Last Chance Workouts!

As we come into the final week of the 90 day challenge I have been reflecting back on how far I have come throughout the challenge. Not only the way my body looks or feels but my attitude and new found confidence.

90 days ago I was scared to walk into ACF and attend a WOD without the security of boot-camp or my boot-camp friends. My first WOD – (after doing 7 minutes of burpees) was very intimidating. I wasn’t sure what to do for the warm up, I couldn’t front squat more than 45 lbs and the workout was wall-balls and pull ups with a partner (thankfully I had Renee there with me).

Now three months have gone by and I walk into crossfit knowing at least one person in every WOD. I am not scared or intimated by the workouts. I know what to expect (most of the time) when I show up. I put everything into the warm up, can front squat 75 lbs or heavier now, and just completed 87 wall-balls with the 14lb ball.

Two weeks ago I had my worst WOD week yet but this past week was amazing! I was PRing at every workout!! My clean and jerk – which I struggled to do 5 at 75lbs – I was able to split jerk 90lbs multiple times. Tuesday ACF was closed due to the weather but it didn’t stop me from working out! I took the idea from the Biggest Loser and did the deck of cards workout – hearts – burpees (of course); diamonds – squats; clubs – hollow raises ups; spades – pushups. It took me about 30 minutes to complete but it felt good once I completed it! 90 days ago I would have never completed a workout at home on my own!!! Wednesday was my first ever Caleb WOD – yes I have been going to CrossFit for 4 months and had yet to try a class with Caleb! It was a partner WOD where we had to row, lateral burpees over the bar and then power snatches. The week before I couldn’t do any snatches and now I was pushing through 7! Caleb was great at giving me pointers of setting me up so that I was doing the movement correctly! Then Friday I came in to work on my jump rope skills with Dave, I had to get past my school girl jumping and finally I was able to understand singles! So my week needless to say was WAY better than the week before!

Now the intimidation of doing the 90 day workouts is gone, I have a new energy about crushing my previous workouts and getting great results. Although I don’t know where I will end once this is all over, I have won so much since starting 90 days ago. My body feels and looks great – I have had many people comment on how my face is slimmer and I look great!!

So to everyone in the challenge – good luck this week!!!!! We have all worked so hard and win or lose we have already gained so much!!! 

Tough week – need to learn to shut my thoughts off while I am at Crossfit

This was by far my toughest workout week I have had!! After doing WOW 13.1 I was feeling pretty impressed with what I was capable of doing! Then Sunday came and I was a little hung-over from the night before and tried to go for a run, I only made it a mile and was exhausted! Monday came and I had a lot of my mind, work has been super busy and everything was irritating me! I went to crossfit hoping that the distraction of the workout would help – it didn't  We did Angie and I couldn't get through the sit-ups because of my tailbone and instead had to hang from the bar and crunch my knees up. I just couldn't hold my grip and was getting irritated. I ended up finishing the workout but didn't feel that normal – wow I just did that feeling.

Tuesday was another difficult day as it just seemed that anything that could spike my anxiety was spiking it into high gear! Again I went to Crossfit hoping for another distraction but couldn't get out of my own head! We were working on snatches and I couldn't hit one – I had just hit 30 on Saturday and couldn't get the bar up. Then we moved to the WOD and I couldn't jump on the box because my tailbone was hurting again. I was very frustrated because for the first time since joining I really wasn't giving it 100% and was miserable.

Then Wednesday night 13.2 was announced. At first I wasn't too scared – I mean if only I could do a proper jerk I could get 75lbs overhead right??? Since I was going out of town this weekend I needed to get the workout done Friday. I had asked Dave to judge me as I know he would get me to stop thinking and through the workout but again I couldn't get out of my own head. Watching the workout prior to doing it and then seeing another member get sick after didn't help my head!! I was stuck – then I started to workout and the first 5 shoulder overhead presses were hard but I made it through them, then the dead-lifts and box jumps went smooth – what didn't go smooth was the next set of shoulder overheads! I couldn't get one, couldn't get out of my own head! I probably attempted it 10 -15 times and only got 3 to count. The workout was over and I had hoped to get through 4-5 rounds and I only did 1!

I was very disappointed in myself and Dave was trying to remind me that I am still new and still developing my skills but it still sucked!! While in Boston I was able to shut my brain off and have a great time! Today on the ride back I was still thinking about 13.2 and how disappointed I was but knew I was in no shape to try it again – although I was very excited for all my new friends killing it and even doing it multiple times!

