So the Resolution Solution is now over. kinda sad (as sad as getting a Tim's tea in a brown cup again). Last night we enjoyed a meal at the Mediterranean with the staffs from Crossfit and Simply for Life as well as the Silver Team and Green Team members (missed you being there Cheryl and Carol).
The night was an interesting night. Of course the green team won - duhhhh, but its why we won that matters to me. The entire final team (love you guys - Parris, Lisa, Shirley and Karlene) from day one had no quit in them. I feel quite comfortable saying that each and everyone of us knew that winning entry into this contest was a golden opportunity to radically change our lives, and change them we did. I truly feel that I have made some good friends and can not wait for some Simply for Life BBQ's this summer with the entire groups (even some silver members hopefully) where we put some exercises to the time test.
Karlene is clearly an athlete, and I feel she would say that what she got out of this program was more than physical fitness, but the mental ability to realize her potential. Each and every time we were at Crossfit together she always has a smile on [even when collapsed on the floor] and always cheered on her team mates and competition.
Parris is a monster. For someone to drop 40+ pounds in 8 weeks and change his look the way he did (a Silver member did not actually recognize him after week 4) is a true testament to the successful combination of Crossfit and Simply for Life. The nutrition program packed with plentiful delicious healthy choices that never left you wanting and the exercise experience of a program without routines made a full body change in Parris.
Lisa reminds me so much of me. Mentally tough but not in the shape she wants to be in. Like myself, Lisa showed that no quit attitude despite the natural set backs that happen. Lisa and I had a strong bond in this contest, often communicated by glances at each other which usually meant "is Mike f%#king nuts thinking we can do that". Lisa was there the day I managed my first unassisted sit up and she was as excited about it as I was. I was there when Lisa finally manged hers and on testing day with an original score of 18 sit ups using a ring to help pull herself up, Lisa managed to perform 474 sit ups unassisted. If your reading that, you should gasp. Its a feat to tell the grand-kids about.
Shirley, in my opinion, was always a member of the team despite starting as a spare. I think Shirley reminds me of my wife a lot. Fun, full of positive energy and suffering the side effects of children. Like myself, Shirley always saw the fun in every exercise. I think for me that's why Crossfit works so well. Its always fun. For being a rigorous random exercise routine, there is always that social aspect that leaves you smiling (sure your exhausted but you always love it).
That leaves me - time to self reflect. I, in case you missed this earlier in the contest, am a 36 year old short obese male. I can not even remember a time where is did not think that obese was the defining word about me. Like many obese people I used it as the excuse for any and all failures I might have had in life. I ate at wrong times, ate wrong foods and exercising meant having to go get the remote if I could not get someone to get it for me. Previous to this contest I had every excuse in the book related to being too fat for doing nothing about it and honesty believed nothing could be done. I accepted probably dying one day of a sudden heart attack and worried about leaving my wife and daughter unsupported in the future.
My last measurements were taken in September and I was 260 pounds, 46 inch waist and at my "roundest parts" I was 60 inches around - that's right 5 feet. As of today I am now 209 pounds, 38 inch waist and 45 inch gut. Unless you have been as big as I was, its almost impossible to fathom the change I have undergone. I can honesty say that despite still being in the obese category (well that's only stats anyway isn't it) I no longer feel like that is who I am. I feel 100% (no more than 100% students!!!) like a new person. I feel that I am now on my way to a new body and I can actually see my "future" shape in the mirror more that I can see my past shape. I now envision my future as being long in years and glorious in activity. I am not ashamed to be outside working and sweating or wearing shorts (something I would never do before).
I had an intersting conversation with Mike from Crossfit the other day about my original attitude vs my new attitude on the subject of exercise. Originally my attitude was clear. Exercise was a punishment we did to ourselves for past discretion's on nutrition. MAN I WAS SO WRONG. Now I love the workouts at Crossfit and actually get disappointed when I miss one. I have started to purchase equipment for my home to follow along (none of this fancy stuff - basic things like skipping ropes and kettle bells is all you need) and can not wait to get running as a regular part of my routine. This attitude change is to me the results of the connectivity between the two programs. I was never left on my own to figure out what to do. Bruce (SFL) and Mike (CF) were always available to answer questions, motivate me and help me. I could go on for days about the power of this combination, but hopefully you will give it a go for yourselves.
I would like to thank all the sponsors of the contest including the ones that surprised us with some extra goodies on the final day. An amazing thank you to K100 for getting involved in the lives of some of their listeners. You may never realize that you have made a permanent change that will effect 100's in the long run for each and everyone of us.
A very special thanks goes to my colleagues and my students that asked me about this contest every day and encouraged me each and every time they saw me. Having 100 people want to know about getting healthy and encouraging me to get healthy made a large difference.
Well now its all over and I will be continuing with both Crossfit and Simply for Life . My goal: get healthier... get into the body and weight I deserve to have\be (150-160 pounds, < 34 inch waist) and get rid of my gut in the long term.
I hope you have enjoyed this blog... and don't forget listen to K100 - Today's Best Music .... they might just change your life forever like they changed mine
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Big Day: Recap
So Saturday was the big day..... The honorable GREEN team of lovely loyal listeners finally stood toe to toe with the serpentine like SILVER team of perky persistent personalities from K100.....
OK, that sounds corny.....
So Saturday was the big day......us listeners finally get to do an all out until you drop workout against the K100 employees and see just how many pull ups, sit ups, squats and pull ups each person can do. It was looking to be a fun day.
First of all, to have a bit of fun I showed up in some very professional looking bandages on my face, wrist, ankle and a crutch thrown in for fun. Not convinced that we fooled anyone, but Jay seemed concerned for me... in the end they enjoyed a good laugh. That is right MIKE... professional looking!!!!
Well pull ups were first and K100 Silver lost the flip to have to go first. I somehow don't think they were as fired up as we were to win. Despite, however, one being too sick to attend and at least half the others having bad colds + injuries, they did perform well. Our team watched and debated strategy. Do we try lower bands for a better multiplier..... hmm multiples of 0 push ups don't look good. Or do we stick the same band we started with and just put up large numbers. Well each of us made our decision. I originally managed only 7 with a 4 band (pitiful now that I think about it) and this time managed 41 with a 3 band (harder band that off sets less weight). I was annoyed at myself for not meeting my goal of 50 but I really had a hard time gripping the bar. It was my grip that failed me this day and not my pull (although that was not far behind). I just have to remember, however, that 41 is a lot more than I had done before. My hats off too to the SFL crew (especially Kat) for counting for me. When your giving it your all, it gets harder to count your numbers.
Next was sit ups and I was determined to breath some fun into this contest. I knew I could do 100 and I hoped I could manage 200. Well on this event Green team came to dominate as much as possible as well knew Steph would be on fire. Boy was K100 host steph on fire. 1000 (thousand - not a typo) sit ups... WE kinda all eventually left her to keep going and moved on. But our team had no one under 400 and I managed 450 with a little "sit up" based dancing thrown in for good measures.
Next was the squats and I was sure I could do 500. Well unfortunately I let my mental state stop me at 300... It really is all mental and not physical. Could I have done more physically - YES.. did I - no... my brain said no. But wow did others decide to play this one. Three members (Karleen, Parris and from K100 Silver Deb posted I believe over 1150 squats. That's hard to even image how long that took and how hard they were mentally focusing to get it done.
Finally, push ups. Its kinda weird. I managed to count to 60 push ups (I say it that was because you really don't focus on how many but just that next one). for an exercise I detest, I was quite proud of my performance.
That's it for this post and I'll post one more after the banquet - a synopsis so to say.
OK, that sounds corny.....
So Saturday was the big day......us listeners finally get to do an all out until you drop workout against the K100 employees and see just how many pull ups, sit ups, squats and pull ups each person can do. It was looking to be a fun day.
First of all, to have a bit of fun I showed up in some very professional looking bandages on my face, wrist, ankle and a crutch thrown in for fun. Not convinced that we fooled anyone, but Jay seemed concerned for me... in the end they enjoyed a good laugh. That is right MIKE... professional looking!!!!
Well pull ups were first and K100 Silver lost the flip to have to go first. I somehow don't think they were as fired up as we were to win. Despite, however, one being too sick to attend and at least half the others having bad colds + injuries, they did perform well. Our team watched and debated strategy. Do we try lower bands for a better multiplier..... hmm multiples of 0 push ups don't look good. Or do we stick the same band we started with and just put up large numbers. Well each of us made our decision. I originally managed only 7 with a 4 band (pitiful now that I think about it) and this time managed 41 with a 3 band (harder band that off sets less weight). I was annoyed at myself for not meeting my goal of 50 but I really had a hard time gripping the bar. It was my grip that failed me this day and not my pull (although that was not far behind). I just have to remember, however, that 41 is a lot more than I had done before. My hats off too to the SFL crew (especially Kat) for counting for me. When your giving it your all, it gets harder to count your numbers.
Next was sit ups and I was determined to breath some fun into this contest. I knew I could do 100 and I hoped I could manage 200. Well on this event Green team came to dominate as much as possible as well knew Steph would be on fire. Boy was K100 host steph on fire. 1000 (thousand - not a typo) sit ups... WE kinda all eventually left her to keep going and moved on. But our team had no one under 400 and I managed 450 with a little "sit up" based dancing thrown in for good measures.
Next was the squats and I was sure I could do 500. Well unfortunately I let my mental state stop me at 300... It really is all mental and not physical. Could I have done more physically - YES.. did I - no... my brain said no. But wow did others decide to play this one. Three members (Karleen, Parris and from K100 Silver Deb posted I believe over 1150 squats. That's hard to even image how long that took and how hard they were mentally focusing to get it done.
Finally, push ups. Its kinda weird. I managed to count to 60 push ups (I say it that was because you really don't focus on how many but just that next one). for an exercise I detest, I was quite proud of my performance.
That's it for this post and I'll post one more after the banquet - a synopsis so to say.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Results and Rollie Pollie Fly Boy Snapping
OK, so first things first, The 8 weeks of the Resolution Solution are basically over. Yesterday I had my final weigh in and my total weight loss for the 8 weeks was 23 pounds on the dot. Considering I had previously lost 28.2 pounds this brings my total weight loss since September to 51.2 pounds.
51.2 pounds is almost inconceivable for me. this is better than I ever expected. However the one thing that the combination of Simply For Life (www.simplyforlife.com) and Crossfit (www.crossfitsaintjohn.ca) has taught me is that I can go so much further than I have. Not only did I sign up for SFL for the next 6 months but I also plan on plopping down cash on Monday for the next 2 months of Crossfit.
When in life you find a winning combination, then don't let it slip away is what I say.
So yesterday was the last "formal workout" for the contest at Crossfit too and what a way to end. A new routine involving 4 new moves which were... well..... too much fun to be considered exercise. We were holding ourselves up, rolling over the floor, snapping our bodies together and doing some hard sit ups with medicine balls. I was sweating up a workout while laughing my head off. Seriously... to me Crossfit Saint John is the best social hour of my day and on top of that I always come out with the exhilarated feeling of having completed a complicated workout that I usually went into thinking I could never manage. Mike and Amy have both shown me my capabilities and I am not even half way to where I plan on being in the future.
Thanks guys, see you Saturday when I surprise you all with my no-quit attitude.
51.2 pounds is almost inconceivable for me. this is better than I ever expected. However the one thing that the combination of Simply For Life (www.simplyforlife.com) and Crossfit (www.crossfitsaintjohn.ca) has taught me is that I can go so much further than I have. Not only did I sign up for SFL for the next 6 months but I also plan on plopping down cash on Monday for the next 2 months of Crossfit.
When in life you find a winning combination, then don't let it slip away is what I say.
So yesterday was the last "formal workout" for the contest at Crossfit too and what a way to end. A new routine involving 4 new moves which were... well..... too much fun to be considered exercise. We were holding ourselves up, rolling over the floor, snapping our bodies together and doing some hard sit ups with medicine balls. I was sweating up a workout while laughing my head off. Seriously... to me Crossfit Saint John is the best social hour of my day and on top of that I always come out with the exhilarated feeling of having completed a complicated workout that I usually went into thinking I could never manage. Mike and Amy have both shown me my capabilities and I am not even half way to where I plan on being in the future.
Thanks guys, see you Saturday when I surprise you all with my no-quit attitude.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Two Days of Crossfit (oh why) Crossfit (oh my)
So two sessions so far this week and for each one I remember thinking the same thing on my way to the center.
WHY OH WHY AM I GOING... JUST TO EMBARRASS MYSELF?
the first work out was called Lumberjack 20 and for me it consisted of
20 Dead lifts (115lbs)
Run 500m
20 KB swings (35lbs)
Run 500m
20 Overhead Squats (45lbs)
Run 500m
20 Burpees
Run 500m
20 Pull ups (Chest to Bar)
Run 500m
20 Box jumps on tire
Run 500m
20 DB Squat Cleans (75lbs)
Run 500m
OK so for someone that hates running, I did manage to make it through this on in under 40 minutes (by 3 seconds I think) and actually did not feel like quitting too much (the burpees of course made me want to quit). I was saying at the start that I would never be able to complete this (careful not to say can't) as I once ran 5 laps with work in between and through pinching a nerve in my hip lost feeling in my leg for 3-4 weeks. Since then I had restricted myself to running one lap except twice. Once recently I ran one lap at the start and once at the end, and last week I managed a three lap workout with squat cleans involved. Seven.. i think constable Mike is on drugs...
Amazingly though I always knew I could run that one more lap and managed a time I was happy with. sure others were like 40% faster than I was, but I'm not them. I'm gold, OLD FAT me.... and I did manage to finish it. I still get personally annoyed at the time with all the "you can do its" and "come on Jeff"s as I feel they are saying "of course your slow and fat... you old %^$%^%#$%#$"
Well after that work out Mike and I had a friendly conversation about Brupies. I would love to have seen 20 push ups and really push myself to do them, but Burpies.. Well I feel (and still do) they do not serve a good purpose. Mentally they only seek to depress people and that I disagree with fundamentally.
