Monday

I must reiterate the fact that I love doing CrossFit at the 7:30am class. It was just me and two others girls and I like the personal aspect of a smaller group, plus there's more attention given to each person.

The WOD today wasn't terribly difficult.  We did (I think) 8 rounds of 20 second tabata jumps with the big tire, with 10 second rests in between.  After that we did overhead squats (I LOVE squats) and gradually built up to a PR. Today was a benchmark day (they do it at the end of each month) to see how far you've come throughout the month. Since I started CrossFit halfway through the month I didn't have one, but either way I had a PR of 80# for overhead squat!

Totally want to buy these socks. It will prevent bruises from deadlifts!

Nothing quite like a..

There's nothing quite like a cold chocolate soy protein shake after a 6 mile run along the lakefront followed by an intense CrossFit workout.

I am totally going to sign up for a 10k!

You are always stronger than you seem!

Short and sweet

Happy Friday!

Not much to say...just posting a picture from yesterday's WOD. This was part of the workout where we did the Farmer's carry with 35# ketelbells. KILLS your forearms!  Notice my painful grimace.

Few things...

Hi readers...or reader...or just myself,

A few things for today:

1. I like going to the 7:30AM WOD. The 6AM was pretty packed last week, because I believe people go to that one to get their workout in before work. Now at 7:30 it was just myself and two other people. This is probably because most people probably start work at 8 or 9 and the 7:30 class would be cutting it close.  Ok, so maybe I overthink things.

2. I have a strong desire to participate in a powerlifting meet. Maybe not soon, or maybe not even in 2012, but it is going to happen. Similarly, I'd like to do a Figure competition.

3. I have wanted to do a mission trip for the longest time. I really need to make this happen.

4. I also want to meet Jodi Picoult.

WOD was moderately difficult today. Power cleans (had too much weight on the bar, did 3 in 2 minutes *shakes head*), Farmers carry with 35# kettelbell (did 240 meters in 2 minutes), push ups (38 in 2 minutes!), and jump rope double unders (I did 3 double unders and about 50 singles)

Tonight I am working out with Chris...he's known about my powerlifting dream and is helping me with the lifts (squat, bench press, deadlift).

WOD #2

Today was my second workout for CrossFit. We focused on overhead presses and pull ups today (to prepare for the WOD).

The WOD consisted of 4 stations
1. tire flips
2.100 m sprints 
3. prowler push and
4. rope climb.

4 minutes each, AMRAP!

The prowler push was probably the hardest. I was sweating bullets after that. I would have climbed the rope more times if I can just figure out the foot work...

I'm a really slow learner.

I don't know if that's correct, of if I just lack common sense or the ability to see the big picture. I feel like I complicate things when they are taught to me, and then I look stupid.

Anyways, here's a picture from my first official workout last Friday. That's me in the pink squating down, and  my sister Melissa in the green shorts is to the right.

Soy protein.

I've been thinking about incorporating protein shakes into my diet. Now I know I can't do whey protein so I think I am going to try soy protein. I just feel like I need more protein in my life.

Sweat.

Today was the last on-ramp class and it was a doozy.  Normally they are 6 sessions but because it was just me and one other guy we breezed through it pretty quickly.  Today we worked with Nina and did the snatch lift. This lift, along with the clean lifts, will take some practice. We also did ketelbell snatches and worked on the row machine. I felt like Noah in the Notebook.

We ended today with Nina asking us what lifts we liked throughout on-ramp and said she would create our last workout using those preferences. I said I liked the deadlifts, the other guy Aaron said he liked the power cleans (How DARE he! LEAST favorite lift). SO, we did 3 reps of 10 deadlifts, 10 power cleans and 250 meter rows.

I've never sweat so much in my life. Even more than spin class. Then I rollerbladed about 4.5 miles. Going to be sore tomorrow!

Whey allergy? Or Lactose intolerant?

So..side note. Been trying to figure out what is going on with my body.

So I know I can't do protein bars, shakes, or powders. I immediately feel a tingling/itching in my throat. One time, I ate half a protein bar of Chris's and spent an hour in pain, nursing the intense chest-tightness that ensued.  I figured it was probably a whey protein allergy.

