I have been sitting here in tears the last few minutes wondering what the future is going to hold for me and realizing that I don't EVER want my kids to face what I am facing right now. I just got off the phone with my mom and she said after my dad's follow-up with the neurologist, even though a definitive diagnosis is nearly impossible until autopsy, the professional opinion is that my dad is in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease. Now, my dad first went to the doctor a few months ago, the word got kicked around a bit and the official diagnosis used was "Mild Cognitive Impairment". I hadn't really embraced the reality of this type of diagnosis until the "A word" got thrown out today. Now, one parent with what isn't a terminal disease, but one that will eventually rob them of the pride, their memories, even the understanding that I am their child is bad enough, but knowing that my mom has MS just ups the anty a bit. You see, my mom getting stressed out exacerbates her MS and could leave her unable to walk, blind, or any other various atrocity that MS decides to bestow upon her with the next flare up. So, the reality is, whenever my dad gets to the point that he is unable to understand limitations, he will almost definitely end up in a nursing home or assisted living facility because my mom won't be able to care for him. My sister and I are in our late 30's facing the reality that in not too terribly long, our father may not even know our names, let alone our kids' names or my mom's name. The reality of this for me is unbearable.
So, while I know that Alzheimer's and MS are both things that are not brought on by unhealthy lifestyles, is it really logical to believe that living a clean and healthy lifestyle might not keep them at bay for longer? I can't in good conscience NOT do something to keep myself as healthy as possible, for my parents' sake, for my kids' sake, and for my sake. I owe my kids a healthy parent who has done everything possible to delay the likelihood that my children will have to face the news I heard today. I need to stay healthy for a LONG time, which means I need to get this weight off, I need to exercise regularly. I need my body to operate as a machine, not a broken down old beater that is ready for the junk yard. Time to get it done!!! My kids deserve a healthy mom for MANY years to come.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
DNF--and a little inspiration
Tonight's WOD was heavy on cardio, which at 5'2" and 255 pounds, I'm not really in any shape for AT ALL!! Tonight was incredibly difficult, but I didn't give up, and I didn't leave the box in tears this time.
WOD #1:
10 ab-mat sit-ups, 20 Thrusters (I used 55#), 20 sit-ups, 16 Thrusters, 30 sit-ups, 12 Thrusters (I dropped to 45#), 40 sit ups, 8 Thrusters, 50 sit-ups (I only made it to #29 in the allotted 15 minute timeframe to complete the WOD), then 4 Thrusters. My heart was racing so fast when I got "done" that I wasn't so certain about my ability to do WOD 2, but knew I had to try.
WOD #2:
8 rounds for time
10 box jumps, 10 kettle bell swings.
Shout out to Guanina Palermo-Pinckney for teaching me the trick of staring at the wall during box jumps and NOT looking at the box. I always get overwhelmed just looking at the box and my fear gets the best of me. I got through my first 40 box jumps without a thought or a problem thanks to this little piece of advice!
I got through the first 4 rounds doing the jumps and then on #6 of the 4th round of jumps, I turned my ankle pretty bad. It hurt something fierce! For rounds 5 and 6 I did step-ups, rather than jumps, but I kept pushing. There was no way I could finish the last 2 rounds, due to time or my ankle either one. I didn't leave upset like I did the last time I didn't finish, I left proud. I am proud of my continued efforts to go into the box and push my limits. I am proud that I continue, even when it hurts, when my heart is racing and my mind is telling me that I should stop. I am proud of all that the box is helping me to become, and not just in the sense of finishing workouts and building muscle.
Now for the inspiration part----I had read a post earlier today by one of our CrossFit members, Phillip Mason. Phillip posted the following on his FB status today: Today as I sit here I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!!! I have had the best year of my life this last year I lost 76 POUNDS!! And I'm still going! This is the best shape that I have been in my life and I love it. There comes a point in your life when you say that it's time for a change!! Thank GOD this past year was when I drew a line in the sand and said NO MORE!! I will be a better person, I will forgive those who did me wrong, I will continue to be a better example for all around me who say its time for a change!! I only hope that my achievements will be a light for others who are fed up with where they are at, and they will too make their decisions to change themselves and their lifestyles!! Thanks to ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THIS JOURNEY!! And also a big thanks to CrossFit APxfor helping become healthy and more physically fit!!
