03-25-13: Back and So Out of Shape

Ok, I’m back (again) and this time things are going to go a lot differently.  I’ve accepted the fact that I am not as strong as I was six months ago and that this is a huge step back but this will be my motivation to get to peak performance.  Ok, I only realized just how weak I was when I started playing with battle ropes.  I love battle ropes, but when I last less than 20s, you know you’ve gotten weak.

I made it through one round and ended up with Fran throat (I’m sure you know what that is) so I settled with making this WOD for myself:

30-20-10

- Strict wall ball (12#) - those were hard
- Air squats
- Push ups

Time: 8:39

As much as I want to lift, Coach says he won’t let me lift heavy for the next three months as he wants me not to hurt myself again: he’s got the death glare and burpees at the ready.

03-05-13: Too hard too soon

Dammit! I’m down for the count again.  I’m starting to think what I do is not good for me, but it’s an addiction.  Anyways, I pulled my s1 and l1 spine and lower back muscles after a 95lb clean.  This is probably a sign I came back to things too soon so I’m going to try yoga for the next little while.

Ok… maybe a couple of weeks.

Hey Fitblrs: Walk the Walk

Limitations.  Everyone has them; some obstacles are easy to overcome while others take time and cattle-prodding.  I have many of them whether it is academically, socially, my body, and/or athletic performance the list goes on and on.  My little spot on the interwebs is to share my successes and failures (among other things) as I work to get into better shape.  There is no doubt many tumblrs are doing the same thing.  This is awesome because we, as your peers, will help to hold you accountable, pick you up when you fall down or give you a fist bump for your success(es).  There is however one thing that I cannot stand for: condescension that is hidden behind the intention to inspire and motivate others.

Fitblrs are all over the blog-o-sphere blogging pictures of people who are “fit” or inspirational quotes and they are hard to avoid; I even have some on my follow list.  Sometimes it’s nice to see those pictures because they add more fuel to your flame of passion, but more often than not I usually ignore them.  Today was different: I found this image that sent me spiraling into a fit of anger.

“Losers discuss why they can’t” was the saying that was plastered on a box from one of the fitblrs I was following.  I find this statement highly problematic and extremely counter-intuitive to what the culture of CrossFit actually is.  It is a statement that condemns people for rationalizing the irrational with their peers and this is damaging because I see it as an affront to coping mechanisms.  Furthermore, it discounts the value of talking out problems and rationalizing one’s fears.  Personally, I would not have accomplished the things I have without talking it out.  For example: I have this irrational fear of being upside down and for the life of me I refused to do it but after talking with my coach and friends, they reassured me that I would be fine.  That discussion, which this poster clearly opposes, is what helped me with my irrational fear.  Am I doing HPSUs? Not yet.  Am I close?  Getting there, but it was my friends that helped me when my own mind failed me.

Fitblrs, I’m calling you out: you post pictures that encourage people to excel, to be the best that they could possibly be, but do you follow these pictures you reblog?  To those of you who hide behind a veil of meaningless inspirational pictures to help you get by: I challenge you to actually use your own words to discuss your limitations (successes welcome too); for you to walk the walk because talk is cheap.

This post took a lot of energy to write because it was emotionally invested (translation: I had to edit it many times as not to appear as a rage-filled jerk).  Should I have acknowledged this poster? Probably not, but I will not idly stand by while you discourage others.  Deal with your own insecurities instead of telling others how to deal with their problems.

*rant over*

01-30-13 - Rest and Recovery Week #3

I’m having a very difficult time sitting still and letting my body recover.  Who knew a pulled groin could take so long to heal.  Going on Facebook and reading about everyone’s PRs, competitions, and how they killed their WOD makes me realize how much I miss it.  It also reminds me of how stupid I am for not taking care of myself by being reckless.

