Death by burpee - I've said it before, and I'll continue saying it - aptly named workout, and burpees suck. This is the do one the first minute 2 the second and so on...for two rounds.
I made it to round 8 plus 8 the first round, and 8 plus 6 the second round.
Grand total for Burpees - 86, up 25 over last time.
The kicker - doing these with Rich - for every round that you didn't do Burpees and someone was still going - you had to do that many pushups. Rich made it to round 15/14. Which means, if I did my math correctly on top of the 86 freakin' burpees, I did approximately 130 pushups to boot. Oy vay!
This morning was one that I've never done - Pull to Inverted hang - as many as you can in 1 minute for 10 rounds - 2 minute rest in between rounds. It was just me and Cheri R, Cheri didn't know what "pull to inverted hang" was, so I showed her in my weird way. Kind of wall walked up to inverted hang to show her the end position - at that point J saw, and we determined...experiment...this is what I was going to do - at least for a couple rounds. I ended up doing 4 rounds of the weird wall walking 6/7/7/6 , the we switched to pullups/Knee to Elbows alternating.
Pullups - jumping RR - 15/15/18 - total 48
KTE - jumping - 11/12/13
I can't remember exactly......I think the pullups are correct - not sure on the KTE's...I believe my total was around 36.
Overall, it was a fun day - I liked the playing with a new thing aspect. Although, I have an uber-jock wound from it. Formed and broke a blood blister under a callous. So, I now have a hanging bit of flesh on my hand, although if I kind of stick it down, it doesn't look so bad.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Hopping thru Helen and some Stations
Well, I got to experience my first Jumping Helen on Saturday.
200 jumprope/21 Kb swings 16kg/12 pullups 3 rounds for time.
I must say, I kind of liked this Helen. Timewise, it was definitely a bit faster than running Helen, and I didn't have to stop and gasp for air quite as often. I completed this one in...13:27, if I remember correctly - it was about a minute faster than I can do the running version. The good news, I was able to keep up with the boys on this one, a rarity on these timed things. Of course, it would be more impressive if I could actually do a real pullup, rather than having to strap myself into the bands.
Today was stations 2 - 4 rounds - 1 minute at each, 1 minute rest between rounds.
Situps - I started here, and this was my big score getter.
Wallball 16 - round 1, these actually weren't bad...next rounds, they definitely got harder (shocking, I know!)
Pullups - Red bands, but last time I did this one I was still in the big Blues.
Slamball - 16
Box jump - 16 inch box
Round wise, I got 91, 96, 85, 84 for a total of 356. Definite improvement in average score per round. Last time, I scored 228 in 3 rounds, so average of 76. This time my average score for 4 rounds was 89. So....YAY improvement!!!
Now for a small feat - I started the food/workout log today - the same day that 5 people brought in all of their leftover cookies and crap. Tempted though I was - I did not want to write down "I ate a cookie" - so I stayed away, fought temptation and succeeded!! Phew...it's the little things!
200 jumprope/21 Kb swings 16kg/12 pullups 3 rounds for time.
I must say, I kind of liked this Helen. Timewise, it was definitely a bit faster than running Helen, and I didn't have to stop and gasp for air quite as often. I completed this one in...13:27, if I remember correctly - it was about a minute faster than I can do the running version. The good news, I was able to keep up with the boys on this one, a rarity on these timed things. Of course, it would be more impressive if I could actually do a real pullup, rather than having to strap myself into the bands.
Today was stations 2 - 4 rounds - 1 minute at each, 1 minute rest between rounds.
Situps - I started here, and this was my big score getter.
Wallball 16 - round 1, these actually weren't bad...next rounds, they definitely got harder (shocking, I know!)
Pullups - Red bands, but last time I did this one I was still in the big Blues.
Slamball - 16
Box jump - 16 inch box
Round wise, I got 91, 96, 85, 84 for a total of 356. Definite improvement in average score per round. Last time, I scored 228 in 3 rounds, so average of 76. This time my average score for 4 rounds was 89. So....YAY improvement!!!
Now for a small feat - I started the food/workout log today - the same day that 5 people brought in all of their leftover cookies and crap. Tempted though I was - I did not want to write down "I ate a cookie" - so I stayed away, fought temptation and succeeded!! Phew...it's the little things!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Just a Tad Behind
Couple days to catch up on, with the holidays and all.
Let me start by saying, ever since I learned CFT was on New Year's day, I've been pondering what to do. Last time I did CFT was way back in August, and I did pretty darn good (235/100/255), but I wasn't doing the full-break parallel squats at the time. So, I have come up with a goal - not sure that I'm going to achieve it - because it is a bit lofty - but I want to give it a shot. A large part of whether I'll make it or not will depend on how I do on the squat. Either way - I'm going to have to go BIG on the Squat and DL. Why do I say this now, it's still a week away, you may be asking yourself....I just want to explain some of the thinking that was in my head when I did Push/Pull a couple days ago.
Push/Pull - 3 rounds of 3 bench press/deadlift for weight.
Bench Press - I got nowhere. 145x3, 145x2, 145x2. Still stuck. Got a pointer from Rich at the end - we'll see if that helps next time.
Deadlift - Started at 245, next round I was going to go up 10, but between Rich encouraging me to go higher, and the upcoming CFT in my head...I went 260. (Ok - not a gigantic jump, but my 1 rep max is 265) Last round I went to 270 - tried at first, head got in the way. Stepped back and tried again, this time I got all 3. So, I hit a PR, and it was for 3 reps. Naturally, the hardest one is the first....so still not certain that this means much when CFT comes around, because if I'm going to meet my goal - I'll have to go higher still. ZOIKS, JINKIES, and HOLY GUACAMOLE!!
Kettlebell ladder - I finished this in 8:21 with the 16kg. Knocked a mere 16 seconds off my last time. This was good - not fantastic or spectacular, but a bit of an improvement.
Today....Powercleans for weight - 5X5. ....need I say it again? Cleans - not my fav. I feel a bit like a sniveling schoolchild when I complain about them, but they are definitely in the hemmorroidal realm of things (AKA pain in the ass). They definitely felt off today - I managed to eek out 85/85/95/95/105. Duplicating the weights to try to improve the form....HA! I wish I could start to feel some of Patty's growing love for these, but it just isn't there yet. That's alright, I'll muddle on through, and maybe they will come naturally by the year 2020 or so.
That's about it - hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!
Let me start by saying, ever since I learned CFT was on New Year's day, I've been pondering what to do. Last time I did CFT was way back in August, and I did pretty darn good (235/100/255), but I wasn't doing the full-break parallel squats at the time. So, I have come up with a goal - not sure that I'm going to achieve it - because it is a bit lofty - but I want to give it a shot. A large part of whether I'll make it or not will depend on how I do on the squat. Either way - I'm going to have to go BIG on the Squat and DL. Why do I say this now, it's still a week away, you may be asking yourself....I just want to explain some of the thinking that was in my head when I did Push/Pull a couple days ago.
Push/Pull - 3 rounds of 3 bench press/deadlift for weight.
Bench Press - I got nowhere. 145x3, 145x2, 145x2. Still stuck. Got a pointer from Rich at the end - we'll see if that helps next time.
Deadlift - Started at 245, next round I was going to go up 10, but between Rich encouraging me to go higher, and the upcoming CFT in my head...I went 260. (Ok - not a gigantic jump, but my 1 rep max is 265) Last round I went to 270 - tried at first, head got in the way. Stepped back and tried again, this time I got all 3. So, I hit a PR, and it was for 3 reps. Naturally, the hardest one is the first....so still not certain that this means much when CFT comes around, because if I'm going to meet my goal - I'll have to go higher still. ZOIKS, JINKIES, and HOLY GUACAMOLE!!
Kettlebell ladder - I finished this in 8:21 with the 16kg. Knocked a mere 16 seconds off my last time. This was good - not fantastic or spectacular, but a bit of an improvement.
Today....Powercleans for weight - 5X5. ....need I say it again? Cleans - not my fav. I feel a bit like a sniveling schoolchild when I complain about them, but they are definitely in the hemmorroidal realm of things (AKA pain in the ass). They definitely felt off today - I managed to eek out 85/85/95/95/105. Duplicating the weights to try to improve the form....HA! I wish I could start to feel some of Patty's growing love for these, but it just isn't there yet. That's alright, I'll muddle on through, and maybe they will come naturally by the year 2020 or so.
That's about it - hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Slumpage be damned!
Ok - I kind of feel like my little slumpage of last week may be over. Saturday was Cindy. 5 pull up/10 pushup/15 squat - AMRAP 20 minutes.
At Rich's prompting, I did jumping pull ups, low bar - but no band. Zero, zilch...nada on the strappage!
...and I actually think I did as well as I've ever done on Cindy - I'm not certain, but I think my best is somewhere between 11 and 12 rounds - and this time I did 11 rounds plus 5 pull ups. The difference was - no bands - yes, they were jumping - that's the caveat that makes the score blue, BUT I think last time I did that many rounds I was in the blue bands, and quite possibly doing knee pushups (AKA - it's been awhile!). To top it off, I didn't even have to break up the pushups into sets until the last 2 rounds. At that point, I cranked out 8 pause, last 2. So YAY! - Cindy is coming around!
Tonight - Fran. 21/15/9, Thruster/pull ups.
Well, the jumping no band thing wasn't really an option - the low bar is no longer very low. So, I did red bands - still jumping, Thrusters were the full girl pop of 65 lbs. So, I didn't really end up changing much from last time, as far as what I did. BUT - last time was 11:05 - this time 8:41 - so I did knock off about 2 1/2 minutes. So, again, YAY!! Improvement!!
Last half of the workout was playing with kettlebells. Two handed swings - basically seeing what we can do. Started off with 12kg - childs play! Then 16kg - seemed really light, but then Patty pointed out that I do KB hell with one of these babies in each hand...DUH! I think my next one was 20kg..or something like that....still not too bad. There was another middle round - no clue what that was - but it was higher. Then final round I tried the 36kg KB (80 lbs). Ok - this sucker was definitely heavier. I only got 3 in - I'm pretty sure I can do them better next time.
Now my goal, again is the pullups. I feel good about Cindy and Fran - but until I can actually do them with real pull ups, I do feel like I'm cheating a bit - getting away with making something easier than it should be (not sure when this came into play....but it's there). I know I will feel a lot more proud of my Fran/Cindy scores when I can do them 100% as prescribed, even if my time doubles. So, shockingly, again my goal is the pull ups...always the pull ups!! On the plus side, I was playing with the kippage - and it felt pretty good tonight.....so that's good!
At Rich's prompting, I did jumping pull ups, low bar - but no band. Zero, zilch...nada on the strappage!
...and I actually think I did as well as I've ever done on Cindy - I'm not certain, but I think my best is somewhere between 11 and 12 rounds - and this time I did 11 rounds plus 5 pull ups. The difference was - no bands - yes, they were jumping - that's the caveat that makes the score blue, BUT I think last time I did that many rounds I was in the blue bands, and quite possibly doing knee pushups (AKA - it's been awhile!). To top it off, I didn't even have to break up the pushups into sets until the last 2 rounds. At that point, I cranked out 8 pause, last 2. So YAY! - Cindy is coming around!
Tonight - Fran. 21/15/9, Thruster/pull ups.
Well, the jumping no band thing wasn't really an option - the low bar is no longer very low. So, I did red bands - still jumping, Thrusters were the full girl pop of 65 lbs. So, I didn't really end up changing much from last time, as far as what I did. BUT - last time was 11:05 - this time 8:41 - so I did knock off about 2 1/2 minutes. So, again, YAY!! Improvement!!
Last half of the workout was playing with kettlebells. Two handed swings - basically seeing what we can do. Started off with 12kg - childs play! Then 16kg - seemed really light, but then Patty pointed out that I do KB hell with one of these babies in each hand...DUH! I think my next one was 20kg..or something like that....still not too bad. There was another middle round - no clue what that was - but it was higher. Then final round I tried the 36kg KB (80 lbs). Ok - this sucker was definitely heavier. I only got 3 in - I'm pretty sure I can do them better next time.
Now my goal, again is the pullups. I feel good about Cindy and Fran - but until I can actually do them with real pull ups, I do feel like I'm cheating a bit - getting away with making something easier than it should be (not sure when this came into play....but it's there). I know I will feel a lot more proud of my Fran/Cindy scores when I can do them 100% as prescribed, even if my time doubles. So, shockingly, again my goal is the pull ups...always the pull ups!! On the plus side, I was playing with the kippage - and it felt pretty good tonight.....so that's good!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Nemesis#1...I can see the day of defeat!
Single rep pull ups. A workout solely dedicated to conquering my long time foe. Did I win the battle - not really, but I think the pull up maistro is starting to feel a bit of a tremble, knowing in his heart that he will be defeated. (just a bit melodramatic, but really, isn't doing a pullup a bit like slaying a dragon???)
Because I'm still in the bands, and can't complete the kippers, all pull ups are dead hang.
We started with a warm up 4-5 in the blue bands.....ok, no problem. Then a couple one blue/one red, little tougher, but still ok.
Then one at a time. Dead hang in the red bands. I still have the issue with my bulging biceps preventing me from completely getting the bar to my shoulders (hee hee!). But I got the red bands ok for the most part. Even tried one with 1 red 1 mini - that wasn't so good, only about 1/2 way up. For the most part I stuck with the reds. Here's the weird thing....about halfway through this, as I was pulling up, my elbows would pop. You talk about a bizarre sensation...popping elbows, not painful or anything just a bit of weirdness.
Final round, Jonathan tells me to go to one red, one blue....huh? Really? I must have had a dumbfounded look, I think I said something...can't remember exactly what....but then it was my choice. So - it was reds again. Even if the best I can do is "almost there - really darn close" - I would rather end on that note than to do it exactly correct with more assistance - giving myself a false sense of accomplishment. Overall - this one went as I expected. I know I can't do the mini's, I've occasionally tried, and I know I can do the full-pop in the reds. As with everything some days are better than others. The reality is that I know what I need to do to finally slay this giant beast....
Ok, after reading through this, sometimes, don't you just really wonder, what the hell is going on in my head? I know I do!
Because I'm still in the bands, and can't complete the kippers, all pull ups are dead hang.
We started with a warm up 4-5 in the blue bands.....ok, no problem. Then a couple one blue/one red, little tougher, but still ok.
Then one at a time. Dead hang in the red bands. I still have the issue with my bulging biceps preventing me from completely getting the bar to my shoulders (hee hee!). But I got the red bands ok for the most part. Even tried one with 1 red 1 mini - that wasn't so good, only about 1/2 way up. For the most part I stuck with the reds. Here's the weird thing....about halfway through this, as I was pulling up, my elbows would pop. You talk about a bizarre sensation...popping elbows, not painful or anything just a bit of weirdness.
Final round, Jonathan tells me to go to one red, one blue....huh? Really? I must have had a dumbfounded look, I think I said something...can't remember exactly what....but then it was my choice. So - it was reds again. Even if the best I can do is "almost there - really darn close" - I would rather end on that note than to do it exactly correct with more assistance - giving myself a false sense of accomplishment. Overall - this one went as I expected. I know I can't do the mini's, I've occasionally tried, and I know I can do the full-pop in the reds. As with everything some days are better than others. The reality is that I know what I need to do to finally slay this giant beast....
Ok, after reading through this, sometimes, don't you just really wonder, what the hell is going on in my head? I know I do!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
OY!! What happened??
Hmm...kind of peculiar...at the end of last week and Monday, with the TGU's, I was feeling super strong, like I had made big, vast improvements. (Ok, big and vast might be a bit of an exaggeration, but at least I could see them)
The last two days, not so much....
Yesterday was 5 rounds of 20 squats - AKA breathing squats
Last time I did this, my weight went down because I was doing the low squats - breaking parallel. We did the full 5 rounds, and I know I was depleted at the end, but I still managed to do 75/95/115/115/115
This time, we only did 4 rounds, and they were all difficult! I didn't go up, in fact I only did 85/95/105/115. I can't really figure out what the difference was.....
Today was Grace - AKA 30 Clean and Jerks for time. I guess the good thing about this one is that it is "only" 30. So if you get through the first 20, there are only 10 left. I did 85 lbs in 6:18. Again, these felt super heavy, and they sure as heck ain't smooth or pretty things. I will just leave it as...these are definitely not my favorite! So Luke, it's your birthday - ENJOY!
Now I hope this weak little pathetic phase is over
The last two days, not so much....
Yesterday was 5 rounds of 20 squats - AKA breathing squats
Last time I did this, my weight went down because I was doing the low squats - breaking parallel. We did the full 5 rounds, and I know I was depleted at the end, but I still managed to do 75/95/115/115/115
This time, we only did 4 rounds, and they were all difficult! I didn't go up, in fact I only did 85/95/105/115. I can't really figure out what the difference was.....
Today was Grace - AKA 30 Clean and Jerks for time. I guess the good thing about this one is that it is "only" 30. So if you get through the first 20, there are only 10 left. I did 85 lbs in 6:18. Again, these felt super heavy, and they sure as heck ain't smooth or pretty things. I will just leave it as...these are definitely not my favorite! So Luke, it's your birthday - ENJOY!
Now I hope this weak little pathetic phase is over
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Have I mentioned that I love TGU's???
So, happy day...despite it being 150 degrees below zero outside! Jiminy Crickets it's cold! ...and not the nice cold outside where you can sing along with Dean Martin "Baby, it's cold outside...." No, no, no - it freakin' frigid. The kind of cold where you step outside and your nostril hairs immediately turn into icicles.
...and I digress. Well, let's go back to Saturday - it was the perfect workout after 2 weeks of hardcoreness (I don't think that's a real word!). It was functional focus day!...YAY! Although much slower paced, these are a lot of help when trying to improve. We did handstand pushups - again, YAY! I got to play in my favorite upside down rubber band contraption!! Pistols - down to the 16" box, and glute-ham thingys. Then we topped it of with a mini Cindy...10 minutes, 5 pullup/10 pushup/15 squats. I feel like I cranked through this - I believe I got in 6 full rounds. Woohoo!
Tonight, Turkish getups for weight. Again, I love these, I think they are the coolest! It's not a matter of just grunting to get the weight up...it's holding the weight and moving with it. Total finesse! Not to mention it just looks cool with the barbell.
I did fairly well. It was funny, as I was going to sleep last night, I had visions of me doing 75 lbs - that was one heck of a dream! Knowing that, in reality, this wasn't going to happen - at least not today, my next, more realistic goal was 60.
I did 40 then 50 no problem
55 - got the left, failed on the right.
55 - got it.
60 - ironically got the right, failed on the left. I think I psyched myself out on this one because as the barbell was being put in my hand, I remember thinking "hoo-boy - 60 is pretty heavy for one arm" BAD ELLEN! Sometimes my brain just doesn't shut up - that's why I can be a blabby person. If I blab, I don't think. That's kind of the double edged sword on the "no talking while heavy lifting" thing - it's a good thing safety/distraction wise, but hoo-boy, think too much, and you think yourself right out of a lift. Anyway, again, I veered in a strange direction - overall very happy! I may not have hit the 60 on both arms...but I also know why. Next goal - 75 lbs with the barbell. HA!
...and I digress. Well, let's go back to Saturday - it was the perfect workout after 2 weeks of hardcoreness (I don't think that's a real word!). It was functional focus day!...YAY! Although much slower paced, these are a lot of help when trying to improve. We did handstand pushups - again, YAY! I got to play in my favorite upside down rubber band contraption!! Pistols - down to the 16" box, and glute-ham thingys. Then we topped it of with a mini Cindy...10 minutes, 5 pullup/10 pushup/15 squats. I feel like I cranked through this - I believe I got in 6 full rounds. Woohoo!
Tonight, Turkish getups for weight. Again, I love these, I think they are the coolest! It's not a matter of just grunting to get the weight up...it's holding the weight and moving with it. Total finesse! Not to mention it just looks cool with the barbell.