I found this exciting since I have so much weight that I want to lose, and some very lofty goals for myself. Just like most obese folks, when we hear of someone who has had this level of success, we ask the same questions.....You know the ones........How did you do it? How long did it take? Phillip told me he started really focusing on his weight in April of 2012. He had made some small changes before that, but April 2012 is when he really started to focus on it. This was really exciting for me to hear. Why? Because I would like to lose 100#. Now, I'm not focusing on the numbers, but instead focusing on the things I have some control over, my workouts, and what I put into my mouth. If I control these 2 things, I will see results on the scale in time.
In that vain, Barney was going to the store tonight and I gave him a list of things I needed him to buy me for breakfasts and lunches this week. He gave me a look of concern because of the number of times I've attempted this, and failed. The amount of healthy fruits and vegetables that have been purchased and gone bad in the fridge because the bad stuff was far easier and took less time. I very calmly asked him to please trust me. I need to make these changes, and I need him to trust me that I will continue this and be eating all of these foods. I need to have healthy snacks available to eat during the day, so I don't eat things like chips and candy which are so available to me on a regular basis. I have to be prepared to succeed, or I am planning to fail, basically. So, I need to wrap up this blog post, go hard boil some eggs, clean and pack some salad for tomorrow, and cut up some carrots and cucumbers for my healthy snacks during the day. Our Keurig came today, so I'm going to try all the different coffees that came as a sample until I find one that I can drink black, since cream and sugar aren't in the food plan.
Until next time...Krista
WOD #1:
10 ab-mat sit-ups, 20 Thrusters (I used 55#), 20 sit-ups, 16 Thrusters, 30 sit-ups, 12 Thrusters (I dropped to 45#), 40 sit ups, 8 Thrusters, 50 sit-ups (I only made it to #29 in the allotted 15 minute timeframe to complete the WOD), then 4 Thrusters. My heart was racing so fast when I got "done" that I wasn't so certain about my ability to do WOD 2, but knew I had to try.
WOD #2:
8 rounds for time
10 box jumps, 10 kettle bell swings.
Shout out to Guanina Palermo-Pinckney for teaching me the trick of staring at the wall during box jumps and NOT looking at the box. I always get overwhelmed just looking at the box and my fear gets the best of me. I got through my first 40 box jumps without a thought or a problem thanks to this little piece of advice!
I got through the first 4 rounds doing the jumps and then on #6 of the 4th round of jumps, I turned my ankle pretty bad. It hurt something fierce! For rounds 5 and 6 I did step-ups, rather than jumps, but I kept pushing. There was no way I could finish the last 2 rounds, due to time or my ankle either one. I didn't leave upset like I did the last time I didn't finish, I left proud. I am proud of my continued efforts to go into the box and push my limits. I am proud that I continue, even when it hurts, when my heart is racing and my mind is telling me that I should stop. I am proud of all that the box is helping me to become, and not just in the sense of finishing workouts and building muscle.
Now for the inspiration part----I had read a post earlier today by one of our CrossFit members, Phillip Mason. Phillip posted the following on his FB status today: Today as I sit here I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!!! I have had the best year of my life this last year I lost 76 POUNDS!! And I'm still going! This is the best shape that I have been in my life and I love it. There comes a point in your life when you say that it's time for a change!! Thank GOD this past year was when I drew a line in the sand and said NO MORE!! I will be a better person, I will forgive those who did me wrong, I will continue to be a better example for all around me who say its time for a change!! I only hope that my achievements will be a light for others who are fed up with where they are at, and they will too make their decisions to change themselves and their lifestyles!! Thanks to ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME THROUGH THIS JOURNEY!! And also a big thanks to CrossFit APxfor helping become healthy and more physically fit!!
I found this exciting since I have so much weight that I want to lose, and some very lofty goals for myself. Just like most obese folks, when we hear of someone who has had this level of success, we ask the same questions.....You know the ones........How did you do it? How long did it take? Phillip told me he started really focusing on his weight in April of 2012. He had made some small changes before that, but April 2012 is when he really started to focus on it. This was really exciting for me to hear. Why? Because I would like to lose 100#. Now, I'm not focusing on the numbers, but instead focusing on the things I have some control over, my workouts, and what I put into my mouth. If I control these 2 things, I will see results on the scale in time.
In that vain, Barney was going to the store tonight and I gave him a list of things I needed him to buy me for breakfasts and lunches this week. He gave me a look of concern because of the number of times I've attempted this, and failed. The amount of healthy fruits and vegetables that have been purchased and gone bad in the fridge because the bad stuff was far easier and took less time. I very calmly asked him to please trust me. I need to make these changes, and I need him to trust me that I will continue this and be eating all of these foods. I need to have healthy snacks available to eat during the day, so I don't eat things like chips and candy which are so available to me on a regular basis. I have to be prepared to succeed, or I am planning to fail, basically. So, I need to wrap up this blog post, go hard boil some eggs, clean and pack some salad for tomorrow, and cut up some carrots and cucumbers for my healthy snacks during the day. Our Keurig came today, so I'm going to try all the different coffees that came as a sample until I find one that I can drink black, since cream and sugar aren't in the food plan.
