Yo Adrian

I am back in the Dirty Sioux and I officially made it back into the gym, peeps!!

Can I just say how difficult it is to drag yourself to the gym after you've been on vacation? Albeit my vacation wasn't very far away, let alone to someplace covered in white sandy beaches and tan, muscley guys everywhere. No, I spent time being a lazy bum with my very favorite partner in crime, and forever beloved, sister.

Back to getting my butt back into the gym.

I honestly felt like I was going to die when I saw the WOD today.

15 Minute Time Limit

15-12-9-6-3

Hang Cleans

Front Squats

With the remainder of the 15 minutes, max effort wall balls.

I saw the words wall balls and, no lie, immediately thought "I am taking my sweet time on those hang cleans and front squats" and for the most part, I did- although not on purpose.

The total weight of my bar was 65 lbs, which doesn't seem a lot to most people, but I have very limited upper body strength and its more than plenty for me. (The prescribed weight was 85 lbs, but that just was NOT happening.)

I originally started with 75 lbs. and got one round in and realized that it was way too much weight. After dropping it down just those 10 lbs, I felt like I was rocking my reps out and getting into Beast Mode. I knocked them out, yelling and making weird noises all the way, and finished up in no time.

Which is when I looked at the clock.

I had finished with 3 minutes and 22 seconds left. And we all know what that meant!!

WALL BALLS!!!!!!!

I hate wall balls. With a fiery passion. If given the choice between doing 15 wall balls or 30 burpees, I will go with the burpees, which is REALLY saying something, because burpees are a gift from the devil himself. I did manage to get 27 in, averaging in 9 wall balls a minute (roughly), and made the cutest sweat angel ever on the mats after I collapsed and refused to move upon finishing.

And then I felt like this:

That's right. I felt like screaming into a microphone, to my wife at home, that I had done it. I'd finished and I had WON- and that's all that mattered.

This is how I want to feel after every workout- like I've just won the coveted belt; Like I've proven myself and no one can take me down. As lame as I sound, this clip goes through my head after every workout that lands my butt laying on the floor fighting to regain the strength to move. What pushes you? What drives you into giving it your all when you feel like you have nothing left to give? What line goes through your head when you finish your workout?

Let me know and I'll share with other readers! Maybe we can all become newly inspired to get back at it!!

Until we sweat again!

Crossfit Chronicles

This week is Spring Break.

WHOO! Spring Break! Time for booze and wet t-shirt contests!!!

Except no.

For my Spring Break, I've been spending the extra time with my sister and her babies. I would take this over going to the beach and making a fool of myself any day of the week, but this does mean that I'm away from Crossfit and that kind of distance makes me, in a word, NERVOUS.

I'm nervous because I've come so far and spend so much of time at the gym every day, and I'm afraid of breaking that routine and sliding downhill fast. (It also doesn't help that my mom just surprised me with a dark chocolate orange. Oh holy weakness.)

Enter Crossfit West Ames and (can you believe it??) Pinterest!

I had no idea how welcoming a group of strangers could be until I set foot inside Crossfit West Ames. Without knowing anything about me, the coaches and the members training brought me in and made me feel like I was right at home- pushing me the same way my family at the Crossfit in Sioux City does; Giving me encouragement; Helping me perfect my techniques. I only went for 2 days this week, but boy did I sweat enough to last me for days. (This is my shout out to the coaches and members at Crossfit West Ames- You guys rock!!)

Now I know I made some lady ears perk up at the mention of Pinterest, because rarely do I mention Pinterest on my fitness blog. Well, its true, ladies and gentlemen. Pinterest has a more relevant purpose than just giving ladies a reason to wile away the hours pinning ideas they'll never actually use.

Do yourself a favor real quick- Go to Pinterest and search "Crossfit at Home." You'll thank me. I found weekly workout charts, I found countless variations of sit-ups, push ups, burpees, squats, lunges- you name it. Everything you can do at home, and with instructions on how much time you have, etc. Just like at Crossfit! The only difference is there isn't anyone there to give you some extra motivation. (Which is why you come here, right??)