I did fairly well. It was funny, as I was going to sleep last night, I had visions of me doing 75 lbs - that was one heck of a dream! Knowing that, in reality, this wasn't going to happen - at least not today, my next, more realistic goal was 60.
I did 40 then 50 no problem
55 - got the left, failed on the right.
55 - got it.
60 - ironically got the right, failed on the left. I think I psyched myself out on this one because as the barbell was being put in my hand, I remember thinking "hoo-boy - 60 is pretty heavy for one arm" BAD ELLEN! Sometimes my brain just doesn't shut up - that's why I can be a blabby person. If I blab, I don't think. That's kind of the double edged sword on the "no talking while heavy lifting" thing - it's a good thing safety/distraction wise, but hoo-boy, think too much, and you think yourself right out of a lift. Anyway, again, I veered in a strange direction - overall very happy! I may not have hit the 60 on both arms...but I also know why. Next goal - 75 lbs with the barbell. HA!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Derriere stomping Filthy 50 Bastard!!
Ok -I'll start with the mild - yesterday....stations3.
Any other day, this would not be a mild one...today, in retrospect, it was tame. Another stations - so 1 minute each for reps. 3 rounds.
- Ring rows - I did ok - averaged about 14 or 15 per round.
- Dumbbell split cleans 20 -awkward but got in about 9 or 10 per round
- Knees to elbows - slow. 5 maybe 6 per round
- Deadlifts 125 - averaged about 15 per round
- Burpees - 4 maybe 5
My rounds went: 49/51/49
Then the bonus round was a minute of jumping squats - I hit 23.
Total score was 172. Improvement over last time - I think that was 164 ish...and this was unscaled....more or less. I thought it was unscaled, but apparently to be really,truly unscaled you can't jump at all on the knees to elbows. Jumpin' Jehosephat!
I got to write in black, but there was a caveat. Bummer!
Now the the ass-wholloping of today..... Filthy 50. The good news - I finished. The bad news - time: 54:51 - added 5 minutes or so. Good news: I did mostly unscaled. Bad news: so did some new person that I've never seen before - and she finished before me.
I will say - unlike any other workout - this one messes with your mind! After all the workouts of the last couple weeks, my body is a bit sore, knees are poppin' more than they ever have, but overall, I'm feeling pretty darn-tootin' strong. So, I decide in my head, I can do this unscaled (or at least as unscaled as I'm able, since I can't do a pullup to save my life!) it shouldn't be "that" bad. I visualize it as I'm going to bed last night, figure it can't hurt....(can you tell I've become a bit obsessive?). As time gets closer, I'm still feeling pretty confident, but that little tiny bit of trepidation comes to play. You know the one - the one that only the Filthy 50 can inspire. But that's ok - I push it aside, because I like living in my happy little denial land!
Finally it's time - I arrive at the gym and it's me, Lisa, Michele (I think that's her name - the massage girl!), and another girl that I had not seen or met until yesterday.
...and so it begins.
Start with the double unders, these are usually pretty slow for me - but I managed to get them out in about 5 minutes - doesn't sound impressive but last time, I swear these took me 10-15 minutes!
Went on to jumping pullups - got them done in a couple minutes, so things are going good so far.
Next - walking lunges - again these went pretty quick
Back extensions - ok - feeling good - it's only been 15 minutes or so - I feel like I'm making good time.
Then come the box jumps. I've always done the 16" in the past. I go for the 20. 20 inches is kind of a high jump - especially when you come from a family that is not known for it's jumping prowess! These took me a while - I tried to get the first 10 in within a minute. Did good for the first minute....not so bad the 2nd - then it all went a bit down hill. These took a while.
On to push press - these went pretty quick, probably a minute or two - possibly 3.
Then came the next time killers - knees to elbow. ZOWIE I'm slow at these. 2 maybe 3 at a time. Here's where some of the F-50 mind games started happening...I started them on the rings, then kept hoping that Jonathan would tell me to go finish at the situps, because they were taking so long. Well - shockingly, that never happened. So 10-15 minutes later I finally finished.
Kettlebell swings - no problem- broke it into 2 sets of 25.
Wallball - I decided to break this into 5 sets of 10 - since wallball kills me. I know I can get through 10 at a time though. These took a couple minutes - not overly quick, not overly slow though.
However, at this point it's 429pm and I haven't even started on the evil, evil burpees. Again, the F-50 mind game, at this point, there is a part of me hoping that time is called because once I start the burpees.........OY! Again, my hopes and dreams at the time were dashed. By this time Lisa and .......massage girl(Michelle?), are done. I get to about 12 of my burpees and the other girl finishes. OY VAY! I still have how freakin' many????? Seriously, I'm totally gassed, completely depleted of energy. Then I receive the joyful one on one.....1.2.3.burpee......rest...2.3. burpee - let me tell ya - those rests, were not long. There were a couple times, Jonathan said to go, and my body just wouldn't. It stood there, it was not in motion and had no intention of going into motion until it was ready. (apparently my body had a mind of it's own at this point!)....and let me just say this - every second during this time, I was wishing it would end, and the next group would arrive, and I would have to stop. I cannot lie...I really, really, really, really wanted to quit, wanted the misery to end. But quitting was not an option. Now, in reality, if it was an option, would I have quit, I honestly don't know...maybe, maybe not. I know mentally, I can dig deeper than ever before, and I don't like not finishing something, but I just don't know if I could have dug quite that deep without alot of prompting. So a good 15 minutes after starting, I finally finished my own personal burpee hell. Now, 2 hours after the fact, and a bit of food in my system to kickstart my energy, I'm super glad that I got through it and finished!
Writing up the scores, I was really glad to see that Michele (if that's not her name, it is now, I don't think I can keep calling her massage girl!) did a run through, so 25 instead of 50. Now the other person, who scaled the exact same as me and finished 10 minutes ahead of me, I'm not so happy about. It's ok if an OG beats me, I know all the OG's have been working their tails off for a long time, but I certainly hope this wasn't some chicky-poo who has been coming for two weeks, and manages to do better than I did - that would just be the uber-ego blow! (THIS is when my competitive spirit comes into play, when I can breath and think relatively clearly again!)
Now comes the question of what to do next...I had the thought of working out Friday and taking Saturday and Sunday off, to give my bones a two day break. However, I am not sure I am up for overhead squats tomorrow because my knees are a bit wonky. So, maybe I'll stay on my regular schedule, take Friday off and go Saturday morning.
Any other day, this would not be a mild one...today, in retrospect, it was tame. Another stations - so 1 minute each for reps. 3 rounds.
- Ring rows - I did ok - averaged about 14 or 15 per round.
- Dumbbell split cleans 20 -awkward but got in about 9 or 10 per round
- Knees to elbows - slow. 5 maybe 6 per round
- Deadlifts 125 - averaged about 15 per round
- Burpees - 4 maybe 5
My rounds went: 49/51/49
Then the bonus round was a minute of jumping squats - I hit 23.
Total score was 172. Improvement over last time - I think that was 164 ish...and this was unscaled....more or less. I thought it was unscaled, but apparently to be really,truly unscaled you can't jump at all on the knees to elbows. Jumpin' Jehosephat!
I got to write in black, but there was a caveat. Bummer!
Now the the ass-wholloping of today..... Filthy 50. The good news - I finished. The bad news - time: 54:51 - added 5 minutes or so. Good news: I did mostly unscaled. Bad news: so did some new person that I've never seen before - and she finished before me.
I will say - unlike any other workout - this one messes with your mind! After all the workouts of the last couple weeks, my body is a bit sore, knees are poppin' more than they ever have, but overall, I'm feeling pretty darn-tootin' strong. So, I decide in my head, I can do this unscaled (or at least as unscaled as I'm able, since I can't do a pullup to save my life!) it shouldn't be "that" bad. I visualize it as I'm going to bed last night, figure it can't hurt....(can you tell I've become a bit obsessive?). As time gets closer, I'm still feeling pretty confident, but that little tiny bit of trepidation comes to play. You know the one - the one that only the Filthy 50 can inspire. But that's ok - I push it aside, because I like living in my happy little denial land!
Finally it's time - I arrive at the gym and it's me, Lisa, Michele (I think that's her name - the massage girl!), and another girl that I had not seen or met until yesterday.
...and so it begins.
Start with the double unders, these are usually pretty slow for me - but I managed to get them out in about 5 minutes - doesn't sound impressive but last time, I swear these took me 10-15 minutes!
Went on to jumping pullups - got them done in a couple minutes, so things are going good so far.
Next - walking lunges - again these went pretty quick
Back extensions - ok - feeling good - it's only been 15 minutes or so - I feel like I'm making good time.
Then come the box jumps. I've always done the 16" in the past. I go for the 20. 20 inches is kind of a high jump - especially when you come from a family that is not known for it's jumping prowess! These took me a while - I tried to get the first 10 in within a minute. Did good for the first minute....not so bad the 2nd - then it all went a bit down hill. These took a while.
On to push press - these went pretty quick, probably a minute or two - possibly 3.
Then came the next time killers - knees to elbow. ZOWIE I'm slow at these. 2 maybe 3 at a time. Here's where some of the F-50 mind games started happening...I started them on the rings, then kept hoping that Jonathan would tell me to go finish at the situps, because they were taking so long. Well - shockingly, that never happened. So 10-15 minutes later I finally finished.
Kettlebell swings - no problem- broke it into 2 sets of 25.
Wallball - I decided to break this into 5 sets of 10 - since wallball kills me. I know I can get through 10 at a time though. These took a couple minutes - not overly quick, not overly slow though.
However, at this point it's 429pm and I haven't even started on the evil, evil burpees. Again, the F-50 mind game, at this point, there is a part of me hoping that time is called because once I start the burpees.........OY! Again, my hopes and dreams at the time were dashed. By this time Lisa and .......massage girl(Michelle?), are done. I get to about 12 of my burpees and the other girl finishes. OY VAY! I still have how freakin' many????? Seriously, I'm totally gassed, completely depleted of energy. Then I receive the joyful one on one.....1.2.3.burpee......rest...2.3. burpee - let me tell ya - those rests, were not long. There were a couple times, Jonathan said to go, and my body just wouldn't. It stood there, it was not in motion and had no intention of going into motion until it was ready. (apparently my body had a mind of it's own at this point!)....and let me just say this - every second during this time, I was wishing it would end, and the next group would arrive, and I would have to stop. I cannot lie...I really, really, really, really wanted to quit, wanted the misery to end. But quitting was not an option. Now, in reality, if it was an option, would I have quit, I honestly don't know...maybe, maybe not. I know mentally, I can dig deeper than ever before, and I don't like not finishing something, but I just don't know if I could have dug quite that deep without alot of prompting. So a good 15 minutes after starting, I finally finished my own personal burpee hell. Now, 2 hours after the fact, and a bit of food in my system to kickstart my energy, I'm super glad that I got through it and finished!
Writing up the scores, I was really glad to see that Michele (if that's not her name, it is now, I don't think I can keep calling her massage girl!) did a run through, so 25 instead of 50. Now the other person, who scaled the exact same as me and finished 10 minutes ahead of me, I'm not so happy about. It's ok if an OG beats me, I know all the OG's have been working their tails off for a long time, but I certainly hope this wasn't some chicky-poo who has been coming for two weeks, and manages to do better than I did - that would just be the uber-ego blow! (THIS is when my competitive spirit comes into play, when I can breath and think relatively clearly again!)
Now comes the question of what to do next...I had the thought of working out Friday and taking Saturday and Sunday off, to give my bones a two day break. However, I am not sure I am up for overhead squats tomorrow because my knees are a bit wonky. So, maybe I'll stay on my regular schedule, take Friday off and go Saturday morning.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Death rides a......mixed jumble of fun!
The three bars of death - I don't come anywhere close to doing this"as prescribed". The prescription strength is some crazy, wacked out amount.
Linda: AKA 3 bars of death: Deadlift, Bench Press, Clean - 10/9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1
I did DL - 170, BP-115, Clean 65.
I have a total love/hate thing with this one. This is one workout that actually causes pain -not "I can't breath pain", or "holy moly, I'm tired pain". But pain. Everytime I've done it, my lower back just hurts, I think it's because you hold everything tight for all elements - no down time to relax the muscles a bit. I got through about round 9 - then the pain kicked in and I had to do the DL & Cleans a couple at a time. The Bench was no problem - that was actually the easy part, there was a tad bit of relaxation there. Now - here's the love part... At about 830pm last night - my back felt FABULOUS! Not tight, not achy...but really good, and this morning - same thing. It's very odd - my theory is that my back muscles get all bunched up and crampy during the workout and as they relax they realign themselves - that could be and probably is complete hoo-ey, but it sounds good. It's just weird that every time I've done this one the back muscles scream and yell during it, but afterwards, everything is better than before. Hence the love/hate. I finished this one in 28 or 29 minutes. I know I added about 4 or 5 minutes to my last time - but the weights last time were 155/103/55.
Today......some weird mixed jumble of stuff that I'll just call J's mixed bag of fun.
5 rounds for time of:
- 8 Kettlebell renegade rows (16/12 kg)
- 12 L-pullups
- 16 Kettlebell front squats (16/12 kg)
Renegade rows: doing a pushup, in my case, hands on a 20lb dumbbell, then balancing on 2 feet and one hand and lifting the weight up with the other hand. So - this 8 renegade rows, is actually 16 pushups and 8 rows per hand, it just sounds nicer as "8 renegade rows"
12-L Pullups ...HA! Have to be able to do pullups to do an L pullup! So these were highbar, red bands. Not fast or pretty by any means!
16 KB Front Squats - I was lucky enough to get to do the 16kg on these - keep in mind, that is the boy prescribed weight!!! The really s ad part, I knew I was gonna have to do them before I was told. Have I mentioned that 16kg is heavy. I always forget how heavy it really is, until I'm hoisting those babies up. Oh - did I also forget to mention, with the front squats it's a 16kg in each hand?? - so in reality, holding 70 lbs awkwardly. This one was magnificent in it's sweat-producing ability. Every last person was dripping. Timewise it took 28:13.
Still waiting on the "less harder"...........hopefully this ain't it!!!
Linda: AKA 3 bars of death: Deadlift, Bench Press, Clean - 10/9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1
I did DL - 170, BP-115, Clean 65.
I have a total love/hate thing with this one. This is one workout that actually causes pain -not "I can't breath pain", or "holy moly, I'm tired pain". But pain. Everytime I've done it, my lower back just hurts, I think it's because you hold everything tight for all elements - no down time to relax the muscles a bit. I got through about round 9 - then the pain kicked in and I had to do the DL & Cleans a couple at a time. The Bench was no problem - that was actually the easy part, there was a tad bit of relaxation there. Now - here's the love part... At about 830pm last night - my back felt FABULOUS! Not tight, not achy...but really good, and this morning - same thing. It's very odd - my theory is that my back muscles get all bunched up and crampy during the workout and as they relax they realign themselves - that could be and probably is complete hoo-ey, but it sounds good. It's just weird that every time I've done this one the back muscles scream and yell during it, but afterwards, everything is better than before. Hence the love/hate. I finished this one in 28 or 29 minutes. I know I added about 4 or 5 minutes to my last time - but the weights last time were 155/103/55.
Today......some weird mixed jumble of stuff that I'll just call J's mixed bag of fun.
5 rounds for time of:
- 8 Kettlebell renegade rows (16/12 kg)
- 12 L-pullups
- 16 Kettlebell front squats (16/12 kg)
Renegade rows: doing a pushup, in my case, hands on a 20lb dumbbell, then balancing on 2 feet and one hand and lifting the weight up with the other hand. So - this 8 renegade rows, is actually 16 pushups and 8 rows per hand, it just sounds nicer as "8 renegade rows"
12-L Pullups ...HA! Have to be able to do pullups to do an L pullup! So these were highbar, red bands. Not fast or pretty by any means!
16 KB Front Squats - I was lucky enough to get to do the 16kg on these - keep in mind, that is the boy prescribed weight!!! The really s ad part, I knew I was gonna have to do them before I was told. Have I mentioned that 16kg is heavy. I always forget how heavy it really is, until I'm hoisting those babies up. Oh - did I also forget to mention, with the front squats it's a 16kg in each hand?? - so in reality, holding 70 lbs awkwardly. This one was magnificent in it's sweat-producing ability. Every last person was dripping. Timewise it took 28:13.
Still waiting on the "less harder"...........hopefully this ain't it!!!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Saturday...a mighty fine day!
Ok - I'm a believer -I will no longer bitch, whine, kvetch, moan or groan about the workouts - whether they are pure hell, or not. Suck it up and deal with it will be my new motto.
Why the change? Yesterday was a much needed day, on a couple levels. In a lot of the workouts I've been at a total, complete, standstill - a bit frustrating to say the least. Improvements have been small and you need to look beyond the obvious to find them, which isn't to say they aren't there. I will admit, that even once the particularly hellacious workouts are done, there is a huge sense of accomplishment - even with something like the plate drags. And yes, I must also confess, I do get a certain amount of joy exaggerating how very horrible these are while doing them!! The weird thing though, is that I'm starting to feel like I'm turning into a bit of a "negative nelly", you know, one of those annoying people who isn't happy unless they are complaining about something. I do hate some of the things while I'm doing them, but wouldn't keep going if I didn't love the whole thing overall! So, any negativity, is just my penchant for the embellishment. Just had to throw that disclaimer in!
Now - what happened yesterday?
Yesterday was overhead press 11111, push press 33333, push jerk 55555.
OH - 95/100/105/ fail - 110/fail -110
PP - 105/115/120/125/135x2
PJ - 85/105/115/125/135
I have been at stuck in a 95-100 lb rut on the overhead press. I can't remember, but I may have hit 105 several months back, either way, that was when I was trying to turn OH press into a bench press, so it doesn't count (at least in my head!). Either way, the way I see it, I beat my PR on this because there was no cheating. Last time I did this workout - I know I maxed the OH at 95. So, I'll take those 10lbs!
PP - Last time I maxed at 120x2 - Again, a 15 lb improvement! YAY!
PJ - This one, I don't have the comfort level with, that I do PP's. Last time, I believe my max was 115 - this time 135. (..and Rich thought I could do more if I had the confidence and gusto to go for it....not sure if true or not, but possibly.)
So - good day - I hit PR's in all 3 of these!! I needed that!!
To add to the day, I had to go shopping for some new pants yesterday (have I mentioned that I HATE shopping?). I was able to find a pair that fit, and was comfortable...Now, the best part...
It wasn't in a store/department that specializes in "covering the ample ass"!!
Phew! It's been awhile. So, despite the actual weight loss being pretty minimal, obviously there has been re-distribution. I knew it, but this really made it hit home!! YAY YAY, double YAY!. Yesterday was just a good day all around!
Why the change? Yesterday was a much needed day, on a couple levels. In a lot of the workouts I've been at a total, complete, standstill - a bit frustrating to say the least. Improvements have been small and you need to look beyond the obvious to find them, which isn't to say they aren't there. I will admit, that even once the particularly hellacious workouts are done, there is a huge sense of accomplishment - even with something like the plate drags. And yes, I must also confess, I do get a certain amount of joy exaggerating how very horrible these are while doing them!! The weird thing though, is that I'm starting to feel like I'm turning into a bit of a "negative nelly", you know, one of those annoying people who isn't happy unless they are complaining about something. I do hate some of the things while I'm doing them, but wouldn't keep going if I didn't love the whole thing overall! So, any negativity, is just my penchant for the embellishment. Just had to throw that disclaimer in!
Now - what happened yesterday?
Yesterday was overhead press 11111, push press 33333, push jerk 55555.
OH - 95/100/105/ fail - 110/fail -110
PP - 105/115/120/125/135x2
PJ - 85/105/115/125/135
I have been at stuck in a 95-100 lb rut on the overhead press. I can't remember, but I may have hit 105 several months back, either way, that was when I was trying to turn OH press into a bench press, so it doesn't count (at least in my head!). Either way, the way I see it, I beat my PR on this because there was no cheating. Last time I did this workout - I know I maxed the OH at 95. So, I'll take those 10lbs!