Until next time...Krista
Monday, December 31, 2012
Knowledge is POWER!
I have always said that I didn't really know what I was doing with food, what to eat, when to eat, and I needed to take an intellectual approach to learning because it is not something that is beyond my ability to know, comprehend and put into place. I have done a lot of reading, and while some folks still would like for me to believe that the only option I have to lose the amount of weight I'd like to use is surgery, either lap band, sleeve, or full-on gastric bypass, I know that I haven't done everything in my power to make the changes necessary so I'm going to put my knowledge into practice and see what happens.
I still haven't been feeling all that confident with my new eating philosophy which is one of the reasons I haven't really put it into full effect just yet. Then, the other night, at my aunt's house, my cousin who is the last one not enlisted in the Army was talking about how he still needs to lose another inch off his weight before he goes back to be re-measured. He explained that he is eating broccoli for his afternoon snack, and only 1 meal/day and working out every night to burn off the calories he had eaten that day. I launched into this long-winded, and very educated sounding explanation of why this theory was failing him. I explained that eating 1 meal/day had his body in starvation mode, and that your body is like a furnace. I told him he should be waking up early and exercising in the morning because doing so kick-starts your metabolism. Then I explained that he should be eating 6 small meals, about every 3 hours throughout the day. This "stokes the fire" of your metabolism and keeps it in high gear for the remainder of the day. I told him that by being in starvation mode he was defeating his purpose and would actually hold onto weight, rather than losing it. I also explained to him that he needed to be putting high quality fuel in his furnace, eating meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and no processed shit.
I realized after this long-winded rant what a hypocrite I looked like. Here I am saying that I don't understand what I need to do to get this weight off and lecturing my cousin about how to lose the weight to get into the Army. I guess my lack of knowledge is no longer an acceptable excuse, and I now need to decide whether I'm willing to actually put that knowledge into action. The simple answer.....HELL YES!!!
As a side note--For the first time in years, I bought an XL sweatshirt, and it fits!!! It is only fitting that the first XL shirt I bought is a CrossFit APX shirt. The people that are so instrumental in the changing of my life. YAY!!!
I still haven't been feeling all that confident with my new eating philosophy which is one of the reasons I haven't really put it into full effect just yet. Then, the other night, at my aunt's house, my cousin who is the last one not enlisted in the Army was talking about how he still needs to lose another inch off his weight before he goes back to be re-measured. He explained that he is eating broccoli for his afternoon snack, and only 1 meal/day and working out every night to burn off the calories he had eaten that day. I launched into this long-winded, and very educated sounding explanation of why this theory was failing him. I explained that eating 1 meal/day had his body in starvation mode, and that your body is like a furnace. I told him he should be waking up early and exercising in the morning because doing so kick-starts your metabolism. Then I explained that he should be eating 6 small meals, about every 3 hours throughout the day. This "stokes the fire" of your metabolism and keeps it in high gear for the remainder of the day. I told him that by being in starvation mode he was defeating his purpose and would actually hold onto weight, rather than losing it. I also explained to him that he needed to be putting high quality fuel in his furnace, eating meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and no processed shit.
I realized after this long-winded rant what a hypocrite I looked like. Here I am saying that I don't understand what I need to do to get this weight off and lecturing my cousin about how to lose the weight to get into the Army. I guess my lack of knowledge is no longer an acceptable excuse, and I now need to decide whether I'm willing to actually put that knowledge into action. The simple answer.....HELL YES!!!
As a side note--For the first time in years, I bought an XL sweatshirt, and it fits!!! It is only fitting that the first XL shirt I bought is a CrossFit APX shirt. The people that are so instrumental in the changing of my life. YAY!!!
Friday, December 28, 2012
The New Year
I have been thinking a lot about my New Year's Resolutions and have made quite a few decisions about them. I have also been seriously considering some advice I got from one of my doctor's this year, and that advice is playing a large role in my "resolutions" for lack of a better word. This post is going to get into some medical stuff I've been dealing with for a while and everything is pointing to the need for some sweeping lifestyle changes.
