Closing Out 2012

On this last day of 2012, I am taking some time to reflect on everything that happened in the past year. What a year it was! The early part of the year was dedicated to planning our wedding and getting in wedding dress shape. I continued to adapt to my new position in higher education instead of teaching--which continues to be a great decision. In the summer, Mark's sister welcomed identical twin boys to their family in July! The remainder of the summer was all about wedding planning. Then, on September 8, 2012, Mark and I tied the knot! We are so grateful for all the family and friends who traveled from around the country and world to share the day. It really was overwhelming to have all their love and support. We escaped for a brief minimoon to Cape Cod and then the rest of the fall consisted of routine days of work and homework. I completed my first graduate business course in the fall term and it was very time consuming. I'm relieved that our weekends in the winter/spring should now be relatively uneventful with no schoolwork and no wedding planning. I'm sure we will find ways to focus our energies, but hopefully some relaxation will fit in as well. Of course, the big political event of the year was the presidential election. I'm happy with the results as the candidate who aligns (for the most part) with my beliefs and values won. No need to linger on this, but for that, I am grateful with the outcome. We ended the year with a quiet and pleasant holiday with Mark's family. We also finished off the year with a pretty vicious cold, so I am hoping 2013 will be cold free!

If it is not apparent by my earlier posts, 2012 was all about crossfit and pushing the limits in my physical fitness. I can't imagine my life without crossfit anymore and I wish I had found it earlier! I have plenty of goals for the next year which include learning how to do kipping pullups, adding substantial weight to my deadlift and back squat, and continuing to tighten up my core muscles.

However, as this blog's title states, I started in triathlon training. In 2013, I'd like to see how the crossfit training impacts shorter distance triathlon races. My goal is to participate in 1-2 sprint triathlons. I am guessing based on improved 5K race times last year, it will yield positive results but I'll certainly have to incorporate more swimming, running, and cycling. I was disappointed but how little I rode my bike last year so I definitely want to do more miles in 2013.

Finally, in the last part of 2012, I slacked in terms of eating right and completing my morning fasted cardio sessions. Part of this was I knew I did not need to wear a wedding dress and just felt like going to happy hour with friends on Fridays instead of going to 5pm crossfit and back squatting. I've paid the price of these decisions and put on some extra lbs over the last few weeks. Additionally, this cold set me back because all I ever want to eat when I am sick is chicken noodle soup, saltines, and orange juice. Many of my friends and family tell me this is ok and I should "give myself a break", so I did. And in the grand scheme, it is ok, but now the break is over and I need to shred for our trip to Jamaica in 20 days. I know this is not enough time for me to get into the shape I'd like to be, but that does not mean I won't try. At the end of the day I'll feel better for making healthier decisions. I have a pretty intense plan ahead for the next three weeks and I am looking forward to it! It has been several months since I've had a challenge or end goal, but now I have one to aim for.

For the next 20 days (and then for quite some time after Jamaica, as I plan to work towards another 150 perfect bricks in 2013), I have an intense workout plan that includes: 6-7 days per week of fasted cardio, 2 X 20 burpees every day, 5 X 20 pushups per day for 6 days (build 1 rep each week), abs every other day (adding 20 reps each time), lunch boot camp 2-3 times per week, 3-4 crossfit sessions per week, and a sprinkling in of snowshoeing and running. Of course, this is all important but it will be most effective if I pair it with a strict food plan which includes limited carbs cut by 2PM, 115 grams of protein per day, lots of veggies, and a gallon of water every day. This is nothing new, it works and I need to go back to it. So yeah, that's the plan and I hope I can stick to it.

Highlights of 2012:
-Winning the WMCF transformation challenge in April
-Completing a Whole 30 in June/July
-Weddings of close friends
-Continuing to acclimate to working in higher ed
-Bridal shower and bachelorette party
-Arrival of Mark's identical twin nephews
-Our wedding!
-Seeing all our amazing family and friends at the wedding
-Friends welcoming new additions to their families
-Trip to Cape Cod
-Holidays with family and friends
-Girl's nights with incredible friends throughout the year
-Mark's 1 year anniversary at his new law firm
-Completing my first grad business course

Goodbye 2012, it was fun, but now it is time for new challenges and adventures in 2013!

Oh No, Plateau!

It has been a challenging fall. After our wedding, I jumped right into a graduate business class which consumed a fair amount of time. In addition, I continue to wait tables on Sunday nights at Hermanos, Finally, the changing of the seasons and the lack of light and warm temperatures has taken a toll on me. Last year, I had just started crossfit and saw noticeable results. Since I am starting at a much better place right now, I have to work that much harder to get to the point I want to be. I've been slacking and I know it. My diet has been pretty good but cheats are slipping in more frequently. I still get to crossfit 3-4 times per week and I'm putting in a full effort there so I know that what it comes down to is my morning cardio. Pre-wedding I was religious about my morning cardio. I'd do 6-7 sessions per week at 40-60 minutes. I varied those between elliptical, swimming, running, and walking. Presently this has dropped to 2-4 sessions per week. Also, the key to that was cutting carbs by 2PM. Again, I am usually good about this, but occasionally I let it slide. Part of the challenge is finding foods that are convenient and healthy. This week I made a beef and sweet potato stew that is easy, but it is hard to compare that to homemade holiday cookies.

To pump myself up, I read some blogs on plateaus. This entry from Crossfit Fire was filled with helpful tips.

Moving forward I need to get more sleep, relax through yoga and meditation, focus on eating well, and find new ways to spice up the workout routine.

Now is the time to find some inspiration from all my friends who said I motivated them!

Destination Jamaica!

At the end of January, Mark and I will be heading to Negril, Jamaica for our slightly delayed honeymoon. I am looking forward to a break from the cold New England temps and most likely the snow that will be here by that time. However, this does of course mean new goal--bikini body by January! At least I could go today and still feel fine out on a beach, but let's face it, it is our honeymoon so it would be nice to feel/look better than fine! I've been back on track overall since the last WMCF challenge. I primarily eat paleo during the week and have a cheat day on the weekends. I'll continue to track this closely (especially during the tricky holiday season), but also want to really be more dedicated with morning fasted cardio workouts. I've been missing a few here and there because I've been tired from a late grad class and working evenings. This will be something that I can at least work on once the class is over on December 4th. I'd like to incorporate more running and swimming into those morning sessions, so I am swimming this week with some triathlon people in Manchester. Hopefully this will get me more motivated during the am sessions. It is really difficult to get up with lack of light and warmth in the morning--one of the reasons I really do not enjoy NH. I'll just have to make it work! I do feel as though I've hit quite a plateau in my fitness and would like to rev up my metabolism, but I'm struggling with how to do this. Thoughts? Comments? Things that have worked for you?

My general workout schedule looks like this on a good week where I get to all my morning sessions:

Mondays- AM cardio (elliptical), XFit in the afternoon
Tuesdays- AM cardio (swim/run), Lunch yoga
Wednesdays- AM cardio (elliptical), lunch boot camp PM xfit
Thursdays- AM cardio (elliptical/walk), xfit or boot camp
Fridays- AM cardio (swim/run), boot camp or pm xfit
Saturdays- AM cardio, am xfit conditioning workout
Sundays- run or rest

If anyone has anything they would add/adjust to give me a leg up on my next goal, please send your comments along!

