CrossFit Dover Changed My Life

I have not posted in a little while because I have been busy with tons of stuff which I’ll detail in this post, but I can’t let my fans down (ie. mom and dad) so I figured I better get a post out.  As I work out or drive in my loud car (because I refuse to replace the perfectly OK wheels which wore wrong) I think about all the things that I want to post on my blog or want to write about, but time always seems to slip away from me or I feel tired.  Well today I am making myself write.  So here goes:

I may be repeating many things that I’ve said in earlier posts, but as I’m nearing the 50 lb mark (50% of goal 1) I find myself looking back a bit and reflecting.

1.  I am rarely on facebook any more and I have not opened one of those damn games that I played all the time to waste my time.  I think of the hours I spent doing that.  God, what was I doing with myself.  Now, I don’t have the time to even think about that.  I get home, get ready for the gym, maybe cook a bit before the gym, and head out for the 6pm workout.

2.  I hardly ever turn on the TV — If I get home from school and I don’t spend too much time chatting, I may catch two episodes of some court shows before I have to leave for the gym.  This is all while changing, letting out the dogs, and cooking some dinner, if I decide to do that.

3.  I find myself explaining my diet a whole lot, and getting interesting looks.  The biggest part that people can’t understand is the no dairy, cheeses, and some of the various veggies that I don’t eat.  I also find that when I eat something that is not paleo I know it immediately.  I used to be chained to the salt shaker — and my blood pressure showed it.  Every time I went to the doctor they said I had high blood pressure.  Now, I eat no salt.  When I eat food with even a little bit of salt in it, I can tell immediately.  I do not own a salt shaker, nor will I ever.  I have not had my blood pressure taken, but I’m sure it’s back in the ‘normal range’.  Maybe that’s something I should do at school tomorrow.

4.  My workout buddy said that I’m ‘much happier’ and less ‘bitchy and crabby’.  When I asked how long this went on for she said, ‘awhile’. LOVELY.  I had problems with my principal and I began to wonder if this wasn’t a two-way street.  Of course we always think we are the only one who is right, and I KNEW I was right, but if I was the BITCH and the CRAB and never HAPPY, then how the hell could I have dealt with any situation with an open mind.  I went through this whole year saying I wanted to leave a building where all my friends where and a place where I love.  I am now very much rethinking this idea.

5.  My kitchen and my shopping is so much easier.  I buy meats, veggies, and ummmmm that’s it! Sometimes I shop for spices, and I love to stock up on nuts.  I used to always eat horrible stuff from boxes and it’s amazing to look back on the things that I had and how I used to eat and it’s absolutely disgusting to think about it right now.

6.  I have learned to push myself mentally through things which I never thought I would be able to do again.  I have been a winner all my life, and at some point here in the last years, I have been feeling as if I have been failing both myself and others.  I interview for principal jobs, and I don’t get them, I run for DSEA president, and I lose.  I had not been used to that throughout my life and I began to get ‘stuck’.  As much as I said I wasn’t stuck, I was.  It took that damn, WAKE UP CALL (see post) to get me up and moving to figure this shit out.  Thank god I found Cross Fit Dover.   There are times I wanted to stop during workouts and I made myself push through it.  There were times when I was hurting and I made myself continue.  There were times when I hated it, but my teammates where there with me and my coach was yelling in my ear.  I needed that, and I strive to do better.

7.  So How did I find Cross Fit Dover you might ask?  Divine Intervention!  I was watching the news — which I never watch— EVER — FOR REAL — SERIOUSLY– and they had this delmarva deal, it was buy one month, get a month free of Cross Fit Seaford.  It looked interesting, and hell, saved money.  Seaford was too far to drive so I typed in crossfitdover.com and no shit! We had one in Dover, and it was ON MY ROAD!  I emailed GEORGE, and he had been my GOD of Divine Intervention ever since.  Sorry George, if I don’t call you god out loud… 

8.  I’m a competitor, and I will never lose that spirit, and damn I want to be good at everything I do.  I began watching the CrossFit Games highlights online and they look amazing.  I also watched the regional competitions and many other event highlights.  Yesterday after the workout I was talking to George about the Regional Competition and mentioned the Kipping pull-ups.  Being a semi- newbie I have not been exposed to these, nor muscle ups, or some of the other types of workouts I see online, (ie FRAN).  But, I said I him, and this still stands, “give me a year, let me get this extra weight off, and i’ll be doing those kipping pull-ups….  ”  and every thing else that goes along with getting in the best shape and being a Competitor again.  I may not be ready for any regional competition next year, but you never know when there is a drive and determination to succeed.

