i did quite a bit of traveling this summer, which factored into my 2-1/2 month break slacking from crossfit and eating like shit. i am huge into the routine of working out and when things got thrown off, they REALLY got thrown off. and i had a hard time getting back into the swing of things. i really have no excuse for not working out because i could have visited any crossfit gym across the country or i could have created my own body-weight workout. anyways...i'm now officially back at it. i did crossfit this past friday and monday (i try to get to crossfit every M-W-F). monday's workout was...
1000 m row
50 thrusters
40 hand release push ups
30 1 arm snatches (15 each side)
20 burpees
10 pull ups
1000 m run
i about died. so, so hard. i could barely move yesterday, let alone walk. today, i am still crazy sore. so i decided to give myself another day to recover (as i'm still walking like an old lady) and didn't go to crossfit this morning. instead, i'm planning to do friday's crossfit workout and sunday's yoga class.
i've also started eating well again (at least much, much better than i was). i'm determined to get back to how i was feeling before -- mentally and physically.
i took these this morning. i had gotten ready for crossfit but after walking the kids (painfully) to school, i decided i was going to skip today and just did these pictures instead. here's my previous update (pre-working out and april 2011 photos), for comparison.
since i was so anxious to share my crossfit progress, i thought it equally important to share my falling off the wagon. i'm SO READY to start feeling great again!! i miss that feeling.
the reason that I can be 38 and have two kids and wear a bikini is because i work my ass off. it’s not an accident. it’s not luck, it’s not fairy dust, it’s not good genes. it’s killing myself for an hour and a half five days a week, but what i get out of it is relative to what i put into it. that’s what I try to do in all areas of my life.- gwyneth paltrow
although i have to say...gwyneth paltrow does have some pretty damn good genes. have you seen this photo of gwyneth and her mother?
i haven't posted a crossfit update in a while so i thought now is as good as time as any. it's been almost eight months since my first day at crossfit jaguar. i remember so clearly walking in, nervous as hell, thinking what the hell am i doing. but i did it...telling myself over and over again, what did i have to lose; if crossfit isn't for me, i don't have to go back.
since my last update in january, i've lost a couple pounds (no, i'm not trying to lose weight) and about 1/2 inch everywhere. i've also dropped about three percent body fat.
i crossfit four times a week and do my best to eat well -- high protein, low-glycemic. but some days are just off days and i waiver, like this past week. but i WILL get back on track.
a couple weeks ago, i tracked my daily food intake. i quickly realized that i just don't eat enough food and how very easy it is to eat a lot of carbohydrates. i've never been a big eater and i don't like vegetables that much, so i really have to work hard at this eating well and eating enough thing.
here i was, pre-working out, may 2010.
and here i am today. proud to be a 41-year-old, mother of three, fit, healthy and stronger than i've ever been in my entire life. when i started crossfit, i could maybe do one military style push up. the other day, i did 100 (no going to my knees). can't wait till the day that i can share that i did one unassisted pull up.
there was no editing, retouching, tweaking or anything done to any of these photos. i wanted to be honest and real, with everything i posted throughout this journey.
i share these continued updates to hopefully inspire. you CAN do it!! it's never too late to get fit and be healthy. i truly haven't felt better and i keep getting stronger and stronger. it's really been an amazing journey and i never thought i'd say this but...i actually look forward to working out; i crave it. i know and completely understand that crossfit isn't for everyone, but i hope that you will find that thing that works for you!!
you can see more photos and read more about my getting fit journey here.
i pinned this today (via pinterest) and it says it perfectly (couldn't find original source to give credit)...
lastly, check out this amazing video of crossfit women. blows my mind!!
if you have any questions, please ask! i'm no expert, but i can offer my personal thoughts.
ETA --
Q: is it a class or did you have to get a personal trainer?
A: personally, i started out with a personal trainer three times a week. and did that for three months,until i got to the point that i was comfortable to go into a class. however, depending on the gym, you might be able to go right into a class (many gyms are now requiring a fundamentals or foundations course). for me, i wanted to get a good understanding of the workouts and make sure i knew how to do the lifts properly so i wouldn't get hurt.
Q: where do I find this workout? i admit Im out of shape and have a few health issues..i need to get fit!!! how often do you train?
