Athlete

The Crossfit competition has finally come and I finished!! (I have the bruises and sore body to prove it)

This weekend marked my very first Crossfit competition. This also marks the very first (and probably last) time that I've been called an athlete! (I even have a t-shirt that says it).

There is way too much to tell you, so I'll give you the details via some photos!!

First WOD, prepping for a shoulder to overhead press. I had a pretty rough time of it..

Bottom of my final front squat- I may or may not have been screaming.

Box Pushes- These work your booty like NO. OTHER.

Jump ropes- normally I suck, but I was ON IT.

Deadlifts- with impeccable form :)

The XFit 712 crew! (Minus 2) Everyone performed INCREDIBLY

Post-Competition Parking lot celebration moscato. We earned it.

This journey to my first Crossfit competition wasn't easy; It took a lot of hard work and a WHOLE lot of sweat, and maybe some tears. However, it was all worth it. I have never felt so incredible- and sore. (Again- Holy bruises.) If you can ever get yourself to a Crossfit competition (like the one happening at Crossfit Beo in Sioux City this fall), check it out and cheer on some amazing athletes!! (Which I apparently get to call myself now!!!)

Until we sweat again!

Improvisation

We all have those days where getting to the gym is impossible. The babysitter couldn't make it; The work load just keeps piling up with no end in sight; You couldn't find the motivation... The laundry list of reasons could go on for days in most cases.

For me, today's trip to the gym was postponed first by a trip to visit my academic advisor (which lasted way longer than I anticipated), then by the promise of payment if I helped mom out with some stuff up at school, and finally, by my little sister's car being stranded in the park, and everyone needing to pitch in to help get it home.

This is where improvisation comes into play. Can't make it to the gym? Lift the baby up high, and bring him down again slowly, working out your arms- or hold him close and do some slow squats. Sit on a stability ball while you work at your desk to keep your core engaged. Do squats/sit ups/counter push ups while you're watching your favorite show or during commercial breaks.

My improvisation today was a little more... makeshift. As I was rushing around trying to get to the gym, my mom informed me of my sister's car situation and instructed me to go get her some fuel for the car and, if the fuel didn't do the trick, we'd be pushing.

Want to know a secret? The fuel didn't work.

(Okay, it's not much of a secret.)

Do you have any idea the muscles you work while pushing an Impala uphill? Sure, I had 3 other siblings pushing the backside of the car with me (well, 2 and a bystander), and my mom was jamming her shoulder into the frame of the car to help, but oh my goodness my buns!!! If someone had told me all I needed to do was push a car for 5 minutes to feel a deep burn in my butt, I would've been pushing cars uphill long before now. (That's not true. Screw pushing cars uphill. That sucked.)

I imagine this is what I'll feel like after the box pushes at the competition this weekend??

Gee, I can't wait...

Until we sweat again!!!

In Preparation

It is official- in exactly one week, I will be on my way to Okoboji for my very first Crossfit competition.

Words can't even describe how anxious/nervous I am. I can't even begin to think of everything I need to be doing to prepare this week. I haven't run through the WODs in awhile and I am terrified to do so, just in case I end up realizing I'm awful at them and feel the need to back out.. and what is more embarrassing than wussing out on a competition a week before?

This week, I'm eating meat and vegetables like it's my job. (And the occasional bits of fruit here and there.) Dad offered to get some Moscato D'Asti tonight and I turned it down for the first time EVER. I'm afraid of taking in too much sugar this close to competition time. Sound silly to anyone else??

I'm also trying not to get too crazy in my workouts. Again, sounds kind of silly, but I'm worried I'll burn out before next weekend. (As much as I try, Taryn insists on kicking my butt with WODs like Angie. See more below.)

Angie is an ADORABLE little timed WOD consisting of 100 pull ups, 100 push ups, 100 sit ups, and 100 squats. Right before we did this, our warm up was Bring Sally Up with burpees. Every time you hear the words "bring Sally up," you jump up out of the burpee, and when you hear "bring Sally down," you hold the bottom of a push up. All of that rolled together was cute. And by cute I mean I wanted to cry.

