I've been surrounded by a lot of good physical-fitness influences, lately, and they've finally rubbed off on me. As a result, Nathan and I have spent the past five weeks getting up between 0530-0600, six days a week, to do p90 workouts.
I am surprisingly okay with this.
First of all, let me say that I fought against this for a long time. Like, years. Nathan has suggested not once, not twice, but multiple times that we do p90 together, and I have always resisted like a dog being called away from a dead squirrel. Because I don't like to work out just to work out. I have to sort of trick myself into it. Like, "Oh I'm not working out, I'm just going for a fun bike ride!" or "I'm not working out, I'm just having climbing up this amazing rock face!" or "I'm not working out, I'm just taking a seven mile hike!" or even, "I'm not working out, I'm just teaching a group exercise fitness class but obviously it's teaching, not working out so it doesn't count!", etc. You get the idea. So the thought of doing some annoying video workout in my living room, where I don't go anywhere or see anything or boss anybody around was like, "Blech. No thanks."
But then I got really, really unhappy with my fitness levels, and with how much quality time Nathan and I weren't spending together, and I saw several of my friends getting great results (along with their spouses) from their new exercise regimens, and I said, "Fuck it. I'll give it a try."
Now, I'm still not, like, "OMG working out in my living room is the best!" and in fact I get downright resentful on some cardio days (on the other hand, I might actually be enjoying the weight training days, sooo...). But. I really, sincerely am enjoying having this shared physical activity with Nathan (especially when he makes the recovery shakes afterwards) and I'm definitely enjoying the fact that after a full month, I'm finally seeing results (including the return of my waistline, plus hella fly guns: thanks protein powder!). And these past two mornings, when Nathan was too sick to join me (mild case of food poisoning: he's fine now) I got up and did it on my own, and came to the realization that this is my lifestyle now. Getting up stupid early and getting sweaty and gross is just what I do. And then I feel really energized for the rest of the day, and my husband and I can bitch about how sore we are and it's bonding. And that makes me really happy.
So yeah; I'm hooked.
(A post like this one sort of cries out for photos, but I don't want to post them just yet. Rest assured, we took "before" photos [and I made a funny face because I was so uncomfortable with having such an unflattering photo taken] and we will take "after" photos... but that won't be until October. I'll post them then, promise.)
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
1.07.2017
Personal Plan 2017
I just finished up my rewrites on The Oathbreaker, which strikes me as an excellent time to make good on my vague promise to share part of my so-called Personal Plan for 2017 (as opposed to the Business Plan I wrote for the office- it's not business, it's pleasure! Hah!). After all, I've already achieved one of my strategies for a major objective! Woo!
Vision Statement: I will be a happy, healthy person who feels good about her accomplishments in life.
Objective: Have a happy and healthy family unit
-Strategy: Make it a point to have a date with Nathan at least once a month
-Strategy: Do at least one family-hike per month
-Strategy: Get out camping at least three times this spring/summer/autumn
Objective: Feel good physically
-Strategy: Do yoga at least 3x a week starting 1/1, upping it to at least 4x a week by 3/1
-Strategy: Ride my bike to work more often- at least 3x week during nice weather
-Strategy: Create clean meal plans with Nathan
Objective: Become a published fiction writer
-Strategy: Finish re-writing "The Oathbreaker" by 01/31
-Strategy: Submit a collection of short-stories to at least one literary agent by my birthday
-Strategy: Write at least one new novella-length (or longer) story by 06/30
That isn't all of it, but it is the most pertinent parts. I've already made a good start to it, what with doing yoga four times this week (eight I guess if you count morning and night) and riding my bike to work four times (in spite of the face-flaying cold- sheesh). And Nathan and I had a lunch-date yesterday, which totally counts. We may not have refrained from talking about Neeps the entire time, but we did keep our phones put away, which is pretty huge.
And now? Now I start rewrites on my original Princess and the Pea retelling, because I think it will pair nicely with Oathbreaker in a short-story collection.
Vision Statement: I will be a happy, healthy person who feels good about her accomplishments in life.
Objective: Have a happy and healthy family unit
-Strategy: Make it a point to have a date with Nathan at least once a month
-Strategy: Do at least one family-hike per month
-Strategy: Get out camping at least three times this spring/summer/autumn
Objective: Feel good physically
-Strategy: Do yoga at least 3x a week starting 1/1, upping it to at least 4x a week by 3/1
-Strategy: Ride my bike to work more often- at least 3x week during nice weather
-Strategy: Create clean meal plans with Nathan
Objective: Become a published fiction writer
-Strategy: Finish re-writing "The Oathbreaker" by 01/31
-Strategy: Submit a collection of short-stories to at least one literary agent by my birthday
-Strategy: Write at least one new novella-length (or longer) story by 06/30
That isn't all of it, but it is the most pertinent parts. I've already made a good start to it, what with doing yoga four times this week (eight I guess if you count morning and night) and riding my bike to work four times (in spite of the face-flaying cold- sheesh). And Nathan and I had a lunch-date yesterday, which totally counts. We may not have refrained from talking about Neeps the entire time, but we did keep our phones put away, which is pretty huge.
And now? Now I start rewrites on my original Princess and the Pea retelling, because I think it will pair nicely with Oathbreaker in a short-story collection.
9.23.2016
Crossing the Finish Line
Praise be to Brutha, my team has crossed the official "finish line" (1,296,000 collective steps) with three days to spare. Woo, go team! Although let's be real, here- it's more like, "Woo, go half of my team!" Because definitely only three of us were hitting the 8k/day goal. But I think it's pretty awesome that two of us were spanking that goal with such enthusiasm that we managed to make up for the rest and not just finish but finish early! Go over-achievers, go!
I am suuuuper excited not to be having to carry my phone around everywhere anymore. Especially since I haven't worn anything with a skirt in like four weeks in my attempt to keep said phone in my pocket at all times. All hail the return to cute work dresses!
I am suuuuper excited not to be having to carry my phone around everywhere anymore. Especially since I haven't worn anything with a skirt in like four weeks in my attempt to keep said phone in my pocket at all times. All hail the return to cute work dresses!
9.17.2016
Sweet Sassy Mud-Lassy
Several weeks ago, my friend Sam sent me a message saying, "I think I want to do this!!" and a link to this place.
I checked it out, and it looked pretty intense, but who am I to say no to adventure?
"I'm in!" I replied, and also invited Kayla along. We got it on the schedule for a date and time that worked for all of us, and that date was today, and that time was this afternoon.
I woke up this morning to rain- real rain, not just the sort of drizzling mist we usually get in the upper-left corner of the country. And it was scheduled to continue for the entire day. But as Sam put it, "...it would be fun to run it in the rain!"
And again, who am I to say no to adventure?