So today what does Mike put up but 100 BURPIES... oops "he whom doth protest to much".... And on top of that after 60 seconds and every 60 seconds thereafter you much skip 20 times (or 10 doubles but I need to get my regular skipping back in check first) before resuming your burpies. A definitely race the clock workout. So driving to the center i was thinking
WHY OH WHY AM I GOING... JUST TO EMBARRASS MYSELF?
sound familiar..... But I made a promise to myself to push hard. To not get only 2 burpies per minute but rather to get at least 5 per minute in and 10 the first minute (probably a personal record for me). And push I did (I think sweat was flying off my by minute 5). Well 15:30ish I think it was, and I managed to finish. After three minutes I was at 25 burpies done and after 6 minutes finally managed to get my skipping going better so I was getting over 30 seconds of burpies per minute in (had to get mad at the rope and really speed pull it down each swing). Of course the others all finished before me, but lets be honest finishing first is not always good ;)
ps: ending classes this week at UNB Saint John - god I love this city and campus soo much and really hope I might get a chance to get back here this fall for another year, two, three or life :)
WHY OH WHY AM I GOING... JUST TO EMBARRASS MYSELF?
the first work out was called Lumberjack 20 and for me it consisted of
20 Dead lifts (115lbs)
Run 500m
20 KB swings (35lbs)
Run 500m
20 Overhead Squats (45lbs)
Run 500m
20 Burpees
Run 500m
20 Pull ups (Chest to Bar)
Run 500m
20 Box jumps on tire
Run 500m
20 DB Squat Cleans (75lbs)
Run 500m
OK so for someone that hates running, I did manage to make it through this on in under 40 minutes (by 3 seconds I think) and actually did not feel like quitting too much (the burpees of course made me want to quit). I was saying at the start that I would never be able to complete this (careful not to say can't) as I once ran 5 laps with work in between and through pinching a nerve in my hip lost feeling in my leg for 3-4 weeks. Since then I had restricted myself to running one lap except twice. Once recently I ran one lap at the start and once at the end, and last week I managed a three lap workout with squat cleans involved. Seven.. i think constable Mike is on drugs...
Amazingly though I always knew I could run that one more lap and managed a time I was happy with. sure others were like 40% faster than I was, but I'm not them. I'm gold, OLD FAT me.... and I did manage to finish it. I still get personally annoyed at the time with all the "you can do its" and "come on Jeff"s as I feel they are saying "of course your slow and fat... you old %^$%^%#$%#$"
Well after that work out Mike and I had a friendly conversation about Brupies. I would love to have seen 20 push ups and really push myself to do them, but Burpies.. Well I feel (and still do) they do not serve a good purpose. Mentally they only seek to depress people and that I disagree with fundamentally.
So today what does Mike put up but 100 BURPIES... oops "he whom doth protest to much".... And on top of that after 60 seconds and every 60 seconds thereafter you much skip 20 times (or 10 doubles but I need to get my regular skipping back in check first) before resuming your burpies. A definitely race the clock workout. So driving to the center i was thinking
WHY OH WHY AM I GOING... JUST TO EMBARRASS MYSELF?
sound familiar..... But I made a promise to myself to push hard. To not get only 2 burpies per minute but rather to get at least 5 per minute in and 10 the first minute (probably a personal record for me). And push I did (I think sweat was flying off my by minute 5). Well 15:30ish I think it was, and I managed to finish. After three minutes I was at 25 burpies done and after 6 minutes finally managed to get my skipping going better so I was getting over 30 seconds of burpies per minute in (had to get mad at the rope and really speed pull it down each swing). Of course the others all finished before me, but lets be honest finishing first is not always good ;)
ps: ending classes this week at UNB Saint John - god I love this city and campus soo much and really hope I might get a chance to get back here this fall for another year, two, three or life :)
The Final Contest Week
Well its the final week of the Resolution Solution folks (not that I think anyone is reading this blog) and I have to say the results have so exceeded my original expectations.
Back when I won this contest at my First SFL weigh in I was 231.8. Now I believe I am under 210 with my final weigh in tomorrow (Thursday the 8th). If you told me I would lose about 22 pounds in only 2 months having just lost 30 pounds in about 5 months by eating right and exercising well I would have said "yeah yeah yeah, blah blah blah"...
But it happened.
Not only did it happen, but I feel a real change in my attitude about both parts of my life. Eating can be healthy, inexpensive and enjoyable. I feel great about the foods I'm eating, I have more energy than ever and I am more productive at work. Not only that but my wife and daughter love my new look, and I love their new looks. My Wii fit (I love my Wii) now says my daughter is a healthy weight (which gives me a large smile) and my wife has dropped out of the obese category on their chart which means she is very happy (its a small gain, but a mentally powerful one - she has lost about 25 pounds on just Simply for Life with no added physical activity).
So what next... well I might have won 8 weeks of each program, but my no means do I plan on quitting. Tomorrow I sign up for SFL (www.simplyforlife.com) to continue - I am sold on this program as the one out there that works .... and I've tried a few. My goal is to get down to 165-175 and then re-evaluate. I see no reason in stopping what looks like a great trend from continuing. New week, also expect to see me at Crossfit. This program also works and is, in my opinion, the best fitness program out there - and not just because of smiley mike.
Originally 8 weeks ago, I recall standing there and thinking things like "can't they at least get us chairs" or "they can not seriously be thinking we will be doing these things". The next few days we learnt the technical moves and I distinctly remember having to use a ring to pull myself up to get only 3 sit ups completed. Its almost embarrassing how hard it is to do exercise moves we should all be able to do with ease. A week later the original benchmarks made me bean when I managed only 19 sit ups and 7 pull ups. Well this Saturday (www.crossfitsaintjohn.ca) you can see me do my final contest benchmarks when GREEN TEAM will send SILVER into shame
Back when I won this contest at my First SFL weigh in I was 231.8. Now I believe I am under 210 with my final weigh in tomorrow (Thursday the 8th). If you told me I would lose about 22 pounds in only 2 months having just lost 30 pounds in about 5 months by eating right and exercising well I would have said "yeah yeah yeah, blah blah blah"...
But it happened.
Not only did it happen, but I feel a real change in my attitude about both parts of my life. Eating can be healthy, inexpensive and enjoyable. I feel great about the foods I'm eating, I have more energy than ever and I am more productive at work. Not only that but my wife and daughter love my new look, and I love their new looks. My Wii fit (I love my Wii) now says my daughter is a healthy weight (which gives me a large smile) and my wife has dropped out of the obese category on their chart which means she is very happy (its a small gain, but a mentally powerful one - she has lost about 25 pounds on just Simply for Life with no added physical activity).
So what next... well I might have won 8 weeks of each program, but my no means do I plan on quitting. Tomorrow I sign up for SFL (www.simplyforlife.com) to continue - I am sold on this program as the one out there that works .... and I've tried a few. My goal is to get down to 165-175 and then re-evaluate. I see no reason in stopping what looks like a great trend from continuing. New week, also expect to see me at Crossfit. This program also works and is, in my opinion, the best fitness program out there - and not just because of smiley mike.
Originally 8 weeks ago, I recall standing there and thinking things like "can't they at least get us chairs" or "they can not seriously be thinking we will be doing these things". The next few days we learnt the technical moves and I distinctly remember having to use a ring to pull myself up to get only 3 sit ups completed. Its almost embarrassing how hard it is to do exercise moves we should all be able to do with ease. A week later the original benchmarks made me bean when I managed only 19 sit ups and 7 pull ups. Well this Saturday (www.crossfitsaintjohn.ca) you can see me do my final contest benchmarks when GREEN TEAM will send SILVER into shame
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Todays Running/Squat Cleans
Just a tiny little post today. Pretty happy with myself. Managed my 3 rounds of 500m runs with each run followed by 10 95lb clean squats in under 15 minutes. Not sure I could have done just the run before in that much time....
Sweated like a pig, had to walk a few steps (not too many really), was out of breath and loved every minute of it. *smile*
Sweated like a pig, had to walk a few steps (not too many really), was out of breath and loved every minute of it. *smile*
the Evil of Burpies and the Missing Teammates
OK, so its Wednesday morning, my wife and daughter just left to go back to Nova Scotia, and actually tomorrow I will go there too for the holiday weekend.
Today's blog is about yesterdays workout which was in honour of Coach Mikes 34th Birthday (than goodness he is not 50 yet). The workout consisted of 34 reps of various exercises (8 i think) bookended by 100 skips and 100 flutter kicks. Overall a push through it workout that leaves you wanting to quit. Of course, no two exercises makes me want to quit more than push ups and burpies. The push ups just seem to be my nemesis. Stringing 10 together into a smooth fluid motion seems to be as easy as solving an NP complete problem in quadratic time (OK, that's a math joke, but give me at least one). So 34 push ups - well lets just say that no matter how many times I mutter "I can do it" or Amy yells "push through it" I am mentally defeated before starting this one. I did manage to push through it of course, but at this time in a timed event I am at least one full set of 34 exercises behind everyone else in timing.
After the push ups - you guessed it - 34 burpies. OK now don't get me wrong, but burpies are just push ups in disguise with an additional humiliating move added in (the jump up and clap after each push up). To me its not mental defeat on this exercise, but shear hatred. I see no point in them and this is probably the one exercise that would actually be successful in stopping me becoming a regular member of the Crossfit program. Like many exercise routines they also use this move as "punishment" for saying "I CAN'T" and the punishment factor when I am trying to better myself also does not work for my personality type. My current plan is to keep going with Crossfit after the contest ends next weekend, but burpies could change that.
Well I made it through the routine in about 22 minutes (I really wish I had all my numbers written down) and then went on to the rest of my day (covered in sweat I might add).
A big negative for me this week is missing my team. So far I have always managed to work out at 6pm with most of my team mates from K100 Green team (winning team) even though it was not the best time for me. Well this week, since my wife and daughter were here I went at 4pm instead so worked out with a few regular members instead (and a few K100 Silver team members). Now don't get me wrong, thees guys are great but compared to my regular team members they don't have the desire to see me succeed. On the green team we all want each of us to do our best and make sure we all let each other know. Hopefully next week a few sessions with them will get me re-motivated.
ps: SFL weigh in tomorrow and I'm not excited. I have a feeling after the "weekend of birthday celebrations, friends and family" in which I really struggled to get the right mix of foods into me (way down on vegetable consumption) I will ac tally be up a pound (or two).... sad
pps: this 46 inch waist fat guy (well 44 - 46 depending on cut) is wearing his new jeans today - 38 inch waist.
Today's blog is about yesterdays workout which was in honour of Coach Mikes 34th Birthday (than goodness he is not 50 yet). The workout consisted of 34 reps of various exercises (8 i think) bookended by 100 skips and 100 flutter kicks. Overall a push through it workout that leaves you wanting to quit. Of course, no two exercises makes me want to quit more than push ups and burpies. The push ups just seem to be my nemesis. Stringing 10 together into a smooth fluid motion seems to be as easy as solving an NP complete problem in quadratic time (OK, that's a math joke, but give me at least one). So 34 push ups - well lets just say that no matter how many times I mutter "I can do it" or Amy yells "push through it" I am mentally defeated before starting this one. I did manage to push through it of course, but at this time in a timed event I am at least one full set of 34 exercises behind everyone else in timing.
After the push ups - you guessed it - 34 burpies. OK now don't get me wrong, but burpies are just push ups in disguise with an additional humiliating move added in (the jump up and clap after each push up). To me its not mental defeat on this exercise, but shear hatred. I see no point in them and this is probably the one exercise that would actually be successful in stopping me becoming a regular member of the Crossfit program. Like many exercise routines they also use this move as "punishment" for saying "I CAN'T" and the punishment factor when I am trying to better myself also does not work for my personality type. My current plan is to keep going with Crossfit after the contest ends next weekend, but burpies could change that.
Well I made it through the routine in about 22 minutes (I really wish I had all my numbers written down) and then went on to the rest of my day (covered in sweat I might add).
A big negative for me this week is missing my team. So far I have always managed to work out at 6pm with most of my team mates from K100 Green team (winning team) even though it was not the best time for me. Well this week, since my wife and daughter were here I went at 4pm instead so worked out with a few regular members instead (and a few K100 Silver team members). Now don't get me wrong, thees guys are great but compared to my regular team members they don't have the desire to see me succeed. On the green team we all want each of us to do our best and make sure we all let each other know. Hopefully next week a few sessions with them will get me re-motivated.
ps: SFL weigh in tomorrow and I'm not excited. I have a feeling after the "weekend of birthday celebrations, friends and family" in which I really struggled to get the right mix of foods into me (way down on vegetable consumption) I will ac tally be up a pound (or two).... sad
pps: this 46 inch waist fat guy (well 44 - 46 depending on cut) is wearing his new jeans today - 38 inch waist.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday March 26th and Monday March 29th
So had a great weekend this "last" weekend of March. Turns out the Resolution Solution contest will have one more week and that the final testing day will be April the 10th (a Saturday). I encourage anyone following the blog or just following the contest to pop a head in crossfit and encourage the listeners to win win win.
Fridays work out was deceptive. Looked challenging at first as the description was "row 500m as fast as you can - 3 reps for average time: in between rows work on double unders". However I am learning to fear the easy sounding ones. Turns out it was row 500m as BLOODY fast as you can and then do 30 double unders and 20 knees to elbows while the rest of the people there do their rowing. As soon as you are up to row again you need to have your in between work done because you go again.
So 150 double unders, 60 knees to elbows and 1500m of rowing at full pace.
This one exhausted my tank big time. My wife and daughter are in town this weekend, so they showed up and I have to admit when I was really empty with 150m to go in rowing, Dela yelling "go daddy go... go daddy go..." did help. My first row was 1:50. then 1:57 and then 2:02 for an average time of 1:57 (at least it was under 2:00 but not quite the 1:42 mike hinted I could do.)
Saturday I planned on going to the gym for a 6th day in a row, but time did not help on this one.
So Monday I was back in the Gym for a new week and a nice hard pace workout. Between kettle bell swings, push ups, SDHP's farmers walks and pistols it was a challenge. I recognize that push ups are by far my weakest exercise. Even pull ups seem to be coming but mentally I can not get around this push up block. Maybe one day....
Fridays work out was deceptive. Looked challenging at first as the description was "row 500m as fast as you can - 3 reps for average time: in between rows work on double unders". However I am learning to fear the easy sounding ones. Turns out it was row 500m as BLOODY fast as you can and then do 30 double unders and 20 knees to elbows while the rest of the people there do their rowing. As soon as you are up to row again you need to have your in between work done because you go again.
So 150 double unders, 60 knees to elbows and 1500m of rowing at full pace.
This one exhausted my tank big time. My wife and daughter are in town this weekend, so they showed up and I have to admit when I was really empty with 150m to go in rowing, Dela yelling "go daddy go... go daddy go..." did help. My first row was 1:50. then 1:57 and then 2:02 for an average time of 1:57 (at least it was under 2:00 but not quite the 1:42 mike hinted I could do.)
Saturday I planned on going to the gym for a 6th day in a row, but time did not help on this one.
