Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Back Squat!

I have now been at Crossfit for 8 months. This is the rest of my life, folks. It isn't a flash in the pan. It is 'slow and steady wins the race'. To be fair, my results slowed because I loosened up my diet and training schedule too much. I still improved in performance and maintained my weight loss but I didn't propel forward like some people do. Although I could beat myself up, I choose to be proud of myself for staying connected.

Since January, I have recommitted to clean eating and workouts five days a week. I FEEL the difference. Today, I did a back squat of 115 lbs. To be fair, I have absolutely no idea if that's good or not. (Sorry, Jason). What I do know is that I spent 6 months trying to get full range of motion on my squats. It was the most frustrating thing in the world. I could not get down there to SAVE MY LIFE. So, when I hit 115 lbs today on a backsquat, I wanted to shout, "HALLELUJIAH!" Suddenly, things like pull ups and full push ups don't seem so far fetched.

I like to think that I'm the most blessed person at Crossfit East Cobb. I started with one foot in the grave. I know what it is like to not be able to perform physically. I know the embarassment of saying, "Really, this is all I can do." I know the pride of doing it even though shame tries to tell me to stay home. I can truly say to anyone, "You can do Crossfit." I am the object lesson - I don't have to point to the object lesson.

One day, I will reach my physical goals - maybe this year, maybe next year. I will hit 20% and below body fat. I will do pull-ups. I will run a mile and feel good. People will call me fit and I will believe them! Man, I will be filled with joy that day. However, the joy is not limited to that day. The joy is in the process. The joy is in hitting it the first time and every time after that...because I know what it's like to not be able to do it at all!

Wherever you are. Whoever you are. You can do this. You are the only thing stopping you. Go. Scale. Improve. LIVE!

Life Simplified

Something unusual happened when I joined Crossfit. My life was simplified. What was once a confusing maze of possiblities was narrowed down to one training philosophy. Do I think Crossfit is the only viable training methodology? No. For me, it has been one of the best and most efficient.

How Crossfit is more efficient:

I saved leisure time because I stopped looking at most health and fitness magazines and blogs. Most of them center around training I don't do or food I don't eat.

I saved time in the grocery store when I stopped shopping in the center aisles of the grocery store. There's nothing in there for me. Shopping the perimeter used to be so annoying because nothing 'good' lived there...now I love the food there and find myself saving tons of time on shopping.

I packed all my fitness time into one hour in the morning. Sometimes I go at night but it's much more efficient to go in the morning. I don't worry all day long about the WOD and I have evenings free to do whatever I want - and sometimes that is something physical.

Sure, Crossfit may seem overwhelming at first but it really does simplify your life. If only I could get a job where I wear workout clothes - that would take this simplification process to the next level!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Back In the Saddle, AGAIN!

The New Year came, I hit Crossfit four times and started to get my diet tightened up. Then came the snow. Four days at home. I did create my very own Crossfit at home...and got all hot and sweaty - but only did that twice - versus the four to five times I need each week. On top of that, my eating went downhill fast.

When it snows, you buy snack food. Why? Boredom. I loved being at home but being at home for four days with no options gave me a lot more time to think about eating junk. When I get the snack beast going, it's hard to beat it back down. Yesterday was the first day of saying ENOUGH! I ate Paleo all day, planned out my entire week of Paleo meals, went to the store, got my lunch and snacks ready, and set out my workout clothes. I hit the box hard this morning and my shoulders are SCREAMING! We're in a strength circuit...and boy did we take care of the shoulders this AM.

So much of this is mental. When I get in the mindset that a little slack doesn't matter, I end up slacking a lot...well, not at first...but in the long run. Now, I am focused on no slack for a few weeks while I get my head back in the game. I want to feel those WODs that you only get with good nutrition and consistency. I want to see bigger strength gains. I want to improve my times.

My performance goals are to always better myself. My vanity goals are to feel comfortable wearing shorts and tank tops this Summer. I haven't worn shorts in about 10 years. The HORROR! It isn't easy living without shorts in the HOT SOUTH! I went back to wearing tanks a few years ago - just decided I didn't care what my arms look like. This Spring/Summer, I want to be proud of my arms. It will be one year in May so I should have some fierce arms by then - if I STICK WITH THE STINKIN PALEO!

Here we go...more posting to come!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Scared

I'm scared to go to Crossfit tomorrow. Jason makes it way too hard on Fridays. It scares me. I don't want to go. I will because my friend, Kristen, joined. She'll be there. I don't want to let her down, but I don't want to go. I just had to be honest about this. I don't want to go. I want to stay in bed and hide. I'll be happy I went..but that doesn't stop me from being scared right now.

Monday, January 3, 2011

I get knocked down....

So, yea....I got knocked down by the holidays and wasted two months. My trainer is right - nutrition is 80% of the battle. While I did not gain any weight over the holidays - something I attribute to the muscle I have gained at Crossfit, I did not lose any weight either.

Worse than that, I spent two months struggling to hit workouts. With bad nutrition, Crossfit was not joyful because I wasn't seeing improvement. What makes Crossfit addictive is seeing your body respond to proper nutrition and training. The human body has a powerful ability to progress when fueled and trained the right way. When one element is missing and progress halts, it's frustrating. It becomes just another workout program that you are slugging through.

On the bright side, I can say that I left 2010 25 pounds lighter and on the road to personal fitness. I made a GREAT start in 2010. I have made friends who are invested in my HEALTH at Crossfit. I learned to give myself a break - to not give up because I miss perfection. That has been the most amazing thing about Jason. When I have been down - stressed out personally and unable to commit the time and attention I need, he has encouraged me to keep going..not to be perfect but to stay in the game. I rode out the rocky patch because of his encouragement and now I'm back.

Because of Jason's encouragement, I didn't quit and lose all the gains I have made. I rode out the rocky parts and sustained. That means I can pick up and move on. I don't have to start over. I simply recommit and hit it hard. I find the joy, again.

That's life people...getting knocked down and getting up, again. My motto at Crossfit is, "The only way out is through". The only way I am getting out of a work out is by doing it. Giving up is not an option. I have committed another year to Crossfit. I sense this is a lifelong affair. This year, I look forward to truly morphing into the fit and active woman I have always felt lives on the inside.

Let your trainers know where you are. Let them train you. Let them walk you through the rough patches. Don't shut down or shut them out. They can truly be your best friends on your journey.

Keep on keeping on. And Jason, thanks!