To junk or not to junk

So I’m pretty strict with what I eat.  I allow cheats based on time crunches.  For example, my oldest daughter had a softball game yesterday at 6:30.  It takes approximately 38 minutes, no really 38 minutes, to get there.  I get off at 5:00PM.   Yes, there was a time crunch.  Not even appropriate time to heat and eat leftovers. Yesterday we had junk food for supper. And I hate it!

Also, yesterday was the company cookout. I packed my lunch hoping to stay at the office because I had half a ton of things to get done.  It wasn’t to be.  So, here I stand at the cookout and the only thing to eat is “god knows what in it” hamburgers and hot dogs, canned beans (reheated, of course), homemade pasta salad, and watermelon.  I didn’t have a burger, hot dog, or beans.  I ate some of the pasta, figuring it was the lesser of the offered evils, and quite a bit of the watermelon.

 

What do you do? When you’ve planned but other plans take over?

I made the call

I called.   I scheduled a consultation.  Just…to see.   It’s the 18^th at 3:15.

 

Now we shall wait and see.

Mommy Tucks...

A friend recently had mommy-lipo.  Quite literally they smoothed out the portion of her tummy that remained from her c-section.   …did I ever tell you that I had an consult done.  Well, I did.  Before I started my journey I went in to ask.  This ‘wonderful man’  (in quotes because of the down his nose way of looking me over) told me it would take lipo and TWO tummy tucks totally between $26k and $28k.   I left, defeated. There was no way on this earth or any other planet that I was gonna throw down the price of a freakin’ car!! I decided I would literally work it off.  I’ve done very well. I have lost an incredible amount of inches off my entire frame. Certain areas of me are increasing in inches with lifting.. my biceps for example from 11” to 13”. 

But there are certain areas, one in particular, that seems to be holding out for some sort of apocalypse.  My tummy has taken a stand and refuses to budge.  I wonder if it’s worth it.  I wonder how much more I could do, on my own before succumbing to the temptation of (whispering) plastic surgery…

Ugh!  Sigh! 

I doubt I could spend that much money for that reason.. on me… Seriously?!  I don’t condemn anyone for doing it and I’m proud of my friend for doing what she wants with her body and her money. She, her husband and my husband all work for the same company.  Recently a close friend they work with was in a boating accident and died.  He was 34, with a family – young children, a wife.  He was the best sort of guy.  Give you the shirt of his back and skin to go with it…  Just… gone.   She told me that she’d gotten the tuck.  Then she said “you know, when he died.. I decided life is too damn short.  I’ve got all this cash sitting in retirement… and I may not even make it to retirement!  So I’m gonna be happy now!”    I know that feeling.  I had the same one when 9/11 happened.  It started the ball rolling on the divorce from my first husband.

Mmmmm a mommy tuck…   wonder what the healing time is.  The cost.. If it will hurt any muscle mass I’ve created…

To be continued.

Bench PR

PR’d my Bench Press today.  I like to start out lower than my current max and build up. My last max was 75#; I started with 65# today. Then gradually added weight.  I did a few lifts on my own then asked a friend to spot me. I added 5# on each side at first then again. (we only have one set of 10# plates at the box; cause they keep getting dropped and broken) Then I switched the double 5s out and threw on the 10s and added 2.5s to each side.  Easy peasy!  Took the 2.5s off and added 5s to each side. Couldn’t move it from my chest. Nothing.  Took the 5s off and added back the 2.5s; Boom!  Right back up it went!  So, 90# it is. For now.

 

Heavy Lifting

I haven’t written in a while.  Not since The Open.  Work has been busy, my daughter tried tennis and then got into softball.  Frankly there has barely been any time to get settled long enough to sleep.

Roughly six weeks ago Coach started the competition team on a heavy lifting program coupled with a Zone/Paleo mix for nutrition.  I really love it!  I’ve heard a few say they miss the daily WODs or working with the group and I get that.  But for right now, for me. Show me the bar!  I’ve expressed my interest in continuing this style of programming to Coach.  There is a team meeting on Tuesday, which sadly is the same day my daughter’s softball game.  So, I’m not sure if I will be able to go. 

I missed 10 days during the beginning of this program due to a sinus infection. It was all I could do to work.  So, It put me behind in my lifting and in the program.  I’m working on 80% and 85% in most lifts where the rest of the team is maxing out.    He’s mentioned possibly making a few teams within the team.  For obvious reasons, I mean I can’t lift what the guys are lifting.  I’m not lifting the weight that most of the ladies are lifting.  So, we’ll see how it shakes out on Wednesday.

I began June by removing all artificial sugars.  I have stopped drinking, the very little amount that I drank.  I have given up gummy peaches, my ‘go to’ sweet.  I have also greatly lessened the amount of ice cream I eat. I hope to keep that regulated. Old Habits die hard.  =)

Tomorrow is my one year Crossfitiversary!!

Oh and did I mention I got an 11# PR on my High Bar Back Squat today?!  Yea, I’m pretty happy about it!

Some People Never Change

A lot of really interesting things happen when you trade places with someone.   For example,  During our son’s childhood and the time I was his primary caregiver his dad insisted on seeing him every other weekend.  This was part of the divorce decree so I complied.  Our son missed his dad so in order for him to know his dad more and spend more time with him I gave up each summer.  From the day school ended until the weekend before school began each fall our son spent with his dad.   This still wasn’t enough.  Our son began to ask to spend each holiday with his dad.  I complied.  “Sons need their Fathers.” “ He’s going to need to do ‘boy things with his dad.” “He’ll need to have talks with his dad that he may not be comfortable to have with me.”  The list of things I’d tell myself goes on and on…  Until finally our son decided that he wanted to move in with his dad.  He wanted to “be an only child again.”  I didn’t want to encourage him to rebel any further than he may have while becoming a teen so again, I complied.