So Monday I was back in the Gym for a new week and a nice hard pace workout. Between kettle bell swings, push ups, SDHP's farmers walks and pistols it was a challenge. I recognize that push ups are by far my weakest exercise. Even pull ups seem to be coming but mentally I can not get around this push up block. Maybe one day....
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday March 25th - Deadlifts and Double Unders
So not only did I lose 4.7 pounds this week (by going to Crossfit 5 days out of 7 and following the SFL meal plan) but Crossfit today was great.
It was deadlift/double unders day. This is the type of day I really enjoy as we learn about technique more than just push push push (don't get me wrong, there was lots of push in this one). The deadlift is basically lift up using only your legs a dumbbell (no-- not my older brother). The weight prescribed as a little high for new people, but Mike felt 135 pounds was a manageable level for us....
ummm.... Mike... 135 is a large number... but OK then....
So do 10 lifts, then do 150 skips with a skipping rope (each double under - rope under your feet twice per jump - counts as 3 skips). The repeat this 5 times. So I was very happy with my results today. I managed the 135 with very few issues (really focusing on technique) and did make it through the 750 skips with about 15 double unders thrown in --- 1 at a time except twice I managed two in a row. Worked up a good sweat doing this (sweat is weakness leaving the body) and felt good enough afterwards to try a 165 set of deadlifts which were tough, but I did manage.
So loving the fact that I seem to not only be getting slimmer and slimmer but stronger and stronger. I no longer cringe at pull ups (I still cringe at push ups) and really look forward to going to Crossfit everyday they are open.
Size wise... I am shrinking for sure. The two teaching jackets I bought to "just fit" in September when I started back at UNB Saint John now swim on me and to quote some of my students "wear like a robe". I was 60 inches around at my gut before and now I'm about 44-45. My waist has dropped about 4 inches now to the point where very soon I will have to break down and buy some new pants or risk the "fall down" even with belts.... Overall not a bad problem to have.
On top of this, SFL and Crossfit have really mentally made me realize its not hard to be healthy. I just have to want it. AND I DO. So I will be keeping this up until i get from my original weight of 260 (now 212) to a healthy weight of around 165-175.
Bring it on.
It was deadlift/double unders day. This is the type of day I really enjoy as we learn about technique more than just push push push (don't get me wrong, there was lots of push in this one). The deadlift is basically lift up using only your legs a dumbbell (no-- not my older brother). The weight prescribed as a little high for new people, but Mike felt 135 pounds was a manageable level for us....
ummm.... Mike... 135 is a large number... but OK then....
So do 10 lifts, then do 150 skips with a skipping rope (each double under - rope under your feet twice per jump - counts as 3 skips). The repeat this 5 times. So I was very happy with my results today. I managed the 135 with very few issues (really focusing on technique) and did make it through the 750 skips with about 15 double unders thrown in --- 1 at a time except twice I managed two in a row. Worked up a good sweat doing this (sweat is weakness leaving the body) and felt good enough afterwards to try a 165 set of deadlifts which were tough, but I did manage.
So loving the fact that I seem to not only be getting slimmer and slimmer but stronger and stronger. I no longer cringe at pull ups (I still cringe at push ups) and really look forward to going to Crossfit everyday they are open.
Size wise... I am shrinking for sure. The two teaching jackets I bought to "just fit" in September when I started back at UNB Saint John now swim on me and to quote some of my students "wear like a robe". I was 60 inches around at my gut before and now I'm about 44-45. My waist has dropped about 4 inches now to the point where very soon I will have to break down and buy some new pants or risk the "fall down" even with belts.... Overall not a bad problem to have.
On top of this, SFL and Crossfit have really mentally made me realize its not hard to be healthy. I just have to want it. AND I DO. So I will be keeping this up until i get from my original weight of 260 (now 212) to a healthy weight of around 165-175.
Bring it on.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
2 Days of Crossfit and Simply for Life Results
OK, so with only a week to go in the Resolution Solution contest, I have been very busy lately (not to mention the end of the University terms is approaching fast).
On Tuesday I went to Crossfit and the workout was probably one of my most rewarding. No it did not leave me gasping, or sore, but it left me feeling great about my accomplishments. The workout was about strength so involved clean squats (or something to that name effect) which means take a barbell with weights and 5 times lift it from ground into a squat, pause then stand up bringing the weight to your neck line. So the week before, in a similar lesson I had managed to lift 75 pounds which made me real happy. I had tried 85 but struggled. This day I managed not only the 85 pounds, but also to do 5 reps of 95 pounds.
the next day was FGB - fight gone bad named and designed around how you should feel after you exert the energy you would in an ultimate fighting match. There are 5 exercises set up - wall balls, sumo high pulls (or something to that name), box jumps, push presses and rowing. This workout is exactly 17 minutes. As soon as the clock starts, you start exercise number 1 counting how many reps you manage. Then as soon as the next minute hits, your move to the next exercise (and your minute is already going down in time). After 5 minutes (i.e. one of each exercise) you get a minute rest. Then "rinse and repeat" until you have done three rounds in total. The score is the total number of reps done where rowing counts as calories burned (the rower tells you this number). I scored 165 which I really don't know if that's respectable or not, but except for lowering the wall ball medicine ball weight from 20 pounds to 16 pounds to 10 pounds, I managed to do both other weight lifting components at the prescribed 85 pounds and the box jumps at the prescribed 24 inches.
I was beat afterwards of course, but also ecstatic about my willingness to do the prescribed numbers (mostly).
then this morning (Thursday) I weighed in and had lost 4.7 more pounds bringing my 7 week total to over 19 pounds. WOOO HOOOO
On Tuesday I went to Crossfit and the workout was probably one of my most rewarding. No it did not leave me gasping, or sore, but it left me feeling great about my accomplishments. The workout was about strength so involved clean squats (or something to that name effect) which means take a barbell with weights and 5 times lift it from ground into a squat, pause then stand up bringing the weight to your neck line. So the week before, in a similar lesson I had managed to lift 75 pounds which made me real happy. I had tried 85 but struggled. This day I managed not only the 85 pounds, but also to do 5 reps of 95 pounds.
the next day was FGB - fight gone bad named and designed around how you should feel after you exert the energy you would in an ultimate fighting match. There are 5 exercises set up - wall balls, sumo high pulls (or something to that name), box jumps, push presses and rowing. This workout is exactly 17 minutes. As soon as the clock starts, you start exercise number 1 counting how many reps you manage. Then as soon as the next minute hits, your move to the next exercise (and your minute is already going down in time). After 5 minutes (i.e. one of each exercise) you get a minute rest. Then "rinse and repeat" until you have done three rounds in total. The score is the total number of reps done where rowing counts as calories burned (the rower tells you this number). I scored 165 which I really don't know if that's respectable or not, but except for lowering the wall ball medicine ball weight from 20 pounds to 16 pounds to 10 pounds, I managed to do both other weight lifting components at the prescribed 85 pounds and the box jumps at the prescribed 24 inches.
I was beat afterwards of course, but also ecstatic about my willingness to do the prescribed numbers (mostly).
then this morning (Thursday) I weighed in and had lost 4.7 more pounds bringing my 7 week total to over 19 pounds. WOOO HOOOO
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Widowmaker
OK, so sitting in your office, excited to go to Crossfit Saint john (www.crossfitsaintjohn.ca) and then seeing that the daily workout is called the WIDOWMAKER is not a great feeling.
The workout was in effect 300 reps of basic fundamentals. Overall a great idea but all in a row looked kinda tiring. then seeing people that normally blow my times out of the water post times like 44 minutes made me realize i might need a sleeping bag to finish this one before leaving the gym.
I have to admit a strong desire not to go to the gym once I saw what the workout entailed, but I really believe that the first "no go" is the hardest and then it get all too easy to keep it up. So despite some facebook humming and hawing, I went. three of the 5 Green team members did actually (and the other two wanted to go I am sure).
Thank Zeus (my new fav expression) that Mike was in a forgiving mood and only made us do one of two prescribed rounds (hence only 150 reps). I managed in 23ish minutes to do 10 handstand push ups, 20 box jumps, 30 pull ups, 40 sit ups, 50 double unders (OK, I substituted 150 single unders), 10 knees to elbows (in one hang), 20 dips, 30 burpies (OK, I subbed 30 50lb kettle bell swings due to an increasingly sore rib that keeps reoccurring for me), 40 sit ups (foot weighted) and 50 squats. Once again, thank the gods Mike agrees to only one round for us.
Well tonight's work out looks good too, so more tomorrow.
ps: had fun visiting steph at work on Saturday.. great t-shirt
Friday, March 19, 2010
5 Days in a row???? - Lots to blog about...
OK, so as the title says I managed 5 days in a row at Crossfit Saint John this week. And it was a hectic week. In my last blog I told you about the K100 sabotage/revenge. Well it was a great laugh for everyone involved actually. OK, lets go over what I have not told you about this week 9could be a long post)
Jay and Steph (and Deb - K100) asked me to be on the air Thursday and loving being the center of attention, of course I agree (this is probably not good for my out of control ego as I get my body and diet in check). This was actually asked on Tuesday when I was on the air with Nancy and on Wednesday morning when I delivered the cake Jay asked me to come up then for a bit (which I declined only because I had a bit of work to do before my 9:30 class that morning).
Cut to 12:30 , the Pizza.... still laughing about it
Cut to 4:00pm, I decided to go to the gym (3 days in a row that would make it) for a routine I knew was called Death by pull ups. I did okish at this workout but disappointed that I really believe i could have done better. You know 95% of this workout success is just frame of mind. Basically I managed minute by minute to increase my pull up ate to 8 pull ups in one minute. (1 in first, 2 more in second, 3 more in third.. get the drift). I failed epically on the 9th but did manage 9 after I was out in the 10th minute to prove to myself I could. The original sets 1 to 8 were on a 3 band but the overtime final 9 was on a 3+1 band. first time managing on just a 3 band at all.
Thursday morning I weighed in at SFL and had lost 4.3 pounds this week (I believe my best result yet) bringing my total SFL weight loss to 14.5 pounds and my total New Brunswick weight loss to 42.7 pounds.. WOWSERS
It was also at SFL that Bruce (my coach and the SFL owner/creator) scolded me for eating the Pizza. I said "well turn around is fair play and good sportsmanship said I must eat the pizza as the told me (and my class) that they ate some cake. THEY LIED. Turns out they did not eat a bite of cake (they will pay - but i have to admire their strategy) and instead gave it to Michelle for her Birthday (your welcome Michelle.... make them buy you something too for being re-gifters.. something EXPENSIVE)
So this did bother me quite a bit (its all good though) and drove me to go to the gym for 2 more sessions this week. THAT'S RIGHT 5 days in a row for Crossfit. Thursday was not that bad a workout (mentally i mean - physically challenging) but todays (Friday) had mentally beat before I even got there as it starts with 60 push ups which I hate. Well I made it through but I probably had the worst time in teh gym I often do) but I made it through. I even ran 2 laps today . On to next week
Jay and Steph (and Deb - K100) asked me to be on the air Thursday and loving being the center of attention, of course I agree (this is probably not good for my out of control ego as I get my body and diet in check). This was actually asked on Tuesday when I was on the air with Nancy and on Wednesday morning when I delivered the cake Jay asked me to come up then for a bit (which I declined only because I had a bit of work to do before my 9:30 class that morning).
Cut to 12:30 , the Pizza.... still laughing about it
Cut to 4:00pm, I decided to go to the gym (3 days in a row that would make it) for a routine I knew was called Death by pull ups. I did okish at this workout but disappointed that I really believe i could have done better. You know 95% of this workout success is just frame of mind. Basically I managed minute by minute to increase my pull up ate to 8 pull ups in one minute. (1 in first, 2 more in second, 3 more in third.. get the drift). I failed epically on the 9th but did manage 9 after I was out in the 10th minute to prove to myself I could. The original sets 1 to 8 were on a 3 band but the overtime final 9 was on a 3+1 band. first time managing on just a 3 band at all.
Thursday morning I weighed in at SFL and had lost 4.3 pounds this week (I believe my best result yet) bringing my total SFL weight loss to 14.5 pounds and my total New Brunswick weight loss to 42.7 pounds.. WOWSERS
It was also at SFL that Bruce (my coach and the SFL owner/creator) scolded me for eating the Pizza. I said "well turn around is fair play and good sportsmanship said I must eat the pizza as the told me (and my class) that they ate some cake. THEY LIED. Turns out they did not eat a bite of cake (they will pay - but i have to admire their strategy) and instead gave it to Michelle for her Birthday (your welcome Michelle.... make them buy you something too for being re-gifters.. something EXPENSIVE)
So this did bother me quite a bit (its all good though) and drove me to go to the gym for 2 more sessions this week. THAT'S RIGHT 5 days in a row for Crossfit. Thursday was not that bad a workout (mentally i mean - physically challenging) but todays (Friday) had mentally beat before I even got there as it starts with 60 push ups which I hate. Well I made it through but I probably had the worst time in teh gym I often do) but I made it through. I even ran 2 laps today . On to next week
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Crossfit and K100 sabotage (or Fair Play) - Wednesday 17th
So lets stat with crossfit from last night. A great workout I was happy to do (even though it was hard). After usual warm-up, I managed to do a one lap around the king square\union street block without stopping or walking any of it. Mike wanted 2, but with my leg/hip concern I was happy with one.
The workout was a numbers one. There were 4 exercises [ knees to elbows - dead hang on the pull up bar and lift knees up, dips on a tire, jumping 90 degree squats - jump out of each squat landing 90 degrees changed, and kettle bell swings]. Of these four, the first (knees) is extremely hard for me. I don't yet have the arm strength to do much to help lift my weight. The challenge of this exercise is to do 21 of each, then 18 of each, then 15 , 12, 9, and finally 6 of each for time. I think my time was around 18 minutes which is not half bad for a couch potato like me.
So now to fair play. Today is St. Pa tricks day and our "K100 Green Team" has decided its Green Team Day. So to celebrate we decided I would deliver a nice not-so-SFL-approved Ice Cream cake to Jay and Steph this morning for their radio show with the writing "Happy 'green team' day K100". I can't even type that without giggling. It felt so mischievous and fun...
Well Steph rebutted well on the air (since also this morning another team member won $100 on a pay song - go Lisa [I won mine earlier this week]) with a nice indication that they were going to eat it all and still lose more weight than us. Not to mention the 400 sit ups she did that non of us got close tooo......
