Bathroom Breaks....

I am no stranger to nervous poo. Nervous Tummy. What ever you want to call it. If you have run a race with me you have spent time waiting by the porta pottys or even peoples homes. Yep. Twice I have stopped and asked strangers if I could use their bathroom. No one has time to hold that in.

I also get a huge case of nervous poo when big events come up. Meetings at work with difficult parents. Gets me every time. I'm getting better at calming my nerves, but it still happens.

The morning of the Crossfit Total (Press, Squat, Deadlift) I thought I was going to live in the bathroom. I survived and did not shit my pants (whew!). Saturday I'm doing a Crossfit Competition called Superfit. It's with a partner and friends will be there, so it's not too bad, right? Nope. Nervous poo already. I honestly can't even tell you what I'm nervous about. Just happens. Once the event starts I'm usually fine. But if you can't find me Saturday, I'll be in the bathroom.

Yesterday we did a work out that actually made me feel a lot more ready for Superfit.

The WOD: 5 rounds of 5 deadlifts and 10 burpees

In February we did this workout - good thing I write down EVERYTHING. I deadlifted 153# and completed the workout in 6:30. Yesterday I deadlifted 185# (!) and finished in 5:57. I refused to look at the clock during the workout because I thought I was going to much slower.....suprise surprise! I was really really happy that I increased the weight and decreased my time. Makes me realize I'm stronger and faster - which makes me feel better about Superfit.

I also got new shoes for deadlifts and squats. Behold, the awesomeness of chucks:

Cute, right? Guaranteed to get you faster times and more weight. Also, got my hair highlighted. Back to blonde. I didn't realize how much I missed it until it was back. Clearly that also helps in the gym.

Wish me luck Saturday. My first Crossfit Competition. As long as I survive I will write it all up next week. Hopefully chock full of pictures.

Drop it like a squat

This month at CFA the focus is on squats and sprints. I really like one and the other one makes me want to die. It's good for you to work on things you like and things you don't...makes you a better person....right?

Squats. Specifically back squats. Good for your butt, good for your strength, good for your soul.




I have a goal for my back squat, but only since we did the Crossfit Total at the end of August. I was able to squat 185#, went for 200# and failed. Challenge accepted. Then September 1st came around the squats was one of the themes for the month. If only people at the gym knew how much I love a theme....they might think I'm even weirder. I don't just love a theme I completely obsess over it and do all the research I can on it. Luckily one of my BFF's is the same way. I can always count on her to come in costume and totally play the part. My 30th birthday was a white trash bash, my 31st was John Hughes (duh, I was Sloan from Ferris Beuler)......you get the idea. Themes. Love em. 

So, squats. We are doing a 1 rep max everyday. It took me a few days to get a good formula of increasing weight and before I knew it, after 10 days 200# was in sight. I do get really nervous when I start the squat sequence, but the girls I lift with and the coaches make me feel more relaxed. Last night I decided I was going for 200# after hitting 190# on Tuesday. I had butterflies. I had two friends spot me. I took a deep breath, and dropped.  Then I came back up. It. was. awesome! I did have to sit down - little shaky. I also got a little teary. This is what I love about Crossfit. Hitting goals, people cheering and encouraging you, and also getting to see other people hit their goals. It's great. It makes me want to do more. Lift more. Sprint....nope. Not sprint more. :) Maybe once the weather cools off. But lets face it. I'm not that fast. Sprinting is hard work. I will continue to work on it, but bleh. That's how I feel about that.

My mom was cute. I told her I hit my goal of 200# and she said "so you are done?". Nope. Not even close. After 33 years of knowing me you'd think she would understand the level of addiction I have....maybe she doesn't know about the theme yet?




I'm going to keep squatting. I'm also going to keep doing the 1 million other things that I'm not great at. Busy woman here.

I've started changing the way I'm eating this week too. The theme? Fat, Protein, LOW carb. So far I feel better, have more energy, and have lost a few pounds.

Never Have I Ever.....

Been a quitter.

Once I start something I finish it. My mom taught me that. I went through years of asking to do things, join groups and teams to be told "You will finish the season. If you don't like it, then you don't sign back up next year." Done. No negotiating. It was the worst for piano. Ugh. Practicing was torture. I still give my moms piano the stink eye when I see it.

Last night was the first time I felt like quitting during a WOD. It was hard. I was tired. Deadly combination. Hard+Tired = Frustrated. Then I felt the tears coming. Worse than quitting? Ugly cry. Hands down.

The WOD was 15, 10, 5: hang power snatches (65#), high box jumps (24"), and pull ups. My plan was simple. Do 65#, jump 24", and do kipping pull ups. Simple.

NOPE.

I couldn't get my body to move right for the snatch. I got three then failed. The failed again. Then stood there a minute (clock ticking). My husband came over, switched out my weight. Now I'm snatching 53#. I finish the 15 reps and move to the box jumps. No problems there. On to the pull ups. I got three kipping pull ups and just could not get my body up to the bar. Pulled out a band and finished.

Round two. Back to snatches. I hate those things. My form is not good (yet) and I get really frustrated that I can't do them well. I get them up, but it's really really hard. I finish the whole workout - but had to "ask" my husband to leave my line of view. The first round of snatches brought on some tears. I blinked them back - but seeing Sam can sometimes bring on the ugliest of ugly cries.

After the workout I was still upset. I held it together, but frustration mixed with tiredness can be tough. I got in the car, had a quick pity party, had a few friends tell me "it's not always your day", and got over it. Don't get me wrong. I still hate snatches. Snatches and cleans. I need to work on them (more than I do).

So what now? I go back. One workout does not define you. One failure does not define you. I go back because I love it. I go back because I like the challenge. I go back because I'm competitive. I go back because my mom taught me too.

The WOD tonight? Heavy power cleans. Of course it is.