which I had been previously. I say that my goal for this is to not come in last at my box but I need to get that out of my head. I need to do the best that I can do for ME. I can't compare myself to the girls that can to 50 pullups or the ones that can snatch 100 pounds. I'm not there...yet...and THAT is what I need to focus on. I've accomplished so much more than I ever thought possible in the seven months that I've been doing this. I've gotten stronger. Can run faster and longer. My diet has improved. I'm more confident. And, I'm going to say it, sex is better. When I started Crossfit, I had no idea how it would change my life. I've never committed to ANYTHING like I have with this. It's even surprised the hubs! I do have to say that he's been really supportive of it though. He typically takes my crazy ideas in stride but this one seems to have stuck. He tells me all of the time how proud he is of me in the things that I have done and the goals that I have achieved. I like that. And I love him.

Now I just have to get healed and focus on 14.5 - the last Open workout!! - and then the upcoming competition!

RX'd it!!! ... kiiiiinda

Last night's WOD was this:

10 Power Snatches (65#)

200m run

30 V-Ups

20 Thrusters (65#)

200m run

30 V-Ups

30 Clusters (squat clean thrusters - 65#)

I was EXCITED about this workout because it was totally something that I could do!

To "RX" a workout is to do it exactly as it was "prescribed" - no scaling movements (pull-ups) or weights (going down). I was able to complete this workout at the prescribed weight for each movement but I'm not quite there with a V-Up yet. So I'm not calling it a complete RX, but almost! It took me 15:31 to complete this; which I'm not thrilled about. BUT this was one instance where I had to forget about the time on the whiteboard and just focus on lifting.

The hubs came home late on Tuesday night so it really threw off my cooking. I'm hoping to have something prepared tonight and able to share tomorrow.

Tuesday was also my birthday. 36. I don't feeeeel 36. But really, how should I feel?? I'm definitely not as spry as I once was. I'm more tired now. I get random injuries in my sleep. I definitely can't eat the way and the things that I used to! I remember my dad telling me one time when I was much, much younger, and he's going to kill me for this, that he used to be able to eat KFC and Burger King but that now (at that time), it made him so sick. And come to think of it, he was probably close to the age that I am now when he said that to me. Getting older kinda sucks...

What else has been going on?? Well, we're still treating Legion for his never-ending skin issues. The other two dogs are crazy as ever. I have so many crochet projects going on right now that I don't even want to deal with them and just start a new one. Oh, and the office...the stinking office... I treat it like if I don't acknowledge it, it will just go away. It's not working. The office in our house has become the hoarder room. There's one pathway in there that leads to the computer. Otherwise, you're taking your life in your own hands. It's the room that we'll just put stuff in to get it quickly out of the way but then never go back to it. And it just builds and builds and builds. It's very overwhelming to me at this point and I think because I don't have a clear plan of action on how to attack the mess in there, I'm ignoring it. You know, like if you don't acknowledge that you're pregnant, you're not really pregnant. Right?? Yeeeaah, it's kinda working out the same way: you just end up with big piles of crap to deal with...

Me Gina, I eat like caveman

Later last year, in an effort to become more healthy, by giving my body the food that it needs to fuel itself properly, and succumbing to the "if you Crossfit, you must eat Paleo" way of thinking, I decided to check it out. I didn't know much at all about this style of eating. This huge push to eat more bacon. And I be honest here: I don't really like bacon. GASP! Once in a great while, I'll find the perfect piece of bacon that is cooked just crispy enough and has the perfect fat/meat ratio that gives it the crunch, without being tough or chewy. The hubs, bless his heart, tries to cook bacon for us perfectly, but he's just never quite hit the mark.

In my Paleo research, I was noticing ingredients like arrowroot powder, coconut oil, almond and coconut flour, and coconut aminos. Who knew the coconut was so versatile??? Sweet potatoes were everywhere. Lean meats were in the majority of the recipes. But none of the typical "carbs" that I'd seen with other diet plans or healthy foods. Rice, white or brown, beans and legumes, corn, and grains had always been acceptable carbs in my mind. Just in moderation, right? And now this caveman diet is telling me that I can't eat them?? More on this in a minute.