Well we were all on facebook in a private group we have laughing it up after that. A good day indeed. In my 9:30 stats class I could not help but tell them all about it. In my 12:30 stats class......REVENGE
Steph, Jay and Deb all waiting outside my class with some piping hot delicious Pizza Hut pizza. Something I have not had in 6 weeks, nor should have (sorry bruce). Well sportsman ship is fair play. So I enjoyed a nice slice of cheese bites pizza as well as a delicious slice of apple desert pizza (my ultimate fav always). Thanks to K100 from my class though that loved it and enjoyed all the remainder of the pizza to much enjoyment.
I think now I have to go squeeze in a workout. see ya'll tomorrow after my weigh in.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Just a post workout note. Went with team mate Shirley to do todays' workout. It was all pull ups and I loved it as I need work on those. Did OK but think I could do better next time. The exercise was to start a clock going. Then in the first minute you must complete 1 pull up, second minute 2, third minute three etc until you fail. they must be completed before the minute ends of your done. I managed 8 rounds on a 3 band (first time trying just a 3 band) and did manage my 9 in a minute on a 3 + 1 band but not until after i failed in the 9th minute (but did the 9 in the 10th minute). Pretty good over all. I even ran a lap before for warm up (no stopping what so ever) and a lap at the end (walked 3rd quarter due to stitch). Getting better every day and thanks to the wonderful work of Amy I feel a lot better about my pull ups now and feel encouraged. Amy rocks... (and bella too)
The workout was a numbers one. There were 4 exercises [ knees to elbows - dead hang on the pull up bar and lift knees up, dips on a tire, jumping 90 degree squats - jump out of each squat landing 90 degrees changed, and kettle bell swings]. Of these four, the first (knees) is extremely hard for me. I don't yet have the arm strength to do much to help lift my weight. The challenge of this exercise is to do 21 of each, then 18 of each, then 15 , 12, 9, and finally 6 of each for time. I think my time was around 18 minutes which is not half bad for a couch potato like me.
So now to fair play. Today is St. Pa tricks day and our "K100 Green Team" has decided its Green Team Day. So to celebrate we decided I would deliver a nice not-so-SFL-approved Ice Cream cake to Jay and Steph this morning for their radio show with the writing "Happy 'green team' day K100". I can't even type that without giggling. It felt so mischievous and fun...
Well Steph rebutted well on the air (since also this morning another team member won $100 on a pay song - go Lisa [I won mine earlier this week]) with a nice indication that they were going to eat it all and still lose more weight than us. Not to mention the 400 sit ups she did that non of us got close tooo......
Well we were all on facebook in a private group we have laughing it up after that. A good day indeed. In my 9:30 stats class I could not help but tell them all about it. In my 12:30 stats class......REVENGE
Steph, Jay and Deb all waiting outside my class with some piping hot delicious Pizza Hut pizza. Something I have not had in 6 weeks, nor should have (sorry bruce). Well sportsman ship is fair play. So I enjoyed a nice slice of cheese bites pizza as well as a delicious slice of apple desert pizza (my ultimate fav always). Thanks to K100 from my class though that loved it and enjoyed all the remainder of the pizza to much enjoyment.
I think now I have to go squeeze in a workout. see ya'll tomorrow after my weigh in.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Just a post workout note. Went with team mate Shirley to do todays' workout. It was all pull ups and I loved it as I need work on those. Did OK but think I could do better next time. The exercise was to start a clock going. Then in the first minute you must complete 1 pull up, second minute 2, third minute three etc until you fail. they must be completed before the minute ends of your done. I managed 8 rounds on a 3 band (first time trying just a 3 band) and did manage my 9 in a minute on a 3 + 1 band but not until after i failed in the 9th minute (but did the 9 in the 10th minute). Pretty good over all. I even ran a lap before for warm up (no stopping what so ever) and a lap at the end (walked 3rd quarter due to stitch). Getting better every day and thanks to the wonderful work of Amy I feel a lot better about my pull ups now and feel encouraged. Amy rocks... (and bella too)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
What a Day...
So today started great when as soon as I started my car I heard the K100 pay song, dialed in and Steph answered (first time I got an answer this year) with the how ya doing intro... I knew I was caller 10...Cha ching...$100.00
So when she asked who it was, I said "you'll never guess, its Jeff". She said Jeff McNally.. no way. Well a short conversation later about how I was on the ENEMY team (that's right, the winning team) they admitted I had won. I then really enjoyed asking Steph a question while on the air..."when on testing day you finish your Squats do you mind counting for me as I keep going". LOVED IT BABY (as did my team members). Well credit where credit is due... Mike from crossfit gave us that line to use the other day and said its time to start the mental games. So game on **********
Well day kept getting better with two roll up the rim wins (that makes it 7 wins in 15 cups now).
Eventually it was time for Crossfit and I was excited. The exercise (I thought) was 5 rounds of 5 burpies, 10 box jumps and 15 ball walls. Well I was actually excited about this (well maybe not the burpies, but 25 seemed a doable number for me). Then when I got there it was 10 rounds (I had read wrong.. maybe wishful thinking).
OK 5 to 10 is a major change in my attitude. Too many. I will never finish.. Holy crap...
Well I did manage to get through 9 rounds before I stopped after a jump that did not feel right in my hip (see previous posts on slight injury). To be honest though, a mosquito bite would probably have been enough excuse for me to quit. I found 10 rounds to be too much for me. I was fighting hard at 6, so had to stop at 9 (and it might have even been only 8 rounds as I struggled to keep the counting correct).
Well more tomorrow.. and am excited for this thursdays weigh in too
So when she asked who it was, I said "you'll never guess, its Jeff". She said Jeff McNally.. no way. Well a short conversation later about how I was on the ENEMY team (that's right, the winning team) they admitted I had won. I then really enjoyed asking Steph a question while on the air..."when on testing day you finish your Squats
Well day kept getting better with two roll up the rim wins (that makes it 7 wins in 15 cups now).
Eventually it was time for Crossfit and I was excited. The exercise (I thought) was 5 rounds of 5 burpies, 10 box jumps and 15 ball walls. Well I was actually excited about this (well maybe not the burpies, but 25 seemed a doable number for me). Then when I got there it was 10 rounds (I had read wrong.. maybe wishful thinking).
OK 5 to 10 is a major change in my attitude. Too many. I will never finish.. Holy crap...
Well I did manage to get through 9 rounds before I stopped after a jump that did not feel right in my hip (see previous posts on slight injury). To be honest though, a mosquito bite would probably have been enough excuse for me to quit. I found 10 rounds to be too much for me. I was fighting hard at 6, so had to stop at 9 (and it might have even been only 8 rounds as I struggled to keep the counting correct).
Well more tomorrow.. and am excited for this thursdays weigh in too
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Crossfit Weights and Crossfit Bowling
Bit slow on getting to my blogs lately, so this is a double quick blog. Friday we did the Crossfit workout and the whole team was there. This to me is the best part because as a team we each really strive to be our best and always exceed our expectations.
The Warm up was ggreat and we have notched it up a bit by removing the bozes from our pullups. I also think i'm going to add a medicine ball to my situps to get a bit stronger there and add 10 pushups into my warm up from now on.
Wow, me saying that ehhh. yeah yeah
Saturday we went crossfit bowling and I have been an avid bowler now for a few year. IT WAS AMAZING. I really hope Mike adds this as a monthly event (first saturday of each month perhaps). For each guttern ball any team member made in Strong 1, 10 burpee medicine ball pushups. HARD (especially when its 150ish of them, which I admit I only managed about 115 I think and did a few cheating ones instead). In the second String, it was 10 medicine ball situps per gutterball (120 of these - did all of them). This of course was ontop of an pre-determined exercise for each box for each pin you missed (actually, did very few of these over the 2 strngs actually). Well thats it for now, Crossfit tomorrow and the SFL plan continues.....
ps: time to up the game soon... you will see
The Warm up was ggreat and we have notched it up a bit by removing the bozes from our pullups. I also think i'm going to add a medicine ball to my situps to get a bit stronger there and add 10 pushups into my warm up from now on.
Wow, me saying that ehhh. yeah yeah
Saturday we went crossfit bowling and I have been an avid bowler now for a few year. IT WAS AMAZING. I really hope Mike adds this as a monthly event (first saturday of each month perhaps). For each guttern ball any team member made in Strong 1, 10 burpee medicine ball pushups. HARD (especially when its 150ish of them, which I admit I only managed about 115 I think and did a few cheating ones instead). In the second String, it was 10 medicine ball situps per gutterball (120 of these - did all of them). This of course was ontop of an pre-determined exercise for each box for each pin you missed (actually, did very few of these over the 2 strngs actually). Well thats it for now, Crossfit tomorrow and the SFL plan continues.....
ps: time to up the game soon... you will see
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Simply for Life... Bruce??????
You know, just because he is amazingly successful and just because Mexico is so inviting, does that really mean Bruce should pawn my SFL meeting this week on someone else.... oh yeah, that's right, its not all about me.
Well now more about me.
Weighed in today. I get lower weights at home, so its really time to stop looking at my home scales and start waiting for the SFL weigh ins as it annoys me when I weight at home [220.0] drive to SFL and weight [221.6]. Well I guess I did add 4 egg whites, 2 clementines and a large Tim's (winner #4 this week) to my body, but 1.6 difference? hmmmmm
Actually the weight today 221.6 is one I should be very happy about. It means 10.2 pound loss since starting SFL (no mum, i did not cut of my useless brain holding head!!!!!). Considering I was stagnant at 231 for almost 2 months before starting SFL while trying to lose weight it proves to me that the SFL way of life (not a diet for sure) really works. Lori (my loving wife back in Nova Scotia) has now lost 20 pounds on the SFL plan without incorporating any additional physical activities (missing out on a few normal ones too ...nudge nudge wink wink).
Big news today is the mid-contest Crossfit results. Keep in mind that its really about about personal gain and not about killing K100 Silver team (is killing too harsh a term...nahhhhhh). Well originally when we first tested, K100 Silver 9missing a member) had a lead of more than 100% our combined team score. AND BOY DID WE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. We thought as a team (or at least a few of us did) that we could never ever catch up to them while both teams were improving. We requested a new scoring system and everything.
Boy were we whiners...
now I think we must revert to the original scoring system as SFL and crossfit have both proved to the listeners team that we can do it. The new results are at
http://crossfitsaintjohn.ca/?page_id=570
and our team improved our score by more than enough not only to catch up with the K100 Silver team, but also to now be beating them by 300+ (by my re-calculation due to a simple error on the table 700+) points. WOWSERS
SO ANYWAY, needless to say, we are all pumped and really can not wait to see what the next 4 weeks brings. For me, I want to work hard on my push ups and pull ups to get my numbers on those two categories into triple digits if I can.
wow.. never thought I would say that
Well now more about me.
Weighed in today. I get lower weights at home, so its really time to stop looking at my home scales and start waiting for the SFL weigh ins as it annoys me when I weight at home [220.0] drive to SFL and weight [221.6]. Well I guess I did add 4 egg whites, 2 clementines and a large Tim's (winner #4 this week) to my body, but 1.6 difference? hmmmmm
Actually the weight today 221.6 is one I should be very happy about. It means 10.2 pound loss since starting SFL (no mum, i did not cut of my useless brain holding head!!!!!). Considering I was stagnant at 231 for almost 2 months before starting SFL while trying to lose weight it proves to me that the SFL way of life (not a diet for sure) really works. Lori (my loving wife back in Nova Scotia) has now lost 20 pounds on the SFL plan without incorporating any additional physical activities (missing out on a few normal ones too ...nudge nudge wink wink).
Big news today is the mid-contest Crossfit results. Keep in mind that its really about about personal gain and not about killing K100 Silver team (is killing too harsh a term...nahhhhhh). Well originally when we first tested, K100 Silver 9missing a member) had a lead of more than 100% our combined team score. AND BOY DID WE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. We thought as a team (or at least a few of us did) that we could never ever catch up to them while both teams were improving. We requested a new scoring system and everything.
Boy were we whiners...
now I think we must revert to the original scoring system as SFL and crossfit have both proved to the listeners team that we can do it. The new results are at
http://crossfitsaintjohn.ca/?page_id=570
and our team improved our score by more than enough not only to catch up with the K100 Silver team, but also to now be beating them by 300+ (by my re-calculation due to a simple error on the table 700+) points. WOWSERS
SO ANYWAY, needless to say, we are all pumped and really can not wait to see what the next 4 weeks brings. For me, I want to work hard on my push ups and pull ups to get my numbers on those two categories into triple digits if I can.
wow.. never thought I would say that
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Benchmarks Week 4ish - WOWSERS
OK, so its week 4 - 5 ish at Crossfit and that meas we are doing the 4 primary benchmark exercises (to exhaustion) to see how much we have improved. I just got off a 10 day "vacation" from exercise.....(OK, so i meant to do exercise---sue me).
My original results definitely did not impress me much (but at the time i was happy with them). They were 7 pulls up on band 4 [the bands help lift away some of your body weight and give some ease to the pull, I mean we can not be expected to just do them from scratch as beginners], 16 push ups on knees [I just felt then I could not do regular ones which are on your toes], 19 sit ups and 32 squats which totaled to 112 points.
You may recall my rant about the scoring system.. which i now formally recant as just not realizing that WE ALL CAN DO THESE THINGS. Negativity was so strong then with many of us, and now i see it was self-confidence that was the problem. But Mike knew we would get to the point of being able to do these things and do then often and well.
Well last night we pushed ourselves. I actually think I might have pushed the least of all the team, but I seem over sensitive about hurting my body right now due to the Meralgia Paresthetica I have developed. Even then, however, I was personally amazed at my results (and my team mates, but those are secret right now).
For the pull ups I used a 3 band with an addition 2 band which is probably a bit similar to the 4 I used before. the result was 23 pull ups which really blew away my previous results.
On push ups I decided to give it a go on my toes. I really wanted to not say that I needed to be on my knees. I was right. They might not have been pretty and fast, but I managed 21 of them before I could not get my arms to lift my weight up any more. 21 is more than I thought possible and hats off to Mike from Crossfit who made me do a few more at the end until even he saw I was done.
OK next was squats, and last time this was my greatest triumph - 31. Well this time the medicine balls were below us to make sure we were going low enough, and I can honesty say Holy Sh**. 200 times my ass hit that ball before i said thats it. A few minutes later I think I could have done another 50, but at that time I needed to stop. Next time I won't stop and will pace myself a little better.
