Why I CrossFit

I know that there are a multitude of articles out there about why CrossFit is bad. And why people hate it. And I've read quite a few of them. And they all make my blood pressure rise.

And the truth is that those of you reading this are my family and friends who already know why I CrossFit or how I feel about it, but I just had to write it down.

In the beginning, I did CrossFit because a friend from college was posting about it on Facebook and it sounded awesome.

Then Banana bought a 12-class punch card at the local gym, but before she could use it, Bunner got a new job and they moved to the other side of town. And in a manner totally unlike any fitness institution I have ever visited, they let her transfer those classes to me.

That was over three years ago. 

Since the moment I walked into the gym for my first WOD - Run 400m, Row 500m, Run 400m, Row 500m - I have been encouraged by the coaches at the gym. 

I CrossFit because on the days when a skill is failing me, my classmates rally around me and offer me tips to get better.

I CrossFit because on the days when I hit a PR, everyone cheers for me.

For the first time in my fitness life, I can see the changes in my body. I can feel the strength that I am gaining. I can record my victories.

I CrossFit because the community is amazing. Because when I am out of town and get the courage to go to another gym (even though I wouldn't consider myself a "cross fitter" because of my weaknesses), the coaches and patrons of those gyms cheer for me just as loudly as my own coaches and classmates.

I have worked with a number of trainers, some of whom are still my friends, but I have never worked with people like my CrossFit coaches who try to understand me as an individual and work with me to use my strengths and weaknesses to achieve my goals.

I CrossFit because I love it. I wake up at 4:15 four mornings a week (even on my day off) because I have never finished a lift or a WOD and thought, I wish I would have stayed in bed instead of doing that.

And for me, the love of the game is one of the most important things. Because when I'm feeling down because I think I should be smaller or stronger or more gymnasty, if I didn't love it, I would quit. 

I know that CrossFit isn't for everyone - that doesn't stop me from trying to get them to give it a shot. I would love it if my entire family went to CrossFit with me, but that isn't realistic nor is it my reality.

I CrossFit because I know that I am building a body that I can be proud of. I know that I am living healthier than I have ever lived before. And I know that I have a gym and a worldwide community full of people who get that.

I CrossFit because I can.

Let's Get Physical...Therapy

As you know, I CrossFit.

You know this because: 

So, way back in 2005 or something, I was in a golf cart accident with BFL in which we flipped a golf cart over on its side and my right ankle ended up under the bar. 

It was an altogether bad situation in which my foot/ankle looked like this at the end of the night. 

It actually got worse than that, but I quit taking pictures. I had a number of x-rays done, but there were no breaks or features and it eventually healed. (Though you can still kind of see the scar from where the bar burnt me.)

So, since then I've had a few problems with my ankle. Nothing serious, just knew it was there if you know what I mean.

There are certain movements in CrossFit that are worse than others and my pistols are pretty bad because of a lack of flexibility of that ankle.

Additionally, in the last three months or so, I've kind of had a nagging pain in my right hip/lower back area. 

So, I decided to break down and see someone about it.

That someone happened to be the hot coach at the gym. Who also happens to be a doctor of physical therapy.

I didn't think anything was seriously wrong, but I was hoping he could recommend a few stretches and we could work out a program that will get me back in top form. 

So flash forward to last week. I show up at the gym for my session and meet up with the coach. (Did I mention he's hot?!?!)

I know him well enough that I'm not uncomfortable talking to him, but I also don't mind it when he takes his shirt off.

He's also like 8 years younger than me, but that is neither here nor there.

We get the session started with a short assessment. I explain to him the issues, he has me do a couple of exercises. He asks me to walk away from him and then walk back towards him.

I do that. When I get back to him he says, "How are you with running?" I ask, "Like as far as pain?" He says, "Yes. I know you're a very good runner." I melt into a puddle on the floor. (I just love it when people compliment my semi-athletic abilities.)

(In other news one of the guys at the gym told me this morning that I'm very impressive with power and agility movements. I open-mouth kissed him. Just kidding. But I did blush.)

So, then we go back to his "office" where he asks me to lay on the table, face up. I follow his instructions, and as is customary for me when I lay down, I close my eyes. He messes with my ankles, stretches out my legs, moves around a little, no big deal.

Then, without any warning whatsoever, he moves up to basically push on the edges of my pelvis.

Now I want you to stop right here and take a minute to familiarize yourself with where exactly that is on your own body. 

