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27
May
12

Why I do What I do

By garagegym107 5 Comments
Categories: Living Fit Daily
Tags: , , , , ,

It is a hot one today!  You would think being on the lake for the long weekend would be full of fun and games. 

Today was tree removal day.   Since  starting CrossFit almost two years ago I have been the tree hauler.  Any time we need to take a tree down, the spousal unit does the cutting and I do the hauling up the steep lot to the street.

Today was a wonderful reminder of why I train.  Why I love CrossFit and why I became a trainer. 

If I can help one person become as functionally fit as I am
then I can’t really ask for more.  Today I never doubted for a moment the purpose of the farmers walk or the waiter’s carry and the 400m of walking lunges.  Going up and down the steep slope reminded me that agility and balance are taken for granted until you do a WOD like I did today.

I challenge ALL of my friends to put your CrossFit training to task and do something major, something around your home to improve it.  If you’ve been training like I have you are ready, no doubt. 

If you aren’t doing CrossFit in a box, I recommend going through a fundamentals course just to see if you like it.  If you don’t have access to a box then I highly recommend that you take a look at Cultfit.com and check out some of their workouts that can be done just about anywhere.

Get yourself started on a path to fit.  Take it one day, one workout, and one clean meal at a time. 

There is no going back for me.  I live with intention, with purpose even if at times the purpose may be a little clouded, I still focus on living today being a better person than yesterday.

25
May
12

One of Those Moments

By garagegym107 4 Comments
Categories: Living Fit Daily
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Rewind to yesterday.  I was driving home from the gym after my workout and noticed a large gentlemen slowly making his way down the walking path next to the road.  He wasn’t walking, he was doing his best to jog.   He’s heavy, really heavy. 

That little voice that gets me in trouble some times started whispering “pull over, pull over and tell him don’t quit!” but the rational side said “that man will think you’ve lost your mind” so I kept going.  But I never stopped thinking about that guy.  All day yesterday I thought about his red and black clothing and I remembered my first year in the gym.  I wanted to cheer for him.  I wanted to be his biggest fan yesterday.

This morning I was working out and I turned around and thought “OMG!!  That is the dude that was running down the street!!”.  He was there in the gym in the flesh.

I waited for him to finish his time on the elliptical and went over to him and asked if he was the guy going down the road and he said yes.   

I know he thought I was pretty close to crazy because my eyes filled up with tears and I just looked at him and told him a little bit of my story and I said “just don’t quit, no matter who or what interferes with what you are doing here today or any other day, just don’t give up because if I can do it, you can”. 

I left him to his workout and went on to finish mine.  He’s probably never going to set foot in that gym in the early morning again thinking that crazy woman might be there.  But I don’t think he’ll ever forget that. 

You know I think back on the people who have encouraged me and it humbles me every time I do.  People I have met either in the gym or online.  Many of the online friendships developed in to real life friendships.  Support groups, friends, mentors all in it to help one another along.  One of my friends said to me “Each one, Reach one”.  I know she will read this and I know she will know I’m talking about her.

Living fit daily can be challenging, but those challenges can be overcome.  Every single day I get up with the intention of being more fit today than I was yesterday, mentally, physically or emotionally in some way.   I’m not always perfect, but I am always consistent.  Consistency wins the race.  I’m living proof of that.

24
May
12

Lost That Loving Feeling

By garagegym107 6 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Strange title for the morphing of a fit woman, but it’s so fitting.   I haven’t shared this with my friends and some will likely read it here first.   Of late I’ve lost that loving feeling for CrossFit.  insert a sharp intake of breath…

I’ve heard that it’s just a phase and will pass but in the meantime I want that feeling back.  That joy of having my booty handed to me on any given day.   That joy of accomplishment, that passion for beating me yesterday.  It’s been almost two weeks since I set foot in the box.   That’s just not me.  I’ve been going at least 3 times a week for almost 2 years and suddenly I’m drawn to something just a little less stressful.

I finally had an epiphany this morning and I’m relieved.  Over the past two months my day job (as I call it) has gotten exponentially more stressful.  Our company acquired another company and blah, blah, blah which is equal to my work-load almost doubling.  I’m good for it, up for the task.   What I realized just this morning is that I may not be cut out for two stressful activities at once.

I feel certain that my crossfitting friends reading this will now set about an intervention.  They all know how hard I’ve worked over the past 2 years and won’t allow me to sit by the way side.  I just need to determine exactly the right mix of stressors for me between the day job and the CrossFit.

The sheer fact that I finally figured out that I had lost the loving feeling and why is huge progress.  People get bored and need a change.  I don’t get bored with CrossFit.  I love it, I have loved it since day one.  

Now to figure out the path back to that loving feeling.  