So how does one unwind before a competition?

YOGA.

I have the great pleasure of being able to take a yoga class every Thursday night at my gym, with my favorite yoga instructor ever. (She's the only one I've ever met, but I don't even care. She's the one I want. Whoo hoo hoo, honey.) The entire time I'm there, when I'm not thinking "Breathe. Breathe. BREATHE," I'm saying little prayers in my quiet moments. She has us set an intention for our practice, and lately mine has been just to be thankful for my body and the opportunities I've been presented with. How many people are given the opportunity to train with people that genuinely care about each person they work with? How many people have a healthy, young, capable body to be able to compete? Forget competing- walking, even. Healthy lungs for breathing. A healthy mind to keep my thoughts and priorities in order. A healthy heart.

While it may seem an odd thing to be thinking about right before I go destroy my body in effort to take home some bragging rights, but thanks to yoga, I've begun to realize how much I have to be thankful for- and time to myself to BE thankful, even if just an hour, is completely wonderful.

If you haven't tried out yoga, I sincerely suggest you give it a try. And if I can't convince you, I'll be having Trisha, my yoga instructor, on the blog doing a guest blog piece! Look for it soon, and wish me luck next weekend!!

Until we sweat again!!

Move Your Legs.

Those of you that know me personally know that I am not a fan of running. Oh, I'm a HUGE fan of the cute running half pants with my matching running top and cute, pink running shoes. However, running was designed by the devil himself, and I absolutely hate it.

So I obviously had to run a 5K.

I found myself in State Center, with my dear sister and her relatives, for the Rose Festival 5K walk/run. (Admittedly, I took the walk/run part to heart and did, in fact, walk some portions. So sue me.)

The route wound all over the place, which is to be expected in such a small town, but it was also filled with people cheering the competitors on, passing out water, snapping photos- it was overall an incredible experience!

And, drum roll please......

Medal!!

I actually won a medal in something sports related!! This boost of confidence led to even more running this week at the West High track while the baby brother had his own workout.

Look at all the sweatiness :)

With all this running, I've gained my new mantra. "Breathe. Move your Legs." The only catch is you have to say it to the tune of Justin Timberlake's "Dance. Don't hold the wall." (Do it, you'll laugh.)

Also, SUPER confidence booster of the week (or several, rather) was visiting State Center in my high wasted shorts and crop top and having all my old friends stopping me and telling me how much tinier I looked.

Woot freaking woot!!!

Still trying to build up my endurance for this competition in July, so wish me luck!!

Until we sweat again!!

Bikini Pics

I'm just going to be straightforward with this post- I am posting pictures of myself in a bikini. Some of these you may have already seen from older posts (Think 2012 before I was single). Its been awhile, and if you have stuck with me since then, wow are you a trooper!!

Skipping all the witty banter, let's just get down to it...

These were before and HOLY CRAP I had no idea I looked like that at the time. Just.... wow. No thank you.

Admittedly, its not a HUGE transformation from chubby to straight up skin and bones, but I am pretty proud of my progress!!

And to add to the excitement- I have signed up for my very first Crossfit competition in Okoboji!!! The competition is July 27th which only gives me a few weeks to get myself whipped into tip top shape and I can't even begin to describe 1) How daunting that task is, and 2) how unbelievable excited I am!!! 

Shout out to my trainers Danny and Taryn for sticking with my chubby self until I was no longer a super chunk.. and still believing in me. You guys rock :) And another HUGE shout out to my family (especially my parents) for putting up with my crazy dietary needs and constant need to be at the gym. I love you for it :)

Until we sweat again!!

Burn Them With Fire.

If you have ever seen a movie with the name Rocky in the title, or any other boxing movie for that matter, you have seen a double under, whether or not you have actually taken stock of what you're seeing.