Finally cam sit ups, which are, in my opinion, the exercise everyone knows about and hates. So many people see them as a real test of fitness for common everyday people. Well last time I astounded myself with 19 sit ups and was excited to have done that many (tried hard to get #20 but did not happen). Last night I managed to get 102. thats right one-hundred-and-two. WOW.
so that gives me a new score of 571 which is an increase of 409% or 409 points. If I can keep this momentum, K100 Silver team does not stand a chance.
Bring it on. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BAAABBBBYYYYYYYYYYY
My original results definitely did not impress me much (but at the time i was happy with them). They were 7 pulls up on band 4 [the bands help lift away some of your body weight and give some ease to the pull, I mean we can not be expected to just do them from scratch as beginners], 16 push ups on knees [I just felt then I could not do regular ones which are on your toes], 19 sit ups and 32 squats which totaled to 112 points.
You may recall my rant about the scoring system.. which i now formally recant as just not realizing that WE ALL CAN DO THESE THINGS. Negativity was so strong then with many of us, and now i see it was self-confidence that was the problem. But Mike knew we would get to the point of being able to do these things and do then often and well.
Well last night we pushed ourselves. I actually think I might have pushed the least of all the team, but I seem over sensitive about hurting my body right now due to the Meralgia Paresthetica I have developed. Even then, however, I was personally amazed at my results (and my team mates, but those are secret right now).
For the pull ups I used a 3 band with an addition 2 band which is probably a bit similar to the 4 I used before. the result was 23 pull ups which really blew away my previous results.
On push ups I decided to give it a go on my toes. I really wanted to not say that I needed to be on my knees. I was right. They might not have been pretty and fast, but I managed 21 of them before I could not get my arms to lift my weight up any more. 21 is more than I thought possible and hats off to Mike from Crossfit who made me do a few more at the end until even he saw I was done.
OK next was squats, and last time this was my greatest triumph - 31. Well this time the medicine balls were below us to make sure we were going low enough, and I can honesty say Holy Sh**. 200 times my ass hit that ball before i said thats it. A few minutes later I think I could have done another 50, but at that time I needed to stop. Next time I won't stop and will pace myself a little better.
Finally cam sit ups, which are, in my opinion, the exercise everyone knows about and hates. So many people see them as a real test of fitness for common everyday people. Well last time I astounded myself with 19 sit ups and was excited to have done that many (tried hard to get #20 but did not happen). Last night I managed to get 102. thats right one-hundred-and-two. WOW.
so that gives me a new score of 571 which is an increase of 409% or 409 points. If I can keep this momentum, K100 Silver team does not stand a chance.
Bring it on. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BAAABBBBYYYYYYYYYYY
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Back from Vacation and March 8th Crossfit
So I really enjoyed my 10 days home with my wife and daughter. My wife has now lost about 15 pounds on Simply for life (and I believe I am over the 10 pound loss mark now) so we are very excited. During the past week, now that we are on transitional menu (weight loss menu is my interpretation of that) the food is amazing. We are really enjoying our pitas [Cajun pitas rock] and even the dinners seem a lot more "normal" that I was expecting.
Actually, writing this, I realize I really am eating all my favorite foods, all the time, in large portions. It really makes me realize how pointless all the other programs that made me eat small amounts of "counted" foods that I did not enjoy at all were. Sure I lost weight on them, but I always gained back 150% of it. The simply for Life plan really is success for life. Sure we might once and a while eventually really splurge and have that double layer chocolate cake, or the fries and burger combos, but overall, we would probably keep eating lean foods with plenty of veg, and also make the effort to eat three meals a day with a couple of snacks in between and not revert to one large caloric/fat/sodium massive feast every night before bed...(wow, how did I ever let myself do that anyway).
On the food issue, I bought a desert based cookbook from SFL that uses some pretty interesting alternatives to make sweet deserts that are "healthy". Well we tried the Brazil nut\coconut\honey chocolate bars and MAN-O-MAN.... OK ....BETTER THAN *** IF YOU GET MY DRIFT. Seriously, this desert is to die for, and not that bad for my body. Ive brought some back to saint john with me (imagine that too, we actually chose not to eat them all... that's new) to share with the winning GREEN K100 team - too bad the other team hides from us and says its their busy schedules. (PS the bars are in the picture).
The week away was good. Stuck strongly to the SFL plan (a few bites of something bad every now and then and a few extras sfl approved snacks some days) and I think I'm starting to lose weight again (was stagnant for a week and a bit there). I even ate out 4 times on SFL menus at Irving (B+ - salad not very fresh), Smitty's (B - loved mine, but my wife did jot like hers) and Jungle Jim's (A++ - amazing meal, filling and delicious).
Crossfit... well.... I'm only human. I planned on doing all this exercise when I was away but will be honest and admit that between time with family, a new tooth crown, a trip to the doctor to learn I have meralgia paraesthetica in my right leg (which will affect my running for a while), a new tooth crown for my wife and marking lots of midterms and assignments I did not do more than a half hour of exercise all week. oopppppppsssssssssssssiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeee
Well last night was Crossfit and except for not being willing to do the running (leg thing) I really had a great time. I definitely weakened a bit while away, but not much and expect to be back on track by Friday. Looking forward to this week and all the fun it will bring.
Actually, writing this, I realize I really am eating all my favorite foods, all the time, in large portions. It really makes me realize how pointless all the other programs that made me eat small amounts of "counted" foods that I did not enjoy at all were. Sure I lost weight on them, but I always gained back 150% of it. The simply for Life plan really is success for life. Sure we might once and a while eventually really splurge and have that double layer chocolate cake, or the fries and burger combos, but overall, we would probably keep eating lean foods with plenty of veg, and also make the effort to eat three meals a day with a couple of snacks in between and not revert to one large caloric/fat/sodium massive feast every night before bed...(wow, how did I ever let myself do that anyway).
On the food issue, I bought a desert based cookbook from SFL that uses some pretty interesting alternatives to make sweet deserts that are "healthy". Well we tried the Brazil nut\coconut\honey chocolate bars and MAN-O-MAN.... OK ....BETTER THAN *** IF YOU GET MY DRIFT. Seriously, this desert is to die for, and not that bad for my body. Ive brought some back to saint john with me (imagine that too, we actually chose not to eat them all... that's new) to share with the winning GREEN K100 team - too bad the other team hides from us and says its their busy schedules. (PS the bars are in the picture).
The week away was good. Stuck strongly to the SFL plan (a few bites of something bad every now and then and a few extras sfl approved snacks some days) and I think I'm starting to lose weight again (was stagnant for a week and a bit there). I even ate out 4 times on SFL menus at Irving (B+ - salad not very fresh), Smitty's (B - loved mine, but my wife did jot like hers) and Jungle Jim's (A++ - amazing meal, filling and delicious).
Crossfit... well.... I'm only human. I planned on doing all this exercise when I was away but will be honest and admit that between time with family, a new tooth crown, a trip to the doctor to learn I have meralgia paraesthetica in my right leg (which will affect my running for a while), a new tooth crown for my wife and marking lots of midterms and assignments I did not do more than a half hour of exercise all week. oopppppppsssssssssssssiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeee
Well last night was Crossfit and except for not being willing to do the running (leg thing) I really had a great time. I definitely weakened a bit while away, but not much and expect to be back on track by Friday. Looking forward to this week and all the fun it will bring.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Crossfit - Tuesday 23rd
So Tuesday night was a good workout. I actually surprised myself. I went in in a bit of a bad mood (something to do with needing a 200% performance increase to just get even with the average start on the other team.... OK I think one team started a bit fitter then the other) but after some good conversation with Green team, Mike from Crossfit and Diane from SFL things seemed better.
The Green team (listeners) really felt that the scoring should be improvement based to be just. Otherwise that part of the challenge is already over as they have a 100% lead on us just to start. Similarly the SFL scoring can not just be weight as, lets be honest, some of us (me for sure) have a lot more weight than others to lose easily [steph from k100 seems quite in shape already :) ]... Then again, she has already lost more weight that I have... but has she been gaining the muscle mass we have been gaining as i know i have already punched new holes in my belts as they just don't go tight enough?
So the workout went well. 6 weight lifts of just the bar (I feel strongly about not jumping into complicated lifts but rather work on lifting in general and lifting right) and then 9 hanging knee lifts (the lifting knees - easy.... the hanging 225 pounds on my itty bitty wrists.. not so easy). Then 12 box jumps onto a 2 foot high box (i did all my jumps onto the right box which impressed me).
So I managed 5 rounds of this in 13.59 which amazed me... (I need to learn to count better as I lose count for simple things or forget to stop sometimes). Overall a great workout with a fun group.
I want to emphasie that I try to, and do, have fun every time. I think if I went and everyone was just interested in working out only (you know grunt, groan, max power, max lift, etc... boring) I would stop going. To me, I love the social aspect of 5 people learning who we all are and trying to get self improved together. My goal is self-improvement. I never want to do a "muscle up" (its a stupid move) and never want to lift a weight in an "Olympic fashion" . I want to lift weights carefully and slowly, but be able to lift them. Even the box jumps yesterday (I must questions)were high impact and to me risk my knees (something I would like to keep forever). But right now its still fun, and the crossfit team tones the routines down to our abilities (or we at least encourage them to). I just don't think they would like hearing that I'm not interested in getting to the level they want to be at or think I coudl reach. Yes I could reach it, no I am not interested in reaching it. Im 36, a dad, an employee, a husband and have more important things to do that risking "exercise injury" on complicated moves when I get just as much out of the simpler moves..
On a side note: Antigonish for the next 10 days and whereas I will love it as I will see my wife and daughter, in the next week I have schedules a crown for dental work, doctors appointments [since for the past 6-7 days I have lost most of the feeling in my upper leg - that's right, nub and cold all the time] and probably lots of marking and a few union based meeting. On top of that, new SFL menu soon and daily keep up workouts for crossfit have me excited and I'll teach my wife some squats - a very useful move ;)
Should be a busy week!!!
The Green team (listeners) really felt that the scoring should be improvement based to be just. Otherwise that part of the challenge is already over as they have a 100% lead on us just to start. Similarly the SFL scoring can not just be weight as, lets be honest, some of us (me for sure) have a lot more weight than others to lose easily [steph from k100 seems quite in shape already :) ]... Then again, she has already lost more weight that I have... but has she been gaining the muscle mass we have been gaining as i know i have already punched new holes in my belts as they just don't go tight enough?
So the workout went well. 6 weight lifts of just the bar (I feel strongly about not jumping into complicated lifts but rather work on lifting in general and lifting right) and then 9 hanging knee lifts (the lifting knees - easy.... the hanging 225 pounds on my itty bitty wrists.. not so easy). Then 12 box jumps onto a 2 foot high box (i did all my jumps onto the right box which impressed me).
So I managed 5 rounds of this in 13.59 which amazed me... (I need to learn to count better as I lose count for simple things or forget to stop sometimes). Overall a great workout with a fun group.
I want to emphasie that I try to, and do, have fun every time. I think if I went and everyone was just interested in working out only (you know grunt, groan, max power, max lift, etc... boring) I would stop going. To me, I love the social aspect of 5 people learning who we all are and trying to get self improved together. My goal is self-improvement. I never want to do a "muscle up" (its a stupid move) and never want to lift a weight in an "Olympic fashion" . I want to lift weights carefully and slowly, but be able to lift them. Even the box jumps yesterday (I must questions)were high impact and to me risk my knees (something I would like to keep forever). But right now its still fun, and the crossfit team tones the routines down to our abilities (or we at least encourage them to). I just don't think they would like hearing that I'm not interested in getting to the level they want to be at or think I coudl reach. Yes I could reach it, no I am not interested in reaching it. Im 36, a dad, an employee, a husband and have more important things to do that risking "exercise injury" on complicated moves when I get just as much out of the simpler moves..
On a side note: Antigonish for the next 10 days and whereas I will love it as I will see my wife and daughter, in the next week I have schedules a crown for dental work, doctors appointments [since for the past 6-7 days I have lost most of the feeling in my upper leg - that's right, nub and cold all the time] and probably lots of marking and a few union based meeting. On top of that, new SFL menu soon and daily keep up workouts for crossfit have me excited and I'll teach my wife some squats - a very useful move ;)
Should be a busy week!!!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Feb 22nd - Crossfit Fun
So Mondays work out was actually quite challenging. 5 hand stand pull ups (lets just for us call them leaning pull ups until we get better at them), 10 one legg squats (ok, we could call that one almost falling down a lot) and then 15 pull ups.
NOTE THE MULTUPLE OCCURANCE OF THE PULL UP - THE EXERCISE OF EVIL
Well I focused more on technique yesterday than exerstion (although I did get exhausted). The hand stand pull ups really work my wrists\arms and next week when I will be away I will probably choose this as one of my daily routine workouts to strenghten my arms more (perhaps 225 [or even half 225] is a lot of weight for my arms to lift). The Squats are all about balance for me and I apparently seem top heavy (or should I say front heavy) which make the balance part challenging before I even work on the strength part. And of course poull ups. I'm getting better ever day but I sometimes feel like some people expect me to go from never doing one to doing "lots" too quick. The muscles will grow, but Its not overnight. This is not a disney movie.
One reall thing I'm happy about is situps. 5 week one (well maybe it was 3) and now i seem to make it through my three sets of 10 without very much difficulty (note: not no difficulty). So I'm loving it, having fun, and can not wait to see whats instore for tonight.
ps: personal note: weigh in in two days and whereas I don't feel I'm losing a lot, I'm losing consistently (I can tell) and really think this "rpize" is better than a big lotto win for my future.. thats right - it was not me
NOTE THE MULTUPLE OCCURANCE OF THE PULL UP - THE EXERCISE OF EVIL
Well I focused more on technique yesterday than exerstion (although I did get exhausted). The hand stand pull ups really work my wrists\arms and next week when I will be away I will probably choose this as one of my daily routine workouts to strenghten my arms more (perhaps 225 [or even half 225] is a lot of weight for my arms to lift). The Squats are all about balance for me and I apparently seem top heavy (or should I say front heavy) which make the balance part challenging before I even work on the strength part. And of course poull ups. I'm getting better ever day but I sometimes feel like some people expect me to go from never doing one to doing "lots" too quick. The muscles will grow, but Its not overnight. This is not a disney movie.
One reall thing I'm happy about is situps. 5 week one (well maybe it was 3) and now i seem to make it through my three sets of 10 without very much difficulty (note: not no difficulty). So I'm loving it, having fun, and can not wait to see whats instore for tonight.
ps: personal note: weigh in in two days and whereas I don't feel I'm losing a lot, I'm losing consistently (I can tell) and really think this "rpize" is better than a big lotto win for my future.. thats right - it was not me
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Crosfit from He**
OK, so I'll start today (its Sunday as I was very busy the last two days) by summarizing last weeks Crossfit in general as it was the first full week of workouts (I went to Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday).
