30-Day Core Challenge

Like I'll ever look like this fabricated thought of a body.

So this 30-Day Challenge is normally called "Beach Bod Challenge" but I just think that's a bit vain. So I changed it to the 30-Day Core Challenge. Because it looks like it's targeting a lot of the core and then some. My friends have started this eight days ago, but I'm a little late on the bandwagon. I am jumping on Day 8 and will just continue a week after they're all done. Today will be 50 Donkey Kicks and 100 Bicycle Crunches.

Source: http://www.30dayfitnesschallenges.com

Getting back on the saddle

Well it's been quite dusty on my side of the corner. My HEW tanks remained in the drawer and my laundry loads had subsided. We have been quite lax about our fitness goals as the year began and thus our attendance at HEW were down to once-a-week, at most. 

After Battle of the Boxes in mid-January, I wanted to take a break to let my body recuperate. The Battle itself was difficult. It definitely pushed me to my limits and I managed to hang power clean #85 for at least 37 reps. That alone made my body say "what the hell are you thinking? This is 73% of your body weight!" To date, I had never accomplished such a feat--that since then, I've been a bit deterred to even try. 

But that was not the cause of my hiatus. It was not fear or fatigue. It was a pure utter roller coaster ride of bad luck to good fortunes. From February and to present day, life presented me with a natural disaster that impeded on my schedule to be able to attend the gym. And as grass was starting to turn into emerald green, I was told to aim towards a promotion in my career that steered my focus at full-speed work. (Hence, pulling in 10-hour work days).

But now it's April and, at last, I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. I know I have faltered. 

And I think part of the reason that I allowed myself "to let go" was because I know how successful HEW/CrossFit is. 

But this hiatus is not all for naught.

I finally have learned that my competitive turned self-deprecating attitude was pointless. I now know my place in the athletic world, and it's not with the elite. And I'm ok with that.

It's not a defeating notion, I am still going to push my limits. I just know a lot/some are better and more fit than me. They have been born with a gift to do well in sports and have the body for it. It's not endurance or the will to succeed. It's the biological sense of their make-up. Take Danny, for example, he's always been able to do well with sports and lifting, and I admire that. Before, I used to get upset and envious of women my age and size that can lift heavier and run faster. 

What I was forgetting was my family history of asthma and bad knees. (Everyone in my family has had some sort of left knee issue just from walking or living. Not sure the condition, but just ask any of them! Actually today, one of my cousins is going into surgery to repair her meniscus).

I have overcome these shortcomings. I have move past the jealousy and have started to push and encourage them. After all, I'm sure I've got great points on my favor that they wish they had too.

HOLY TOLEDO BATMAN

I disappeared for the rest of 2013 ... and this is why:

Soon after my Seattle trip, I went into full gear wedding planning. From August through the day before my wedding day (October 5th), all I could think about were linens, stationery, catering and the whole nine yards. Of course, this doesn't make for a good excuse into the lack of posts, because if anything ... documenting wedding planning would have made for plentiful topics for a blog. Not to mention the fact that HEW participated in the Whole Life Challenge ... which I started well -- in the midst of the planning -- but faltered during the honeymoon. 

Dancy Wedding

Our honeymoon was in Jamaica. It was all inclusive drinks and food. No photos necessary for this ... cause you know I tore up some jerk chicken just about twice a day!

Upon our return from the honeymoon, things got serious ... It was qualifying week for Battle of the Boxes, HEW's version of the CrossFit games. After not nearing a WOD for about two-and-a-half weeks, I'm even surprised I qualified at all. Here were the Qualifying WODs:

Qualifying WOD #1
3 x 4 Minute Rounds of: 
-Run 400 meters
-10 Hand Release Over the Bar Burpees 
-As Many Thrusters As Possible in Remaining Time 
(Scaled 45#)
Score: 24

Qualifying WOD #2
AMRAP
-30 KB swings (26#)
Then
-21/15/9 of 
Hang Snatch (45#)
Box Jumps (12")Score: I don't remember ... but I recall it was freakin' brrrrrrrrutal. I didn't do well. The 45# bar is so hard to grip. I'm currently working on getting used to this bar. 

