Callus

Today's work out?  Thrusters.  That's when you hold a bar with weights at your shoulders, squat down, then push up with your heels (not really on your toes, like this dude...who does he think he is?) and push the weight over your head.  You do 7 reps.  My hands hurt.

It wasn't awful, but here is the weight I did for each lift:  45, 45, 45, 50, 50, 50, 55.  WooHoo!  I can feel that my hands are getting calluses from doing pull ups and things like thrusters - but I'm also not getting as tired when I do the work out and I actually look forward to going.  Who knew?

8 minutes

Back at the gym today!  I did the basic warm up - pull ups, sit ups, push ups and squats.  Then Cody had me work on Clings with a sand-weighted bar.  Not too heavy, but not hollow.  Having some weight to it helped my form immensely!  Then it was time to get serious and start the work out.  Today's task?

Cling - 15 reps

Run - 100 meters

3 rounds

So I begin the clings and it's going well, but the run was a bit more rusty since I haven't gone running in forever!  I kept my stride long and paced myself.  The work out was a bit brutal, but it did feel great!  I pushed the last part of the run and made it back in about 8 min.  Not bad!  I am exhausted - I need to get to bed.  Tomorrow we are back at the gym in the morning!...if I can move.

10 For Time

Today I was back at the CrossFit Gym to do some more work outs.  The last few days I have been SO sore - ouch.  Though it was painful, I loved feeling that pain, you know?  My arms were pretty bad, along with my legs...ok, everything was bad.  But today I felt great and headed to the gym with Cody.  He had me do 10 of the following - 

Pull Ups

Push Ups

Sit Ups

Squats

He timed me and I did them all in 02:47.  Surprisingly, I felt pretty good after the pull ups and the push ups, I nearly made it through the sit ups without stopping, but no dice!  Once I finished I felt good and asked if I should do more...but alas, I must pace myself.  But I don't feel weak or anything!  Great feeling.  Cody works tomorrow and Sunday, but Monday I'll be meeting him at the gym - gotta keep going!

Cave In

I have done it.  I have caved.  I have started Cross Fit with Cody.  What is Cross Fit?  An intense work out that will whip your butt into shape!  Cody started Cross Fit months ago and has loved it.  Well, it's more of a love/hate relationship.  He has loved the results, but sometimes the work outs can be brutal!  That is why I have never jumped on board.  He has tried for months to get me to start, but I wasn't too interested.  He and some of his friends recently opened a gym dedicated to the Cross Fit program and they have lots of people interested and working out there.  I am so proud of him!  The gym looks great and it's nice to have a place that has all the equipment you need.  As I said before, it's pretty intense and it kicks your butt.  However, I want to get in shape.  I want to get stronger.  The best thing to achieve that?  Cross Fit.  Yes, sir.  Yesterday was my first time at the gym and it went pretty well!  Cody taught me the correct form for squats (turns out I never did them correctly), spotted me when I did some pull ups, I did sit ups and overhead squats and push ups.  Yeah, baby!  I am feeling it today, but it's a good sore.  I will probably go back with him on Friday to do some more stuff.  The link to his gym is on the side bar, go take a gander - it has all the information about Cross Fit on there!  Then you can slap on some spandex and we can go together!

Taking the Plunge - Round 3

My behavior as of late is inexcusable!  What in the WORLD have I been doing?  Oh, not working out, that's right.  I have slacked and avoided fitness - and I can't take it any more.  

The time is now - the time was then, but it's past then and it is now now and it's time to get my butt in gear.  No more excuses.  No more justifications.  No more, I tell you!  It's time to dive into the deep end and fight for the fitness.  

What does this mean, exactly?  This means that every day I will be doing some sort of work out.  Be it running at the track, swimming at the rec or sit ups at home, I WILL do something every day to work towards the figure I want.  I have a busy Summer coming up and I want to look great!  You would think that would be it's own reward, but I was recently enticed by a motivational idea my friend Tanya uses when she works out - each time she works out, she gives herself a dollar.  That's right - a dollar a day, that could be $30 a month that I can spend on whatever I want!  Which could be loads of Advil and IcyHot, depending how much my muscles hate me.

This also means that I need to fine tune my diet - see, remember how I was doing 'The Zone' with Cody?  Yeah, not so much any more.  He's still with it for the most part, but I lazed off months ago.  Regardless of what food plan I'm on, the point is I need to be more conscience of what I put into my body.  

This is it, friends.  I've had it.  I've reached my breaking point - I can't take the softness any more.  This is the 3rd time I've attempted to get myself healthy and by damn, I'm going to do it.  Ready.  Steady.  Fit.

Ball of Fitness

Does anyone have one of these?  Ok, I'm sure most of you do.  Recently I have been very interested in purchasing one of these lovely fitness orbs.  I heard that they are great to simply sit on while your at the computer, helps tone your core.  How great is that?  Blogging and toning?  Can life get better?  I submit that it cannot!  Add that to it's magnificent way to help with sit-ups and the like...I'm totally on board.

Well, I'm back at the track tomorrow - and I'm there to stay.  I don't mean that my mail will be forwarded there or anything, but I'm creating a schedule now which means I have certain days that I am there - no more excuses.  To be honest?  I'm very pumped!  I can't wait to listen to my fitness playlist and use my new headphones (thanks girls!) and slip into fitness oblivion.  Rock star body, here I come.

OH!  Before I sign off, I must pass on this uber-easy recipe that Cody and I have enjoyed whilst being in 'The Zone'.  It's so easy and you can alter it to your liking, but recently we have been enjoying pineapple chicken for dinner.

2 Chicken Breasts

1 Can Pineapple Chunks

Slivered Almonds

...yeah, that's it.

Cut up the chicken breasts and place in saucepan with a little olive oil.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add some of the juice from the can of pineapple, drain the rest.  When chicken is nearly cooked through, add pineapple chunks and a palmful of slivered almonds.  Cook for another 5-7 minutes, serve warm.  YUM.  

PS - have you noticed that there is a recipe etiquette?  Like, there is a certain way you have to talk (or type) when giving a recipe?  "Add pineapple, stir occasionally.  Cook until brown, serve warm."  What is that?

Balance

I believe Cody and I are on day 5 of 'The Zone' and it's going well! Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Cody brought home a bunch of info on what we can eat and some recipe ideas. I was pleasantly surprised, lots of things to choose from. I will admit, there are times that I just want salty chips, cookies or some other kind of treat. And truth be told, we really can eat anything we want, we just have to eat the right amount of carbs, fats and proteins. Basically, we have to balance. Cody has been great at keeping us on track. It's sort of strange - after we eat, I feel full but I don't feel like I just ate a gut bomb, you know what I mean? I feel...light. It's great! I just love that it's not totally limiting, since we're all aware that I have absolutey no self-control. It helps that Cody and I are doing this together, we keep each other in check. Tomorrow we're planning on going shopping and getting some more healthy stuff and we're stoked to see the results. After all, bikini season will be here before I know it!