We showed up, and after a brief delay because someone forgot both their waiver form and their cash, and ended up having to to sign the bottom of someone else's form and then do a PayPal transaction (me: it was me, and I am the worst) we got a quick tour of the obstacle portion of the course. Because apparently it's like a 1.5 mile trail run followed by obstacles.
The rain meant that we were the only people there, which was fantastic, since my ankle is definitely still injured (Kayla and I channeled WFR and taped it up ahead of time) (also for real I think I'm going to go back to the doctor because it shouldn't still hurt) and I had plans to unashamedly walk the entire thing.
We didn't actually walk the entire thing. We started off at a little jog, which we stopped as soon as we were out of sight of the start, but we kept it to a pretty brisk hike. It was gorgeous, but also challenging enough that I straight-up just scooted down a steep hill on my butt on multiple occasions, and did mention there's a stretch where you're wading upstream? Me and my long legs went first so the others could gauge the depth. I regretted my pants. (But not my secure hiking shoes!) And then when we re-emerged from the woods we jogged a little again. But it's hard to jog with a couple extra pounds of mud clinging to your feet...
The obstacle course was a lot of fun- the rain definitely made it a lot scarier, and I totally opted to skip a few of the obstacles because of it (and my ankle: I didn't do anything I'd have to really jump down from). And a couple of the obstacles required us to work as a team, because none of us was fit enough to do it solo, but I actually really liked that we worked together. And I liked that we all went at the same pace and cheered one another on, and I liked that even tho' I mostly was not super-competent, I did kick ass at the traversing obstacle. Yay rock climbing skills haven't totally atrophied!
(Speaking of rock climbing skills, I also had a few moments on another obstacle where I had to use my "calming breath" technique. I was glad I'd developed that little skill.)
Anyway we finished the whole thing in under 80 minutes, which as far as I'm concerned is impressive as hell for a trio of ladies who walked most of it (but then again, we also "Noped" right out of a few of the obstacles, and didn't do any burpees, so take our time with a grain of salt...) and also definitely earned me a nice glass of something this evening.
I checked it out, and it looked pretty intense, but who am I to say no to adventure?
"I'm in!" I replied, and also invited Kayla along. We got it on the schedule for a date and time that worked for all of us, and that date was today, and that time was this afternoon.
I woke up this morning to rain- real rain, not just the sort of drizzling mist we usually get in the upper-left corner of the country. And it was scheduled to continue for the entire day. But as Sam put it, "...it would be fun to run it in the rain!"
And again, who am I to say no to adventure?
We showed up, and after a brief delay because someone forgot both their waiver form and their cash, and ended up having to to sign the bottom of someone else's form and then do a PayPal transaction (me: it was me, and I am the worst) we got a quick tour of the obstacle portion of the course. Because apparently it's like a 1.5 mile trail run followed by obstacles.
The rain meant that we were the only people there, which was fantastic, since my ankle is definitely still injured (Kayla and I channeled WFR and taped it up ahead of time) (also for real I think I'm going to go back to the doctor because it shouldn't still hurt) and I had plans to unashamedly walk the entire thing.
 |
| Wet, but not yet muddy. |
We didn't actually walk the entire thing. We started off at a little jog, which we stopped as soon as we were out of sight of the start, but we kept it to a pretty brisk hike. It was gorgeous, but also challenging enough that I straight-up just scooted down a steep hill on my butt on multiple occasions, and did mention there's a stretch where you're wading upstream? Me and my long legs went first so the others could gauge the depth. I regretted my pants. (But not my secure hiking shoes!) And then when we re-emerged from the woods we jogged a little again. But it's hard to jog with a couple extra pounds of mud clinging to your feet...
The obstacle course was a lot of fun- the rain definitely made it a lot scarier, and I totally opted to skip a few of the obstacles because of it (and my ankle: I didn't do anything I'd have to really jump down from). And a couple of the obstacles required us to work as a team, because none of us was fit enough to do it solo, but I actually really liked that we worked together. And I liked that we all went at the same pace and cheered one another on, and I liked that even tho' I mostly was not super-competent, I did kick ass at the traversing obstacle. Yay rock climbing skills haven't totally atrophied!
(Speaking of rock climbing skills, I also had a few moments on another obstacle where I had to use my "calming breath" technique. I was glad I'd developed that little skill.)
 |
| Triumphant! And muddy! And SOAKED THROUGH. (Also damn, look at our guns!) |
Anyway we finished the whole thing in under 80 minutes, which as far as I'm concerned is impressive as hell for a trio of ladies who walked most of it (but then again, we also "Noped" right out of a few of the obstacles, and didn't do any burpees, so take our time with a grain of salt...) and also definitely earned me a nice glass of something this evening.
 |
| The Last Taste of Sweet Victory. |
9.14.2016
small
this is what we'll do
we'll start
small
we'll wake up
fifteen minutes earlier
(just fifteen!)
so that we can do
one sun salutation
(just one!)
as our son slumbers on
and we will ignore
that part of ourselves that says
"Yes but..."
and tries to fill us
with feelings of inadequacy.
because it doesn't matter
what we used to be
able to do
what matters now
is that we are starting again
small
because lately we have become
very good
at handling small things.
we'll start
small
we'll wake up
fifteen minutes earlier
(just fifteen!)
so that we can do
one sun salutation
(just one!)
as our son slumbers on
and we will ignore
that part of ourselves that says
"Yes but..."
and tries to fill us
with feelings of inadequacy.
because it doesn't matter
what we used to be
able to do
what matters now
is that we are starting again
small
because lately we have become
very good
at handling small things.
8.29.2016
Stepping Out
Today is the first day of my company's 4-week "Keeping Up With the Joneses" challenge. We're doing it in teams of six: you had a choice to create a team, or be randomly assigned. I chose to be randomly assigned, in the hopes of making new friends. The goal is to get an average of 8000 steps per person, per day, and so far I am on track.
Of course, I woke up this morning to find that the team in first place had already logged over twenty miles. Per person. It's kind of discouraging to know you've literally lost before you've begun. Especially since the day is winding to a close, and three of my teammates haven't logged any steps at all. Frustrating, to say the least. But I've decided that I just need to shift my focus onto my own personal goals (such as getting the health insurance discount for participating) and never mind the rest.
(But the Competitive Beast half of my nature is probably going to send a few, um, encouraging emails tomorrow if there's still no stepping... it's one thing to be on a team that doesn't place, but another thing entirely to be on a team that can't be arsed to even try.)
Of course, I woke up this morning to find that the team in first place had already logged over twenty miles. Per person. It's kind of discouraging to know you've literally lost before you've begun. Especially since the day is winding to a close, and three of my teammates haven't logged any steps at all. Frustrating, to say the least. But I've decided that I just need to shift my focus onto my own personal goals (such as getting the health insurance discount for participating) and never mind the rest.