One day at work, when I was wasting way too much time on Pinterest, pinning crochet patterns that I'll never start, sewing projects that look fun and easy but that I'll never do because I don't own a sewing machine, decorated cupcakes that I'll never replicate, funny Crossfit memes, and freezer meals that will most likely never get made, I stumbled across a pin that said "10 Signs of Gluten Intolerance." Hmmm, interesting, let me check this out. Having heard about gluten intolerance and allergy from family members, I never thought that I would be affected by it. Turns out, in my self-diagnosis, I had seven out of the ten symptoms. Let me add that I still haven't been to a doctor to be professionally diagnosed because that may mean a blood test and well, we just won't go there... I am a carb LOVER and to cut out the things that brought me so much happiness and comfort was just too hard. Right? RIGHT?? Wrong! Once I cut out the gluten (breads, anything with soy, rice, grains, etc), I started to feel so much better. I had more energy. I wasn't getting as many migraines. The skin on my arms was clearing up. I'm thinking "huh, maybe there's something to this after all".

In January, the hubs and I undertook the Whole30 challenge - which is just Paleo eating, ramped up a notch. The no dairy part was hard for me but not as much as the no caffeine. How can I not have my morning soda?!?! Duh, switch to coffee. But wait, I can't have any sweeteners either?? Quick, check Pinterest for an idea! Whaddya know, there was actually something there. So for my morning pick me up, I started to drink coffee sweetened with coconut milk. More uses for a coconut!

We fell off of the wagon about 15 days in and biiinged on junk food. And then felt horrible for the next few days. Once we got back on track again, we felt so much better and asked ourselves why we even did that.

Now that the challenge has been long over, we're definitely looking more at food labels and what we're stuffing in our faces. Anything that we can't pronouce, doesn't come in the house. For the most part... I can't say that we're suuuuper strict on the Paleo way of eating. That we don't splurge and eat out now and then. That we only buy organic fruits, veggies, and meats. That we don't have diet sodas, candy, and the occasional chemical in our food. We're trying to eat better and for the most part, we are. Just that month on the Whole30 program really opened up our eyes to what we were putting in our bodies, how it was affecting our health and well-being, and how it will affect us in the future.

So back to the carbs: one huge change that the hubs has experienced is his insulin intake. He's been insulin-dependant Type-1 diabetic for over 20 years. By cutting out processed and refined carbs, he was able to significantly decrease his insulin dosage after meals. And I mean sig-nif-i-cantly. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely a feeling out period and there were some scary lows until he got it all sorted out. But ulitimately, he was taking in enough healthy carbs from the gobs of healthy foods he was eating.

This past weekend, I bought food to do a month's worth of Paleo freezer cooking from Once a Month Meals. The plan is to highlight each of the recipes for the month. There will be four servings of three breakfasts, four lunches, and eight dinners. Which actually breaks down to more for me when the hubs isn't home.

Stay tuned for more cooking day info!

14.3, take two!

This is the third week of the 2015 Crossfit Open, thus the workout is called 14.3. This week's workout was an 8-minute AMRAP (as many reps as possible) of deadlifts and box jumps/step-ups. I opted for the latter so I wouldn't gas in the first round. I am becoming more proficient at jumping on the box though, just not good enough...yet. The workout was this: 10 deadlifts at 95#/15 step-ups, 15 deadlifts at 135#/15 step-ups, 20 deadlifts at 155#/15 step-ups, 25 deadlifts at 185#/15step-ups, and on and on. I made it to the 185# weight round and did 14 deadlifts. All of the reps totalled 104. I need to wait until all of the scores are posted to see how I ranked with the “mortals" (aka the non-competitors) at the box. From what I was told though, I did pretty well in comparison.

Just to get a feel for the workout, I did this same workout on Friday at another box and scored 97. So I'm pretty happy with the 7 rep increase from then!

My back is WRECKED right now though so depending on what the WOD is for tomorrow, I may take it off. Please, no deadlifts...