29/30

To conclude the thirty day White Mountain Crossfit Challenge, I participated in the Barbells for Boobs fundraiser by completing the workout Amazing Grace. This consists of 30 clean and jerks for time. I'll fully admit that I lifted a very light weight as I am still working on getting the movement down and would rather not injure my back as it finally seems to be healed up from the issue I had in August. With that said, I finished Amazing Grace @ 40lbs in 3:48. My hope is that next year I'll be lifting more weight, but for now, I am just happy I finished and seemed to have decent control over the movement this morning.

All in all, the thirty day challenge was a good reset for me post-wedding. I needed to follow rigid guidelines and workouts in order to get back on track pre-holidays. I had 29 of 30 perfect days. What happened on one of the days? Well, it is kind of lame actually. I had a fancy dinner for the NH Humanities Council and was doing well through most of the evening. No drinks, no dressing on the salad, etc. Then, as I was halfway through my squash (seriously!) and I realized it was full of butter and sugar. At that point, I knew that my fasted cardio for the next AM was not going to happen so I also indulged in a glass of red wine and some tiramasu for dinner. The next morning, I went to Starbucks for a few treats but by 9am, I was back on track. I could have just given up at this point because it was day 22 of the challenge, but I did not go that route. I cleaned up for the remaining 8 days to finish strong. I lost 6 inches and almost 6lbs during this reset and that puts me at a comfortable range for the difficult holiday season. My goal for the next few months is to focus on building strength and eating clean during the week. If I slip a bit on the weekends or holiday days, oh well. 2013 is right around the corner to make new resolutions ;) My daily pushups are something I will continue to do. Burpees...I think I'll save those for the gym. I hated doing those every day for the last 30 days! Throughout the month, I completed 1200 burpees--gross! Nonetheless, it helped get the heart pumping every day.

Moving forward, I purchased a fun paleo cookbook called Practical Paleo and I have some meals planned for next week. I'll continue to drink a gallon of water every day--it is probably one of the best things I do for my body on a regular basis. I'm starting to think about snowshoe racing, yoga, and even some possible triathlon races for next summer. We'll see what direction my training takes next, but in the meantime, I'll keep doing the fasted morning cardio, lunch boot camp, and crossfit workouts through the week. There is certainly no reason to go back when things are working so well. This is my one year anniversary of starting the crossfit lifestyle--so glad I walked into WMCF last year!

Challenge Check In

On Day #17 of the WMCF 30 for 30 challenge I completed my first Adventure 5K. Basically, it is a 5K in the woods with some obstacles. The uphill climb in the woods was definitely the most physically demanding part of the course. I enjoyed jumping over walls and did not have major difficulties crawling under things as I am so short. However, the water obstacles left me drenched because I am vertically challenged. Not to worry though, I had a great race! It was a 12th place age group finish for me and I was 109 overall. I am still trying to find out how many people did the race as well as how many were in my age group, but it was a solid race overall. So, what was the worst part? Since it was held at a water park that has a haunted house during the Halloween season, they had some of that up and running during race. The two zombies that jumped out and screamed at me were by far my least favorite part of the race! Give me hill climbs, rope walls, dunk tanks--anything but creepy zombies scaring me! A quick note about the image at the beginning of this blog post...I may not beat the boys at my crossfit gym, but I definitely left some men in the dust at the Adventure 5K--ah my competitive Type A personality enjoyed that :)

The Adventure 5K was a good focus point to see where I am in terms of the 30 day challenge. I certainly feel stronger and leaner than when I started at the end of September. I'm not to my peak fitness level, but I've definitely made some recovery since the time following our wedding. Also, I went shopping yesterday because I needed some pants and sweaters for the winter as everything from last year is too big--woo hoo! Nonetheless, I still have some more work to do in the next few weeks. I'd like to try to cut back on portions of healthy fats. I still rely a bit too heavily on macademias, cashews, and coconut products. It has also been a plateau in terms of weight loss. I shed a few lbs to start and then have just been hovering for awhile and I'm not thrilled about that because it is a bit over where I was pre-wedding. It is difficult the find the right balance between fueling my body and leaning out. I've amped up my workouts so I need energy, but I also think I can use that as an excuse to consume extra calories.

Additionally, the fall is not an easy time for the 30 for 30 challenge. I've had to pass up a lot happy hours and yummy baked goods at work, but I know my body thanks me for that!

I was excited to see my good friend Sara, over at House Bella, has started her own Whole 30 challenge this month. Check out her blog for some great recipes and insightful commentary about this lifestyle challenge.

Stats:

14 days of 125+ pushups each day
17 days of 2 sets of 20 Burpees = 680 Burpees so far
17 days of a gallon+ water per day
17 days of no dairy, legumes, bad carbs, extra sugar
17 days of most carbs (except post workout) cut by 2PM
17 days of mobility/stretching (yoga, lacrosse ball, foam roller, yoga strap)
17 days of more rest (going to bed earlier)
14 days of fasted am cardio (walking, elliptical, or swimming)
7 sessions of crossfit

30 for 30

It has been a few weeks since I've blogged; it is time to hold myself accountable for my wellness. It was a fun yet tiring few weeks since the wedding. I'll admit that I let myself go a bit--everyone told me it was fine, that I had earned it. And maybe I had after working my butt off for the last year or so; nonetheless it is back to the grind. WMCF is currently having a 30 for 30 challenge which holds us accountable for our nutrition, exercise, rest, and mobility from September 27th- October 27th. The culminating event will be the Barbells for Boobs fundraiser at the gym on October 27th.

To measure my progress in this challenge, I am going to base it on the fit of my clothing (which has somehow gotten a bit snug since the wedding ;)) as well as meeting my goals for eating right, exercising a minimum of 3 X per week (this will be easy as I usually do 2 X per day for 6 days), and the biggest challenge, getting more sleep! Sleep and mobility are the aspects of my lifestyle that usually suffer the most. In order to take a graduate course, work a second job, and fit in all of my workouts, I often don't get the necessary amount of sleep. The plan is to start small and just cut TV/computer a half hour to an hour prior to bed to calm my mind, and then try to go to sleep earlier.

The first few days of the 30 for 30 have gone well, but I am definitely starting to get some sugar withdrawal as that is one of things I am cutting from my daily meals. I'm down a few lbs already, so hopefully everything will fall back into place as I get immersed in the challenge.

Daily Goals:
- 2 X 20 Burpees
- 5 X 25 Pushups
- Fasted cardio (5-7 times per week @ 40-60 minutes)
- 3 times per week at xfit
- Getting more sleep (getting off computer/TV early)
- 10 minutes of mobility work
- Layering in extra cardio/boot camp sessions
- Drink gallon of water per day
- Whole 30 compliant foods/meals, no sugar, alcohol, dairy, or legumes
- Stretching/working on my back injury

White Mountain Crossfit Testimonial

Following the whirlwind of our DIY wedding and ten months of hard work, I am taking some time to write about how White Mountain Crossfit and the coaches at the gym have changed my lifestyle and workout habits.