(But the Competitive Beast half of my nature is probably going to send a few, um, encouraging emails tomorrow if there's still no stepping... it's one thing to be on a team that doesn't place, but another thing entirely to be on a team that can't be arsed to even try.)
2.02.2016
Morning Enlightenment
February is the month I've designated, "Get Your Crap Back In Order Month". Which means 28 days of no sugar, no alcohol, yes going to bed/getting up on time, yes morning yoga, and yes daily walks*.
Here we are on day two, and I'm already doing Super Great! (celebrate the little milestones, people) Neeps is more or less already in the habit of watching me do yoga, staring intently as I move through some very strange positions and chatter away to him about what I'm doing and why.
This morning I said,
"You don't need to do this yet, but someday you probably will. I hope you start at a younger age than I did, so that you stay supple and never have to feel the body that aches I do. I want only the best for you," I continued, and then was struck by a realization so profound that it took my breath away- but not before I verbalized it; "I wish I could protect you from everything, but I can't. The only thing I can do is give you the tools to protect yourself."
*(Yes, I'm aware this month has 29 days in it- Valentine's Day shall henceforth be known as My Big Fat I Do What I Want Day.)
Here we are on day two, and I'm already doing Super Great! (celebrate the little milestones, people) Neeps is more or less already in the habit of watching me do yoga, staring intently as I move through some very strange positions and chatter away to him about what I'm doing and why.
This morning I said,
"You don't need to do this yet, but someday you probably will. I hope you start at a younger age than I did, so that you stay supple and never have to feel the body that aches I do. I want only the best for you," I continued, and then was struck by a realization so profound that it took my breath away- but not before I verbalized it; "I wish I could protect you from everything, but I can't. The only thing I can do is give you the tools to protect yourself."
 |
| I think I just made my mother proud. |
*(Yes, I'm aware this month has 29 days in it- Valentine's Day shall henceforth be known as My Big Fat I Do What I Want Day.)
8.01.2014
Stranger to the Bone
This is a post about my body.
No, this is a post about how my body looks.
No, this is a post about how I feel about how my body looks.
And it's a topic which has been weighing heavily on my mind, lately. So this post is about exploring how I feel, and if I accidentally offend anyone with my stumbling words, I beg you to understand that I don't mean to be insensitive or hurtful with any of this. I'm just in a strange place right now.
I haven't always been in the best shape. I did pretty well throughout childhood and most of adolescence: I was a swimmer and active and it showed. But then came senior year, and knee surgery, and enforced idleness followed by a lingering terror of re-injuring myself, followed by yet another knee surgery barely a year later... long story short, I was overweight for quite some time- like six years quite some time. It took a devastating breakup and completely losing and re-finding myself (and surfing) to give me the tools I needed to take my own physical fitness in hand. And I did. And I still do. Because it's important to me to be healthy and fit and strong, but beyond all those noble things, it's important that I look good naked and be physically desirable to myself. That's right, myself. Sure it's nice to get compliments from other individuals, and I know my husband thinks I'm sexy no matter how much additional jiggle I have, but the person whose head I'm really trying to turn is my own*.
(Hey, we've all got our own fitness motivations, eh?)
And to be honest, for the past five years or so, one of the reasons I've felt like I need to not just be fit but look fit is because I'm not a mother. Because in my head it's okay for mothers to be soft. Their bodies have gone through this amazing wringer, and they came out on the other side with a brand new human, and a body that reflects that rite of passage. Moms earn their bodies and they have every right to have less-than-perky boobs, and less-than-taut tummies, and they are beautiful and amazing and who the hell has time to work out for two hours every day when you're feeding something every four hours! But me? I didn't have a kid, so I didn't have any outside (inside?) influences on my shape. The only thing changing my body was me.
Except... that's not true anymore.
Pregnancy changed my body. Both times. And the first time around it was only a few weeks worth of change, and things went back to normal fairly quickly. This time, however? Some of the changes seem a little more permanent. Here it is, two months after the miscarriage, and my breasts remain larger than they were pre-pregnancy. My belly remains rounded. My hips remain widened. That last one is not something I can "work back into shape". It is a new shape, a strange shape. A strange new shape that doesn't come with a strange new human. And I'm... not really sure how I feel about it.
Oh, I know how I ought to feel about it. Love and support for this body that has carried me through so much. But knowing how you ought to feel very rarely has anything to do with how you do feel. Sure, I can fake it until I make it, and I will, but sometimes you just want to take a moment and acknowledge how fucked up a situation is before you go back to ripping the silver linings out of it.
The breasts are annoying. The belly is depressing. The hips are... weird. I spent 33 years with only the barest hint of hips, and now suddenly I have to pay attention to how I pull a dress on, lest I get stuck. It's just strange. I know I will get used to the breasts, and I will get rid of the belly, and as for the hips... well I suppose I'll get used to them eventually, too. Of course, one of my girlfriends (who made it all the way through pregnancy into motherhood) told me it took a full year for her hips to go back. So maybe there's hope for that, too, in the long run.
But is that even what I want? For my bones to creep back to what they were? Or do I want them to stay, the last lingering evidence of something that might have been?
I don't know.
*(I recognize that I'm a bit of a hypocrite with this, in that I cut others a lot more slack with their bodies than I do with my own in terms of what I find sufficiently attractive to get down with. I think that's because the more I like someone, the more attractive I find them physically, regardless of how insulated their six pack is. But I'm way too familiar with myself and my own bullshit to fall for any of my own personality-based charm: thus I must rely solely on the physical charms, which of course sets the standards higher.) (Does that even begin to make sense?)
No, this is a post about how my body looks.
No, this is a post about how I feel about how my body looks.
And it's a topic which has been weighing heavily on my mind, lately. So this post is about exploring how I feel, and if I accidentally offend anyone with my stumbling words, I beg you to understand that I don't mean to be insensitive or hurtful with any of this. I'm just in a strange place right now.
 |
| lemme take a selfie |
I haven't always been in the best shape. I did pretty well throughout childhood and most of adolescence: I was a swimmer and active and it showed. But then came senior year, and knee surgery, and enforced idleness followed by a lingering terror of re-injuring myself, followed by yet another knee surgery barely a year later... long story short, I was overweight for quite some time- like six years quite some time. It took a devastating breakup and completely losing and re-finding myself (and surfing) to give me the tools I needed to take my own physical fitness in hand. And I did. And I still do. Because it's important to me to be healthy and fit and strong, but beyond all those noble things, it's important that I look good naked and be physically desirable to myself. That's right, myself. Sure it's nice to get compliments from other individuals, and I know my husband thinks I'm sexy no matter how much additional jiggle I have, but the person whose head I'm really trying to turn is my own*.
(Hey, we've all got our own fitness motivations, eh?)
