CrossFit Journey, Part 2

My few days turned into weeks before getting back to this post! Yikes! 

So, back to May 2016. I finally had a job where I wasn't working nights, so I could actually join FitKamp at my local Crossfit gym. To say I was terrified is putting it lightly. But I felt that this just might be the one thing that helped me on my journey to being fit. 

My first workout? I was the only one in the class of about 20 people who couldn't finish it. As in, I had to stop, sit down, and try really hard not to pass out and throw up all at once. My heart rate jumped so high, so fast, that I just couldn't cope. I felt like a total loser. This still happens every once in a while, but I pay attention to it, and slow the hell down. It happens most especially on the assault bike, which kicks your cardio into high gear in a very short amount of time. 

But I kept going back, three nights a week for 6 weeks. The food, I really struggled with that. We weren't on a diet--more of paying attention to what we ate, making sure we drank so many ounces of water a day; eating a lot more veggies, lean protein, and good carbs. It's called clean eating, which has many variations, depending on how strict you want to be with yourself. 

Because of Crossfit, I actually eat so many more vegetables that I ever did in my entire life. I hated veggies as a kid--we ate mostly canned or frozen, and I loathed them all. To this day, I don't buy any canned veggies, and very little frozen. I buy fresh because they just taste better. I learned that eating a salad wasn't always the best option, if you loaded your salad with fatty dressings and lots of croutons, cheese, dried fruit, all that stuff. My favorite salad is now pretty simple: arugula, a sprinkle of salt & pepper, and a dash of a flavorful olive oil. 

I made some good strides that first FitKamp-I lost fat and gained muscle. Enough to have me sign up two more times for FitKamp, even though I could have just joined the gym and started on my journey. But my fear kept me in FitKamp longer than it should have, and even my coaches said I was ready to move on into a regular CrossFit class. I was still intimidated, and afraid of failure. I stopped myself and I've learned from that episode that sometimes you just have to take a leap. 

I've been with Crossfit for three years. I usually aim for 3-4 classes a week, and after a year of trying to achieve some of the more ambitious moves: strict pull ups, handstands against the wall, box jumps--well, I've learned to love what I can do, and understand the limits my body has and be okay with that. I don't look at others and compare myself; I remind myself that I'm working out with folks who are anywhere from 10-20 years younger than myself. I'm proud of the gains I've made in strength, but not so proud of my continual struggle with eating right. I still need to lose a good chunk of weight. That weight is the result of years of eating my emotions and making bad food choices when I could have made better food choices. As they say, you can't outrun a bad diet. You can workout all you want, but until you dial in your food and eat healthy, you're missing a huge part of the puzzle. 

One gift Crossfit has given me: courage. Everyday I walk into that gym, I'm still nervous. I don't look at the workout before, so I have to do whatever it is! I've actually done a few competitions which absolutely terrified me so much that I was shaking. But I did them. I'll never be the fittest person around, and that's okay with me. I'm stronger than I've ever been in my life, and I know I can keep adding muscle, which is so vitally important to women as they age. I'm battling hormones, aging, and the fact that I have to work twice as hard to see results I would have seen much quicker if I was 20 years younger. 

I get a lot of satisfaction out of working out early in the morning. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment--I've already done something that day, so no matter what else happens, I feel good about that. Every week it can be hard to get up and get to the gym, but I keep telling myself to take it one day at a time. I look ahead at my week and try to plan out what days I'll workout. If I get to bed too late, or I wake up and I'm just dead tired, I give myself the grace to rest and workout another day. 

So that's my Crossfit journey. I may someday put down the barbell, and move onto something that works for me as I move into my 60's. All I know is for now, this makes me happy.

Summer Sun (Finally!!) And The Workout That Wasn't Meant To Be

We've had 4 days in a row of sunny, warm days and wonderful evenings here in Iowa.  This is a record, since this hasn't happened since last summer.  Plants are growing like crazy and happy to see the sun.  I am happy to see the sun come up at 5:30 in the morning, cause it means I can get up early and run.  There is nothing like running early in the morning, when the air is cool, there's no one around, and the day is new.  It makes you feel like you actually did something with your day even if it ends up taking a nosedive.  And you can relax at night, knowing you worked out super early.  I would like to run at night, but I have horrible night vision and would end up tripping over a curb, running into a parked car, and probably a light pole.  

I was super excited to sign up for a new course at the YMCA called Y360.  It was basically a 3 day a week 45 minute workout using tires, ropes, kettle bells, and my pure muscle strength (insert sarcasm).  It was also at 5:45 in the morning.  It was tough to get up, but once I was up and out the door, it felt good to be up and motivated early.  And it was an excuse to get coffee on the way home.

Except I was the only person who showed up.  THE ONLY PERSON TO SHOW UP AT ALL EVER.  Out of 3 YMCA's in the community, no one else paid and joined the class.  What the hell?

So my teacher, Lynn, worked out with me for those 3 days last week.  We worked outside and she tried to kill me, but I survived.  It was decided that if no one else joined, the course would be cancelled.  And it was.  Crap.

I'm back doing Body Pump and again contemplating doing Cross Fit.  And each week I tell myself I have to run x number of miles, and every week I don't.  Life is getting in the way of my running.  I haven't made it a priority, and I need to do that for my peace of mind, my giggly gut, and my legs that really really need to muscle up.  