Now I want you to think about the last time someone touched you there without warning.

Now I want you to imagine he looks like this:

So, I made it through that. He had me get off of the table and do a couple more exercises. Then he told me to get back on the table, laying on my stomach, with my toes hanging off the edge of the table.

Fine. I can manage this.

He starts again stretching out my ankles. Then he is feeling my calf muscles. Things are going great.

Then he moves up to my spine and kind of massages up to the middle of my back and then pops my back. Nice.

Then...he touched the butt.

Seriously, all I could think about was that line on Nemo when he touches the boat and the little baby octopus says, "He touched the butt, he touched the butt."

At this point, I don't even know what is happening. He kind of rolls the top of my pants down and I assume he is going to massage my lower back/hip area. 

Then he asks, "Are you on any medication? Blood thinners or clotting meds?"

Uh, no.

"How's your blood pressure?"

Normally? Or right now after you touched my butt?

Then we moved into a dry-needling session, which was mostly awesome, and then there was a soft tissue massage on my calf muscles.

I told one of the girls that goes to 5 am with me that I almost felt like I needed to pay extra.

No Easy Way

Before we get into today's post - please tell me that you all watch New Girl on Fox! Seriously, if you don't, stop reading and go rent any of the seasons that are available, stream this season on your Netflix or Hulu, do whatever you have to do to watch this show!

In my humble opinion, it is the best show on television. I was literally in tears watching last night's episode. Honest. I freaking love it!

Now back to the topic at hand...

Yesterday one of the women I work with popped her head into my office and said, "Wow, girl! You are losing a ton of weight - you look great! You have to tell me your secret!" 

I said, "No secret. Just working out and watching what I eat."

For the record, I hate the term, "watching what I eat." It's stupid.

Do you know what else I hate? When people say, "are you allowed to eat that?"

I'm allowed to eat whatever I want. I am a grown ass woman. I make the choices that I want to make.

I can eat whatever I want as long as I am prepared to deal with the consequences of those decisions. 

Sometimes I make bad decisions. Sometimes I make questionable decisions. For the most part, I'd like to think that I make good decisions and that is what counts.

My goal is to CrossFit four times a week. Does it always happen? No. But I don't beat myself up about it when I don't make it. I just take it one day at a time.

It kills a little part of my soul every time I hear a commercial about a new product that is going to help you lose weight fast. 

You guys, that may work for the time that you are taking it, but it is highly unlikely that you will be able to take it forever.

The 500 calorie/day diet? Yeah, I bet you're going to lose a shit ton of weight. But you can't live like that.

There is only one way to lose weight and be healthy - diet and exercise. And not diet in the term you think of. Diet in the sense of what you eat. Change your life and your habits.

Start by changing one meal a day. Once that becomes second nature, throw in another meal.

It's not easy. I'll never tell you it is.

But I will tell you that it is worth it!

It's Not My Fault

Two of the coaches at our gym have this little game they play. There are large cut-outs of each of them that are near the whiteboard and they will put word bubbles up randomly with "conversations" that they think are funny.

The other day, one of the coaches was saying, "It's not my fault if you don't hate yourself enough to change."

I laughed a little to myself. 

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Recently I read the following quote from Emma Stone. When asked about beauty she responded: 

Confidence is the only key. I know a lot of people who aren't traditionally 'beautiful' - not symmetrical or perfect-bodied or perfect-skinned. But none of that matters because all that shines through is their confidence, humor and comfort with themselves. I can't think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.

If I didn't love Emma Stone before I read that, I would certainly love her after. (But really, who could not love her after Easy A? That shit was brilliant!)

In the past two months I have had a number of conversations with people in which they tell me that I am intimidating to others (both men and women.)

Apparently it is my confidence that other people find intimidating. To which I respond, I'm not arrogant. It's not like I'm walking into a room and telling people that I'm better than they are. I walk into a room with an "I'm awesome" attitude. I'm not saying that you aren't awesome, please feel free to exhibit your awesomeness and I will celebrate it with you.

I am unwilling to change from that perspective.

Certainly if I was walking around all sad and lamenting all of the things I disliked about myself, no one would want to be my friend. So why is it bad to be the other way?

Plus, now Emma Stone thinks I'm beautiful. That freaking rocks!

In Hindsight, I May Have Overcommitted Myself

I feel like overcommitment is the story of my life. Seriously, I start every week thinking, I'm going to get so much done this weekend. Then things start creeping up.