And to be honest, for the past five years or so, one of the reasons I've felt like I need to not just be fit but look fit is because I'm not a mother. Because in my head it's okay for mothers to be soft. Their bodies have gone through this amazing wringer, and they came out on the other side with a brand new human, and a body that reflects that rite of passage. Moms earn their bodies and they have every right to have less-than-perky boobs, and less-than-taut tummies, and they are beautiful and amazing and who the hell has time to work out for two hours every day when you're feeding something every four hours! But me? I didn't have a kid, so I didn't have any outside (inside?) influences on my shape. The only thing changing my body was me.
Except... that's not true anymore.
Pregnancy changed my body. Both times. And the first time around it was only a few weeks worth of change, and things went back to normal fairly quickly. This time, however? Some of the changes seem a little more permanent. Here it is, two months after the miscarriage, and my breasts remain larger than they were pre-pregnancy. My belly remains rounded. My hips remain widened. That last one is not something I can "work back into shape". It is a new shape, a strange shape. A strange new shape that doesn't come with a strange new human. And I'm... not really sure how I feel about it.
Oh, I know how I ought to feel about it. Love and support for this body that has carried me through so much. But knowing how you ought to feel very rarely has anything to do with how you do feel. Sure, I can fake it until I make it, and I will, but sometimes you just want to take a moment and acknowledge how fucked up a situation is before you go back to ripping the silver linings out of it.
The breasts are annoying. The belly is depressing. The hips are... weird. I spent 33 years with only the barest hint of hips, and now suddenly I have to pay attention to how I pull a dress on, lest I get stuck. It's just strange. I know I will get used to the breasts, and I will get rid of the belly, and as for the hips... well I suppose I'll get used to them eventually, too. Of course, one of my girlfriends (who made it all the way through pregnancy into motherhood) told me it took a full year for her hips to go back. So maybe there's hope for that, too, in the long run.
But is that even what I want? For my bones to creep back to what they were? Or do I want them to stay, the last lingering evidence of something that might have been?
I don't know.
*(I recognize that I'm a bit of a hypocrite with this, in that I cut others a lot more slack with their bodies than I do with my own in terms of what I find sufficiently attractive to get down with. I think that's because the more I like someone, the more attractive I find them physically, regardless of how insulated their six pack is. But I'm way too familiar with myself and my own bullshit to fall for any of my own personality-based charm: thus I must rely solely on the physical charms, which of course sets the standards higher.) (Does that even begin to make sense?)
9.29.2012
Colored!
I must say, when you have a friend to walk with, walking a 5k goes by ridiculously fast.
It was a lot of fun, and I'd definitely do it again next year (perhaps go shopping a little earlier?). Only hopefully next year I actually will be able to run it!
(Also if you are thinking this is kind of a cop-out update, you are probably right. But my in-laws are in town, so cut me some slack...)
 |
| (We did run the last few meters, however. Because we are awesome like that.) |
It was a lot of fun, and I'd definitely do it again next year (perhaps go shopping a little earlier?). Only hopefully next year I actually will be able to run it!
(Also if you are thinking this is kind of a cop-out update, you are probably right. But my in-laws are in town, so cut me some slack...)
9.28.2012
White!
So tomorrow I'm doing the Color Run with my buddy Laurel. Except, for obvious reasons, we will be doing a Color Walk (this is the sign of a true friend: she will slow down for your gimpitude). Regardless, it is required that you wear a white shirt for the Color Run, but the more white you can wear, the better. Hence I wanted to acquire an all-white "running" outfit.
...which I probably should have done sooner than this evening? ::coughcoughprocrastinatorcough::)
But since I did not do it sooner than this evening, my outfit was pieced together from the following motley assortment:
A men's v-neck undershirt, size large, hacked up and tied in knots to reach an approximation of my size (it is oh-so-80s)
A youth's sports bra, size large (there weren't any left in women's- and when I tried on the XL it was too big, which I find deeply disturbing, seeing as how my measurements are... well, let us say I am quite mammalian, as has been pointed out. My point being that I should not be able to shop in the "youth" part of the store for such items and what does this say about the state of our youth's health??)
A pair of extra-small shorts (just call me Daisy)
Knee socks (also from the youth department and meant for football, apparently?)
I feel... appropriately ridiculous? Except Nathan took one look at the combo and said, in all seriousness, "You would have done well in the seventies, with the short-shorts and the knee-highs and such."
(Tee hee.)
...which I probably should have done sooner than this evening? ::coughcoughprocrastinatorcough::)
But since I did not do it sooner than this evening, my outfit was pieced together from the following motley assortment:
A men's v-neck undershirt, size large, hacked up and tied in knots to reach an approximation of my size (it is oh-so-80s)
A youth's sports bra, size large (there weren't any left in women's- and when I tried on the XL it was too big, which I find deeply disturbing, seeing as how my measurements are... well, let us say I am quite mammalian, as has been pointed out. My point being that I should not be able to shop in the "youth" part of the store for such items and what does this say about the state of our youth's health??)
A pair of extra-small shorts (just call me Daisy)
Knee socks (also from the youth department and meant for football, apparently?)
 |
| And, of course, my highlighter-yellow running shoes. |
(Tee hee.)
7.25.2012
My Unexciting Day
I woke up around 0430 this morning. Not because I wanted to.
Some jackass was failing to start his car. Over, and over, and over again. And I feel like, maybe, if you car is making noises like that when you try to start it, maybe you shouldn't try to start it, because maybe it is prying open a portal to hell.
I woke up again at 0600, when my alarm went off. And I spent four minutes moaning to myself that I didn't want to get up, before the stronger part of my will won out. (The stronger part of my will, by the by, seems to be directly tied to my inner Miser; the argument that actually got me out of bed was that if I didn't get out of bed and go running I'd have wasted the money I just spent on new running shoes.)
So. Out of bed, did my yoga, released the dog from her cage because I figured hey- dogs like to run!
But not my dog. Not this morning. Normally she is all about some running-really-fast-faster-than-her-humans-can, but this morning she kept it to a very slow trot. Behind me. With lots of stops for sniffing. I'm not sure if it was her earache (currently being medicated) or just that she didn't want to be up so early, either.
I had Nathan drive me to work because I was meeting up with KB afterwards to practice lead climbing, and my rope is too heavy and bulky for me to haul it on my bike for so far. Which meant that after work I hauled it on my back for less far.
Which, as it turned out, was all for naught, because KB totally spaced. Ah well. I got in plenty of bouldering, and practiced clipping in and out until it felt like my arms might fall off. Also I got the admiration of a newer climber, which was flattering but also embarrassing, because I'm not really that good, and I feel like a fraud when I say thank you (but it feels dickish to say, "Oh I'm not that good- you just really suck right now.")