I have had some serious hormonal issues since I was in college. It was in college when my cycles changed and started being less and less predictable. I think I was about 21 the first time I missed what had always been an exactly 28 day cycle and to say I FREAKED OUT might be an understatement. Up to that point the only reason I had ever known for missing a cycle was pregnancy and my boyfriend at the time already had a little girl that was not quite 2 and he had told me he wanted to have a vasectomy and no more children. Then there was that pesky issue of what to tell my parents who had always made it very clear that pregnancy outside of marriage wouldn't have been acceptable, and I was entering my junior year of college. I was completely mortified when the doctor said to me, "You've gained a bit of weight, that is probably the issue." I was maybe 185 or 190 at the time, but I had gained about 20 or 25 pounds since graduating high school. Well, I had never given any consideration that what I was eating could have caused this, and no physician had certainly ever eluded to this beyond, "you need to go on a diet."
Ever since the day the first kid called me fat in middle school, I have wanted that to not be the case, but I didn't know how in the hell to make that happen. As a kid, I didn't know what to tell my parents, and honestly, I tried everything bad and dangerous to make that happen. I was anorexic, I've had binge eating issues, I've been an emotional eater, I've basically done everything but purge and take medications.
This summer my hormonal issues too a nasty turn and I had one of my very unpredictable cycles and it lasted 3 months, until I Had to go have a D & C to stop it. The issues still haven't resolved themselves, but the doctor who did my D&C asked me about my eating habits. Well, I laughed and said, "Really? I'm sitting in your office at 5'2" tall and weighing in at 265, you cannot be serious." At that point he went on a VERY passionate tangent about eating primal and all the benefits of it, etc. The thing is, I met a girl in my dance class last year and she had told me that she lost her weight by eating primal, but I had never heard of it before and I blew it off as yet another fad diet. Dr. Brannon told me about the book, "The Primal Blueprint" so I downloaded it to my Nook, but I've yet to finish reading it. I've started it, but it is very overwhelming! From what Dr. Brannon tells me, women with PCOS suffer the worst of the syndrome but that cutting out grains, wheat, etc. as is required from a Primal diet. He believes that my following a primal diet will not only help me lose weight, it will reduce my PCOS symptoms and possibly get me back into a regular cycle, without additional surgery.
So, now, for my resolutions, They have to be measurable to have any way of saying whether I have been successful or not, so I have a few, which I will report here, they are as follows:
I will run 3 days/week until the Princess Half Marathon on February 24
I will CrossFit 3 days/week until the Princess Half marathon
After the Princess I will Crossfit 5 days/week
I will eat Primal, giving myself 1 day per month as a cheat day
This last one is not measurable, but it is vital to my success:
I will show myself the same love, support and encouragement as I give to my friends and family.
I saw a post on FB not too long ago that said "you wouldn't tolerate it if someone else emotionally abused a family member of yours, why do you accept it from yourself." It was like a kick in the gut to me. I don't treat others with the hateful disrespect that I treat myself with. I wouldn't tolerate someone talking to my sister the way I talk to myself. I would absolutely defend her and demand that someone else treat her with respect, so why do I let me about me? That needs to stop. I need to stop allowing behavior out of myself that I would never accept from anyone else.
You will notice that I haven't made a resolution about weight. The fact of the matter is, all I can control is what I put in my mouth, and how much I move my body. I cannot control how much weight comes off or when it comes off. The reality is, If I do all of this, I will likely lose the weight I want to lose, but i can't afford to tie my success or failure to a scale. I need to focus on healthy habits, and the weight loss is just a convenient and exciting side-effect to making healthy choices.
So, these are my New Year's resolutions. and I can't wait to embark on a New Year's Resolution with a different focus than any other New Year in forever. I need to control what I can control, and the scale isn't one of those things.
Until next time......
Krista
I have had some serious hormonal issues since I was in college. It was in college when my cycles changed and started being less and less predictable. I think I was about 21 the first time I missed what had always been an exactly 28 day cycle and to say I FREAKED OUT might be an understatement. Up to that point the only reason I had ever known for missing a cycle was pregnancy and my boyfriend at the time already had a little girl that was not quite 2 and he had told me he wanted to have a vasectomy and no more children. Then there was that pesky issue of what to tell my parents who had always made it very clear that pregnancy outside of marriage wouldn't have been acceptable, and I was entering my junior year of college. I was completely mortified when the doctor said to me, "You've gained a bit of weight, that is probably the issue." I was maybe 185 or 190 at the time, but I had gained about 20 or 25 pounds since graduating high school. Well, I had never given any consideration that what I was eating could have caused this, and no physician had certainly ever eluded to this beyond, "you need to go on a diet."
