I've got an idea.................stay tuned~!

My wheels are turning...stay tuned!

I'm completely HOOKED!

I am 6 weeks in to Crossfit and I can honestly say that this is life-changing!  It is so hard, but after each and every class I feel such a sense of accomplishment and PEACE!  Seriously...I don't leave feeling aggressive.  I leave feeling a peace!  I'm not sure if that is how other people feel when they leave, but I do, and I love it!

Let me give a brief run-down of what has happened in the last month.

FIRST, I am still the worst one in my class.  That has not changed.  However, I have come to grips with it and it doesn't matter, because I am improving.  I have gotten stronger, I have increased my weights and my endurance has significantly increased.  I have to keep telling myself that I'm not competing with the other folks at the gym...i'm only competing with myself.

SECOND, I am signed up for two classes per week right now because of my busy schedule with work and kids.  I have not missed any classes - meaning, I have gone twice a week since I started.  It is actually working out perfect for me.  There has not been a week when I really would have been able to do 3 times.  When I can, I will go out for a run/walk.  I try to go once or twice a week.  This past week I didn't make it out any, but that's okay. I'm doing what I can when I can. 

THIRD, I'm slowly trying to transition into a more PALEO diet. It is a pretty easy transition for me because I'm not a big bread/pasta/rice eater.  The problem for me comes in that I don't go to the store enough so my fridge is not stocked like it should be.  I'm working on it.  Regardless, though, I'm eating very good and still having my glass of wine each night! ;)

FOURTH- and most importantly - I can honestly say I've had MAJOR physical changes.  In just 6 weeks I can see more definition and toning in my body.  It is truly Crazy.  My arms are more defined and it is noticeable.  I've had co-workers comment on it.  My legs are more tone.  And (best of all) my stomach is looking more tight!  Visible results are a huge motivator. I keep thinking to myself, "If I've changed this much in just 6 weeks, going twice a week....imagine what I will look like in 6 months!!"  There is no turning back right now. I'm very invested in this journey.

It is still tough...never gets easy...but this shirt says it all: 

Day 2 and 3 of Program! Yes, I'm the worst in the class!

This week, I did Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. class and Thursday's 5:30 p.m. Class.

I'm chalking it up to still being very new at this....I was still the worst in class.  UGH!  I HATE IT!  I can't wait to improve.......I know I will Improve!! (RIGHT??!?!?!?)

So Tuesday was the worst. 
The WOD was:

1) 20:00 AMRAP of:

• 400m run
• 25 wall ball shots

3 Rounds NFT of:

• Razor Curls: 3 x 10
• FLR: 3 x 30-45 seconds

Skill Work:
Double-Unders
HSPU
Muscle-Ups
Pistols

#1 - I used the 10 lb wall ball (lightest)...
I don't really know if I did 4 or 5 sets.  I put "4" on the board.  I was just too completely exhausted to say.

#2 - Did great at the razor curls and FLR (Front Leaning Rest...which was like a push-up but don't go down..just hold it).

There was a really friendly girl in the class named Krystal.  She was sooooo extremely fit.  I definitely will be keeping an eye on her.  She obviously is no beginner to fitness...but she was just so helpful and took the time to discuss form and exercises with me.  :)  Thanks Krystal.

THURSDAY's WOD was:
1) 6 sets of 500m row with 1:1 work: rest ratio
2) 3 Rounds NFT of:

• V-Ups: 3 x 15
• Banded Good Mornings: 3 x 20 (stand on band and put loop over head. Bow down pushing but out).

3) Skill Work:
HSPU
Double-Unders
Toes 2 Bar
L-Sits

The Rowing started out pretty awesome. He wanted us to keep our rowing under "230"...I was keeping mine around 223....for the first 3 sets.  It sure did get hard.  We were only rowing 500 meters, and it only took about a little over 2 minutes.  BUT THAT SHIT WAS HARD. 

The V-Ups were tough for me. Lay down flat then put legs in air and push arms to toes.
I rocked the Good mornings! YAY ME!

The good thing is...I am feeling a little more comfortable in the classes.  I am not quite so self-conscious about how poorly I'm doing. I"m going to focus on ME and MY abilities and not worry about all the other folks.  I am trying my hardest.  #beginnercrossfit #over40crossfit

CrossFit - Completed "Elements / Fundamentals" Class!

I completed my four fundamental classes on Tuesday this week!  It was NOT easy at all...but I have an amazing sense of accomplishment. 