And then I came home, and made a cucumber avocado soup for dinner. I added bacon, which made it way more delicious, but next time I make it I think I'll be making even more tweaks. Now the dog and I are hanging out on the couch, watching a movie which I picked because I thought it would be terrible, but is actually not bad, while I write a blog entry to warmup for some more world-building.
Ta da!
 |
| True Story. |
Some jackass was failing to start his car. Over, and over, and over again. And I feel like, maybe, if you car is making noises like that when you try to start it, maybe you shouldn't try to start it, because maybe it is prying open a portal to hell.
I woke up again at 0600, when my alarm went off. And I spent four minutes moaning to myself that I didn't want to get up, before the stronger part of my will won out. (The stronger part of my will, by the by, seems to be directly tied to my inner Miser; the argument that actually got me out of bed was that if I didn't get out of bed and go running I'd have wasted the money I just spent on new running shoes.)
So. Out of bed, did my yoga, released the dog from her cage because I figured hey- dogs like to run!
But not my dog. Not this morning. Normally she is all about some running-really-fast-faster-than-her-humans-can, but this morning she kept it to a very slow trot. Behind me. With lots of stops for sniffing. I'm not sure if it was her earache (currently being medicated) or just that she didn't want to be up so early, either.
I had Nathan drive me to work because I was meeting up with KB afterwards to practice lead climbing, and my rope is too heavy and bulky for me to haul it on my bike for so far. Which meant that after work I hauled it on my back for less far.
Which, as it turned out, was all for naught, because KB totally spaced. Ah well. I got in plenty of bouldering, and practiced clipping in and out until it felt like my arms might fall off. Also I got the admiration of a newer climber, which was flattering but also embarrassing, because I'm not really that good, and I feel like a fraud when I say thank you (but it feels dickish to say, "Oh I'm not that good- you just really suck right now.")
And then I came home, and made a cucumber avocado soup for dinner. I added bacon, which made it way more delicious, but next time I make it I think I'll be making even more tweaks. Now the dog and I are hanging out on the couch, watching a movie which I picked because I thought it would be terrible, but is actually not bad, while I write a blog entry to warmup for some more world-building.
Ta da!
6.13.2012
Hard Reset: Day Nine (or: Perpetually Progressing)
I went running with my Katie again. I lasted an infinitesimal amount longer than I did last week. So. Progress made. But I still hate running. Blah.
Nathan's transcripts finally showed up, which means now he can talk to the college people about just how much credit he can get from his bachelor's degree (/how many classes he can test out of). Progress progress progress...
 |
| Here are some doodles of hairstyles that I did during a work meeting. |
6.07.2012
Hard Reset: Day Three (or: Blisters, and Other Hazards of Running)
So I've been meaning to get back into running for a while now, and today my Katie called me on it- so for our "hang out times" I went down to Portland to run her daily route with her (and by "run with her" I mean "shuffle and wheeze along as she kindly keeps her pace down".)
The running wasn't so bad as I'd feared, actually- from a cardiovascular standpoint I could have run (okay, let's face it- I was jogging don't judge) the whole thing, but from a tenderfoot standpoint, my blisters started demanding walking about two miles in (if it was even that long).
Fortunately my blisters tend to callous quickly, so I'm sure I'll be able to shuffle the entire 3.7 miles before too long, and then I can work on speed.
Aside from being sad about blisters, I was also sad about this:
Seriously, other drivers; you had literally two entire blocks of empty curb you could have parked by. Literally. And you chose to not only park next to my car, but to park so close that I couldn't just pull out like a normal person. This is like that time I was the only person in the theater and then another person came in and sat right next to me and who does that?!
But then I came home and there was a happy thing waiting for me: paleo Scotch Eggs! Holy wow! They are amazing and my husband is the best.
The running wasn't so bad as I'd feared, actually- from a cardiovascular standpoint I could have run (okay, let's face it- I was jogging don't judge) the whole thing, but from a tenderfoot standpoint, my blisters started demanding walking about two miles in (if it was even that long).
Fortunately my blisters tend to callous quickly, so I'm sure I'll be able to shuffle the entire 3.7 miles before too long, and then I can work on speed.
Aside from being sad about blisters, I was also sad about this:
 |
| ...if only I were older, and had better insurance... |
Seriously, other drivers; you had literally two entire blocks of empty curb you could have parked by. Literally. And you chose to not only park next to my car, but to park so close that I couldn't just pull out like a normal person. This is like that time I was the only person in the theater and then another person came in and sat right next to me and who does that?!
But then I came home and there was a happy thing waiting for me: paleo Scotch Eggs! Holy wow! They are amazing and my husband is the best.
5.06.2012
SUP, Dudes!
(yes it was the obvious way to go with the title, but cut me some slack- I'm tired!)
Today was the day I finally tried my hand at something that's long intrigued me: stand up paddleboarding (or SUP, as it's known). Now, strictly speaking, my interest is more in the application of said board to waves, but since there is a lake a heck of a lot closer than an ocean, I was more than willing to give paddling on a lake a try.
It was not surfing (obviously) but it was a lot of fun. So much fun that I will probably invest in one (or, perhaps, take someone up on their long-ago offer to provide me with one, if said someone is still interested). I need to do more research first, however, because as nice as the hand-crafted ones I tried out today were (and my goodness, they were nice), I need something that will perform well on either a flat lake or a wave- and at this point I don't even know how the ideal dimensions for either... or if perhaps it makes no difference one way or the other! (somehow I doubt that- after all, there is such a thing as a specifically "sea kayak"...)
So much to learn in life...
Today was the day I finally tried my hand at something that's long intrigued me: stand up paddleboarding (or SUP, as it's known). Now, strictly speaking, my interest is more in the application of said board to waves, but since there is a lake a heck of a lot closer than an ocean, I was more than willing to give paddling on a lake a try.
 |
| Anatomy, shnamatomy... |
It was not surfing (obviously) but it was a lot of fun. So much fun that I will probably invest in one (or, perhaps, take someone up on their long-ago offer to provide me with one, if said someone is still interested). I need to do more research first, however, because as nice as the hand-crafted ones I tried out today were (and my goodness, they were nice), I need something that will perform well on either a flat lake or a wave- and at this point I don't even know how the ideal dimensions for either... or if perhaps it makes no difference one way or the other! (somehow I doubt that- after all, there is such a thing as a specifically "sea kayak"...)
So much to learn in life...
5.04.2012
Meet Me Halfway
When I set physical goals, I tend to do them in sets of three. I set an "initial goal", something that I feel pretty confident about being able to hit, with some effort. I tend to think of that one as a "morale booster goal". I also set a "middle goal", which tends to be more like the "real goal"- something that could be bragged on without any sort of equivocating. And then there is a "high goal", something that I don't think is impossible, per se, but that I do think is going to be pretty damn difficult, and something that I'll be okay with if I don't hit.