At the end of a busy weekend, I rarely regret the events I go to or the friends I hang out with, but when it comes to be Sunday evening and I have no food prepared for the week, I start hyperventilating.

Okay, that may be a little dramatic.

 Either way, this weekend, though crazy busy, was excellent!

Something you  may not know about me is that I don't like to do things unless I know that I am going to be the best at them.

I know, it sounds irrational because VERY rarely is anyone the best at something the first time that they try it, but it is my irrational.

I think CrossFit has been good for me in this respect. Almost never am I the best at anything at CrossFit (except maybe lifting), and very often, I am the worst at things. But I keep going back and learning and improving and building and growing.

(Sidenote: did you see the Friends episode when Joey is going to marry Chandler and Monica and he keeps talking about giving and receiving? That is totally what I just thought about when I was typing that.)

So, last weekend I took a golf lesson that we "won" by coming in last at a charity tournament, and the instructor told me, "You have a great swing - you just need to play more."

Randomly, on Monday, Trainer texted that he still wanted to play golf with me again, so I took him up on it, and we made a tee time for Sunday morning.

On Tuesday, he texted that he had a friend he wanted to invite - a guy who works for PING. It is safe to say that I freaked out a little.

I mean, a guy who works for PING is probably a really good golfer, right? And me? I'm not.

I verbalized this to Trainer - he told me I was crazy - I didn't deny it - we went golfing anyway - PING joined us - I had a freaking blast!

I may need you all to remind me of that the next time I shy away from doing something because I'm afraid of failure. 

Ringing In the Year of Fitness

Remember back on my birthday, when I stated that this would be the year of fitness for me? And that I was signing up for a triathlon?

Well, I had to postpone the triathlon, though I haven't ruled one out in the beginning of November - does anyone have a bike I can borrow?

Either way, it was shaping up to not be the year of fitness for me.

And then, little things kept happening. I kept reading articles about people setting goals and reaching them. Or seeing examples of life being too short. Or watching videos of my favorite CrossFit athletes talking about pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Then, one of the guys at the gym told me about a competition that he had signed up for in November. There is a scaled category. I went back and forth, and finally decided that at some point, I was going to have to push myself outside of my comfort zone. And now seemed like that time.

Well, Nov. 16. The Saturday after I come back from a week of vacation.

Clearly, I've taken leave of my senses.

In an effort to not make a total ass of myself, I have stepped it up a little at the gym. I'm going in on Wednesday evenings for extra help with rope climbs, and to work on some other weaknesses (like rowing and pull-ups). 

Traditionally, on Tuesdays, we work on gymnastics skills and then do a WOD with either rowing or running - sometimes both. This past Tuesday, we were supposed to work on muscle ups, atlas stones, and max height box jumps - rotating through the stations as we progressed.

I am HORRIBLE on the rings. Literally, the only thing I can do on them is hang. People are getting upside down and doing dips and all kinds of crazy, and I'm like, "la, la, la, I'm a monkey..."

So, the coach had me working on the short rings, and just doing static holds with a band. I do that and he says, "That's too easy. Try a dip." So I go down in a dip and as I'm pressing back up out of it, my muscles start to fail. Rather than step out of the band and onto the floor, I just start falling. Nearly face planting on the floor of the gym. 

I honestly have no idea, how I managed to land without hurting myself, but I did. And I looked up at the coach and he said, "Are you ok?" I answered that I was, in fact, fine. And he said, "Next time, when you are approaching that redline - go ahead and just step out of the band."

Advice he probably never thought he'd have to give.

Writing and CrossFit

The other day I was reading some Q&A from one of my favorite bloggers and authors. Someone asked her what the best way to become a writer is. She answered, "write for yourself." Among other things.

But most importantly she said, "write for yourself." Don't worry about what other people want to read. Don't worry about whether or not they will be entertained by your writing. Write what you feel.

One of the girls I work with was telling me that I should write a book. I was complaining that I didn't know how to start or where to go with it.

She said that she always hears that writers just sit down and write what is in their head and worry about organizing and refining later.

Perhaps I'll try that.

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I was going to go a different direction with the second part of this blog, but I just got a text message from a girl that I CrossFit with and it changed my line of thinking.

I believe that I have told you before about people who tell me things that they "never tell anyone." 

Another phenomenon is that people want to hang out with me. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes I don't understand it.

When I moved up to the CrossFit class, there wasn't a 5am class that existed. Three of us who were moving up couldn't do a later class so they started the 5am class. From that point on, people have come and gone, but we have a pretty steady group of regulars that I have grown to know and love so early in the morning.