I did my grocery shopping today. I decided to do a Paleo monthly freezer menu and ended up buying most of my ingredients from Wal-Mart. Like 98% of them. I don't know why, but I have a bit of an issue doing a Paleo menu with items bought from Wal-Mart. I know that they are the same things that I would be buying at say Bel Air or Safeway. Maybe it's because Wal-Mart has such a negative and unhealthy reference. I just can't put my finger on it. However, when you're trying to budget and to save money, Wal-Mart sure is an attractive option...

We now return to your regularly scheduled programming!

I've been absent for a while, yes. No real reason... Well, yes there is: I don't know how many people actually read this. But I know that when I do post, the hubs enjoys it as he's able to have a little bit of home while he's on the road.

I'm going to change up the *feel* of the blog a bit; I want to focus more on food and you guessed it: Crossfit. I need a way to make and keep myself more accountable for what I'm eating and to also use it as a way to track my progress in my workouts. So here we go!!

I had my first momentary lapse in sanity and decided to sign up for the Crossfit Games. I'm nowhere near what I would call "fit," nor am I at any sort of competitor level. I've only been at the box since July of last year so I'm still considered a "newbie." So you may be asking why in the heck I signed up at all!! I did it so I could see how far that I've come since I started Crossfit and to use as a reference point next year. My mom always tells me that she doesn't know how I do it. Mom, you just do.

My second lapse in sanity was when I signed up for a newbie challenge on April 12th in Oroville, CA. THIS one I'm freaking out about. Just a bit. I don't yet know what the workouts will be but it sounds like something that I can actually DO. My goal is not to win (realistic expectations, here...) but just to finish.

So here are my stats right now:
Back Squat: 200#
Snatch: 85# (3/6/14 - up from 75# 12/17/13)
Bench Press: 110# (3/5/14 - up from 100# 12/18/13)
Deadlift: 235# (3/11/14 - up from 200# 12/19/13)
Strict Press: 85#
Front Squat: 140#

Fran: 12/16/13 8:23
Isabel: 12/17/13 4:32 using 65#
Helen: 3/6/14 14:02 using 34# kettlebell, 1 purple and 1 black pull-up band (12/18/13 13:00 using 26# kettlebell, 1 green and 1 black pull-up band)
Diane: 12/19/13 I didn't note my time!!

Link to the Girls can be found here.

And at some point, probably when Josh comes home again, I need to get my measurements up. I'm just going by what the scale is telling me and honestly, getting quite frustrated that the numbers are not moving in the downward direction. Again, accountability.

I had an exciting opportunity recently to test out some new recipes but it's all still under wraps. I'll definitely post about that later!

So I hope that to the ones (one?) reading this, that you enjoy it, maybe get some helpful/healthy/fun/interesting/useless?? information from what I have to say.

Have a great day!

Nailed it!!

My leg, that is...

Tonight's WOD:

10 MIN: SNATCH BALANCE PRACTICE (IF EFFICIENT WORK TO HEAVY SINGLE)

Mini WOD: 1min handstand hold, 1min ME dbl unders, 1 min handstand hold

WOD: 7 min clock:

1000m row

40 kb swings - I did 18#

As many T2B as possible before the 7 min is up!

So I didn't get to the toes to bar because it took me 6:50 to get thru the rowing and kettlebell swings. So instead of just not doing them, I stayed after class and did 20 knees to chest, which is what people that don't have enough strength in their core do to build those muscles.

During the snatch balance, I lost my balance during the squat and landed on my butt. The 35# bar ended up landing awkwardly on my left shin. I didn't want to call attention to myself after that because honestly, I was embarrassed. But it hurt like heck!!! I pretended to kinda stand there and stretch my shoulders, got a drink of water, stretched my shoulders again, anything that I could do to "walk off" the pain that I was feeling in my leg. I didn't even look at the damage until we were done with the snatches and I was waiting for a rowing machine. There was a little bit of purple and a little swelling and quite a bit of pain. After I got home, I iced it for a bit and took some ibuprofen. I can't wait to see what it looks like in a couple of days!