PP - Last time I maxed at 120x2 - Again, a 15 lb improvement! YAY!
PJ - This one, I don't have the comfort level with, that I do PP's. Last time, I believe my max was 115 - this time 135. (..and Rich thought I could do more if I had the confidence and gusto to go for it....not sure if true or not, but possibly.)
So - good day - I hit PR's in all 3 of these!! I needed that!!
To add to the day, I had to go shopping for some new pants yesterday (have I mentioned that I HATE shopping?). I was able to find a pair that fit, and was comfortable...Now, the best part...
It wasn't in a store/department that specializes in "covering the ample ass"!!
Phew! It's been awhile. So, despite the actual weight loss being pretty minimal, obviously there has been re-distribution. I knew it, but this really made it hit home!! YAY YAY, double YAY!. Yesterday was just a good day all around!
Friday, December 5, 2008
The worst station of them all.....
Yesterday - 15 sets of 3 Deadlifts - heaviest weight possible as long as you can maintain good form. I started at 215, and stayed there. There is a really strange phenomenon that occurs with this one -Im not certain that I understand it. The first round is REALLY freakin' heavy, but as the rounds continue - on and on and on and on, the heavines goes away a bit. Now the bar is still heavy - don't get me wrong, it's just not that "holy moly" heavy. It's very odd - almost easier the 15th round than the 1st - with the exception of the grip - the callouses on my hand are really sore this week!
Anyway, I do remember this heavy to light phenomenon from last time too. Not sure what that means, but that's the way it is.
Today was the suckiest station day of all of them. I saw it posted and my heart filled with dread. Not only is this one agonizing while doing it, but it leaves you with wounds in the aftermath. It's just ugly. 5 rounds: 10lb plate drag, sandbag cleans (50 lbs) and up/downs. Plate drags are basically pure hell - show me the person who likes them and I'll show you a lunatic that needs to be in an asylum. These are the things that leave you with the after-wounds. Ok, I'll admit, perhaps not everyone gets wounded, but I sure do -blistered palms, scraped up knees....
I guess the good news is that I went from the frisbee last time, to the 10 lb plate, as prescribed. I say I guess, because dragging a 10 lb plate while trying to scuttle across the floor on my arms is not really something that I've ever wanted to excel at. On to sandbag cleans. Good thing I'm not a super girly-girl, or I would have stopped doing these pretty quickly. Second or third round, I'm picking up the sandbag, and I'm feeling what fingernails I have bending, twisting and ripping all over the place. Now that I'm home, I'm also finding ripped hangnails, some finger rips. To say I have some super lovely hands at the moment would be an understatement. Ah the joys of jockhood. Up downs - I think I got about 4 in per round because Joe G was smokin' on the plate drags. He completed the distance in less than a minute almost every time. It was stunning and amazing.
So, I have to say, between Thanksgiving and tonight - this has probably been the most difficult, hardcore, work your booty till it weeps, week that I can remember. (but I'm not gonna swear by my memory - I'm old now!)
I was chatting with Patty about this and we came up with a couple theories - 1. Jonathan is mad at us, and this is his payback. Ok - probably not, if so, he disguises it well. The other theory, Patty came up with, and it does make you pause and think.....
Wanna know what it is?
Patty's theory: we must be looking like we've packed on some poundage, and this is Jonathan's subtle way of making us work it off.
Now- you may think, Ah, Bah Humbug that's lame, what a "girl" thought!!
But stop...think a minute.. Thanksgiving was last week - that is a national holiday just made to stuff your face with all kinds of bad bad things. So, before you poo-poo it away.. ..ponder it. Could it be true? I know I gained some over the holiday......anyone else?
Hmmmm....how's that food for thought!
Anyway, I do remember this heavy to light phenomenon from last time too. Not sure what that means, but that's the way it is.
Today was the suckiest station day of all of them. I saw it posted and my heart filled with dread. Not only is this one agonizing while doing it, but it leaves you with wounds in the aftermath. It's just ugly. 5 rounds: 10lb plate drag, sandbag cleans (50 lbs) and up/downs. Plate drags are basically pure hell - show me the person who likes them and I'll show you a lunatic that needs to be in an asylum. These are the things that leave you with the after-wounds. Ok, I'll admit, perhaps not everyone gets wounded, but I sure do -blistered palms, scraped up knees....
I guess the good news is that I went from the frisbee last time, to the 10 lb plate, as prescribed. I say I guess, because dragging a 10 lb plate while trying to scuttle across the floor on my arms is not really something that I've ever wanted to excel at. On to sandbag cleans. Good thing I'm not a super girly-girl, or I would have stopped doing these pretty quickly. Second or third round, I'm picking up the sandbag, and I'm feeling what fingernails I have bending, twisting and ripping all over the place. Now that I'm home, I'm also finding ripped hangnails, some finger rips. To say I have some super lovely hands at the moment would be an understatement. Ah the joys of jockhood. Up downs - I think I got about 4 in per round because Joe G was smokin' on the plate drags. He completed the distance in less than a minute almost every time. It was stunning and amazing.
So, I have to say, between Thanksgiving and tonight - this has probably been the most difficult, hardcore, work your booty till it weeps, week that I can remember. (but I'm not gonna swear by my memory - I'm old now!)
I was chatting with Patty about this and we came up with a couple theories - 1. Jonathan is mad at us, and this is his payback. Ok - probably not, if so, he disguises it well. The other theory, Patty came up with, and it does make you pause and think.....
Wanna know what it is?
Patty's theory: we must be looking like we've packed on some poundage, and this is Jonathan's subtle way of making us work it off.
Now- you may think, Ah, Bah Humbug that's lame, what a "girl" thought!!
But stop...think a minute.. Thanksgiving was last week - that is a national holiday just made to stuff your face with all kinds of bad bad things. So, before you poo-poo it away.. ..ponder it. Could it be true? I know I gained some over the holiday......anyone else?
Hmmmm....how's that food for thought!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Stations, stations, everywhere....OH BOY!
900,000 billion stations - AKA - do as much as you can in a minute, then move to the next thing -on and on this goes, with nary a pause! Ok, once again, this may possibly be a slight exaggeration - possibly. However, it does pretty much sum up the last two days.
Yesterday, 3 rounds, 1 minute each at:
- Dips
- 1-hand kettlebell swings (16 kg)
- Pushups
- Slamball (16)
- Push press (55)
- Tornado ball
1 minute pause between rounds.
Yes, this one was devised by the sick twisted mind of Cheri.
Dips - yes, they were unassisted, but a tiny bit lame - the first couple I did were ok - not exactly full range of motion - but ok. However, by the end, they could hardly be called a dip - more of a bend then straighten as suddenly "oh crap, can't bend my arms any more than this if I'm gonna have to straighten them back out!" pops into my head.
KB swings, pushups, no problemo!
Slamball, Ok - albeit a bit tiring after pushups,.
Push press - cool
Enter the coordination hell of Tornado ball: I am a complete, putz when it comes to tornado ball. Looks simple enough when someone else does it, but this particular thing is definitely not my forte. I end up trying but that ball is flopping around with nothing close to resembling a smooth motion. It's just not such a pretty thing.
I can't remember my exact score - I believe it was 319 or so....which is definitely better than last time, which was 275 ish.
Fun for the night - kipping practice!! Turns out kipping is actually a strange twist on Frank Sinatra - "Swingin' on a Bar!"
Tonight was a new stations - I can't really say that I approve of this one. It was a whopping 5 rounds. So, maybe there were only 3 stations, but the stations themselves were kind of icky (technical term!)
Thrusters, Power cleans and pull to inverted hang. Must say - this was devised by another demented mind.
I started on the pull to inverted hang - which could have been substituted for knees to elbows or knee ups. Well, thinking back on it, I don't think I did any of the above, I kind of just pulled up into a ball trying to get my feet up as high as they would go, and my head down. So I guess I'll call it a "pull up into a rotating ball" type of thingy-poo. Ah well. I averaged about 9 or 10 of these do-hickeys per round. Thrusters, normally don't bother me too much, but they kind of sucked wind tonight! I think on average I still managed to eek out 7-9 per round. Then we get to the nasty cleans. Still hate them. Yes, I know, "you hate what you can't do" blah blah. We'll see if I ever really do like these bastards - I'm thinkin' not - but you never know - I could be proven wrong.
Light and breezy started this week - so worked the squat angle - 5 reps at 145, 5 at 125. Not sure when it happened but I suddenly have cracklin' knees. Hee hee - now I'm hearing some Neil Diamond in my hea
Yesterday, 3 rounds, 1 minute each at:
- Dips
- 1-hand kettlebell swings (16 kg)
- Pushups
- Slamball (16)
- Push press (55)
- Tornado ball
1 minute pause between rounds.
Yes, this one was devised by the sick twisted mind of Cheri.
Dips - yes, they were unassisted, but a tiny bit lame - the first couple I did were ok - not exactly full range of motion - but ok. However, by the end, they could hardly be called a dip - more of a bend then straighten as suddenly "oh crap, can't bend my arms any more than this if I'm gonna have to straighten them back out!" pops into my head.
KB swings, pushups, no problemo!
Slamball, Ok - albeit a bit tiring after pushups,.
Push press - cool
Enter the coordination hell of Tornado ball: I am a complete, putz when it comes to tornado ball. Looks simple enough when someone else does it, but this particular thing is definitely not my forte. I end up trying but that ball is flopping around with nothing close to resembling a smooth motion. It's just not such a pretty thing.
I can't remember my exact score - I believe it was 319 or so....which is definitely better than last time, which was 275 ish.
Fun for the night - kipping practice!! Turns out kipping is actually a strange twist on Frank Sinatra - "Swingin' on a Bar!"
Tonight was a new stations - I can't really say that I approve of this one. It was a whopping 5 rounds. So, maybe there were only 3 stations, but the stations themselves were kind of icky (technical term!)
Thrusters, Power cleans and pull to inverted hang. Must say - this was devised by another demented mind.
I started on the pull to inverted hang - which could have been substituted for knees to elbows or knee ups. Well, thinking back on it, I don't think I did any of the above, I kind of just pulled up into a ball trying to get my feet up as high as they would go, and my head down. So I guess I'll call it a "pull up into a rotating ball" type of thingy-poo. Ah well. I averaged about 9 or 10 of these do-hickeys per round. Thrusters, normally don't bother me too much, but they kind of sucked wind tonight! I think on average I still managed to eek out 7-9 per round. Then we get to the nasty cleans. Still hate them. Yes, I know, "you hate what you can't do" blah blah. We'll see if I ever really do like these bastards - I'm thinkin' not - but you never know - I could be proven wrong.
Light and breezy started this week - so worked the squat angle - 5 reps at 145, 5 at 125. Not sure when it happened but I suddenly have cracklin' knees. Hee hee - now I'm hearing some Neil Diamond in my hea
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Barbara....a brazen hussy!
I was finally able to face my obsession with Barbara, and I must admit, I kind of liked her. This was definitely a way wicked hard workout, but there is a sick part of my mind that is really starting to bond with the ass-kicking, pure pain workouts. It's a bit on the bizarre side, I'm not sure what is happening to me....
Barbara - 20 pullups, 30 pushups, 40 sit ups, 50 squats - 5 rounds for time. The good news, I actually finished, but with a caveat. In reality, I was in round 4 with just the situps and squats left when time was called. I opened my big mouth, and said something to the effect of "aw shucks, 5 more minutes and I could have finished" Low and behold, I was given the go ahead to finish it all up. Final time was 39:23 (I think that was the seconds amount, but I'm not positive).
Ok, I will readily admit - the pullups were lame, but jumping pullups usually are! However, I sure as heck can't do 20 deadhangs in a row, and can't really kip until I'm outta the bands - so, what else is there? We'll just keep workin' on these - they are coming along ok. Worked them Red band low bar.
Pushups were full on boy style. By the last couple rounds, I cranked out the first 10 then had to go in 5's.
Sit ups - regular style..
Squats - taking a leap from 15 in a row to 50 is kind of a big 'un. These felt like they took forever, and I have a hunch that these may cause me a bit of pain tomorrow.
I got through it, and I'm darn-tootin' glad I did!! Thanks to everyone cheering me on at the end, I know I wouldn't have finished as quickly without that.
Again, this is one I would rather do than Helen, and I was thinking about that little fact, and wondering about it. This is definitely more difficult, so it didn't make alot of sense. However, I did come to the conclusion that it's all about the breathing. Running, there is no rhyme or reason to how you should breath - yes, you try to keep a rhythm but it never really works. With Barbara, doing situps/pushups/squats - you know when to inhale and exhale - when you need to stop it's because of muscle exhaustion, not because "holy crap, I can't breathe!" I think that explains my total and complete hatred of running in a nutshell - for those who think I'm completely nuts!
Now, I'm just going to wait for the onset of pain....although I'm crossing my fingers in hope that it never really sets in. HA! We'll see....
Happy Birthday Jonathan!! Hope it was a good one and you had some ice cream!!
Barbara - 20 pullups, 30 pushups, 40 sit ups, 50 squats - 5 rounds for time. The good news, I actually finished, but with a caveat. In reality, I was in round 4 with just the situps and squats left when time was called. I opened my big mouth, and said something to the effect of "aw shucks, 5 more minutes and I could have finished" Low and behold, I was given the go ahead to finish it all up. Final time was 39:23 (I think that was the seconds amount, but I'm not positive).
Ok, I will readily admit - the pullups were lame, but jumping pullups usually are! However, I sure as heck can't do 20 deadhangs in a row, and can't really kip until I'm outta the bands - so, what else is there? We'll just keep workin' on these - they are coming along ok. Worked them Red band low bar.
Pushups were full on boy style. By the last couple rounds, I cranked out the first 10 then had to go in 5's.
Sit ups - regular style..
Squats - taking a leap from 15 in a row to 50 is kind of a big 'un. These felt like they took forever, and I have a hunch that these may cause me a bit of pain tomorrow.
I got through it, and I'm darn-tootin' glad I did!! Thanks to everyone cheering me on at the end, I know I wouldn't have finished as quickly without that.
Again, this is one I would rather do than Helen, and I was thinking about that little fact, and wondering about it. This is definitely more difficult, so it didn't make alot of sense. However, I did come to the conclusion that it's all about the breathing. Running, there is no rhyme or reason to how you should breath - yes, you try to keep a rhythm but it never really works. With Barbara, doing situps/pushups/squats - you know when to inhale and exhale - when you need to stop it's because of muscle exhaustion, not because "holy crap, I can't breathe!" I think that explains my total and complete hatred of running in a nutshell - for those who think I'm completely nuts!
Now, I'm just going to wait for the onset of pain....although I'm crossing my fingers in hope that it never really sets in. HA! We'll see....
Happy Birthday Jonathan!! Hope it was a good one and you had some ice cream!!
Friday, November 28, 2008
T-giving mish-mash and my latest frustration
Ok - I must confess, when I realized the Thanksgiving workout was not going to be posted, I definitely got a sense of dread - because not posting it, was an omen of pure evilness. Walking into the gym that morning, and looking at the whole workout, written on the board, then turning around and seeing the 8am group collapsed into heaps on the floor, didn't really do much to alleviate that dread. However, when it came down to it, this was an excellent pre-Thanksgiving gorge fest ass-wholloping!
Started off with "Micro Cindy", AKA 6 minutes of Cindy (5 Pullup/10pushup/15 squats). In general, I like Cindy, so 6 minutes is not so bad. Got in 4 rounds plus 2 pullups. Red Bands high bar.
Next - Fight gone bad - 2 rounds. I got 62 first round and 60, I think it was, the second round.
Then, Tabata Cleans - ok - In case you didn't know, I hate cleans with a blood red hot passion. They are just a strange movement. ...and doing them Tabata style...YUKKO! But, I managed to get 40 in - which averaged out to about 5 per round, which I was good with. Then came Tabata burpees. This was an ending created in hell. Burpees are hard enough, but ending with them, Tabata style?? OY VAY! I only got 20 in....but hey, that was still ending on 20 burpees. Overall, definitely one of the more difficult workouts, but I must say, and call me crazy if you will, I would rather do this than Helen!! Have I mentioned that I hate running lately? ...Hmm...is it me, or am I suddenly filled with alot of hatred? Ok - hate may be too strong of a word,but plain and simple, running and cleans kinda suck.
Bench Press is quickly taking the place of pullups as the most frustrating thing! At least I am feeling like I am making improvements in my pullups - I feel like I'm close to where I was in the Blue Bands when I dumped them - still have alot of work to do, but I definitely am feeling better about them. Bench Press on the other hand, I'm in a bit of a rut. Stuck and just not getting any better...it's 135-140 at 1 with pause, or 145-150 no pause. Today, I couldn't get past the 135, despite hitting 140 before. It was definitely a bit disappointing and frustrating. So, now that I've whined for a bit, I'll turn to the glory of the TGU's and bask in that for a bit longer. (In case you haven't guessed, I don't really like dwelling on the negative too long, sucks too much energy and life outta ya!)
Started off with "Micro Cindy", AKA 6 minutes of Cindy (5 Pullup/10pushup/15 squats). In general, I like Cindy, so 6 minutes is not so bad. Got in 4 rounds plus 2 pullups. Red Bands high bar.
Next - Fight gone bad - 2 rounds. I got 62 first round and 60, I think it was, the second round.
Then, Tabata Cleans - ok - In case you didn't know, I hate cleans with a blood red hot passion. They are just a strange movement. ...and doing them Tabata style...YUKKO! But, I managed to get 40 in - which averaged out to about 5 per round, which I was good with. Then came Tabata burpees. This was an ending created in hell. Burpees are hard enough, but ending with them, Tabata style?? OY VAY! I only got 20 in....but hey, that was still ending on 20 burpees. Overall, definitely one of the more difficult workouts, but I must say, and call me crazy if you will, I would rather do this than Helen!! Have I mentioned that I hate running lately? ...Hmm...is it me, or am I suddenly filled with alot of hatred? Ok - hate may be too strong of a word,but plain and simple, running and cleans kinda suck.
Bench Press is quickly taking the place of pullups as the most frustrating thing! At least I am feeling like I am making improvements in my pullups - I feel like I'm close to where I was in the Blue Bands when I dumped them - still have alot of work to do, but I definitely am feeling better about them. Bench Press on the other hand, I'm in a bit of a rut. Stuck and just not getting any better...it's 135-140 at 1 with pause, or 145-150 no pause. Today, I couldn't get past the 135, despite hitting 140 before. It was definitely a bit disappointing and frustrating. So, now that I've whined for a bit, I'll turn to the glory of the TGU's and bask in that for a bit longer. (In case you haven't guessed, I don't really like dwelling on the negative too long, sucks too much energy and life outta ya!)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Hatred and love are sooo close!
Oh, so much to say...I'll start with the bad......tonight, Helen. Hate her, she is an evil swine. Helen=200m run, 21 Kettlebell swings, 12 pull ups 3 rounds for time. BLECH! Have I mentioned lately that I really hate running?? It's one of those evil tasks devised to make you huff and puff until you think your lungs are going to explode. Sad that 1/4 of a mile makes me say that, but I'm hoping that this paints a vivid picture of my hatred of it. Will I do it? yes....but unless given a good reason, apparently I'll be bitching the whole way. I guess I'm a bit of a whiner at heart. Finished this one in....14:40. Quicker than last time, but a tad bit slower than the time before. Red bands, low bar.
Now, a bit happier - Diane on Monday. Deadlift 155/Handstand Pushup 21/15/9. Crud, I can't remember the time on it.....hmmm..no clue. I believe it was a tiny bit faster than last time. On the really positive side, my arm didn't go numb for a couple weeks from the HSPU's this time. Just a finger or two and it didn't last long. I was a tiny bit disappointed in the range of motion overall- got some with a decent range, but then some were kind of sad and pathetic. Again, breathing got in the way. Have you ever really tried to catch your breath while upside down, blood rushing to your brain?? It doesn't work quite as well. Next time, I'll have to concentrate on the range more, even if my time deteriorates in a big way.