It’s been three years since he moved out.  He says he’s learned a lot about his dad. To some extent he’s witnessed what I lived with; in how his dad has treated his now divorced wife and current girlfriend. He’s apologized for “not understanding” even though I never asked him to or attempted to explain to him why we couldn’t continue.

Today is the Friday before Mother’s Day on Sunday.  I got a call from my son; 80 miles away.  “Mom, I need money to come see you this weekend.”   Of course I’ll think of some way to get him the cash.   Roughly, 20 minutes later I get a call from his dad.  “He’ll be using his own money to come down this weekend.  Can you give it back to him?”

Really?   After how many trips back and forth? every other weekend?  After all the doctor’s appointments and extras that I never asked money for?  After saying the only reason you never contested the divorce was because I foolishly refused to ask for child support?  After three years of not seeing him every other weekend because you refused to comply with the divorce decree because the driving would be inconvenient? 

You can’t buy him a tank of gas? A Half a tank of gas?  To come see HIS MOTHER?

31014

14.2

Thursday they announced 14.2. 

A E3MOM pyramid

10 overhead squats 95#/65#

10 C2B pull-ups

10 overhead squats 95#/65#

10 C2B pull-ups

 

If you do this within the 3 minutes you:

A)     Have the rest of the time to rest.

B)      Move on to round two.

 

Each round the movements increase by 2 reps, and the same rules apply.  Within 3 minutes and Move on.

 

I got the overhead squats. It was a little heavy at first and I was a little wobbly. But I made it work.  I got zero C2B pull-ups. But I tried every single height of bar I could find to hopefully get at least one. No go.

030614

Thursday = Active Rest Day

Coach Kurt at the helm. 

We’re waiting on 14.2 to be announced tonight so Kurt took today to give us queues how to do different movements.

Pushups – brutally suck, and I hate them.  But, I will do whatever I need to do to become better at them.  Right now, Coach has me lowering myself slowly in the pushup. Building strength. 

Box Jumps – Stand at the top; lock out your hips.  Today was the first time I’d jumped onto the full 24” box.  I usually turn it on its side and use the 20” side.  He asked us to try different methods of doing the box jumps. Jumping up onto the box first. Then stepping up onto the box. Then jumping up and stepping back down rather than jumping down.   We teamed up in pairs.  Jessie worked with me.  Kurt timed our 30 second rounds.  My first round was jumping, I got 8.  My second round was stepping up, I got 15.  Third round was jumping up but stepping back, I got 9.  I didn’t feel winded at all with the second round. So when box jumps come into the Open. I’ll know what to do.

Wall Balls  - We worked on getting 90 degrees in the squat.  Kurt also gave us queues to make sure that we don’t kill ourselves going too fast.  He said that he can do 20 at a time then rest for a few seconds then go again.  He suggested, that when Wall Balls come up in the open, chances are there will be a lot of them and we should look to breaking them up into  doable numbers.

 

We had a quick WOD of Thrusters (75/55) and C2B pull-ups. 

3 Thrusters

5 C2B

 

I don’t have pull-ups. So I got on the bar and tried to pull myself as high as I could.  Still working with partners, I went first then I had to be finished with both movements before she could begin.  I think we got through 5 or 6 full rounds and then I got through my Thrusters and ran to the bar but got the call “TIME” before I could crank out another rep.

 

We called class over at 6:20 but I asked Jessie if she wanted to stay and work on DUs with me. She did.  When she left I did Pendlay rows: 5x5 @ 65# and L-sits.  Working on Pull-up strength.

Not too shabby for a rest day.  =)

 

030514

We continue to work on Double Unders since 14.1. Which is a good thing cause I need all the time on them I can get!
Strength today was:
Push Press 5x5 @75% = 65#

Then a nice little shoulder smokin' WOD.
An 8 minute AMRAP
30 Ball Slams RX 50/30
10 pushups

By the time I'd gotten to the balls all that was left were 10s, 20s, & 50s. I got a 20#
I finished two complete rounds and 28 ball slams of the next round.

Anxious to see what 14.2 brings.

Tied

 

 I browsed the Open scores for  MidAtlantic region for Individual Women.  I'm tied for 4,236th.  That's just one region.  I'm sure that I'm much farther down on the worldwide scale but it's a start. 

030114

I found out that Yoga is every Saturday at 8AM.  It had originally been only when they announced she could come.  So I decided I would take Olivia with me.  She was very excited.  We got there early and enjoyed the class.  
After yoga class the Saturday Throwdowns usually happen.  Right now though, most of the people participating in the Open are choosing to do the WODs on Saturday.  After being there and witnessing 14.1 in that sort of atmosphere, I've been thinking of doing the same for the remainder of The Open.
The first heats to go on Saturday were women.  As they warmed up I told Olivia that I wanted her to watch the WOD with me.  She played with the coaches' daughter until I motioned for her to come over.  She asked a few questions about double unders. And about the weight on the bar.  Then she watched the first round.  Then the coolest thing happened.  She pulled out her cell phone and started recording the WOD!  She focused on one woman and watched her every movement.
It was very inspiring to see her feel that connection, that empowerment.  That's what I want for her.
I want her to feel unstoppable.

022814 AKA Crossfit Open 14.1

This was my first Crossfit Open.  My first WOD in the Open.  I was slightly nervous.  But I kept telling myself.  "This is about all I can give today. It's not about what I think I should be doing by now or what anyone else is doing. Just me, just today."


14.1 was
10 minutes AMRAP
30 DU
15 Power Snatches 75/55


I knew exactly what would hold me up the second I heard it.  Double Unders.  I can do them. Sure. They're ugly and they're one at a time. I hung my rope at home hoping the constant kink that is in it would ease.
I started out with my new lifters on but Coach Kurt suggested against it since I hadn't done any double unders in them.  Coach broke us up into two heats. The second heat judged for the first heat.  I was in the first heat.
The DUs were my normal one at a time with the rare two or three strung together.  The lifts felt great.  The weight didn't overpower me, but it wasn't light either. I like the Power Snatch.  I don't have to try to get under the bar. Just bump it with my hips and lift it over head. Done.
Dave judged for me.  Encouraged me.  At the end I had 122 reps.  Pretty pleased with my performance.