Monday turned out to be benchmarks, and as indicated in an earlier blog I was happy with my scores, but also think I might have been able to push a little more. Next time we see these, they will have to lift me off the floor as I really want to do as many as I can. Learnt that the scoring system will not necessarily be "total improvement" but rather total final ability, so the "fitter" teams will win the Crossfit component. Not sure as a mathematician I like this much as the K100 team seem less randomly chosen that the listeners and definitely I think we out weighed them originally about 2 to 1 (but then again, does that mean they can do more sit ups?). But then again if we all improve, aren't we all winners......MAYBE..
Tuesday was push ups (they kill me), floor wipers (like these) and rowing (love this) in a 10 to 1 countdown, but you can read that in another blog.
Thursday was push ups (OK, burpies) and pull ups (also kills me) so I found it hard and know I was even struggling to finish our 3 rounds when regulars were doing 5 rounds. I need to start making myself try 10-20 push ups daily (and eventually get off my knees) but my upper body strength is still not great, but improving - have I ever mentioned the knot in my arm muscle that seems to never want to go away .... perhaps an internal bruise instead?).
So it seemed to be getting a bit harder and harder, then came Friday - MY WORST NIGHTMARE.... RUNNING
See I don't like running.. especially in public... especially in shorts. Might be vain, but I'm FAT (its the word I prefer to use.. its honest).... and fat people 1) don't look good in shorts, 2) don't look good running and 3) don't run well. So being told we were going to run 500m around the block [so in front of all the people , up the road by K100, down King Square by the bus stop (and all those people) and down by United (where I did work once)... not enjoyable]. Not only that, but between each of 5 rounds, we did 15 thrusters which were very tiring in themselves. I remember muttering to my co-runners
"thin people have no idea how hard this is on fat people, they never had this much extra weight"
"I can manage three laps," (said while walking a bit actually) "but not 5... they must want to kill me"
"this is ridiculous.... this is a PRIZE"
BUT... credit to Crossfit, they were there running with us (well we all are crossfit now) and they encouraged us. They stood there when we were doing thrusters and recognized when we had to lower the weights a little, and on the 5th lap AMY [not wilkins] (what a great person) ran right along beside encouraging me, giving me advice that worked, and did not let me walk too much.....
And I ran 2.5km and did 75 thrusters of different scales...me, I did it.
I mean I was shocked afterwards. I did it.. I did struggle to breath right for the next hour, but that's my bad breathing technique... but I ran it, I lifted it, I thrusted it...I CAN DO THIS AS THE WEEKS WILL KEEP TICKING BY...
Monday turned out to be benchmarks, and as indicated in an earlier blog I was happy with my scores, but also think I might have been able to push a little more. Next time we see these, they will have to lift me off the floor as I really want to do as many as I can. Learnt that the scoring system will not necessarily be "total improvement" but rather total final ability, so the "fitter" teams will win the Crossfit component. Not sure as a mathematician I like this much as the K100 team seem less randomly chosen that the listeners and definitely I think we out weighed them originally about 2 to 1 (but then again, does that mean they can do more sit ups?). But then again if we all improve, aren't we all winners......MAYBE..
Tuesday was push ups (they kill me), floor wipers (like these) and rowing (love this) in a 10 to 1 countdown, but you can read that in another blog.
Thursday was push ups (OK, burpies) and pull ups (also kills me) so I found it hard and know I was even struggling to finish our 3 rounds when regulars were doing 5 rounds. I need to start making myself try 10-20 push ups daily (and eventually get off my knees) but my upper body strength is still not great, but improving - have I ever mentioned the knot in my arm muscle that seems to never want to go away .... perhaps an internal bruise instead?).
So it seemed to be getting a bit harder and harder, then came Friday - MY WORST NIGHTMARE.... RUNNING
See I don't like running.. especially in public... especially in shorts. Might be vain, but I'm FAT (its the word I prefer to use.. its honest).... and fat people 1) don't look good in shorts, 2) don't look good running and 3) don't run well. So being told we were going to run 500m around the block [so in front of all the people , up the road by K100, down King Square by the bus stop (and all those people) and down by United (where I did work once)... not enjoyable]. Not only that, but between each of 5 rounds, we did 15 thrusters which were very tiring in themselves. I remember muttering to my co-runners
"thin people have no idea how hard this is on fat people, they never had this much extra weight"
"I can manage three laps," (said while walking a bit actually) "but not 5... they must want to kill me"
"this is ridiculous.... this is a PRIZE"
BUT... credit to Crossfit, they were there running with us (well we all are crossfit now) and they encouraged us. They stood there when we were doing thrusters and recognized when we had to lower the weights a little, and on the 5th lap AMY [not wilkins] (what a great person) ran right along beside encouraging me, giving me advice that worked, and did not let me walk too much.....
And I ran 2.5km and did 75 thrusters of different scales...me, I did it.
I mean I was shocked afterwards. I did it.. I did struggle to breath right for the next hour, but that's my bad breathing technique... but I ran it, I lifted it, I thrusted it...I CAN DO THIS AS THE WEEKS WILL KEEP TICKING BY...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Week 2 Day 5 - SFL Weigh in and CrossFit Session - + Recap
NOTE: i think this is my confessional post, so its long!!!!
So today was a pretty good day. I still think one of the best parts of this prise is the people we meet... the SFL people, the Crossfit people and the K100.... wait where are the K100 people... are they avoiding us... scared of us????
So today's SFL weigh in was good (as expected really... OK that means I might have peeked as the scales a lot this week, but I swear it was for science!!!). My weight is kinda weird to report... but I am a numbers person so...
My weight is down 6 pounds since I started SFL to 225 (this is amazing to me). This also represents a 12.5% reduction in my body weight since I decided I was too ...FAT. How you say, read on....
MY weight when I moved back to Saint John (sans wife and kid.. missing them) was 257 pounds. I could not believe I had let myself get that heavy, so that's when I knew I was mentally ready to make myself healthier (or at least lighter). So I thought gym at UNBSJ at least twice a week and eat less bad foods.
My plan was succeeding to some extent, but doomed to fail. i cut out sugar from my tea (was double double, now single milk only) and made a conscious effort to not buy snacks at Tim's most of the time .. often buying instead a tea biscuit. Then I avoided a lot of my normal bad foods with a just say no attitude and will power. Well I was doing OK, and got down to 231 pounds about 2 weeks ago (when I won this contest).
My reason for entering the contest was that I did want to lose weight and knew that eventually, the plan I was on would yo yo back out of control. I needed to learn how to eat right, how often to eat, and what choices to make on foods I did not think were contributing to my weight issues (OK, it was a problem).
Second, I have always wanted to be a "exerciser" except for one thing. I don't exercise. I have had access to a "gym" free for about 19 years in the last 20... and went maybe 10 times in that time frame. The problem is I walk into a gym and say "now what" and never felt like the gyms really cared about my health rather than wanting my money--- not to mention the "free" gyms did not provide and "assistance" with knowing what you should do and how you should do it to be safe.
So from 257 to 225 is a beautiful reduction of 32 pounds so far. My teaching jackets that were bought to be just the right fit (snuggish perhaps) are so lose on me its not funny. I know I've lost a lot more than 32 pounds of dead weight and replaced much of it with muscle bring my weight reduction to 32 pounds (reduction sounds better than loss as I don't want to find it ever again). Today was my third session this week.... so tomorrow I go for an extra, and I am very tempted to go in for yet another on Saturday... I think that means I'm loving it (ohh i miss that jingle a little but not too much)
By the way, Crossfit is amazing as a place to get fit. A trainer is always there and it is clear that they care about your fitness, health and safety above everything else. they also don't let you down. They push you to get it right, do it often and in general want to be better. they don't let any weakness you have stop you, but rather address the issue of "how do we as a team make that weakness a strength). I am loving it. Today I did pull ups (my second least favorite thing) and push ups (my least favorite thing) and managed to do an OK job. It will get better.
As I finish a long blog :GO LISA GO!!!!! 30 SITUPS TODAY, NO RING... GO GIRL GO...
So today was a pretty good day. I still think one of the best parts of this prise is the people we meet... the SFL people, the Crossfit people and the K100.... wait where are the K100 people... are they avoiding us... scared of us????
So today's SFL weigh in was good (as expected really... OK that means I might have peeked as the scales a lot this week, but I swear it was for science!!!). My weight is kinda weird to report... but I am a numbers person so...
My weight is down 6 pounds since I started SFL to 225 (this is amazing to me). This also represents a 12.5% reduction in my body weight since I decided I was too ...FAT. How you say, read on....
MY weight when I moved back to Saint John (sans wife and kid.. missing them) was 257 pounds. I could not believe I had let myself get that heavy, so that's when I knew I was mentally ready to make myself healthier (or at least lighter). So I thought gym at UNBSJ at least twice a week and eat less bad foods.
My plan was succeeding to some extent, but doomed to fail. i cut out sugar from my tea (was double double, now single milk only) and made a conscious effort to not buy snacks at Tim's most of the time .. often buying instead a tea biscuit. Then I avoided a lot of my normal bad foods with a just say no attitude and will power. Well I was doing OK, and got down to 231 pounds about 2 weeks ago (when I won this contest).
My reason for entering the contest was that I did want to lose weight and knew that eventually, the plan I was on would yo yo back out of control. I needed to learn how to eat right, how often to eat, and what choices to make on foods I did not think were contributing to my weight issues (OK, it was a problem).
Second, I have always wanted to be a "exerciser" except for one thing. I don't exercise. I have had access to a "gym" free for about 19 years in the last 20... and went maybe 10 times in that time frame. The problem is I walk into a gym and say "now what" and never felt like the gyms really cared about my health rather than wanting my money--- not to mention the "free" gyms did not provide and "assistance" with knowing what you should do and how you should do it to be safe.
So from 257 to 225 is a beautiful reduction of 32 pounds so far. My teaching jackets that were bought to be just the right fit (snuggish perhaps) are so lose on me its not funny. I know I've lost a lot more than 32 pounds of dead weight and replaced much of it with muscle bring my weight reduction to 32 pounds (reduction sounds better than loss as I don't want to find it ever again). Today was my third session this week.... so tomorrow I go for an extra, and I am very tempted to go in for yet another on Saturday... I think that means I'm loving it (ohh i miss that jingle a little but not too much)
By the way, Crossfit is amazing as a place to get fit. A trainer is always there and it is clear that they care about your fitness, health and safety above everything else. they also don't let you down. They push you to get it right, do it often and in general want to be better. they don't let any weakness you have stop you, but rather address the issue of "how do we as a team make that weakness a strength). I am loving it. Today I did pull ups (my second least favorite thing) and push ups (my least favorite thing) and managed to do an OK job. It will get better.
As I finish a long blog :GO LISA GO!!!!! 30 SITUPS TODAY, NO RING... GO GIRL GO...
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
CrossFit - The first full Workout
OK, so I'm blogging this the morning after as I wanted to see how I felt the "morning after".
Last night was the first "full workout" at Crossfit. It was only three of us from the K100 Listeners Team (so where are the K100 workers gone anyway??? I bet they are scared of us) which was a nice feature for sure. The warm up is getting better and better. Not easier mind you, but I definitely feel that I'm pushing it more and more each day and getting better and faster at it. I was definitely sweating a bit at the end of the warm up.
The actual even was a personal race called 10 to 1. There are three "events" to this challenge - push ups, floor wipers and rowing. Once the time starts, you perform in order 10 of each of the three events - 10 push ups, 10 wipers and 10 calories of rowing. Then your on 9, so do 9 of each. Continue this until you finish the 1 of each and then energetically yell time and pass out.
OK, so not quite pass out, but did I ever mention how much I hate push-ups, and as a mathematicial knowing that we would do n(n+1)/2 = 55 push up was not a pleasant start. Actually, It was meant to be bench presses, but that was not possible last night so the evil push ups it was. Well It was not easy, but I made it through in about 26.5 minutes. Considering I don't normally do this type of stuff, I was quite happy with this, and I know I lost a lot of time on the push ups as I really do struggle with them.
I was very sore driving home though. Probably should have stretched out my arms more as it hurt on my right arm to hold the steering wheel. But this morning I seem OK except for a little "weirdness" feeling in the arms.. dead like - but not sore.
Can not wait for Thursday night, and maybe Saturday morning if the gym is open (they were not sure when I asked due to PEI challenge). Til next time
Last night was the first "full workout" at Crossfit. It was only three of us from the K100 Listeners Team (so where are the K100 workers gone anyway??? I bet they are scared of us) which was a nice feature for sure. The warm up is getting better and better. Not easier mind you, but I definitely feel that I'm pushing it more and more each day and getting better and faster at it. I was definitely sweating a bit at the end of the warm up.
The actual even was a personal race called 10 to 1. There are three "events" to this challenge - push ups, floor wipers and rowing. Once the time starts, you perform in order 10 of each of the three events - 10 push ups, 10 wipers and 10 calories of rowing. Then your on 9, so do 9 of each. Continue this until you finish the 1 of each and then energetically yell time and pass out.
OK, so not quite pass out, but did I ever mention how much I hate push-ups, and as a mathematicial knowing that we would do n(n+1)/2 = 55 push up was not a pleasant start. Actually, It was meant to be bench presses, but that was not possible last night so the evil push ups it was. Well It was not easy, but I made it through in about 26.5 minutes. Considering I don't normally do this type of stuff, I was quite happy with this, and I know I lost a lot of time on the push ups as I really do struggle with them.
I was very sore driving home though. Probably should have stretched out my arms more as it hurt on my right arm to hold the steering wheel. But this morning I seem OK except for a little "weirdness" feeling in the arms.. dead like - but not sore.
Can not wait for Thursday night, and maybe Saturday morning if the gym is open (they were not sure when I asked due to PEI challenge). Til next time
Monday, February 15, 2010
Week 2 Day 2
So how was today ---- Awesome... and crappy
The food thing was depressing today. Breakfast was good (had toast and marmite which I love) and snack was good too (I actually like these fiber bar things and wish I could eat more per week). At lunch - chicken, pasta salad, salad carrot sticks I realized I forgot my dressing so after an attempt at each food bland (I need flavor) I went and bought two packets of low fat Italian dressing (my least favorite dressing but low fat).
