Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Intensity


Im late to update the Internets of my successes on my 90 day challenge. ITS OVER! SUCCESS!! NO PROBLEM!! The only failure was not being sure to journal everything happening to my body and in my life.
Awhile back I made the decision this was 'it' and this lifestyle was forever for me, so to celebrate 90 days....meh...
I feel like a kid. Full of energy and play. I am confident. I eat well, sleep well, and make coworkers jump on furniture to practice box jumps. This is life, and I am just gitty over feeling free of limitations.

For awhile, I was put off about talking about my weight loss which perhaps kept me from writing this all down. The celebration of it all seemed abit self indulgent and the truth is, the habits I developed as part of my new lifestyle were so easy, I feel dumb I didnt do this all years ago. That feeling comes and goes.

Today, however, I did do a little dance. I've had alot of PRs *the only way is up* and those successes seem to matter more than me than weight loss or dress sizes down. I'm slowing a bit in those categories but my muscles are awesome. Not bulky, just them doing their thing. Looking all cool.

But I am fitting into a size 8 and this is way way down. I started at size 14/16 when I started crossfit in Feb. I am down close to 30 pounds. That has completely stalled though, I think. Its been awhile since I have been on one. I hear this is normal, and now I just dont care.

My medium shorts are all I need to know I am headed in the right direction.

My victories seem small in the big world of athletes, but at least I am competing to improve. I love it and I can see myself doing power ups, 6 minute miles and hand stands. But this is what i can do now, that I never ever could before

*a real push-up
*a sub 2:00 400m
*buy a dress anywhere in the mall
*deadlift my dog
*walk from Lexington to Haywood on that hill from death and not be out of breath
*rock climb
*SQUAT!
*that crazy yoga shoulder stretch where you grab your arms around your back- ON BOTH SIDES. this was huge for me.
*hold myself up on rings (moving on up with my dips)
*make it through a 14 hour work day without fatigue (the stress part I am still working on)
*Be discipline by only eating real food. yum.
*make it through Spring without allergies
*catch my runaway criminal dog (cant stop him from chasing rabbits) half way down the street instead of him outrunning me like I am a fat cop

Functional fitness. That is what crossfit is in two words. What Crossfit Asheville is so much more than that. There is really a sense a pride between all of us different CFA members. Now, when I am out and about, there is nothing better than running into someone from class. I believe the intern at work is sick of hearing about my power cleans, and I really shouldnt burpee at parties. But this dad of a three year old, or this former athlete shares in the same experience as me. There is a bond in the intensity of the workouts.

We have world class coaches. I wish, I wish we could clone them (without the whole weird factor) and put them in every public school in the country. My life would have been different. They are inspiring. Hell, sometimes I want to stop by to see if they arent busy so I could pick their brains some more. They are clear in their directions of new scary workouts and push you forward when you need it. They also pull you back when you have lost you're freaking mind. I haven't gotten injured, and it is because of their expertise in body form and function. They scale to injuries and limitations and everyone sees progress. This is my testimonial: I have ran on treadmills, ate low fat and counted points but nothing ever took the way Crossfit Asheville has. The support of the community they have created, along with their knowledgeable guidance in overall fitness is the perfect formula for real long term success. Whatever goal you have. I can't recommend them enough.

Its nice that I spend only three hours a week in the gym. For now. I might go up soon. My goals are changing and getting more outrageous.
I might even keep up my blog.