Go in like a bear, come out like a lion!

Today's WOD    Skill: Pull Ups

“Tabata Something Else” 

Complete 32 intervals of 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest where the first 8 intervals are pull-ups, the second 8 are push-ups, the third 8 intervals are sit-ups, and finally, the last 8 intervals are squats. There is no rest between exercises. 

Pull Ups [Me: 41]

Push Ups  [Me: 50]

Sit-ups [Me: 60]

Air Squats [Me: 68]

[My Total: 219]

I was TERRIFIED after seeing this post of today's workout. Total intimidation. I was already grouchy when I woke up, so the fact that I was able to pull it together and get to the Box was an accomplishment within itself. Right after I got there I was proud of myself and got into a much better mood. Rocked the workout!!  Ready for the weekend now!!

Grrrrrrrrrrreat!

Today's WOD          Skill: Medicine Ball Clean

AMRAP 12 [Me: 2 1/3 reps]
200M Run w/ a medicine ball (20/14) or plate (45/25) [Me: 12lb ball]
10 Medicine Ball Clean (20/14) [Me: 12lb ball]
10 Snatches (95/65) [Me: 40lbs]

Slept GREAT!  Woke up feeling GREAT!!  Man what a difference!!  Shocks me every time after sleeping all through the night how wonderful I feel in the morning.  I feel like I did a pretty good job at my workout today.  Felt good leaving and still feel good now :-)  YAY FOR GREAT DAYS!!  Looking forward to tomorrow's workout, then my Scentsy booth, and then a GREAT weekend!

Y'all Come See Me!

Turkish Whaaaa???

Today's WOD          Skill: Turkish Get-up

3 rds for time [Me: 26:36]
40 Double Unders
30 Box Jumps (24”/20”) [Me:  16"]
20 KB Swings (55/35) [Me: 25lb]
5 Turkish Get-up (55/35) [Me: 10lb]
Then (OPTIONAL, AFTER WOD IS COMPLETE)
5 Muscle Ups [BAAAHAHAHAHA!]

OMGSH I did so many double unders today!!  So many meaning like 10 or so :-) However that's more than I could do before!!  Box jumps I did on a 16" box and it just about tired me out.  I knew waking up this morning that I wouldn't have an 100% day because I didn't sleep again last night.  Sleep and eating foods that are good for fuel are so important.  I'm discovering that more and more going through this journey.  Kettlebell swings seem to be getting easier to do.  May try the Rx amount of weight next time.  Turkish Get Ups...wow!  HAHA!  They are not as easy as they look.  Coming up off the floor holding that extra weight is challenging!  This dude does a HUMAN Turkish Get Up!!  CRAZINESS!!!  Okay, tonight gonna try to eat better and get better sleep (what's new right?!)

Ankles...who needs 'em?

Todays WOD          Skill: Pistols
21-15-9 {Meaning do 21 of all, then 15 of all, then 9 of all.}
SDHP (45/35) [Me: 30lb bar for form work.]
Pistols
HSPU [Did mine from a box.]

OH...EM...GEE.  First of all I snoozed my alarm and only had about 5 minutes to get dressed, inhale a banana, and get out the door.  NOT a good way to start your workout day!  Most of this stuff was new for me.  I have tried hand stand push ups once before and they SUCK!  My upper arm strength is next to nothing which is why I had such a hard time today.  So SDHP = Sumo Deadlift High Pulls.  Those aren't too bad.  I used a 30lb bar today.  They gave us an option to use a bar or kettlebell.  I may use a kettlebell next time we do these.

Pistols...HOLY CRAP!  My ankles, specifically my right ankle, are WEAK!  Weaker than I would've imagined.  Those were almost impossible for me to do.  I had to use the bar for  assistance (which so did pretty much everyone this morning).  Those are brutal.  I would be happy if I never had to do those again...lol!

Okay Hand Stand Push Ups.  I still suck at those.  Workin on that though. ;-)

I have my niece with me today and Brody is going berserk.  Glad we have this very spacious home, but he is running around filling every inch of it today.  Looking forward to going to bed early tonight and waking up feeling refreshed.  Wednesday seems to be my refreshing day of the week.

Mondays are not my friend...