Qualifying WOD #3, 4 and 5
#3
4 minute time limit
-Two rep max of Shoulder to Overhead
Max: 100#

#4
4 minute time limit
-Max wall ball shot (using 10 feet as the target) 

#5
Max distance double broad jump

Wow. So even listing the WODs gives me a heart attack. It was three days back-to-back after not preparing for it at all. Again, my saving grace was that my partner did really well in the WODs and I was super lucky. She excels at most things that I cannot do then vice versa. What helped us to first place was the max shoulder to overhead. At least I think we were in first ... they didn't really announce winners. I just saw on the Leaderboard that our team name, Mas Boo Boos, was ahead of everybody.

The 100# shoulder to overhead was actually a PR for me. Prior to the Qualifiers, I was only able to lift overhead 90#. It had to be the adrenaline rush and having Danny yell at me like a dude.

This puts us back to present day. Currently, I'm trying to get double WODs as much as I can to push my body more and more. I need to work more on my endurance (running), snatches and my pull ups. Stay tuned for more posts as I experience and overcome my hardest obstacle yet --- keeping my goals in check. 

Seattle trip: Day 1

I love this city. Every time I get here, all I think about is moving to this liberal, art-centered mecca! It's a touchy hush-hush subject since I had planned on doing this after college, but because of fear and being apart from my parents, I just didn't.

Right where we left off from February, me and my cousin discussing life, boys art, decisions, Bermuda grass, and everything in between.

Then we headed to the EMP museum that had a Nirvana exhibit. I officially felt old! The Fastbacks is one of my favorite bands, and to find them part of an exhibit, discussing the roots of punk and music I gravitated towards to is just .... Surreal. A little oxymoronic but, validated nonetheless.

Below we ventured towarss Capitol Hill where my cousin lives.

This is the view from my cousin's apartment at Capitol Hill. Instantaneous jealousy swept through my soul!

We ended the day on a very peaceful note. My cousin and brother took us to St. Mark's Cathedral for a Sunday service of by far the most beautiful chant I have had to witness. It calmed the day's tensions and I felt whole. 

The departure

The gym had its first social hour Saturday night which I knew would be a blast! I love getting to see everyone in a different environment, all dolled up and dressed to the nines. We're so accustomed to our sweaty selves that it's nice to let loose and not worry about hitting PRs and if our dinner is paleo or not. 

Needless to say, after the night out I had yet to pack for my trip to Seattle, and to do this while not in my normal state was interesting. As I type this on the plane, I'm interested to know what I ended up putting in my suitcase. I guess Seattle may just have to bear with my last minute fashion sense.

 

My layover in Charlotte greeted me with Bojangles. Apparently it is the Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits. Now, please do as I say not as I do, because you can even see the grease seeping out of this bag. I did not have their said famous biscuits but their Cajun chicken was good. Vacation is off to a good start, diet wise!

As soon as I paid for it, my stomach also paid for it as well. I really do not miss fast food, and as much as I love to try new things, Bojangles and I are not friends.

To back track, I started drinking coffee again. According to Danny, I was not a different person, I functioned the same way and I still continued to have fits of insomnia. Sure, I should have waited, perhaps another week or so with my trial separation, but I'm going to the world of Seattle's Best Coffees and Starbucks ... It's just not the right time! 

Another hour of this long long flight...until next time when I'll have shots of mountains, trails, waterfalls and a skyline to one of my favorite cities of all time :)

Insomniac part 2

This is an ungodly hour.

4:37am.

I gave up coffee this week -- not a single cup of coffee was consumed to avoid random insomnia such as this. I have to be at HEW in less than 4 hours, plenty of time for a REM cycle, but surely not plenty enough time for proper rest. It's official. This wedding planning stuff has made me nuts-o.

The whole registry portion -- of adding things to a list to assist my close friends and family what to get us seems rather absurd to me. I am having a difficult time putting material things on a list, if I honestly don't really need anything. Sure, I can use newer linens and towels, but I honestly, don't need such things. I am re-thinking this registry business. And thus, I am ...thinking... overly thinking.