I was pleased with what I did during the mini WOD because I'm getting the double unders. I can't do many at a time without getting anxious about it but at least I can jump rope for two minutes now without having to stop to either rest or reset because I messed up the rhythm.

She got away...

Today's WOD was "Chasing Grace."

STRENGTH: BACK SQUAT 5X2 @80%  - I did 125#

WOD: “Chasing Grace”

3 rounds for time:

400m run

10 clean and jerk 135/95# 

Core:  70 russian twists

I finished in about 3:30...because I stopped. Evidently, when you only eat a nectarine for breakfast and a breast of chicken for lunch, you don't have much in the tank for a workout.

I had to go take a rest outside while the rest of the class finished the WOD. Once they were finished, I joined them in the 70 Russian Twists.

I definitely learned my lesson though and need to eat more throughout the day...

Gettin' up the Turkish way!

I, in fact, did make it to this morning's 5:30 am workout. Much to Josh's surprise! 12 hours after I'd left the box, I was back. I couldn't sit down at all though once I'd made it back home because I would've just fallen back asleep and not made it in to work today.

Here's what was waiting for me this morning:

STRENGTH:

5X4 DEADLIFT @ 80% - I did 120#

WOD:

5 ROUNDS:

20 AIR SQUATS

7 SHOULDER TO OVERHEAD 135/95# - I think that I only did 45#

CORE:

10 TGU (5 PER ARM) HEAVY

I completed the WOD in 8:09 and was DRENCHED in sweat afterwards. I'm sure that the light grey shirt that I was wearing made it much less conspicuous too... 100 squats, even air squats, as fast as you can is no joke! My form was good today and I thiiiink that I might be getting the hang of the whole "explode from the hips" thing. I talked with a friend today and he told me that since I didn't play sports or anything when I was in school, that my muscles never learned how to explode or "fast-twitch." So now I have to try and teach them.

Then on to the Turkish Get-Up's (TGU)... Because it's such a crazy movement and rather than explain what they are, here's a video showing how it's done. How would you describe that to someone who'd not familiar with the movement?!?!

Since I am trying to be more strict with the healthy eating/Paleo, I had to find recipes with more flavor. You can only eat so much bland chicken... I found a recipe like this somewhere on Paleo recipe website. The BBQ sauce was all Paleo-y and healthy but I was in freezer cooking mode and didn't want to take the time to make it. Or to spend the extra money on all of the ingredients! As long as I'm not drenching the chicken on my plate with the sauce, or eating totally unhealthy, I think that I can squeeze in a little non-Paleo BBQ sauce.

As always with freezer meals, especially crock pot ones, I get a little nervous when it comes to the flavor and taste. Is it going to be bland? Is it going to taste so bad that we throw it away (this has happened more than once...)? Is it a repeater?? Because all or most of the ingredients are raw when put into the freezer bag, you can't judge how many extra spices or ingredients need to be added or omitted prior to cooking. Thankfully though, this recipe is a definite repeater! Josh would have this over rice but I just ate mine with a biiig salad. SO good!

Insanity!! Mixed with a lot of sweat.

OLYMPIC LIFTING:

CLEAN & JERK EMOM 2 REPS @ 75%

1RMWOD:

5 MIN MAX BURPEES OVER BAR

4 MIN MAX FRONT SQUATS 95/65#

3 MIN MAX PULL UPS

2 MIN MAX AB MAT SIT UPS

TOTAL REPS IS YOUR SCORE = 105 total

This was a tough, fast workout. It didn't seem so when I was looking at it online but it kicked my butt. People dread Fran but it's the fast workouts like these, where you're going from one thing to the next to the next, that really kick your butt. The link for Fran is of Bob Harper from the Biggest Loser. It's pretty entertaining. Watch it.

I still haven't figured out the clean and jerk movements so the entire time the rest of the class was doing their lifting, I'm over trying to figure out how to properly move the damn trainer bar... It's killing me that I can't get this!!

5:30 am class tomorrow!! Eek!!