Now...onto the good stuff. Turkish Getups for weight. I have to say, I LOVE this one. Tried it with the barbell, because I think that is the coolest looking thing on the planet. Did 35, 40, 45, 50 - not such a good 50, faltered quite a bit. Then tried the 50 one more time, and got it! I have to say, I am super duper-uber glad that I didn't attempt to go up and redid the 50 for success. I left yesterday, feeling super geeked about the whole thing, and in reality, I still am! First of all - it was a PR -ok, maybe only a PR by 1 measly pound, but it was with a barbell, and not the kettlebell this time - so added degree of difficulty, but extra element of coolness! I have come to the conclusion that this is my all time favorite lift..it's so complex, and takes such a combination of strength, coordination and balance that it's just awesome!....and awesome to watch someone do it (albeit a bit nerve racking!!). The bad thing was coming home to a house full of people, all geeked up about doing it, and they look at you with a blank face thinking "huh?? Turkish what?? what the hell are you talking about??" Ah well, had to dig up a video to show everyone tonight, because they all need to be as impressed with me as I am with myself right now...YAY ME! I can't wait for this one again - makes me feel all cool and coordinated!! I have to say - the feeling of accomplishment that I have had since doing this one is why I love doing this - even the miserable, evil ones, like Helen - they all make it possible!! TGU's are just awesome!!
Now, a bit happier - Diane on Monday. Deadlift 155/Handstand Pushup 21/15/9. Crud, I can't remember the time on it.....hmmm..no clue. I believe it was a tiny bit faster than last time. On the really positive side, my arm didn't go numb for a couple weeks from the HSPU's this time. Just a finger or two and it didn't last long. I was a tiny bit disappointed in the range of motion overall- got some with a decent range, but then some were kind of sad and pathetic. Again, breathing got in the way. Have you ever really tried to catch your breath while upside down, blood rushing to your brain?? It doesn't work quite as well. Next time, I'll have to concentrate on the range more, even if my time deteriorates in a big way.
Now...onto the good stuff. Turkish Getups for weight. I have to say, I LOVE this one. Tried it with the barbell, because I think that is the coolest looking thing on the planet. Did 35, 40, 45, 50 - not such a good 50, faltered quite a bit. Then tried the 50 one more time, and got it! I have to say, I am super duper-uber glad that I didn't attempt to go up and redid the 50 for success. I left yesterday, feeling super geeked about the whole thing, and in reality, I still am! First of all - it was a PR -ok, maybe only a PR by 1 measly pound, but it was with a barbell, and not the kettlebell this time - so added degree of difficulty, but extra element of coolness! I have come to the conclusion that this is my all time favorite lift..it's so complex, and takes such a combination of strength, coordination and balance that it's just awesome!....and awesome to watch someone do it (albeit a bit nerve racking!!). The bad thing was coming home to a house full of people, all geeked up about doing it, and they look at you with a blank face thinking "huh?? Turkish what?? what the hell are you talking about??" Ah well, had to dig up a video to show everyone tonight, because they all need to be as impressed with me as I am with myself right now...YAY ME! I can't wait for this one again - makes me feel all cool and coordinated!! I have to say - the feeling of accomplishment that I have had since doing this one is why I love doing this - even the miserable, evil ones, like Helen - they all make it possible!! TGU's are just awesome!!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Backsquats and...what the heck was I thinking?
Back squats on Thursday 5-5-5-5-5 for max weight. Going for the full "breaking the plane" on this one...UGH!....it may only be an extra inch or two down, but that extra inch or two makes the weight just that much heavier. So, because I wasn't sure how the extra dip down would affect the weight, and I had just come off a very mentally, and emotionally draining day at work, I started off low. It did still feel heavy! So first round 135, second 145. Then Jonathan looked at the board, saw what I had done last time, and burst out with a "what are you doing piddling around with the low stuff?" Ok, fine....so went up to 185, then 205 - which was super-duper heavy. One of those moments when, in retrospect, you knew you had the red bloated face trying to push that baby up (still not as bad as crazy Mary though!!). The 205, was done, but it definitely wasn't pretty - so backed down to 185 for the last rep.
Flash forward 24 hours....and the back muscle soreness begins to set in- not a big deal, pop a few advil and relax, no problemo. Waking up this morning, still a bit sore, but better, and the warmup stretches did alleviate any residual before starting the WOD.
Today, doing what, in my head thinking about it this morning, I'm thinking, oh this won't be so bad...heck, it may only take 10 minutes or so.
50/40/30/20/10 - jumping squat/push press 35 lb bar
HA! Again, what was going through my brain? First inkling that my initial thought was way off was when I hear something to the effect of "I have a bit of a diabolical mind when it comes to devising a workout" ...2nd hint was when Rich said he ended up laying on the floor at the end.....RUTROW!! This took me forever - 23 minutes or so. But, the last rounds, I did have to stop frequently because my back muscles were kind of pissed off and yelling at me to give 'em a break. If we ever do this one again, I'm thinking I should have a vast improvement on time, without the back muscles screaming at me. Overall, and several hours after the fact, I think I liked it.
Thanks everyone for humoring me on this bit of fun, and for coming to lunch afterwards. It was fun and awesome!
Flash forward 24 hours....and the back muscle soreness begins to set in- not a big deal, pop a few advil and relax, no problemo. Waking up this morning, still a bit sore, but better, and the warmup stretches did alleviate any residual before starting the WOD.
Today, doing what, in my head thinking about it this morning, I'm thinking, oh this won't be so bad...heck, it may only take 10 minutes or so.
50/40/30/20/10 - jumping squat/push press 35 lb bar
HA! Again, what was going through my brain? First inkling that my initial thought was way off was when I hear something to the effect of "I have a bit of a diabolical mind when it comes to devising a workout" ...2nd hint was when Rich said he ended up laying on the floor at the end.....RUTROW!! This took me forever - 23 minutes or so. But, the last rounds, I did have to stop frequently because my back muscles were kind of pissed off and yelling at me to give 'em a break. If we ever do this one again, I'm thinking I should have a vast improvement on time, without the back muscles screaming at me. Overall, and several hours after the fact, I think I liked it.
Thanks everyone for humoring me on this bit of fun, and for coming to lunch afterwards. It was fun and awesome!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Dippety Fran ups
Fran - 21/15/9 65 lb Thrusters/Pullups for time. Not sure that I'm such a fan of Fran, for many reasons, 1. it's my middle name - never particularly cared for it. 2. This particular Fran is a tad bit evil.
I did full pop on the Thrusters, and red band high bar for pull ups (note: I did NOT say dead hang!!) For some odd reason, the Thrusters felt a bit off. Actually, that would probably be the understatement of the day, as I couldn't even remember if you started off with a squat or where. But I got through them, and the pull ups. I believe my time was 11:09 - something along those lines. I managed to knock a couple seconds off my last time.
Now, that being said, as I was driving into work this morning, I was thinking about Fran. I momentarily had the thought that I really wanted to get this one under 10 minutes. Then I paused, and remembered, that I had to stop to breath every once in awhile, because my form was leaving along with each breath. So.....here's the question - what's better, maintaining form throughout the entire workout, or kicking butt for a spectacular time?? My thought is form, which, for me, will always need a momentary pause or two for breathing purposes -because if I can't breath, I sure as heck cannot "keep my weight on my heels", or "hips before elbows", or "pull from the bellybutton".
Actually, I can't do anything close to a pulll up if I can't breath!!
Today, 7 rounds of 10 Sumo Deadlift High pulls, Ring dips. Did my dips on the bar, foot assisted. Cripes, 70 is ALOT!! Yes, I may be able to do a dip or two unassisted, but there is not a chance that I could have done this one with more than a millimeter range of motion without that foot assist. SDHP's were actually no problem. This one wasn't too too awful, but it was an awful lot of dippety-dos! I completed in 10 minutes and some odd seconds. Hmm...not really sure exactly what my time was, oddly enough this particular fact seems to have left my brain rather quickly!
We ended up with some extra time at the end, so decided to work on Turkish Get-ups!! YAY! However, after 70 dips, I wasn't sure how strong my arms were. Did the first one, with the 12 kg kettlebell, no problem. Then Luke stepped it up the second round and did it with a 65 lb barbell. HOLY CRAP! That was pretty AND impressive!! Rich tried it next, again, TGU's are really pretty with Barbells - they add a certain balance and symmetry to the move. I was up next, tried it with the 35 lb barbell. I must say, balancing the barbell in one hand adds a whole new element of difficulty. I'm very proud to say, I did it...it wasn't fast, it wasn't necessarily pretty....but holy moly!! I can do it. Now...I need to work on getting used to the balancing of the barbell, once I get that, the world is my oyster!! BAHAHAHAHA!!
I did full pop on the Thrusters, and red band high bar for pull ups (note: I did NOT say dead hang!!) For some odd reason, the Thrusters felt a bit off. Actually, that would probably be the understatement of the day, as I couldn't even remember if you started off with a squat or where. But I got through them, and the pull ups. I believe my time was 11:09 - something along those lines. I managed to knock a couple seconds off my last time.
Now, that being said, as I was driving into work this morning, I was thinking about Fran. I momentarily had the thought that I really wanted to get this one under 10 minutes. Then I paused, and remembered, that I had to stop to breath every once in awhile, because my form was leaving along with each breath. So.....here's the question - what's better, maintaining form throughout the entire workout, or kicking butt for a spectacular time?? My thought is form, which, for me, will always need a momentary pause or two for breathing purposes -because if I can't breath, I sure as heck cannot "keep my weight on my heels", or "hips before elbows", or "pull from the bellybutton".
Actually, I can't do anything close to a pulll up if I can't breath!!
Today, 7 rounds of 10 Sumo Deadlift High pulls, Ring dips. Did my dips on the bar, foot assisted. Cripes, 70 is ALOT!! Yes, I may be able to do a dip or two unassisted, but there is not a chance that I could have done this one with more than a millimeter range of motion without that foot assist. SDHP's were actually no problem. This one wasn't too too awful, but it was an awful lot of dippety-dos! I completed in 10 minutes and some odd seconds. Hmm...not really sure exactly what my time was, oddly enough this particular fact seems to have left my brain rather quickly!
We ended up with some extra time at the end, so decided to work on Turkish Get-ups!! YAY! However, after 70 dips, I wasn't sure how strong my arms were. Did the first one, with the 12 kg kettlebell, no problem. Then Luke stepped it up the second round and did it with a 65 lb barbell. HOLY CRAP! That was pretty AND impressive!! Rich tried it next, again, TGU's are really pretty with Barbells - they add a certain balance and symmetry to the move. I was up next, tried it with the 35 lb barbell. I must say, balancing the barbell in one hand adds a whole new element of difficulty. I'm very proud to say, I did it...it wasn't fast, it wasn't necessarily pretty....but holy moly!! I can do it. Now...I need to work on getting used to the balancing of the barbell, once I get that, the world is my oyster!! BAHAHAHAHA!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Burping through Deadlifts
Deadlifts on Saturday, it was an interesting day all around. First off, warming up, I felt super-ultra-uber weak. When the warm up weight, of 185 feels heavy with a capital H.....you start thinking you're in trouble. Once we started the actual workout (7 sets of 1 for weight), it went a tad bit better. Started off 225, 245, 255 (this was a match to my previous PR), ok, lets try 265...got it! I think I actually stated, "I got my PR, so I'm done for the day"....who knew, next round when I tried for 270, my body would actually listened to my sarcasm!! Probably need to watch that next time! So, I tried 270 twice, failing both times, got it off the ground, but no way was I straightening up! Last round back down to 245. At this point, I'm very happy with 265, feeling pretty darn tootin' strong (not Hercules strong by any means, but overall, strong). Then we go to the powerlifting meet, and get hit with the reality - I'm not so strong at all. Holy moly these people were beyond strong. Even the crazy Mary chick who would bulge her eyes out and huff around like a bull in heat - she scared the living crap out of me, but she was impressive, along with everyone else. Overall, a good day, worth the time.
Death by Burpee on the other hand, I must say, was a lesson in misery. "Death by" workouts are start at 1 in one minute and each minute increase by one. Doesn't sound so difficult, and in reality, the first coupla minutes, it's not. The Burpee "death by" workout has a quick demise. You feel like you're doing really well, and then suddenly you hit 7 and it's wretched. The weird thing, is I started getting arch cramps - something that I haven't really had with Crossfit - I used to get them all the time, skiing, skating, almost anything else, but not this...until tonight. ...and I must say, cramps in the arches of your feet, hurt like a ....hmmm..not sure what, but something. Anyway, momentary pause, it goes away, but also puts you way behind in the Burpee count. In the end, I did a total of 61. Doesn't sound so bad, but criminy, it felt like a heck of alot more than just that -cripes, that's only 11 more than the Filthy 50. I must say, Despite the new guy "Z" was a burpee fiend, and kicked some wild turkey butt!!
Death by Burpee on the other hand, I must say, was a lesson in misery. "Death by" workouts are start at 1 in one minute and each minute increase by one. Doesn't sound so difficult, and in reality, the first coupla minutes, it's not. The Burpee "death by" workout has a quick demise. You feel like you're doing really well, and then suddenly you hit 7 and it's wretched. The weird thing, is I started getting arch cramps - something that I haven't really had with Crossfit - I used to get them all the time, skiing, skating, almost anything else, but not this...until tonight. ...and I must say, cramps in the arches of your feet, hurt like a ....hmmm..not sure what, but something. Anyway, momentary pause, it goes away, but also puts you way behind in the Burpee count. In the end, I did a total of 61. Doesn't sound so bad, but criminy, it felt like a heck of alot more than just that -cripes, that's only 11 more than the Filthy 50. I must say, Despite the new guy "Z" was a burpee fiend, and kicked some wild turkey butt!!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Bench Press and those elusive pullups...
Yesterday - Bench press - 3-3-3-3-3 for weight.
Well, On the plus side, I finally hit my goal of 150! You would think I'd be jubilant, happy, but I'm just not as overjoyed as I should be. I think it's because the workout is sets of 3, and I only got 1. In fact, if I'm counting correctly, I only did a grand total of 8 bench presses the whole night. We were going without the pause - with the thinking, of let's get the PR, then work on the pause (at least that's my interpretation of it).
So first set, quick and easy 3 sets at 125.
Then I decided to try the Luke method - go big early, before fatigue sets in.
Next set 150 - I did 1 successfully - but it wasn't as successful as the count of one sounds. In reality, I didn't touch down all the way...so I kind of cheated a bit.
Next set - 150, only this time all the way. YAY!! I did it......but I only got 1.
So I hit the PR, next step, drop down 10 lbs and try the pause. Well, silly me, I think the heaviest I've done with the pause is 135...DUH! So, once again, I only managed to hoist the bar up once. Last set, screw it, let's do 140, set of 3 no pause. Yeah right. I did 2...then on the 3rd one, my right shoulder/arm hitched up and did not want to go. Not sure if computer arm has kicked in or what - it's been on and off for a coupla months, but it's never affected anything I do...I did feel it this catching this time. Very peculiar.
Strangely enough, the highlight of my night, was when I was playing with pullups afterwards. I strapped myself into the red bands, got into my dead hang, and pulled...up, up, up and holy CRAP!! I was over - as in, not my hallucinatory over the bar that I usually have...I was really up there. I actually think the sore muscles in my shoulder area (not really sure what the technical term is for those), from KBHell helped me in that last little "ooompff". It was shocking and amazing....and DAMN I felt good!
Today, at Lisa's request we did full Cindy. With a bit of the hangover happiness of my pullup feat from the night before still pumping through my veins, I decide to go for it! Red band, high bar!
HA! Ok - I think I got a grand total of 2 maybe 3 good pullups in all 9 rounds. The vast majority of them, I ended up eye level with the bar, and on a few, even below that.
So much for the pullup euforia!! Pushups and squats, as always, not a huge problem - tiring after a bit, but not terrible.
Big bonus of the night - Lisa asking how much weight I've lost - Good to know some of all of this work is showing!
Well, On the plus side, I finally hit my goal of 150! You would think I'd be jubilant, happy, but I'm just not as overjoyed as I should be. I think it's because the workout is sets of 3, and I only got 1. In fact, if I'm counting correctly, I only did a grand total of 8 bench presses the whole night. We were going without the pause - with the thinking, of let's get the PR, then work on the pause (at least that's my interpretation of it).
So first set, quick and easy 3 sets at 125.
Then I decided to try the Luke method - go big early, before fatigue sets in.
Next set 150 - I did 1 successfully - but it wasn't as successful as the count of one sounds. In reality, I didn't touch down all the way...so I kind of cheated a bit.
Next set - 150, only this time all the way. YAY!! I did it......but I only got 1.
So I hit the PR, next step, drop down 10 lbs and try the pause. Well, silly me, I think the heaviest I've done with the pause is 135...DUH! So, once again, I only managed to hoist the bar up once. Last set, screw it, let's do 140, set of 3 no pause. Yeah right. I did 2...then on the 3rd one, my right shoulder/arm hitched up and did not want to go. Not sure if computer arm has kicked in or what - it's been on and off for a coupla months, but it's never affected anything I do...I did feel it this catching this time. Very peculiar.
Strangely enough, the highlight of my night, was when I was playing with pullups afterwards. I strapped myself into the red bands, got into my dead hang, and pulled...up, up, up and holy CRAP!! I was over - as in, not my hallucinatory over the bar that I usually have...I was really up there. I actually think the sore muscles in my shoulder area (not really sure what the technical term is for those), from KBHell helped me in that last little "ooompff". It was shocking and amazing....and DAMN I felt good!
Today, at Lisa's request we did full Cindy. With a bit of the hangover happiness of my pullup feat from the night before still pumping through my veins, I decide to go for it! Red band, high bar!
HA! Ok - I think I got a grand total of 2 maybe 3 good pullups in all 9 rounds. The vast majority of them, I ended up eye level with the bar, and on a few, even below that.
So much for the pullup euforia!! Pushups and squats, as always, not a huge problem - tiring after a bit, but not terrible.
Big bonus of the night - Lisa asking how much weight I've lost - Good to know some of all of this work is showing!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Crap and Halitosis!!
Hee hee - don't ask me what the subject means, it just popped into my delirious brain on the way home and I liked it! It's been couple of doozy days....days which left me feeling woozy!! (ha ha - look, I rhymed!) Ok - apparently my brain has turned into the mind of a 5th grader, if that tells ya anything!!
I stray......I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Kettlebell hell...I love the first 4 rounds of the Tabata intervals...not so much the next two, and hate the last 2 intervals with a red hot passion. Either way, once done, this particular joy always leaves you with the feeling of bulging biceps! Lowest score counts, which, I think I have figured out the key to. Know where you want to score and do that number - even the first couple rounds...it's the low score, so if you can stay at a consistent level, take your rest in the beginning, when you can - you can score higher than going big the first couple rounds and then hitting nothing in the end. I had the freakin' heavy ass - 16kg kettlebells again. I scored 5 on the front squats (those suckers were HARD yesterday!!), 2 on the clean and jerks (no improvement on that one), 8 on the rows, 8 on the floor press and 10 on the swings. Believe me when I say, the scores were more impressive than the form at the end!!
Annie - haven't done Annie in ages - in fact, my last score wasn't on any of the sheets it's been so long. I do recall, from the nether regions of my mind, that last time I did this one, I did burpees instead of DU's- and it wasn't so good. Tonight, I tried the double unders, as prescribed, because I can actually get them once in a while, and on a really good day, I can actually connect as many as 3. On the plus side, it didn't take me quite as long as I thought (I was thinking 45 minutes), it only took 26:55 or so. HAHA! Ok - so I finished 10 minutes behind everyone else....they were all done and I hadn't started my 20 round. Oh well!! All I can say is YAY! I did this one "as prescribed", or at least, kind of as prescribed. Now, when I say that, I'm not counting the 300 single jumps that I had to do to get my double unders (yes, I'm a dork and have to do 3 or 4 singles for every DU) not to mention the time, my mind forgot what I was doing so I did 7 or 8 singles, completely neglecting to spin fast or jump high. Seriously, that was not a very smart moment for me!
