8 weeks in...(measurements)

I have to admit posting all of this personal stuff is embarrassing and awkward, but I really want to document my journey and be held accountable for doing what I say I am going to do. I posted before pictures in January, so here is a progress (not after) picture.
Tomorrow starts week nine, although the first two weeks was me learning all of the fundamentals and taking long rest days between WODs. Now I can go for a 3-5 mile run between Crossfit days and it feels great. I just now feel like I am getting stronger and more importantly I feel tremendously more coordinated. I am starting to get the movements, not that I can do all the moves yet, but I am gaining a feel for the movements and the rhythm. With that being said, I am walking around in a constant state of soreness; back and shoulders. Yuk.
On the bright side, I have seen major progress in just 8 weeks! I cannot wait till 6 months in to see what I look and feel like. Here are stats thus far:
Dec. 27th. March 17
Weight: 161. 171" (gained 10 lbs!)
Bust: 38 1/2. 36 1/2"
Waist: 33. 32"
Hips: 35 1/2. 35 1/2"
Thigh: 22 1/2. 21 1/2"
Arm: 12". 11 1/2"
I think it is so crazy how fast I'm gaining muscle! Now, if I could stop eating so much I'd probably trim down. Ever since starting Crossfit, I'm always hungry. At work I am constantly scavenging for chocolate! I will eat, eat, and eat some more and still be hungry! This is my new goal to tackle...
Not sure how I feel about gaining 10 lbs, but I know it is not fat because all of my clothes still fit. But I will admit, they fit very differently. One last thing...I am proud of the muscle in this picture, especially after only 8 weeks. I'll post another measurement in June.
Until next time...

Blood, Sweat, and Tears (literally)

Today's workout, I'll be honest, was not my favorite. There was good news and bad news, so the good first:
1. When I arrive I usually try a couple of unassisted pull-ups before my arms become tired and dangle on my side like two limp spaghetti noodles, and today was no different. Except this time I got my chin over the bar! That's right folks, I have finally achieved my New Year resolution of pulling off an unassisted pull-up. Yay me! Now, like all things in Crossfit, my new goal is to achieve 10 unassisted pull-ups. Get after it.
2. During a complete meltdown (more on this in a sec) in the middle of the workout of the day (WOD), I start hitting my toes to the bar! For those not familiar with this move, I'll fill you in...you hang from the pull-up bar and swing your feet over your head to touch the bar. Simple, right? Not so much. So, yet another goal achieved today. Hooray! I should be feeling great, right? Well, about that meltdown...
...and for the bad news...the workout consisted of 5 rounds of two exercises:
12 16 lbs wall-balls
12 toes-to-bar
When I read the workout this morning I thought to myself, no sweat that sounds easy. Boy was I wrong! I was sweating like a stuck pig, not to mention my hand's blisters opened, bled, and I could hardly grip the damn bar! I gave up in the middle of my first round of toes-to-bar and turned to Coach Meg and called it quits through eyefuls of tears. Tears! Ugh. I'm not sure why I was crying...hormones, frustration, fatigue, weakness leaving my body, overwhelmed...
or all of the above.

Too bad that quitting is not an option in Coach Meg's Crossfit box and thank god for it. She got up and came over to push me back into beast mode. I know if she wasn't there I'd have walked out that door defeated, but today she wasn't having it and let me know that quitting was not an option. That I had to want it, this is why I was here, and to just keep moving! Not sure how, but it worked. Coach Meg got me back on track and saved me from a DNF (did not finish), the ultimate embarrassment. Thanks Meg!
Plus, when Nick finished his WOD he started cheering me on as well. I'm not sure what the deal was, but I couldn't find my groove on that damn bar. Finally, I fought through the pain in my palms, flesh ripping off my hands, wiped the sweat off my face and tears from my eyes, and just roughed through it. Then, something magical happened...I made the toes-to-bar! Not just one but several, and next thing you know that smile found its way back to my face.
Until next time...

Rope mania!