AMRAP

As Many Reps As Possible...AMRAP. Wow. I'd never done one of these kinds of workouts before and they're pretty intense. You have to go as fast as you can in the allotted amount of time. The exercises aren't hard or heavy, just fast.

Last night's workout was this:

Strength
3x3 heavy power snatch - I only did the 15 pound trainer bar...

10min AMRAP

12 overhead plate lunges - I did 15 pounds

8 toes-to-bar - I did knees to chest because my core is nowhere NEAR strong enough to bring my toes up to the bar

6 squat snatches - again, only the 15 pound trainer bar...

The power and squat snatches were giving me so much trouble! For whatever reason, I just don't "get" the movement. I'm throwing up the bar with my shoulders instead of powering it up with my hips. I can't figure out that movement. So I'm not "allowed" to move on to the heavier, weighted bars until I can get the movement down. Which I totally understand but it frustrates the heck out of me that I can't get this! The coach was trying to help me with it but I could tell that he was getting a little frustrated as well and I know that he can't just focus on me and my non-form when there are a handful of other people in the class that he needs to keep an eye on too. So I'll just continue with my little wimpy bar until I can grasp the concept of the "snatch." Lame...

I was able to fully complete 4 rounds of the AMRAP though and then went on to do 35 Russian Twists with the 18 pound kettlebell. I was tired after the workout and pressed for time because I had to get home and then leave again for a hair appointment.

I've realized that I need to go to class more often than 2 times a week. So now, I've already signed up for classes thru the end of the week. I'm getting impatient because I'm not seeing the results fast enough. And I think that my diet has to do with that as well... I can eat like a champ during the day at work, but when I get home, and I'm tired either from the day or from working out, all bets are off and I'm reaching for whatever is easiest and fastest. Not always the best. I'm going to try the 5:30AM class on Friday to see if that will work better for me. It's going to be early and it's going to be difficult to get out of bed, but I think that by shifting my schedule around a little bit, it might work out better for me at night. We shall see!!

A little time off...HURTS!

STRENGTH: 5X3 DEADLIFT @ 80%

SKILL

WOD 1: 1MIN DBL UNDERS, 1MIN PLANK, 1MIN HANDSTAND HOLD, 1MIN DBL UNDERS

WOD 2: 40 KB SWINGS 40 GOBLET LUNGES 30 KB SWINGS 30 GOBLET LUNGES 20 KB SWINGS 20 GOBLET LUNGES

Yesterday was my first day back to the box since last Wednesday. And I felt it. I was sore getting into the truck to go home!

My max, and only, deadlift was 195 pounds so the coach told me to try 160 pounds. I grabbed the bar and started stacking on weights to see where it was juuuust heavy enough. I got to 125 pounds. A bit short of 160. So I did my five sets and got ready for the WODs. Yes, WODSSSSS.

I was looking forward to this workout to get me back into the routine because I can do these kinds of workouts all day. The upper body ones, not so much. I cringe when I see anything having to do with pull ups.

During the first WOD, I attempted to do a "double under" while jumproping. I didn't realize how much effort it takes to jump rope! Why did it seem so easy when we were younger?!?! And then throwing double unders in there makes it more difficult. After whipping my legs pretty good a few times, I finally got the hang of it.

For the second WOD, I used an 18 pound kettlebell. In retrospect, I probably could have used a heavier weight... I finished in 9:52.

I don't know Grace, but...

she doesn't need to be talking about jerking anything 30 times, even if it is clean!

A little CrossFit humor there...

Today's WOD:

STRENGTH: 3X10 REPS BENCH PRESS LEAVE 3 REPS IN THE TANK REST 1MIN BETWEEN SETS - I did 60# 

WOD:

GRACE:

30 CLEAN AND JERKS FOR TIME

135/95 (I did 55#)

POST GAME WOD:

3 ROUNDS

8 SNATCH BALANCE 45/35#

MAX EFFORT UNBROKEN MUSCLE UPS (SCALED CHEST TO BAR PULL UPS OR PULL UPS) - I did pullups assisted by a band

I completed "Grace" in 5:20 but it was waaaay scaled down. The coaches are more concerned about proper form than time right now because everything is still so new.