I set myself some goals back in February, right after starting Crossfit, and a month after I'd started climbing regularly. My initial goal was to be able to do one pull-up: just one. That's plenty impressive for a female, right? Sure it is. (Plus it's the USAFA requirement- or at least it was back in the day) I hit that goal at the beginning of April, and I was pretty damn thrilled. My second goal was to be able to do three consecutive pull-ups, like I was able to do back in college when I rowed crew. Being able to do three consecutive pull-ups is definitely something you can brag about, especially as a female.
I hit that goal last night, and I'm feeling incredibly good about it- especially because, when Nathan took a video of me demonstrating it this afternoon, I saw how much smoother and quicker my pull-ups are getting (the first two in the set, anyway).
My "high goal" is to be able to do five- I've never in my life been able to do so many, and when I set that goal it didn't seem like something that would come quickly or easily. But after today I'm realizing that maybe it's not so "out there" a goal, after all, and that in all likelihood I'll have hit it by mid-June.
The thing is, I'm not really sure what my next physical goal should be- I think it's silly to keep making pull-up goals when obviously those will just keep coming, as long as I keep practicing. The obvious thing would be something like running a 5k with a better time than my last one (not hard to do) but honestly, that goal just doesn't appeal to me, and if a goal doesn't appeal then where's the motivation?
I have "things on my to-do list", including learning how to lead-climb in July (and also running the Portland 5k Foam Fest), riding my bike across the river at some point, and climbing outdoors- but none of those are really "goal" things that I can work towards: they're just things that I will or will not do. So I'm not sure... any ideas?
I set myself some goals back in February, right after starting Crossfit, and a month after I'd started climbing regularly. My initial goal was to be able to do one pull-up: just one. That's plenty impressive for a female, right? Sure it is. (Plus it's the USAFA requirement- or at least it was back in the day) I hit that goal at the beginning of April, and I was pretty damn thrilled. My second goal was to be able to do three consecutive pull-ups, like I was able to do back in college when I rowed crew. Being able to do three consecutive pull-ups is definitely something you can brag about, especially as a female.
I hit that goal last night, and I'm feeling incredibly good about it- especially because, when Nathan took a video of me demonstrating it this afternoon, I saw how much smoother and quicker my pull-ups are getting (the first two in the set, anyway).
My "high goal" is to be able to do five- I've never in my life been able to do so many, and when I set that goal it didn't seem like something that would come quickly or easily. But after today I'm realizing that maybe it's not so "out there" a goal, after all, and that in all likelihood I'll have hit it by mid-June.
 |
| Oh perspective, you tricky so-and-so. |
The thing is, I'm not really sure what my next physical goal should be- I think it's silly to keep making pull-up goals when obviously those will just keep coming, as long as I keep practicing. The obvious thing would be something like running a 5k with a better time than my last one (not hard to do) but honestly, that goal just doesn't appeal to me, and if a goal doesn't appeal then where's the motivation?
I have "things on my to-do list", including learning how to lead-climb in July (and also running the Portland 5k Foam Fest), riding my bike across the river at some point, and climbing outdoors- but none of those are really "goal" things that I can work towards: they're just things that I will or will not do. So I'm not sure... any ideas?
4.28.2012
A Farmer Sort of Day
Today was an excellent day, and it started (as so many of my excellent Saturdays do) with Crossfit.
WOD (as done by me):
Team Relay
200m Farmer Carry (35lbs)
500m Row
20x Burpees
400m Run w/ medicine ball (14lbs) (I think)
30x Jumping Lunges
Move a stack of weights and a barbell 100m
So the way this one worked was that we had two teams of three, and at Go our first person started the farmer carry while the other two of us waiting. Once he got back, the second person started the farmer carry while the first person went to row, and I continued to wait. Once the second person got back, I did the farmer's carry while person two went to go wait until person one was done with rowing, at which point she took over rowing and person one went to burpees (except I think he did wall walks [this video calls them "wall climbs"], which I was not comfortable with, hence I did twice as many burpees) . Get the idea? I asked to be anchor because I knew my fitness level was the least advanced, and I didn't want to slow the whole team down. The last part of the relay, the move-the-weights part, was the only part that multiple people were allowed to work on at the same time.
Anyway, when Jack got to the part of his explanation where he talked about the run, he said, "There is no non-awkward way to do this, so just carry it however you choose."
Readers, he was not kidding. I tried at least eight different positions with that ball as I was "running", and do you know what I discovered?
Anyway my team did not come in last, which was awesome, and I did manage to help with the very last part of the "move the weights" leg, so I got to feel like I pulled my own weight (so to speak).
After that Nathan and I took Isis the the farmer's market (you're shocked, I know), and in the afternoon we met up with our friend Nick to watch Cabin in the Woods (a second time, in my case). If you haven't seen that movie, you probably should. It's awesome, and I can't tell you anything about it, but you should see it. Unless you don't care anything at all about subverting genre, and then it may not be your thing... but chances are, if you get any sort of pleasure out of the voice that this blog comes to you in, you will derive some sort of joy from that movie.
WOD (as done by me):
Team Relay
200m Farmer Carry (35lbs)
500m Row
20x Burpees
400m Run w/ medicine ball (14lbs) (I think)
30x Jumping Lunges
Move a stack of weights and a barbell 100m
So the way this one worked was that we had two teams of three, and at Go our first person started the farmer carry while the other two of us waiting. Once he got back, the second person started the farmer carry while the first person went to row, and I continued to wait. Once the second person got back, I did the farmer's carry while person two went to go wait until person one was done with rowing, at which point she took over rowing and person one went to burpees (except I think he did wall walks [this video calls them "wall climbs"], which I was not comfortable with, hence I did twice as many burpees) . Get the idea? I asked to be anchor because I knew my fitness level was the least advanced, and I didn't want to slow the whole team down. The last part of the relay, the move-the-weights part, was the only part that multiple people were allowed to work on at the same time.
Anyway, when Jack got to the part of his explanation where he talked about the run, he said, "There is no non-awkward way to do this, so just carry it however you choose."
Readers, he was not kidding. I tried at least eight different positions with that ball as I was "running", and do you know what I discovered?
 |
| True story. |
After that Nathan and I took Isis the the farmer's market (you're shocked, I know), and in the afternoon we met up with our friend Nick to watch Cabin in the Woods (a second time, in my case). If you haven't seen that movie, you probably should. It's awesome, and I can't tell you anything about it, but you should see it. Unless you don't care anything at all about subverting genre, and then it may not be your thing... but chances are, if you get any sort of pleasure out of the voice that this blog comes to you in, you will derive some sort of joy from that movie.