022714

 

Thursday, Active Rest day.

Today Coach Kurt took us through some active rest work.  Nothing on the board. 

Making sure we’re moving, stretching, and breaking a sweat. 

After Kurt’s warm up we did:

A 10 minute Rowing WOD – 40 seconds on, 20 seconds off. (amazing how quickly 20 seconds goes by!)

At first he wanted the girls to keep it “under 2:10”.  He walked behind us, cheering us on, encouraging us to stay above the number he’d set.  About halfway through he noticed I’d gotten 1:57.  I was able to keep it under 2:05 and randomly hit 1:57 or so from there on.  The last 40 seconds he said “I saw you at 1:57.  I want you to keep it under 1:57.”  So I got to 1:55.  Stayed there for a few rows and then right back up again.  But now I know I can do it. =)

L-sit drills;  he mentioned that strength in the L-sit also relates to strength in the pull-up.  I need to add these to my after WOD work.

V-Sit drills; description first; Sit on the floor legs together, toes pointed.  With your hands beside your thighs, fingers spread, lift legs – 5 times. Each set move your hands closer to your feet. (this is tough!)  Then, spread legs into a “V” then lift legs. 

Push-up drills;   (a nemisis)  He asked us to do a few. Then after watching form asked us to spread our fingers and point our pinkies more east/west.  Felt much different.

Burpee drills;  Everyone’s pretty sure that Burpees will be in 14.1, so he gave us a few pointers on how to do them a little more efficiently. Don’t bend your knees when you come back from the floor.  Straight leg it. Throwing in the squat just makes more work for you.

He showed us some nice foam rolling techniques.  The one for my right IT Band hurt like hell!  Left one was fine.

A 2^nd quick WOD: 

20 Air Squats

20 Pushups

20 Sit ups

2 rounds

Pushups slowed me way down. Cause I don’t have them yet. But I gathered myself and went for “Form over Fast” (I’m beating that into my head, can you tell?) It was ugly.  I did the pushups one at a  time.  I know I’ll get there, but the waiting sucks balls! =}

After the work out I did Bicep Curls.

On a side note, my right calf doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as it did a week ago.  There’s still a little tightness when coming down stairs but nothing really “major”. 

 

 

 

 

Meals

I took my laptop to work today. Just in case it was a slow day... and it was!
I made a list of meals that we've enjoyed and aren't too time consuming. I'm going to use that list of meals and plan the next few weeks worth of menus.
I'm waiting for Coach to have The Zone class he mentioned. Then I'll have some numbers to go on and maybe do some tweaking.

022614

 

Clean/Jerk 5x1 @ 70%  = 65#

 

WOD was an 8 min AMRAP

15 OHS

15 HSPU

 

I started with the bar weighted at 65#, did three. Form wasn’t there. So I got rid of ten pounds.  Concentrated on form over fast.  My “score” for this WOD was 1 full round, plus an additional 15 OHS.

 

Thoughts Are Steps Toward Goals

022514

The Open starts Friday!! We’re slowing down our WODs this week to gear up.

 

Today I got to wear my new Crossfit Lifter Plus shoes that Wayne got me for Valentine’s day!  They felt so good!

 

Snatch 2x2 @ 75% = 55#

Clean & Jerk 3x2 @ 75% = 65#

 

WOD was Sprint Relays.  I switched out of my lifters to run. 

Relays went like this:

1 – down and back

2 – Three tier suicides

3 – Sandbag Carry

4 – Sandbag Carry – This time while you squatted while you waited to run.

5 -- Buddy carry!  (I did it again!)  Michelle was my buddy.  It was her first time she didn’t think I could carry her which made me second guess it the more she talked.  LOL!  But up and over my shoulders she went!  BA-BOOM!

We ran down and back.  This time while you waited to run we did a dead hang from the pull up bars.

6 – Sprint

 

After the WOD I did two sets of Pull-up progressions:

Pendlay Rows 5x5 @ 65#

Barbell Bicep Curls 3x20 @ 35#

 

My calf is STILL tight.  I roll out daily. I’m taking B12. I’m drinking at least 100oz of water every week day. (my goal is to do the same on the weekends)  Still tight.  No pain, persay. Just tightness.

 

 

 

Things that I need to plan.

Menus – I’m kicking around planning roughly two to four weeks that rotate. Rather than sitting at the computer week after week trying to come up with something for that week, that the kids ‘might like’, etc.   I’m not trying to avoid meal planning in the least.  I’m just trying to make it a little easier on myself.

 

Cleaning – I’m absolutely sick of trying to plan to clean on the weekend only to give all the weekend to the kids and not clean at all. I have a very short window of time each evening (more time when supper is a Crockpot; but everyday can’t be a Crockpot meal. Can it?).  I need to work out how to devote some of that time to cleaning something.  Even if it’s one thing, even if it’s just a tiny thing.

 

Goals – I want to nail down some goals and a plan to get there.  I want to use the time I am able to devote to the best of my ability.  I want to make the most of this life and this body.  I want to come away with at least some sort of goal achieved, some sort of “I did that shit!”.  

 

If you’re a work outside the home parent and are reading this feel free to comment things that you to do make your life easier.  Fast food, Freezer Meals and “Letting your spouse do it”  are not acceptable answers. =)

Another missed day

Once again I've missed a Monday class. I gotta tell ya, it really pisses me off. I want to do work every single day.
Sometimes I feel like I don't get any support in my goals.