Again, since the coach is focused on form, I did the first 2 rounds of the snatch balance with a PVC pipe and then a 15# trainer bar when he saw that I had the hang of it.

Then I did 6 rounds of 15 Russian Twists. I'm not excited about how I'm going to feel after that one...

I SO wanted pizza for dinner tonight and seriously had to fight the urge to get out my phone and order it. By the way, Domino's Pizza has made it way too easy to order pizza from them! Their app is so convenient and quick... BUT I had some pork chops in the fridge that needed to be made into something so I did that instead. Pork chops topped with golden delicious apples in a honey broth. I'm a little afraid that I may have undercooked the pork but I guess I'll find out if I did in a few hours or so... It was good going down, not really looking forward to what it'll be like going the other way.

Junk Food:0   Gina:1

Who knew???

So check this out: if you eat well and exercise, you can lose weight! Why hasn't anybody caught on to this phenomenon before?!?! Or maybe it was just me...

The scale hasn't moved MUCH for me since starting CrossFit, but I can feel the transformation. Like I said before: not as jiggly, or girthy (thanks, Josh!!). I can really tell when driving over our fabulous California roads and hitting all of the pits, holes, ruts, etc. I notice that my Santa belly doesn't shake so much like jelly now. More like...well, more like something slightly more firm. I just can't think of what that would be...

We're going on vacation with the whole family next week and I still havent decided what I want to do as far as exercise. As I see it, I have three options: go to the box near the condo, do mini WOD's on my own, or take the week off. I'm scared of what I would come back to though if I take the week off. Would it be almost like starting over again, where I'd be stupid sore???

I'm still TRYING to make better food choices but there are times when the siren's call of my boyfriend Jesse at the Burger King THAT I HAVE TO PASS ON THE WAY HOME is just too much to resist. And yes, I would go to that particular BK so often that they knew who I was based on my order...

Handstand Pushups

Today's WOD:

STRENGTH: BACK SQUAT 3X10 (USE A WEIGHT THAT LEAVES ABOUT 3 REPS IN THE TANK)

AFTER EACH SET OF SQUATS IMMEDIATELY DO MAX EFFORT UNBROKEN HSPU (Handstand Pushups)

WOD:

600M RUN

60 KB SWINGS

400M RUN

40 T2B

200M RUN

20 KB SINGLE ARM SHOULDER TO OVERHEAD (10 ECH ARM)

Core: 40 kettlebell windmills

I finished this!! Not happy with the time but it's only my second real class and I finished in 20:01. But.I.FINISHED!

I had to scale the handstand pushups to something that I'm sure looked very interesting from behind... I was kneeling on a 24 inch box, butt waaaay up in the air, and head hanging over the side. I had to push up from the floor, kind of working up to the handstand pushup.

I was working with another girl on the back squats and she was working with 10 pounds on each side. I think it was a little too easy for me but it was the beginning of the workout so I didn't want to burn out way early.

I also had to scale the toes-to-bar (T2B) where while I was hanging, I just brought my knees up to my chest. Still, 40 of those bad boys weren't easy!!

It's been almost a month of working out and I can already notice that I'm getting stronger and my runs are getting faster. Not as fast as the ones that have been doing this for a while, or the super fit ones. However, I do take silent joy in the fact that only two classes in and I'm stronger than some of the other girls that have been there for much longer. Not faster though...

I did come in last tonight and a couple of the girls actually came out to cheer me on as I was finishing up my last run. I thought I'd hate it but it was the little boost that I needed. Good thing I decided to push it and run the last leg!!

I have to take tomorrow off for a hair appointment and I'm actually bummed about it!!

And now the hard stuff begins...

After completing the On-Ramp portion of the Crossfit, the training wheels are coming off and it's time for the butt-kicking. I'm so terrified! And excited. At the same time.