9.  Now when I go shopping I look for sneakers and workout clothes.  My new sneaks are below:  YAY!!! Lauren and I got a great deal on these sneaks.  These are wonderful for CrossFit because they have the flat bottoms — helps me stay on my heals.

10.  I wear sleeveless clothes now!!!!  I never used to do this before and now I do this all the time and I’m getting suntanned arms and my arms are getting skinnier!

11.  I can’t shop for clothes anymore because I don’t know what size I am/will be in.  I’m in the middle of my weight loss journey and I’m wearing about two pairs of pants that fit me….. summer please come fast so I can hang out in my champion shorts and a bathing suit top.

 

Bug

Today just sucked. As George said, sometimes you are the bug, and other times the windshield. Today he told me I was the bug then proceeded to tell me I needed to eat more fats. Will post more tomorrow. I’m sleepy and I sucked today, but I did it to myself by not eating right. Will explain more on tomorrows post.

 

Oh, I forgot to tell you…

 

Almost there

Well yesterday I wasn’t working out and didn’t have much to do last night so I decided to lay low and not eat a bunch for dinner.  If I could get away with water I tried, but ended up eating some almonds instead.  It worked.  Got myself down a few more lbs.

Today I’m going to try to eat a bit lighter and stay away from the fasts and fruits.  I do have to admit that I did stop by the store today and but a few diet iced teas…. UGH… This was the first thing I’ve had to drink in about a month other than water and coffee, and boy did it taste good.  I need those treats every so often.

I’m waiting for this weekend to kick my ass in the race in Chestertown and I’m hoping my workout buddy can join me in my pain.  She has been so helpful along the way, and I’d even promise to make her a batch of Paleo cookies upon my return.  We’ll see if I can twist her arm to get her there.  :)

Weight loss to date:  46 lbs  – 4 more to go maybe by next week!

 

More weight gone

44 lbs and counting.  Great workout last night.  Will share about it later.  I’m going to do a bit of light eating tonight to see if I can kick start the ‘half way home’ and getting close to 50 lbs. Only 6 more to go. Racing this weekend in chestertown, md.

 

For my workout tonight…

Let’s make it happen…..Crossfit Dover!

Make

 

5K Today

Yes, that title of this post is correct.  About 5 weeks ago, before starting crossfit, I was sitting on the couch, doing much of nothing, and today I decided to go out and run a 5k.  Crazy huh?

The crossfit box was doing the affiliate challenge and my workout buddy wasn’t able to head up there with me to watch it, and the box was closed to workout so I wanted to do something.  I decided to check out what 5ks were available in the area.  We have one almost every weekend around this time of year. There was one that benefitted my old school, and a local student of a friend of mine that just passed away.  I printed out the paper on Thursday and decided I was going to go.

I told my dad I was going to do this and he chuckled at me, and was very *shocked* to think that I was going to be doing this without any running-type of training.  I explained that at crossfit we do running, and other higher intensity things that keep my heart rate up, that translate into me being able to run even though I have not specifically trained for a 5k.  I have heard this.

I was talking myself into it.  I know when I did this before when I went through my weight loss journey years and years ago and was running, I had to run and run to get ready for these.  I truly did no running to prepare for this other than the minor running I do with my crossfit workouts.  I was still set that I was going to do it.

I signed up, did my warm up, ate my lara bar, and got started.  My pace was very slow, and at times slowed to a fast walk.  The course was a 2-looper coming back through the same park at the 1.5 mile mark.  I was very tired at this point, and could have easily swerved off the course, headed to my car, and decided this was ‘enough’ for me.  I forged on, the whole time, thinking through what my coach at crossfit says, “This is what makes you stronger.  It’s all about dedication and how far you’ve come and mental toughness.”  There’s a lot of other cool things he says but I figured I’d stop there.

As I was running/walking my second loop I continued to think about trudging on through this journey and that this was MENTAL, and that I CAN’T GIVE UP.  There were so many times in the last years that I’ve started something health-wise, kept it to myself, and gave up easily.  This 5k was a milestone for me.  It was hard, and it hurt, but I didn’t give up and I pushed myself through it.  Just 5 weeks ago I was laying on the couch, now I’m laying here sore as hell, but enjoying it thinking about how i’ll wake up and what i’ll do to get rid of this soreness tomorrow.