End result - I guarantee my pores have been cleaned thoroughly from the gallons of sweat, I knocked my knuckle with the weight thing on the rope (that kind of hurts!), I'm gonna have to ice the living crap out of my shin splints,......but I'm glad I did it!
I stray......I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Kettlebell hell...I love the first 4 rounds of the Tabata intervals...not so much the next two, and hate the last 2 intervals with a red hot passion. Either way, once done, this particular joy always leaves you with the feeling of bulging biceps! Lowest score counts, which, I think I have figured out the key to. Know where you want to score and do that number - even the first couple rounds...it's the low score, so if you can stay at a consistent level, take your rest in the beginning, when you can - you can score higher than going big the first couple rounds and then hitting nothing in the end. I had the freakin' heavy ass - 16kg kettlebells again. I scored 5 on the front squats (those suckers were HARD yesterday!!), 2 on the clean and jerks (no improvement on that one), 8 on the rows, 8 on the floor press and 10 on the swings. Believe me when I say, the scores were more impressive than the form at the end!!
Annie - haven't done Annie in ages - in fact, my last score wasn't on any of the sheets it's been so long. I do recall, from the nether regions of my mind, that last time I did this one, I did burpees instead of DU's- and it wasn't so good. Tonight, I tried the double unders, as prescribed, because I can actually get them once in a while, and on a really good day, I can actually connect as many as 3. On the plus side, it didn't take me quite as long as I thought (I was thinking 45 minutes), it only took 26:55 or so. HAHA! Ok - so I finished 10 minutes behind everyone else....they were all done and I hadn't started my 20 round. Oh well!! All I can say is YAY! I did this one "as prescribed", or at least, kind of as prescribed. Now, when I say that, I'm not counting the 300 single jumps that I had to do to get my double unders (yes, I'm a dork and have to do 3 or 4 singles for every DU) not to mention the time, my mind forgot what I was doing so I did 7 or 8 singles, completely neglecting to spin fast or jump high. Seriously, that was not a very smart moment for me!
End result - I guarantee my pores have been cleaned thoroughly from the gallons of sweat, I knocked my knuckle with the weight thing on the rope (that kind of hurts!), I'm gonna have to ice the living crap out of my shin splints,......but I'm glad I did it!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Overhead how???....and Daniel's shocking revelation
I've come to the conclusion that I think I do better working out in a dictatorship type of environment. Yesterday, with the "get the weight overhead in any manner possible" kind of threw me a bit. Not sure if it was a low coordination day, or I was just given too many choices, so I couldn't make up my mind - or most likely a combination of both.
It was interesting, I know I can push press 120. Supposedly Push Jerks/split jerks a typical person is stronger. Not sure exactly what I was trying to do each time, in the end, for the most part it ended up being push press. I wasn't exactly exhibiting anything close to resembling good form. I did ....let me think..... 115, 125, 125, 125, 130, 130, 135 - I believe that was it. I don't know if I was still a bit tired from the Filthy 50, or what, but my confidence in hoisting that bar up just wasn't there. So, what seems to be my mantra lately?? Yes - it is - "Ah well, next time."
Today was Daniel. Ewww, Ick, blech. Running!!! ....and alot of it!!! Horror of horror!! Ok, that might be a bit melodramatic, but I really don't like running at all. In fact, have I mentioned that I believe people who enjoy running for distance are a bit batty?? I can see running around the yard chasing someone, playing a game, even practicing sprints....but running for miles as enjoyment?? Really, someone needs to lock those people up!!
But I stray.....onto Daniel.
- 50 Pull-ups
- 400 meter run
- 21 thrusters (95/65 lbs)
- 800 meter run
- 21 thrusters (95/65 lbs)
- 400 meter run
- 50 Pull-ups
For time
I modified - Red band, jumping pullups. Next time, I'll have to ponder this, jumping pullups, while they get tiring...they are nothing compared to dead hang pull ups. So, I need to figure out a way to work the pull up better, but not take 3 hours to complete.....
The running sucked as always...but it didn't suck quite as hard as it did last time. Yes, I still had to walk in parts, but really, there just comes a point when you have to catch your breath. I must say, the hardest part was trying to start running after doing thrusters - my legs and lungs just did not want to go there. I actually completed this one faster than last time, and I was in the red bands instead of the blue - 25:51. So I really don't feel too bad about it.
Shockingly, I am finding that I actually am starting to enjoy these punishingly difficult workouts....crazy as that sounds. I've always loved the powerlifting ones, BP, Squat, etc. (you can keep those frickin' olympic lifts - those really do kinda suck donkeys!) In fact, I was putzing around on the Crossfit website the other day....and I must say "Barbara" caught my eye and intrigued me (hint hint - subtle ain't I??)
Found another interesting thing - for anyone and everyone who has asked me if I am planning on competing anytime soon - on the CF website there is also a sheet showing barbell standards:
http://www.crossfit.com/cf-journal/WLSTANDARDS.pdf
(sorry, on my MAC, so I have no clue how to add a hyperlink)
According to this, I am squarely intermediate, so I think it'll be a bit.
Now, here is the amazing, fascinating, unbelievable revelation of the day: I think I actually liked Daniel (even with it's running!!) better than the Bear.....I know...shocking!
It was interesting, I know I can push press 120. Supposedly Push Jerks/split jerks a typical person is stronger. Not sure exactly what I was trying to do each time, in the end, for the most part it ended up being push press. I wasn't exactly exhibiting anything close to resembling good form. I did ....let me think..... 115, 125, 125, 125, 130, 130, 135 - I believe that was it. I don't know if I was still a bit tired from the Filthy 50, or what, but my confidence in hoisting that bar up just wasn't there. So, what seems to be my mantra lately?? Yes - it is - "Ah well, next time."
Today was Daniel. Ewww, Ick, blech. Running!!! ....and alot of it!!! Horror of horror!! Ok, that might be a bit melodramatic, but I really don't like running at all. In fact, have I mentioned that I believe people who enjoy running for distance are a bit batty?? I can see running around the yard chasing someone, playing a game, even practicing sprints....but running for miles as enjoyment?? Really, someone needs to lock those people up!!
But I stray.....onto Daniel.
- 50 Pull-ups
- 400 meter run
- 21 thrusters (95/65 lbs)
- 800 meter run
- 21 thrusters (95/65 lbs)
- 400 meter run
- 50 Pull-ups
For time
I modified - Red band, jumping pullups. Next time, I'll have to ponder this, jumping pullups, while they get tiring...they are nothing compared to dead hang pull ups. So, I need to figure out a way to work the pull up better, but not take 3 hours to complete.....
The running sucked as always...but it didn't suck quite as hard as it did last time. Yes, I still had to walk in parts, but really, there just comes a point when you have to catch your breath. I must say, the hardest part was trying to start running after doing thrusters - my legs and lungs just did not want to go there. I actually completed this one faster than last time, and I was in the red bands instead of the blue - 25:51. So I really don't feel too bad about it.
Shockingly, I am finding that I actually am starting to enjoy these punishingly difficult workouts....crazy as that sounds. I've always loved the powerlifting ones, BP, Squat, etc. (you can keep those frickin' olympic lifts - those really do kinda suck donkeys!) In fact, I was putzing around on the Crossfit website the other day....and I must say "Barbara" caught my eye and intrigued me (hint hint - subtle ain't I??)
Found another interesting thing - for anyone and everyone who has asked me if I am planning on competing anytime soon - on the CF website there is also a sheet showing barbell standards:
http://www.crossfit.com/cf-journal/WLSTANDARDS.pdf
(sorry, on my MAC, so I have no clue how to add a hyperlink)
According to this, I am squarely intermediate, so I think it'll be a bit.
Now, here is the amazing, fascinating, unbelievable revelation of the day: I think I actually liked Daniel (even with it's running!!) better than the Bear.....I know...shocking!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Snatches, Squats and a Filthy Foul Fifty F!@#!
Well, with everyone in town, writing is not going to be quite as frequent....trying to keep my obsessive behavior to a minimum, so the family doesn't realize just how crazy I can be!!
So, here I am...after several days, and several, so called "fun" workouts.. ...Where to begin, well, I've always been one to save the best for last. So, I'll start with snatch-day. 75 Power snatches for time. I didn't recall this one being that bad...I'm thinking, Randy, must be like they say child birth is.....you forget the pain. I did marginally ok on it, small, little, itty, bitty, bit of improvement - I knocked a whooping 4 seconds off my previous time. I think it was 10:04 ish. I holding onto the thought that my form had to have been better...so there was improvement, true or not, I don't know, but I like to live in my happy little land of denial. So, there it is.
Yesterday....Front Squats...3/3/3/3/ 3 for weight. Ok, not sure who the crazy yokel is who thinks these are fun, or natural, but these are total wack-a-doodle squatty things. As your shoulders are in a completely unnatural position, with the bar pressing down on your poor little shoulder muscles, you squat. Ok, maybe men find this relatively simple, but women have a couple protrusions in the front that just help tip the balance scale a tiny bit more. To the point that you want to topple over forward. Yeah, yeah..then the chant...."lift your elbows, lift your elbows" JINKIES BATMAN!! My elbows don't want to do that!! Despite the pure obomination of hell that was the front squat, I don't think I did too, too bad. 80/105/125/155/155x2.....Tried the160, but failed miserably, to the point that even with Jonathan spotting...kinda got stuck once...weren't quite sure how to get out of it...but get out we did! Ah well, today, my poor shoulders are feeling a tad bit bruised.
Now onto today's fun. I have to say, once I learned we were doing the Filthy 50 again, I was kind of excited, but kept dwelling on how best to do it, so that I would complete the freakin' thing. I still am not sure whether it's best to do the hard parts - the ones that take forever - first or last. I did them late in the game today. It started off ok - jumping pullups, low bar red band. Then onto box jumps, I probably could have done the 20" box, but it would have taken 20 minutes, so I opted for the 16" in my hopes of actually finishing. That wasn't super quick, but not so slow. Then onto Push Press, this was a light weight, so no problemo there! I think I did the walking lunges next, tiring, but not bad, then kettlebell swings, only 12kg...again, this was ok. Next move...Double unders. These took 982 years....ok, maybe it was only 15 minutes or so, but CRIPES! They took forever! Someday I'll be able to whip these babies out, but now....it's a slow, slow thing. Once I finally finished the DU's, went onto back extensions, these were ok. Then wall ball. Ok - new recommendation - don't do wall ball right after back extensions....I felt every toss of the ball in my back muscles! Ended up having to do these 10 at a time. Once I finished those, time was starting to run a bit short...we were a good 1/2 hour/35 minutes into it...and I knew I still had the burpees. I was hoping to start the burpees at 30 minutes - HA~! I still had knees to elbows. Because time was running short, I opted for situps....I can do those relatively quick, and I just wasn't sure about the actual knees to elbows, kind of wish I'd tried, but I'm also ok with not. Next time. I concluded with Burpee hell. I am SO slow and methodical - I just can't speed these babies up, and add in pure, unadulterated exhaustion, and they suck big time! Got through them, but didn't quite make the cutoff time. Finished the last of them with a time of 49:22. The bragging right, is that I did finish it. So, I now feel that I deserve to wear the uber-cool Filthy 50's shirt. Had I not completed it, wearing that shirt just wouldn't have been right!
That's it - it's been a hell of a week so far - I was debating on taking Thurs or Fri off....and I think Thurs wins! Now....off to sleep!!
So, here I am...after several days, and several, so called "fun" workouts.. ...Where to begin, well, I've always been one to save the best for last. So, I'll start with snatch-day. 75 Power snatches for time. I didn't recall this one being that bad...I'm thinking, Randy, must be like they say child birth is.....you forget the pain. I did marginally ok on it, small, little, itty, bitty, bit of improvement - I knocked a whooping 4 seconds off my previous time. I think it was 10:04 ish. I holding onto the thought that my form had to have been better...so there was improvement, true or not, I don't know, but I like to live in my happy little land of denial. So, there it is.
Yesterday....Front Squats...3/3/3/3/ 3 for weight. Ok, not sure who the crazy yokel is who thinks these are fun, or natural, but these are total wack-a-doodle squatty things. As your shoulders are in a completely unnatural position, with the bar pressing down on your poor little shoulder muscles, you squat. Ok, maybe men find this relatively simple, but women have a couple protrusions in the front that just help tip the balance scale a tiny bit more. To the point that you want to topple over forward. Yeah, yeah..then the chant...."lift your elbows, lift your elbows" JINKIES BATMAN!! My elbows don't want to do that!! Despite the pure obomination of hell that was the front squat, I don't think I did too, too bad. 80/105/125/155/155x2.....Tried the160, but failed miserably, to the point that even with Jonathan spotting...kinda got stuck once...weren't quite sure how to get out of it...but get out we did! Ah well, today, my poor shoulders are feeling a tad bit bruised.
Now onto today's fun. I have to say, once I learned we were doing the Filthy 50 again, I was kind of excited, but kept dwelling on how best to do it, so that I would complete the freakin' thing. I still am not sure whether it's best to do the hard parts - the ones that take forever - first or last. I did them late in the game today. It started off ok - jumping pullups, low bar red band. Then onto box jumps, I probably could have done the 20" box, but it would have taken 20 minutes, so I opted for the 16" in my hopes of actually finishing. That wasn't super quick, but not so slow. Then onto Push Press, this was a light weight, so no problemo there! I think I did the walking lunges next, tiring, but not bad, then kettlebell swings, only 12kg...again, this was ok. Next move...Double unders. These took 982 years....ok, maybe it was only 15 minutes or so, but CRIPES! They took forever! Someday I'll be able to whip these babies out, but now....it's a slow, slow thing. Once I finally finished the DU's, went onto back extensions, these were ok. Then wall ball. Ok - new recommendation - don't do wall ball right after back extensions....I felt every toss of the ball in my back muscles! Ended up having to do these 10 at a time. Once I finished those, time was starting to run a bit short...we were a good 1/2 hour/35 minutes into it...and I knew I still had the burpees. I was hoping to start the burpees at 30 minutes - HA~! I still had knees to elbows. Because time was running short, I opted for situps....I can do those relatively quick, and I just wasn't sure about the actual knees to elbows, kind of wish I'd tried, but I'm also ok with not. Next time. I concluded with Burpee hell. I am SO slow and methodical - I just can't speed these babies up, and add in pure, unadulterated exhaustion, and they suck big time! Got through them, but didn't quite make the cutoff time. Finished the last of them with a time of 49:22. The bragging right, is that I did finish it. So, I now feel that I deserve to wear the uber-cool Filthy 50's shirt. Had I not completed it, wearing that shirt just wouldn't have been right!
That's it - it's been a hell of a week so far - I was debating on taking Thurs or Fri off....and I think Thurs wins! Now....off to sleep!!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
A tiny bit of arm hell
Chore break! Phase one of Kitchen floor hell is done - (scrubbing the grout lines - YUK!) In a perma-squat for about an hour...ow...crampage!!
So, while the grout is drying, I'll tell you about the last coupla days.
Let's see - one handed Kettlebell ladder, went down on weight for this one, since we were giving blood within an hour of finishing. Can I tell you how odd it is to go down in weight? I did the 12 kg. Didn't feel bad at all, although I did get a cramp or two in the butt-cheek, which made me pause for moment. I think my time was just about 7 minutes or so...something like that. It doesn't REALLY count anyway because I went down in weight for what was an acceptable reason, but not really a good one. Either way, that day, I became a super hero "SUPER SWEAT GIRL!" - ok - not sure what a super-hero could do with excessive amounts of sweat, but sounds good anyway. BAHAHAHA - no, I didn't drink at lunch, must be the cleaning fumes!
After that, off to the blood drive where Patty kicked my butt. She is one speedy bleeder!! I thought I was going at a decent rate, but she was the Mario Andretti of the day! Woo hoo - way to keep the blood flowin' Patty!
Today was a new stations one - Cheri's stations..... I must say it was a tiny bit of arm hell. 3 rounds for reps...I think I got 274 total..something like that.
- Pushups - I did pretty good on these, round 1 24, round 2 18, round 3 17. I think I want to try to get to the point that I can do 20 or 30 in row. I have found that once you stop, the next set is much worse, so I think if you can keep going it's gotta be easier!
- Slamball (16) - Again, love slamball when it's played in a happy little circle of friends...it's ...ok...when doing as many as you can for time, in amongst 20 other arm things.
- Push press (55) - These weren't bad, just a bit tiring after pushups and slamball.
- Tornado ball - plain and simple - I'm a Tornado Ball idiot. Don't get it, can't do it. I think the most I got on this was ....6 or 7...and those were pretty pathetic.
- Dips - Did them unassisted....they were sorta dips....kinda. My arms did bend....then straighten, it just wasn't much of a bend. I got about 3 or 4 in per round. Not my finest dips by any means!
- 1-hand kettlebell swings (24 kg/16 kg) - These were the number getters, that kept me close to everyone else. Not sure what I did each round but it was in the 20 ish range I think.
Overall a good one, I can do without the Tornado ball though!!
Ok, break time over, time for phase II of kitchen floor....blech!
So, while the grout is drying, I'll tell you about the last coupla days.
Let's see - one handed Kettlebell ladder, went down on weight for this one, since we were giving blood within an hour of finishing. Can I tell you how odd it is to go down in weight? I did the 12 kg. Didn't feel bad at all, although I did get a cramp or two in the butt-cheek, which made me pause for moment. I think my time was just about 7 minutes or so...something like that. It doesn't REALLY count anyway because I went down in weight for what was an acceptable reason, but not really a good one. Either way, that day, I became a super hero "SUPER SWEAT GIRL!" - ok - not sure what a super-hero could do with excessive amounts of sweat, but sounds good anyway. BAHAHAHA - no, I didn't drink at lunch, must be the cleaning fumes!
After that, off to the blood drive where Patty kicked my butt. She is one speedy bleeder!! I thought I was going at a decent rate, but she was the Mario Andretti of the day! Woo hoo - way to keep the blood flowin' Patty!
Today was a new stations one - Cheri's stations..... I must say it was a tiny bit of arm hell. 3 rounds for reps...I think I got 274 total..something like that.
- Pushups - I did pretty good on these, round 1 24, round 2 18, round 3 17. I think I want to try to get to the point that I can do 20 or 30 in row. I have found that once you stop, the next set is much worse, so I think if you can keep going it's gotta be easier!
- Slamball (16) - Again, love slamball when it's played in a happy little circle of friends...it's ...ok...when doing as many as you can for time, in amongst 20 other arm things.
- Push press (55) - These weren't bad, just a bit tiring after pushups and slamball.
- Tornado ball - plain and simple - I'm a Tornado Ball idiot. Don't get it, can't do it. I think the most I got on this was ....6 or 7...and those were pretty pathetic.
- Dips - Did them unassisted....they were sorta dips....kinda. My arms did bend....then straighten, it just wasn't much of a bend. I got about 3 or 4 in per round. Not my finest dips by any means!
- 1-hand kettlebell swings (24 kg/16 kg) - These were the number getters, that kept me close to everyone else. Not sure what I did each round but it was in the 20 ish range I think.
Overall a good one, I can do without the Tornado ball though!!
Ok, break time over, time for phase II of kitchen floor....blech!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Bear hugging Lynne??