A: you can read all about crossfit here. that website has everything -- workouts of the day (WODs), demo exercise videos, etc. you can also google crossfit in your local area, to find all the crossfit gyms around you. i researched all the gyms in tampa, before deciding which one to go to. i wanted to find one that was a good fit for me. while the fundamentals of each crossfit gym are the same, the gym personalities (feel or vibe of the gym) can be very different.
i started out training three days a week. some days it was 20 minutes. other days it was an hour. now that i'm in classes, i crossfit four times a week.
and this awesome momma shared about her journey, doing and managing her own personal crossfitting.
Q: i am still finding it hard to get specific exercises for my waistline. do you have any that you have found that worked particularly well?
A: my waistline was my HUGE trouble spot and in the first five weeks of crossfit, i lost three inches in my waist. with that being said, i think it was the combination of all the exercises (so many of them work my core) and changing my diet. i really don't do that many sit ups (or ab specific exercises) at all.
Q: as a previous carb-addict, what do you eat for breakfast now?
A: i typically have a protein shake in the morning (water, 1/2 banana, spinach or kale, almond or peanut butter, flax seed, protein powder and ice). if i don't have a protein shake, i'll have eggs and/or bacon. i don't eat until after my crossfit workout, so that's around 10:30 AM. if i'm really hungry in the morning (pre-workout), i'll have a clementine and some almonds.
today is my trainer / crossfit gym owner's birthday and it's my party was the name of our workout of the day (WOD) this morning.
51 deadlifts
51 bench presses
51 squats
and so i dedicate this post to paula! thank you for inspiring me so, teaching me that strong is beautiful and that 50s are fucking fabulous.
i've now been crossfitting for 5-1/2 months and couldn't be happier. it's addicting, i tell ya. my weight and measurements haven't budged much since my initial loss at the 5-week point, but i know my body is getting stronger, toner and hopefully leaner.
i recently weened myself from private sessions, which i loved but are expensive, and am now attending four group classes a week (M-W-F-S). i love, love, love it...and can't wait to see where this crossfit journey continues to take me.
here's my pre-photos and then a few update pics from this morning...
may 2010
today ((i had just got home from crossfit, drank a smoothie and was freezing)
i hope my updates will continue to inspire others. remember that it's never too late. find what works for you and do it. you CAN do it!!
and if you have any questions, PLEASE ask!! i'll either answer in an ETA section below or another blog post.
we met the C family when we lived on whidbey island, WA. our husbands worked in the same EOD unit. we lived on the same circle and our houses were separated by a playground. and we fell in love with the C family the moment we met them. our families were stationed together for two years and they helped us get through our own deployment (steve left when i was three months pregnant and he returned a couple weeks before ryder was born).
and it just so happens that the C family now lives only about 10 minutes from my friend, steph. it had been six years since i last saw them and it was so, so awesome to see them again!! they haven't changed a bit...except the girls are now 16 and 14 instead of 10 and 8. oh my!!
also, i have to share that lou was my inspiration for starting crossfit. we're friends on facebook and i had been reading her posts about how much she loves crossfit and how it was life-changing for her. here's a before and after photo of lou. the after photo is about one year later and 35 pounds lighter. her strength, focus, passion and determination inspires me daily.
and here's some photos i took, while i was there this past weekend. they sure did an amazing job at not looking cold. it was 34 degrees when we were doing these. i had on a parka; they kept running into the heated car to warm up for short bits.
and then lou's beloved dog, Pnut, joined us for a few photos...
i'm so looking forward to going back to virginia beach this april, when i'll be doing rachel's senior pictures. woot woot!! and of course, i'll get to hang out with this awesome family again.
hard to believe it's been 12 weeks since i started crossfit. and i still absolutely love it and long for it!!
i remember when i started and was absolutely scared to death. i remember the day when i was so excited to bench press using the big girl bar (as we called it). or the day i was able to do five military style push-ups (not on my knees). and today, i bench-pressed 55 pounds and deadlifted 110 pounds (almost my body weight) -- both personal records. i also did squats with weight but i can't remember how much. all were 5 reps x 4 rounds. oh...and monday, i pulled, flipped and rowed a big-ass tire and pushed a jeep. yes, i pushed my trainer's jeep. so hard! i thought i was going to die but it felt oh-so-amazing when i was done! needless to say, i'm proud of my own little accomplishments as i've pretty much always been a weakling.
i fricken love, love, love having a personal trainer, who arranges workouts specifically for me and pushes me. she pushes me so much farther than i could or would ever push myself. i actually am still trying to wean myself from her, which has proven much tougher than i anticipated.