Howdy folks. I know I know...it's been a while since I last posted, but I haven't really had too much excitement to post about. That is, until today!
Starting Crossfit is like anything else you would start for the first time...in the beginning...you suck at everything. So, when I started I made a list of things to work on, goals, and moves I want to master. For example, I have been really pushing for a kipping pull-up unassisted. It is tough! I've gotten better, but my chin is still about four inches away from that dang ole bar! Arghh!
That's ok though, because I am a goal setter. Not sure when this happened, but some point in my life I changed into this dedicated goal setter. I set a goal and do not stop until I have achieved it, and Crossfit is perfect for setting goals.
In the beginning, I couldn't do squat! Fast forward only 7 weeks and I climbed the rope today 5 times, and the last one I made it to the very top and touched the ceiling! I couldn't believe it! I watched the girls on the Crossfit videos and just wished I could do what those amazing girls were doing. I felt it was so unrealistic, so far off, something only hardcore girls were able to do, until today! Boom!
Crossfit is so freaking addictive. Every time you achieve something, there are ten more things to practice, achieve and master. Like the damn double-unders, my dreaded activity! I can do one or two in a row, but that is it! Then, I'm a fumbling idiot after that. I haven't mastered the wrist movements, but that's ok...double-unders are on the list. Along with pull-up, toe to bar, muscle-up, 24" box jump, hand-stand push-ups, ect. I'm just chipping away my friends...I'm just chipping away...bit by bit.
Until next time...

Crossfit addict

Today felt amazing all around. Did 100 sit-ups in under 4 minutes, did 100 jump ropes unbroken, climbed half way up the rope for the first time, did pull-ups with skinny bands, did 500 meter row in under 4 minutes, did 12 kilo kettlebell swings instead of 8, and just crushed the all around workout. Also lifted 44 lbs (20 kilos) during the Snatch. Funny name...serious lift, overhead squat. 3-3-3-2-2-1-1-1 reps. Baby steps when it comes to adding heavy weight. Or at least I'm told.
Today just felt really good and strong. So much so, that I want to add another day to the week. I would not or could not have done four days a week a month ago. It is crazy to me to see how fast the progression actually takes place. Looking in the mirror I see muscle growing before my eyes, not to mention the scale says I've gained three pounds. And that is not fat! I've been eating extremely clean, following the 80/20 Primal diet pretty darn strict. In a weird way I want to fast forward 6 months to see where I am. It is official, I'm a crossfit addict.
Until next time...

One month (and one day)

Last Friday marked my one month anniversary doing Crossfit and it feels great! One thing I've noticed about Crossfit is that every time I go, I get a complete understanding of how freaking weak I am, but this fact only pushes me harder! I am determined to master the Kipping pull-up by time for the Bahamas. That gives me six weeks. 18 more classes! Ahhh, will it be enough?
For Valentines, Nick and I bought each other a pull-up bar that Nick made from pipe and installed in the garage. Now I can practice at home. My poor hands are toast.
All month I have been using the black resistance band for my pull-ups, but today Coach Meg made me run through a couple of the bands to really find a band that challenged me. I went past the black, past the green and into the blue! It is a skinny little string-like band, proof that I am in fact getting stronger. I ordered a blue band and an even skinnier and final red band online, so I can practice at home. 30 pull-ups when I wake up and thirty push-ups, and repeat both before bed. Six weeks. I know I can do it. Six weeks.
Nick and I have just been taking a snap shot of the board after class, so much easier to log. Cheers.
Until next time...

Squat mania!

I'm too tired to post the workout, instead I took a picture. It is 8:00 and Nick and I are both already in bed...if that tells you anything about tonight's workout.
Destroyed.
Tired.
Goodnight.
Until next time...

Date-night at Rendezvous Crossfit

Today was extra special at Rendezvous Crossfit because my beast-mode husband decided to join and take classes with me three days a week. As I lay here flat on my back, I'm still reeling from today's WOD.
Coach Meg joined Nick and I today for our workout and her husband, also named Nick, coached.
The workout:
Warm up:
3 rounds of five-
Box jumps
Wall balls
Kettle ball swings.
Tabata: (cardio) Wall-balls:
8 rounds of 20 seconds, as many as you can do, for time.10 sec rest between sets. I threw 8 every round! (I was very happy!)
Strength: Split-jerk 4,3,2,1,1,1 adding weight each round. Nick blew this event away, he is so damn strong, I think his last rep was 205 lbs! Crazy. Mine was like 45lbs. I think Coach Meg wants to make sure I have form down before we start adding heavy weight. On my third set i forgot to push my chin back a d slammed the bar against my chin that i bit down on my tongue. Not exactly there yet..soon though.

WOD-Workout of the Day:
NASTY NATALIE:
25 weighted lunges...(22.2lbs)
25 box jumps
25 kettle ball swings
25 sumo-something-or-others...(lifts of kettle ball to chin)
25 ring dips ( I used purple band, my nemesis!)
25 sit ups
25 jumping squats for time.
My time was 11:55...but I had several modifications, like shorter box, lighter kettle ball, band on rings. Nicks time 12:05 no modifications. On his first day, no less! Can we say beast-mode! I'm loving that Nick joined...date night 3x a week at the 'ole Rendezvous box. :)

We both were uber exhausted when we got home, but somehow I managed to make Spaghetti squash for dinner. So delicious.
In the future I'm thinking crock-pot on Crossfit nights, starting Wednesday. I just think life will be that much easier to come home and dinner is ready.