There are two ladies in particular that I see on a fairly regular basis. A couple of months ago there was a new girl in our class and one of my friends asked what her name was. I said that I didn't know, I have to see you commit to 5am before I can put any early morning effort into meeting you.

She said that she remembered starting 5am and being scared of me. 

Tonight - she texted me, "Don't tell anyone, but I think I may be pregnant."

Wait, what?!?!

I'm the person you tell that you think you are pregnant? How did that happen?

Two weeks ago, the other lady was getting ready to go on vacation to San Diego with her husband, who also comes to 5am class. Earlier in the week she was telling me that she was sad because normally their children go with them to SD, but this year it was just her and her husband. So on the last day of CrossFit before she left, we were walking to our cars together and she said, "Hey - if you have free time next week, come to San Diego and see us. We have space in the house we rented."

I don't even know how to respond to that.

Coming Down

I just made myself a "milkshake" with a frozen banana, a scoop of raw cacao powder, coconut milk, and a tiny bit of ice.

That shit was good.

In other news, I think I'm having withdrawals from the fun that I had at the end of last week/weekend.

The following series of pictures was taken on Friday night. We were heading back to our rooms for the night/early morning when Janiac suggested a cartwheel contest.

Once I start doing cartwheels, I start thinking about CrossFit, so of course handstands are next.

I honestly can not look at that last picture without laughing out loud. 

Right after it was taken, security came around the corner like a ninja and sent us to our rooms.

I thought we were following directions nicely and not creating a scene, just waiting for the elevator, when the security guard called for back-up.

And they arrived within 3o seconds. 

Luckily no one got arrested or shot with a bow and arrow.

Doin' It and Doin' It and Doin' It Loud

In an effort to close my day out basking in the glory that I told my coach I would be basking in all day today...

I strict shoulder pressed 99 pounds 3 times this morning.

BOOM!

Those of you who aren't familiar with weightlifting, may not understand what I'm talking about, so let me try to explain.

Stand with your broom held horizontally in your hands, laying across your collar bone, then without moving any other part of your body, use just your shoulder strength to lift it over your head until your elbows are locked out.

Now imagine your broom weighs 99 pounds.

Yeah, that's right. I'm a badass.

Last night I had a dream that I was in a dress with my hair curled and all done up for something fancy - and for some reason, I was at the gym and I stepped up to a barbell and snatched it.

Should I be concerned? 

The dress I was wearing was ADORABLE, bee tee dub.

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You know what the scary thing about putting yourself out there is?

You're out there. Hanging. Vulnerable to whatever comes.

Do you know what's great about it?

The things you learn by pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Strong is the New Skinny

I know that I've told you all this before, but I love CrossFit!

Every day I read another article from a man or woman whose life was changed by CrossFit, and I fall a little more in love.

Today it was this article.

I love it when I read something that touches me. (That sounds wrong.)

When I learn that someone else out there feels like I feel. 

And even better, when a lot of people out there feel like I feel.

Then I think about what I would write if I was going to write a blog post about how CrossFit has changed my life.

And I think physically, it has changed me.

But more importantly, I think it has changed who I am inside.

When people say, "Strong is the new skinny," I always assumed they were referring to a strong body. And they may be.

But for me, more importantly, is a strong mind.

And in that respect, CrossFit has made me a different person. 

I have never like to show weakness. I have always tried to put up a strong front, never let anyone know when I was hurting. 

I still have weaknesses, but I am learning to be ok with them. Learning that it is ok to be vulnerable every once in a while.

Believe

I saw a guy brushing his teeth while driving on the way to work this morning.

Talk about a logistical nightmare!

Where do you spit?

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In other news, I've started at least three different blog posts in the past week and abandoned every one of them because I felt like they were going nowhere.

Granny B hasn't given up on the liposuction talk. And despite my deep-seeded beliefs about plastic surgery, I find myself thinking, "Maybe I do need lipo? Why not? She's paying for it."

It has really made me think about the things that I say to people and how they come across. Sometimes we say things that we think are innocent, but for someone else it could start a train of thought that hurts.

The thing is, I'm pretty happy with where I am right now.

I would like to lose a little more weight, but I feel good. I'm strong. I can do things at CrossFit that I never thought would be possible.

Just today after the WOD one of the girls who is new to the 5am class, but has been crossfitting for a while came up to me and said, how long did it take you to get to the point that you could overhead squat that much weight so many times in a row? I was watching you and I was amazed.