As I was unpacking and putting my clothes away I found my goal sheet from BootCamp:  

My short term goal was to keep up the motivation to work out and complete boot camp - check

My Mid-Term Goal (set by Kevin) – 3-4 visits/week consistency = results – check

My Long Term Goal(s) – Lose 25-30 pounds/tone up (am down 18 since starting boot camp) 

                                       Learn how to become accountable for my health – check

                                       Look good in a bathing suit in Aruba this July – getting there!

As I read through my goal sheet the last question mentions what problems may arise and how will I deal with them? My answer – losing motivation and my solutions – continue to be around positive people who will motivate me to work out and make smarter choices!!!

 So now that the 90 days are coming to an end I need to learn to shut my brain off during workouts and continue to surround myself with the awesomeness that is crossfit!! I have made so much progress since joining here – physically and mentally that I don’t want to go back to where I once was!!! Hopefully this bump in the road was small and I can get back on track for the last two weeks of the 90 days and to achieve my long term goals!! 

WOW- what a weekend!

Ever since Kevin’s video I had been thinking about signing up for the open but then I looked at last years workouts and never thought I could do any of the workouts. Then the announcement came about the workout and I was still hesitant. Burpee’s and Snatches??? I have only done a few snatches and 45 pounds is my 1RM and now I am going to have to do 30 of them??

Well my brother-in-law called me Thursday morning to tell me how he had just signed up and did the workout. Once I realized that I had 17 minutes to complete it I figured it was worth a shot – what do I have to loose??? So I emailed Kevin, knowing he would say yes and I registered. Then came Saturday morning – my stomach was in knots! I was glad I had my buddy Gannon there at the same time!! I was paired up with a coach (Sarah) then the workout started – burpee’s with the 6” target! 40 went by at a good pace, a little over 4 minutes. Then onto the snatches – I was able to get through them but it was difficult – 30 done! Back to burpee’s at this point I cannot catch up to my breath so it was very difficult getting through the next set of 30 burpee’s and I was not ready for the 75# snatches!! So it took me the rest of the time to get through the 30 burpee’s with a score of 100! That was my goal and I achieved it!!

Thankfully I had an amazing coach that kept me going and pushed me to finish the 30 burpee’s and helped me get through the snatches so thank you Sarah! Also the amazing members at the gym that suck around and kept encouraging me through the workout!!!

Then the prepping for Saturday Night – The CrossFit Formal!! I was very excited to get to hang out with all the new friends I had made and meet new ones!! It was an amazing night!

Thursday night Danielle, Renee and I went dress shopping at crossgates! I think the last time I was dress shopping like this might have been high school and it was such an amazing time! Renee and Dani made me try on dresses I would have never tried before. Renee handed me a dress that was 2P (navy blue with a gold strap). I told her she was crazy if she thought that I would fit . . . and it did, maybe because it was stretchy but it felt so amazing to fit into the dress and look pretty good!! As amazing as the dress was it wasn’t worth the money and I found something very similar for less that was a 4P!

 I LOVED my dress – especially because the size was the smallest I have ever purchased!! I also went shopping for the first time at Charming Charlies – that place is amazing!! It has every accessory that you could possibly need and more. I left with a new pair of shoes, a clutch and a necklace/earrings pair!! I got home and got myself ready for the night – curled my hair put on makeup and slipped into my new sexy dress! We headed out to the Formal and when we arrived it was a little awkward at first, didn’t really see anyone I knew well enough and didn’t know where to sit – it was like the first time you walked into the cafeteria when you were a kid and had to decide which table to sit at. Then I saw Gannon, met his beautiful wife and found a place to claim! 

 (Awesome bootcamp peeps - MIA James and Keho)

The rest of the night was so much fun! I was able to introduce my husband to the people I had been talking about for months (Dave, Kevin, Dani, Renee, Kyle, Gannon, James, etc) and just have a good time with good people. The wine made it a good time too! The photo booth was too much fun and wish we had taken more pictures but I have the memories locked in my brain! I also got to meet people that I have never met before, even though we are friends on facebook. It was nice to finally see them in person (Stacia)!! I think since joining CrossFit I have added so many new friends and really love the community!! I hope that after the 90 day challenge is over that it continues – I don’t know how it can’t as I have the Kool-Aid running in my blood!