You know that part of the workout montage where the fighter is jumping rope, and he's going at it all normal-like, and suddenly he's got super speed and is whipping the jump rope under his feet at twice the speed? THAT is a double under.

And it can go take its friend the jump rope and die a horrible, fiery death.

Quite simply put, I suck at jumping rope. Just one quick little hop over one swing of the rope. Who honestly sucks at that past the age of 7? Isn't that a fundamental lesson you learn in PE in the first grade?

Apparently not if you're me!!

This fun little hurdle I have to work with would seem a moot point because I'm nearly 25 years old, and how many 25 year olds find themselves jumping rope, am I right??

Introducing Annie!!!

Don't let the pink fool you. This WOD is the devil.

Now remember, I am AWFUL at jumping rope on a good day with a nice, simple single. This WOD calls for 150 Double Unders. I have a max of, oh, 1. I have achieved 2 double unders in the history of my attempts. Ever. And not even in the same month.

To remedy this situation, those of us that simply cannot perform Double Unders must perform triple the amount prescribed in singles. That means 150, 120, 90, 60, and 30, but hey- who's counting?

(Its 450 total, by the way. Because me. That's who's counting.)

Today was a struggle. The trainers can attest to the sheer amount of frustration going on in my little corner of the gym as I found myself tangled up in the jump rope (literally. Like, wrapped around my leg while I frantically kicked like I was trying to escape a small demon child... or something. Idk. It was horrific.) and looking like a total spaz.

However, I am proud to say that after only a few obscenities (I'm working on that...) and minimal outbursts after the first catastrophic mess that was me jumping rope, I finished my WOD in 11:31!!!!!!! (I'm pretty sure that was my time... don't quote me on that...)

I think this is the first time I've done Annie, as the only other time I've seen it done was during my On Ramp, and I actually felt pretty awesome afterwards! I mean, I wanted to destroy every jump rope in sight, but that's a daily occurrence so I wasn't really expecting that feeling to go away...

If you have a jump rope at home, I encourage you to give this WOD a try!! I won't sugar coat it and say that its easy, because it most certainly is not. (What would be the point then, am I Right??)

See? There's even a motivational picture about it :)

I want some people to try it and tell me your results!! Its something new and will keep your body guessing, and I bet you can rock it!!

Until we sweat again!!

Progress Report

The past couple of weeks have been hectic, and sort of a blur. I have been so wrapped up in school and work and the gym, that most nights I come home and crash- literally.

Face first into my pillow.

It's adorable.

However, despite my exhaustion and desire to face plant, I have been itching to divulge my latest achievement!

*Drum Roll Please*

I have been weighed.

.

.

.

I have been measured.

.

.

.

I have been found kicking butt!!!

(Ten points if you got the movie reference.)

I've been doing Crossfit now for about 2 1/2 months, and from March 27th to April 28th, I lost 3 inches in my waist, gained an inch of muscle in both arms and in both legs, and took my body fat percentage down from 27% to 25.6%. 

Because...... Robert Downey, Jr........

I have been feeling so amazing, my skin has been clearing up (like whoa), I have more energy (when allergies aren't kicking me in the face), and I blame it on my progress with Crossfit.

In conjunction with Crossfit, I have been taking part in a yoga class once a week that has me finding ways to engage muscles all over my body- muscles that I had no idea I even had. And did I mention how relaxing it is?

Don't get me wrong- yoga is definitely a challenge and it keeps me on my toes (literally.) But I credit yoga for my better night's sleep every night. After a hectic 7 days, I find myself getting to the gym nice and early in anticipation for a little time just to focus on my body and my mind and get myself in check.

If you aren't moving your body in SOME way yet, in a way to get to a healthier you, whatever that movement may be, you need to be getting up and making it a point to better your body and your mind. Need some inspiration? I plan on doing a spotlight piece within the coming weeks on a reader (because I know there are some of you out there...)

If you're interested in being my spotlight piece, telling your story with your beautiful face shining bright, or anonymous, please contact me and let me know. I would love to give you all a break from my rambling!!

Until we sweat again!!