As I have mentioned previously in my blog, I was in rough shape when I entered the gym back in late October 2011. I was 25lbs overweight and getting married the following year. It may have been a superficial reason for starting a new workout plan, but it served as a starting point for attending "On Ramp" which is a three week introductory class. I knew I would learn different weightlifting moves, but I did not expect to find a whole new outlook on life in just a few short weeks. Originally, I was worried about becoming "bulky" or "meaty" due to lifting weights. Instead, I got sculpted, toned arms that friends often comment on.

Ultimately, I am able to reach my goals because Jon, Brad, Jen and all the crossfit gym members motivate me every single time I enter the gym. Attitudes and egos are checked at the door but camaraderie and positive reinforcement are in abundance. It is an environment that pushes people to their maximum effort and the results are impressive.

Although I was the women's winner of the transformation challenge, I found the time after the competition to be equally important. I still had about 4 months until my wedding to maintain my physique. I was able to do this by following solid dietary guidelines and a weight training program tailored to my needs. Jon continually provides feedback and helps me adjust my program as needed. He is a true professional who cares deeply about what his clients are looking to gain from crossfit. The individualized nature of the program combined with the group support is an effective approach to fitness.

When I walked down the aisle last weekend for our wedding, I felt confident, comfortable, and happy. Do I have moments where I relax on my routine? Sure-- I'm only human; but I know that I can go right back to the gym and find the inspiration to pick back up where I left off.

(Below) Before Picture--triathlete, but not necessarily in shape...

(Above) After ten months of crossfit...


(Below) Wedding Day, September 2012...

14 Day Firm Up

Our wedding is only 15 days away! It is hard to believe that after 7 1/2 years, Mark and I will finally tie the knot. While I am really looking forward to the day, I recognize that I need to approach my workouts and meal plans with even more intensity over the next two weeks in order to not fall back into bad habits. So, in search of some inspiration, I browsed Pinterest and stumbled upon the "Reasons to Be Fit" blog and found exactly what I was looking for. Everyone has a unique reason for maintaining their fitness and that was refreshing to see. When I am at crossfit, I also find every member of the gym has a specific reason for being there and working hard. I am posting the reason I related with the most recently :)

I frequently use running, crossfit, yoga, and other forms of exercise to alleviate stress or find a way to organize my thoughts. If I am annoyed or frustrated, I try to get in a set of pushups. These are times where I feel driven, focused, and calm. I actually felt a bit of peace yesterday when I did 400 meters of walking lunges because it did not involve any wedding details. My reasons to be fit are to be confident, healthy, and happy.

On another note, I completed my 5 rep max sumo deadlift @ 200lbs on Wednesday. It took 9 months of lifting to get to this weight so I am definitely psyched! I thought Jon might go easy on my conditioning workout after that, but instead he had me do the 400 meters of walking lunges followed by a 400 meter sprint. When he said the 400 meters of lunges, I was immediately filled with some trepidation. I remembered when I was 18 and on the novice crew team. We had to do that very same workout and the next day I could not even walk! Luckily, all the strength I have built up this year prevented that catastrophe from happening again! This morning, I woke up and went for a 4 mile run. It was not the fastest run, but I got it done.

Tomorrow starts my two week firm up challenge. The focus will continue on morning fasted cardio, weight focused crossfit, and healthy/paleo meals.

"Nothing and no one can make you happy until you alone make you happy."

150 Bricks!

Last Wednesday, I finally hit my 150th brick day! Back in late January (as part of the transformation challenge), I decided to commit to completing 150 bricks before my wedding and here I am just 26 days away from the big day and I have crossed another item off my list.

So what exactly is this brick idea all about? Check out Johnny Pain's blog post. I had a fairly specific day in mind when I determined what a perfect brick day would look like. It consists of fasted morning cardio for 40-60 minutes, healthy meals, carbs (except veggies) cut by 2PM, frequency method pushups throughout the day, 1 gallon of water, and crossfit on scheduled days. Yep, I did this for 150 days! Now, I did not do it consecutively as I had the occasional "cheat day" mixed in, but I think 150 perfect brick days since the end of January is solid! Is there room for improvement? Absolutely, but I thought this was a noteworthy accomplishment to include on the blog.

August has already proven to be a challenge as I knew it would be. With more vacation days and the wedding fast approaching, the desire to maintain all that I have accomplished can be daunting. Happy hour after work is far more tempting than going to the gym in the humidity. The cookouts, bbqs, and concerts are all very enticing. After hitting 150 bricks, it is easy to say that a few breaks are OK, but I know what that means for me. I do not need August to catch up to me the way it has in the past, so this morning I cooked up a storm in order to have plenty of healthy food choices for the week. I signed up for a 10K to have a goal for September. Dinner tonight was delicious: grilled chicken with pesto-paleo mayo, roasted beets, sauteed brussel sprouts, and some baked sweet potatoes with cinnamon and ghee. For dessert, I had some coconut butter with coconut flakes, almonds, and cocoa powder.

Hopefully I can use my more intense weight training program, 10K, and wedding dress as the ultimate motivation to stay on track!

How do you maintain when you have hit your goals?

Whole 30

My Whole 30 experience has been filled with discovery, understanding, and tests of willpower. I've struggled with how to properly fuel my body since I was very young. When I started participating in triathlons a few years ago, I did not adjust my food choices and I added in a lot of "sports nutrition" products such as gels, protein bars, and energy drinks. I assumed since I was working out so much, I could have as much as I wanted. Add in stress and a job that was all consuming and it was the perfect recipe for where I found myself last summer. I had constant heartburn and stomach issues. Also, I was carrying around extra lbs that were physically and mentally weighing me down during races.

Then last July, I landed a new job, quit teaching, got engaged, and finally found enough time to focus on health and wellness. I started my crossfit journey in November and didn't look back. I signed up for the transformation challenge and in 14 weeks, I had indeed transformed my body. However, that ended in April and my wedding is in September. I knew that even though my body may have changed, I still had to deal with the emotional part of my eating habits or I would just fall back to my old ways. Knowing that summer is always my difficult season (think Sangria, frozen yogurt, cookouts, weddings, etc.), I decided it was the perfect time to try the Whole 30 program. On June 25th, I made the commitment to eliminate dairy, legumes, grains, and sugar (except a bit in fruit) for 30 days cold turkey with no "cheat day." I had never tried anything quite this strict and thought I'd be hungry all the time.

Not to "sugar coat" things, I did have some awful headaches in week 1 from sugar withdrawal. It is kind of scary that something has that much control over your body! But those wore off as my body adjusted to the change. Also, I did feel quite tired in the second week, but gradually I gained back my strength and my body responded extremely well to the changes. I had only one instance of heartburn in the 30 days and that was associated with a yucky case of food poisoining that I think I got from undercooking a piece of salmon--I will not be using that recipe again!