Today's WOD          Skill: Hang Power Cleans

20 minute AMRAP [I did 7 reps with 50lbs.]
5 Deadlifts (135/95 lbs)
5 Hang Power Cleans (135/95 lbs)
5 Front Squat (135/95 lbs)
5 Push Jerk (135/95 lbs)

That workout was HARD, but definitely not as intimidating as I had assumed.  That's a lot of lifting!!  I kind of thought 50lbs might not be enough weight, but WHOA.  I need more work on my form I think, so I'm going to stay with the 50lbs for now until I feel comfortable.  In my opinion I did well today, but definitely wasn't feeling 100%.  I think it's a Monday thing!?  I just felt a little tired.  Gonna eat good today, get some good rest, and be ready for tomorrow!

Another Great Day!

Today's WOD          Skill: Double Unders

AMRAP 20 [I did 3 2/3 reps]

1 Lap (inside) Bear Crawls

30 Double Unders OR 90 singles [Me: Mostly singles]

200m Run

That picture is what I think about Bear Crawls and Double Unders.  They STINK!  Bear crawls are pretty easy on the first lap, but after that they are NOT fun.  (I'm having a hard time finding a consistent bear crawl video.  Basically on your hands and feet walking like a bear.  Left leg and left arm go forward, then right leg and arm go forward...and so on...)  Now with double unders, I can do them when I don't need to do them...as in practice.  When it comes to doing them during the WOD, it's almost impossible for me to get it.  I will though!!

We also were supposed to do 5 handstand pushups in the warm-up this morning.  If you have never tried this....do not do it alone!  HAHA!  Wow, that is so much harder than it looks!  I tried it on the wall, then had to move to a box to help me until I am strong and sturdy enough to get on the wall to do it.

I keep thinking about the 12 week mark that I'm aiming for to really feel like I plan to stick with this.  Seems so far away when I'm getting up at 5:15 every morning for a 6:30 workout!  I feel like I've been doing this for a long time and it's just now two weeks!  It's hard not to get frustrated when you don't see immediate results because the workouts are SO intense.  Felt really good again today.  Still energetic now that I'm home!  I'm loving this feeling that I have most days of accomplishment.  WOOHOO!!  ;-)

Renewal!!!

WOW!  What a difference a good night's rest can do!  So Monday night and Tuesday night I was thinking I had been harassed by mosquitos all night (which hasn't yet happened in our new house) and had these big, swollen "mosquito" bites that would itch non stop!  I thought maybe because I was getting older that my body wasn't reacting as well to them.  Well I should've known!  It's red bugs!  Must have gotten them from playing in the pasture with my horses.  Those things are HORRIBLE!  THEY are the reason I SUCKED Tuesday and Wednesday at CrossFit!  So now that I discovered what they are I have treated them accordingly and finally got to sleep all through the night last night.

Woke up this morning with a renewed mind and body. I was totally ready to go and confront today's WOD!

Today's WOD          Skill: Push Presses

10 Rds for time of (30 minute time cap) [My time was 24:00]

15 Push Presses (95/65) [Me: 35lb bar]

20 Air Squats

Then, after completion of all 10 rounds (OPTIONAL)

1 Rope Climb [Me: BAAHAHAHA!]

So push presses...those get interesting after a couple of rounds.  That dang bar gets HEAVY!  I am SO proud of myself for finishing this WOD.  I was on my very last round and 2 or 3 of the girls I workout with that had already finished came beside me and did squats with me until I finished!  It's so awesome to have so much support in a setting that I'm so used to being so uncomfortable in!  (Like in a regular gym with these girls that go in totally made up and prance around the whole time.)

Today was awesome!  I felt great when I got home.  Brody had spent the night with my Nanny last night, so when I got home I got to spend some time with Brady and go play with my horses!  Pretty surprised I had the energy and want to stand with my horses in the pasture, in the sun and sweat some more ;-)  Ready for tomorrow!

Oxygen Tank Please!

No,

I didn't get

punched in

the face...

just spent

an hour

at CrossFit!

No makeup,

no glamour.

Just sweat,

dirt and grit.

Today's WOD: 

Skill: Deadlifts

AMRAP 20
400m Run
10 Deadlifts (225/135) [Me: 85lb bar]
10 Bar Facing Burpees

Who would've thought burpees could suck more!  LOL!  Honestly, today's workout wasn't even that bad compared to some of the others I have done so far.  However, I had another VERY off day today.  I was out of breath, struggling to breathe from the moment we started the warmup and STILL feeling very tired.  I didn't sleep hardly at all again last night.  Tonight I'm trying something different and hoping it helps.  Definitely gonna try to get to bed earlier too.  Also, my chest, not my breast muscles, but in between that, like in the middle of my chest is really, reeeeallly sore.  Hurts to take deep breaths.  :-(

On a positive note, I still really enjoy working out with the girls in the 6:30 class.  They are all SO supportive as is our coach, Missy.  She noticed I wasn't my usual self and asked about it.  To me that really means a lot.  As many people she sees in just one day, it makes a difference when you feel like she still pays attention to each one of us.  I'll be back tomorrow at 6:30 as usual and hopefully rock it out!

