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...