Overall, my general observations about the Whole 30 are as follows:

1. I eat so much more throughout the day!
2. Breakfast is my favorite meal (Recipe fav = baked sweet potato egg cups & a piece of organic uncured turkey bacon)
3. Veggies have become a much more important part of my everyday meals (kale, carrots, spinach, and mushrooms are staples)
4. Going to the Farmers Market is so much better than the grocery store
5. The A Market in Manchester has the best selection of hard to find items such as coconut aminos, coconut butter, and organic meats
6. I have not mastered the pre-workout snack piece in order to have enough energy for heavy lifting, so I am still trying to find the right balance
7. The items I removed from my diet for 30 days clearly had been having some negative effects, now to figure out which things were the culprits!
8. It served as a great reset for my body and I will definitely try this again
9. I enjoy cooking more than I thought I would
10. In general I became so much more aware of when/why I craved certain things (stressful day at work = desire for a bag of chips, boredom = wanting something salty)
11. I was relying too heavily on some of my energy supplements to get an unnatural boost, (gels, pre-workout energy drinks)
12. I don't miss a lot of the foods that I cut, surprisingly
13. My skin cleared completely (not that I had major issues, but it is noticeably clearer)
14. I did not have colds/flu/allergy issues
15. My sleeping improved


So what happens after the Whole 30? I would really like to keep my weekly menu using Whole 30 foods. I actually enjoy a lot of the foods and snacks--dates and macademia nuts are some favorites! I might allow myself a few cheats (Bridal shower/bachelorette are fast approaching!), but I can't imagine why I would go back to a lifestyle that my body clearly was not tolerating. I think the most powerful thing that I take away from this experience is that I can say no to foods that my body does not need no matter the circumstance. I did not even have dessert on my birthday or cake at my work bridal shower. I got a lot of the "you're crazy" statements, but I just shrugged those off. I think it is something I will try to follow as often as possible.

In addition to the food adjustments, I tried out Bikram yoga again this July. I really don't enjoy it, but I LOVE how I feel after. And it does get easier each week...I may give it another shot in the winter. It was quite torturous attending Bikram sessions on days that were 90+ degrees and humid. Nonetheless, the health benefits of this practice seem to be worth the effort.

The Stats:

Inches Lost= 9.75 total inches
Lbs Lost= 8.4lbs (putting me just below where I was at the end of the challenge)

Perfect Bricks since January 2012 = 146! (4 more until 150 perfect bricks!
Frequency pushups are up to 5 sets of 30 for 6 days a week
Fasted Cardio = 6 days per week
Bikram yoga 2 X per week

Summer Is Here!

It is no secret that I LOVE summer. The sun, warm temps, beach days, excuses just to walk around--everything is better in the summer. I stored up my vacation days and am approaching the months where I have 3-4 day work weeks and it is exciting! I also tend to get a bit lazy about focusing on what I eat during the summer because it is just so easy to have a frozen yogurt or iced chai. Not this summer (at least not the whole summer!)....I have a plan...



Our wedding is quickly approaching--we only have about 2 months left to finish planning. Part of my plan is to be all toned up for my final dress fitting--so, I decided to take some action. I will continue with crossfit 3 times per week, fasted cardio 6-7 days per week, and continue to layer in some midday workouts. In addition, I am going to use Bikram yoga for a few of my fasted cardio workouts. I am still working on frequency method pushups and am up to 5 sets of 26 pushups per day. Next week, I will go to my first Bikram workout in close to a year, so I am really looking forward to getting back into that. Mark got me a pass at a charity auction for a month quite some time ago, now I have an opportunity to use it!



The last, and probably most important thing that I am going to focus on is getting the right nutrition. I am focusing on resetting my body through the Whole 30 program. Now, those who know me well know that I've been pretty focused on eating better since November. I usually cut carbs by 2PM and only indulge in a 12-24 hour "cheat day," Nonetheless, I want to see if eliminating sugar and dairy completely will improve some of the lingering stomach issues I've had over the last few years. It's worth a try for 30 days anyway! I'm also looking to gain improved energy levels for the lifting and cardio.

I'm certainly not going to document every day and everything that I consume because it isn't necessary and would be very tedious. However, I will do an overview of Day 1 and see where I stand by day 30. I did want to include what my day 1 looked like though just in case anyone else is considering the program. Several of my crossfit friends are also joining in so it will be nice to have moral support. Lifestyle changes are always easier when the people around you are supportive!

Day 1 of the Whole 30:

-1 Gallon + of water throughout the day
-Frequency pushups 5 X 26 throughout the day
-AM fasted cardio at 5:30AM (40 minutes elliptical)
-Breakfast at 7:00AM = Baked Egg & Sweet Potato nest with a slice of nitrate free, organic bacon cooked in a bit of coconut oil
-Snack around 9AM- Sea Snax
-Snack at 11:30AM- 1/2 serving roasted sage chicken & 1 serving of walnuts
-Boot Camp at 12:15-12:45
-Post workout "Bonus Meal" = Cherry Pie Larabar
-Lunch at 1:30PM = homemade tuna, apple, paleo mayo, walnut salad served over organic spinach
-Afternoon snack at 4:15PM (also my pre-workout meal) = serving of macadamia nuts & 1/2 serving of organic turkey slices
-Crossfit workout at 5:00PM (Press, chins, and conditioning)
-Post-workout "Bonus Meal" = serving of roasted golden beets & small slice of coconut, spinach, and mushroom quiche
-Dinner at 7:45PM = marinated organic chicken kabobs with cherry tomato, mushroom, and red pepper & boiled beet greens & avocado slices
-After dinner snack at 8:30PM = a few small pieces of roasted sage chicken
-Tea time at 10:00PM- Vanilla sleepytime herbal tea

The morning seemed a bit sparse on food, but after that, I felt like I had more than enough! I really enjoyed the egg/sweet potato nests--yum! The chicken kabobs for dinner were also delish.



So there you have it--one day on the Whole 30. Stay tuned to see what happens or better yet, try it out!

May Wrap Up

After the fourteen week challenge, I took a bit of a break from blogging, but not from working out! I managed to catch a bit of a cold after the final week of the transformation, but a week later I had recovered.

So what have I been doing the past month???


On May 5th, I completed my first 5K race since 2010 and it was my fastest 5K ever!!! The Ironheart 5K was a nice loop around Rollins Park/Concord area and I ran that with some of my crossfit friends. Then, on May 20th, I PRed on my second 5K of the season; I am convinced that I can do better if I sign up for another race this year.

May also was the first month I got out on the road bike and my legs were so much stronger than last year. My first ride up Oak Hill was much easier than last year. I am lighter and stronger which is a great combination on a road bike!

Also, I continue to work on my frequency pushups and chin ups. This week I hit 5 sets of 22 which will be 660 pushups for the week. On a good day, I can now do 4 chin ups in a row and I hope to continue to build that number.

In weightlifting, I did my first one rep max for my deadlifts @ 210lbs, so that was exciting! I want to continue to push the limits on that lift, but also work on improving my squats, and press.

Our wedding planning continues to move along slowly, but as with previous months, the working out piece seems to be the easiest part of wedding preparations!!!

I've added 21 bricks to my goal of 150 perfect bricks, so I am now at 105 bricks. Only 45 to go! If I do reach the 150 perfect bricks before September, I'll probably try to stick with that through the wedding though as a safety measure :) In June, I want to work more on making all of my morning cardio sessions--I relaxed a tiny bit on those in May and I noticed I was less energetic throughout the day. Waking up with energy is the best way to start the day!

Week #14

14 weeks, 84 days, and 84 perfect bricks later, the results for the White Mountain Crossfit Transformation Challenge are in! I have to say, when I saw how well my fellow challenge participants did, I was uncertain how the voting would turn out. I knew I had been committed to this project for the past fourteen weeks, but so had many other incredible women! It was so impressive to see the changes and growth that everyone made. In fact, I think we all met many of our goals--what an inspiring group of people to be surrounded by 3 days a week :)

With that said, Adam was voted the male winner, and I was selected as the female winner! Woo hoo!

