Life: Version 2.0 » Crossfit

Seven things to look forward to this Fall

Susan — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 11:36:43 +0000

It’s September. I absolutely adore Autumn in so many ways. Unfortunately I have to spend 6 days in Orlando at the end of October (which is my favorite month). What a waste.

Anyway, here is a list of things I am looking forward to over the next few months:

1. Autumn. The weather, the trees, Oktoberfests everywhere, visits to the vineyard, Halloween, crisp apples, pumpkins – you gotta love it. Virginia is particularly beautiful this time of year.

2. Re-entering the world of physical fitness. So I fell off the wagon for a while (again). It is my intention to begin as Jen suggests with short intense workouts, it will definitely help my state of mind (not to mention my body). I am also considering taking Yoga and a Swimming for fitness class at the local rec center.

3. Finishing the books I am reading. The Dark is Rising Series, and then moving on to a new literary adventure.

4. Making a decision on what to do with my Career. I am about to present a new job description for myself. It’s totally different from what I am currently doing. I will give up the important title and managing an entire division to work on more innovative things. At this point in my career, I don’t need the title – I just want to use my best skills for the greater good. If it doesn’t work, I may have to figure something else out.

5. Upcoming movie releases. The Golden Compass, The Dark is Rising (although I think the directors may have messed this up even more than the Eragon movie) (read this well thought-out post on bookmoot.com), and the new Elizabeth movie with Cate Blanchett are just three that I would like to see.

6. Going on more mini-adventures with my daughter. We have visited several beautiful places this past year (within driving distance). I look forward to doing that even more.

7. Learning new things. My interest in photography has peaked and I would like to buy a new camera, I am also going ot learn how to podcast/vodcast with my friend Rebecca, and I would like to take Yoga and learn how to meditate properly.

Crossfit @ 6am

Susan — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:05:17 +0000

Great workout this morning. Becky and I worked out with Jen. Here is what we did:

Warmup with windmills
10 burpees
Mountain climbers for 1 minute
Run across Connecticut ave bridge – stop and do squats, lunges or boxer jumping jacks at each lamp post
Run back
Ball slams 2 sets of 20 with 15lb medicine ball
Ball toss 2 sets of 20 with squats with 12lb medicine ball
Shoulder press with 2 15lb kettlebells 2 sets of 20
Kettle Bell swing with 24 lb kettlebell 2 sets of 20
up-downs (plank position from hands to elbow) 3 sets of 10
Alternating knee to chin (for abs)
5 windmills each side with 15 lb kettlebell

All in my head?

Susan — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:53:24 +0000

If any of you have been reading my blog over the past few months, you will see a series of boring posts about my crossfit workouts. I love these workouts, they are extreme and painful but when I am done, I feel invincible! I am a very strong person (both physically and emotionally) and these workouts definitely help to confirm that for me.

After much encouragement from Jen, I took the plunge and decided to try out a crossfit session at crossfit DC yesterday. This means that I attended a crossfit class with a large group of folks led by a certified Crossfit instructor. It was a beautiful day, we went outside to the park. Tom is awesome – he has a lot of energy and seems to really love what he does. Here is the workout we did:

warmup with squats, lunges. pushups, and stretches

at the park -

Repeat the following 3 times:

run around the block
20 squats
10 jump ups
20 shoulder press with 10 lb dbs (10 each side)
5 jumping pull ups
5 pushups

Then finish with short run around the park

The workout was a little challenging, especially the running part. Now – it is no secret that I am overweight – I weigh 188lbs on my short 5’2″ frame, so running in particular is hard for me. I was already nervous about attending this class where I knew that I would show up and be the heaviest one there, and participate among some extremely fit people. I arrived and immediately felt awkward and uncomfortable. I introduced myself to several class participants and I could tell that they were trying to be nice – but what was really on their mind was ‘how is she going to possibly make it through this workout’.

This is an issue that many overweight people feel – and I believe that is why we do not see more of us at the gym or attending these types of classes – which of course does not help us as we should be out there working out with everyone else. It is extremely intimidating to be a big person among folks who are fit and trim. I know many of you understand what I am talking about. Those who have never been overweight can not possibly understand how it feels to be in that position, and probably just don’t understand why we just don’t ’lose the weight’.

I did very well and made it through the workout with some other ‘beginners’ and left right afterwards. That’s another issue, because I am not really a beginner, but in my head I felt like one because of my weight. I liked the class, but I am not sure that I want to go back (I would rather work out with Jen and other folks who know me) because I walked away still feeling uncomfortable and awkward. It has nothing to do with Crossfit DC or Tom’s class, and I know that most of this is probably in my head – but it is real to me nonetheless. I have not always been overweight. I do notice the difference between how people look at me (or how they look past me) now versus how I used to be treated when I was a ‘normal’ size.

It’s important acknowledge these feelings – because so many people have been (and still are) where I stand – and it is very difficult to talk about. Let’s face it, none of us want others to know we have such feelings, or such weaknesses. There are many of us out here who just want to be fit and healthy, whatever that means for us. We don’t have to be perfect, or have six-pack abs and a size 24 waistline. I just want to be fit and healthy, and enjoy life to its fullest – that is all. I just wish that it was easier, and that society wouldn’t place such a horrible ‘stigma’ on us heavy folks. It is such a hellacious battle – and it is SO tiring, making all of the rest so difficult to achieve. But I won’t give up my quest for health and fitness - ever.

If I ever own a gym, I will surely make sure that at least part of my focus would be on encouragement, support, and sensitivity to those in my position. Heck, I may even market services in that light. I would want to help people feel better about themselves.

In the meantime, I will just make up my mind to ignore all of the ugly ‘chatter’ within, and remind myself “I am beautiful, I am fit, I am strong“.

That’s it for now – off to the next great adventure.

peace out.

WOD for March 21st

Susan — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 12:34:22 +0000

Again, that is Workout of the Day:

I woke up at 5am and was here by 6 ready for my workout. It was ok – but not very well planned out prior to my arrival. When I work out alone I like to have a plan in my head but I didn’t, so this is what I did:

Warm up

4 laps side shuffles
10 burpees

Repeat the following series 3 times

30 jumps (hard to explain thes)
20 pushups
30 lunges with arm extension and 15lb db (15 each leg)
30 dumbell swings w/15lb dumbell (15 each arm)
30 squats with sumo lift (with 15 lb db)
Run 400 meters – 6mph

Finish with:

Situps with arms extended overhead - 20
Lower ab lifts with shoulders raised – 20
Scissors – 20
left oblique twist – 20
right oblique twist – 20
Crunches with arms extended overhead -20
Stretch and cool down

Crossfit today

Susan — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:43:55 +0000

Crossfit this morning was so challenging that both Becky and I wanted to throw up. Becky (my absolute favorite workout partner) and I met at 6am for a 45 minute long journey:
Warmup:
Powerwalk across the Connecticut Avenue bridge – the run back (total of about 400 meters)
Then:
Repeat the following sequence two times through -

20 thrusters with 2-15lb dumbells
20 tricep bench dips
20 dead lifts with 2-20lb dumbells
20 air squats
Run 400 meters
20 pushups
20 reverse lunges
20 bent over rows with 15lb dumbells
20 air squats
Run 400 meters

Finish with:

Situps – 20
oblique twists – 20
lower ab lifts – 20
crunches with legs in the air – 20
ab plank with arm count to 100