I've really enjoyed Crossfit-ting so far, but I do really think that my body says that it's time for me to move on to the "real" classes because I'm not as sore anymore and I'm moving heavier weights. I've had days where it hurts to get in and out of the car, where I can't sit down without groaning, where I can't straighten out my torso because my abs are so sore, and my arms are so jello-y that I can't even form patties for burgers! Even after all of that, it feels so good to know that I'm working so hard to get that way. But my head is yelling at me to stay in the training classes because it's scared of the real workouts! To do that though would be to go against everything that Crossfit is about: which is to NOT listen to your head when you want to quit. Push yourself. Get out of your comfort zone.

I think that my biggest fear is that I'm super intimidated and afraid to come in last. Like waaaaay last. Which I will, and I know that, but I don't like it. There's a quote on our "box's" (box is what the facility is called) website that is what they tell all of their newbies: "Dead last is greater than did not finish which trumps did not start." So all of the times when I think that I can't get my chin above the bar, or I can't seem to do one more walking lunge, or can't get thru 10 more Russian twists, or those last 100 meters of rowing are going to kill me, all that is running thru my head is FINISH THIS! That and, don't puke. As long as those two things happen, I'm good.

I'm looking forward to a more noticeable tranformation of my body. Already, in these past few weeks, I've noticed that I'm less jiggly. Even Josh, in his Josh-way, said that I'm less girth-y. Thanks babe... HAHA! I know what he meant though and took it as a compliment.

This is our Workout of the Day (WOD) for today:

Strength : Max Deadlift

Wod:

Dirty Twenty

For time:

20 Box jump

20 Jumping pull-ups

20 Kettlebell swings, 1 pood

Walking Lunge, 20 steps

20 Knees to elbows

20 Push press, 45 pounds

20 Back extensions

20 Wall ball shots, 10 pound ball

20 Burpees

20 Jump Ropes

This is typically a "Filthy Fifty" (50 times for each movement) workout but because it was my first class out of the on-ramp, beginners, program, they scaled it back for me. It still killed me though!! But I finished. I was really surprised at myself when I was able to bust out a 195 pound max deadlift! I've never done deadlifts before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I typically curse my genetics for giving me my "soccer player legs," but here, they helped me move a lot more weight that I, and probably the coach!, thought I could. Even though I was nervous about the movements, I went through them relatively easily...until the burpees. I swear a sadist created burpees. Those are what killed me! But knowing that I was almost done, and had the super easy jumpropes to close it out, I busted out those stupid burpees. I hate them...

I wasn't thinking about recording my time when I was sucking air and thinking that all I wanted to do was to curl up in a fetal position. I know that it was somewhere in the 20 minute mark though.

Dog Days of Summer

It makes the dogs a little more quiet, a little less hungry, and a lot more thirsty. So we go from wiping up food slobber, to wiping up water. And it's not from the obvious one (Legion) either. It's Hayden!!

I Pay For This?!?!

So I bought a groupon for Crossfit. There's a girl at work that is pushin' 260 pounds that has been doing it for three months and has lost about 8 inches overall during that time. Ok, I think, if she can do it, I've got to be able to do it. Better.

Oh, how prideful I was...

I don't think that I have ever been this sore. I don't think that I've ever looked at a flight of stairs and contemplated hurtling myself down them because it would be quicker, and less painful, than walking down them. But on the other hand, I can't remember when I've actually had this much fun working out. This isn't a typical 'gym' environment. It's a warehouse-feeling building with ropes and rings hanging from the ceiling, kettlebells lying on the floor, men and women of varying sizes all working out together in a team setting. You could be the most un-fit person, coming in dead last, and the super annoyingly fit perky-boobed blonde is cheering you on to finish. And all you can think about is crossing the finish line and calling "time" so she'll shut her mouth. That hasn't happened to me...yet...

The groupon gets me 12 classes, which breaks down to 2 weeks of the on-ramp classes and then I get thrown to the wolves. The training wheels come off! Most of workouts are named after women (???) but then you get ones named "Fight Gone Bad." Huh, strange name, right? Upon googling that workout, it came about when an MMA fighter finished it and when asked how he felt, he said "it felt like a fight gone bad." Oh, now THAT'S something to look forward to!! As long as I finish it though, I'm ok with it.