Dinner was not so nice. This past weekend I made a "vegetarian chili" from scratch and whereas I'm sure its a great recipe I think It is probably the worst "textured" food I have ever had to endure [and it made three servings too :( ]. I hate boiled skinned veg (like tomatoes, peppers, cucumber etc) and so this concoction of peppers and tomatoes and chili's tasted acceptable (needs something, more garlic and maybe some no salt chili powder) but felt horrible and as a result becomes a never make again food [I also think it needs meat big time]. However I still have to eat it tomorrow and Thursday.
Crossfit tonight rocked. I was pumped and scared at seeing the workout on the web, and relieved and disappointed both when mike decided we would not do it (Steve, Lisa, parris and I). So instead , three rounds of warm up, the the benchmarks
1) As many pull ups as you can til you can't no more..... with the rubber band - i think i did 3 (maybe 7, i can not recall).
2) As many sit ups as you can til you can't no more with options of unassisted, weight on foot, or rings. Last week I was using the rings to get more than 2, but tonight I did 19 unassisted. I was amazed.
Next
3) As many push ups as you can til you can't no more .......either on toes, or on knees, but choose one. I went with on knees (now I wish I had not) and pulled a few out, but not a great number (maybe 13?).
4) As many squats as you can til you can't no more. OK so last week I really struggled with this exercise as I was not very flexible. Today I felt good doing them and managed 31. I also disappointed myself here as I feel I should have done more but i was getting light headed.
So anyway, looking forward to tomorrows exercise but not to tomorrow dinner -- even my mums burnt pork would be better :)
The food thing was depressing today. Breakfast was good (had toast and marmite which I love) and snack was good too (I actually like these fiber bar things and wish I could eat more per week). At lunch - chicken, pasta salad, salad carrot sticks I realized I forgot my dressing so after an attempt at each food bland (I need flavor) I went and bought two packets of low fat Italian dressing (my least favorite dressing but low fat).
Dinner was not so nice. This past weekend I made a "vegetarian chili" from scratch and whereas I'm sure its a great recipe I think It is probably the worst "textured" food I have ever had to endure [and it made three servings too :( ]. I hate boiled skinned veg (like tomatoes, peppers, cucumber etc) and so this concoction of peppers and tomatoes and chili's tasted acceptable (needs something, more garlic and maybe some no salt chili powder) but felt horrible and as a result becomes a never make again food [I also think it needs meat big time]. However I still have to eat it tomorrow and Thursday.
Crossfit tonight rocked. I was pumped and scared at seeing the workout on the web, and relieved and disappointed both when mike decided we would not do it (Steve, Lisa, parris and I). So instead , three rounds of warm up, the the benchmarks
1) As many pull ups as you can til you can't no more..... with the rubber band - i think i did 3 (maybe 7, i can not recall).
2) As many sit ups as you can til you can't no more with options of unassisted, weight on foot, or rings. Last week I was using the rings to get more than 2, but tonight I did 19 unassisted. I was amazed.
Next
3) As many push ups as you can til you can't no more .......either on toes, or on knees, but choose one. I went with on knees (now I wish I had not) and pulled a few out, but not a great number (maybe 13?).
4) As many squats as you can til you can't no more. OK so last week I really struggled with this exercise as I was not very flexible. Today I felt good doing them and managed 31. I also disappointed myself here as I feel I should have done more but i was getting light headed.
So anyway, looking forward to tomorrows exercise but not to tomorrow dinner -- even my mums burnt pork would be better :)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Random thoughts
So I am a numbers person. And i'm very interested in certain numbers.
My weight (aux natural) when I started this diet - 228 (remember it was 257 in september). Now its 224 so that makes me happy as today is only day 1 of week 2. My weight at SFL weigh ins were 231.8 and 228.2 so similar results.
Other things of interest to me are weight shift during the day. Yesterday I was 224.5 in the morning. After breakfast I was 225.3 (sounds about right as i had egg whites and tea for breakfast - forgot my clementines so ate them later). After lunch and dinner, I was surprized to see I was 230.1 again, however I had eaten 6 cups of vegetables and 8oz of chicken, not to mention 3 liters of water (not all of which was still with me *smile* )....
So experiment time. I weighed my bottle of water and determined that three full "content" a day is 5 pounds of water and I tend to drink 3 a day at least. 3 Cups of veg differs in weight a lot, but I try to eat 3 cups of raw carrots at lunch (or raw carrots and raw celery) and a thre cup salad at dinner with 1tbsp of light creamy dressing (I tried the italian dressing reallly and just do not want to eat food I dislike the taste of, looked at the suggestion of yogurt dressings and found the dressing i chose was better numbers).
So my favorite nuber was last night before getting into bed, i weighed 229 and this morning when i got up i weighed 224.
My question is where is the 5 pounds go? I plan on repeating this experiment to see if this is normal tonight and make sure I measured right.
ps: made a chili yesterday and made it spicy... pre-made it for monday night, tuesday night and wednesday night so tune in tomorrow to see if I is delicious.
My weight (aux natural) when I started this diet - 228 (remember it was 257 in september). Now its 224 so that makes me happy as today is only day 1 of week 2. My weight at SFL weigh ins were 231.8 and 228.2 so similar results.
Other things of interest to me are weight shift during the day. Yesterday I was 224.5 in the morning. After breakfast I was 225.3 (sounds about right as i had egg whites and tea for breakfast - forgot my clementines so ate them later). After lunch and dinner, I was surprized to see I was 230.1 again, however I had eaten 6 cups of vegetables and 8oz of chicken, not to mention 3 liters of water (not all of which was still with me *smile* )....
So experiment time. I weighed my bottle of water and determined that three full "content" a day is 5 pounds of water and I tend to drink 3 a day at least. 3 Cups of veg differs in weight a lot, but I try to eat 3 cups of raw carrots at lunch (or raw carrots and raw celery) and a thre cup salad at dinner with 1tbsp of light creamy dressing (I tried the italian dressing reallly and just do not want to eat food I dislike the taste of, looked at the suggestion of yogurt dressings and found the dressing i chose was better numbers).
So my favorite nuber was last night before getting into bed, i weighed 229 and this morning when i got up i weighed 224.
My question is where is the 5 pounds go? I plan on repeating this experiment to see if this is normal tonight and make sure I measured right.
ps: made a chili yesterday and made it spicy... pre-made it for monday night, tuesday night and wednesday night so tune in tomorrow to see if I is delicious.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
First Nutritional Meeting
So I met with Bruce this morning (man, I Love this guys smile and enthusiasm). It was a great meeting in my mind. Bruce seemed a little confused by my weight today as it was not down that much from before, but I am not concerned at all (me, not worrying about numbers???). I asked tons of questions this time and got most of the answers I wanted (Bruce was shocked when I mentioned there were now Chocolate Fiber wafers - he is looking into them) and the only answer that I did not want was that Grapes are not to be counted as a berry (blueberries are best it turns out).
Bruce was very understanding about my fullness all the time (expected) but did have no problem with me reducing the meat potion of my meals by 1/3rd as I just do not eat that volume of meat normally. Other than that, my menu stays the same which is good for the grocery shopping. This excites me endlessly.
Imagine that, me, full of energy every day, excited every day, and happier than ever all because both SFL and CF excite me. I can't wait for tonight session (both the exercise and the company). On top of that, I will say that I think my Stress levels are way down right now, knowing that this "prize" is really going to change my life.
Ok, so now its 10 hours later and home from Crossfit. Loved it and learning cool stuff but can't wait to push my self more. Thats when it becomes a real workout. Dinner was good tonight but its almost 9pm by the time i get home and cook it. Need to see about eating before gym (dinner at 4:30... seems early to me and that would mean lunch at 12:30 two days a week and 1:30 another day)...
i wonder how bad it is to eat a big meal before gym?
Bruce was very understanding about my fullness all the time (expected) but did have no problem with me reducing the meat potion of my meals by 1/3rd as I just do not eat that volume of meat normally. Other than that, my menu stays the same which is good for the grocery shopping. This excites me endlessly.
Imagine that, me, full of energy every day, excited every day, and happier than ever all because both SFL and CF excite me. I can't wait for tonight session (both the exercise and the company). On top of that, I will say that I think my Stress levels are way down right now, knowing that this "prize" is really going to change my life.
Ok, so now its 10 hours later and home from Crossfit. Loved it and learning cool stuff but can't wait to push my self more. Thats when it becomes a real workout. Dinner was good tonight but its almost 9pm by the time i get home and cook it. Need to see about eating before gym (dinner at 4:30... seems early to me and that would mean lunch at 12:30 two days a week and 1:30 another day)...
i wonder how bad it is to eat a big meal before gym?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Crossfit Fundamentals Day #(-2)
So today is day 3 of SFL cleansing menu #1 for me and it seems to be going well.
Of course other than not being hungry I'm not sure what "well" means as Bruce made me promise not to step on the scales (grrrrr). Weight aside, I have had good energy levels and actually feel more concentrated at work. My wife Lori got her menu yesterday and she is quite pleased to see that it is smaller portions than I have and feels it is very manageable (once she gets home on Wednesday as she needs the kitchen to cook and prepare her week. This will mean that my life gets harder as there is no one to help me cook my meals now (love you Lori). My solace is that the one item on my menu Lori really wanted on hers was not there this week.
Lunch was still very big. Eating at a comfortable pace in my office it took a few minutes over an hour to eat everything (I have never been a fast eater). For me this is a lot of food, but I am enjoying the food for the most part (80%?). I had to make a substitution as I had pork left over and my menu called for fish, but I kept the rest of the meal the same and just swapped the evening pork in my meal for the fish in the lunch meal and vice versa (not swapping anything else though). I mean seriously, we have to do what we can.... with what we have... in the time that we got.
Mid afternoon snack was a Metamucil Fiber Cinnamon Wafer. Lori found a few other types (including chocolate) that I will be asking Bruce about as I am not a strong Cinnamon fan but when I tried it I really liked them. Tomorrow I try the apple which Steph says is not so enjoyable. Dinner (haddock and salad with only 2 tbsp fat free Italian dressing) was very enjoyable. Especially after Crossfit
Crossfit tonight was better. I still struggle with a few of the warm ups (or at least I want to do much better at them) but I did feel my squats were better than yesterday. I realize its a lot of "weight movement" training but I assume any activity that builds muscles might reduce my gut (its about a 42 now). I will say that unlike yesterday, today I pushed a little harder and I know I will be sore in the morning -- lots of sweat and feeling it already (maybe the assistant trainer was cuter? Shirley might agree). Maybe tomorrow I'll take my gym clothes and try the UNBSJ gym since I don't get crossfit again until Thursday. At least run the warm up a few times for practice.. without the bar most likely and then maybe a little bike time as I do enjoy riding the stationary bikes too.
Mike keeps telling us he worries he talks too much as he so wants everything to be safe. I think one big fear I have had before is hurting myself so i am excited when i know he is there to make sure I'm not the stupid one. I also like that he loves the program (I teach people - love what you do.. or don't do it). Its cool too that there is a little "adult" banter as we all get more comfortable with each other so that it becomes easier to relax.
til tomorrow (14 hours at work tomorrow.. food will be hard and microwaved (turkey in oven now)
Of course other than not being hungry I'm not sure what "well" means as Bruce made me promise not to step on the scales (grrrrr). Weight aside, I have had good energy levels and actually feel more concentrated at work. My wife Lori got her menu yesterday and she is quite pleased to see that it is smaller portions than I have and feels it is very manageable (once she gets home on Wednesday as she needs the kitchen to cook and prepare her week. This will mean that my life gets harder as there is no one to help me cook my meals now (love you Lori). My solace is that the one item on my menu Lori really wanted on hers was not there this week.
Lunch was still very big. Eating at a comfortable pace in my office it took a few minutes over an hour to eat everything (I have never been a fast eater). For me this is a lot of food, but I am enjoying the food for the most part (80%?). I had to make a substitution as I had pork left over and my menu called for fish, but I kept the rest of the meal the same and just swapped the evening pork in my meal for the fish in the lunch meal and vice versa (not swapping anything else though). I mean seriously, we have to do what we can.... with what we have... in the time that we got.
Mid afternoon snack was a Metamucil Fiber Cinnamon Wafer. Lori found a few other types (including chocolate) that I will be asking Bruce about as I am not a strong Cinnamon fan but when I tried it I really liked them. Tomorrow I try the apple which Steph says is not so enjoyable. Dinner (haddock and salad with only 2 tbsp fat free Italian dressing) was very enjoyable. Especially after Crossfit
Crossfit tonight was better. I still struggle with a few of the warm ups (or at least I want to do much better at them) but I did feel my squats were better than yesterday. I realize its a lot of "weight movement" training but I assume any activity that builds muscles might reduce my gut (its about a 42 now). I will say that unlike yesterday, today I pushed a little harder and I know I will be sore in the morning -- lots of sweat and feeling it already (maybe the assistant trainer was cuter? Shirley might agree). Maybe tomorrow I'll take my gym clothes and try the UNBSJ gym since I don't get crossfit again until Thursday. At least run the warm up a few times for practice.. without the bar most likely and then maybe a little bike time as I do enjoy riding the stationary bikes too.
Mike keeps telling us he worries he talks too much as he so wants everything to be safe. I think one big fear I have had before is hurting myself so i am excited when i know he is there to make sure I'm not the stupid one. I also like that he loves the program (I teach people - love what you do.. or don't do it). Its cool too that there is a little "adult" banter as we all get more comfortable with each other so that it becomes easier to relax.
til tomorrow (14 hours at work tomorrow.. food will be hard and microwaved (turkey in oven now)
CrossFit: Fundamentals Day #(-3)
OK.. So yesterday (little late on this blog) was Day 2 of the food plan, and except for wishing I had made my optional evening snack and the fact that I did not get a Tea early in the day (thus migraine medication needed) the food was fine (and enjoyable)....
Last night was Crossfit Day #(-3) (fundamentals session #1). I was really excited about going to this session..partly to see what we were going to learn, partly to see everyone (yes, even the evil K100 team of titans) and partly to get active as I am aware at how much activity will help in my Resolution to get healthy (and lose my belly).
OK, so I'm blogging this the next morning and when the radio started this morning, Jay was saying that this morning, its not sore (OK, a twinge in my arms maybe) but it embarrassing to struggle so much with the workout - well the warm-up actually.
That right, we spent the night learning some of the basic moves from the warm up. I'm actually quite impressed with the move (and especially the "trainers") as it focused on flexibility -- something I need to focus on. The original move had me trying to arch my back forward as I squatted. OK with a gut my size for as long as I can remember, I somehow don't recall every trying to push that part of my body forward (sucked it in a lot). As a result I struggled immediately as my muscles found it hard to push in that direction.