Runner's Church

I'm meeting the group this morning for "Runner's Church".  I haven't been in a while for a variety of reasons. 
I met Bill and Tom at the old gym, during "Lose Big". When we began to train for half and full marathons the training plans all called for a walk on Sunday. That's how our little "church" was born.
Lisa, Serena, and Allison joined the group last year before summer. They also brought Jason (Serena's) and Zac (Allison's) their husbands.  In the fall, Sara a trail running friend of Allison's joined the group. She and Tom began dating not long after.
We normally walk three miles. It's nice to catch up with everyone each week.
Usually Bill will bring one or both of his dogs. He just had his 2nd hip resurfaced so he won't be walking today.
Sarah and Tom sometimes go by the local shelter and pick up a few dogs to walk.
Lisa hurt her foot recently and its slowed her down a bit.
I showed up much too early today.  8AM is the usual meeting time. I just read a message that they recently moved to 8:30AM, probably because of the cold winter mornings.

a Hint of meal planning

My evenings are very short.  Off work at 5pm, pick up the kids on the way home, Then start supper and help with homework.  If there is any time left over I need to do household things.   I run out of time a lot! 

Last night’s homework included preparing Olivia for her spelling test today. I called the 20 words out to her while I prepared supper. Then while supper (Cherry Pork Chops, couscous and sliced red pepper strips) cooked I checked them and she rewrote the incorrect ones. 

I keep wanting to move our eating from the living room (yes, in front of the tv) to the dining room.  Yes, I know it’s horrible!  Trust me I know!  I would just as soon spend our monthly tv bill on anything else.  Maybe a membership to The Box (or even a regular gym) for my dear sweet Hubby (I don’t think he’s interested). Or clothes? God knows I could use some shorts for The Box. Or Clothes for the kids. Or toward paying off a friggin’ bill or six.   But no, sports continue to be the only thing you really can’t watch live on the web and therefore we MUST keep the service.  Anyway, I digress.

So Wednesday I planned out the menu for the week.  Last night I ran through it one more time and made a grocery list.  Hubby says he’ll go get everything today, shouldn’t be a lot. But I did notice some meats on sale and I like to take advantage of sales when I can.  Plus we have some beef in the deep freeze from our semi-annual purchase in November.

My son is coming home for the weekend. I’ve made a few plans.  We’re going to a neighbor’s birthday party then maybe the Lego Movie!

 

 

022014

Didn’t get much sleep last night, Went to The Box anyway.  Thursday is active rest day and I have only been one day this week.  (Grrrrr!) 

Walked in at 5:10, put my stuff away, grabbed a foam roller and rolled everything out.   Around 5:30 Coach Kurt says to grab our ropes. We’re gonna start with double under bets. 

Each person says how many they think they can get in 20 seconds. Coach usually raises it by 5 or so depending on how good the person is at DUs.  If you don’t make it to Coach’s bet then you do burpees.

He started on the opposite end of the room with the bets. Everyone does DUs until it’s your turn to bet. I started jumping with everyone else. We bet in pairs. The first four pair went, then the pair I was in. 

How many, Tess?   3.    It's only 20 seconds, but I don't have them strung together yet. Coach Kurt said go for 4.   I did.  I got 1, then another, then the rope got tangled up.  Then I got four in a string!  YAY!  Then I started again, still more time so maybe I can get a few more. But no!  All of a sudden from out of nowhere my right calf cramped up.  BAM!

I couldn't stand on it!! Hurt so bad!! I told Kurt. I could barely walk. He and a few teammates suggested I roll out my calf.  Tamilyn showed me what she did when the same thing happened to her last year. She said it took a three days for her calf to get better. I really hope that it does get better before Monday.  The OPEN is coming and I want to fully participate.  

As the day went on it's gotten looser and looser. It doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it did. But it does still hurt to climb stairs and if I can't yet push off the floor with my toes.  I have to sort of "flat foot" when I'm walking right now.

021914

There were some new faces at The Box this morning.  And sadly I was late getting there so there wasn’t any time for introductions.

As part of  our warm up we did some Dip progressions. Then grabbed pvc and did our Maverick warm up which, among other things includes snatch pulls, muscle ups, overhead squats and duck walks.  Coach did the first WOD a little differently today.  Rather than allowing us time to get set up and then starting the clock; He told us what we would be doing and started the clock BEFORE  we were set up.  Good thing I write down the WOD and my weights on my own little white board!  I would’ve wasted A LOT of time!
The WOD went like this:
10 Front Squats   RX=155#
15 Snatch Push Presses  RX = 95#
10 Cleans   RX =115#
15 Turkish Get-Ups  RX = 30#

I don't have those weights yet.  At home I thought about what I would be able to lift for the WOD.  I chose 85# for the FS, 65# for the SPP, 75# for the C, and a 30# KB. 

Wish we'd have had more time to do the math. Before Coach started the clock he said we could use 85# of our max. So I ended up going light on my FS.

I finished in 16:04

Fitbit found

Wayne has already named his "reward" too!

PIN worms revisited

Whelp, that’s two days work missed from The Box.  Last night I discovered that our 3yo has pin worms, again.  The only thing that I can say is since we’ve been through this before we already had the OTC meds needed to kill them.  Also, I really don’t know how she’s getting the damn things. None of us have had it. And if the other parents at daycare are being honest, no one there has it either.

When it was obvious that she wasn’t going to get relief right away, I took Amelia downstairs. Hoping  we wouldn’t wake Olivia, she has school afterall.  I made a bed for Amelia on the loveseat, and threw a blanket on the couch for me hoping maybe we’d each drift off. But, no luck. There was NO sleep to be had until Hubby got home from work early this morning.  Then he took over.  

This morning they were each sleeping quietly on the couches and Olivia was doing her best to be quiet while she had breakfast and got ready for school.  I woke with a start at 630AM, thankful almost because I didn’t set an alarm for earlier than 730AM.  

I took my Fitbit wrist band off and my Fitbit wasn’t in it.  So, tonight Olivia and I are going to tear everything off my bed, Amelia’s bed and surrounding the couch to hopefully find the Fitbit. This is my second Fitbit. I refuse to lose it! 