The pictures are of when I'm on the way to workout and then right when I got home. Bit of a difference, huh?

My Heart

This little boy is my heart dog...and often breaks it too. Hayden is so full of life, always on go, and even though little specks of grey are coming in, you would never guess that he is 6 years old.

Time is catching up with him though in the form of cancerous tumors on his body, non-cancerous tumors in his mouth, and it's taking him longer to recover from play time (he has a heart murmur). But I hug him every day and tell him that I love him so very much so if anything should happen, he will know. And in true little boy fashion, he allows the hugs for only so long before he wriggles away and is off to play.

He has been such a god-send for us: a little baby for Abbi, a playmate for Legion, a cuddlebug for mama, big helper for daddy, and it seems that he puts his whole heart into everything that he does, only wanting to make us happy.

I love you, my little Hayden Michael. What, your dog doesn't have a middle name???

Italian Sausage Stew

Holy smokes, this was gooooood!! I've made it a few times and it doesn't last long in our house.

Meh Chicken

I'd found a recipe for chicken on the Once a Month Mom website and because of the ingredients, I got super excited about it. When we ate it, the excitement faded. I've now renamed the recipe Meh Chicken because there is nothing special about it. I'm not even going to link back to the original recipe because it's just not worth it.

As an aside, I'm not so impressed with the Once a Month Mom recipes anymore. Yes, it is so very nice to have freezer recipes all in one site, all organized for you by meal and/or snack. But the recipes are not good! The "normal" recipes are full of cheeses and fatty foods, and mostly resemble funeral casseroles. But the "diet" recipes are bland and totally lacking any sort of texture or flavor. I'm sure that I could spruce them up a little bit but I don't know that until AFTER I've spent hours and hours prepping the food, putting it into freezer containers, and then cooking it. I get so frustrated that I wasted the time preparing it AND the money on the ingredients. But because I've been doing the freezer cooking for a while, I've learned which ingredients freeze and thaw well, along with the ones that don't. So now, Pinterest has become my favorite place to get freezer recipes!

I just noticed that you can see my fun new running shoes peeking out in the bottom left corner of the picture. Probably the best pair that I've owned!

Potato Soup

After having the baked potato soup at Black Angus years ago, I've been searching for a recipe that could duplicate the creamy taste and texture of it. I hadn't ever been successful...until now! This soup was so so so good! The recipe makes so much of it that I still have more in the freezer.

Breaded Chicken & Asparagus

Breaded chicken breast, with a feta cheese topping, and roasted asparagus.

Yum!

Pork medallions with roasted asparagus and tomatoes. Served with some gourmet Pilsbury crescent rolls and a nicely chilled Diet Pepsi. I really need to learn how to make homemade breads...

Josh goes up North!

Since Josh has been working at this company, he's kind of become their "go-to" person for the more techincal, more sensitive, jobs because of his experience and how he can "handle" the client. Surprisingly enough... Not that he doesn't know the heck out of anything relating to the technical side of his job. It's just that Josh is not the kind of person that I would imagine being as...well...slick. He's the kind of person that you never have to guess what they're thinking or how they're feeling because he just kinda lets you know. And because of that, and because I don't know how he is when he puts on his professional hat, I would have never guessed that he would end up in this kind of position at work.

So they sent him to Canada. In December. See what being a good employee gets you???

While he was up there, he and a co-worker were able to take a day trip to Linn Canyon. From the pictures that he took, I really wish that I was able to have gone with him. Except for the bridge. He can have that bridge all to himself...

Then there are a few pictures of around Victoria and of Totem Park. He said that it was definitely one of those time where he was really missing home because he wished that we could have experienced those places together.

It really stinks to have him on the road so much, but one thing that I'm grateful for is that he has had some opportunities to travel across the United States, and now into Canada, and to see all of the tourist-y things that he wouldn't otherwise had an opportunity to. It kind of breaks up the longing to be back home and the monotony of the work days.