Snatches are the Devil

Today's WOD:

Skill:  Snatch
3 rounds for time [My time was 11:45]
15 reps Hang Power Snatch (95/65lbs) [Me: 35lb bar]
50 Mountain Climbers
15 Wall Balls (20/14 lbs) [Me: 10lb ball]

Today I was on a whole new level of not feeling it.  I haven't been sleeping well and that HAS GOT to change.  Last night I was scratching mosquito bites all night long in my sleep.  I woke up feeling extremely weak today.  Felt it throughout my workout.  Last week when I would feel weak it would go away during the warm up.  Today's warm up included bear claws forwards and backwards around the inside of the building.  Those alone just about knocked me out.

Here are some things I have learned after this morning:

Negatives:

• Snatches are the Devil.  (Here's a link to a guy teaching how to properly do a "snatch")
• Not a big fan of that damn medicine ball either.

Positives:

• I'm proud that I am willing to keep going at this point.
• I like being up before my son.  It's nice to get in some quality me time (as in time to write this blog) before he's up and running.  I think it will influence him to wake up to a house that's already awake instead of one that doesn't want to crawl out of bed.

Praying that tomorrow I have another energetic, successful day!  I need to get with my doctor too and make sure my thyroid medication is still on track.  I'm sure that being off could really mess me up!

Definitely a Monday

Uggghhhh :-(

Typing this blog from my bed. I'm having serious trouble staying awake!  Today's workout wasn't even too terrible, but I am just feeling like poo.  My head is pounding :-(

The only difference this morning was that I had a protein bar rather than my usual banana. Don't think that's why I feel bad. I didn't sleep at all last night which certainly doesn't help. Wasn't at all sore this morning which is a new feeling ;-) Went to my workout as usual and on the way home I noticed my horses were up and took some time to pet June and Tucker since they came right up to the fence. Then I came home and swept the front porch and walk way. Took a shower, then noticed Brody was awake. I laid down in his toddler sized bed with him and PASSED out!  Stayed in it for at least an hour while he laid with me and played. Now I've moved to my own bed because I'm just feeling yucky :-(

Today's WOD:

Skill: Chest to Bar Pull Ups 

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 

Chest to Bar Pullups [Me: Used a green, purple, & red band]

Box Jumps (30"/24") [Me: 16"]

Medicine Ball Situps (20/14lbs) [Me: 12lb]

[I finished in 15:19.]

I cannot wait for the day that I can successfully do an unassisted pullup. My arms are so incredibly weak compared to my legs!  Gonna go get some aspirin and try to get rid of this headache. Ready to go again tomorrow :-)

My First Week

I DID IT!!

I have SUCCESSFULLY completed my first week of CrossFit!!!

Woke up this morning, had my usual breakfast, and was more sore than I had been all week.  My calves almost were like stone.  They were not happy about me trying to walk around my house to get dressed.  Even after I've been proved wrong this week, I AGAIN assumed I wouldn't be able to make it through the workout due to how sore I was.  Yet again, I was proved wrong :-)  

Today's WOD: 

Skill: KB Swings 

WOD: 

15 minutes to find 5 rep max of Deadlift using the following rep scheme, 5-5-5-5-5 [Me: 85lb max]

Then 

5 minute AMRAP [I did 6 reps]

5 KB Swings (70/45lbs) [Me: 25lbs]

5 Goblet Squat (70/45lbs) [Me: 25lbs] (The guy in the video does some freaky breathing that I'm sure helped, but none of us did that...lol)

Okay, found that my max weight for deadlift is 85lbs while I'm learning.  That's a 35lb bar with two 10lb and one 5lb weight on each end.   I probably could've gone heavier, but I'm going to take it really slow with those while I'm learning correct form so I don't pull out my back.  I also could've used a heavier Kettlebell, but same thing with those.  I'm going to take it easy at first.