You see, doing nothing to isn’t an option.  I’ve been doing strength and skill work and all the while eating clean but it’s just not CrossFit or the excitement surrounding it. 

I spent too many years fighting my way out of the mess I made of my body to not care for it and nurture it every day.

21
May
12

Results Nutrition Cleanse Experimenting

By garagegym107 5 Comments
Categories: Nutritional Cleanse Experiment
Tags: , , , ,

Before I get to the nitty-gritty and completely lose your attention, I want to talk about aftermath. 

Most people are geared toward instant gratification and the thought of what’s next rarely crosses their mind.  Until the aftermath has come and gone.  What do I mean by aftermath? 

It’s been my personal experience in the beginning and middle of my transformation that any time there was extended strict discipline it was usually followed by a make-up date with the things I missed.  Not binging, but just over indulgence for multiple meals and snacks  for two or three days.   So my advice is to think ahead to how you are going to manage your food the days and weeks following a nutritional cleanse.  It serves no purpose if you are going to go get a burger and fries for lunch the Monday after you finish. 

Again, that’s my experience and part of being caught in the emotional cycle of deserving success but being scared to death of actually becoming successful.  It’s so much easier to fail and stay mediocre.  Seriously.  When you do that, you are just staying stagnant in the comfort of where you are.  It takes courage to move beyond your comfort zone and change those cycles when you become aware of what you are doing.

Ok, on with the good news.  On the program you measure both arms and legs which to me makes the results a bit higher than I normally qualify so I’ve done it both ways just because I don’t want anyone saying “well that’s just BS”.

Standard Measures in my norm:  Neck, Upper Arm (right), Chest, Waist 2# below rib cage, Abs at hip bones, Buttocks, Thigh Upper (right), Calf upper (right)  Total inches lost 14.5

Using the measurements included with the program the total is 21.4 which includes both arms and the extra measurement of upper knee and diaphragm.

Total pounds lost 10 on the money.  Even if 5 of those pounds are water weight, that’s still a 5 pound loss over all.

I’m an optimistic realist.  I believe in looking for the bright spots in this life.  I also know from a realistic stand point there are no miracles in weight loss.  This is no miracle.  This is strict dietary discipline for 11 days.  It’s taught me that I have work to do dialing in my whole foods and healthy fat portions and it’ s taught me that stimulants may cause me to hold on to fat that I’m trying to lose.

There are benefits no doubt.   I feel better, my skin is very clear, I’ve been sleeping like a rock, and my cravings have been for eggs and fresh veggies.  The most notable result is that even though I’ve been in caloric deficit, my workouts haven’t suffered.  

I don’t necessarily think that the “two-day” cleanse cycle is best for me because of my personal goals for building muscle.   On future cleanses I will rotate with one day a week cleanse days.  I spend on average 1.5 hours per day working out for my specific goals.   That takes balance.  I don’t eat a lot of processed foods and when I do they are usually in the form of ice cream, dark chocolate and red-wine.  With the occassional cup-cake thrown in for pleasure.  

Off to another challenge!  Have a great day.

18
May
12

Experimenting Day 9

By garagegym107 2 Comments
Categories: Nutritional Cleanse Experiment
Tags: , , , ,

Ever noticed how most people are just generally happier on Friday?  Even when you know there is a banging busy work day ahead, it’s still better than the four days before it.  Maybe it’s because some of us get to wear jeans on Friday.

Speaking of jeans, I’ve learned a very valuable lesson this year.  I bet I’ve purchased 10-15 pair of jeans over the last two years, attempting to find just the right fit without paying too much.  Ironically, if I had spent the extra money and had someone who actually knew what they were doing and knew their product I would have had a couple of pair of jeans that I love instead of 10 that I only wore once.  Lesson here?  Two kick butt pair of more expensive jeans will make you happier than 10 pair that you never wear. One for flats and one for heels!

After running too late this morning to make my CrossFit class I ended up in the gym doing a back and bicep workout.  I was elated that after this many days in to the cleanse experiment, my strength is only getting better.  My lifts were strong this morning and it just reaffirms that every now and again changing things up is just what the trainer ordered!

I’m down to my last shake day and then tomorrow and Sunday are the last two cleanse days.  I will be posting all of my results in detail Monday in my post.  Yes, it will be hard but I’ve already done it once there is no reason to not finish what I started.

Update on the college kids in training.  Yesterday they actually beat me through 10 rounds for time of 10 push-press and 10 kettlebell swings. GO KIDS!  One caveat though, my loads were heavier than theirs so Mom can still beat you. 

Note to Self: Increase loads for the kids next time.

