Is it bad when I’m sitting at the kitchen table, organizing my life and my thoughts on life when I glance at the clock, note the time, and think It’s time to lift.
I immediately stop whatever I’m doing and go do it.
Then I pick up right where I left off, at the kitchen table, and continue on my day.
I do this with eating as well.
I note the time and think It’s time to eat.
And I do.
I also am psychotic about planning my eating around my training.
Yep…I got problems.
Go ahead and say so.
Yesterday, I vented my frustrations with my snatch form. I know I’m doing it wrong, and I’m angry at my ignorance when I first started. And not knowing anything about CrossFit, I couldn’t self-correct.
Yesterday, I went to Oly class with Justin Thompson, a Level 3 CrossFit coach/Olympic lifting coach who owns Fort Collins Athlete Factory.
Yesterday, I learned to jerk correctly.
Yesterday, I learned to deadlift correctly.
Yesterday, I decided to channel my anger into results.
My new goal is to make it to Oly class as many days as I can. To ask as many questions as I can. To watch and learn and heed my coach’s advice. To nail form and watch my PR’s skyrocket.
So must you.
It does you no good to seethe about the past. Do something about it! In all areas of your life.
If you don’t like something, get angry about it and then change it! Life is too short to do otherwise.
Today at Oly we are snatching.
Today at Oly I will learn how to correct myself.
Today I can begin to re-train my body and do what it’s supposed to do.
Today is a new day.
It won’t be easy.
Nothing in life worth doing is easy.
Would you want it to be?
I am so frustrated right now I almost can’t see straight.
My form for snatches sucks.
It always has.
For two years.
Now that the weight is heavy, it matters.
I’m so frustrated. So very, very frustrated.
I’m mad I didn’t find someone to fix me sooner.
Now, I have to start from square one. The problem is so ingrained.
I almost want to throw a barbell through a window.
I won’t though.
Instead, I’ll buckle down and get to work.
There’s nothing else I can do.
You have chalk everywhere!!!
This morning I did a hydrostatic body fat testing. It’s supposed to be the most accurate body composition test.
What I found out depressed me.
And is making me rethink everything.
Here’s the stats:
Weight:Â 125.2 lbs
Lean Mass:Â 107.6 lbs
Fat:Â 17.6 lbs
Percentage Body Fat:Â 14 %
Here’s the problem: my weight hasn’t changed in two years. My lean mass has a bit. My fat percentage has stayed the same. I am obviously more muscular. But if I want to lift more weight I have to gain more weight.
I have two options:
1) Gain weight. Results: Lift more.
2) Stay the same. Results: Lift the same.
It’s depressing really. If I stay the same, I’m only looking at incremental changes in maxes. But I don’t want to gain more weight.
Here’s the dilemma:Â I want to lift more but stay the same body fat percentage.
So I guess I’m stuck with option 2.
So why then am I trying so hard?
What it comes down to is this: I can’t worry about it or focus on it. I have to focus on my goals. Period. Whatever else will be will be.
All I can do is this: follow my nutrition plan and my workout plan. That’s all I can control. My body will do naturally what God designed it to do.
So why am I stressing? (see the 2×4 hit me over the head right now).
NO CLUE!
I just am….
Probably because I’m a product of this society and culture that values what you look like and in my head I have an image that I’m just not…
Normally, I take the winter off from running.
But here in Colorado, we’ve had such an unseasonably warm winter that when it hit 60 degrees out, I HAD to go for a run. Who could waste such beautiful days?
Now, it’s colder out. And I still find myself craving my afternoon runs. And frequently, I take them.
I’ve been pretty stressed lately with life decisions–ya know, the big one like what should I do with the half of my life left type thing.
Running clears my mind. I get TONS of writing ideas from running. I remember tasks I have to complete. I see hawks and birds and squirrels and smile. Even though my heart rate is technically up, it is really down.
And afterwards? Priceless the relief I feel from all of life’s stresses. I’m even considering a 5k if the weather is nice enough!
Conclusion: runs are back. And I’m so relieved!
I’m gonna try this for one week. One week. I don’t know how I’ll do, but I have to try.
I have a huge sweet tooth, and I know it’s hindering my performance goals.
Beginning now, Saturday Jan 27th, 2018, at 2:42 pm.
Some of my strategies:
You all will be my accountability partners. And I’ll need it.
I’ll update regularly.
Wish me luck!!!
Leaving the bank today, I was behind a very skinny girl in very skinny jeans.
My reaction: I’ll never be able to wear those jeans. My thighs are three times hers!
Shopping as a woman with muscles is hard.
VERY hard.
Jeans/pants are too tight.
Dresses hang weird due to the girth of our shoulders.
Same with shirts.
Skirts work most of the time.
T-shirts?
Either too tight or too big.
Sweaters?
Same problem as shirts.
Shorts?
Usually ok because they are shorter than your thighs.
So what do you wear?
I wear yoga pants, tennis shoes, and a t-shirt (frequently one I got for free from a 5k run) in the winter and a tank top and shorts in the summer.
I feel like a skag because of this, but I have few options.
And ya know what? I’m okay with that.
Because I’m not trading my muscles for anything.
Life’s little inconveniences are worth it. Especially when you crush the Open!!!
So I was asked after my last CrossFit Competition, “What is a CrossFit competition?” by someone who has no concept of what CrossFit is.
My first reaction, “Well, it’s a day you pay money to get your ass kicked. It was awesome!”
But I decided against that response since it sounded like only insane people would do such a thing (I know, all CrossFitters are insane, but you get the point).
A CrossFit competition is usually a day-long event (sometimes two days) on the weekends that consists of several workouts against other competitors. They can be individual or team competitions. Obviously the goal is to win.
Anyone can sign up and compete and they’re fun! They also are killer most of the time and it takes your body several days to recover because they are designed to push your limits. Competitions expose your weaknesses and your strengths. They motivate you to do better and improve.
For me, it’s all about winning. Last competition, I got 5th. Next one I’m signed up for is February 17th. It’s a partner one. And I’m aiming to win!
Practicing handstand walks is learning to walk again. It’s all about balance and—wait for it–practice.
Skill work in CrossFit is time consuming. And it can get frustrating.
Double unders. Took me 2 years to finally be able to do 100 unbroken almost every time. And this is practicing every day for 6 months in the beginning.
Handstand push-ups. Some of this is strength but mostly it’s about learning to be upside down as well.
Rope climbs. Similar to handstand push-ups. Mostly skill with wrapping your feet on the rope.
Multiple toes to bar. This is a skill that takes practice to master the momentum swing.
Currently, I’m much better at finding my balance, kicking up into a handstand without the wall, and taking two-three steps. It’s the being upside down longer and keeping balance longer.
And that will take practice. And time.
And time before the Open is running out…
My Journey to the CrossFit Games 