4.14.2012
Body Politic
It's been a while (::coughtwoweekscough::) but I finally got back to Crossfit. Today's WOD:
30 Box-jumps
Walking lunge from the door of the box to the gate at the end of the parking lot
Run Devine Hill
Walking lunge from gate back to the door
30 Box-jumps
That doesn't sound so bad, right? Yeah, that's what I thought. You'd think I'd have learned by now that it's the ones that seem the most innocuous that kick my ass the hardest:
That last illustration is an exaggeration: I did manage my final thirty box-jumps, although it was through sheer force-of-grunt-power, I think. I really hate it when people make loud noises when they work out, but for some reason I can't not grunt when I do box-jumps. So I guess I need to adjust my loud-noises-opinion, or end up hating myself...
In other news, we took Isis to the Farmer's Market today for the first time ever, and she was in doggie heaven. On the way out some woman-with-a-clip-board asked if we want smoke-free parks in Clark County...
"Welll," I said, "Yes and no,"
"Um, alright," she said, and backed away.
"Our bodies want smoke-free parks," Nathan said as we walked away,
"But our sense of..." I started,
"The Constitution," he helped,
"...means we believe in freedom." And then I said something to Nathan that's very true; "It's so annoying- my love of the constitution is constantly coming up against my personal convenience."
But that's the way it should be, in this little libertarian's opinion.
30 Box-jumps
Walking lunge from the door of the box to the gate at the end of the parking lot
Run Devine Hill
Walking lunge from gate back to the door
30 Box-jumps
That doesn't sound so bad, right? Yeah, that's what I thought. You'd think I'd have learned by now that it's the ones that seem the most innocuous that kick my ass the hardest:
 |
| I was last to finish- but only by ten seconds! |
In other news, we took Isis to the Farmer's Market today for the first time ever, and she was in doggie heaven. On the way out some woman-with-a-clip-board asked if we want smoke-free parks in Clark County...
"Welll," I said, "Yes and no,"
"Um, alright," she said, and backed away.
"Our bodies want smoke-free parks," Nathan said as we walked away,
"But our sense of..." I started,
"The Constitution," he helped,
"...means we believe in freedom." And then I said something to Nathan that's very true; "It's so annoying- my love of the constitution is constantly coming up against my personal convenience."
But that's the way it should be, in this little libertarian's opinion.
3.29.2012
Physics Does Not Work This Waaaaaay!
I am a frustrated woman. Frustrated. I have been working towards being able to do a full-on pull-up, and I've gotten super-close. In fact, if I do a little cheat-start (ie, jumping up to grab the bar) I can totally do one (maybe even more than one??). But I don't want to do it from a cheat-start, I want to do it for realsies, no fakesies. So I work on it, as one does when one is determined to do a thing, and one of the ways I work on it is to do dead-hangs at the the rock gym. So I was doing that today, and I thought, "What the hell- I will try a pull-up."
And then I did a pull-up. And then I kept going into a second pull-up.
I was so excited by this accomplishment that I took a break and then did it again- and then when Nathan showed up to pick me up I made him watch me do it. Excited, I tell you.
So what did I do when we got home? Why, I tried to replicate the feat on our pull-up bar while Nathan took a video for posterity, of course (that's what people do when they find they can do cool things, right?). I thought maybe I'd finally accomplished it because I'd had my hands so close together on the hand-hold, so when I tried it on our pull-up bar I put my hands next to one another instead of at shoulder-width. I used a chair to get up, then let myself hang, and began to flex my totally awesome muscles. I got halfway up...
...and no further.
That's right, I frickin' failed. Failure! Unacceptable! And caught on frickin' video! (And swiftly deleted, I assure you...) And I was left frustrated and bewildered because... because I did it. I did it multiple times, at the rock gym. So why can't I do it at home?
The only rational solution I can come up with?
Physics works differently at my house. Or maybe at the Source. Anyway the physics, it apparently varies from region to region. Super-annoying.
(the origin of my cool-kid title quote)
And then I did a pull-up. And then I kept going into a second pull-up.
 |
| Whaaaaaaat?? |
I was so excited by this accomplishment that I took a break and then did it again- and then when Nathan showed up to pick me up I made him watch me do it. Excited, I tell you.
So what did I do when we got home? Why, I tried to replicate the feat on our pull-up bar while Nathan took a video for posterity, of course (that's what people do when they find they can do cool things, right?). I thought maybe I'd finally accomplished it because I'd had my hands so close together on the hand-hold, so when I tried it on our pull-up bar I put my hands next to one another instead of at shoulder-width. I used a chair to get up, then let myself hang, and began to flex my totally awesome muscles. I got halfway up...
...and no further.
That's right, I frickin' failed. Failure! Unacceptable! And caught on frickin' video! (And swiftly deleted, I assure you...) And I was left frustrated and bewildered because... because I did it. I did it multiple times, at the rock gym. So why can't I do it at home?
The only rational solution I can come up with?
Physics works differently at my house. Or maybe at the Source. Anyway the physics, it apparently varies from region to region. Super-annoying.
(the origin of my cool-kid title quote)
3.24.2012
Saturday Adventures
I have had way too much sugar over the past two weeks (curse you, birthdays/low willpower), and I am seriously paying the price today. When I woke up this morning (after less than seven hours of sleep- bad O!) the idea of going to Crossfit was a little bit excruciating... but I went anyway.
WOD
Two minutes each station:
Single Arm Whips
Row Cal (basically using the ERG but counting how many calories we burned rather than distance)
Bench Press
Squats
Rope Climb (my goal was about 10 feet up)
Double Unders (no single option- Aubrey was determined that today was the day we learned to do doubles)
Score = Total Reps
My personal triumphs of the day included getting up the rope a grand total of three times (last time I attempted it was only one) and getting four consecutive double-unders. Yay me! Also, my score was 317, which is annoying because I honestly feel I have the strength to climb the rope more times than I did, if only I could just get my foot technique right.
This afternoon Nathan and I took Isis on her first Portland Field Trip. Our first stop was our beloved Seven Corners Cycles, because both of our bikes need some tweaking (and- snow days notwithstanding- it's well past time for me to start commuting again). Nathan took the pup for a walk around the neighborhood while I proved how much strength I've gained since last June by casually taking both bikes down from the car rack like it ain't no thang. Seriously you guys- I was so stoked that I was able to do that so easily, because when we first bought those bikes I had to have help getting them on the car, and getting them off the car was a seriously iffy proposition that pretty much only happened if I had a curb to stand on. So. There's your real-world fitness application for rock-climbing and Crossfit...
As I was finishing up in the shop, I asked one of the guys if they had any recommendations for a good restaurant with gluten-free options within walking distance. He rattled off a few grocery stores near by, and then someone else yelled, "Oh! Papa G's!"...
Needless to say, we did not eat there. Instead we went to the further away (but highly-recommended) Edelweiss to get our Nom on. And let me tell you, I am a bit snobby about Bavarian food (I come by it honestly), but the bratwurst I had there almost brought me to tears. (Or maybe it was the fact that I really really wanted rye bread and couldn't have it...)