i keep sharing updates because i hope to inspire others to keep going. and pushing. it's never too late. i want you to find that thing you love as your workout -- that thing you so love that you can't help but keep doing it!!
you CAN do it!
here's photos from...
may (pre-anything)
september (5 weeks post-crossfit)
and today (b/c i was wearing the same clothes, and it's almost 12 weeks)
i haven't lost a pound since my 5 week point but surely i must have gained some muscle. while i could easily obsess about my weight, i try and focus on getting strong and being fit and healthy. i threw out my scale long ago and only weigh myself occasionally at the box. i also had a rough couple weeks of not doing anything in san diego and then coming home and getting sick. but no excuses!! my goal is to wear a bikini this summer -- something i haven't done since pre-kiele (about 14 or 15 years ago). i'm proud to be 41 and feel more real than i have ever felt in my entire life (that's a whole other blog post).
let's keep pushing and inspiring one another through this holiday season filled with the yummiest food, cakes and cookies. everything in moderation is my motto!! i WILL eat cookies but only in moderation. :-)
let's do this...together!!
p.s. i try to take pictures in the exact same position but it's damn hard. i guess i'm getting close enough though.
anyone who follows my blog probably knows that i'm now doing crossfit and so loving it. :-) and a few weeks ago, i photographed a bunch of women at my box, for the deadlifts and dresses 2011 calendar competition. today, i found out that three of the crossfit jaguar women were selected for the calendar! woot woot!!
and i have to say...after two weeks of traveling, getting sick, not working out and eating like shit, i'm so happy to be working out (crossfitting) again. today felt amazing. thanks paula (last set of photos below)!
between two school (class) auction photo books, workshop prep and deads and dress photos, my spare time has been slim to none. oh yea, that doesn't include plumbing problems, etc. anyways...i thought i'd share a bit of what my time has been consumed with lately --
first, check out this second grader's writing and drawing about what he wants to be when he grows up. OMG!! be-still my heart.
and here's my kids' book spreads this year.
Sky wrote:
i whant to be a veternarien beacuse I love animuls. And I whant to be a photogerpher beacuse I like taking pictures. And beacuse I like meating other people. And seeing things I never saw before. I also want to be a vetunarein beacuse I want to help animuls when they are hurt. I want to be a dacer and singer beacuse I always love bacing and singing every singgul day.
Skyler, 7 years old
Ryder said:
When I grow up, I want to be a policeman and a artist because I always like to do art and I don't know about the other.
Ryder - 5
lastly, check out these incredible women -- a few of the shots i photographed of the crossfit jaguar women, for the deads and dresses contest. i'm hoping that a photographer friend of mine will do my pictures once i'm back from the utah. but of course, i have to get the perfect pair of socks first. :-)
and my most awesome trainer, who has inspired me so!!
adding onto yesterday's post...
I am a CrossFit Woman
I sweat
I grunt
I curse
I bleed
I am a CrossFit Woman
I will not shy away from failure
I will not hide my emotions
I will not hold back
I will not quit
I am a CrossFit Woman
I am a competitor
I am a daughter
I am a mother
I am a friend
I am a CrossFit Woman
I am confident
I am healthy
I am beautiful
I am strong
I am a CrossFit Woman
- adpated from the 'i am a crossfit woman' poem written on the wall at the jaguar box
shawna shared this in a comment yesterday, on my blog. she's accomplished amazing things and does crossfit on her own, at her regular gym. i, like her, will never be the strongest. or the fastest. and i'm okay with that. crossfit can be very competitive but the only person i'm in competition with is myself. i compete with me, in an effort to achieve and hopefully exceed my personal goals.
and...courtesy of crossfit jaguar. me, at the box. doing swings. it ain't pretty. but it's real.
crossfit is the toughest...most amazing thing i've ever done. i do a lot of cussing. and saying, "i can't". only to be quickly reminded that I CAN!!
yesterday was exactly five weeks since my start of crossfit and my pre-crossfit measurements. i decided that i would love to post a 5-week update and so asked my trainer if she would do my measurements (so that i could include with my update). she said that normally she doesn't do them this early but if i wanted them done, she's game. and so we did...
i started crossfit because i truly believed (from what i heard from others) that it would be a perfect fit for me and my personality. i've been doing crossfit for the past five weeks, with a trainer (paula), every monday-wednesday-friday. after the first workout, i could barely walk. and i've been sore almost every day since, but it's a comfortable sore, if that makes sense. today is actually a little worse but that's because yesterday was a workout filled with squats, deadlifts and bench presses.