On a fun note, Nick and I are driving to Casper next Saturday to support Coach Meg and her team in a real Crossfit competition. I'm so excited, should be really awesome to watch and extremely motivational. Can't wait.
Until next time...

Angie...

The WOD for yesterday was ANGIE, and she really put a hurting on me. I can barely lift my arms today.
The workout:
(3/4 Angie)
100 pull ups
100 push ups
100 sit ups
100 squats for time. My time was 22:23.
My pull ups were assisted with a black band, first thirty unbroken.
All of this after a crossfit total, which is where I do three different lifts...maxed out. I did-
Back squat: 55 kilos
Shoulder press:26 kilos
Dead lift: 55 kilos
For a grand total of 136 kilos, that's 299.2 lbs. This is my benchmark and in three months I'll do it again looking for growth.
Until next time...

Getting stronger

This week was my best Crossfit week thus far, and I have tacked on a third workout for each week starting today. On Wednesday I felt really good. The WOD consisted of 1000 meter row, 50 squat thrusters with the bar (can't wait till I'm strong enough to be adding weight) and 30 pull-ups. I discovered that a) I still do not have the rhythm of the kipping pull-up down, but I am getting better because the first 15 were looking good and unbroken. By the time I was to start the second set of 15, I was tired and flailing like a fish all over the place b) 50 squatting thrusters are really not that bad and c) so far my strength is on the row machine. My total time for "Jackie" (modified) was 12:03, coach Meg put my time on the board and I noticed one thing: I had beaten FOUR people. While they may not be a fair comparison because my WOD was modified for me, I still felt phenomenal about it. Top of the world. Three weeks ago after the filthy 30 I was crippled.
Also, coach Meg has decided to open her own Crossfit box and leave the Teton Sports Club, so now I do not have to rush clear across town just to get to the workout on time. I am thrilled, plus so far, I am the only one signed up for the 4:15 slot. It is like I have my very own personal trainer 3 times a week...at least till the empty slots fill up which probably won't be long. So, I am enjoying it while I got it. Coach Meg had me register through WODHUB online which tracks all of the stats and WODs. This may be a blessing and a curse because on my lunch break today I was checking out the website and notice today's WOD. I am SCARED!
"Angie":
100 pull-ups
100 push-ups
100 sit-ups
100 squats for time. NO MERCY!!! I'll let you know how I do in about three hours. My stomach is turning!!

Until next time...

Accomplishment!

Yay! Today was a success! I was the only one to show up for class, and I killed it! Meg, my trainer, was extremely attentive and helpful....probably because I was the only one. When I showed up and looked at the WOD, I thought there is no way in hell. I was wrong! I did the last round unbroken (with bands)! I felt like a boss.
The workout:
Warm up: one minute each station...
1. Wall swats
2. Walking lunges
3. Kipping on the bar
4. Back extensions
5. Box jumps (my least favorite)
6. Push ups
Tabata (cardio):
Box jumps-eight rounds with ten second rest (this was a bitch!)
Strength:
Dead lifts:
5 rounds of 3 sets increasing weight. (loved it)
WOD:
11 pull-ups
22 weighted bar front squats
FIVE ROUNDS!!
It was a hard workout, but nothing like last Wednesday's filthy thirty...
The last round of pull-ups I actually did UNBROKEN! Yay me!
Either I'm getting stronger and getting the hang of it, or the workouts are getting easier! I promise the workouts are not getting easier!
Booya!
Until next time...

Three Times a Charm

After last Wednesday, I was so scared to walk into the gym. I got over it real quick.
Today's workout was hard, but doable. One thing I noticed, I need some serious ring-dip practice. Shew, I was awful, but that is to be expected the first time. The workout:
Warm up 1 minute each:
1. Jump rope
2. Walking lunges
3. Wall walk-ups
4. Kettle ball swings
5. Groin walk -ups( these were more of a stretch, and they felt amazing).
6. Mental block always!! I don't remember the 6th station...
Tabata: (Cardio)
Eight rounds of push-ups- as many as you can muster in 20 sec with 10 sec rest! This one killed my arms!! Ouchies!
Strength:
Squatting push press 4 rounds increasing weight.
WOD:
3 pull-ups
15 ring dips
15 kettle ball swings
200 jump rope or 50 double-unders
THREE ROUNDS for time!!
I am hurting tonight, but not nearly as bad as last Wednesday's filthy thirty. During the ring dips, I gave myself a Charlie horse and I'm still limping.
Good lord, I sound like a 65 year woman trying to work out with all my aches and pains. Haha.
Until next time...
PS. I'm posting this picture for self-motivation and inspiration. She is perfect, from @girlswithmuscle Instagram.
STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY!