Ever since the day the first kid called me fat in middle school, I have wanted that to not be the case, but I didn't know how in the hell to make that happen. As a kid, I didn't know what to tell my parents, and honestly, I tried everything bad and dangerous to make that happen. I was anorexic, I've had binge eating issues, I've been an emotional eater, I've basically done everything but purge and take medications.
This summer my hormonal issues too a nasty turn and I had one of my very unpredictable cycles and it lasted 3 months, until I Had to go have a D & C to stop it. The issues still haven't resolved themselves, but the doctor who did my D&C asked me about my eating habits. Well, I laughed and said, "Really? I'm sitting in your office at 5'2" tall and weighing in at 265, you cannot be serious." At that point he went on a VERY passionate tangent about eating primal and all the benefits of it, etc. The thing is, I met a girl in my dance class last year and she had told me that she lost her weight by eating primal, but I had never heard of it before and I blew it off as yet another fad diet. Dr. Brannon told me about the book, "The Primal Blueprint" so I downloaded it to my Nook, but I've yet to finish reading it. I've started it, but it is very overwhelming! From what Dr. Brannon tells me, women with PCOS suffer the worst of the syndrome but that cutting out grains, wheat, etc. as is required from a Primal diet. He believes that my following a primal diet will not only help me lose weight, it will reduce my PCOS symptoms and possibly get me back into a regular cycle, without additional surgery.
So, now, for my resolutions, They have to be measurable to have any way of saying whether I have been successful or not, so I have a few, which I will report here, they are as follows:
I will run 3 days/week until the Princess Half Marathon on February 24
I will CrossFit 3 days/week until the Princess Half marathon
After the Princess I will Crossfit 5 days/week
I will eat Primal, giving myself 1 day per month as a cheat day
This last one is not measurable, but it is vital to my success:
I will show myself the same love, support and encouragement as I give to my friends and family.
I saw a post on FB not too long ago that said "you wouldn't tolerate it if someone else emotionally abused a family member of yours, why do you accept it from yourself." It was like a kick in the gut to me. I don't treat others with the hateful disrespect that I treat myself with. I wouldn't tolerate someone talking to my sister the way I talk to myself. I would absolutely defend her and demand that someone else treat her with respect, so why do I let me about me? That needs to stop. I need to stop allowing behavior out of myself that I would never accept from anyone else.
You will notice that I haven't made a resolution about weight. The fact of the matter is, all I can control is what I put in my mouth, and how much I move my body. I cannot control how much weight comes off or when it comes off. The reality is, If I do all of this, I will likely lose the weight I want to lose, but i can't afford to tie my success or failure to a scale. I need to focus on healthy habits, and the weight loss is just a convenient and exciting side-effect to making healthy choices.
So, these are my New Year's resolutions. and I can't wait to embark on a New Year's Resolution with a different focus than any other New Year in forever. I need to control what I can control, and the scale isn't one of those things.
Until next time......
Krista
Friday, December 21, 2012
Inspiration!
Tonight I got the opportunity to workout with someone who has accomplished exactly what I want to. Guinina Palermo-Pinckney , who has lost nearly 100 pounds, made the trek to CrossFit APX and worked out with us girls. Being someone who needs to lose between 100 and 130 pounds, it can be overwhelming and seem completely impossible. The opportunity to meet and workout with someone who has done successfully what you often feel is going to be impossible is invaluable. I got just that opportunity tonight.
Tonight's WOD was a tough one. I was struggling and out of breath just from the warm-up:
10 star jumps
8 jumping jacks
10 jumping pull-ups
10 tuck jumps
WOD #1: 4 minute AMRAP
20 overhead lunges (I had 55#)
10 Toes to bar (I still can't do these, so I hang from the bar and pull my knees up as far as possible)
I got through 2 rounds completely.
Wod#2: 4 minute AMRAP
Burpee Box Jumps---UGH!!! I still can't do real burpees, and box jumps still are a huge mental stumbling block for me. So I still had to use the modified burpees tonight, where my hands are on the box, and then do the box jump. Gigi told me to look up at the wall when doing the box jump, instead of looking at the box. This does seem to help a bit, but after working out 3 days in a row, doing Fran yesterday, and a 2nd WOD yesterday which include 50 wall-ball shots and stepping up and down from the box My legs were exhausted and I was terrified that I was going to not make it up on the box and wipe out. I only got in 27 of these.