What are you doing to stay fit this summer?  Have you tried a new fitness class?  Do you do Cross Fit?  

This is me after 5 minutes of exercise

I Confess: I Am A Total Ding-Dong

Last week I decided I was going to try Kosama.  But after watching an episode of Suze Orman Saturday night, it hit home that I need to think about what I am spending money on, and where it's best to get more bang for my buck.

I rejoined the YMCA this morning.  It's half the price of Kosama; basically around $10.50 a week for me to hit the Y every week, take whatever classes I fancy, use the pool, play racquetball, or use the equipment.  The only problem I foresee is me being lazy and not being motivated enough to hit the gym.  

I'm attempting to turn over a new leaf, however.  My friend C-Joy has been faithfully working out the past few months to help with her fibromyalgia, and she's made me step back and realize that if she can work through the fatigue and pain, surely I can do it.  I'm lucky to be fairly healthy, though a tad overweight.  That will be remedied if I just get off my ass and work out!  I have no excuse.  None at all.  Shame on me.

So I'm back at the Y after a month of dithering, exploring options, and being decidedly undecided.  The clincher was thinking about wanting to run on the treadmill in the cold winter months.  I couldn't do that if I didn't have the Y.  After mostly a year of not running much at all, I'm going to work on that this winter--nothing major, just short little runs on the treadmill.  It's all about losing some fat and putting on some muscle and building my legs up again so I'm ready for a few 5Ks this Spring.  But!  More importantly, trying a few new things.  I've got the class schedule in my bag and I'm going to try a few new things--and revisit my nemesis, the cycling class.  

It feels good to make the commitment.  Quite frankly, I've felt a little lost this past month with no "gym" anchor.  My mental game feels much better now.

Exercise for Jack LaLanne Today

Jack LaLanne died at the ripe old age of  96 yesterday.  He was a pretty cool dude.  This guy was pumping iron and was a huge advocate for healthy eating and living for decades before it became the thing to workout.    I think it would be a good idea to take some time to eat a piece of fruit, eat some veggies, or--better yet--exercise today in a tip of the hat to Jack.  


If a 96 year old man can work out, I think I can do the same.  So, after an early morning meeting for work, I will hit the gym and ride the bike and run on the treadmill.  What did you do today to work on a healthy lifestyle?

Those are some impressive guns!

And, sadly, the Bears lost yesterday.  Onward to next football season!  Bud can relax, knowing he won't see his girlfriend lose her mind watching them in the Superbowl.  Phew.  I still am a fan, though.  

Summer Running Recap

I think my summer running ended yesterday, with the Bo-Fest Half Marathon.  I thought I was prepared, and certainly was excited to run it!  But, I ended up walking pretty much the entire route.  I don't know what happened-- I wasn't prepared well enough, or I had an anxiety attack.  I think it was both.  All I know is that I could not run without having difficulty catching my breath and having my heart race way faster than it should have been.  It was very frustrating for both Bud and I.  Bud was with me most of the way, and suggested that I pull out, but I didn't want to, although it was really close a couple of times.  I finally finished at 3:14.  I am very disappointed, and it has made me think about why I run.  

I realized this summer has been a very hard one for me running wise.  I wasn't running as well as I know I can, and that was something I just didn't want to face.  I lost my joy for running--it became a chore, and thinking about where I was going to run, when I was going to run, and how far I was going to run were the only thoughts in my head.  I was thinking yesterday during my "walk", about my first half-marathon 4 years ago.  I was so excited and happy to run that race; I took in all the sights, talked to fellow runners, and had a smile on my face the whole time.  That hasn't happened in a long time, so it leads me to believe that while I feel better physically after running however far, I don't enjoy it.  It's become stressful.  I started running about 7 years ago because I didn't want to walk--it took too long!  I remember being thrilled when I could run a continuous mile.  Yesterday, I felt like I had never run in my life.  I was shocked that my mind and my body were working against each other so vigorously.  My mind was definitely angel on one side, devil on the other.  As Bud says, and as I very well know, running is 90% mental, and my mental game was shut out completely.  I guess this race was my "come to Jesus" moment.

So after a sleepless night, in which just thinking about running again made my heart race--I think anxiety--what about you--I still don't know what I'm going to do.  I have signed up for the Des Moines Half-Marathon which takes place on October 17th.  My friend C-Joy is walking her first half-marathon, and I am debating switching to walking it.  I know I'll be there to cheer her on, that's for sure.    I did something to my left hamstring yesterday, and it really is painful!  Even if I wanted to run, I don't think I could  or should until I can walk without limping, and bend over without pain.  I'm afraid it's too close to the half-marathon to be able to run it without having problems.  Maybe I'm being forced to stop, and regroup.  And, I am sure walking it with C-Joy would be a lot of fun,  and the first and only time I have participated in a race with a friend next to me the whole way.  Usually, I go it alone.  Or, Kelly kicks butt and races far far ahead of me! :)

Anyway, I think I will stop running for awhile, whatever I do in Des Moines next month.  Bud and I discussed some other options, and I think I will take the fall and winter to try some new classes at the Y, ride my bike before the snow flies, and we'll see in the spring.  I'm pretty sure I won't be doing any more long mileage runs.  Whatever I do, I will keep exercising somehow!  Here's to a new chapter.