On a crossfit update:
Friday's WOD was a benchmark girl named Isabel (30 snatches for time / 95# Rx for grrls). I completed in 2:01 with a 42#, which I thought was a good starting point for this benchmark. I'm surprised I hadn't done this one before, but it has brought me to start liking snatches. Ha!

On a paleo update:
I was not so good this week with paleo. On Wednesday night, the movie theatre by my house was showing Back to the Future on screen as part of their Classic Movie Series (classic, I'm old!). I have never seen this best-movie-ever flick at the movie house before, so you could only imagine my excitement. This of course led to a non-paleo snack filled with movie theatre food and booze. Oh my awesome apple ciders that I cannot give up. I did pass on the opportunity for two treats today: a cake party (I don't like cake, so not really a win here) and a vanilla-iced dipped cone <-- big accomplishment here for saying no. I attribute falling on the wagon because of Marty McFly and reverting back to being a kid.

On a cat update:

from left to right: Fanta, Short Tail, Mas Boo Boos

Short Tail has a vet appointment tomorrow because she has been recently making strange throat noises lately. She has been purring louder than normal and it seems that she has water in her throat. A lot of my friends-with-cats have suggested she has eaten a bug/lizard, but I am just taking precautions.

Speaking of cats, I believe this stream-of-consciousness post is the first time I've ever mentioned my feline friends. To note, I have three: two siamese twins named Mas Boo Boos and Short Tail, and yes, from the same litter; and a forever kitten named Fanta (I believe she's a tabby-mixed bengal that has remained to be tiny and cute for two years now).





I believe some Zs need to be caught, or at least try to chase after them. Until next time, dear Insomnia!

If I had wings I would fly ... let me contemplate

Foto credit: Hard Exercise Works Boynton Beach

Right now when I walk into the gym, the ropes greet me with mockery. And I retreat to my shell and ask, why can't I just get up that rope? I've done it once before, why is a second time filled with doubt and frustration? This rope that simply makes my knees shake and my palms tremble. The rope that looks fun until you look down. I am not (rather trying not) to embellish on my fear, because that's what they all are, no matter how much I justify it with a scientific reason of a fear of heights; at the end of the day they are simply excuses. But I'm only human. And these excuses are what hinders me. I realize this nor am I going to add it to my fitness goals on how to work towards it ... because hell, I've been afraid of heights since I can remember.  

The rope thing is different than my double unders (still practicing this) or my pull ups (simply have to build on my kip more) or even handstands (note to self: practice more). The rope thing is not in my vernacular, it's not written for my future yet because right now, I simply am afraid for my life. 

I can push myself to get up that rope, try to get the trainers' assistance by assuring me that I can overcome fear ... but I need to shop where I can get a harness. Or at least angel wings. But again, I'm making excuses. I know this, my trainers know this and now you know this. So far now, I have been and will be doing up:downs ... lots and lots and lots of them, probably until gravity decides to fail us one day.

Another insult to injury, or ahem, probably excuse number 32,302; during a mile run today, my bum knee gave out and shot piercing pain all the way down my shins. This of course, compensated my run and as I made a leap at the end of the curb, I came tumbling down --- along with my pride and motivation. I hobbled back to the gym, however, and tried to finish the workout as best as I could. Right now, all I want to do is scream and cut off my leg and spring for a prosthetic, but that's just being too dramatic. Luckily, I didn't sprain my ankle or have any other future injury, but I was told to continue wearing my knee brace for most of the runs from now on. And ice, oh how I've missed thee.

On a better and less pessimistic post, this past weekend, Danny's best man/childhood friend visited us for the weekend. He was excited about doing all things active so he actually joined us for two WODs over the weekend. Saturday was an Obstacle Day, which I am proud to say that I finally jumped over a hurdle ... albeit I almost wiped out, but I freakin' did it, once at least. During the workout, I wanted to move fast, so I reverted back to wrapping my body around the hurdle instead of hopping. One day, I will gain flight, one day ... ya know, when all of that gravity fails again.

I should be a contestant on Wipe Out

BFFs