My Year in Crossfit

This is supposed to be a Crossfit blog right? So I think I'll actually write a bit about it...

When 2013 began, I was not allowed to Crossfit because I had surgery on my knee 3 weeks before. I went to yoga 3 days a week and never got "bigger," but I did get what I like to call soft. The tone I worked for in my arms and the rest of my body slowly got less and less visible. March rolled around and I felt strong enough to go back a couple of times a week. I wasn't focused enough and constantly fell off the wagon. I got into a relationship that distracted me, ended that relationship which probably distracted my even more and then around July I decided it was time to make a change. I have a long way to go with my eating habits, but Crossfit I knew I could change. 

Not only do I feel stronger than I ever have I have the numbers to prove it. Where was I and where am I now:

Back Squat: pre surgery 195/ new 205

Front Squat: pre surgery 135/ new 175

Deadlift: pre surgery 205/ new 235

Overhead Squat: 85/115

Power Clean: 105/145

Squat Clean: 115/150

Snatch: 75/85

Couldn't and now can do DUs, HSPU, ring dips, C2B pull-ups and butterflies

I couldn't be happier with my coaches, my gym and my main inspiration, Kate Schuh. Here's to a thank you to a great year and motivation to make the next one even better !!!

Post Holiday Reflections

I know we are supposed to make changes all year and constantly work to improve ourselves, but I am a sucker for fresh starts, but before I can do that I like to reflect on the past year, where I was and where I am now. Then I can focus on where I want to be. 

On Christmas Eve, I sat down and thought about where I was at last Christmas Eve. 

Rewind to 2012...I was 2 weeks out from the surgery on my knee, not able to work out i.e. getting to the point of being pretty miserable. A long, very emotional relationship had finally come to an end, I had just started my new job and was unsure and insecure about where it would go. I was working 7 days a week, spent almost no time with friends, and had no idea (still) how to deal with my relatively newly separated family during the Holidays. I remember waitressing until 8pm on Xmas eve and staying home alone because I had a panic attack and couldn't imagine going out. I almost stayed home on Christmas- to be honest, I look back and barely recognize myself and it's only been a year! 

Where am I at now? 

I have never been in better shape and Crossfit has become something I not only enjoy immensely, but also have been able to actively watch myself improve and grow in. 

This year's Holidays were seamless and I got to spend time with my family with no stress and lots of love. 

I COULD NOT be more happy in my career, my job, my coworkers; it has become my second family, and financially I don't think I could be more grateful. 

I am proud and feel so incredibly blessed to have had such a wonderful year, with wonderful people and  for being able to grow in every aspect of my life. 

Now it's time to leave the past where it belongs and work on my goals for the year ahead. Stay tuned for that list next week! :) 

Where were you a year ago? Where do you want to be a year from now?

19 (Tough) Questions

I will eventually get to writing a post about my trip to London and Paris last week, but I ran into this on the internet today and felt like it was a really good get to know/self reflecting list of questions.

 "19 Questions We Should All Ask More Often"

Here goes (OH and try it yourself!!)

1. What is one of the nicest things someone has ever done for you? I struggled a lot as a teenager and I had a best friend Brian (rest his soul), who saw how badly I was struggling and that I didn't value my life at all and he told my parents. Without someone recognizing it and doing something about it, I most definitely wouldn't be where I am today. 
2. Who/what do you love most and what are you doing about it? I LOVE how fortunate I am to have the family I do, the career I do and the opportunities/health I do. Every day, I try (not always successfully) to make the best of each and every one of those things. 
3. How do you show yourself that you love yourself? I Crossfit. Taking care of my body and challenging it is the best way for me to show myself love. 
4. Whose life do you believe you’ve had the biggest impact on? I'd like to say my best friend, Mike, but maybe that's just me being overly confident, but he has had a pretty significant impact on me as well. 
5. What is home to you? home is anywhere my family is. 
6. Is there anybody in your life that you would like to forgive, but haven’t? yes, definitely. that is all. 
7. When is silence more meaningful than words? When someone dies. I've had people close to me die and sometimes a person sitting next to me that loves me is better than any words possible. 
8. What do you wish you knew? I wish I knew how to magically be better in relationships and what my future holds in that aspect of my life. 
9. Are there chances you’ve passed up that you wish you’d have taken? I think moving to a new place after college would be it. I'm very happy with my career but I wish I got to experience another place. 
10. When was the last time you lied? Why? 2 days ago, because I was avoiding the truth. The truth hurt and I took the "easy" way out, which didn't end up being that easy. 
11. What will you never give up on? LOVE
12. What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? booked and went on a trip to Europe by myself!
13. How do you know when it’s time to let go of something or someone?  Someone= when that person no longer wants you in their life and/or they are making your life worse more than better. Something= if it's not adding to your life or helping you grow, it's not worth your time. 
14. What do you wish someone would ask you? what scares me. I rarely get to have that conversation with people. 
15. What have you witnessed that has strengthened/weakened your faith in humanity? I think that every day we witness good and bad, strengths and weaknesses, but seeing that people are capable of love and compassion in any capacity is what maintains my faith in humanity. 
16. Are there things that you sometimes pretend you understand, but actually don’t? I usually don't pretend. I'm pretty much secure enough to say that I don't understand something when I don't
17. What big lesson could someone learn from your life? Things really do find their way of working themselves out and are usually not what you plan or what you originally want. 
18. What have you done lately that’s worth remembering? This one is easy right now. I went to London and Paris for the first time. I explored and learned so much in 9 days , I will never forget this trip. 
19. What is the simplest truth you can say with words? You can never stop growing.