This is also day two of no nausea!  I think my body is realizing that I'm doing this....no matter what!  I know it's only a week and that doesn't seem like much, but let me tell you...for me it was!  Maybe this will only last a month, maybe I'll get over this kick that I'm on, but I STILL did it!  And it was HARD! I really hope this momentum continues.  When Missy told me on my first day that most people go 5 days a week because they don't want to miss anything I doubted her.  Now after going for a week I totally get it!  I feel like if I miss a day I'm going to regret it, so I get up and keep going.  I also understand how people feel when they have told me they dread going and have to drag themselves up there, but once they're there and done they feel amazing.  I feel the same way!  Next "I DID IT" post will come at 4 weeks :-)  I read online that it takes 4 weeks for you personally to notice a difference in your body, 6 weeks for your close friends and family to notice, and 12 weeks for the rest of the world to notice.  I CANNOT WAIT until that 12 week mark!!

Very excited about having two days off.  Hoping I'm not too sore all weekend!  Y'all have a great one!

Finally No Nausea!!!

I am SO excited about today's post!!  Today was the first day so far that I felt AWESOME after my workout!  It was still hard, I will still be very sore, but my mentality is great!! 

Things I learned today:

1. I can do much more than I give myself credit for.
2. "Double Unders" are the DEVIL!  If you click this link, this guy will show you how to do them and he makes me sick because he can do them so well...lol.
3. It's not as easy as you'd think to swing your toes up to the bar while hanging from said bar.

Today's WOD was 

Skill: Toes to Bar

WOD: 

3 Rounds for time [My time today was 15:14]

30 Double Unders or Double Under Attempts (no singles) [This means you only get to count either an actual double under or an attempt at a double under.]

20 Toes to Bar [I did knees to waist]

10 Dips [I used small dip bar]

So this morning my alarm went off at 5:30 and I almost stayed in bed.  I thought, well....I'll just wait until the 8am class.  I know me.  I cannot already start allowing myself excuses to not get up and go as I planned.  I got up & had my usual banana, bottle of spark, and two catalyst supplements.  Grabbed my gloves that I bought last night because I really don't want torn up hands due to all of the bar work we do.  I very reluctantly drove to the Box, for the third day in a row thinking there's no way I can do any of this due to how sore I am.

Missy was our coach as usual.  Started right up with a warm up of two laps around the building running frontwards then two laps around again running BACKWARDS!!  Are you kidding me?!  Yeah...backwards running sucks.  Continued the warm up inside with a few other things then went on to the WOD.  I had a complete moment where I actually almost teared up when I did 3 double unders in a row!  If you have never tried a double under, I challenge you to do it.  All it is is jumping rope, but swinging the rope twice under you in one jump.  Seems easy enough right?  WRONG!  Try doing 30 of those!  Try 10!!  Try 3!  Those things are HORRIBLE and almost impossible for this chick at this point.  However, once I did the 3 in a row my mood totally shifted.  I almost couldn't keep the smirk off my face!

Came home and took my shower, stretched in the shower (so cool that my shower is large enough for me to do that) and I STILL do not feel like puking!!  I am making progress!!!  My hands are starting to callus and I'm not a fan of that.  That's the reason I bought the gloves.  I can't imagine what my hands would look like if I didn't use them.  Even with the gloves my hands are still being affected.  Anywho...I'll be back at 6:30 tomorrow morning and that will complete my first week of CrossFit!!!

Even My Lungs are Sore

I leave my 4 year old son home with my husband while I go workout and in order for my husband to get up and get to work at a decent time I decided to go workout at 6:30 this morning rather than 8am like yesterday.  I had a banana and some spark to drink for breakfast along with two Catalyst Supplements.  Missy was our coach today.  The posted "WOD" for today was "Chipper".

Skill: OHS (Over Handed Squat)

Chipper WOD
400m Run w/ 20/14lb medicine ball (Me: 10lb ball)
10 OHS (95/65lbs) (Me:  15lb bar)
30 Burpees
10 Shoulder Press (95/65lbs) (Me:  15lb bar)
40 Medicine Ball Situps (20/14) (Me:  10lb ball)
10 Front Lunges (95/65lbs) (Me: 15lb bar)
50 Push Ups (Me: Most were on my knees)
400m Run w/ 20/14lb medicine ball (Me: 10lb ball & I walked most of the way)

