Optimisitic Change

For those of you who know me, I have been completely up and down the past couple of weeks. I think it began with hurting my shoulder, as well as my issues with my career and future that seem to be plagueing me. One day I'm happy and positive and excited about life, the next I'm a big ball of mush, Negative Nancy, whatever you want to call it, its no bueno. For the past 4 or 5 months, I have taken my personal problems and brought them with me into my WODs, taken them out on the barbell and my body....and now I am hurt (physically), and although I can still go to the gym, do some of the workouts and sometimes do my own workouts, it's not the same.

I have been in a pretty bad funk.The serenity prayer, combined with my fellow crossfitters and friend's support, has helped grab onto a little bit of optimism. An optimism towards change in the future. We will not always be able to go hard in every WOD, nor be fully happy in every job, nor have every relationship in our life go perfectly, but being optimistic about positive change in our lives we do have control over. And I am slowly, but surely taking control.

Hopefully this will help me get back on track with posting on here :)

Happy WODing

Journey Together

This past week I hit my first real low or as I like to see it, roadblock, in my crossfit journey.

It started with hurting my shoulder and culminated with me siting in front of my closet on a Friday night crying because nothing fit me anymore.

In between was a few missed workouts, low energy levels and lots of conversation about how to tackle these issues.

To be honest, this week was not something I could have shouldered on my own (no pun intended, or maybe it was...).  I am lucky enough to have found Crossfit and to have people in my life that look at me, knowing I am hurting and lift me up/help me power through. Without crossfit, I never would have found all the beautiful women in my life. I can't tell you how many people have noticed that I wasn't myself this week, went out of their way to give me advice or just listen or let me know they are there. From tips on my diet, how to stress or just comments to make me laugh; this group of women kept me in the mind set I need to be in: positive.

In particular, two beauiful women in my life have been where I've been in the past and know exactly what to say to bring me back to Earth. They are both strong, physicall and mentally. And supportive to say the least. Combined, these things remind me the beauty of a crossfit woman. (I know, it always seems to come back to this). So, thank you and I hope you continue to walk with me on this AMAZING journey.

So when you feel down, look around you.

They are all here for you.

I am here for you, whoever you are.

We are Crossfit. We are beauty. We are strength.

(My WODS this week have been disasturous to say the least, haven't even recorded much! Will get back to it this week :))

Passion to Serve

I belong to a community overwhelmed with a passion to serve.

This week was difficult for me; during the Monday WOD I struggled, and I  went to do a thruster and my shoulder couldnt lift the bar overhead. I was in pain. Immediately, I had 2 or 3 of my fellow crossfitters encouraging me to listen to my body and finish the workout with cleans.

Since then, people have gone out of their way to ask me how it felt and friends gave me advice and suggestions on how to handle my first "crossfit injury."

It's inspiring to see how people, some who I barely know, go out of their way to help me and others. Their passion for crossfit overflows into how they treat people.

 I constantly see encouraging words being exchanged, tips on how to eat right, how to clean the bar, what to do to get their first pull-up. People take care of each other, they want to make themselves and the people around them better.

We are a family, a community that has each other's back, that actually cares when we say "how are you?", that worries when you're in pain, that lifts you up when you are down.

Let that passion flow, baby.

WODs this past week:

Thursday: Oly
Split jerk work- w bar
Work up to heavy jerk
PRed at 105#
Clean & jerkx2
Worked at 85#
After class: 4x 15 GHD

Saturday:

10-8-6-4-2
HSPU to 45lb plate and ab mat
30" box jumps
Time: 5:23
Core

Back squats
Warm-up 10 @ 95#
10-8-6-4-2
115-125-135-145-155

Monday:

"Julia"
60 Cal Row
30 Burpee over the box jumps (24")
thrusters (Hurt my shoulder, couldnt even do 1 thruster, subbed 65# squat cleans)
Time: 11:21

Always Love

I have always had a really odd relationship with death. In some ways I pretend it doesn't exist, but today I am reminded it is real and we can lose our loved ones or our loved ones can lose us in an instant. Life is so precious. It is worth more than most of us realize on a daily basis. We forget how valuable each moment is, each person around us is, and how lucky we are for every single thing in our lives.