Push up - challenging... sit ups - OK but gut is not a helpful tool on this one... jumping pull ups - kinda cool and I would not mind being able to do these well and tell people
Well embarrassment aside it was a good evening. Dinner (pork) was delicious) and not onto day #3/(-2)
Last night was Crossfit Day #(-3) (fundamentals session #1). I was really excited about going to this session..partly to see what we were going to learn, partly to see everyone (yes, even the evil K100 team of titans) and partly to get active as I am aware at how much activity will help in my Resolution to get healthy (and lose my belly).
OK, so I'm blogging this the next morning and when the radio started this morning, Jay was saying that this morning, its not sore (OK, a twinge in my arms maybe) but it embarrassing to struggle so much with the workout - well the warm-up actually.
That right, we spent the night learning some of the basic moves from the warm up. I'm actually quite impressed with the move (and especially the "trainers") as it focused on flexibility -- something I need to focus on. The original move had me trying to arch my back forward as I squatted. OK with a gut my size for as long as I can remember, I somehow don't recall every trying to push that part of my body forward (sucked it in a lot). As a result I struggled immediately as my muscles found it hard to push in that direction.
Push up - challenging... sit ups - OK but gut is not a helpful tool on this one... jumping pull ups - kinda cool and I would not mind being able to do these well and tell people
Well embarrassment aside it was a good evening. Dinner (pork) was delicious) and not onto day #3/(-2)
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Day one of the New Menu
So today was the first day of my "cleansing menu" and overall I think things went very well (OK, not 100%, but very well). I was nervous about the new food types and the "low fat, high fiber" alternatives but as the day went, a great success.
Breakfast: I have avoided wheat bread my whole life as much as possible. I recall getting really upset at Swiss Chalet once when they brought wheat rolls and said "we are low on white so you had to choose white when you ordered - despite assuming white was still the default"... Well the breakfast this morning was a grain break with natural peanut butter and some berries... and I loved it. It also included some skim milk (a 2% drinker for life I always said)... and it was fine. I know this sounds like nothing, but these were the first two fears I had and they turned out to be irrational fears.
Snack : one of my favorite foods, so no complaints there.... well maybe it seemed weird to have a snack between breakfast and dinner, but then again its just because its a weekend day. On weekdays at work, I kinda do snack to much.
Lunch: Here I kinda wish I had gotten a number to call and ask for help. We made a choice from my plan for lunch that 1) scared me before making it due to the cooked tomato content and 2) sounded like a lot of food (three cups of vegetables and my two favorite vegetables were on the no list). Well the tomato based product (trying to be cryptic) was DELICIOUS...well better than tolerable and easily will become a like I believe.... however I did not eat it more than a few bites. The reason here was stomach capacity. I know I overeat bad foods, but overeating good foods seemed to fill me up too much. I think in part it was due to choices of veg (raw carrots, raw celery today) but 3 cups is a lot no matter what choice i had made.
Snack: I managed to squeeze it in, but it is a favorite food of mine again.
Dinner: OK, late dinner due to prep time and a game of catan that seemed to take forever to call it off after about half time we suspect. Delicious dinner, but again three cups of veg. Its a lot and i need to seek clarification on how this is measured as 3 cups of cabbage and 3 cups of carrots are very different.
Snack: its optional.... did not really want it but a sweet taste at night and a three year old daughter made it a great finish to the day... well maybe time for one more Tea
Excited about how this will go tomorrow. Work, Crossfit, and eating like a pig it feels.. wait don't pigs eat healthy and then get fat too....
Breakfast: I have avoided wheat bread my whole life as much as possible. I recall getting really upset at Swiss Chalet once when they brought wheat rolls and said "we are low on white so you had to choose white when you ordered - despite assuming white was still the default"... Well the breakfast this morning was a grain break with natural peanut butter and some berries... and I loved it. It also included some skim milk (a 2% drinker for life I always said)... and it was fine. I know this sounds like nothing, but these were the first two fears I had and they turned out to be irrational fears.
Snack : one of my favorite foods, so no complaints there.... well maybe it seemed weird to have a snack between breakfast and dinner, but then again its just because its a weekend day. On weekdays at work, I kinda do snack to much.
Lunch: Here I kinda wish I had gotten a number to call and ask for help. We made a choice from my plan for lunch that 1) scared me before making it due to the cooked tomato content and 2) sounded like a lot of food (three cups of vegetables and my two favorite vegetables were on the no list). Well the tomato based product (trying to be cryptic) was DELICIOUS...well better than tolerable and easily will become a like I believe.... however I did not eat it more than a few bites. The reason here was stomach capacity. I know I overeat bad foods, but overeating good foods seemed to fill me up too much. I think in part it was due to choices of veg (raw carrots, raw celery today) but 3 cups is a lot no matter what choice i had made.
Snack: I managed to squeeze it in, but it is a favorite food of mine again.
Dinner: OK, late dinner due to prep time and a game of catan that seemed to take forever to call it off after about half time we suspect. Delicious dinner, but again three cups of veg. Its a lot and i need to seek clarification on how this is measured as 3 cups of cabbage and 3 cups of carrots are very different.
Snack: its optional.... did not really want it but a sweet taste at night and a three year old daughter made it a great finish to the day... well maybe time for one more Tea
Excited about how this will go tomorrow. Work, Crossfit, and eating like a pig it feels.. wait don't pigs eat healthy and then get fat too....
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Simply for Life: Menu Number 1
OK, so i got my menu today (which i won't be posting specifics about as I assume its very "classified") and I think its only fair to share my thoughts as they progressed.
First, since my meeting with Bruce on Friday I have been excited about what to expect. I really did not do my homework on this one and should have had a lot more questions in my first session than I asked (a function of winning the prize instead of signing up i think).
So the biggest thing I did not know was how detailed would the menu be? Suggestions of meals? specifics? variety? i really had no idea.
So I didn't get my menu until Saturday afternoon by logging on at a friends house and have learnt one big lesson..DON'T LOOK AT IT AT ALL UNTIL YOU HAVE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT IT. My first impression was that there were lots of foods on the list I disliked. I realized i should have submitted an appendix with my dislike section as there are lots of foods we probably all dislike that we don't see much so don't think of (for example I have tried tofu, strongly dislike tofu and think it is not a "real food"). I noticed a lack of junk food, greasy meat and breads...so when I saw tofu, tofutti, canned tomatoes..... I thought - great... here I go...Shirley is probably in.......
The menu was also not suggestive, but explicit. It said the exact foods I would be eating for the next 7 days each and every meal (leaving me the choice on which three days to eat breakfast #2 and the other four days are breakfast #1 for example). And as a logical person I unfortunately see numerous ways to interpret some of the statements in it (is it the same 4 meals, or could i pick 2-1-1 from the choices to make my four ---- i went with a picked meal was picked for 4 [or 3] days). Then I went out to think about it at a "last" family dinner which had been planned a while ago for my daughters birthday (I had a chicken wrap which I though was probably not so bad compares to a panzerotti).
Eventually I got to my office, printed the menu and grocery list (don't find the list useful as it includes everything and depends how you interpret the menu) and headed to the grocery store.
This was a nightmare. YOU CAN NOT GO TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH THE MENU AS IT COMES. You need to plan your choices and cut down the suggested item. I will be assigning a menu to grocery list converter to my programming students this term now. On top of this - these are parts of the grocery store I do not go to.
Well we were shopping for more than one hour.... often because I was changing my choices on the fly and I needed everything... but actually, except for an item I could not find (Metamucil fiber wafers) and an item I assume is not there (dry white wine) I was shocked to spend only $76.92 for a weeks full meals. I mean I usually spend $12 a night on a meal since I'm busy and used to easily spend $10 a day at Tim's. Not to mention the normal $100-150 grocery bill. I did also, however, spend $60 on other related items for the kitchen (scale, spice rack) and $40 on gym clothes... but that just breaks me even for the normal week.
So tomorrow I begin...if i can find my soup pot!!!
First, since my meeting with Bruce on Friday I have been excited about what to expect. I really did not do my homework on this one and should have had a lot more questions in my first session than I asked (a function of winning the prize instead of signing up i think).
So the biggest thing I did not know was how detailed would the menu be? Suggestions of meals? specifics? variety? i really had no idea.
So I didn't get my menu until Saturday afternoon by logging on at a friends house and have learnt one big lesson..DON'T LOOK AT IT AT ALL UNTIL YOU HAVE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT IT. My first impression was that there were lots of foods on the list I disliked. I realized i should have submitted an appendix with my dislike section as there are lots of foods we probably all dislike that we don't see much so don't think of (for example I have tried tofu, strongly dislike tofu and think it is not a "real food"). I noticed a lack of junk food, greasy meat and breads...so when I saw tofu, tofutti, canned tomatoes..... I thought - great... here I go...Shirley is probably in.......
The menu was also not suggestive, but explicit. It said the exact foods I would be eating for the next 7 days each and every meal (leaving me the choice on which three days to eat breakfast #2 and the other four days are breakfast #1 for example). And as a logical person I unfortunately see numerous ways to interpret some of the statements in it (is it the same 4 meals, or could i pick 2-1-1 from the choices to make my four ---- i went with a picked meal was picked for 4 [or 3] days). Then I went out to think about it at a "last" family dinner which had been planned a while ago for my daughters birthday (I had a chicken wrap which I though was probably not so bad compares to a panzerotti).
Eventually I got to my office, printed the menu and grocery list (don't find the list useful as it includes everything and depends how you interpret the menu) and headed to the grocery store.
This was a nightmare. YOU CAN NOT GO TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH THE MENU AS IT COMES. You need to plan your choices and cut down the suggested item. I will be assigning a menu to grocery list converter to my programming students this term now. On top of this - these are parts of the grocery store I do not go to.
Well we were shopping for more than one hour.... often because I was changing my choices on the fly and I needed everything... but actually, except for an item I could not find (Metamucil fiber wafers) and an item I assume is not there (dry white wine) I was shocked to spend only $76.92 for a weeks full meals. I mean I usually spend $12 a night on a meal since I'm busy and used to easily spend $10 a day at Tim's. Not to mention the normal $100-150 grocery bill. I did also, however, spend $60 on other related items for the kitchen (scale, spice rack) and $40 on gym clothes... but that just breaks me even for the normal week.
So tomorrow I begin...if i can find my soup pot!!!
Friday, February 5, 2010
First Nutrition Visit
Ok, so went for my first Nutrition visit with Bruce Sweeney. I think that I'm really going to like this guy (and his wife and whole team too....well maybe not mike).
I think I know (as we all do) what Bruce knows and I think of him right now as my coach. Eat healthy, eat often, eat right... and ask questions when you have them. He had some good advice for me..
1) tea is OK - [well OK i have to cut to skim milk but in tea that's not even a problem... drinking skim milk is not my fave though].
2) EAT.. as simple as it sounds, its my biggest problem. I mean i showed up for my consolation and it had been approximately 16 hours since I ate anything (cup of tea excused of course). So i know i need to eat more.. yet i never do.. hence weight gain. So perhaps once I get my menu (scared what it might be actually but trying not to get over nervous about it - that's a trigger for me.. nerves) i will do my best to eat at the right frequencies (stats!!!!).
3) STOP weighing yourself. OK, so I have a fixation with numbers (hence PHD in Mathematical CS and a teaching load in Statistics). I weight myself.... oh i dunno. three maybe four times... per day. Seriously i do.. i know its not going to change but i get excited if its do from 5 minutes ago (and i know its random fluctuations in the variable too).
So looking forward to my menu.. need to hit grocery store but waiting for the menu on that too.... and to all those that say eating healthy is too $$$$.. add up what you normally eat is what i say
I think I know (as we all do) what Bruce knows and I think of him right now as my coach. Eat healthy, eat often, eat right... and ask questions when you have them. He had some good advice for me..
1) tea is OK - [well OK i have to cut to skim milk but in tea that's not even a problem... drinking skim milk is not my fave though].
2) EAT.. as simple as it sounds, its my biggest problem. I mean i showed up for my consolation and it had been approximately 16 hours since I ate anything (cup of tea excused of course). So i know i need to eat more.. yet i never do.. hence weight gain. So perhaps once I get my menu (scared what it might be actually but trying not to get over nervous about it - that's a trigger for me.. nerves) i will do my best to eat at the right frequencies (stats!!!!).
3) STOP weighing yourself. OK, so I have a fixation with numbers (hence PHD in Mathematical CS and a teaching load in Statistics). I weight myself.... oh i dunno. three maybe four times... per day. Seriously i do.. i know its not going to change but i get excited if its do from 5 minutes ago (and i know its random fluctuations in the variable too).
So looking forward to my menu.. need to hit grocery store but waiting for the menu on that too.... and to all those that say eating healthy is too $$$$.. add up what you normally eat is what i say
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Resolution Solution - Week (-1)
Ok, so I decided to keep a journal here of whats happening in my attempt at the Resolution Solution.
For those that don't know, I entered and won the opportunity to be on the "Green" team (listeners only) of K100's Resolution Solution Contest (did i mention K100 is tops). This is a chance to keep the eat healthier and live healthier promise we always make to ourselves each new years. It includes an 8 week membership to Simply for Life and an 8 week membership to Crossfit Saint John... not to mention the chance to beat (and get to know) some great K100 people (on and offline)
For those that don't know, I entered and won the opportunity to be on the "Green" team (listeners only) of K100's Resolution Solution Contest (did i mention K100 is tops). This is a chance to keep the eat healthier and live healthier promise we always make to ourselves each new years. It includes an 8 week membership to Simply for Life and an 8 week membership to Crossfit Saint John... not to mention the chance to beat (and get to know) some great K100 people (on and offline)
So introductory session was nice (even if cold). The SFL crew seems great and really addressed whats important to me.. food planning and life control. Ill have my first consult with them this friday. Have to say im nervous. I mean can I manage what they recommend? Will i have the "will".... And can i eat and or prepare enough for this program.
The crossfit team seems great too (ok,maybe a little nuts). I think mike talks more than I do if thats even possible. I have always had a strong resistance to exercise.. usually its the concept of not knowing what to do and just being told lots of opinions. I want a person (or group) to take control of me in a gym and tell me what to do, when, how hard ad how long.... seems crossfit might finally be the place for me... im dedicated to do it (very time consuming though) and want to make my self healthier for my girls as well as to help make them healthier. Felt silly asking what a burpe is... perhaps being academically deemed too smart to need gym was not a good life choice (of course, there were other reasons i wanted to avoid gym)
current: (Nkd)Weight = 231; Waste is 42-44 (no tape). I'm sure i'll have better measurements later in the week.
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