I climbed a mountain today; it was very hard at times, and I think now that I got through this first one, the rest will be easier.  I signed up today for the ‘championship series’.  If you complete 12 5ks you get a special prize.  That’s my goal — follow me to see if I complete it.

Weight loss to date:  43lbs

5ks:  1

 

Tabata Squat –UGH

Today we had to begin our workout with the Tabata squats with a partner– 8 rounds, 20 seconds on, 10 off.  then 100 sit ups, then hand stand push ups, then deadlifts, 115lbs AMRAP 8minutes, then run 800 meters.

I wasn’t really able to do the hand-stand push-ups, but i’ll get there one day.

Tomorrow is my birthday.  I decided today to clean out my freezer to a needy family with all my ‘healthy’ food that I don’t eat anymore –ie. my BOCA veggie burgers, and all the lean pockets and all that other stuff that’s not PALEO.  School found a family and I’m going to deliver it to them tomorrow morning.  While I was packing the stuff, I realized I was GIVING on my birthday, on a day that people usually get.

I packed two HUGE bags of frozen food — would have come out to about 6 walmart bags of frozen food.  I also have 4-5 bags of regular cupboard food to share.  Overall, the family will get about 11 bags of food from me — crazy huh!?

Well, i’m sleepy and I’m actually watching TV tonight.  CRAZY.

Check in for my weight loss tomorrow — it’ll be down–I promise. I’m keeping you hanging.

 

My Wake-Up Call

I decided I’d share my wake-up call with anyone reading this, or myself so when I look back on this, I would NEVER go back to where I was.

It was March 21, 2010 and the day started like many other days over the last years of my life.  Being a teacher I usually woke up pretty early and got my day started.  Today was a bit different because I would be heading to Wilmington to Howard High School as part of my DSEA position representing the union at a year’s ‘celebration’ of Race To The Top funds at an inner-city school that has made progress.  Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the Governor, Senators and everyone was coming to this important event.  I had had numerous other days off of school this year for other important events for DSEA but this one took the cake.

Being in this position as a leader for DSEA I have had numerous opportunities to meet with Biden and I am super proud and so excited about each and every one of them.  This would be the only the third time I would be meeting him as the Vice President.  I was dressed nice, and it was a great day. I had a nice suit on, heals, and had my hair done –even pulled out the straightening iron to tame away any frizzies.

We had to get there super early for any security and it was a lot of waiting.  Because of my bad eating habits I had not eaten breakfast and figured I would grab something on the way home, or simply have a soda when I got there.  It was no luck, the soda machines were on a timer because I was in a high school.  It was fine.  I deal all the time without breakfast.

We head through security for more standing around.  Now we are in the gym with about a million (not really), but a high school full of kids waiting for all these special people to come.  Everyone was really really well behaved.  We were standing around forever.  Since we were ‘special people’  we had chairs at the side of the stage but we had to wait in the back so we could go backstage and meet VP biden.  About 20 of us waited in the back to go back and meet him.

As I was standing back there I became super hot and was getting so, so sweaty.  My hair was becoming sweaty to the point where it was visible (YUCK) and I was very HOT! This was March and noone else was HOT — it was a beautiful day.  I have no idea what was going on with me but I was sweating like a pig.  It was disgusting.  I had a pretty scarf around my neck that I soon began to use as a towel to mop up my sweat on my head — ew.   ‘

<Thinking back to this make me cringe>

So we are lead back stage. While there we are standing in a hall-way — 20 adults waiting for him to arrive.  He has not gotten here yet. At this point I feel so sick, and hot and look god awful I just want to go find my seat.  I could have cared less about meeting the VP and having my picture taken with him because my hair was drenched and I looked horrible now.  I was now told I looked like I was going to pass out, I told the ‘VP people’ I didn’t feel good.  They got me water and a chair.  So now i’m the ‘sick fat girl’ who is all sweaty who needs to sit.  EW!  This story gets more horrible by the minute!

So I sit down, drink my water, and my friends that i’m back stage with are telling me that my sugar is probably low because I didn’t eat, and etc etc, and diabetic this, and that and etc.  My dad was diabetic and I did not want to have to go through that.  Biden came, I stood up, smiled for my picture with him, with my wet sweaty head, and walked back to my seat.