My challenge results: 9.5 total inches lost, 10lbs down, 2 clothing sizes dropped.

Weightlifting Progress:

Press 45lbs --> 60lbs
G Row 55lbs-->65lbs
Back Squats 105lbs --> 120lbs
Dead Lifts 145lbs --> 180lbs
Chins 0 --> 3 consecutive
Pushups--> 5 sets of 5 for 6 days to 5 sets of 17 for 6 days

Week 14 Workouts:

Monday- AM elliptical/lunch boot camp/PM xfit
Tuesday- AM run
Wednesday- AM arc trainer/lunch boot camp/PM xfit
Thursday- AM swim/lunch run
Friday- AM elliptical/lunch boot camp/PM xfit
Saturday- AM elliptical
Sunday-AM short walk/rest

Congratulations to all the transformation challenge participants!

Now for the next challenge...maintaining these results...

Week #13

With the final week of the challenge fast approaching, it is hard to believe that I have been so committed to this transformation for over three months. I am curious to take my final measurements next week, but no matter what, this was a success. I will follow up next week with how much my weight lifting increased over the challenge as well.



In week 13, I took advantage of the beautiful, sunny weather by walking outside during lunch for my cardio layering. I'll jump back into lunch boot camp starting on Monday. I just could not stay inside when it was so nice out! I also had an opportunity to ride my road bike for the first time this season on Thursday--it was fantastic! I've missed riding my bike and hope to get out more for some cardio sessions.



Week 13 Workouts:


Monday-AM elliptical/ Lunch walk/ PM xfit
Tuesday- AM swim/walk/ afternoon walk
Wednesday-AM elliptical/lunch walk/ PM xfit
Thursday-AM elliptical/ lunch bike ride
Friday- AM stationary bike and walk / lunch walk/ PM xfit
Saturday-AM swim/midday walk
Sunday-REST

Bricks = 6 (78 total)
Pushups = 480 ( 5 sets of 16 reps)

Week #12

At the beginning of Week #12 I took my measurements again. For the transformation challenge, I need to measure/take photos at the beginning, week 4, week 8, week 12, and then again week 14. I made a bit of progress over the last four weeks but I also realized that I am so close to the end and have been very consistent; so, there is not as much to do. Nonetheless, I am down another 2 inches and .6lbs. Since starting the transformation twelve weeks ago, that puts me at 9.5 inches and 9.2 lbs lost! Not only that, but since I started crossfit in late October (when I really wish I had taken my measurements!), I am down 21 lbs. As a brief aside, I have struggled with my weight basically since I was 14 years old, but this is one of the first times where, even though I follow an organized and methodical food plan, I don't really feel like I am on diet. Very rarely do I feel hungry because I usually consume snacks throughout the day. In fact, sometimes in the afternoon, it is hard to intake all of my snacks but I know I need to get in my target protein goal for the day. The reason I mention all of this is because I think that I will actually be able to maintain most of what I am doing even after the challenge. For the next two weeks, I want to focus on having more veggies and good sources of protein. Also, I want to amp up my exercise program by incorporating more chin ups, burpees, and ab work. Those tend to get the least attention but certainly could help in the last few weeks.

Week 12 Workouts:

Monday-AM elliptical/PM xfit (Press, G Row, Squats & conditioning)
Tuesday- AM swim
Wednesday-AM elliptical/lunch run/PM xfit (Deadlifts and conditioning)
Thursday-AM swim/lunch stairs & pushups/ PM yoga
Friday-AM elliptical/lunch boot camp/PM xfit ( Bench press, G row, and "Big Baseline" conditioning)
Saturday-AM swim
Sunday- REST

Bricks= 6 (72 total)
Pushups = 450 ( 5 sets of 15 reps for 6 days)

Week #11

Week 11 was another productive week in the transformation challenge. It was exciting to be featured on the WMCF blog, but it also motivated me even more to focus on doing things right. Reading all of the other stories of my fellow crossfitters assured me that I was in the perfect place to meet goals.

Much like previous weeks, I kept the focus on my diet, but also tried to add in more second and third layers of cardio throughout the day. My work schedule will be changing a bit in the next few weeks, but I should still be able to get in all the needed workout sessions.

Early next week, I have Week 12 pictures and measurements--I am certainly curious to see where I am compared to four weeks ago. If my clothes are any indication, I have made additional progress.

Week 11 Recap:

Monday- AM elliptical/Lunch boot camp/PM xfit (press, g row, squat, and conditioning)
Tuesday- AM swim
Wednesday- AM elliptical/lunch boot camp
Thursday- AM swim/lunch walk/PM xfit (conditioning/dips)/PM yoga
Friday-AM walk/PM xfit (bench, g row, deadlifts, conditioning)
Saturday- AM run
Sunday- REST


Bricks = 6 (Total to date is 66!)
Pushups = 420 (5 sets 2 14 @14 reps for 6 days)
Fasted Cardio Days = 6

"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination."

Week #10

How long does it take to make progress? I remember when I started in January, and I thought about how long and difficult it was going to be to maintain my food plan and workout routine. It turns out, once you get in the habit of doing something (in this case good), each day gets a bit easier. As you can see from the photo above, I have made some progress in the past ten weeks. Although our chin up bar is a bit cramped in our small doorway, it still serves a purpose. I do not do a ton, but try to squeeze them in whenever I have a few minutes. Since my original goal was to be able to do one chin and I have achieved that goal, I am going to keep chipping away at more of those. Also, I have moved up to 5 sets of 13 pushups (14 next week) for 6 days in my week and continue to make the effort to get up early every day (except Sunday) for my fasted cardio workout. If I stick to my plan, I don't feel guilty about my gluttonous Saturday/Sunday 24 hour cheat window (trying to knock this down to 12), which is good because I could not even list everything that I managed to eat today!

I don't have too much more to blog about this week. Life is good. I have exactly who and what I need in my life right now.

Week 10 Workout Log:

Monday- AM elliptical/walk/AM xfit (press, g row, squat, conditioning)
Tuesday- AM swim/ lunch boot camp
Wednesday- AM elliptical/walk/lunch boot camp/ PM xfit (deadlifts and conditioning)
Thursday- AM swim/PM yoga
Friday-AM elliptical/walk/lunch boot camp/PM xfit (bench, g row, conditioning)
Saturday- AM elliptical/ AM xfit (conditioning)
Sunday- REST

Pushups = 390 ( 5 sets of 13 @ 6 days)
Fasted Cardio Days = 6
Perfect Bricks= 6 (60 to date)

"Above all else, never think you are not good enough."