Crossroads with Crossfit.

Ugh. Post surgery, feeling great, and starting Crossfit, what could go wrong? (This might be too much information, but I said I was documenting my Crossfit experience...and I meant it!)

After my first class I left and got in the car only to feel bleeding...8 days early. This scared me, but I didn't want to admit it. The surgery and all the hell I went through was supposed to have fixed any problems. At the advice of a good friend, I emailed the doctor asking for advice. She told me to stop Crossfit if I wanted to get pregnant. She said the strenuous exercise is too taxing on my body right now. Ugh!
I finally found something I'm excited to do, take my mind off conceiving, and set a goal for myself only for the doctor to shut me down.
Now it's decision time: stop Crossfit and hope to get pregnant, or continue Crossfit and put the whole thing in Gods' hands.
After, long consideration...Nick and I are letting go and putting it all in God's hands.
Good news: I will be still continuing on my Crossfit journey to become one buff babe.
Until next time...

The Magical Foam-Roller

After yesterday's workout, I came home and was paralyzed...and what hurt the most was my lower back. I immediately thought I had hurt myself, or herniated a disc because the pain was so unbearable. I ended up taking two pain killers left over from my surgery and going to bed.
This morning was a joke...on me. I literally sat on the side of the bed trying to figure out how I was going to try and put my socks on. Once I got to school, everyone noticed right away that I was gimp and limping. I was in pain! And not the kind of pain that feels so good.
Talking with a co-worker who has also started a new mountain athlete program in Jackson, she suggested I find a foam roller.
I had never heard of such a device, but I was now determined to find one.
Luckily for me, my girlfriend owns her own dance/Pilates studio. After work I stopped by my sweet friend's Kari studio and she took me inside to work it out on the Pilate machines and she introduced me to the magical foam roller. I walked in hunched-over and waddling, spent thirty minutes stretching and rolling to physical bliss. I was standing up straight, my lower back was still twinging, but half of what it was when I walked in. Thank goodness!
Kari taught me one very important detail I had been missing: STRETCH! So, from now on...I will be stretching before and after each workout. And the foam roller is magical. Note to self.
As I was walking out the door she tossed me a bottle of BioFreeze. Another magical new piece of heaven. It's a liquid you run on sore muscles similar to Icy-hot, but 1000 times better. Check it out! And if you are reading this...check out Balance Studios for an amazing Pilates reformer class! Ask for Kari.
Until next time...

Filthy ass-kicker!

I am not sure if anyone is reading these blog posts, but I really want to keep a record of my progress and where I started from...to where I end up, so I can look back and smile. Today was ridiculous...the filthy 30...sometimes known as the filthy fifty, KICKED MY ASS!! I am pretty sure my body went into shock halfway through the workout of the day (WOD), because I started balling. Never in my life have I started a workout and started crying halfway through it. Again, I'm pretty sure my body was in shock, and I didn't know how to handle the mixed signals. My heart was telling me to keep going, my body and brain were telling me to QUIT! And run away ASAP! Meg, my coach, was my saving grace. She didn't give up on me, and in turn...I couldn't give up on myself. Attached is the WOD, which was the last half of class. We had ALREADY done a warm up if 6 stations at one minute each:
1. Kettle ball swings
2. Wall balls with squat
3. Jump rope
4. Box jumps!
5. Burpees
6. Something else I don't remember! Lol
Then comes Tabata (cardio):
20 seconds on, 10 second rest:
8 rounds of:
Hurdle jumps side to side
Push-up full ( no girlie)
The strength (weight lifting portion):
Hang clean-and-jerks five rounds.