Until she said that, I didn't think it was that impressive. But the thing is, there was a time when I couldn't do that. And now I can.

I Like It When People Say Nice Things About Me. To Me.

This morning at the gym our lift was a heavy clean complex.

Two hang power cleans.

Two push jerks. (NOT split jerks!)

Two front squats.

Without putting the bar down.

The 5am class has two coaches. I'm not sure why, but I don't mind it at all.

During the lifting portion of the class they walk around watching people lift and making small corrections as they are needed.

This morning one of the girls lifting behind me was having trouble with the push jerk so one of the coaches was over watching her and coaching her.

I set up for my lift, trying to focus on things I've had trouble with in the past. Keeping the bar close on the hang clean, turning my elbows over quickly and keeping them in the rack position during the push jerk and front squat, and driving my knees out during the squat.

I got through the complex, and the coach didn't say anything. I dropped the bar, and the coach didn't say anything. I loosened my wrist wraps and walked away, and the coach didn't say anything. Then I looked over at him and all he said was, "Damn, you're a good lifter."

I couldn't help it - I started beaming.

I told him, "I had to be good at something."

He smiled and said, "Everyone has to have something."

Feels So Good

Last week the girls at the gym and I were talking about how hard it was to get out of bed in the mornings.

We concluded that regardless of what time we go to bed, if the alarm goes off before 5 am, it is just going to suck to be getting out of bed and leaving the house.

Today was no exception.

I often find myself thinking about getting back into bed after I've brushed my teeth. And it is really the knowledge that people at the gym will miss me and Diddy will talk mad shit to me if I don't show up at his house to get ready.

Not that he gets his ass out of bed to go to the gym in the morning, but whatever.

So, when I left the gym at 6 am and I had a text from Janiac saying, "Happy Monday," she was lucky that she was a state away because I'm pretty sure that I would have punched her right in the face had she said it to me in person.

But a couple of hours later, things were looking up. 

And when I was at AJ's getting iced green tea at lunch, a man came up next to me to get a refill on his water. After he stood there for about a minute, he turned to me and said, "Wow, you smell great!"

I was totally shocked. To the point that I couldn't respond. And then he got his water and returned to the table with the people he was eating with.

After that, I couldn't help but smile. So I was going to write you all a blog about how nice it is to give people random compliments. 

Then, this afternoon I took Granny B to Sprouts. A couple of weeks ago she tried to go on her own and apparently ended up at the wrong place because she called both Match and me to tell us that Sprouts was closed. 

So I told her that I would pick her up and take her today.

Things were going well, we had a nice talk on the ride to Sprouts about some random inconsequential things and then we get to Sprouts and as we are walking in she says to me, seriously out of the blue, "When I make some money again I'm going to get you liposuction."

Ummm - huh? There goes all of happiness from my random compliment earlier in the day.

Then, not five minutes later, we walk past the freezer section in Sprouts where she proceeds to buy herself a half gallon of Italian Cream Cake ice cream, two pints of chocolate ice cream, and a quart of lemon gelato. 

They Say It's Your Birthday...

It's my birthday too now!

I'm 32 years old today.

And outside of the lingering pain in my right hip, I feel better than I can ever remember!

(I'm going to see someone about that hip.)

I have decided that this year will be the year of fitness for me.

Kind of like I was born in the year of the Rooster - this year I will live the year of fitness.

For that reason, I started today with a bikram yoga class.

I'm not going to lie to you - I didn't love it. But I didn't outright hate it either.

I am going back tomorrow and hopefully the stretching will help my mobility in CrossFit and I'll see improvements there.

I'll keep you updated.

Then I went to my parents' house and ate a paleo Samoa donut for breakfast...

It was delicious and Match is the best mom EVER for making them for me!

After coming home for a quick shower, I headed back to Match and Papa's house for my birthday party.

When Biggie arrived, he gave me the card that he made me, and made me cry!

Besides the fact that I am the best "ant" ever. It says that "you look beautiful how you are now."

Seriously, I'm not quite sure he could have written anything more wonderful in that card.

All of the gifts and cards that I received were wonderful, but that card and the one behind it from Tiny are two that I will cherish forever!

"You Don't Have to Find Out You're Dying to Start Living"

There is a good chance that you already saw that video on Facebook. I think that every person I know posted it today.

Luckily for me, I waited until I returned home from work to watch it, because I cried like a baby watching it.