I really would like a “do-over”.  I need sleep, I need to get to The Box and I really hate it when Amelia feels bad.  Pin worms are no joke. 

 

Sleepy

No Crossfit today. I was bad and got into bed late last night.  Hubby and I like to watch Downton Abbey.  I'm gonna have to see if he would mind recording it and watching with me the following Saturday or something... I need to stop missing Mondays.
I've started snuggling with the girls each night.  After supper we head upstairs, we take showers and get dressed in our pjs.  My oldest daughter reads to us.  She gets school credit for reading. 
Tonight I brought the laptop upstairs to research how to better make my wrist wraps.  Did I mention I'm sewing my own wraps?  They look pretty good. But I noticed after I washed the first set, they frayed around the edges.  So, I'm researching how to stop that. 
I wish I had my own laptop or keypad for my Kindle.  This laptop needs to go back downstairs so Hubby can use it when he comes home.  But I really don't want to get out of bed.
Oh well, good night..

021514

Today was supposed to be "Saturday Throwdowns".  PR Day.   But the last few Saturdays has been Yoga, then WOD, then lift. Or WOD then Lift. 
I try to take as little time away from family as I can, so I like to get back home by 11AM.  That's usually the time my long runs would have me back home.  So, I think it's a 'normal' time. Then we can shower, grab a bite and get run to various markets for food stuffs, etc. for the week.
Today was girls against guys.  YAY! (not) Coach told us to set up bars 65# and 95#, then he put the first WOD on the board.
The five person teams will split into two teams of two and a single person.
The two teams of two will need to do a total of  50 Front Squats (95#) & Overhead Squats (65#); split them however you'd like but 50 between the two. Also those two must move at the same time; down and up. While the two teams were doing FS/OHS, the Fifth teammate was doing wall balls. Continuously; Until both teams were done.  Then, when those items were complete, we needed to complete 500 double unders as a team.
As the slowest and weakest member of the herd... No let's be honest. My lifts aren't that of what most of these girls are doing; but considering my background and experience compared to theirs.  I do okay!  
I didn't really put it together that we'd have to Clean the Front Squat from the floor until after my teammate said she didn't think she could. Except then she proceeded to do exactly that. I, on the other hand, could not. The bar wouldn't budge. 
Coach says "If you can Front Squat it, you can Clean it."  Yea, Okay! I have a 130# PR right now for FS. If you want me to Clean that right now I'm gonna need to borrow a rag and some polish!
We racked for the FS and kept going.  I looked over at the girl who chose to do the Wall Balls and thought maybe I should've done them instead.  We made it through the 50 and then on to double unders.  I can do them, stringing them together when I'm not shaking is one thing.  Stringing them together when I am shaking was comical.
This WOD rapidly turned into one of THOSE days. Every damn thing was going through my head. 
"Its too heavy","What the hell am I doing?".  Only I couldn't stand there and say I can't do this, let's lower the weight.  I just had to get through it.  I thought I would puke.  When I got over that I thought I would cry. 
That's been happening frequently, bi the way. I get to a point where I feel like my body is just gonna completely give out. Then my brain is screaming "Aw, Hell NO!".  It's just a massive hurricane of emotion.  UGH!


The 2nd WOD was intense! 
50 pushups per person
then each person bear crawl down and back while the team holds a plank
then each person broad jumps down and back while the team holds a squat
then 100 air squats per person
the sprint relay down and back, each person 5 times.
GOOD LORD!!


After the WOD, I brought my heart rate down a bit and did  Pendlay Rows 5x5 @65#

Beep and Nutrition

The Box was closed again this morning due to the snow.
I was able to make it out to tonight's Team time. But there were very few others there. Three others to be exact. Lauren, one of the coaches, told a guy from the 5:30 class to stay and workout with us. So that gave us five total people.
First we did the beep test. It's brutal. Cones are placed a distance of 20 meters apart. Your job is to cover the distance between beeps. Each round gets a little faster. 
Last time we did the Beep Test I died out in round 4. This time was round 5 on the 4th trip.  A small improvement
Then we did intervals with the rower and intervals with a naked barbell.
  I really need to concentrate on "Form before Fast"

Also, Coach mentioned working with people on their nutrition. That would be so awesome. I've been thinking of talking to him about what specifically I should/shouldn't be eating.  As a group we did a 100% Paleo challenge from September to November.  I felt great and had no trouble committing to the rules.  There were a few times that I indulged a little but it wasn't an entire day.   I've slipped since then.  Allowing dairy and some sugars back in but that will stop.  I feel awful when I eat those things.

A teammate who works at a nice local restaurant also sells cauliflower wraps and aioli at The Box.  I've been buying from them for a while.  I really like it.  He's had carrot wraps recently instead of the cauliflower.  The price per head of cauliflower has gone up.  I picked up my most recent order tonight.  YUM!
 

Pull-up Progression

At the end of last year Coach decided we would choose a movement goal for ourselves. Just one. 
I chose Pull-ups.  I think a lot of people did, too.


He wants us to do at least one of these every day.

Snow WOD

Yesterday, my work closed early. A snow storm had been on the forecast for a week. They expected 2" per hour. They were right! Before the day was over there was at least 10" and it was still coming down.
Everything closed; my work, Wayne's work. Even The Box was closed today.  Coach sent out an at home WOD, that I never seem to have time to do.  On the other hand I made time to do the Snow WOD.
10 rounds for time
20 snow shovels (alternating sides)
20 overhead squats (shovel overhead)
My time was 24:06
At the end of the day the total snowfall was 22".
Wayne said I could order lifting shoes with his account for Valentine's Day. I went online to Reebok.com to order them.  Totally out! No women's size 8.5 lifters to be found.  I chatted with a guy that works there. He suggested men's size 7.  So I'm gonna give them a try.