Finally we did our strength/skill work. Tonight's skill was Clean and Jerk. Now, I've only ever done this particular move one time, and I'm almost positive that I did it with 65#. Tonight we were to do 5 Clean and Jerk, 1 at a time at a heavy weight. Then 5 more, at a heavier weight. Then 5x2 at the original weight. I was working with my buddy, Megan Gross, and we started with 85# on the bar. I did my 5, then Megan did hers. Then we bumped it up to 95#, and the first time I attempted it, I didn't get the clean done, I dropped the 95# bar right on my chest. I knew I was going to get through the skill work. Megan was concerned too, so we did the last 3, facing each other on different bars, simultaneously. I would count us down and we'd bust it out together. Gigi was over next to me, killing it, doing Clean and Jerks with 115# on the bar. The 95 was feeling pretty good, so I decided to try it. The first time, I didn't even begin to get my chest out of the way, and slammed all 115 pounds right into the center of my breasts. This is a PSA for any male readers...they really do just get in the way!!! I tried about 5 or 10 more times, and nearly every time, couldn't get the bar past my chest to complete the clean. Next time we do them, I'm so going to get that 115# up over my head. In the mean time, I'm about 100% sure I'm going to have some nasty battle-wounds that I won't be able to post pictures of. The pain is and will be worth it, and I'll dance all over the box just like I did the first time I dead lifted 205#.
I am incredibly proud of myself tonight, and feel so good about working out with Gigi, Megan, Karen, Hunter and everyone else that was there tonight. Next week I'll be there Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday again. Still working on those amazing 2103 Health and Fitness Goals...but I'm getting much closer to admitting what they are. I'm seriously close, and have to nail down how I'm going to make them happen, then I'll be ready to share!
See you back here Monday. I can't wait for my next work out...I'm sore, but it's worth it!
Tonight's WOD was a tough one. I was struggling and out of breath just from the warm-up:
10 star jumps
8 jumping jacks
10 jumping pull-ups
10 tuck jumps
WOD #1: 4 minute AMRAP
20 overhead lunges (I had 55#)
10 Toes to bar (I still can't do these, so I hang from the bar and pull my knees up as far as possible)
I got through 2 rounds completely.
Wod#2: 4 minute AMRAP
Burpee Box Jumps---UGH!!! I still can't do real burpees, and box jumps still are a huge mental stumbling block for me. So I still had to use the modified burpees tonight, where my hands are on the box, and then do the box jump. Gigi told me to look up at the wall when doing the box jump, instead of looking at the box. This does seem to help a bit, but after working out 3 days in a row, doing Fran yesterday, and a 2nd WOD yesterday which include 50 wall-ball shots and stepping up and down from the box My legs were exhausted and I was terrified that I was going to not make it up on the box and wipe out. I only got in 27 of these.
Finally we did our strength/skill work. Tonight's skill was Clean and Jerk. Now, I've only ever done this particular move one time, and I'm almost positive that I did it with 65#. Tonight we were to do 5 Clean and Jerk, 1 at a time at a heavy weight. Then 5 more, at a heavier weight. Then 5x2 at the original weight. I was working with my buddy, Megan Gross, and we started with 85# on the bar. I did my 5, then Megan did hers. Then we bumped it up to 95#, and the first time I attempted it, I didn't get the clean done, I dropped the 95# bar right on my chest. I knew I was going to get through the skill work. Megan was concerned too, so we did the last 3, facing each other on different bars, simultaneously. I would count us down and we'd bust it out together. Gigi was over next to me, killing it, doing Clean and Jerks with 115# on the bar. The 95 was feeling pretty good, so I decided to try it. The first time, I didn't even begin to get my chest out of the way, and slammed all 115 pounds right into the center of my breasts. This is a PSA for any male readers...they really do just get in the way!!! I tried about 5 or 10 more times, and nearly every time, couldn't get the bar past my chest to complete the clean. Next time we do them, I'm so going to get that 115# up over my head. In the mean time, I'm about 100% sure I'm going to have some nasty battle-wounds that I won't be able to post pictures of. The pain is and will be worth it, and I'll dance all over the box just like I did the first time I dead lifted 205#.
I am incredibly proud of myself tonight, and feel so good about working out with Gigi, Megan, Karen, Hunter and everyone else that was there tonight. Next week I'll be there Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday again. Still working on those amazing 2103 Health and Fitness Goals...but I'm getting much closer to admitting what they are. I'm seriously close, and have to nail down how I'm going to make them happen, then I'll be ready to share!