Then...and only then, did we begin the filthy 30 WOD!!!
I cried. Tears were streaming down my face as I hung from the pull-up bar trying to reach my toes to the bar 30 times.
Meg didn't acknowledge my tears, which in turn made me ignore them as well.
The hardest hour workout of my life.
The best part was at the end...and I was on my second to the last skill...and the task was 30 Burpees. I'm not sure if you know what Burpees are, but they are hard as all get out after an entire workout. I started to shake my head because I was overwhelmed and didn't think I could do it. I could hardly stand! Meg saw the look of defeat in my eye and took a step back to unzip her hoodie. As she walked over to me...all I could muster was a glance at her figure. Holy shit was she buff and with the perfect sculpted figure. She was the reason I was here...to look like her. I told myself, " this us why your here...now lets do this!" Granted those dang Burpees were still so hard, but at least I didn't give up. I didn't quit. I finished the entire workout. I made it under the time cap of 30 minutes, by two minutes.
I still don't know how it happened.
Hours later...I can still hardly move.
WEEK 1 COMPLETE!!

Rest day? More like day of pain!

Holy moley, am I sore. I woke up feeling great, but by afternoon could barely sit down or stand. My quads are on fire.Those squat thrusters kicked my behind! I am afraid of what I will feel like tomorrow. Plus, day 2 Crossfit after work feeling this sore? Yikes!
No pain, no gain is my new motto, and not by choice!
Breakfast: Greek cherry yogurt with chia seeds. Coffee and fat free creamer
Snack: Handful of trail mix
Lunch: Wild caught salmon, small cup of chicken and green chili soup, and a boiled egg. Water
Dinner: Three pieces of baked chicken and a tossed house salad with vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Glass of 1% milk
Snack: carrots and spinach dip
Tomorrow is going to be tough...

Crossfit: 1 Me:1

Today was the hardest workout of my life, and I loved every second of it!
Warm up: (each station 1 minute)
1. Walk-up wall
2. Jump rope
3. Rope climb (I did rope walk-outs)
4. Kettle ball swings
5. Wall squats
6. ??? I can't remember right now
And that was just a warm-up!!
Next up Tabata (cardio)
20 second maxed out row
Ten second rest...for 8 rounds!!
Next was Strength
Thrusters (I loved these, squats while thrusting weighted bar bell over head).
Five reps for five rounds increasing weight!
Finally the Workout of the Day (WOD)
Rowing Helen
500 meter row
21 kettle ball swings
12 pull-ups (I had a band assist)
THREE ROUNDS FOR TIME!
Literally the hardest workout of my life, I can't lift my arms three hours later!
Until next time.

Food prepping: PROTEIN!!!

The best way to be successful is to prep meals ahead of time. The less time to stress over what I'm eating the better. I tend to get hungry in the middle of the day around noon, and have found that protein staves off hunger.
Wild-caught Salmon with cage free boiled eggs. I'll take to work and dump over a huge salad. Nom nom!
Ahi tuna filets as well.
Dinner tonight:
Grass-fed filet, steamed broccoli and mashed cauliflower.

Crossfit Beastmode

I am putting it all out there...no holds bard...I am doing this for me...

OMG, TALK ABOUT MOTIVATION. I look at these before and  think I look old and out of shape. I look like someone who has just had surgery and sat on their butt for 6 weeks. I look flabby and not athletic. I don't look like me. I definitely look like I need a change. These pictures are not of a body ready for the beach. I am sick of all the excuses, and starting tomorrow I will be taking Crossfit classes.  Crossfit scares and excites me all at the same time. Olympic weight-lifting? Gymnastics? Rope climbs, muscle-ups, 24" inch box jumps, dead-lifts, clean and jerk, pull-ups? Holy cow what am I getting myself into? Well, at the start of 2013 my goal was to be able to do some pull-ups by June. That gives me 6 months to kick it into high gear and gain some core and upper body strength. Nick and I are going to the Bahamas the last week of March and I want to look amazing. So, this gives me 12 weeks to tone-up, trim down, and gain so serious muscle. I look at these "before" pictures and cringe. Vomit.

Day one starts tomorrow...I am planning to keep this blog updated as often as humanly possible with my work-outs, my cardio work-outs, and of course what I eat. I am doing this for me. I want to track my progress to remain motivated and I want to see the before and after. I went to Crossfit to sign-up and had to do a physical assessment for time. 500 meter row, 40 air-squats, 30 sit-ups, 20 push-ups and ten pull-ups. I wasn't able to do an actual pull-up, so instead I had a box under me and i jumped-up and held. Two days later, I could barely walk...my quads were destroyed from the air squats. Apparently, I need to be doing more squats...and I have a feeling I will be doing many, many, many squats in my future. Follow my journey to a stronger, fitter, happier, healthier and BETTER me.

My current measurements:

Weight: 160 lbs (double vomit)

Bust: 38 1/2

Waist: 33

Hips: 35 1/2

Thigh:22 1/2

Arm: 12"