02122014

Today's first WOD was called Strength Accelerated
E2MOM for 10 Min
3 Front Squats and 3 Clean Pulls at &75% of Clean.
I used 65#.


WOD 2 was called Shoulders, Knees and Toes (3 Rounds For Time) 14:36
3 Snatch Push Press (RX 95/135) 65#
15 TGU w/ 30#kb (1st set was 30#; 2nd & 3rd was 20#)
3 Pistols


I worked with Kristi on the 2nd WOD.  She added 10# to her Push Presses.

Snatch

WOD #1 today called I love Snatch (Weight)

It was E2MOM (Every 2 Minutes on the Minute) at 70% of your Snatch

1 Power Snatch, 1 Snatch, 1 Snatch Balance

I did the first two sets with 55#.  55# was heavy, I think because I'm not sure of the Snatch position. Then I pulled the plates off and did the remaining sets with a naked bar.  Basically working on the movement.

WOD #2 Do Work ( a12 minute AMRAP - Rounds and Reps) 4 Rnds, plus 100 meters

200 m row

10 kipping chest 2 bar

5 ball slams 30#

I'll just be honest.  I don't have pull-ups.  I do my best. I don't do ring rows unless Coach says to.  otherwise I'm at least on the bar trying.  Sometimes he has us doing strict pull-ups; for those I do "negatives". (I get my chin over the bar and slowly release until my arms are fully extended)  When we kipp, I kipp as high as I can. 

My goal for now is Pull-Ups.

02102014

We started with the Dynamic Warmup, Foundations, and the Maverick Warm up

WOD #1 = “Feel the Burn”  For Time with a 15 minute time cap

Back Squat – 15 reps@ 80% (in as few sets as possible)  I did this at 100#

Push Press – 15 reps @ 75% (in as few sets as possible) I started this at 70#, halfway through I lowered the weight to 65#

 

I worked with Daria.  She’s a real nice girl. She looks as though she’s been lifting and healthy for years! Her shoulders and upper back are incredible!  She has the back I’m working toward.

She added weights in between my sets and since she is working through a shoulder injury she did a different movement while I did Push Presses.

WOD #2 was called Three 2 Three - 3 Rounds for Time.  My Time was11:15

3 Snatches (RX was 95/135) I used 65#

10 T2B

3 Rope Climbs (1 W/ No Feet)

I did pretty well with this WOD. My snatches need ALOT of work.  I need to get WAY under, I'm not right now. T2B weren't bad.  I'm getting better at those.  Rope Climbs; just a brief thing about Rope Climbs. 

The Box was closed the day before Thanksgiving.  But Coach opened and set up a random WOD for us; it included rope climbs.  I couldn't get up the rope. I'd never done it before that day.  Coach showed us how to wrap the rope between

our feet and that was that!  I wore a Zensa calf sleeve to minimize the rope burn on my left leg; that worked pretty well. So I climbed the rope 9 times Monday!! I didn't do the Legless part though.

Yoga and Group WOD

This morning was my first Yoga class at The Box.  It was wonderful! I haven't been able to find a yoga class at a time that I could go or an affordable price.
Coach has an agreement with a lady that owns a Yoga Studio in town. She comes on scheduled Saturdays and the cost is $10. SOLD!
I did my best. I didn't have the balance for a few movements. I'm sure I'll get better. The crocodile pose was tough. But all in all it was a great class.  Dave told me after class "Wow, Tess, you're pretty flexible!"
I planned to stay for the group WOD and for PRs. The group was small there were 8 people plus Coach Tommy. Tommy broke us up into teams of three. Dave, Alex and I on one team. Kristin, Ben and Steve on the other.
We did one of the same WODs that the Comp team is doing today in Greensboro.  It was called Heavy Jackie. Tommy insisted I use 65#.
Here's how it went:
1500 meter row
80 thrusters
60 pull-ups
Split each movement between the three of us until we're finished with that movement. While one person is doing the row or the thrusters the other two people are holding their bar in the front rack position. When you are doing the pull-ups the other two people are holding the bar overhead.
It was a great WOD. I finished feeling energized and ready for more.
I stayed and tried for a heavy single on the Front Squat.  It didn't happen today.  I couldn't get 115# back up.
Still a good day.

Comp Team WOD

Members of The Competition Team will be going to their first meet tomorrow. I really wish I could've gone, but there's still some debt to be brought down first.
Tonight Coach talked about nutrition.  I know that I really need to get mine dialed in.  He also said he wants us to drink an ounce of water for each pound we weigh. I've only been trying for 80oz. So I need to work on that.  
We warmed up and did a short WOD.
I partnered with Kristie. We loaded two bars. One 65#; One 95#.
This was a 5 minute AMRAP.
6 Deadlifts
6 shoulder to Overhead
2 20 meter "down and back" sprints.
It was a great WOD.

WOD was ME 2

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore, Dream, Discover.”

 

This was the Mark Twain quote on written on today’s WOD.   I can honestly tell you I am disappointed that I never played a sport in my youth.  I am disappointed that I never learned to swim. And probably a few other things if I were to think about them.  But the things that I did do, whatever that might be, I consider a learning experience.  I’m not disappointed that I did them; I just learned from them and moved on.

 

My hip is feeling better.  I’ve noticed there’s a bit of tightness and ‘give’ at times but nothing like a total ‘pop out’.  During the WOD today Amy suggested that I start taking my Glucosamine.  So I’ll start that today with the Fish Oil and Vitamin D.

I got to The Box a little late so I missed a few bits of the warm up.

Dynamic Warmup.

I noticed when I first begin my skip there’s a twitch in my ankle at the point of push off.  I’m going to research this for stretches, etc.

Foundations

Maverick Warm Up

2 Position Cleans (5@ 75%) from Position #4 (the floor) and Position #2 (mid thigh); I worked with Amy we used 65#.  It was EMOM, 5 sets

I was queued to squat during the clean, I left it out on the first one. Also to keep my chest up throughout the movement.

