tremendous MOXIE

Let me preface this by saying this may not be interesting to anyone but me, but this my journal of sorts, so read if you want but don’t feel like you’ll break my heart of you skim it. After all, it’s the internet, I can’t see you.

My plan is to do 30 days of workout programming taken from a Crossfit Gym. My first gym of choice is Crossfit Invictus. I chose them because I know a little about them and their philosophy. This could be kind of cheating a bit since it is quite similar to what we do at WCSC, but the good part is I don’t know and I can’t pick and choose. Aside from choosing the type of workout, since they have 2-3 each day under the headings : Fitness, Performance and Competition. Fitness is geared towards beginners but always scalable and sometimes grouped with Performance. Performance usually comes with more complexity and a strength component. Competition is, well just that, if you are training to be competitive in Crossfit. I’m fairly sure I will most often choose Fitness or Performance. While I do want to be competitive, those are much more time consuming and intense. Maybe a couple of those…who knows.

I thought about getting a dice…die?…magic 8 ball… and making it truly random. we’ll see.

So here I go!

Day 1
Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 6 minutes of:
100 Meter Run
10 Burpees

Rest 3 minutes, and then . . .

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 6 minutes of:
Kettlebell Swings x 15 reps (35#)
Push-Ups x 10 reps

Rest 3 minutes, and then . . .

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 6 minutes of:
Box Jumps x 15 reps (20″)
Pull-Ups x 10 reps (kipping)

My Stats:
1. 4 rounds + 4 reps
2. 3 rounds + 21 reps
3. 3 rounds + 3 reps

Before I started I read this post by Josh Brindges about mental barriers. I decided to try to emply these in my workout.

During round 3 of the KBS I was thinking I would break them up 10/5 but decided when I picked up the kettlebell, to do “one more rep”…and then again, and I did it. I got to 15!

Another mental block I have is on the box. I never really rebound. I jump up, step down…always. So, I decided to go slow and try to stand and rest on top, then jump off and right back up. I did it for the first round. It wasn’t faster, but I think practice will get it there, maybe starting on a lower box, too.

I was also able to get through the last round of pull ups with “one more rep” when I really wanted to let the clock run out. I really think learning to push myself will be key in my performance, along with my strength goals.

On to Day 2…

I read this blog periodically…The Barefoot Foodie…she’s just the right amount of crass and real and exceedingly funny.

I found these little gems from her blog:

Who exactly thinks this is a good idea? Load in your pants, perhaps?

And then there is this…

Wine Lollipops

Wish I had the gumption to make them. Maybe I could just order some, or continue thinking about how they are probably amazing and never get the chance to try it. Ah well.

And, finally to get you pumped about the Crossfit Games Open, which starts in just 31 DAYS…

Have a great Sunday!

I was thinking about a ‘goals and resolutions’ post but I fell asleep coming up with the idea and therefore resorted to telling you this.

Enjoy.

1. D Fi Hair Wax
I got a haircut about 10 years ago (yes, I’ve had a few since then) and my hairstylist used this on me and I have never found anything I like as much or works the same. I have tried but to no avail to go a cheaper route. The saving grace for this product being so expensive is that it lasts a very long time.

2. Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth
I started using this years ago when I thought I had cavities but the dentist said I just had sensitive teeth and set me sail with this stuff. I switched for awhile to something regular when I forgot to buy it and noticed an almost immediate difference. The store brand is just as good as the Sensodyne, FYI.

3. Coffee
Do I really need to tell a story here? It’s coffee. Pictured is coffee from the shop next to WCSC…local roasters and SO delicious!

4. Computer
I love my computer and really any computer. I’m a bit of an internet addict and can sit for hours reading blogs, shopping, scanning Facebook and Twitter, writing for my blog, researching fitness topics and generally wasting time because there is a ridiculous amount of STUFF on the internet that is interesting.

And that’s totally what I look like…;-)

5. Earplugs
Last but CERTAINLY not least, I must have earplugs when I sleep. I started wearing them not long after Jared and I were married and they are priceless. When we go on vacation if I forget them there is an emergency trip to the store…but that hasn’t happened in a long time. When I don’t have them, I don’t sleep. End of story.

And then there is Phyllis. I can live without her picture…but she came up when I searched ‘computer lady’ and I thought you guys had to see. Who thought this was a good idea? She’s a floating head!! Phyllis needs a better photographer.

Cheers!

My spirits have been a little low this season. It’s always a mixture of wanting to totally indulge the consumer inside me and buy everything for everyone, because gift giving is fun, added to remembering the focus of this Holiday and not getting wrapped up (heh) in material things but realizing why we celebrate.

I go through a similar feeling at birthdays of people I can readily see and touch. I have people in my life that scoff at birthday celebration. My question is “why?”

I’m sincerely happy the people in my life are there, therefore I find it truly fitting to celebrate their birth. The ACTUAL day the earth was graced by their presence.