It's been awhile since I felt that I've had a good bench press day, which is really disappointing considering it is one of my favorite lifts. So doing Lynne yesterday was a really good thing. Lynne is max reps bench press/pullups, for 5 rounds. I think I've decided that Lynne is my favorite of the Bench Press workouts. Why you may ask? There is no PR involved.....it's not max weight..where's the bonus?? Well, for me, doing max reps really helps me feel the foot to arm connection - much more so than going for a PR. It's actually kind of interesting. As I'm doing the reps and beginning to fail, it's almost like flipping a switch and, "click zoom" foot power kicks in and the bar goes up. For some reason with the single rep, that switch on is not nearly as apparent. So, yesterday was a good day. Did the same weight as last time, 115, but this time with the evil pause. Cut my reps in about 1/2 but still got 9,8,7,6,5. (I'm consistent in my decline, if nothing else!). With the pause, I felt pretty good about that. Pullups, were crazy. Ended up doing red bands thinking I could at least get one in per round from a dead hang. BAHAHAHA! What the hell was I thinking. Laugh if you will...here's my performance:
1, 1/2, 3/4, 3/4, 2/3. So....it was fractional pullups! Sad but true. Ah well, I was still ok with it....for now.
Tonight, I experienced a new kind of hell....the bear. Some kind of mixed bar jumble of fun, that included 2 of my least favorite things.....the clean and the front squat. The worst about this is it was clean, front squat, push press, back squat, push press....repeat 7 times and do not put the bar down at any cost. Then do this 7 rep thing 5 times!! ZOIKS! Ok, so I forgot once and set the bar on the ground too long (habit!!), yes, got reprimanded for that. Then when it came to resting, the bar is either on your back (not much of a rest, really!!) Or you can rest it in your hips - another very strange awkward position. However, apparently the lower your hips are, the easier it is to rest for a moment. Naturally, I give this a shot, and end up sitting on my butt ball. AH! sweet momentary relief! Again, I get called out for my hint o' cheat - but ya know what?? I think I'm ok with that because - Good Lord!! this got miserable by about 5 in the 4th and 5th round. All I can say is I finished.....it wasn't quick, it wasn't pretty, but I got through it. Did 65, 75, 80,80, 80.
1, 1/2, 3/4, 3/4, 2/3. So....it was fractional pullups! Sad but true. Ah well, I was still ok with it....for now.
Tonight, I experienced a new kind of hell....the bear. Some kind of mixed bar jumble of fun, that included 2 of my least favorite things.....the clean and the front squat. The worst about this is it was clean, front squat, push press, back squat, push press....repeat 7 times and do not put the bar down at any cost. Then do this 7 rep thing 5 times!! ZOIKS! Ok, so I forgot once and set the bar on the ground too long (habit!!), yes, got reprimanded for that. Then when it came to resting, the bar is either on your back (not much of a rest, really!!) Or you can rest it in your hips - another very strange awkward position. However, apparently the lower your hips are, the easier it is to rest for a moment. Naturally, I give this a shot, and end up sitting on my butt ball. AH! sweet momentary relief! Again, I get called out for my hint o' cheat - but ya know what?? I think I'm ok with that because - Good Lord!! this got miserable by about 5 in the 4th and 5th round. All I can say is I finished.....it wasn't quick, it wasn't pretty, but I got through it. Did 65, 75, 80,80, 80.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I always knew cleaning was strange and unnatural!
Who knew, I would find yet another way to dislike cleaning...or should I say another method of cleaning to dislike...hmmm. Yes, I know, cleaning is a necessary evil, and that probably applies to every meaning of the word, but that doesn't necessarily mean I have to like it does it?
So for inquiring minds, who I just managed to confuse the hell out of - Cleans are actually funky ass - awkward lifts. Kind of a hoist up with the hips, swing your elbows up and rest the bar on your shoulders while squatting. All of this while trying not to have the bar whack into your neck. Sound confusing?? Yep - it is, for me, those movements just don't flow. First of all, I don't know about you, but my shoulders will go back but not forward. Perhaps it's the whole being a girl thing -stand up straight, shoulders back, chest out. Suddenly trying to get your shoulders to turn inward after darn near 42 years....wickedly unnatural.
So on these, I really feel uncoordinated. We did 6 (got an extra one in!) sets of 3....I did 75/95/95/95/105/105 - not too bad considering the bizarro move, but they definitely weren't pretty.
So....I have a bit of a puzzle that I must ponder with Lynne up tomorrow. Success has not reigned supreme in the pull up realm -much easier going from knee pushup to full pushup!! So the question is do I do red bands, high bar, and get in about 3/4 of a pullup, red bands low bar and just jump my way through it, or dead hang in the blue bands - even though it is completely going back on my vow of never giving into the big blues again??
So for inquiring minds, who I just managed to confuse the hell out of - Cleans are actually funky ass - awkward lifts. Kind of a hoist up with the hips, swing your elbows up and rest the bar on your shoulders while squatting. All of this while trying not to have the bar whack into your neck. Sound confusing?? Yep - it is, for me, those movements just don't flow. First of all, I don't know about you, but my shoulders will go back but not forward. Perhaps it's the whole being a girl thing -stand up straight, shoulders back, chest out. Suddenly trying to get your shoulders to turn inward after darn near 42 years....wickedly unnatural.
So on these, I really feel uncoordinated. We did 6 (got an extra one in!) sets of 3....I did 75/95/95/95/105/105 - not too bad considering the bizarro move, but they definitely weren't pretty.
So....I have a bit of a puzzle that I must ponder with Lynne up tomorrow. Success has not reigned supreme in the pull up realm -much easier going from knee pushup to full pushup!! So the question is do I do red bands, high bar, and get in about 3/4 of a pullup, red bands low bar and just jump my way through it, or dead hang in the blue bands - even though it is completely going back on my vow of never giving into the big blues again??
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Weird and Woozy
Bench Press - normally one of my all time favorites...but the last couple times, doing them, I haven't really felt the "foot" connection as much as I have in the past, not sure if it's something with the pause that's throwing me off, or just a mental thing. So the BP hasn't been quite as strong or good as it has been in the past. To top it off, Friday night, was just all around off. No one was focused, so the whole night was a bit wacky with a bit of a strange air about. I think I've identified the main reason behind this, so, at least if there is a repeat of the same strangeness, it can be remedied. So, my max was only 135 with pause...less than my pause high of 140, less than my no pause high of 145. But considering Friday night was all around "off", I'll accept that. I'm still determined to hit 150....soon.
Yesterday, was a new stations, I must say, I really liked this one!! Some of the stuff was difficult or awkward, so rep time is lower than most stations. But this one was slightly different...it had an extra bonus at the end of 1 minute jumping squats w/35 barbell. Start off - 3 rounds:
- Ring rows - Lying as close to horizontal as you can - with stiff body, hold rings and pull your self up. Can't really say I was horizontal, but I wasn't at a huge angle. On this one the first 5-8 (depending on what round we were on) weren't so bad....but once that point was hit..the remaining got far more difficult!
- Dumbbell split cleans (40/25) - first time doing these...felt a bit funky...but overall not too bad.
- Knees to elbows -These are the hanging, pull your knees up things, not the happy little typical aerobics class knees to elbows. I think overall I was closer to actually doing them than in the past, but it was more like a knees to belly thing than knees to elbow. Ah well, higher and faster next time, right?
- Deadlifts (185/155) - These were the "rep getters" Yep, without these, I'd have a really pathetic number. But after the DL kind of weirdness the other night, it was good to get these back in line, even if it was at a lower weight.
- Burpees - blech. slow and methodical, especially at the end of the stations...someday I'll get quicker at these, but without Rich beside me, and trying to keep up with him, I just have no speed on these suckers!
Overall on the stations themselves ended up with 50/50/46....so not too bad. Then we ended up doing the jumping squats. These were actually really kind of fun, I really liked them. If only I had the stamina/lung capacity to keep going the full minute - YIKES! I hit 18 on these which wasn't great, but not wretched. I really did have to stop to catch my breath....oxygen is a good thing!! This was a hard one - but it's always a good one when your arms and legs are woozy afterwards (did you know your limbs could get woozy?? )
Then lunch with Patty, and an attempt to go to Boo at the Zoo with my sister and my uber-cute niece dressed as a pig (her father's favorite animal). I said I would go, without thinking about the crowds and my low tolerance of crowded situations these days. Fortunately Mary is 8 1/2 months pregnant, her tolerance is FAR lower! So our trip to Boo at the Zoo ended up being a drive by. PHEW dodged that on
Yesterday, was a new stations, I must say, I really liked this one!! Some of the stuff was difficult or awkward, so rep time is lower than most stations. But this one was slightly different...it had an extra bonus at the end of 1 minute jumping squats w/35 barbell. Start off - 3 rounds:
- Ring rows - Lying as close to horizontal as you can - with stiff body, hold rings and pull your self up. Can't really say I was horizontal, but I wasn't at a huge angle. On this one the first 5-8 (depending on what round we were on) weren't so bad....but once that point was hit..the remaining got far more difficult!
- Dumbbell split cleans (40/25) - first time doing these...felt a bit funky...but overall not too bad.
- Knees to elbows -These are the hanging, pull your knees up things, not the happy little typical aerobics class knees to elbows. I think overall I was closer to actually doing them than in the past, but it was more like a knees to belly thing than knees to elbow. Ah well, higher and faster next time, right?
- Deadlifts (185/155) - These were the "rep getters" Yep, without these, I'd have a really pathetic number. But after the DL kind of weirdness the other night, it was good to get these back in line, even if it was at a lower weight.
- Burpees - blech. slow and methodical, especially at the end of the stations...someday I'll get quicker at these, but without Rich beside me, and trying to keep up with him, I just have no speed on these suckers!
Overall on the stations themselves ended up with 50/50/46....so not too bad. Then we ended up doing the jumping squats. These were actually really kind of fun, I really liked them. If only I had the stamina/lung capacity to keep going the full minute - YIKES! I hit 18 on these which wasn't great, but not wretched. I really did have to stop to catch my breath....oxygen is a good thing!! This was a hard one - but it's always a good one when your arms and legs are woozy afterwards (did you know your limbs could get woozy?? )
Then lunch with Patty, and an attempt to go to Boo at the Zoo with my sister and my uber-cute niece dressed as a pig (her father's favorite animal). I said I would go, without thinking about the crowds and my low tolerance of crowded situations these days. Fortunately Mary is 8 1/2 months pregnant, her tolerance is FAR lower! So our trip to Boo at the Zoo ended up being a drive by. PHEW dodged that on
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Yesterday, and "someday"...
Deadlifts yesterday were for max weight. This was a bit mixed. Round 3 I was able to match my previous PR - 255 (ok, at least I felt a bit of relief, because the first time I hit it, DL's felt so good, that I knew it had to be a freaky moment!) So, at least the 255 was not just an isolated moment delivered from space. However, after that round, I could not connect. Supposedly the hardest part of the DL is getting the weight off the floor. Well, for me, that wasn't really the issue. I was able to get the weight to my shin....but couldn't stand up the rest of the way. It was a bit puzzling. However, DL's are not my forte, and for some reason I'm more timid with them and higher weights than almost anything else. I think I just see more pain potential in them....
Cindy today- 5 pullup/10 pushup/15 squats max rounds in 20 minutes.
Well, I held true to my vow and did not go back into the big blues. Last time I was strapped into the big blues, I only got in 6 rounds or so, but the pullups were from the high bar, deadhang. Today, I did 8 rounds -pullups were red bands, low bar, jump up, hold, lower down. Not exactly stellar pullups, but I really did try to work them, since it's really hard not to jump alot on the low bar. Next time, I'll be doing high bar...work the lift part - attack from all angles! I have decided pullups are going to be part of my warm up now (unless we are doing 5000 of them in the actual workout!). I gotta hold to it if I'm really gonna defeat these bastards! Here's my thought - I may have a bigger butt cheek than some of the new people coming in - but they have puny little arms too - and I got me some guns that need to be put to good use! hee hee.
Pushups were fine - haven't done alot of them lately, so they felt a bit harder than usual, but not bad. Squats....get the rhythm and hold the course. Someday, once I'm able to do pullups - real pullups, I'll be able to fly through this pretty well - at least I'll be able to in my mind. AH....someday......
Cindy today- 5 pullup/10 pushup/15 squats max rounds in 20 minutes.
Well, I held true to my vow and did not go back into the big blues. Last time I was strapped into the big blues, I only got in 6 rounds or so, but the pullups were from the high bar, deadhang. Today, I did 8 rounds -pullups were red bands, low bar, jump up, hold, lower down. Not exactly stellar pullups, but I really did try to work them, since it's really hard not to jump alot on the low bar. Next time, I'll be doing high bar...work the lift part - attack from all angles! I have decided pullups are going to be part of my warm up now (unless we are doing 5000 of them in the actual workout!). I gotta hold to it if I'm really gonna defeat these bastards! Here's my thought - I may have a bigger butt cheek than some of the new people coming in - but they have puny little arms too - and I got me some guns that need to be put to good use! hee hee.
Pushups were fine - haven't done alot of them lately, so they felt a bit harder than usual, but not bad. Squats....get the rhythm and hold the course. Someday, once I'm able to do pullups - real pullups, I'll be able to fly through this pretty well - at least I'll be able to in my mind. AH....someday......
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
My ultimate enemy...it shall be defeated!!
I have found my ultimate enemy - I always knew it one of my top nemesis's. But I have decided that pullups are my A 1 enemy...and they must be defeated!!!
What made me come to this conclusion you may ask? Sadly, my ego. Saturday after I did my workout in the big blues, I saw Lisa's mother try pullups, in smaller bands than mine. Then I remembered that tomorrow, I have a friend coming in, and I would bet money she will be in reds or minis. As I realized this, the eternal words of Peter Griffin popped into my head...."That just grinds my gears!!"
So, I am going to devastate the evil pullup the same way I did the pushup. I decided to never do another pushup on my knees, and I haven't. From this day forward, I am vowing to never don the big blues again. I'm going red, and my goal is be out of any color bands by the end of the year. Ultimately, I want to be free of all bands, but I'll accept the mini if need be.
That being said, we did Fran today....21/15/9 Thrusters/pullups. My time 11:37 ish...I think. Did the thrusters as prescribed, 65lbs, pullups, I did red bands, low bar, jumping. Not exactly a big leap forward, but I feel like I worked them harder than last time. I was at least holding them rather than jump and drop. ARGH! Freakin' pullups!!!
What made me come to this conclusion you may ask? Sadly, my ego. Saturday after I did my workout in the big blues, I saw Lisa's mother try pullups, in smaller bands than mine. Then I remembered that tomorrow, I have a friend coming in, and I would bet money she will be in reds or minis. As I realized this, the eternal words of Peter Griffin popped into my head...."That just grinds my gears!!"
So, I am going to devastate the evil pullup the same way I did the pushup. I decided to never do another pushup on my knees, and I haven't. From this day forward, I am vowing to never don the big blues again. I'm going red, and my goal is be out of any color bands by the end of the year. Ultimately, I want to be free of all bands, but I'll accept the mini if need be.
That being said, we did Fran today....21/15/9 Thrusters/pullups. My time 11:37 ish...I think. Did the thrusters as prescribed, 65lbs, pullups, I did red bands, low bar, jumping. Not exactly a big leap forward, but I feel like I worked them harder than last time. I was at least holding them rather than jump and drop. ARGH! Freakin' pullups!!!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
A monster?? too soon to tell
H-Ellen.....
- 200 meter run
- 21 Kettlebell swings (24 kg)
- 12 pullups
5 rounds for time
So-funny thing - this morning, I'm thinkin' 200m run, heck that's nothing, I'm gonna treat it like a sprint....this should be no problemo. BAHAHAHAHAHA! Boy was I hallucinating......200m, is not sprint, at least not for the "running challenged". So, once I started this, I thought I created a giant nightmare of a monster. Especially after getting run by shouts of "I hate you Ellen"as I was being passed, while trying to muster up something close to resembling a run for the average person.
Turns out, seems like this was kind of a popular one...my verdict - still a bit hazy. Who knew I could modify something that I wasn't particularly fond of -.the original Helen ( 3 rounds 400m run/21 kb swings/12 pullups), and in my quest to make it easier by reducing the runs, make it more difficult. Yes, it is 200 m shorter than Helen, BUT it has 42 more kb swings and 24 more pullups. So.....not really easier, I'm not sure what I was thinking - musta been a low brainwave day for me!
I think I finished in 16:21 or something like that. The pullups were sad. Still strapped into the big blues, but with 60 pull ups, there was no way I was gonna be able to do them dead hang off the high bar - I can muster up, maybe 3 at a time there, so 60 was just a ridiculous thought. Will these dastardly pullups EVER get better?
Ah well...now here's the question of the day...
Who the hell wears a short black strapless dress and 4 inch heels to Costco????
Seriously......I witnessed, and now I must ponder!!
- 200 meter run
- 21 Kettlebell swings (24 kg)
- 12 pullups
5 rounds for time
So-funny thing - this morning, I'm thinkin' 200m run, heck that's nothing, I'm gonna treat it like a sprint....this should be no problemo. BAHAHAHAHAHA! Boy was I hallucinating......200m, is not sprint, at least not for the "running challenged". So, once I started this, I thought I created a giant nightmare of a monster. Especially after getting run by shouts of "I hate you Ellen"as I was being passed, while trying to muster up something close to resembling a run for the average person.
Turns out, seems like this was kind of a popular one...my verdict - still a bit hazy. Who knew I could modify something that I wasn't particularly fond of -.the original Helen ( 3 rounds 400m run/21 kb swings/12 pullups), and in my quest to make it easier by reducing the runs, make it more difficult. Yes, it is 200 m shorter than Helen, BUT it has 42 more kb swings and 24 more pullups. So.....not really easier, I'm not sure what I was thinking - musta been a low brainwave day for me!
I think I finished in 16:21 or something like that. The pullups were sad. Still strapped into the big blues, but with 60 pull ups, there was no way I was gonna be able to do them dead hang off the high bar - I can muster up, maybe 3 at a time there, so 60 was just a ridiculous thought. Will these dastardly pullups EVER get better?
Ah well...now here's the question of the day...
Who the hell wears a short black strapless dress and 4 inch heels to Costco????
Seriously......I witnessed, and now I must ponder!!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Slamball must ya hurt me so??
Yesterday - Stations 2 -
On call of "rotate", each person moves immediately to the next station in the sequence 3 rounds.
- Wallball (men: 20 lbs/women: 16 lbs)
- Pullups
- Slamball (20 lbs/16 lbs)
- Situps
- Box jumps (20"/16")
Hmmm...this one really does need a new name. The bad part, all of my naming creativity is wrapped up in alliteration, and I got nothing....bouncing balls? Guess I'm not really feeling creative tonight.
In theory, this should be my A1 favorite of all time because it has my beloved slamball in it. However doing slamball for a full minute and not just 10-15 reps then throwing to the next person are two completely different things. Especailly after wallball and pullups. HELLO! Can you say ultra arm pain!! Oh, and did I mention how particularly painful this was after kettlebell hell at super mega weight? Oy Vay!! I tried to do pullups with the dead hang..HA! that was comical! I kind of gave up on that quickly. I ended up with a total score of 228 ish. It'll be interesting to see what I can do if I ever can do pullups. (yes, strange sentence, I know - a bit Seussian perhaps?)
So, today, the full anguish of Dr. Tabata's kettlebell delicacy at uber-high weight really kind of came to fruition in my arms/shoulders. Despite this, and the intensity of the last couple days, I really wanted to do today's workout -
Shoulder press 1-1-1-1-1 reps
Push press 3-3-3-3-3 reps
Push Jerk 5-5-5-5-5 rep
Possibly because I don't feel like I've done much in the shoulder press realm lately...not really sure...but this was one that I wanted to do. So I did. Shoulder presses...eh, not fabulous, but I have a tendency to lean back and try to turn them into bench presses. So, I focused on "the straight line" today - and shockingly, once again, I was weaker when using the correct form. Is form really that necessary?? Shoulder press I did 95/failed at 95 twice, went down to 85, then 90...I think. Then we went to Push press. Apparently most people with this workout average the same weight for the different exercises - me not so much. Push press is far easier for me thank you to what is evidently my freakishly strong hip strength
Not sure what to think about that.....