Today I will remember and I will be grateful.

Grateful for the men and women that serve this country, overseas and at home.

For the policemen and fireman that protect this beautiful city <3NY

For my family and friends that love me day in and day out.

For my health and that I wake up every day blessed and here.

For Crossfit and my box and the postivie influence it has had on my life.

For the barbell, the kettlebell, the rower for challenging me and showing me my strength

For my home and my job.

For love.

For God.

For life.

Tonight, we WOD for those that died, those that fought and fight and for each and every person in our lives that we love and cherish.

Remember to always love.

Set em'

It has been about 6 months since I started Crossift and for about the first 5, my goal was pretty much to make it through each WOD without dying. I didn't think much about my 1RMs or my times or my fitness or appearance goals until about a month ago.

Progress shots!

The other day I sat down and wrote down all my maxes and made goals for myself to hit in the next 2-3 months. It made them tangible and solid. It's same with the goals I have for my life. I want to eat paleo, I want to be happy in my career and I want to be happy and successful in my personal life, but I won't get anywhere with any of that without goals. With those goals, we can create plans and strategies.

One of the most important things for me is sharing those goals with others, with people you know will push you and support you. I have taken full advantage of the amazing people at my box to push me toward my goals with love and support. In turn, be there to push others to their goals. It is good to work alone and work on improving yourself, but imagine what that looks like when you have the effort of an entire community?

It's the 305# clean I saw at my box the other day, a first string of HSPUs, and soon to be 1st muscle ups. Push each other, set goals,  and work your ass off until you accomplish them.

Then set some more...

Still gotta look cute while doing it :)

My maxes and goals:

Squat Snatch: Max- 70# ,Goal-85#
Strict Press: Max 60# ,Goal-75#
OHS: Max- 85# ,Goal 105#
Split Jerk: Max-105#, Goal 120#
Front Squat: Max 135#, Goal 155#
Deadlift: Max 205#, Goal 220#
Clean and Jerk: Max 105#, Goal 120#
Power Clean: Max 105#, Goal 120#
Squat Clean: Max 110#, Goal 125#
Back Squat: Max 175#, Goal 195#

Walk with me and let's do this...

Paleo Noms Adventure

Welcome back from the long weekend :)

So, I wanted to wait to share this until I was a little more into it, but a couple of weeks ago, I read the book, Paleo Diet for Athletes and I decided I was going to try this lifestyle (I don't like to call it a diet because that implies in my head that I am going to stop it one day). I have jumped into it head first and I'm a lot happier with it then I thought I would be.

In the past, my day consisted of healthy meals + really unhealthy snacks aka a lot of chocolate, brownies, and jelly beans. Sometimes to the point where I would feel sick. I thought that I would have a really difficult time cutting all of this out, but fortunately, I've been amply satisfied with the Paleo-friendly foods I've been eating. AND for the first time in my life...hold your breath....I am COOKING. Thanks to my friend, Kate, I have been able to navigate a kitchen pretty decently. Here are some pictures of what I've made so far!

Sweet potato and Basil crusted Chicken// Turkey Burger and Sauteed Asparagus and String Beans

Avocado Deviled Eggs///Buffalo Chicken meatloaf from Paleomg.com

Egg Bake with Peppers, Spinach, Onions &Turkey bacon//Roasted Parsnips & Onions and Steamed Broccoli

Doesnt that make you hungry???

Recent WODS:

Friday:

3 min clock
50 wall balls
*HR pushups in the remaining time
rest 3 min x4
37-21-16-17=91 HR pushups

Saturday:

*12 min cap
5 Rounds
7 squat clean thrusters  75#
10 Burpee Box jumps
Rounds completed: 3 rounds +7

Skill work 20 min:
HSPU
Handstand Holds
1 min on-3 min off x6

Monday:

Power clean
1-1-1-1-1-1-1
85-95-105-110-115 (fail) x3
EMOM 10
5 T2B

Skill work: Pull-ups
EMOM 5
4 Pullups with red band
(shoulders were dead, listened to my body and stopped at 5 instead of 10