Same goes for the Son of God. I guess the bigger question is, why presents? I don’t really know why we give birthday gifts. I’ve often thought we should give them to the parents, especially of children. They have done the work of birth and raising. Am I right, folks?

I would answer myself by saying “tradition”. I believe traditions are important. You don’t have to have a ton of them or follow what anyone else does, but having foundational things that you can hang your hat on, so to speak, makes life somewhat predictable, in a truly unpredictable world. After all, we really have no idea what tomorrow will bring, despite our plans, but traditions can bring calm to a sometimes chaotic
existence.

For example, I didn’t follow a tradition that I love, this year, and now I’m a little sad that I didn’t do it. But, I have other things that I have done that makes it feel like mine. Like home.

I truly believe that Jesus was the most exceptional gift ever given (your beliefs may be different) but in my celebration of that, I choose to give my kids a few things, fill their stockings and get up early to have coffee and look at the Christmas tree. I will reflect on the overflowing grace and love of God upon my life and over everything I see. I will acknowledge that I don’t have control over the next year or even the next hour, but I will resolve that I will continue to cherish the people placed in my path -ALL of them- and take each step into 2012 with expectancy for GREAT things.

I hope you will, too.

I love you all. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

I’m looking for some Christmas miracles up in here, ya’ll!

Rayne has been doing great, at least as far as they eye can see. After her last cardiology appointment the doctors realized her valve that she had surgery on is too small due to scar tissue formation. They set about to schedule her for angioplasty. This procedure is more risky than her previous surgery because of how small the vessels are. So, On Wednesday Rayne will be admitted at UCLA Pediatric Cardiology Unit for the procedure.(the link shows the doctors names). Our family and as many friends as we can reach will be praying for Rayne and her family on Wednesday morning (December 21st) at about 7am. I hope you will join us and add her to any lists you may have.

Additionally, the nephew of a dear friend was severely injured in Afghanistan and needs a miracle. What better time, since you’ll already be there, to put him on your list. His name is Edward, and he has a young wife and a brand new baby girl. Here he is pictured with his sister.

I’m a personal trainer and coach by profession. I want to be healthy and I want to see others be healthy and live long active lives.

My first priority is to my family. If I’m not setting them up for a healthy lifestyle, who will do it?

I read an article that I really like (link at the bottom) but it got me thinking and here are MY top 3 tips to getting my family to eat healthy.

1. Model the behavior
If I’m not doing it why on earth should they, but this doesn’t always work, especially with teens because sometimes they don’t give a crap what you do or what you think.

2. Offer the right choices
I make dinner most night and I have full control over what is served. Need I say more?

3. Give reasons ‘why’ that are meaningful.
Again, with teenagers, they need to know ‘why’ and they arenot fooled by some BS answers. Give good reasons why, like “You should eat protein at breakfast because you will feel better and less tired at school”. They also may not care about this but at least it’s a smart, solid answer.

Here is the article…Charles Poliquin

I bought the People issue that highlights the so named “Sexiest Men Alive”. Bradley Cooper won the title, and then there are 123 other men highlighted for various reasons, some of which I cannot figure out from the write ups.

The main reason I bought the issue is because Crossfit’s Fittest Man is featured, which I must say in 2010, I saw coming. Not the People thing but the winning the Crossfit Games. By the way, Reebok has 9 ads in the issue. I’m pretty sure this is more than any other ad I saw. If you call yourself a Crossfitter and you are still denying the presence of Reebok, get on the boat. So called Og’ers are still digging their heels in and it’s so silly! But I digress…

In my mind ‘sexy’ is so much more than a look. Bradley cooper is certainly nice to look at but really, what else do we know? People asks him “what’s your type?”. His response, “give me a kind woman over everything else”. Well, isn’t that just sweet.

I think sexy is a sense of humor, the ability to make fun of yourself, being comfortable in your skin, standing for something, caring for others, decisiveness, a sense of adventure. Who decides on these guys? I’m not gonna lie, Rich Froning is not hard on the eyes and the Crossfit is pretty amazing, but Sexiest Man alive status? For me? no.

My favorite part of the sexy man issue was the page with the list of 30′s through 50′s -Sexy at every age. I like this mainly because I have no concept of how old people are. So it surpises me when I see that Jon Bon jovi is 49 because I really thought he was my age or that Brian Williams is 52 because I would have guessed 59. But I can’t really pick out anyone on this page that I would truly say is “sexy”. there are a few that I enjoy in movies or find talented but as a whole, no. I could only find one side of it…but here is the link to the People page if you’re interested in the whole list.

Sexy at Every Age

While it’s fun to look at these people who America (and other countries) objectify -I’m not judging since I do it too, I find sexy in the eye of the beholder and I guess that’s what People thinks, too since there are over 100 men featured. But shouldn’t it be in the heart, too?

I find this guy quite sexy for reasons most people wouldn’t ever know, but I doubt People will be profiling him anytime soon. My pick…