The doc cleared me for light training this week.  This is exciting news because I can finally start training for a comp in May.  For the next three months, my goals are to drop about 35lbs, work on my upper body strength, get back to my personal benchmarks, and stick to the zone diet.  The biggest challenge is going to be the fourth goal; although now that I have something to work towards, it might be easier;  the thing is to constantly remind myself of my goals.


Here’s to my last ‘cheat day’ for a while!

01-09-13 - Down for the count…

But not completely out of the game.  Back in November I got really cocky and thought I could do a 1rm clean after not training for a month and a bit; smart on my part, I know.  It is still haunting me so I finally decided to go see a chiropractor.  It turns out I was plagued with multiple injuries and need to take some rest.  One the list of diagnoses are: pulled groin, S1 bone (spine) popped out, hip flexors shot and something with my upper back.  Treatment: radial shockwave treatment.  It was probably the most irritating thing ever: mostly because the chiro was proding the parts that hurt.  It wasn’t painful per se but I definitely wanted it to stop.

No heavy lifting for a bit and time to work on those arms!

01-02-13 … That’s right, it’s on the same day too.

It’s become a habit of mine to post my workout the next day.  I don’t do this because I need time to reflect, but rather I’m just lazy, down right lazy.  My current motivation right now is procrastination; I really don’t want to be studying the GMAT, although I should crack the books open before March.  

The box is starting a paleo challenge this month to get the new members to immerse themselves in the paleo lifestyle (I hate this term).  A gruelling thirty days of no grains, alcohol, and dairy.  I say gruelling because I’m going to miss my wine.  No, I do not want any cheese with my whine since I started eating paleo this morning to ease my way into zone.  My goal is to try following the zone diet throughout the challenge.  The plan is to go an entire six weeks measuring and experimenting with food.  I’m also responsible for conjuring up recipes for the box so it will be an adventure.

Strength:
Back-squat 5-5-5 
225#

I tried on 275 but it was too big of a jump and failed on the third squat.   

MetCon:
5 Rounds for reps
- 60s Wall Ball
- 60s Air Squats 
276

As a 250# person, it is rather hard to do a muscle-up; pull-ups took me six months to get; imagine what I could do if I knocked off some poundage!  That is my main goal for going on zone.  That and vanity might have reared her ugly head.

12-31-12 - All good things come to an end.

2012, it’s been a blast! Met some great friends, online and in person, and life was just great.  You also threw in the death of my best friend which was an asshole move to do, but I’m trying to let that slide. Here’s to a new year with friends, family, lots of laughter, and hopefully a partner to share the good times with.

Strength:
Gymnastics day
I hate gymnastics day.  Coach is now making me flip upside down.  I have this irrational fear of being flipped upside down, I don’t know why but I just do but I’m slowly getting over it.  Its probably because I don’t understand the feeling of doing it just yet.

MetCon:
10, 9, 8…3, 2, 1 Kettle bell swing 2-pood
1, 2, 3…8, 9 ,10 Burpees

A friend sadistically threw out the suggestion of burpee box jumps and not knowing what I got into, I said yes.  That hurt.

10:59 RX+

To those following my blog, happy new year and all the best in 2013!

12-28-12

Season’s greetings everyone!

I hope everyone had an awesome holiday and hopefully you’re not too stuffed.  I haven’t been posting my results but the world can now turn again now that I have started to post them.  I did hit the box, this and last week but was just lazy to post them (yes, you can read me the riot act later).

MetCon:
“Fran”
21-15-9 of
- Thrusters 95# 
- Pull-ups
9:58

Coach said during the L1 cert, they make you do “Fran” and capped it at 10 mins so I wanted to see where I stand because I hate getting the DNF next to my name.  That’s just not cool.  Needless to say, after this my throat was totally on fire and I sat out for today’s program.  

The last and only time I did “Fran” was about six months ago.  I did it with mod weight and a green pull-up band and finished well over 18 minutes.  Fast forward to today: Rx and under 10mins.  PR?  I think so.