I won't lie, there were times where I questioned whether Crossfit is the right choice for me.  I'm 46 years old..and I'm not very strong.  During some of my sessions, I was thinking to myself that "crossfit is for younger people."  Not only was I so sore for several days...but I'm pretty sure my recovery time is a lot less than those 20-somethings that are taking the same class.  But I decided that I'm going to focus on myself and not worry about how awesome or strong the others in the class are.

So, last night was my first "group" workout.  I'm finally part of the program.  I met a few really nice people, and the coach, Justin, was Super nice.  I realized immediately that I am definitely the weekest one in the group.  There were four women (including me) in the class and about 6-7 men.  It was frustrating for me, because I couldn't get over how weak I was.  I always thought of myself as "semi" strong!  I'm not!  The other women in the class were MUCH stronger than me. 

NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP!!!

 

That is my new motto! LOL  For most things having to do with health/fitness, it can be bad to GOOGLE information.  But for me, it turned out to be a good thing.  I googled information about crossfit for "older women" and for 40s.  I'm so glad I did. I found so much great information about women who did not start until they were older.  It made me feel much more confident.  One thing I noticed that most of the women said is that they received a lot of help and support for their coaches who realized that an older woman is going to have a very different session and recovery time than a 20-something man or woman.  I hope (fingers crossed) that I do get that kind of support from my coaches at this gym.  It will go along way in helping with my confidence!

 

This week was "max out" week.  So, after our initial warm-ups, we worked on dead lifts first.  I practiced first with the large bar (45 lb).  It was good...a little tough..but I could do them.  I was partnered up with Helen, who is in amazing shape. She is a little firecracker with a British accent.  She was tinier than me...and much stronger.  Then we started to add weight to each side.  I was pretty okay for 65 and 85 lbs.(sigh) I won't lie...I was so tired I didn't pay attention to my final weight.  Helen said it was 145 so I went with that.  In hindsight, I think it was only 125 Lbs so I probably won't pass my max any time soon! LOL

 

our finisher was 12 minutes.  We did rounds of (not sure what they were called...push the bar over your head, bring it back to chest, bend knees, then push it up again) - 5 of those. Then 10 dead lifts, then 10 "hop over the bars".  As many sets as we could for 12 minutes.  I did 7 sets.

 

Just let me use the "small bar" for this finisher...which is good because I could not have done it. I think that bar must way 25 lbs.  Then I added 20 lbs to it. So it was 45 lbs.

 

I haven't taken my BEFORE shots yet.  I need to work on my diet. I'm so hungry now that I'm doing crossfit, but I haven't stocked my pantry/fridge with great foods. So NOT GOOD!! I do also think I shoudl incorporate some cardio into my off days. :) It will help with this stubborn 10 lbs I need to lose.

 

I'm anxious to see how next week goes. 

Death By Crossfit! Ready - Set - Go!!

Like everyone else, I have been hearing TONS of information about crossfit.  I've tried it on my own following some awesome websites, but I need a little more accountability than that.  Sooo... I went out and googled crossfit in my area.  There were a couple to choose from, and I chose the one that looked more "serious...yet friendly"! (rolling eyes).

So, I'll try to remember to post information here on my on again, off again blog! 

Let me start my showing this photo...which perfectly demonstrates how I felt at the end of my first workout yesterday:

It was, truthfully, the hardest workout i've EVER done in my life.  The place I'm going (Super Human Crossfit) requires you to take a "fundamentals" class before you begin the regular program.  They say the purpospe is to assess your abilities and also familiarize you with the workouts / exercises etc.  I have a feeling, though....it also is to let you decide after that first workout if you are ever stepping foot in that place again.  Seriously..this is where you separate the wheat from the chaff. (Or the "I'm All In" from the ..."Oh, HELLLL NO"people. 

The warmup using foam rollers was awesome.  After a few minutes, I decided I was really going to like this place.  Then, we ran a short distance just to get the blood flowing....It's all GOOD!  Then Jacob (I say his name through clenched teeth now) had me do push-ups, jumprope, squats, and more stretches!  It was really tough..but hey, i'm tough.  I was getting tired but hanging in there.  Then we did more jumprope.  Okayy.  Then he gets the medicine ball and tells me to slam it to the ground, go into a squat and catch it, then raise it over my head...repeat that 10 times.  Mind you..these balls don't really "bounce"...so you have to go down into a squat reallllly fast, to catch it.  I was exhausted when that was done. Then he handed me a 35 lb Kettle Bell and had me do those "hip thrust" movements where you swing it forward and back using your hips.  Then more squats...ouch..then push ups.  I'm getting very weak and tired at this point.