Go look it up, find a workout you want to try this week, and get it done! I know all you need is that one little push to get you started and I am more than willing to give you that nudge!

Go sweat it out and let me know what you think of this Crossfit craze!!

You Are Not Fat

Hola e'erbody!

So I heard this quote recently and LOVED it. It goes something like...

"You are not fat, you have fat. You have fingernails, too, but you aren't a fingernail."

I'm trying to keep this in mind, because apparently some of my friends think I have body dysmorphia- so I'm changing the way I talk about my body. :)

So it's been since December, has it? Well I finally got a new computer so it looks like we are back in business, kids!

I started Crossfit about 6 weeks ago and I pretty much love it. I would say it's a love-hate relationship, because I hate running with a fiery passion, but I love going, and I love how everyone I train with pushes me to work harder and do my best, and I LOVE taking my selfie as soon as I'm done. (Ask anyone. They all make fun of me for it.) Having photo evidence of all that sweat and grime all over my face is enough to make me feel like a total hottie. (I'm easy to please, apparently.) So basically, there is no hatred to fulfill the "hate" portion of a love-hate relationship. Therefore, I just love Crossfit.

Seriously- How am I not married?

To give you a little taste of what's going on down at the good ol' neighborhood Crossfit, here's what I did today. (See above picture. I am NOT typing all that out. I have got sleep to catch up on here, y'all.)

To my Sioux City friends, let me know if you want to try it out! First week is free and I bet you will end up loving it as much as I do. (Which is a lot. I have no life.)

State Center/Ames/Altoona peeps? (Amy, when I say Altoona I'm talking directly to you.) I will be in town this weekend and the following week and would LOVE to get my sweat on, I just need some workout buddies :) Let me know when you're available!!

---Until we sweat again!!

Christmas Troubles

Hey there ladies and men!

 

I know- you all think I've been slacking, but I can tell you that I have been working my little booty off (quite literally.) I would have been blogging but, unfortunately, my older sister had a little accident with a glass of water and my computer took the brunt of it.

 

Computer down or not, I have been going to the gym every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday morning with my dear mama (with a few occasional exceptions), and some of the teachers at her school. So far, we've been doing Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30. That's what I was doing over a month ago, but so far I've been seeing results and I would like to see what else I can get from it.

 

Since I began Ripped in 30, I've seen a drastic decrease in my waist. I still have a little bit to go on my stomach, but my thighs and (oddly) ankles have also slimmed down and its just a matter of getting in some cardio. After not running for so long, I won't lie- cardio kind of kicks my butt.

 

The plan is to start running in the school gym in the morning, directly after my workout with Jillian. (Still can't stand her.) Hopefully that will get this pouch to slim down because this girl is getting sick of having it.

 

How is everyone doing when it comes to snacking on all of those yummy holiday goodies?? I have so far been able to ignore the platefuls of cookies, brownies, and toffee. I'm unsure how much longer my self control will last, so if any of you have any tips on how to NOT stuff my face, I appreciate you. :) I have not done such a fabulous job when it comes to holiday parties and the delicious drinks being served... hence the cardio :)

 

Until we sweat again!!

No Amount

*Please note that exiting this post is an option at all times*

Hello fitness friends!!

As you all (might) know, I have been blogging for about 3 years now. I have had my fair share of people saying how silly my blog is, as well as people telling me how much my blog has helped them, and let me tell you something...

If I only ever received negative comments about my blog...

If people told me it was trash and to give up writing about staying fit...

I would still keep blogging if I knew that it was helping even ONE person stay on track.

I would keep posting about my workout results, both good and bad, if it meant that even ONE person reached their workout goals.

It is going to take a hell of a lot more than being called "an attention seeking whore" to get me to let down the followers of this blog, however small that number might be.

It will take so much more than someone calling me that grotesque word beginning with the letter C to get me to say, "well I guess working out is useless. Time to give up."