On my way to workout I was thinking about how every muscle in my body is sore...it even feels like my lungs are sore! I didn't know how I was possibly going to even attempt this workout feeling the way I did, but I didn't want to give up so soon!  Forced myself to go and after the stretching and the warm up I really didn't feel my soreness nearly as badly as I did when I got there.  The first run was kind of sucky.  It's hard to hold onto that ball while you're running...specially when your arm strength isn't good.  The over head squats were fine.  Then came the burpees.  THEY SUCK INCREDIBLY BAD!!  Took a lot out of me doing those.  The shoulder press, situps, and lunges were hard, but doable.  I BARELY MADE IT through the push ups.  OH my goodness that was so brutal!!  I walked pretty much the entire way of the last 400m run.  I completed the WOD in 22:54.  By the time I was done my head felt like it was gonna explode.  Tomorrow I will be taking an ibuprofen prior to working out.  I actually felt more comfortable today in the 6:30 class.  I will be going at the same time tomorrow :-)

First Official "WOD"

First official workout of the day or "WOD" for me.  This morning I had a Kellogg's bar and some water.

Coach today was Jennifer along with Megan.  Not including the serious warm up, we also did some stretching and mobility exercises.  Then on to the "WOD" which for today was

Skill: Pull Ups 

AMRAP 10 
10 Thrusters (75/45 lbs) (Me:  15lb bar with 10lbs of weights)
10 Pull Ups (Me: using a green and purple band to assist)

WHOA.  This exercise was as many reps you can do within 10 minutes.  So basically you do 10 Thrusters, then 10 pull ups, then repeat.  I did 4.5 reps within these 10 minutes.  I felt like all the life had been sucked out of me.  Just as yesterday, felt like puking for two-ish hours.  I felt off today for sure.  Emotional, somewhat like an outsider.  Came home, soaked in the bath, ate some lunch with Brody, then he and I laid in my bed to watch a movie and we both passed out for about three hours.  That probably contributed to my soreness.  Going to bed sore :-(

CrossFit? Hmmmm...

**Note:  Anytime I mention a word or phrase that you do not understand, please to go this website to be informed!**

Many of my peers and people around where I live go to CrossFit.  They're always posting on Facebook about it ranting and raving.  I was almost tired of hearing about it.  Eventually I got curious.  A friend and I decided to go talk to someone at the CrossFit in Moss Bluff to see what all the hype was about.  It was hard to get us both together at the same time, so I decided today to go by myself to just kind of check it out, get info on cost, etc.  No big deal right?  (I must mention that I hadn't eaten a thing this morning, as usual, neither had I drank any water.  Probably even dehydrated because I don't drink enough.)

WRONG!  I get there and had the pleasure of meeting Missy LeBert who is the owner of this particular CrossFit "Box".  She was so calm and patient and answered all of my questions.  She asked if I was interested in doing my "baseline".  Below is a description of what a baseline is.  You can also click here to watch a video of a guy doing the same workout.

Baseline, as written, is a short "chipper" of a 500m row, 40 Air Squats, 30 Sit Ups, 20 Push Ups, and 10 Pull Ups. “Baseline” is performed at an all out sprint to measure your level of fitness and your cardio endurance.

Standards of Movements: 

Squats – Squat below parallel. This means getting your hip crease below your knee crease. 

Sit Ups – Your shoulders must start on the ground, sit up and touch the ground in front of you, and returning your shoulders to the ground.

Push Ups – Chest to deck. Enough said. Your belly isn't your stomach.

Pull Ups – Chin over bar. Full extension at the bottom.

So since I was dressed in workout attire I decided to go ahead and get the baseline done and out of the way.   She went over each move in detail and had me try each one.  I feel like, "Oh this I can do!"  Then she tells me what the baseline entails and that she would start the clock and I would do it as quickly I could.  I completed the workout in 7:33 and immediately was light headed.  I sat upright against a box to try to catch my breath.  The longer I sat there the more light headed and nauseous I became!  Another coach, Megan, came to sit by me and make sure I was okay.  As my face started to turn pale and as I laid out flat on the floor she asked if I needed juice, which I of course muttered, "yes".  She fixed me a bottle of Advocare Recovery, the one she gave me was citrus, but I can't seem to find that on the website.  It took a good little bit of time before I could even find the strength or energy to pick up that 16oz water bottle.  Once I did and got a few sips down my color started to return to my face.

After sitting for a little bit I went to Carly's to pick up Brody which was about 5 minutes down the road.  It took about two full hours for me to stop having waves of nausea!!  I have never experienced anything like this before.  This is crazy, but I'm ready to go back tomorrow morning at 8am.