Are you all thinking my horror story is over?  OH NO.

I was given peanut butter crackers to make me feel better.  It didn’t. So i’m in the area of special people crammed together on a mini chair with 30 people sitting next to me and behind me and I have to stand up and down to clap and give standing ovations, and now all of a sudden my body starts to CRAMP!  As I was sitting there, my legs were getting these shooting pains where my muscles were tightening.  If I would have been at home, I would have probably fallen to the floor in pain.  But, I was 10 foot away from the VP on the side of the stage.  The leg cramps now moved to my stomach muscles.  I was in pain.  I could not move.  I kept trying to readjust myself to make myself feel better but I could not.

So, finally it was time to leave.  Karen drove, so I went to get into there car, I sat down, and dropped something on the floor.  I bent down to pick it up, and guess what happened…. I got these massive cramps again.. I basically had to roll out of the car, and I was crying like a baby in the parking lot, and we had to wait for like 30 minutes before I could get back into the car to sit down — after about 15 times of trying and failing.

When I arrive home that day I layed down in bed and decided I needed to do something to change my life.  I started calorie restriction and dieting. I lost about 20 lbs that way, and then after that I started Crossfit and Paleo.  I have been on the right track since.

Below is a video of the biden event.  I would have been sitting about 10 ft to his left.  Picture me there, white jacket, sweaty head, ready to fall over from cramping.

But the good news now though, it’s NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I will never let myself get to that place again, and I needed something major to happen to me, and that was it!

Weight loss to date:  42 lbs today, still going down, check out my post tomorrow.

WOD:  none today — had a DSEA meeting.

 

AVOCADO

Well today’s workout was OK… 20 minutes of pulling a really heavy sled, pull-ups, wall ball squats and over and over again. It’s all good, and I’m really tired because my partner didn’t feel good on the last round so I pulled the sled for the entire 100 meters myself (I’m a good friend)!

Our sled had a 45 and a 25 on it, so that’s ummmmmm 70

So I came home, not really hungry, but I decided that I really needed to eat something or else it WOULD catch up with me tomorrow. Then I had this really bad sneaky thought in the back of my head saying, ‘but MJ, you don’t workout tomorrow.’ I quickly shunned that thought away and then I microwaved some of my pulled pork and tomatoes that I had left over. I only ate about 1/2 of the bowl. This is so surprising to me considering just 2 months ago I would have been able to eat that times 2 and something else to go along with it. I’m completely satisfied also, not hungry!

Food = Fuel.

Today I asked George about avocados. I went to the store the other day and bought some avocados. Don’t ask me why I did — I just saw them on a Paleo video the other say and they say they have such good fats so I picked up 5 of them. That’s me 5, not just 2, but 5! So I asked George and he said because they are so high in calories I would have to cut something else out those days I want to eat one of those to make up for me eating that so I can continue my weight loss. He told me I could cut out the nuts. Which makes sense because they both have the same amount of fat and nuts have TONS of calories too. It wouldn’t be a bad thing either because I’m eating probably way more than 4 oz a day of nuts. So when it comes down to it, i’m going to eat an avocado every other day, cutting out nuts that day, OR a lara bar (an option I’ve decided on).

Today we had a luncheon at school and the stage was FILLED with food galore! It was crazy! –You know what was even more crazy — I didn’t even WANT any of it.. I looked for some meat, and some berries, and filled my plate. I had three small pieces of ham (could have done without the saltiness, but i’ll do) and some berries. Before when I would diet, I would have to force myself to overlook items because I REALLY wanted them. When eating PALEO, you TRULY do NOT want the other items because your body doesn’t want it. Today my workout partner ate a small bit of noodles at lunch and she wasn’t able to finish the workout as strong because she felt like she was going to throw up. She has been eating pretty strict Paleo. I’m sure this feeling was because of the noodles and cheese she ate just a few hours before the workout.

I’m very excited that I’m starting to really understand how my diet works with my energy levels, and my workouts, and my mental health.
Later this week I’m going to share the moment that kicked me in the ass that got me started on this journey. Thank god for that!

Weight loss to date: 41 lbs — 6 lbs in 1 week since back from DC. That’s really what I’ve been averaging. YAY! I still feel like i’m going down!