Muscle Snatch (3x3@75%) We dropped to 55#.

 

WOD = ME2 (AMRAP 14 min)

2 min ME wall balls (14#)

2 min ME double unders

2 min ME push ups

2 min rest

 

Must work on double unders. My rope is curled.  So when it’s in my hands there are still twists in it.  Maybe it’s not hurting my performance but it’s bothersome.

Friday evenings are Comp Team workouts at 6:30PM, So I’ll be logging another workout later today.

Active Rest

Thursdays are active rest days at The Box.  Here's how today played out.
Dynamic Warmup
Bring Sally Up (the song is called "Flower" by Moby; everyone knows it as Bring Sally Up) Thrusters 55#   I'm not gonna lie.  That was rough, especially with my hip hurting from yesterday.
There was a scheduled Make-up time. If you'd missed any lifts from the beginning of the week this was your shot to get them done.  Coach Olivia also gave us that same time to "work on something you suck at."  I worked on Snatches and Double Unders. 
I used the same 55# bar that I already had.  Olivia queued me to bring my elbows up higher.  I adjusted and continued.  I have trouble getting under the bar. I seem to insist on omitting the squat all together.
My Double Unders are coming along.  I'm not really consistent with them though.  I can get them one at a time and sometimes I can string together up to three.  But, then I get excited that I've strung them together and lose it. So I'm trying to use the queues that the coaches have given me. "Keep your hands in your pockets", "use aggressive wrists", "jump steady, turn quick".
After our "suck work" she created a Coaches Choice WOD.  5 stations, 45 seconds work; 15 seconds rest, 4 rounds.  
3 pushups into Wall Walks (it's a handstand progression where you start in a plank and walk your feet up the wall behind you as you walk your hands closer to the wall; till you're in a wall handstand then walk both back to the floor)
Jumping Lunges (I asked to not jump because of my hip; instead I did weighted walking lunges)
Ball Slams 30#/50#
Rolling Tucks (not sure if that's the name; it's a Pistol progression. Starting on your back, bend your knees, tuck into a ball and roll forward onto your feet.  Once you have that continue but roll forward onto one foot with the other leg stretched out into a Pistol position.
Alternating Planks - alternate from forearm planks to straight arm planks.


It was a very active Rest Day.

Me a.k.a. Wonder Woman

I've come to the conclusion that I have unrealistic expectations. Mainly for how much I can get done during the evening after school/work!
I'm not ready to cave on the belief at the moment. But, instead it's all about planning, right?!

WOD'ing through the Pain

Yesterday toward the end of the work day, I somehow turned wrong and popped my left hip out of joint. It used to happen all the time when I trained or ran half marathons. I would get to the 11th mile and it would just pop out or I would jam it up in my hip joint. But it hasn't happened in a long time and I thought it was over. Well yesterday it happened again; I could barely put any weight on my leg it all!
Last night my leg didn't hurt to move around or stand to cook so I basically forgot about it. Until I stood to undress. It was achy to stand on my left leg to take my jeans off of my right leg. This morning when I woke it hurt to press on my hip to roll to the right.
I went to The Box anyway. I was hoping that maybe someone would be there that could pop my hip back in or manipulate it somehow. No luck. Instead I foam rolled it and used light weights for the WOD.
WOD #1 E2MOM 10 min
4 Front squat @ 75% then ME Turkish get ups. I got no where near my 75%. I used 35# bar
WOD #2  15 min AMRAP 135/95
5 Snatch push press + 5 OHS+5 Pendlay Row + 400m Run
For this WOD I used the same bar and rowed instead of running.

Always More To Learn

 

Does it make sense that I’m constantly researching?  Constantly reading. Consistently trying to learn as much as I can about the things that interest me.  Facebook groups, Blogs, Sites, Debates, Discussions, Magazines, Youtube Videos…  

It’s creating blocks of time to learn.  My own little school.

 

If there was someone (I wish) that said “Here is the meal plan that you need.  Here is the path that I want you to take to achieve your goal.”  I honestly think I would still research and gather other people’s knowledge on it.  If nothing else but for the excitement of hearing their view and experience.

 

Muddled Thoughts

Some of the other things on my mind right now. 
 * Snapchat - I probably wouldn't use it at all if it weren't for my son.  He's had a phone for years and I've talked to him more through Snapchat than any other avenue.


* Sugar - I really need to tighten up on my meals.  I felt really good during the Lurong Challenge. So I know that I need to make some changes.  Because right now I feel bloated and weak.  Sure it could be the week or more I was sick.  Or it could be that my meal plan has included one too many indulgences.  Frankly, I'm blaming the indulgences. 

* Housework - I'm trying to do a little bit everyday.  Today, Supper was the one thing that I did.  But it was wonderful.  Pork Chops with a Cherry sauce.  Delicious!

Full Range Chicken

We start our workouts with various types of warmups. Today we started with the "Dynamic Warmup" which is a sprint at 60/70/80/90%.  Followed by high knees, butt kickers, up and out, out and kick back, fast skip, high skip, long skip, broad jump (which, by the way, I must not be doing right because my toes bang against the inside front of my shoes), frankenstein, karaoke (which is a grapevine but the back knee is crossed high in front), lateral lunges, duck walks

During the week that I missed Coach started something called "Foundations" and "Maverick Warm Up".  I was literally dripping sweat before we even got through the warm ups! Nuts! 

Our lifting for today was working on Snatch Balance. We went for a 10 minute heavy single.  My previous max was 65#.  I started at 45# and worked my way up. I was able to get low into the squat up until 65#. But when I went for 70# I didn't squat as low as I wanted to.

A few months ago Coach told us that we shouldn't use a naked bar for lifting.  So I got used to using the 15# bar and adding weight from there.  Today when we were lifting Lauren saw me using it.  She told me that I need to get used to start using the woman's bar (35#).  I explained to her that the woman's bar seems to teeter on either side of me but that the smaller bar seems to "fit" me better.  Lauren explained that she understood but when I start competing I won't be allowed to use the 15# bar.  Kinda sucks!