Week #9

As I look back on week 9, I am hoping this was a breakthrough week for me. Physically, this week was no different than any other, in fact I just continued to push on with my workouts and healthy food choices. Emotionally, this was a roller coaster week to say the least. I finished my first graduate class at SNHU, worked on meeting goals at work, and dealt with serious wedding stress. After a much needed release of fears and frustrations at yoga class, I feel like I might finally be able to enjoy wedding planning! As someone who struggles with needing to control situations, wedding planning is taxing. Add in the fact that a lot of it is DIY and the situation intensifies. A bride can only take so much! This week, I realized I can't keep focusing on perfection with this wedding and I cannot let others influence our day. The friends and family who matter will be there for us on that day because that is what friends do for the people who are important to them. I have great friends who have been helping me with the planning process and I am so grateful for them. I also appreciate that they lift me higher because they are selfless and willing to listen to my bridezilla moments. Therefore, an additional goal that I am adding to my challenge is to be more appreciative of those who have been helping me and brush off the other junk. I can still focus on the things that I can control: how I look and how I feel. Hopefully, a clearer mind will give me more room to push through the final segment of the challenge. Plus, now I can focus on the fun stuff with the wedding because at this point we've had more than enough surreal and ridiculous situations thrown at us. We have persevered--it will only get easier and more enjoyable moving into the 6 month countdown :) Tips and suggestions for making planning easier are welcome!

Next week, I enter week 10! Yikes. Only 5 more weeks left in the transformation. I packed a bunch of clothes away today and realized I am going to need some new warm weather clothing as my closet is looking quite sparse! The warm weather last week was extra motivating, but it looks like that won't be back for a few weeks. I'll have to take the workouts back inside for a little longer, but that gives me time to get my gorgeous Felt bicycle tuned up!

Workouts for Week 9:
Monday- 45 min AM walk/ AM xfit (press, G row, squats, and sprints)
Tuesday-50 min AM swim/lunch walk/ PM xfit (clean/push press, dips, and conditioning)
Wednesday-55 min AM elliptical/walk/lunch boot camp
Thursday- 40 min AM swim/30 min lunch walk/PM yoga
Friday- 40 min AM elliptical/lunch boot camp/PM xfit (bench press, g row, deadlifts, and conditioning)
Saturday- 40 min AM swim
Sunday- REST

Fasted cardio = 6
Pushups = 360
Bricks= 6 (total = 54)

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
---Dr. Seuss

Week #8

It was time for my 8 week measurements and I'll admit that I was a bit nervous because I felt like I had hit a little bit of a plateau in my challenge, but I was wrong! Since week 4, I've lost 4.5 inches and another 3.6lbs. This brings my total transformation inches lost to 7.5 inches and 8.6lbs lost. Compared to week 4, I lost more inches than weight and I am fine with that. I'm keeping my eye on the prize over the next 6 weeks. I definitely have some fierce competition with some very impressive girls at the gym, but I am going to keep plugging away.

My brick wall is up to 48 perfect bricks after 6 bricks this week. I should probably clarify (because bricks are different in triathlons) that my bricks are following my morning cardio, diet plan, and pushups for as many days as I can in the week. With my one cheat/rest day, the most I can earn is 6 per week and I have been able to do this for the last eight weeks. Is there something you want to do to progressively build? Start small, 1 pushup a day and add on each week, etc. Whatever your goal is, if you start small, you will be able to make significant progress if you persevere.

One of the other goals that I had for this transformation was to be able to complete one full chin up. I know this sounds easy, but considering I couldn't do one when I was a tiny, girl in elementary school, it seemed almost unreachable as an adult woman. Nonetheless, after weeks of pushups, presses, bench press, and negative chins, I was able to do three full chin ups this week! Slowly, but surely, I am exceeding my goals. It is not easy but it is so worth it :)

Week 8 Workouts-
Monday-AM Elliptical/walk and AM Xfit (Bench, G row, Squats and conditioning)
Tuesday-AM swim/lunch walk/PM Xfit (clean/press and conditioning)
Wednesday- AM elliptical/lunch boot camp
Thursday-AM elliptical/walk/lunch boot camp/PM yoga
Friday-AM elliptical/walk/lunch boot camp/PM Xfit (press, G row, deadlifts-170lbs and conditioning)
Saturday-AM swim
Sunday- REST

Bricks = 6 (48 total)
Pushups = 330 (5 sets of 11 for 6 days)
Fasted cardio = 6 days

Week #7

"The principle is competing against yourself. It’s about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before."
-Steve Young

The halfway point in the transformation challenge is finally here! So far, this challenge has improved many facets of my life. I get up every weekday around 5 and head to the gym. Because I am getting that morning workout in, my productivity at my job is much higher--hence opportunity to grow professionally. With dedicated times for crossfit, boot camp, and yoga I have no excuses to miss a workout which gives me the "me time" necessary for positive work/life balance. And of course, a general perk, my physique continues to get better every week!

Recently, I read a post by someone who said crossfit was "like a cult" where people take themselves "too seriously." This struck a bit of a nerve with me at first because it was such broad generalization about the sport. Then, I had to take into account that maybe this person had a bad experience at a particular gym, or is just generally misguided about the sport. Of course, there probably are extreme gyms--just like there are extreme religions, extreme parents, and pretty much anything that can become extreme. I can think of many people (myself included) who take themselves too seriously in some aspect of their lives. Nonetheless, crossfit it is not one of those areas where I take myself very seriously--how could I? Compared to other people at my gym, I am a wimp ;-) But I don't mind--because the goal is personal improvement and pushing through a difficult task to achieve things I never thought possible.

When I go to WMC, I am immediately welcomed by friendly people who genuinely are interested in how my week is going or how I am doing with my goals. It is not a pretentious environment where you are judged--it is the opposite. Also, people are always laughing or shouting out words of encouragement. This is not something you find at your everyday gym. Do friendly people who motivate you constitute a cult? I have trained with a great group of triathletes with S2 and practice yoga with supportive people at Quest yoga--does that make those groups cults as well? Here is a great article by a woman who works out at White Mountain Crossfit. "There's a Crossfit Gym in Concord?". Anyway, if being around people who work hard and treat each other with respect is a cult, then I am OK with that! I can think of far worse things I could be involved in. Perhaps if more people in this country were involved in something like this, we would not be a society plagued by obesity, depression, and fear. However, I understand that crossfit is not for everyone, but find that hobby or focus that gives you time to be introspective and focused on you.

We always make time for work, family, and friends, but find that outlet that is only for you. As someone who was a public servant (aka public school teacher) for seven years, I know how easy it was to get caught up in doing things for everyone else. It was all about the students, parents, administration, etc...this list goes on. After leaving the field, I finally found that work/life balance and crossfit has only served to add to that balance.

Week 7 Workouts:

Monday-AM Walking/ AM Xfit (Press, G Row & Squats)
Tuesday-AM Swim/ PM Xfit (conditioning)
Wednesday- Elliptical/Walking/Lunch walk
Thursday- AM Swim/Lunch run/PM yoga
Friday- AM elliptical and walk/ Lunch boot camp/ PM Xfit (Press, G Row, Deadlift & mobility)
Saturday- AM elliptical/walk
Sunday- Rest

Fasted Cardio Days- 6
Perfect Bricks-6 = 42 bricks!
Pushups = 300 (5 sets of 10 for 6 days)

Week #6

The above graphic was designed by my wonderful friend Sara. She is very talented in the areas of photography and graphic design. When I was reading her blog, House Bella, I noticed she had created an eye-catching bucket list graphic for her year and I immediately was pulled in by it. She graciously agreed to make one for me, so here it is! I cannot say that I will be able to do everything on the list, but I can sure try! Thanks Sara :)

Last week was all about getting out of running mode and into transformation mode. It was strange not having long runs on the weekend or short planned runs during the week; however, my lunch boot camp incorporated running several times, so I never quite get away from it!