We walked Isis around that neighborhood, too, and then headed over to REI, so a) I could exchange a shirt and b) we could get Nathan his very own harness and climbing shoes. (Possibly I was even more excited about that than he was) Once we finished up there we took Isis for yet another walk, this time a very very urban walk, with way more distractions than she's ever had to deal with (traffic, pedestrians, other dogs, etc). She did pretty dang well, too, and passed the heck out on the drive back.
She perked up little once we got home, however, and played out in the yard while Nathan and I laid on the bench together to watch the clouds scuttle by...
And now Nathan is calling me to come eat the tandoori-spiced pork kabobs he just grilled for me. Yay life!
WOD
Two minutes each station:
Single Arm Whips
Row Cal (basically using the ERG but counting how many calories we burned rather than distance)
Bench Press
Squats
Rope Climb (my goal was about 10 feet up)
Double Unders (no single option- Aubrey was determined that today was the day we learned to do doubles)
Score = Total Reps
 |
| Apparently physics played a vital role in today's WOD... |
This afternoon Nathan and I took Isis on her first Portland Field Trip. Our first stop was our beloved Seven Corners Cycles, because both of our bikes need some tweaking (and- snow days notwithstanding- it's well past time for me to start commuting again). Nathan took the pup for a walk around the neighborhood while I proved how much strength I've gained since last June by casually taking both bikes down from the car rack like it ain't no thang. Seriously you guys- I was so stoked that I was able to do that so easily, because when we first bought those bikes I had to have help getting them on the car, and getting them off the car was a seriously iffy proposition that pretty much only happened if I had a curb to stand on. So. There's your real-world fitness application for rock-climbing and Crossfit...
As I was finishing up in the shop, I asked one of the guys if they had any recommendations for a good restaurant with gluten-free options within walking distance. He rattled off a few grocery stores near by, and then someone else yelled, "Oh! Papa G's!"...
 |
| Why yes, my shirt DOES say, "Bacon is Rad, Gluten is Bad" |
Needless to say, we did not eat there. Instead we went to the further away (but highly-recommended) Edelweiss to get our Nom on. And let me tell you, I am a bit snobby about Bavarian food (I come by it honestly), but the bratwurst I had there almost brought me to tears. (Or maybe it was the fact that I really really wanted rye bread and couldn't have it...)
We walked Isis around that neighborhood, too, and then headed over to REI, so a) I could exchange a shirt and b) we could get Nathan his very own harness and climbing shoes. (Possibly I was even more excited about that than he was) Once we finished up there we took Isis for yet another walk, this time a very very urban walk, with way more distractions than she's ever had to deal with (traffic, pedestrians, other dogs, etc). She did pretty dang well, too, and passed the heck out on the drive back.
She perked up little once we got home, however, and played out in the yard while Nathan and I laid on the bench together to watch the clouds scuttle by...
And now Nathan is calling me to come eat the tandoori-spiced pork kabobs he just grilled for me. Yay life!
3.20.2012
Nerdy-One
If you had asked me even six months ago if my idea of a good way to kick off my birthday included doing eighty-four burpees, I'd have said,
"What's a burpee?"
And then, once you'd explained it, I'd have said,
"Ninja you crazy."
By which I'd have meant:
"Oh hell no."
And yet...
WOD:
21, 18, 15, 12, 9, 6, 3
Burpees
Kettlebell Swings
"Just look at it this way," said Jack. "Each round you do will the the longest one you'll have to do for the rest of the day."
"That is a great way of looking at it," I said. "Let's see if I can keep doing that by the time I hit the 9 round."
(I totally did.)
So yeah, that's what I did with my (birth)day off from work- I went to Crossfit and did some freakin' burpees. And as an added birthday bonus, I was not the slowest person. Woo! Finally! I've been going for over a month, and this is the first time I have not come in dead last. (We will ignore the fact that the one person who was slower than me was using a significantly heavier weight...) Of course, I was the slowest person in my two-person session, but the other guy totally cheered me on through my last two rounds, which I so needed.
Man I love this stuff.
And now a preface to today's doodle: Jack and Aubrey have a very sweet, very mellow greyhound who occasionally hangs out at the box. Today was one of those days, and she was being (for her) pretty excited, doing short little sprints and happy little leaps. Jack explained that that's because she gets fed at 1000 (I went to the 0900) so she always perks up around that time of day. Well after we finished our workout and were recovering, I found myself the subject of an adorable Greyhound Stare. Adorable until I realized what she really wanted...
...because she wasn't going to get her breakfast until we all left! Hah! So I did, and broke my fast in the ultra-indulgent manner of bacon-wrapped chocolate (seriously you guys- it was so good). See, there is a birthday tradition in my household of chocolate cake for breakfast, but throughout the years I've occasionally had to substitute various items (the year I had my wisdom teeth out I had chocolate pudding- Cosby approved, either way, amIright?). Hence, in light of my new dietary lifestyle... chocolate-bacon for breakfast.
"What's a burpee?"
And then, once you'd explained it, I'd have said,
"Ninja you crazy."
By which I'd have meant:
"Oh hell no."
And yet...
WOD:
21, 18, 15, 12, 9, 6, 3
Burpees
Kettlebell Swings
"Just look at it this way," said Jack. "Each round you do will the the longest one you'll have to do for the rest of the day."
"That is a great way of looking at it," I said. "Let's see if I can keep doing that by the time I hit the 9 round."
(I totally did.)
So yeah, that's what I did with my (birth)day off from work- I went to Crossfit and did some freakin' burpees. And as an added birthday bonus, I was not the slowest person. Woo! Finally! I've been going for over a month, and this is the first time I have not come in dead last. (We will ignore the fact that the one person who was slower than me was using a significantly heavier weight...) Of course, I was the slowest person in my two-person session, but the other guy totally cheered me on through my last two rounds, which I so needed.
Man I love this stuff.
And now a preface to today's doodle: Jack and Aubrey have a very sweet, very mellow greyhound who occasionally hangs out at the box. Today was one of those days, and she was being (for her) pretty excited, doing short little sprints and happy little leaps. Jack explained that that's because she gets fed at 1000 (I went to the 0900) so she always perks up around that time of day. Well after we finished our workout and were recovering, I found myself the subject of an adorable Greyhound Stare. Adorable until I realized what she really wanted...
...because she wasn't going to get her breakfast until we all left! Hah! So I did, and broke my fast in the ultra-indulgent manner of bacon-wrapped chocolate (seriously you guys- it was so good). See, there is a birthday tradition in my household of chocolate cake for breakfast, but throughout the years I've occasionally had to substitute various items (the year I had my wisdom teeth out I had chocolate pudding- Cosby approved, either way, amIright?). Hence, in light of my new dietary lifestyle... chocolate-bacon for breakfast.
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