Brightly Colored Salamanders

Mt hands hurt...still.

On Sunday, I completed the Crossfit Games workout 14.4. The workout was a 14 minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) 60 calorie row, 50 toes-to-bar, 40 wallballs, 30 cleans, 20 muscle-ups. I had mixed emotions after I'd heard the announcement of this on Thursday because I'd never done a toes-to-bar movement and I didn't think that I would get past the 60 calorie row. I'd even gone to the box by my work on Friday to practice the toes-to-bar and wasn't able to get my feet up to the bar. I was so disappointed. And scared. I haven't been scared like this since I first "graduated" from the onramp program and was thrust into the real world of Crossfit.

So Sunday morning, I hemmed and hawed to Josh as I was drinking my protein shake, telling him that I was scared and anxious and that I didn't want to go. He kept encouraging me though, as he's been doing this entire time, telling me that he believes in me and knows that I will do fine. Such a good cheerleader, isn't he? I got to the box just as the previous workout was ending and I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Why was I so nervous?? One of the other girls that I'm friendly with did her first attempt at 14.4 on Friday so she shared her toes-to-bar tip with me. Following her advice, I jumped up on the bar, big kip back, threw my legs back, body leaning back, huge kip forward, big kick up, and HOLY CRAP, MY TOES JUST TOUCHED THE BAR! I added excitement and accomplishment to my bag of mixed emotions.

There was still time left before the Open workouts started so I stretched. I went for a warm-up jog. Stretched again. Paced. Stretched again. Paced some more. Looked at the door to see if I could escape unnoticed... Then it was time to start. Crap. I missed my opportunity. I set up my rower. Find the bar that I'm going to attempt to do toes-to-bar on. Set up my wallball space. And after being chastised for not thinking I'll get there, set up my barbell for the cleans. It's my turn now...3..2..1..GO! I pull as hard as I can at that rower because I don't want a whole lot of time eaten up by rowing. I hate rowing, by the way. I'd actually rather run than row. For a lot of people, it's the opposite. The 60 calories racks up fairly quickly and I'm off the rower in about four minutes. I'm more confident now, knowing that I completed that one toes-to-bar, but still uneasy about it. I have about 10 minutes left for the workout and an awesome cheering section for me. The guy that judged me gave me a piece of advice before I jumped on the bar: "small numbers get big results." Basically, focus on doing one at a time and you won't die. So I jumped up, did the same movements as before, and busted out 24 toes-to-bar. I was so happy!

No, I didn't get to the wallballs or cleans but I'd accomplished a HUGE milestone: walking in that day, I'd never done a toes-to-bar and at that moment, I had just completed a total of 25.

I've honestly amazed myself while participating in the Crossfit Open. It's made me push myself to perform at a level that exceeds, or exceeded, the one at which I had been previously. I say that my goal for this is to not come in last at my box but I need to get that out of my head. I need to do the best that I can do for ME. I can't compare myself to the girls that can to 50 pullups or the ones that can snatch 100 pounds. I'm not there...yet...and THAT is what I need to focus on. I've accomplished so much more than I ever thought possible in the seven months that I've been doing this. I've gotten stronger. Can run faster and longer. My diet has improved. I'm more confident. And, I'm going to say it, sex is better. When I started Crossfit, I had no idea how it would change my life. I've never committed to ANYTHING like I have with this. It's even surprised the hubs! I do have to say that he's been really supportive of it though. He typically takes my crazy ideas in stride but this one seems to have stuck. He tells me all of the time how proud he is of me in the things that I have done and the goals that I have achieved. I like that. And I love him.

Now I just have to get healed and focus on 14.5 - the last Open workout!! - and then the upcoming competition!

200m run
20 Thrusters (65#)
I was EXCITED about this workout because it was totally something that I could do!
Tuesday was also my birthday. 36. I don't feeeeel 36. But really, how should I feel?? I'm definitely not as spry as I once was. I'm more tired now. I get random injuries in my sleep. I definitely can't eat the way and the things that I used to! I remember my dad telling me one time when I was much, much younger, and he's going to kill me for this, that he used to be able to eat KFC and Burger King but that now (at that time), it made him so sick. And come to think of it, he was probably close to the age that I am now when he said that to me. Getting older kinda sucks...

What else has been going on?? Well, we're still treating Legion for his never-ending skin issues. The other two dogs are crazy as ever. I have so many crochet projects going on right now that I don't even want to deal with them and just start a new one. Oh, and the office...the stinking office... I treat it like if I don't acknowledge it, it will just go away. It's not working. The office in our house has become the hoarder room. There's one pathway in there that leads to the computer. Otherwise, you're taking your life in your own hands. It's the room that we'll just put stuff in to get it quickly out of the way but then never go back to it. And it just builds and builds and builds. It's very overwhelming to me at this point and I think because I don't have a clear plan of action on how to attack the mess in there, I'm ignoring it. You know, like if you don't acknowledge that you're pregnant, you're not really pregnant. Right?? Yeeeaah, it's kinda working out the same way: you just end up with big piles of crap to deal with...

Later last year, in an effort to become more healthy, by giving my body the food that it needs to fuel itself properly, and succumbing to the "if you Crossfit, you must eat Paleo" way of thinking, I decided to check it out. I didn't know much at all about this style of eating. This huge push to eat more bacon. And I be honest here: I don't really like bacon. GASP! Once in a great while, I'll find the perfect piece of bacon that is cooked just crispy enough and has the perfect fat/meat ratio that gives it the crunch, without being tough or chewy. The hubs, bless his heart, tries to cook bacon for us perfectly, but he's just never quite hit the mark.