It was a fairly uneventful week other than the snowstorm on Thursday which caused yoga to be cancelled :( Hopefully that was the last of winter! There was a snowshoe race on Saturday, but as I already had plans, I could not participate. I guess I'll have to look forward to that for next year because I am ready for warm weather!

Week 6 Workouts:


Monday- AM Elliptical/AM XFit
Tuesday- AM Swim/Lunch Boot Camp/PM XFit
Wednesday- AM Walk/Lunch Boot Camp
Thursday- AM Swim/ PM yoga video
Friday- AM Elliptical and walking/ PM Xfit
Saturday- AM Elliptical and walking
Sunday- Rest

Fasted Cardio Days = 6
Perfect Bricks = 6 (36 so far!)
Pushups= 270

Week #5

I selected this quotation about compassion because after yoga on Thursday at Quest, I spent some time reflecting on a passage that the fabulous Karen Kenney read. At the beginning and end of class (and quite often in the middle), Karen shares words of wisdom that have made me want to try to improve how I view life and treat others. One of the main things I took away from that evening was compassion. So many people forget about treating others with compassion. I am certainly guilty of putting myself first and not showing care or concern when people may need it the most. I think certainly in this election year, people of all backgrounds have lost sight of compassion. Some people are privileged and receive things because they are lucky--that is not their fault, but they should understand they are fortunate and show compassion for those who have not been dealt that same hand in life. Some people work hard and can never get ahead. But we are all humans. If we want to make out country better, we could start by being supportive to those in need because you never know when your life will change and you will need assistance in some form. Another thing that Karen has touched on is materialism. We are a society driven by this, in fact there was a riot outside a store over Nike galaxy shoes recently. Are you kidding me?! People care more about possessions than other human beings. Again, I am not excusing myself from being guilty of enjoying things. I love my Felt bike and my Iphone; however, I work a second job to have those luxuries and I am certainly not trampling over others to obtain those things. Thus, Henry David Thoreau's quote seems very fitting here: "It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly." Are you living freely and nobly? Or are you a slave to possessions?


OK, thoughtful reflection aside (I just felt the need to digress for a bit)...this week was about physical recovery from the half marathon on Sunday. As I mentioned at the bottom of my post last week, I was able to PR in the Half at the Hamptons. I finished in just under 2 hours and about 5 minutes faster than my time in 2010 Big Lake Half. I am happy because now that I have reached that goal, I can take a break from the long runs for awhile :) Monday, I was able to get up and go for a morning swim and evening crossfit class. It was Tuesday when the race exhaustion really hit me, so I rested that day. As the week progressed, I got some more energy back. Next week, I plan to again hone in on morning cardio and diet. I feel as though I could be approaching a plateau, but hopefully I can push through to the next level. The challenge is still on for another 9 weeks!

Week 5 Workouts:

Monday- AM swim/PM xfit (Bench, chins, and G Row)
Tuesday-Rest
Wednesday- AM Swim/ Lunch boot camp
Thursday-AM elliptical/PM yoga
Friday- AM elliptical/PM xfit (Press, G Row, Deadlifts)
Saturday- AM Swim/AM lifting (Squats)
Sunday- AM cardio (elliptical, arc trainer, 500m rowing, and walking)

Pushup weekly total = 240 pushups ( 5 sets of 8 for 6 days)
Bricks = 6, for a total of 30 perfect bricks in the wall!

Week #4

On Monday, I took my measurements and weighed myself for the first time in four weeks. As a frequent scale user, this was difficult, but lessened the pressure of the challenge on a day to day basis. The results of the first four weeks of the challenge were...drumroll... 3 inches and 5 lbs gone! Now, even though this seems small, I have to admit that I actually had already lost 10 lbs and dropped 2 clothing sizes since beginning crossfit in November, so this was actually solid progress for me. In fact, at this point, weight is not the focus--I am trying to tighten and define as much as possible, but hey, a few bonus lbs lost is fine by me :) The measurements are affirmation that I am doing all the right things. And believe me, I am. There are so many days when cutting carbs by 2pm sucks. I might just want a bag of chips after work, but instead I grab protein or veggies. At lunch, I dip fresh sweet peppers in salsa and pretend they taste as good as tortilla chips. Of course they don't, but being able to fit into all my clothes is much better than chips or cookies! Being able to deadlift 160lbs, complete 35 pushups a day, and destroy boot camp workouts at lunch...those are all so much better than a few minutes of snacking.

In the next few weeks I will actually be packing away a lot of clothes, not because they are too small, but because they are falling off me. I did not think at age 30 I would be in the best shape of my life, but that is where I am. Don't get me wrong, I have a LONG journey to reaching some of my goals (chin ups, lifting heavier weight, etc.); however, I have made some steady progress...24 perfect bricks complete at the end of week 4.

Tomorrow, I have my first half marathon since starting crossfit. I am curious to see how this will impact my time. My PR was 2:03:46 at Big Lake in 2010, so I am trying to beat that time! That race day was very cool and rainy. My focus had been on long runs with no weight training. I'll find out tomorrow if a different approach will be more effective. Even if it isn't, I am ok with that because I really would like to move away from the endurance races for awhile.

Week 4 Workouts:
Monday- AM Swim/AM XFit (Bench, Squats, and G Row)
Tuesday-AM Run & Walk/ Lunch Boot/ PM Xfit (Jerks and conditioning)
Wednesday-AM Elliptical/Lunch Boot
Thursday- AM Run & Walk / Lunch Boot/ PM yoga
Friday-AM Swim/ PM Xfit (Deadlifts, Press, and G Row)
Saturday- AM swim (isolated legs to focus on arms and rest legs for race tomorrow)
Sunday- Half Marathon

Weekly Pushup Total = 210
Fasted Cardio Workouts = 6
Pefect Menu Days = 6

Goals for week 5: add more burpees and chins

*New Update: PR at Hampton Half Marathon 629 59/149 F3034 LAURA SAXE 30 F 1274 Concord NH 1:58:33.8 9:01 *

Week #3

I've completed three weeks of the transformation challenge and am still feeling great! I had 6 more perfect bricks to add to my wall which puts my wall at 18 bricks. Not too shabby. Honestly, it was a relatively uneventful week. I did everything I was supposed to including my half marathon training. That race is next Sunday and I am eager to be done with long runs for awhile. Clearly, snowshoeing is not in the cards for this winter, so my focus after the Hampton half marathon will be a combination of crossfit at White Mountain Crossfit and Bikram yoga. I'm looking forward to incorporating more stretching into my week. Right now, I attend yoga class at Quest on Thursdays, but I am always up for more yoga! Next week it is time for more photos and measurements; I'll find out if my hard work is paying off so far!