The worst part of the workout was when Jacob got out the stopwatch.  By this time my arms and legs..and brain...were spaghetti.  I felt light-headed.  He informed me that I was going to do as many jumps with the jumprope as I could for one minute...then do 10 ball-bouce things; 20 squats; 15 kettle bell swings; and repeat it as many times as I could for 4 minutes.  I looked at him like he was crazy. I was already positive I couldn't finish the first set....then he said "GO".  It was ugly, I made noises that i've never made...I cried a little....my form turned into "Walking Dead"..and when I was done he said, "Do 10 Burpees".  I whimpered one last time...threw myself down to start my first burpee...and couldn't get back up.  I don't care that all those "fit bitches" around me were probably snickering. I don't care that I felt like I was a "typical" 45-yr-old at that point.  My pride checked out and I just laid there....praying for some sort of strength.  I wobbled up finally, Jacob said I did a good job....and we were done!

I've never felt so WEAK after a workout.  I fell down walking to my car.  Putting on my seatbelt felt like a task I wasn't fit for.  When I got home...I needed help taking off my sports bra!  THIS WAS HARD...This was what everyone has been talking about..... and...

...If I stick with this....I'm going to be in some serious shape!!  I'm competitive. I don't like that I felt like I sucked. I don't like that I couldn't finish my burpees.  But I want to..>I want it all.  I want to be one of those chicks working out and watching the new girl lay on the floor crying.  I've decided to go back..and to try hard.  If I don't do great it's okay. I'm doing more than I was..I'm trying hard.

My next goal is to take a "before" photo this week. 

Finale!

I call it Finale...but not because this is the end. Because I'm going to make it grand! I've stopped and started blogging about a billion times. I skip around between Facebook, Twitter, Blogspot, and just journaling. The only one that has ever really satisfied me.....Blogging. I enjoy going back and seeing "where was I" and it is the best reminder to me of why I do things. I have several "resolutions" that I'm trying to incorporate into my daily routine. I think bloggin will be an essential "add" in order to help me succeed in my others!
#1 Project is that I'm DECLUTTERING my home. I started during the holidays by just simply cleaning out some drawers and cabinets. Holy crap that felt good. Seriously. It felt like I lost 50 lbs. Now I'm in my office at home..and that is the one that is hard. I'm gradually scanning documents and photos. I've made a committment to scan at least 20 photos a day or 100 photos a week. Hopefully I can get CLOSE to the end by summertime! Then I will commence to put the photos into Shutterfly photobooks. I'm done with just "hanging onto photos!"
#2 - Now that my ankle is relatively healed from the HORRIBLE sprain this summer, I'm back to exercising more. I got my mom's treadmill and replaced the belt/running mat. It isn't anything fancy...but it goes! ;) I'm going to get back to doing my crossfit also. I think blogging on here will be the key. Otherwise I'll lose track. I'm freakin' so glad I don't have any followers at this point...because I do intend to post some before photos. BEFORE photos are only good....if you have good after photos. Who wants a freakin' BEFORE photo...and then nothing else! Right!?!? LMAO
#3 - I know I talk like a sailor...but I truly am a spiritual woman. I get overwhelmed with work and kids and forget to read the bible too often. My church (Community of Faith) as been trying to help us all out with it. I just have to put it in my schedule. It's not like I don't have time. Heck..I watched two seasons of Downton Abbey in 2 weeks on the bus. (cough cough) So...this is the beginning of my Grand Finale! I hope it is as special as the script intends it to be!

DAY 1 - CHECK!

I will take my measurements this week...and probably take a photo. The photo is the hardest part. BUT, It is always nice to see progress through photographs!

My knee has been "tender" for several weeks now, so I had stopped jogging altogether thinking it would finally get better. It never "hurt"... it is just sensitive going up and own stairs. Well, since it has been 3 weeks and it is the same, I decided to just go run anyway. I ran for 25 minutes in the neighborhood at a very slow pace. (Probably ran about 2+ miles). Felt great and, believe it or not, the knee was fine afterwards. I have decided to really slow it down when I run in the neighborhood because the concrete just is so jarring.

I read an article that it is good to do leg extensions if you have a week knee...just don't do a full range of motion. So I went to the garage last night and did about 4 sets of mini extensions with my right leg, 20 reps each. (I went ahead and did the other leg when I was done...so I don't look deformed).

Doing good with my vitamins:
Multi
Ubiquinol
Biotin (for my nails, bi-otch)
Fish Oil
Calcium/Magnesium

It is only 5 ... but it might as well be 25. It is hard to take all those pills. Especially the multi-vitamin.

Summe has Volleyball tonight, and Joe works late, so I will have Evan. So I plan to run again in the neighborhood then do my ZWOW workout! BRING IT ON, Zuska!!