See you back here Monday. I can't wait for my next work out...I'm sore, but it's worth it!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Fran...She's a WITCH!
Wow--did my workout tonight. It's the first time in a LONG time that I have done consecutive day workouts, and I'm trying to work in that direction in the new year. I'm still considering what my health and fitness goals might be for the new year. I have always made impulse "New Year's Resolution"s and thus have rarely actually achieved them. I have quite a few in mind, and once I make a final, educated decision, I'll let you all in on it too.
So, I had read on a friend's page that today was going to be Fran at the box. The benchmark WODs always scare me, and especially after I puked twice during Grace, intimidated doesn't exactly cover how these benchmark WODs make me feel.
So for the workout, 10 crucifix push-ups, 8 air squats, down and back high-knees, down and back butt kicks, down and back inch worm. 2 rounds of this.
WOD #1: Fran!
21-15-9 for time!
Thrusters RX for ladies is 65#, I did 55#
Jumping Pull-ups, Chest to bar (no bands)
I finished in 10:29
WOD#2: for time
50 Wall Ball Shots (I used an 8 pound ball)
40 box jumps (I had to step up and down)
30 KB swings (RX was a 35# KB, I used 26#)
20 ab mat sit-ups
10 hand-release push-ups (I am still doing the girlie push-ups)
I finished in about 11:50. I wasn't facing the clock, and by the time I laid down in the floor to catch my breath, and rolled over and looked at the clock it was 12:01.
Tonight was AMAZING! I felt really really strong tonight, and in spite of the soreness on the base of my neck from the weight of the bar during back squats yesterday, it felt great to get in another workout. I was seriously considering a double tomorrow, but since I'm so sore, and we have a visitor coming to the box, I figure I'll hold off and save my best stuff for my new friend, Guanina Palermo-Pinckney. It's gonna be FUN!! Can't wait.
So, I had read on a friend's page that today was going to be Fran at the box. The benchmark WODs always scare me, and especially after I puked twice during Grace, intimidated doesn't exactly cover how these benchmark WODs make me feel.
So for the workout, 10 crucifix push-ups, 8 air squats, down and back high-knees, down and back butt kicks, down and back inch worm. 2 rounds of this.
WOD #1: Fran!
21-15-9 for time!
Thrusters RX for ladies is 65#, I did 55#
Jumping Pull-ups, Chest to bar (no bands)
I finished in 10:29
WOD#2: for time
50 Wall Ball Shots (I used an 8 pound ball)
40 box jumps (I had to step up and down)
30 KB swings (RX was a 35# KB, I used 26#)
20 ab mat sit-ups
10 hand-release push-ups (I am still doing the girlie push-ups)
I finished in about 11:50. I wasn't facing the clock, and by the time I laid down in the floor to catch my breath, and rolled over and looked at the clock it was 12:01.
Tonight was AMAZING! I felt really really strong tonight, and in spite of the soreness on the base of my neck from the weight of the bar during back squats yesterday, it felt great to get in another workout. I was seriously considering a double tomorrow, but since I'm so sore, and we have a visitor coming to the box, I figure I'll hold off and save my best stuff for my new friend, Guanina Palermo-Pinckney. It's gonna be FUN!! Can't wait.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Strong Mamas rock...and I am one!!
Tonight's workout was awesome and self-affirming in a way I didn't know possible for me.
Our warm-up:
7 tuck jumps
7 spider man push-ups
7 bronco kicks
WOD #1: for time
12-9-6-3
Dead lifts (155# RX for women)
Get-up burpees
I got through the 12's and 9's, but I was done. I actually tried to RX this one since dead lifts are the lift I am most comfortable with, which ended up being a bad idea. I haven't had lower back pain in a LONG time during a WOD, but it showed back up tonight, and with a serious vengeance. Now, in the past few times where I have not been able to finish a WOD, I have left the box embarrassed and in tears. When I couldn't finish the 6 and the 3, I wasn't embarrassed AT ALL! I knew I put a lot of weight on the bar, and I knew it was better to step away than to hurt myself. I didn't storm out or cry, I just waited until.....
WOD #2:
Every Minute On the Minute, unbroken, complete the following:
Clean
Front Squat
Push Press
Back Squat
Push Press
Whatever time was left until the next minute mark was a rest. I had 65# on the bar due to the Clean and how sore my back already was. I seriously considered quitting a number of times. and at minute 5 the idea got really tempting, but then I realized, once I finished the 5 minute round, I only had the 4, 3, 2 & 1 left, why quit? I had finished 11, it wasn't that I wasn't capable of finishing, it was that I was sore and tired. This wasn't a matter of self-preservation, this was a matter of perseverance. This was a matter of giving up or finishing. This was a matter of pride, and I refused to give up. I finished, and did it hurt? Sure it did, but was it worth it? AB-SO-FREAKING-LUTELY!!!