Ah well, push press, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120X1.
Push Jerk, was 80/85/90/95/100/105.
Overall - not bad considering my overall soreness. Could I have done better had I not been sore?? Hard to say ....only the shadow knows......
Now, it's time for some Advil, so that I can be ready to play again
On call of "rotate", each person moves immediately to the next station in the sequence 3 rounds.
- Wallball (men: 20 lbs/women: 16 lbs)
- Pullups
- Slamball (20 lbs/16 lbs)
- Situps
- Box jumps (20"/16")
Hmmm...this one really does need a new name. The bad part, all of my naming creativity is wrapped up in alliteration, and I got nothing....bouncing balls? Guess I'm not really feeling creative tonight.
In theory, this should be my A1 favorite of all time because it has my beloved slamball in it. However doing slamball for a full minute and not just 10-15 reps then throwing to the next person are two completely different things. Especailly after wallball and pullups. HELLO! Can you say ultra arm pain!! Oh, and did I mention how particularly painful this was after kettlebell hell at super mega weight? Oy Vay!! I tried to do pullups with the dead hang..HA! that was comical! I kind of gave up on that quickly. I ended up with a total score of 228 ish. It'll be interesting to see what I can do if I ever can do pullups. (yes, strange sentence, I know - a bit Seussian perhaps?)
So, today, the full anguish of Dr. Tabata's kettlebell delicacy at uber-high weight really kind of came to fruition in my arms/shoulders. Despite this, and the intensity of the last couple days, I really wanted to do today's workout -
Shoulder press 1-1-1-1-1 reps
Push press 3-3-3-3-3 reps
Push Jerk 5-5-5-5-5 rep
Possibly because I don't feel like I've done much in the shoulder press realm lately...not really sure...but this was one that I wanted to do. So I did. Shoulder presses...eh, not fabulous, but I have a tendency to lean back and try to turn them into bench presses. So, I focused on "the straight line" today - and shockingly, once again, I was weaker when using the correct form. Is form really that necessary?? Shoulder press I did 95/failed at 95 twice, went down to 85, then 90...I think. Then we went to Push press. Apparently most people with this workout average the same weight for the different exercises - me not so much. Push press is far easier for me thank you to what is evidently my freakishly strong hip strength
Not sure what to think about that.....
Ah well, push press, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120X1.
Push Jerk, was 80/85/90/95/100/105.
Overall - not bad considering my overall soreness. Could I have done better had I not been sore?? Hard to say ....only the shadow knows......
Now, it's time for some Advil, so that I can be ready to play again
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Ok, who pissed off Jonathan??
Seriously....why else would he put us through 2 days of hardcore "fun". Seriously, it's a sick and twisted mind that wallows in the joy of adding squats the day after "squat till ya drop" - (or in my case bellow out expletives that would make a sailor blush!).
After squat, squat, and squat again...go down lower, add some weight and squat some more...we have:
Kettlebell Hell"
Ok - I still managed to eek this one out...at 4/2/7/4/10
Tabata Intervals (20 seconds work/10 seconds rest repeated 8 times) applied in turn to: let me remind you...
- Front squat - with one 16kg (aka 35 lb) kettlebell in each hand
- Double clean-and-jerk - Jinkies! - again one 16kg per hand
- Alternating rows - ZOWIE! - one 16kg per hand....
- Alternating floor press - @$@ - one 16kg per hand...will it never end??
- Two-handed swings - ok - this is only 1 in both hands...phew!
with a one-minute rotation break between exercises.
All I gotta say is 16kg is freakin' heavy!!! In 2 hands....not so bad...1 hand, heavy.
So, I just gotta think, the last 2 days have been payback for something.....not sure what....but something. On the plus side, I got me some buff arms tonight
After squat, squat, and squat again...go down lower, add some weight and squat some more...we have:
Kettlebell Hell"
Ok - I still managed to eek this one out...at 4/2/7/4/10
Tabata Intervals (20 seconds work/10 seconds rest repeated 8 times) applied in turn to: let me remind you...
- Front squat - with one 16kg (aka 35 lb) kettlebell in each hand
- Double clean-and-jerk - Jinkies! - again one 16kg per hand
- Alternating rows - ZOWIE! - one 16kg per hand....
- Alternating floor press - @$@ - one 16kg per hand...will it never end??
- Two-handed swings - ok - this is only 1 in both hands...phew!
with a one-minute rotation break between exercises.
All I gotta say is 16kg is freakin' heavy!!! In 2 hands....not so bad...1 hand, heavy.
So, I just gotta think, the last 2 days have been payback for something.....not sure what....but something. On the plus side, I got me some buff arms tonight
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Ooogly legs
Who knew a measly inch could make such a difference. All I can say is holy guacamole! We did 5 sets of 20 breathing squats for weight. Last time I did this, squatted to the butt-ball, and I just kept going up in weight - it wasn't even too bad or difficult until the last round at 125. Well - get rid of the butt ball, and squat to the point of no return, and life is a bit different. I did 75/95, and 3 sets at 115...but to say the last three rounds were difficult would be a gross understatement. The first 5 weren't bad...it was the remaining 15. On that last set, I swear I was getting a bit lightheaded and seeing stars. By the time I was done, my legs were all oogly. It's a good thing I didn't get pulled over and given a DUI test -despite not having a drop of alcohol in my system, there's no way I could have walked a straight line!!
Overall - one hell of a workout tonight.....only tomorrow will tell how much pain it has wrought.
Overall - one hell of a workout tonight.....only tomorrow will tell how much pain it has wrought.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Squatting down and getting up....
I must admit- today is the first day that I felt 100% back from the bug thing that I had last week. I've been mostly back, but just didn't feel full strength. Now I just have to get back the "kick it into high gear" mindset!
Thursday, was supposed to be the bear, but in a strange twist of fate Patty and I were the only ones who showed up. So, rather than the bear, we worked on Functional stuff. Basically pullups and back squats taken to the competitive level. What this means is that your hip pivot point needs to be lower than your knee, or your derriere is practically hitting your ankle. It made the usual butt-ball seem miles high - like a walk in the park. Personally, the position reminds me of my 1 year old niece when she's filling her diaper....she goes to a corner, squats all the way down and her nose turns red. Hmmmm...scary that as an adult, doing back squats, it looks virtually the same - except for the full load!!! Between doing the squat this way and the Bench Press last week, now I'm beginning to feel like I'm not as strong as I thought I was! NUTS! Oh well, baby steps.
Yesterday was quarter gone bad...15 seconds of work 45 second rest - 95 lb thrusters, weighted pullups (HA!), and burpess for 5 rounds. I was feelin' all cool, loaded up the bar to 95......then tried to pick it up off the rack - it was one big ass heavy bar (this is one of the hints that I didn't have my full strength back). Normally 95 is heavy but it's not THAT bad. So, reduced that down to 75 lbs - averaged 5-6 thrusters per round. Weighted pullups - now that is funny! I did these with no extra weight (I really don't need any extra!), blue bands, high bar from dead hang. Needless to say, I got in one good one per round, the others were just alot of pulling, not much uping!! But I counted them as 3 per round. The burpees were hilarious! I was doing them next to Rich -who the supreme king ruler of all burpees. Holy moly he whizzes through those suckers like nothing!! So me, who is very purposeful in my burpees, next to Rich was quite the comparison. I felt the need to try to keep up.....yeah right. I did manage to eek out 5 in one round though. How the heck that happened, I'll never know, but I'm sure they were super sloppy looking!
Today, was one of my favorites, Turkish Get-ups...this one was for weight. I don't know why I like these so much. I think they just make sense to me, as a way of getting off the floor. With the exception of the arm in the air holding a weight, that part doesn't make as much sense - but the movements themselves seem natural. I know there are plenty of people out there who think I'm crazy for saying that! My high weight was 49 lbs with a kettlebell. When I tried 50 with the dumbbell, the balance was funky and my arm flopped all over the place like a flounder! I know it wasn't the 1lb that made the difference!!
Ah well, once that was over, we went to Johnny Carinos...all I can say is, at least I was good there and didn't get a bunch of pasta covered in gooey cheese - much as I love pasta covered in gooey cheese, I chose responsibly. Maybe that mind frame is starting to kick back in....hmmmmm
Thursday, was supposed to be the bear, but in a strange twist of fate Patty and I were the only ones who showed up. So, rather than the bear, we worked on Functional stuff. Basically pullups and back squats taken to the competitive level. What this means is that your hip pivot point needs to be lower than your knee, or your derriere is practically hitting your ankle. It made the usual butt-ball seem miles high - like a walk in the park. Personally, the position reminds me of my 1 year old niece when she's filling her diaper....she goes to a corner, squats all the way down and her nose turns red. Hmmmm...scary that as an adult, doing back squats, it looks virtually the same - except for the full load!!! Between doing the squat this way and the Bench Press last week, now I'm beginning to feel like I'm not as strong as I thought I was! NUTS! Oh well, baby steps.
Yesterday was quarter gone bad...15 seconds of work 45 second rest - 95 lb thrusters, weighted pullups (HA!), and burpess for 5 rounds. I was feelin' all cool, loaded up the bar to 95......then tried to pick it up off the rack - it was one big ass heavy bar (this is one of the hints that I didn't have my full strength back). Normally 95 is heavy but it's not THAT bad. So, reduced that down to 75 lbs - averaged 5-6 thrusters per round. Weighted pullups - now that is funny! I did these with no extra weight (I really don't need any extra!), blue bands, high bar from dead hang. Needless to say, I got in one good one per round, the others were just alot of pulling, not much uping!! But I counted them as 3 per round. The burpees were hilarious! I was doing them next to Rich -who the supreme king ruler of all burpees. Holy moly he whizzes through those suckers like nothing!! So me, who is very purposeful in my burpees, next to Rich was quite the comparison. I felt the need to try to keep up.....yeah right. I did manage to eek out 5 in one round though. How the heck that happened, I'll never know, but I'm sure they were super sloppy looking!
Today, was one of my favorites, Turkish Get-ups...this one was for weight. I don't know why I like these so much. I think they just make sense to me, as a way of getting off the floor. With the exception of the arm in the air holding a weight, that part doesn't make as much sense - but the movements themselves seem natural. I know there are plenty of people out there who think I'm crazy for saying that! My high weight was 49 lbs with a kettlebell. When I tried 50 with the dumbbell, the balance was funky and my arm flopped all over the place like a flounder! I know it wasn't the 1lb that made the difference!!
Ah well, once that was over, we went to Johnny Carinos...all I can say is, at least I was good there and didn't get a bunch of pasta covered in gooey cheese - much as I love pasta covered in gooey cheese, I chose responsibly. Maybe that mind frame is starting to kick back in....hmmmmm
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Diane and Crossfit thoughts
I was kind of excited about today...the workout - Diane. 21/15/9 Deadlift/handstand pushup. After the whole functional month, I wanted to see what I could do on the handstand pushup part. Despite knowing that I couldn't be strapped into my favorite bouncy contraption, I thought I could do fairly well. In retrospect, I may have wanted to stick with the pike knew bench method today - after my weird stomach thingy, and 4 days of eating Lipton Cup o'Soup - I probably am not at my strongest/most coordinated. But, I still decided to go a bit larger than previously. I did the HSPU's with feet propped on a bar. They weren't bad until my hands and arms started going numb.......that was an interesting sensation....minimal feeling in your arms, while you body weight is resting upon them. I got through it...11:29. Not fabulous, but not bad considering. Now I just need the last vestiges of feeling to pop back..musta squeezed on some nerve or something, no worries, it'll be fine.
Now, one of the things that came up tonight was giving our thoughts on Crossfit, what it's done for us, etc. So - this one's for you Jonathan!! This is my evil test to see if you actually read these things. If you see anything useful in my thoughts- pilfer away.
Here's the thing , I have struggled with weight, fitness, body image, etc. my entire life. I think I was in 6th grade the first time I went on a diet. We find out at 16, my thyroid a bit crappy. It's highly underactive, which makes me highly underactive. So throughout the next 25 years (YIKES!!!) I hit the diet thing, did the "Jane Fonda" work outs(yes, it was the vinyl record version!), got a trainer at the gym, or did whatever mood hit at the time. Sometimes, just giving up and not putting much attempt into being healthy at all. Some things worked for a short period others not so much.
Then along comes a new job, new stress, another 15 lbs, the big 4-0 and a new roundness that had never been there before! Time to step things up a notch - in steps Jonathan. Started off normal training once a week at the gym, but a bit more interesting..hmm this was more of a back to basics approach...old school. Cool.
Suddenly a couple months into the training, Jonathan opens his own Crossfit studio-DEFY!. I think to some extent, it's surprising that I follow, and then become the loyal 630 trooper that I am! Crossfit and it's methodology have given me a piece of mind after a stressful day. It has allowed me to keep work at work - where it should be. I can do things that I wouldn't have even thought about trying....like jumping on a 22" box, clapping pushups, handstand pushups, one legged squats - some successfully, some not so much. But at least I tried - and the things that I've actually done with success, like the unassisted dips (I may not be able to do a stinkin' pullup yet, but at least I can wallow in the glory of the unassisted dip!) bring on a certain bit of pride, that makes you brag to people you work with. (seriously, they must find me annoying!) Overall though the experience has been unlike any other. The variety is about perfect. Always keeps you interested and coming back for more. Rare is the month that you do the same workout twice, so you keep coming back for more. Yet, there are the core "girls" the old friends you always come back to. Fran, Annie, Diane, Cindy.......
The girls keep you on track. Let you know how you're doing. For me, in every way DEFY! and crossfit have been one of the best and most rewarding things I've done. I've met spectacular, interesting people, whose paths never would have crossed mine. I couldn't say a bad word about any one of them. All are there for different reasons, and have different struggles and challenges, yet in a session, everyone is there and rooting for each other. Not sure what else to say - it's just awesome...and I love it - wouldn't change a thing.
The end.
Holy crap this is long!!!
Now, one of the things that came up tonight was giving our thoughts on Crossfit, what it's done for us, etc. So - this one's for you Jonathan!! This is my evil test to see if you actually read these things. If you see anything useful in my thoughts- pilfer away.
Here's the thing , I have struggled with weight, fitness, body image, etc. my entire life. I think I was in 6th grade the first time I went on a diet. We find out at 16, my thyroid a bit crappy. It's highly underactive, which makes me highly underactive. So throughout the next 25 years (YIKES!!!) I hit the diet thing, did the "Jane Fonda" work outs(yes, it was the vinyl record version!), got a trainer at the gym, or did whatever mood hit at the time. Sometimes, just giving up and not putting much attempt into being healthy at all. Some things worked for a short period others not so much.
Then along comes a new job, new stress, another 15 lbs, the big 4-0 and a new roundness that had never been there before! Time to step things up a notch - in steps Jonathan. Started off normal training once a week at the gym, but a bit more interesting..hmm this was more of a back to basics approach...old school. Cool.
Suddenly a couple months into the training, Jonathan opens his own Crossfit studio-DEFY!. I think to some extent, it's surprising that I follow, and then become the loyal 630 trooper that I am! Crossfit and it's methodology have given me a piece of mind after a stressful day. It has allowed me to keep work at work - where it should be. I can do things that I wouldn't have even thought about trying....like jumping on a 22" box, clapping pushups, handstand pushups, one legged squats - some successfully, some not so much. But at least I tried - and the things that I've actually done with success, like the unassisted dips (I may not be able to do a stinkin' pullup yet, but at least I can wallow in the glory of the unassisted dip!) bring on a certain bit of pride, that makes you brag to people you work with. (seriously, they must find me annoying!) Overall though the experience has been unlike any other. The variety is about perfect. Always keeps you interested and coming back for more. Rare is the month that you do the same workout twice, so you keep coming back for more. Yet, there are the core "girls" the old friends you always come back to. Fran, Annie, Diane, Cindy.......
The girls keep you on track. Let you know how you're doing. For me, in every way DEFY! and crossfit have been one of the best and most rewarding things I've done. I've met spectacular, interesting people, whose paths never would have crossed mine. I couldn't say a bad word about any one of them. All are there for different reasons, and have different struggles and challenges, yet in a session, everyone is there and rooting for each other. Not sure what else to say - it's just awesome...and I love it - wouldn't change a thing.
The end.
Holy crap this is long!!!
Friday, October 3, 2008
typing at 80MPH
Sad but true,her I am cruisin' down the highway and typing, I guess I need to occupy myself somehow-only 5 more hours!
So I'll start with the Cindy synopsis from yesterdaym. I decided to try dead hang pull ups, still strapped int the big blue bands. Have to do something to kickstart things again,so this was my plan. I should have realized I was in for about 17 minutes of all pullups. I guess that's the danger of getting thru the pushups and squats relatively easily. I only got thru 6 rounds down from my usual 10 with the bounce. I'm actually very happy with that even though each round I only got in about 1 full pullup the rest went downhill. But I tried and worked harder on it than I do with the bouncers! ActuallyN it was a bit disconcerting, at one point I glanced at my arm and I had a bulging vein. It went away but kind of threw me off.
This morning was Fight gone bad. I did as prescribed, so "in the black" and beat my last time. I gotta figure out if there is a key to this one because I start off pretty good and decline rapidly. I guess breathing helps!!
Here's a good thing that didn't hold true a month or two ago. As we are driving down the highway at 80 mph, I catch a glimpse of my arm in the side mirror. No flappage in the wind!! Now that is a feat! Ok tired of typing on this thing. Have a good weekend, good luck with CFT tomorrow!!
So I'll start with the Cindy synopsis from yesterdaym. I decided to try dead hang pull ups, still strapped int the big blue bands. Have to do something to kickstart things again,so this was my plan. I should have realized I was in for about 17 minutes of all pullups. I guess that's the danger of getting thru the pushups and squats relatively easily. I only got thru 6 rounds down from my usual 10 with the bounce. I'm actually very happy with that even though each round I only got in about 1 full pullup the rest went downhill. But I tried and worked harder on it than I do with the bouncers! ActuallyN it was a bit disconcerting, at one point I glanced at my arm and I had a bulging vein. It went away but kind of threw me off.
This morning was Fight gone bad. I did as prescribed, so "in the black" and beat my last time. I gotta figure out if there is a key to this one because I start off pretty good and decline rapidly. I guess breathing helps!!
Here's a good thing that didn't hold true a month or two ago. As we are driving down the highway at 80 mph, I catch a glimpse of my arm in the side mirror. No flappage in the wind!! Now that is a feat! Ok tired of typing on this thing. Have a good weekend, good luck with CFT tomorrow!!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The pause from hell!
Whiney, whiney me!!
Let's start at the beginning - Yesterday, was a good day!! Felt good, did the old kettlebell ladder, increased the weight from 12kg to 16 kg, beat my last time, yee haw!! Excellent - Saw obvious improvement, haven't seen that in a while, I feel like I'm kickin' it into high gear again. Find out Bench Press is today, double yippeee - I love BP!!!
Here's the thing, everyone has the "thing" they do best - Patty rocks her pull ups, Cheri kicks butt on the deadlifts, and I always felt the Bench Press was mine!.........until tonight!
I really want to hit 150 on BP - not sure why - but I do. So, tonight, I go in thinking "tonight's the night - I'm gonna do it!!" I was feeling pretty good the first two rounds....125, no prob, 135, good.....then the pause. The evil, evil pause.
If you're going to compete or think about competing in the future, we all need to practice "the pause". Well, Patty has decided, and is being rather bossy about the fact that we are all going to compete in a Powerlifting meet next year. That means we all have to practice"the pause". The pause is that moment that lasts a billion years, the bar at a dead stop on your chest - then lift again, well, who knew that while that silly bar was sitting there it was eating 12 big macs and 3 gallons of ice cream?? That sucker gained a good 25 lbs in a mere second!! So, the only way I could successfully do 3 of these was to drop the weight down to 115. I'll just say - dropping 25lbs, and not in a good way, kinda sucks. Big ego blow!! So, rather than increasing my max by 10 lbs, I drop 25 lbs, all because of the pause. Hence my momentary bitterness right now! Could I have done more?? Perhaps...hard to say, the freakin' pause threw me off completely.