When his little sister was talking, I lost it.

I loved it at the beginning when he said, "I want everyone to know that you don't have to find out you're dying to start living."

Again, something that seems so simple, and we need reminding.

I need reminding.

And I need help.

Because as simple as it is, it is also very difficult.

So when I finished watching, I stopped talking and started doing.

I signed up for a sprint triathlon and looked up a training program.

On Sunday, September 22, I will be on Fiesta Island in San Diego, swimming, biking, and running.

And possibly passing out.

But definitely finishing.

And absolutely living.

Training will officially begin on June 3.

In the meantime, I need to find a pool to swim in. And a bike to ride.

And my sanity.

Color Me Impressive

CrossFit Regionals officially began this past Friday. Strangely enough, the Southern California regionals were held at the Del Mar Fairground, and I was not too far away from there for a short little vacation.

I actually thought about cruising down to the fairgrounds just to walk around to the booths outside the venue to pick up some Paleo treats, but alas, I did not.

Yes, I do realize I am crazy.

So anyway, regionals means that for the next couple of weekends I will spend more time than usual in front of my computer watching a live feed of athletes doing things that I only wish I could do.

Case in point:

I dream about climbing a rope like Lindsey Valenzuela.

Either way, watching these athletes makes me realize that there are about a million things that I can't do in the CrossFit world.

As if he read my  mind, this morning, during our warm-up my coach made me feel a lot better about myself.

We were warming up our shoulders for overhead squats with handstand holds and strict handstand push-ups to whatever depth we could do.

Mine are pretty shallow, but I can get a little bend in my elbows.

When everyone was standing back up after the warm-up, the coach said, "You may not be the best at those. You may not be Rich Froning or Annie Thorisdottir, but 99% of the people in the world would be very impressed by what you just did there."

I know I talk a lot about remembering where I started, but it is too easy to lose sight of that. 

Not just in CrossFit, but in everything we put any effort into, we need to remember that progress is progress. Sometimes baby steps are the best steps we can take.

What I Need

'Twas the night before CrossFit and dark in the house,

But what was that sound, it squeaked like a mouse.

The alarm was set for the crack of dawn with care,

Class starts at 5am, and I have to be there.

So I was nestled all snug in my bed,

When the fire alarm battery alerted "I'm dead."

I tried to ignore it and continue my nap,

But that damn chirping sound just wouldn't stop.

Out of bed, I reluctantly clatter,

And head to the garage, I now need the ladder.

Back to the bedroom I return with a crash,

To change the battery in this piece of trash.

Task complete, it's back to bed I go,

But sleep would elude me, wouldn't you know.

All of the sudden my answer appeared,

I need a battery that lasts for ten years.

You Gotta Have Faith. Faith. Faith.

I know that this is going to be hard for some of you to believe, because I appear so cool via my writing; but I can be a little cheesy.

Like, deep-down, at the core of my soul, I'm a total sentimental, cheese ball!

Now, I can play tough and intimidating (apparently a little too well), but the truth is, I'm a total sap.

I love cheesy quotes. And cheering for the underdog. And everything else that you would associate with being a total nerd.

So, yesterday at the end of rowing an all-out 2K, our coach told us, "tomorrow is going to be brutal. Come prepared for hard work."

When I looked up the WOD last night, this is what I found:

The workout was designed to honor the seven CIA officers killed in Afghanistan in December 2009. (I swear I've shared this story with you before...).

Either way - it is brutal!

I believe this is the second time I've done the workout, but I didn't previously record my time because back in those days I didn't know how. I'm so much wiser now.

Sometimes it is hard to understand the progress that I am making in CrossFit because it comes so slow. And because I do it nearly every day little victories, are just that - little. 

Before the clock started on The Seven, my coach said that there would be a 50 minute time cap. Then, 3...2...1...go!

I completed a modified version of the above workout in 40:19. The burpees, which would have normally been my undoing, were seemingly easy. I did the thrusters with 77 lbs - the last time I did this workout, I am fairly certain I couldn't have put 77 lbs overhead for more than one round. I am actually fairly certain that I tried and failed.

We talk a lot at the gym about mental blocks that don't allow us to do certain things at the gym. Especially lift weight - when we step up to a bar thinking that it is too heavy, it is likely that we won't get it lifted.

When we started this workout, I believed in my heart that I would finish under the cap, and I did.

I need to remember to have a little more faith in myself most days. I'm pretty awesome!