The WOD today was called "Full Range Chicken".  It was a 12 minute AMRAP.
15 Chest 2 bar pull-ups
10 box jumps
10 sandbag touch and go
(1 sec pause at top)

For the pull-ups I used the hollow rock position and did my best to pull as high as I could.  The box jumps weren't that bad; I'm getting better at not being terrified of face plants. The sandbag was heavy. Touch and go meant that we had to pick it up on one side of our body, take it over our head and drop it on the other side. At some point during the WOD or just after I ripped the skin off one of my knuckles.  Youch!

Before our workout began I used the 35# bar and did 3 sets of 10 rows.  Coach said that's one of the moves that will help build back muscles for pull-ups. I also worked on double unders.  One of the guys gave me some pointers on my getting better at them.  He said that I'm jumping too fast.  He said that he used to have the same problem.  He said he would jump too quickly and wouldn't be able to spin the rope fast enough to jump it. He told me there's a pattern to it and that once I learn the pattern it'll be easier for me. So, I'll be working on stringing those together. =)

Goals

Coach put us on notice at the end of the year; he will be asking us to set a goal for ourselves.  Just one movement. He said he will take our picture with our goal and post them.
I'd decided my goal already.  I'm not crazy about having my picture taken in my gym gear (no makeup, hair not done)but the goal is accountability not perfection.
My goal is either strict pull ups or pushups. I'll talk to coach and get his input.
I can't go full range of motion on either of these movements right now.

Back at The Box

Today was my first day back to the box in nine days. Nine long, sick, not well nourished days.  Thank god he didn’t have us doing FRAN or something wretched like that!  Instead, WOD 1 was
5 HBBS
5 Push Press
RX weight was 115#
I quickly realized there is no way I can do both movements with the same weight. I can back squat 115#, but that’s heavy for a Push Press right now.  I started lifting with Amy. We grabbed 35# plates; mostly thinking about the HBBS. But then “Wait, there’s no way I can get this over my head!” That’s 105#!  So, we quickly switched out 25# plates. My HBBS was fine but I tried (like an idiot) to get the bar from behind my head into Push Press without reracking.  Needless to say it didn’t happen. Before it was my turn at the bar again Elizabeth told me her weight was lighter at her rack and I could come work with her if I wanted.   She had 15# plates and I busted out the WOD no problem.  She gave me coaching queues “keep your elbows in tighter for the push press; it’ll change where you’re pushing from”  I did, and it made it tougher. Good queue!
WOD 2 was
5 Snatch High Pulls
10 Toes to Bar (unbroken)
20 Unbroken Double Unders
(Burpee penalties for everything after the first break)
I have single double unders and sometimes can stretch them into three strung together. I need more work to get to 20.  I knew there were Burpees in my future but I didn't know how many. Thankfully we ran out of time and I only did 7. I owe myself 50 more.  I think I'll make it a game and let the girls count for me tonight.

Unfinished

I was raised the first child, a tomboy, of a simple family. My dad worked basically wherever he could find work. A mechanic out of high school, a factory worker after that and now I'm not sure. My mother was a housewife until I was 15. Then, she became a cook at a local family owned restaurant and I joined her. I washed dishes. 
I had moved out of my parent's house after turning 14. I lived next door to them in my paternal grandmother's home. It was a small bit of freedom and enough to feel on my own.
I didn't learn a lot growing up. Nothing that I can think applies to my life as a wife and mother that works outside the home.  I find it difficult, at times, to juggle the demands of my life.
I taught myself to cook and do so from recipes. Without recipes I'm lost.  We weren't allowed to help in the kitchen as children. It was all part of the "Go Play" mentality. I can only imagine the same was the case for my mother. I'm trying to change the pattern for my daughters, getting them involved whenever I can.
I wonder if women who are raised by parents living lives that they also then live feel more "put together". I almost always feel overwhelmed. That no matter what there is always something that is left unfinished or worse not even started.

Weekend Plans

I haven't been to the box all week.  I feel mushy again.  On the up side food tastes like food and I can move out of a horizontal position without feeling like hell.
Even though Wayne was at home sick most of the week; I still feel like we weren't together. Because of our work schedules we normally look forward to the weekend.  This weekend will be a different story.  Wayne will be out of town the entire day on Saturday.  Last week members of our extended family lost their home, their belongings and all of their pets to a fire.  Wayne's going to help see if anything can be found or salvaged. 
My plan for Saturday is to get the house into order.  Since, I was wretchedly sick this week my normality fell to shit.  So, I hope to get to bed soon and in the morning I will wake early and prepare the menu for the week and the grocery list to go with it. Then I'll make breakfast and the girls and I will  hit the Farmer's Market and the grocery store.  They are already talking about what we're "gonna do without daddy at home."
Sunday is at the very least meal prep day.  I'll also continue with the house and hopefully not get too overwhelmed by it; like I sometimes tend to do.
Monday I'll start back to the box.  I am completely aware that the first day, if not first couple of days, is gonna kick my butt!  But in the end, that's what I want!!

Fighting The Crud

I've been fighting some sort of sinus infection for a week or more now. I've felt myself weaker during WODs. Not knowing why. 
Saturday night the coughing began. You know the one, it's the tickle that makes you cough continuously when you lie down. That was after a full night of my 3yo daughter getting sick again. Vomiting this time. Last week was the first time she'd been ill in a while; stomach virus. Then this.
So, no sleep all weekend. Plus, I missed Saturday Group WOD and Monday's normal class. I'm taking tomorrow just to make sure I get a full day's antibiotic in me. Then, I'm going back. I absolutely hate to miss class! When I go back after missing I feel slow and weak. Even if it's just a normal day.

Gonna try to get some sleep now.