Day 1

Morning WOD was pretty cool, and I was so thankful we didn't pullups! The rip in my hand makes everyday tasks a bit challenging, such as washing my hair, applying facial and body lotion, etc. I put a big wad of gauze wrapped with sports tape around the finger--worked just fine on our power snatches.

5-3-2-2-1-1-1

I got 73# PR, tried to do 5 more pounds, but I couldn't get it past my shoulders. Ugh. Remembered to wear bug spray this morning, and I'm happy to report that it worked.

CD was 3 rounds of 10 reps of good mornings (why are they called that?!) with a barbell (I used 15#) and ankles to bar reverse pullups. I feel myself getting stronger, despite the lousy diet last week, and it's very heartening and motivating. Was great working with Erica--she really pushes and encourages me. She got the 78# power snatch, and I need to catch her next time! Got a friendly little competition going, in my head at least. :)

Breakfast: Not Just Another Egg Sammich (bad to eat the English muffin and cheese but I wanted one!!)
sweet potato fries (not done as well as they usually are--couldn't finish
them)

Lunch: 2 oz. almond-crusted turkey (getting tired of it finally)
olive oil
1 cup cucumbers
1 cup red bell peppers
6 olives

Snack: 1 oz. brisket jerky
1/2 apple
sunbutter

Dinner: 2 eggs with spinach and purple cabbage (mmmm, love this combo)
olive oil
1 Tbsp avocado

EOD: 9/5?/13

Update on my course from hell: the lady I'd somewhat figured would be willing to work with me doesn't even have a webcam or long-distance service, so that arrangement fell through--disappointing yet a relief as it would have been quite a hassle doing the tutoring sessions via video conference. I'm hoping that Mel and Bobby's relatives will trust me to work with their little ones for the course instead. It's very stressful and frustrating right now because time is trickling away, and I need to get in two sessions this week before the July 4th weekend. I'm doubting that I will be able to go visit Kason's dad at the lake for the holiday--bummer. :/ I'm trying to remain optimistic, though!!!! Once I get two kids squared away and have my first sessions with them, things will fall into place. Just gotta get to that point! I'd rather do Nancy and Helen back-to-back, I think...haha! Okay, maybe not. Gulp!

OMG I'm scared.

So I start my next grad course this week, and I am already starting to panic. We're required to find a student to assess for the entire five weeks--the course is called Literacy Assessment--and why the university would schedule this course in the summer is beyond me. School has been out of session for at least three or four weeks now, and families go on vacation! I do have a few options, but I have to hurry and find a student by Wednesday as my first lesson plan/assessment is due on Saturday. It's going to be rough and stressful--I can already feel it. I'm hoping the professor allows me to remotely teach/assess my mother's friends' son who is going into the 3rd grade. I know the parents and the son relatively well, and I think they would be comfortable with me working with them. But I have to actually implement lesson plans each week and teach the student reading and writing skills for each lesson, as well as assess and observe him/her during each session. That will be pretty much impossible to do when the child lives in Ohio and I'm in Texas. My other option is contacting Victoria and somehow getting contact information on her students (elementary level) and hoping at least one of them has not left for vacation yet. Five weeks is a long time! I'm seriously baffled about why the class schedule was set up to have this course in session during the summer! Argh! Anyway, I think I will e-mail my peers and see what they're doing in order to fulfill this particular requirement. I feel so incompetent and lost already. :(

Going to workout today and hope the heat doesn't kill me. Haven't had breakfast yet because I'm not hungry and I feel stressed out. That's a bad thing I used to do in college--when I was stressed, I would not eat. Bleh! On a good note, my kittens aren't mad at me for leaving them for those few days at the vet. They seem happy and content being at home again. I am glad I got them!

Went in this afternoon and wow do 20 degrees make a huge difference!!!! I couldn't believe how stuffy and oppressive the heat was, but it was great to sweat out those toxins from my poor diet earlier in the week, plus all the stress I've been feeling. I got a new PR on front press: 90#, as well as a new 5-rep max (80#) and 3-rep max (85# +10 from old PR). Mel and Erica kept me going. It was good to workout with Lindsey again, too. :) I think she got a new PR, as well. Then it was time for the metcon: 21-15-9 of wall ball shots and pullups. Oh, it was awesome being able to do two unassisted kipping pullups on our bar when I got there!!!! But doing all those reps ripped my hand, and I had to use the red band. I digress, I know, but it would have taken me 20-30 minutes to finish if I hadn't used the band. I don't know what it is about 21 pullups, but I hated every one of them! Maybe the presses tired my shoulders out, who knows. I did, however, beat my old time of over 8 minutes and did it in 7:40 this time. That's progress!! Next time, I will do it mostly unassisted. Gotta wean myself off that band. But I seriously hope we're not doing pullups tomorrow...if we are, then I'm going to wear a glove on my ripped hand. Finally, I held a handstand against the wall for 30 seconds, yay!