Now, we usually do our strength or skill between the warm-up and the WOD, but tonight, we did it after the WODs. Now, considering that my back was sore and screaming at me, the idea of not doing the skill was certainly tempting. But again, this wasn't a matter of self-preservation, it was a matter of intestinal fortitude. This was a matter of whether or not I was going to sabotage myself and let the workout beat me.
Tonight's strength/skill was back squats...ugh, double ugh, and triple ugh!
So we were to do 5 rounds, 5, then 4, then 3,3,3. We were to add weight after each round. I started with the ladies, and we had 65# on the bar. then went to 85, and it was too light. The boys next to us had 135# on the bar, so I decided to jump in with them. I did 3 at 135, then the last 2 rounds at 155. The bar was racked so high I couldn't even get it down, so the boys had to lift it off the rack and put it on my shoulders, let me back squat it, then help me by putting it back up on the rack since it was too high.
After we finished, we were talking a bit, and there was a guy visiting our box, in from college. He looked pretty buff, like he lifts regularly. He said, "you outdid me. I was thinking it was too light, but I was struggling." Now, I don't often pat myself on the back, but by golly, an early 20 year old guy home from college, incredibly fit, and I out-lifted him. Now, here I am, double my ideal body weight, knocking on 38 years old with 3 kids, and I out-lifted him! It rocks being a strong chick...and I should know, because I am one!
Our warm-up:
7 tuck jumps
7 spider man push-ups
7 bronco kicks
WOD #1: for time
12-9-6-3
Dead lifts (155# RX for women)
Get-up burpees
I got through the 12's and 9's, but I was done. I actually tried to RX this one since dead lifts are the lift I am most comfortable with, which ended up being a bad idea. I haven't had lower back pain in a LONG time during a WOD, but it showed back up tonight, and with a serious vengeance. Now, in the past few times where I have not been able to finish a WOD, I have left the box embarrassed and in tears. When I couldn't finish the 6 and the 3, I wasn't embarrassed AT ALL! I knew I put a lot of weight on the bar, and I knew it was better to step away than to hurt myself. I didn't storm out or cry, I just waited until.....
WOD #2:
Every Minute On the Minute, unbroken, complete the following:
Clean
Front Squat
Push Press
Back Squat
Push Press
Whatever time was left until the next minute mark was a rest. I had 65# on the bar due to the Clean and how sore my back already was. I seriously considered quitting a number of times. and at minute 5 the idea got really tempting, but then I realized, once I finished the 5 minute round, I only had the 4, 3, 2 & 1 left, why quit? I had finished 11, it wasn't that I wasn't capable of finishing, it was that I was sore and tired. This wasn't a matter of self-preservation, this was a matter of perseverance. This was a matter of giving up or finishing. This was a matter of pride, and I refused to give up. I finished, and did it hurt? Sure it did, but was it worth it? AB-SO-FREAKING-LUTELY!!!
Now, we usually do our strength or skill between the warm-up and the WOD, but tonight, we did it after the WODs. Now, considering that my back was sore and screaming at me, the idea of not doing the skill was certainly tempting. But again, this wasn't a matter of self-preservation, it was a matter of intestinal fortitude. This was a matter of whether or not I was going to sabotage myself and let the workout beat me.
Tonight's strength/skill was back squats...ugh, double ugh, and triple ugh!
So we were to do 5 rounds, 5, then 4, then 3,3,3. We were to add weight after each round. I started with the ladies, and we had 65# on the bar. then went to 85, and it was too light. The boys next to us had 135# on the bar, so I decided to jump in with them. I did 3 at 135, then the last 2 rounds at 155. The bar was racked so high I couldn't even get it down, so the boys had to lift it off the rack and put it on my shoulders, let me back squat it, then help me by putting it back up on the rack since it was too high.
After we finished, we were talking a bit, and there was a guy visiting our box, in from college. He looked pretty buff, like he lifts regularly. He said, "you outdid me. I was thinking it was too light, but I was struggling." Now, I don't often pat myself on the back, but by golly, an early 20 year old guy home from college, incredibly fit, and I out-lifted him. Now, here I am, double my ideal body weight, knocking on 38 years old with 3 kids, and I out-lifted him! It rocks being a strong chick...and I should know, because I am one!
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