Yeah, yeah, but the form..blah blah.....I think I would be less whiney, if I dropped 25 lbs off a 180 BP!!
Let's start at the beginning - Yesterday, was a good day!! Felt good, did the old kettlebell ladder, increased the weight from 12kg to 16 kg, beat my last time, yee haw!! Excellent - Saw obvious improvement, haven't seen that in a while, I feel like I'm kickin' it into high gear again. Find out Bench Press is today, double yippeee - I love BP!!!
Here's the thing, everyone has the "thing" they do best - Patty rocks her pull ups, Cheri kicks butt on the deadlifts, and I always felt the Bench Press was mine!.........until tonight!
I really want to hit 150 on BP - not sure why - but I do. So, tonight, I go in thinking "tonight's the night - I'm gonna do it!!" I was feeling pretty good the first two rounds....125, no prob, 135, good.....then the pause. The evil, evil pause.
If you're going to compete or think about competing in the future, we all need to practice "the pause". Well, Patty has decided, and is being rather bossy about the fact that we are all going to compete in a Powerlifting meet next year. That means we all have to practice"the pause". The pause is that moment that lasts a billion years, the bar at a dead stop on your chest - then lift again, well, who knew that while that silly bar was sitting there it was eating 12 big macs and 3 gallons of ice cream?? That sucker gained a good 25 lbs in a mere second!! So, the only way I could successfully do 3 of these was to drop the weight down to 115. I'll just say - dropping 25lbs, and not in a good way, kinda sucks. Big ego blow!! So, rather than increasing my max by 10 lbs, I drop 25 lbs, all because of the pause. Hence my momentary bitterness right now! Could I have done more?? Perhaps...hard to say, the freakin' pause threw me off completely.
Yeah, yeah, but the form..blah blah.....I think I would be less whiney, if I dropped 25 lbs off a 180 BP!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Running with Daniel
Have I mentioned lately that I don't like running? This particular workout, Daniel - it's not so fun, but I guess that's appropriate since it's a workout dedicated to a fallen soldier. Suck up and do it - it could be worse!
I will say this, Daniel makes Helen look like a walk in the park. Daniel:
50 pull ups (yes, that is not a 5 - it's a 5-0, as in 1/2 of 100)
400 m run - that's 1/4 mile......2 times around the building -not so bad
21 thrusters - 65lbs - I tried to wimp it out at 45, but alas, I was caught!
800 m run - JINKIES!! that's 1/2 mile-not much to running afficionados, but it's a long way to me!!...and after the thrusters - OY VAY!
21 thrusters - again 65 lbs
400 m run - AGAIN?? Really?? my scalp is tingly.....must breath!!
50 pullups-Ok, so my pullups, were Bouncing in the Blue Bands, but criminy, 100 of them??ZOWIE!
This actually, was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be - not to say that it was good, but not horribly horrible. Finished in 26:29 only modification was the Bouncing Blue Bands!! ....and to think, I actually had the unbelievable thought that the Filthy 50 would be better than this earlier today. I think my Fishy pills need to kick it into high gear because my brain is a bit off, to be thinkin' that!!
Actually, thinking about it, I did need something to kick my butt tonight, since I'm off tomorrow, and need to kick the cardio into gear again. We'll see what Wednesday brings!
I will say this, Daniel makes Helen look like a walk in the park. Daniel:
50 pull ups (yes, that is not a 5 - it's a 5-0, as in 1/2 of 100)
400 m run - that's 1/4 mile......2 times around the building -not so bad
21 thrusters - 65lbs - I tried to wimp it out at 45, but alas, I was caught!
800 m run - JINKIES!! that's 1/2 mile-not much to running afficionados, but it's a long way to me!!...and after the thrusters - OY VAY!
21 thrusters - again 65 lbs
400 m run - AGAIN?? Really?? my scalp is tingly.....must breath!!
50 pullups-Ok, so my pullups, were Bouncing in the Blue Bands, but criminy, 100 of them??ZOWIE!
This actually, was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be - not to say that it was good, but not horribly horrible. Finished in 26:29 only modification was the Bouncing Blue Bands!! ....and to think, I actually had the unbelievable thought that the Filthy 50 would be better than this earlier today. I think my Fishy pills need to kick it into high gear because my brain is a bit off, to be thinkin' that!!
Actually, thinking about it, I did need something to kick my butt tonight, since I'm off tomorrow, and need to kick the cardio into gear again. We'll see what Wednesday brings!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Functional Focus...what did we learn?
As Functional Focus month draws to an end, I must say I have some mixed emotions.
I have completely enjoyed the slower pace and complete focus on trying to do something you wouldn't ordinarily do, or something that you need improvement on. Seriously - I never would have tried something as silly as clapping pushups. Would I ever have faced the 20 inch box without hesitation - much less doing it on the platform, making the jump 22 inches or so??? I think not! Then there's the pullups - not a huge improvement in those, but I can get a single pulllup just about there, in the red bands (now, ask me to do 20, and I'm all for bluebands!!). Not as vast of an improvement there, but it'll come...(if I keep repeating that, I'm sure it will work!). One legged squats although not deep - are pretty good, and really, why would you want to do them, when you have 2 perfectly good legs for??? But - it was fun to work the balance angle, and, I believe it's the first time I've ever been told I was graceful! (at least without sarcasm attached!) Hand stand push ups - yep - don't think I ever would have hit the full vertical on those, without the help of my favorite upside down rubber band contraption! Not that I have full range of motion.....but still, an improvement to the chair kneeling ones from before. Dips, I believe are one of the final things, and who knew? I can actually do them to some degree unassisted. Something that you wouldn't normally try if you have to do 15 in a row.
So, for me, the functional month, even though it was on and off due to ......we'll just say circumstances, was highly successful, and dare I say....fun?? Yes, I would say fun and enlightening!
Now we head right on back to full on Crossfit. Time to kick it up a notch and bring back the sweat! It'll be interesting, I've got a bit of a new focus on the whole eating thing. (it really does help knowing I'll be going to Mexico in a mere 3 months, with people I work with.....not friends and family - there is a difference when it comes to putting on a bathing suit!!). On the positive side, after last weekend, which I thought was rather bingeful, I was very good this week, and.....there's a chance I may have broken through my 6 year sticking point - that freaking point that no matter what you do, you can't get under. Only time will tell, especially since the weekend is here, but I'm feeling optimistic. Of course, in my mind, since I won on 4 out of 5 scratch tickets today, that naturally means I'm gonna win the $200 million lotto tonight! See how my mind works??
Now, I suppose it's time to watch the Nebraska game....joy!
I have completely enjoyed the slower pace and complete focus on trying to do something you wouldn't ordinarily do, or something that you need improvement on. Seriously - I never would have tried something as silly as clapping pushups. Would I ever have faced the 20 inch box without hesitation - much less doing it on the platform, making the jump 22 inches or so??? I think not! Then there's the pullups - not a huge improvement in those, but I can get a single pulllup just about there, in the red bands (now, ask me to do 20, and I'm all for bluebands!!). Not as vast of an improvement there, but it'll come...(if I keep repeating that, I'm sure it will work!). One legged squats although not deep - are pretty good, and really, why would you want to do them, when you have 2 perfectly good legs for??? But - it was fun to work the balance angle, and, I believe it's the first time I've ever been told I was graceful! (at least without sarcasm attached!) Hand stand push ups - yep - don't think I ever would have hit the full vertical on those, without the help of my favorite upside down rubber band contraption! Not that I have full range of motion.....but still, an improvement to the chair kneeling ones from before. Dips, I believe are one of the final things, and who knew? I can actually do them to some degree unassisted. Something that you wouldn't normally try if you have to do 15 in a row.
So, for me, the functional month, even though it was on and off due to ......we'll just say circumstances, was highly successful, and dare I say....fun?? Yes, I would say fun and enlightening!
Now we head right on back to full on Crossfit. Time to kick it up a notch and bring back the sweat! It'll be interesting, I've got a bit of a new focus on the whole eating thing. (it really does help knowing I'll be going to Mexico in a mere 3 months, with people I work with.....not friends and family - there is a difference when it comes to putting on a bathing suit!!). On the positive side, after last weekend, which I thought was rather bingeful, I was very good this week, and.....there's a chance I may have broken through my 6 year sticking point - that freaking point that no matter what you do, you can't get under. Only time will tell, especially since the weekend is here, but I'm feeling optimistic. Of course, in my mind, since I won on 4 out of 5 scratch tickets today, that naturally means I'm gonna win the $200 million lotto tonight! See how my mind works??
Now, I suppose it's time to watch the Nebraska game....joy!
Functional Focus...what did we learn?
As Functional Focus month draws to an end, I must say I have some mixed emotions.
I have completely enjoyed the slower pace and complete focus on trying to do something you wouldn't ordinarily do, or something that you need improvement on. Seriously - I never would have tried something as silly as clapping pushups. Would I ever have faced the 20 inch box without hesitation - much less doing it on the platform, making the jump 22 inches or so??? I think not! Then there's the pullups - not a huge improvement in those, but I can get a single pulllup just about there, in the red bands (now, ask me to do 20, and I'm all for bluebands!!). Not as vast of an improvement there, but it'll come...(if I keep repeating that, I'm sure it will work!). One legged squats although not deep - are pretty good, and really, why would you want to do them, when you have 2 perfectly good legs for??? But - it was fun to work the balance angle, and, I believe it's the first time I've ever been told I was graceful! (at least without sarcasm attached!) Hand stand push ups - yep - don't think I ever would have hit the full vertical on those, without the help of my favorite upside down rubber band contraption! Not that I have full range of motion.....but still, an improvement to the chair kneeling ones from before. Dips, I believe are one of the final things, and who knew? I can actually do them to some degree unassisted. Something that you wouldn't normally try if you have to do 15 in a row.
So, for me, the functional month, even though it was on and off due to ......we'll just say circumstances, was highly successful, and dare I say....fun?? Yes, I would say fun and enlightening!
Now we head right on back to full on Crossfit. Time to kick it up a notch and bring back the sweat! It'll be interesting, I've got a bit of a new focus on the whole eating thing. (it really does help knowing I'll be going to Mexico in a mere 3 months, with people I work with.....not friends and family - there is a difference when it comes to putting on a bathing suit!!). On the positive side, after last weekend, which I thought was rather bingeful, I was very good this week, and.....there's a chance I may have broken through my 6 year sticking point - that freaking point that no matter what you do, you can't get under. Only time will tell, especially since the weekend is here, but I'm feeling optimistic. Of course, in my mind, since I won on 4 out of 5 scratch tickets today, that naturally means I'm gonna win the $200 million lotto tonight! See how my mind works??
Now, I suppose it's time to watch the Nebraska game....joy!
I have completely enjoyed the slower pace and complete focus on trying to do something you wouldn't ordinarily do, or something that you need improvement on. Seriously - I never would have tried something as silly as clapping pushups. Would I ever have faced the 20 inch box without hesitation - much less doing it on the platform, making the jump 22 inches or so??? I think not! Then there's the pullups - not a huge improvement in those, but I can get a single pulllup just about there, in the red bands (now, ask me to do 20, and I'm all for bluebands!!). Not as vast of an improvement there, but it'll come...(if I keep repeating that, I'm sure it will work!). One legged squats although not deep - are pretty good, and really, why would you want to do them, when you have 2 perfectly good legs for??? But - it was fun to work the balance angle, and, I believe it's the first time I've ever been told I was graceful! (at least without sarcasm attached!) Hand stand push ups - yep - don't think I ever would have hit the full vertical on those, without the help of my favorite upside down rubber band contraption! Not that I have full range of motion.....but still, an improvement to the chair kneeling ones from before. Dips, I believe are one of the final things, and who knew? I can actually do them to some degree unassisted. Something that you wouldn't normally try if you have to do 15 in a row.
So, for me, the functional month, even though it was on and off due to ......we'll just say circumstances, was highly successful, and dare I say....fun?? Yes, I would say fun and enlightening!
Now we head right on back to full on Crossfit. Time to kick it up a notch and bring back the sweat! It'll be interesting, I've got a bit of a new focus on the whole eating thing. (it really does help knowing I'll be going to Mexico in a mere 3 months, with people I work with.....not friends and family - there is a difference when it comes to putting on a bathing suit!!). On the positive side, after last weekend, which I thought was rather bingeful, I was very good this week, and.....there's a chance I may have broken through my 6 year sticking point - that freaking point that no matter what you do, you can't get under. Only time will tell, especially since the weekend is here, but I'm feeling optimistic. Of course, in my mind, since I won on 4 out of 5 scratch tickets today, that naturally means I'm gonna win the $200 million lotto tonight! See how my mind works??
Now, I suppose it's time to watch the Nebraska game....joy!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Deadlifting Fran...now that's a concept
Fran, Fran, Frannie, Fran, Fran!! What can I say about Fran? Well, I guess the good thing, is that she is rather speedy!
Fran is 21/15/9 Thrusters/Pullups.
I did prescribed for Thrusters at 65lbs. Pullups, still in the blue bands, on the high bar. Today, I do know that I concentrated alot harder on the silly pullups - did them slower, and not rebounding jumps. Do ya think I'll ever actually conquer these things - and will they ever get easier??? My focus slowed me down - I actually finished almost 2 minutes slower than last time, but overall, I think I got higher for most of them - so I'm okay with that. Finished in 12:06. Eh - not spectacular, but, good 'nuff!
Yesterday's workout should have been called "Deadlifts - don't stop". It was basically 982,000 sets of 3 deadlifts - focusing on form. (ok, maybe it was only 15..but who's counting?). DL's felt heavy to me at the beginning of the night, despite that I started at 205. HOWEVER, after round one, I was doing something funky, Jonathan suggested I drop down - no argument from me, in fact, dare I say, I jumped on this rare chance to decrease!! Did the remaining sets at 185. It was peculiar, because that weight seemed ultra heavy at first, but by the end, not so much. In retrospect, I actually think I may have wimped out a bit by jumping so quickly on the first mere suggestion to decrease, and should have stayed at the higher weight for a while longer
Fran is 21/15/9 Thrusters/Pullups.
I did prescribed for Thrusters at 65lbs. Pullups, still in the blue bands, on the high bar. Today, I do know that I concentrated alot harder on the silly pullups - did them slower, and not rebounding jumps. Do ya think I'll ever actually conquer these things - and will they ever get easier??? My focus slowed me down - I actually finished almost 2 minutes slower than last time, but overall, I think I got higher for most of them - so I'm okay with that. Finished in 12:06. Eh - not spectacular, but, good 'nuff!
Yesterday's workout should have been called "Deadlifts - don't stop". It was basically 982,000 sets of 3 deadlifts - focusing on form. (ok, maybe it was only 15..but who's counting?). DL's felt heavy to me at the beginning of the night, despite that I started at 205. HOWEVER, after round one, I was doing something funky, Jonathan suggested I drop down - no argument from me, in fact, dare I say, I jumped on this rare chance to decrease!! Did the remaining sets at 185. It was peculiar, because that weight seemed ultra heavy at first, but by the end, not so much. In retrospect, I actually think I may have wimped out a bit by jumping so quickly on the first mere suggestion to decrease, and should have stayed at the higher weight for a while longer
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The highlight of my day!
Can you guess what was the highlight was of my day?? If you guessed NOT doing plate drags, you are, oh so very smart!! It's sad to say that not doing something that in reality is probably very good for you, is the highlight - but I think I may have a true hatred for those silly things.
Instead of the nasty, wasty, evil plate drags, we had a stellar functional day. I think everyone hit new highs in the box jumps! Why the heck I would ever need or want to jump 22 inches, I'll never know - but hey, it's still high!! (of course, please note, it's not like I'm upright the whole time, I land in a full low squat - I've learned if you curl your legs up, you can jump higher - who knew??
Pull ups - I was working the red bands - BIG step up......not that I did a full pretty pull up, but at least I got somewhere! Of course, Patty was one step ahead of me, workin' the mini's - DAM GIRL! you're gonna be 100% on your own in no time!
Overall - not too bad for just coming back from an overindulgent long weekend......with hours upon hours spent in the car - and not enough fortitude to do even a stinkin' sit up while I was gone - wait - I lied - I did 3 pushups, then gave up. So, there was a half assed attempt to do something, not complete failure, but almost.
Ah well, back home, back on the train!
Instead of the nasty, wasty, evil plate drags, we had a stellar functional day. I think everyone hit new highs in the box jumps! Why the heck I would ever need or want to jump 22 inches, I'll never know - but hey, it's still high!! (of course, please note, it's not like I'm upright the whole time, I land in a full low squat - I've learned if you curl your legs up, you can jump higher - who knew??
Pull ups - I was working the red bands - BIG step up......not that I did a full pretty pull up, but at least I got somewhere! Of course, Patty was one step ahead of me, workin' the mini's - DAM GIRL! you're gonna be 100% on your own in no time!
Overall - not too bad for just coming back from an overindulgent long weekend......with hours upon hours spent in the car - and not enough fortitude to do even a stinkin' sit up while I was gone - wait - I lied - I did 3 pushups, then gave up. So, there was a half assed attempt to do something, not complete failure, but almost.
Ah well, back home, back on the train!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Wallowing in mediocrity???....not if I can help it!
Oh what a procrastinator I am!! We are scheduled to depart in 3 hours or so, and what I am doing?? not packing that's for sure!
Yesterday was Helen - not sure what happened, but timewise, I was slower than previous - the only difference was I was on the low bar last time, and the high bar this time, both were still kind of jumpy though. Today was Grace,(30 clean and jerks) although I don't remember doing this one before (must have popped that brain cell) I did it pretty quick...last time was 6:20 or so with 70 lbs. Today, 6:56 with 80 lbs. I think I'm at the point that in most things, I always seem to end up wallowing in my mediocrity! (I always hit that point, be it skiing, roller hockey, etc). I just really have to force myself through it this time
In the psycho analysis of myself, that I always tend to do, I think if there were prizes for Crossfit, I wouldn't want to be the biggest, fastest, or strongest, my goal would be to win the most improved. I believe this is where the frustration is setting in - the improvements have been big and vast up until this point. Easy to see. Now - there may still be improvements being made - but you have to search for them - they aren't apparent at first, second or even third glance. Ah well, muddle through it, I will!! I'll give that whole diet/supplement thing a shot, see where that gets me.
But - not until Monday...traveling with Sean and my sister who is 7 months pregnant, may be a very bad thing. The two feed off each other with their cravings, and ice cream habits! Hmmm...apparently I'm feeling a bit introspective today...go figure!
Have a spectacular weekend! See everyone on Monday!
Yesterday was Helen - not sure what happened, but timewise, I was slower than previous - the only difference was I was on the low bar last time, and the high bar this time, both were still kind of jumpy though. Today was Grace,(30 clean and jerks) although I don't remember doing this one before (must have popped that brain cell) I did it pretty quick...last time was 6:20 or so with 70 lbs. Today, 6:56 with 80 lbs. I think I'm at the point that in most things, I always seem to end up wallowing in my mediocrity! (I always hit that point, be it skiing, roller hockey, etc). I just really have to force myself through it this time
In the psycho analysis of myself, that I always tend to do, I think if there were prizes for Crossfit, I wouldn't want to be the biggest, fastest, or strongest, my goal would be to win the most improved. I believe this is where the frustration is setting in - the improvements have been big and vast up until this point. Easy to see. Now - there may still be improvements being made - but you have to search for them - they aren't apparent at first, second or even third glance. Ah well, muddle through it, I will!! I'll give that whole diet/supplement thing a shot, see where that gets me.
But - not until Monday...traveling with Sean and my sister who is 7 months pregnant, may be a very bad thing. The two feed off each other with their cravings, and ice cream habits! Hmmm...apparently I'm feeling a bit introspective today...go figure!
Have a spectacular weekend! See everyone on Monday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)