In my Paleo research, I was noticing ingredients like arrowroot powder, coconut oil, almond and coconut flour, and coconut aminos. Who knew the coconut was so versatile??? Sweet potatoes were everywhere. Lean meats were in the majority of the recipes. But none of the typical "carbs" that I'd seen with other diet plans or healthy foods. Rice, white or brown, beans and legumes, corn, and grains had always been acceptable carbs in my mind. Just in moderation, right? And now this caveman diet is telling me that I can't eat them?? More on this in a minute.

One day at work, when I was wasting way too much time on Pinterest, pinning crochet patterns that I'll never start, sewing projects that look fun and easy but that I'll never do because I don't own a sewing machine, decorated cupcakes that I'll never replicate, funny Crossfit memes, and freezer meals that will most likely never get made, I stumbled across a pin that said "10 Signs of Gluten Intolerance." Hmmm, interesting, let me check this out. Having heard about gluten intolerance and allergy from family members, I never thought that I would be affected by it. Turns out, in my self-diagnosis, I had seven out of the ten symptoms. Let me add that I still haven't been to a doctor to be professionally diagnosed because that may mean a blood test and well, we just won't go there... I am a carb LOVER and to cut out the things that brought me so much happiness and comfort was just too hard. Right? RIGHT?? Wrong! Once I cut out the gluten (breads, anything with soy, rice, grains, etc), I started to feel so much better. I had more energy. I wasn't getting as many migraines. The skin on my arms was clearing up. I'm thinking "huh, maybe there's something to this after all".

In January, the hubs and I undertook the Whole30 challenge - which is just Paleo eating, ramped up a notch. The no dairy part was hard for me but not as much as the no caffeine. How can I not have my morning soda?!?! Duh, switch to coffee. But wait, I can't have any sweeteners either?? Quick, check Pinterest for an idea! Whaddya know, there was actually something there. So for my morning pick me up, I started to drink coffee sweetened with coconut milk. More uses for a coconut!

We fell off of the wagon about 15 days in and biiinged on junk food. And then felt horrible for the next few days. Once we got back on track again, we felt so much better and asked ourselves why we even did that.

Now that the challenge has been long over, we're definitely looking more at food labels and what we're stuffing in our faces. Anything that we can't pronouce, doesn't come in the house. For the most part... I can't say that we're suuuuper strict on the Paleo way of eating. That we don't splurge and eat out now and then. That we only buy organic fruits, veggies, and meats. That we don't have diet sodas, candy, and the occasional chemical in our food. We're trying to eat better and for the most part, we are. Just that month on the Whole30 program really opened up our eyes to what we were putting in our bodies, how it was affecting our health and well-being, and how it will affect us in the future.

So back to the carbs: one huge change that the hubs has experienced is his insulin intake. He's been insulin-dependant Type-1 diabetic for over 20 years. By cutting out processed and refined carbs, he was able to significantly decrease his insulin dosage after meals. And I mean sig-nif-i-cantly. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely a feeling out period and there were some scary lows until he got it all sorted out. But ulitimately, he was taking in enough healthy carbs from the gobs of healthy foods he was eating.

This past weekend, I bought food to do a month's worth of Paleo freezer cooking from Once a Month Meals. The plan is to highlight each of the recipes for the month. There will be four servings of three breakfasts, four lunches, and eight dinners. Which actually breaks down to more for me when the hubs isn't home.

Stay tuned for more cooking day info!

I've been absent for a while, yes. No real reason... Well, yes there is: I don't know how many people actually read this. But I know that when I do post, the hubs enjoys it as he's able to have a little bit of home while he's on the road.

I'm going to change up the *feel* of the blog a bit; I want to focus more on food and you guessed it: Crossfit. I need a way to make and keep myself more accountable for what I'm eating and to also use it as a way to track my progress in my workouts. So here we go!!

I had my first momentary lapse in sanity and decided to sign up for the Crossfit Games. I'm nowhere near what I would call "fit," nor am I at any sort of competitor level. I've only been at the box since July of last year so I'm still considered a "newbie." So you may be asking why in the heck I signed up at all!! I did it so I could see how far that I've come since I started Crossfit and to use as a reference point next year. My mom always tells me that she doesn't know how I do it. Mom, you just do.

My second lapse in sanity was when I signed up for a newbie challenge on April 12th in Oroville, CA. THIS one I'm freaking out about. Just a bit. I don't yet know what the workouts will be but it sounds like something that I can actually DO. My goal is not to win (realistic expectations, here...) but just to finish.

So here are my stats right now:
Back Squat: 200#
Snatch: 85# (3/6/14 - up from 75# 12/17/13)
Bench Press: 110# (3/5/14 - up from 100# 12/18/13)
Deadlift: 235# (3/11/14 - up from 200# 12/19/13)
Strict Press: 85#
Front Squat: 140#

Fran: 12/16/13 8:23
Isabel: 12/17/13 4:32 using 65#
Helen: 3/6/14 14:02 using 34# kettlebell, 1 purple and 1 black pull-up band (12/18/13 13:00 using 26# kettlebell, 1 green and 1 black pull-up band)
Diane: 12/19/13 I didn't note my time!!

Link to the Girls can be found here.

And at some point, probably when Josh comes home again, I need to get my measurements up. I'm just going by what the scale is telling me and honestly, getting quite frustrated that the numbers are not moving in the downward direction. Again, accountability.

I had an exciting opportunity recently to test out some new recipes but it's all still under wraps. I'll definitely post about that later!

So I hope that to the ones (one?) reading this, that you enjoy it, maybe get some helpful/healthy/fun/interesting/useless?? information from what I have to say.

Have a great day!