Week 3 Wrap Up:


Monday- AM Swim/AM Xfit
Tuesday-AM run/walk/PM run
Wednesday- AM elliptical/lunch boot camp
Thursday- AM run/Lunch boot camp/PM yoga
Friday- AM elliptical/PM xfit
Saturday- AM run/PM run (8 miles total)
Sunday-REST

Week #2

The second week of the transformation challenge felt even better than the first. I am comfortable with my daily menu and exercise routine. I was able to get up for my morning fasted cardio workouts with a bit more gusto than week one. In everything I did, I felt stronger and healthier. If this is only two weeks in, I can't wait to see the results of fourteen weeks of hard effort. Also, I deadlifted 150lbs this week! Now, I know this is really not very much in the world of crossfit, but it still is exciting for me! I think I did 1/2 a chin up as well...still working on that goal. Finally, the pictures I selected for this blog entry are of two strength moves. One is obviously a push up--something I could not do before I started crossfit. The second is a one leg, hover, yoga move (not sure of the name) that I learned at my yoga class at Quest this week. Stay tuned for more about my challenge.

Week 2 Wrap Up:
Monday- AM elliptical/AM xfit (press and conditioning)/5X5 pushups
Tuesday-AM run/walk/ PM xfit (G Row and conditioning)/5x5 pushups/ 3 sets of 10 burpees in 30s
Wednesday-AM elliptical/lunch boot camp/5x5 pushups/3 sets of 11 burpees in 33s
Thursday- AM run/walk/Lunch run/PM yoga/5x5 pushups
Friday-AM swim/PM xfit (squats, deadlifts, and conditioning)
Saturday- REST & 24-hour cheat window :)
Sunday-long run (15 miles)

Week #1

In order to better accomodate my schedule, I am blogging on Saturday this week. Tomorrow is going to be dedicated to homework, errands, wedding stuff, a long run, and, of course, prepping my food for the second week of the challenge.

Week one of the transformation went very well. In terms of workouts, I completed all morning cardio, lifting workouts, conditioning workouts,frequency method pushups, and burpees. Each day M-F I completed 5X5 pushups throughout the day. Also, between my conditioning workout on Tuesday and timed burpees on Thursday, I completed 150+ burpees this week.

Additionally, I followed my nutrition plan exactly. I added in more veggies, protein, and drank a gallon of water almost every day. I also had my 24-hour window of "free" time which was something I looked forward to! I feel great so far! Bring on week 2.

Workouts for Week 1:
Monday-AM elliptical/AM crossfit
Tuesday-AM run/walk/PM crossfit
Wednesday-AM elliptical
Thursday-AM run/walk/Lunch boot camp/PM yoga
Friday-AM swim/PM crossfit
Saturday- Rest
Sunday- 12 mile run

Winter, Maybe?

The week of January 16th brought snow and cold. Despite the weather, I was able to get most of my workouts done as my cold was finally going away. I will admit that I did not work to my maximum potential most likely because tomorrow starts my 14 week transformation challenge. I know that it is not going to be an easy 14 weeks (98 days), but in the end, I hope it will be worth the effort. We had our nutrition seminar on Saturday and that gave me some great ideas for food for the week. I stocked up on good proteins and veggies. Yesterday, I hard boiled eggs and cooked up a large quantity of brown rice. I have the supplies and tools to be successful, but the rest is on me. I'll be slightly adjusting my weight training, adding in frequency method pushups, and continuing to train for the half at Hampton.

Here's the recap of last week, for future weeks, I'll be labeling them #1-#14 for my 14 week challenge

Monday- AM crossfit
Tuesday- PM crossfit
Wednesday- AM run/ Lunch bootcamp
Thursday- Lunch boot camp/PM yoga
Friday- AM run/lunch boot camp
Saturday-AM crossfit
Sunday- 11 mile run

Transformation Challenge 2012

In a little over a week, I will embark on a 14 week transformation challenge with other members of White Mountain Crossfit. Today, I took my body measurements, BWT, and my first round of photos. It was not pretty, but it had to be done :) I am hoping to make some serious progress in my goal to look lean and fit in my wedding dress by September. But more than the superficial goals, I hope to become significantly stronger and maybe even complete a pull up or chin up. Our first seminar is next Saturday and I am ready for the challenge!

As a follow up to my blog posting two weeks ago, my workouts definitely did not follow the exact plan I had set up because, of course, I was overtaken by some sort of viral infection or cold just to make things interesting. Therefore, the week of 1/2 was modified to this schedule:

Monday- AM crossfit
Tuesday- AM run/ Lunch boot camp
Wednesday- Lunch boot camp/PM crossfit
Thursday-AM run
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday- Rest because I was sick :(

Then, the week of 1/9, I eased back into my workout routine:
Monday-AM crossfit
Tuesday-Lunch run/PM crossfit
Wednesday- Lunch boot camp
Thursday- PM run
Friday- Lunch boot camp/PM crossfit
Saturday- 10 mile run (finally back to where I was at before the virus!)

As I am now getting ready for the transformation challenge, snowshoe races, and the Half at the Hamptons, I have a busy week ahead of me. In addition, I am taking a graduate course at SNHU that is quite a bit of work. Finally, I am trying to chip away at wedding tasks, so an organized workout schedule is important. My time is very limited, so I have to make sure I follow it as much as possible.

Here are my intentions for the week of 1/15/12:
Sunday- Rest
Monday- 9am crossfit
Tuesday- PM crossfit
Wednesday-AM run/Lunch boot camp
Thursday- AM cardio/Lunch boot camp/PM Yoga for Athletes at Quest
Friday-AM run/PM crossfit
Saturday-Rest
Sunday- Long run

New Year, New Goals

Hello 2012. I'm not sure how this year will go, but I do know that I have switched my goals in training. Last year was all about endurance training and putting in a ton of miles. I'm certainly not going to cut that aspect from my training completely, but my current area of focus is strength training and conditioning. After Pumpkinman, in October, I took a month and relaxed a bit. Then I tried out a short boot camp lunch workout in Manchester. I enjoyed this different approach to fitness and decided to take it a step further and check out Crossfit. Crossfit has earned both positive and negative attention due to the super intense nature of the sport. Additionally, if people are not doing the moves correctly, it can be very dangerous (as is any new fitness routine). Given some of the results I had seen, I was definitely willing to give in a chance. In late October, I wandered into White Mountain Crossfit in Concord, NH. I was uncertain if this warehouse style gym run by an intense, former U.S. army paratropper would be the right fit. I have never been one to enjoy getting dirty and sweaty. However, after doing the three week intro session (on ramp), I was hooked. With serious changes in my diet and exercise, I was already seeing results. Since starting in October, I have gradually increased my weightlifting, completed actual pushups, and pushed myself to new limits. In addition, I look and feel better than I have in years! 30 is the new 20 if you treat your body well :)

With 251 days until our wedding day, I plan to continue to up my focus on strength training and eating the right things. I have been following a modified paleo diet with some success. In addition, I will incorporate more yoga and will continue to run. If we ever get some snow, I'll participate in a few of the Granite State Snowshoe Series races. Also, I signed up to run in the Half at the Hamptons half marathon in February. However, after those shorter endurance events are over, I am all about the strength, yoga, and morning cardio.



The frequency of my blogging is undetermined at this time, but here is an rough look at what my upcoming week will look like:
Sunday- rest (aka working at Hermanos)
Monday- AM cardio/9am crossfit
Tuesday- AM run/NLP lunch boot camp
Wednesday-lunch boot camp/PM crossfit
Thursday-AM run/lunch boot camp
Friday- AM swim/PM crossfit
Saturday-long run/light yoga