So, then I decided to dig a little deeper. As a kid, I LOVED mac and cheese and ate it quite frequently. Every time I did this, though, I experienced a discomfort in my chest, what I used to call "heart burn". I used to think it was because I devoured that mac and cheese so fast, but now it's starting to all seem so clear. I get discomfort from most milk products. I love icecream, cheese and most other dairy, but it makes me feel funny and generally gives me the shits (sorry).

Now...the internet tells me that an allergy is different than intolerance.  An allergy attacks your immune system and could potentially be deadly, while an intolerance makes digestion difficult and uncomfortable. 

So what I'm thinking is that I have an allergy to whey, but an intolerance to milk products (except yogurt, I love yogurt, thanks to the pro biotic cultures)

I found this: "Whey protein is found in lactose-based dairy products, such as cow’s or goat’s milk, cheese, sour cream, ice cream, and yogurt. Whey products are often high in lactose, and most products with whey will cause considerable discomfort for the typical person suffering from lactose intolerance." source

So starting today, I am going to eliminate milk products.

Another day in the box...

Yesterday was the 4th day of CrossFit on ramp.  We focused on the Olympic Power clean lift, which was really not my thing. I'm sure with practice it will come, but it wasn't my favorite. After that we did some ketelbell swings and turkish get-ups.

We ended with 2 reps of 8 power cleans, 8 ketelbell swings and 8 box jumps. Then a 400 meter run. My quads were feeling it. I was dying!

Yikes. It will only get worse from here!

Here I am!

Hey, I made it on the CrossFit website!

Front squat.

Pistols!

Squats!

Second day of CrossFit training in the books!

We focused on squats, some box jumps and knee-to-elbow pull ups.  There were 4 different squats we were taught. Who knew there were 4?  Since the weather is finally bearable and not ungodly humid anymore, we got to do the squats outside with the pipes for practice.  Then we went inside and used the heavier barbells.  I didn't put any weight on just yet so I just squated the bar, which is still 30lbs.  I like squats so I did pretty well at this, but still learned better and proper form.

After this we were taught pistols, which of course are one-legged squats.  Frank was impressed that I was able to do this!  My partner Aaron was also decent at them.  Frank said it was the first on-ramp group that was good at them.  He got pictures so check their website soon!  We also practiced jumps with the wooden boxes.

After this we practiced elbow-to-knee pullups and toe-to-bar pull ups, using the kipping style.

The last 5 minutes we did our workout, which was 8 front squats, 8 boxes jumps, 4 pistols, 8 knee-to-toe pull-ups, AMRAP (as many reps as possible).

A 5 minute workout and I was beat!

Can't wait til Friday...we're going to practice dead lifts!.

CrossFit!

Hi there everyone! Can't believe it's July already!

Time for a new hobby. This one I attribute to my oldest sister, Melissa.  My new hobby is CrossFit!  I am beyond excited to start this new chapter in my life.  My current workouts have been mediocre at best and I was looking for something to really kick it up a notch.  My sister said I would do awesome with CrossFit, so she helped me sign up.  To find out more what CrossFit is click here! since it is kind of hard to explain.

Every so often they have on ramp classes, which basically teach you the proper technique for the movements and other important information about CrossFit.  There are 6 classes and today I had the first one.  It was just me and one other guy, and Frank, the gym owner, so it was basically a personal training session.  It was about an hour and we worked a lot on shoulders. We were taught a few lifts, did pushups, sit ups and practiced kip pullups.  I was all about the pullups because I love doing them and want to build up strength to do more.

After that, we did the WOD (workout of the day), which, for us, was 7 push presses, 7 sit ups, 7 pushups, repeat 3x.  We were timed and will work on improving that time. I did it in 4:11.

I took before pictures of my bod today so that I can see my progress along the way.  Perhaps I will post them, although I want to avoid the "Oh Amanda you're already in shape" comments!

Anyway, I can't wait for the next session on Wednesday! We're going to work on squats...another favorite of mine :)

-Amanda