 

11
May
12

experimenting Day 2

By garagegym107 Leave a Comment
Categories: Nutritional Cleanse Experiment
Tags: , , ,

It’s FRIDAY!!  I love Friday.  Just because it’s the end of the workout week for me and the end of the professional work week for me too.  Don’t get me wrong I do adore my day job but like anyone I adore the weekends more.

Update on the boy and his girlfriend.  Day 1 I thought I might have killed him.   Day 2, I thought surely she was going to meet her maker after running up and down the hill in front of garage gym 107.  Day 3 they both came to win, win, win…no matter what, what, what and both refused to stay down.  Being a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer allows me to show them such variety that just about the time they think they are dying the workout is over. 

Ok, let’s get on with the cleanse discussion.  I should really learn to read and pay more attention.  Yesterday I short-changed myself a delicious small organic apple. That my friends will not happen again, this girl will get her food.  Uh huh, no wonder I was famished by the time dinner rolled around. 

OH WAIT!!  It wasn’t me that had dinner, it was the spousal unit and the boy who had dinner.   For those of you who don’t know I am married to the junk food king of the world.   Although I must say as his awareness grows he’s getting better. 

Last night I was going to send the boy to get the two of them some take out.  It was a great plan until the spousal unit says “fried chicken is not good unless you eat it there”.  Ever wanted to punch someone?  But instead I grabbed my keys and headed out the door to sit with them while they ate dinner. 

I came home and immensely enjoyed my shake.  Seriously, by then I was hungry and it was good.   I slept like a rock last night and felt great when I woke up this morning.

A couple of things to note about these shakes.  They contain whey from grass-fed dairy cows.  Why is that important?  I’m a primal eater.  I eat meat, A LOT OF VEGGIES, some fruit, nuts, sweet potatoes and eggs.  I eat gluten-free oats from time to time and I will occasionally have dairy.  Not likely to risk it any time soon after the vacation fiasco though. 

In comparison to my Sonic foot long chili cheese dogs, large tater tots and chocolate milk shakes that I consumed during my 2 year 150# weight gain, I’m a pristine eater.   If I can lose 158# ANYONE CAN!

Today I’m fully prepared for day two of the pre-cleanse and have a much better understanding of the purpose of these two days.

Today is day two of being totally caffeine free.  That may have something to do with the good nights sleep.  I lifted like a beast in the gym this morning so there is no impact on my lifting so far. 

One other thing.  The word “cleanse” strikes fear in the heart of many a woman.  In the back of your mind you are thinking “I’ll be on the john all day every day for nine days” yeah, I know you’re thinking that but that has not been the case at all. 

Tomorrow and Sunday are the first two official cleanse days.  No food allowed.  I’ve done intermittent fasting from time to time but never for two full days in a row.  We shall see what my iron will is really made of. 

Stand-up paddle board here I come!  That ought to keep me busy.

10
May
12

Experimenting Day 1

By garagegym107 7 Comments
Categories: Nutritional Cleanse Experiment
Tags: , , , ,

Funny story.  My youngest son is home from college for the summer.  About a month ago he sent me a couple of text messages asking if I would put him and his girlfriend through a summer training program.   “Well heck yeah!” I replied.  Evidently texting is the only form of communication for young adults these days.  But I digress.

So the training  journey started exactly two days ago.  Dear Lord I thought I was about to kill my own kid.  For future reference to all of you moms out there with young adult males.  Never say “he’s a little soft” because some how it will get back to him.  I felt bad for about two seconds.  Either I can toughen him up or life in general will.   He came back for day two and there was nothing soft about him!  He’s already asked me “what time are we training tonight?”.  Now that’s my boy!

When I do things, I do them with full enthusiasm and dedication.  This morning I took some “before” pictures, all of my measurements and heaven forbid my weight.  Heaven forbid over my weight you say?  Not my weight but that silly scale.   It occurred to me as I read all of the instructions for the cleanse that I would be weighing more times in 9 days than I generally do over several months!  I’m an athlete, the scale is irrelevant.  

Today is “pre-cleanse day 1”.  There are two of these days to gear your body up for the full-fledged 9 day cleanse.   That means there will be two bonus days of writing material. 

Ok, on to the IsaLean shake AKA breakfast.  As I got ready to head to the gym I pondered….hmmm now what about my usual pre-workout protein/post workout protein?  I made the executive decision to split the shake in half  and drank half before my workout and half after.  No issues there.  I’ve had some pretty gross shakes over the years this one thankfully isn’t one of them.  So far so good.  I will enjoy documenting all of this.  I lift heavy weights and I’m truly interested to see if there is any impact to my lifts. 

Next will be a decent lunch of lean protein and fresh steamed veggies.   This will be no problem.  I love my normal clean food.

Water, water, water!   Another shake for dinner and more water and no cooking!  Yay for ME!  See there is always a positive spin on things.

Have a great day and go lift heavy things!

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