No amount of bullying (which makes you SO cool, especially over the internet) is going to make me change how I help others reach their fitness goals. If someone hates my blog so much, the option to exit this blog is always available.

For my loyal readers, thank you so much for any kind words you've had to say about this whole mess. Your support seems endless and I cannot tell you how very much you are all appreciated. As long as you're reading, I'll be here writing.

Until we sweat again.

Oh Holy Calves

Hey y'all!

So I realized I hadn't blogged for a couple of weeks (I've been working a ton lately- right after my morning workout), so I thought I'd get all you guys and gals caught up to speed!!

I have been doing Jillian Michaels' DVD Ripped in 30. (If you follow my blog on the regular you will have already known that!!) I am presently on week 3 of 4.

A few things:

1) I hate Jillian Michaels

2) With a fiery passion

3) No seriously. If I could deck her in the face without the fear of getting punched back, I'd totally knock that chick out.

*End Rant*

I have also been doing some interval training. My mom has a lovely friend, Jesse, that used to take some Cross Fit classes (is that a class??) and we may or may not be copying some of their moves.

All is fair in love and fitness, am I right?

I also have this crazy obsession with having muscular calves (Sibling rivalry thing. If you're not the unwanted other sibling from your childhood years, you wouldn't understand... unless you saw my sister's calves in high school. Then you'd understand.)

I want, like, super muscular, look-like-I'm-wearing-high-heels-all-the-time calves. I want people to look at my legs and be like "Day-um. Girl has got some great calves."

I can't really explain this weird, crazy quirk about me. All I can say is "OUCH." I have been working my calves like crazy. I read somewhere that calves respond to slow, high reps, rather than quick reps with lots of weight. With that knowledge in mind, I have been using my own body weight on the edge of a step (preferably at the base of the stairs since we all know I'm a giant klutz), and do 50 reps, pausing when I'm at the peak of my calf raise and holding for 2 seconds before lowering my heels. (I stretch out my calves at the 25 mark. Because calf raises are hard.)

I then come back to calf raises throughout my workout 1 or 2 more times. I did it yesterday (Only I came back like 3 or 4 times) and my calves have been SO SORE all day. It's like God is on Britney Spears' side with having to work to look good or something.

Which is awesome. 

I've also been working on toning up my bootay. Lots of rear and side leg extensions, squats with hip thrusts, lunges out the holy wazoo, and in general lots of butt squeezing :)

I want to hear what everyone has been up to! Tell me what body part you're currently obsessed with and what you're doing to make it look amazing!!!

Until we sweat again!!

Jillian Michaels is the DEVIL.

This woman. This one right here. I hate her. Not because she made me work hard, or because she yelled at me in that SUPER manly voice the whole video. I hate her because she just yammered on the Whole. Time.

Let me back this up for you.

I did Ripped in 30 with my mom this morning, a video that boasts that its users will see "Ripped" results in just 30 days! Jillian even says "I wouldn't lie to you."

My issue with that statement is an entirely different story. (Even P-90X and Insanity don't pretend to offer those results and they are 4 times more difficult and 3 times longer.)

My issue with Jillian is that, while her two lovely little helper gals are busting their buns, she is walking around them, shoving her boobs in their faces and saying "Come on you can push harder!!"

At least when Shawn T was yelling that at me, he was also DOING THE WORKOUT.

I don't have only negative remarks about Jillian. (I'm not a Negative Nancy yet.)

I did enjoy the amount of work necessary to successfully complete today's video. I could feel the burn throughout my entire body and I was definitely sweating up a storm.

See? Sweaty McSweaterton

I also loved the fact that even though Jillian didn't participate in the workout, she acknowledged how difficult it was and how much work we put into it. No bull honky smiles about "Now wasn't that FUN!?!?"

No. No it wasn't fun. This is a workout, not checkers. If I felt like it was fun, I would feel like I didn't do my workout correctly. I want to be collapsed on the ground, struggling to catch my breath, and cursing the monster that talked me into getting fit. (It was Fat Me, btw.)

Jillian isn't all that bad... I guess.

Until we sweat again!!