along with crossfit, i have also tried to just watch what i eat a bit more. nothing crazy...just opting out of carbs a bit more than i did previously. if i want dessert, i eat a bit of dessert. i still drink coffee and have soda, when i want it. in recent years, i haven't been a terrible eater and i've never been one that eats a lot. my husband has always joked that kiele (our now 13-year-old) eats more than me. but i just eat when i'm hungry. and stop when i'm full.
i've worked hard. and am especially proud because much of the past five weeks, we have eaten out (living here, there and everywhere).
i've lost four pounds, four percent body fat and two inches in my waist. my arms are the same. my thighs are 3/4 inch larger. my trainer couldn't believe my results, in such a short time. and neither could i. i couldn't be happier!!
PRE
weight (with shoes): 123 pounds
body fat: 27.6%
waist: 31 1/2 inches
POST
weight (with shoes): 119 pounds
body fat: 23.5%
waist: 29 1/2 inches
without a doubt, i will continue crossfit although i'm probably only going to do one or two days with a trainer and do the other days with the group. my original goal was simply to get my body fit and in shape. that goal remains the same -- but fitter and stronger. i long to wear a bikini this summer, as i haven't worn one since 1996 (pre kiele). i didn't think i was overweight prior to crossfit, but i knew i was out of shape (or as i called it, fluffy).
i'm a firm believer in everything in moderation. and sometimes i worry about others, who lose weight with the aid of crazy diets, drastic measures, etc. remember that different strategies work for different people. find the strategy that is a good fit for you, your body and your personality. like anything...do it right and do it well. do something you can stick with long term.
i feel so great -- healthy and strong(er). and can't wait to see what the next five weeks has in store for me.
here's my pre-photos (taken may 12th, when i told myself that i was going to start getting fit, but i didn't) and post-photos (taken today). i tried to get in the exact same position. and did nothing to either of these photos.
i'd love to hear about your getting fit | getting healthy journey. please share in the comments. lets keep inspiring one another. i waited till 40. i hope that you won't wait that long. find what works for you and...go for it. what's stopping you?
have a question? please ask and i'm happy to answer in another blog post.
my mission: get in shape! i long to be physically fit and healthy. i'm not overweight, although i could stand to lose a few pounds. but i really want to get tone -- especially my mid-section. and i'm determined. i feel like i've talked smack quite a few times now about being ready, moving forward, etc. but, shall i say...i'm really serious this time!! i have no excuses. all three of my kids are going to be in school this year. in the past, my free time revolved around photography and the computer. but not anymore. my free time is going to revolve around my workout. once that is scheduled, everything else can be scheduled and take place.
i've signed up for 12 private crossfit sessions, to learn the exercises and ensure proper technique. i've always felt crossfit would be a good fit for me. everyone has their ways -- their ways to lose weight, get in shape, etc. for me, the bigger the challenge, the more i love it. i've also been trying to eat healthier. no crazy diet or anything, as i'm a FIRM believer in moderation when it comes to eating.
saturday was my first crossfit session. so fricken hard. sunday, i could barely walk and squatting to the level of the toilet was beyond painful. this morning, my quads are still killing me. but i'm going to the box (as the crossfitters call their gym) and i'm ready for whatever my trainer throws my way. we're also weighing, taping and taking pictures today. and i'm hopeful that i'll see some results, even after just four weeks. too optimistic? maybe, but who cares. dream big, right?
i also wanted to share with you a new blog that my local friend, heather, told me about. i'm really loving it...a momma blog that focuses on fitness, healthy recipes (even desserts), workouts and more. check it out -- trainer momma.
i hope i can encourage you to make a health goal for yourself. and together, let's encourage one another and stick to it. i'll be facebooking about my journey and will occasionally share here on my blog.
in closing, i decided to post some before photos i took of myself on may 12th (a time where i was talking smack). like i said, i'm not overweight. but i am fluffy (or puffy or squishy or out-of-shape or whatever you want to call it)!!
and off i go...to my morning crossfit session.
ETA: i survived workout two. measurements: 5'5", 122 lbs, 31 inch waist and approximately 27% body fat. i didn't care so much about the other measurements.
oh yea, i also got the number to a milk co-op, where i can get fresh milk, butter, cream and eggs. i am so darn excited!!