Breakfast/lunch: 2 hardboiled eggs
1 Tbsp sunbutter
(seriously not much of an appetite)

Snack: 1 oz. brisket jerky
handful mixed nuts

Dinner: almond-crusted turkey
steamed purple cabbage and spinach
olive oil

EOD: 6/2/10?

Diet is caput!!

Ugh, I knew it would be a challenge to stick to my diet while at home, but sheesh, I'm starting to feel the repercussions of such a fact. :( The good aspect? It really motivates me to be even more rigorous with my diet when I return. I could tell a difference with my workouts, too.

Yesterday's workout was quite tough for me, but I like to think it's because it was my fourth day in a row and my awful diet. We warmed up with 10-9-8...1 of jumping squats and pushups. Then we practiced a skill--rowing 500m for time, three times. I couldn't break 2:14. :( I got some pointers from the coach, but I didn't improve at all. Then for the metcon, we did AMRAP in 15 minutes of 400m run and 5 wall climbs. I tried to do a wall climb, but I couln't move my hands at all--they just wouldn't budge! I think it's because I'm not confident in my handstands yet. I had to do donkey kicks instead--15 for each round. I managed to get in three and a half rounds, but they were painful and slow. The run was the worst part for me, surprisingly. It was rather hot and humid that day (I know, nothing like it was in Dallas but still quite icky), and I didn't feel like I could breathe properly while I ran. In retrospect, though, I'm glad I went. It will be great to return to CFDC, but I noticed that Rogue Fitness tends to do a warmup, skill practice, AND metcon for each workout. CFDC does feature great warmups and WODs, but sometimes I feel like I should have done more...if that makes sense. Oh good gracious, I'm starting to sound like my exercise-obsessed pal! :0 But sometimes I do feel like I need to do another workout in addition to what I've already done. I really like being sore and bruised the next day, not to say I haven't experienced these sensations recently from working out at CFDC. Just a tiny difference I've noticed.

Well, I return to Dallas tomorrow and will be having a huge cheat meal (ack, I know!) with a friend who is a spectacular chef. THEN I will be on a strict Paleo/Zone diet. I should start logging my daily meals like Sandy, Amy, and Jamie do. Need to be held accountable!

Rogue Fitness = legit CrossFit affiliate

Drove an hour to Gahanna today to workout at Rogue Fitness, the Columbus CrossFit affiliate. I had heard from Dave how different the CF gym in Missouri was when he'd visited, so I was a bit skeptical about how good of an experience I would have at this gym. At first, when I walked into the waiting area (with the bathroom and a seating area), I thought the gym was air-conditioned! I immediately thought, There's no A/C in CrossFit!!!! But I was pleasantly surprised. The cool temperature was due to the back garage door being open and the fact that Ohio is at least ten degrees cooler than Dallas, plus the humidity is much lower. Working out in an 80-degree gym felt like it had A/C since I'm used to working out at CFDC. This gym actually manufactures its own equipment and sells it to other affiliates. The coach who taught my class won the CrossFit Games last year. She was really knowledgeable, encouraging, and helpful--just not the same level or type of energy that CFDC's coaches possess, but she was still awesome, and I felt honored to be coached by her. She stayed after the workout to coach me on unassisted kipping pullups, and I actually did one on the first try!!!!! I couldn't believe it! I almost let go of the bar after I did it, I was so amazed. Luckily I didn't. Then I tried a few more, and she encouraged me the whole time. It was a truly rewarding feeling to be able to accomplish one of my short-term goals already, and at a different CF gym. I think the fact that the pullup bar was quite a bit narrower helped a lot--I could grip the bar a lot more easily and securely. I am curious to see if I am able to repeat my performance when I return to CFDC and the thicker pullup bar. I'm determined to try!! I was tempted to take the three remaining days I'm home as rest days, but I'm so pumped that I'm going to go back to Rogue tomorrow for the noon class again. I will be doing 4 on, 2 off, but that's okay. When I get back to Dallas, I will resume my 3-1 schedule so the coaches don't get mad at me. :)

Warm-up: mini Cindy and 20 shoulder rotations
WOD: Seated press, 3-2-1-1-1-1 then
metcon: AMRAP in 15 minutes:
15 pullups
15 KB high swings
15 burpee box jumps

65-70-75-75-80(f)-75
3 rounds + 6 pullups on metcon

I used the red band on the pullups but made myself knock out at least 4 or 5 pullups in a row before resting. The first set, I did 10 in a row unbroken. I used a 35# KB on the swings, and a medium box for the jumps. The burpee box jumps were the worst part. I actually tripped myself on the last burpee and ended up banging my knees quite nicely. :/ Oh well, I actually like having bruises and soreness. I'm such a masochist. But my favorite part of the whole experience was doing my very first unassisted kipping pullup!!! I heart Rogue Fitness! I'd even go so far to say that if I HAD to move to Ohio, I wouldn't mind it too much if I was near the gym. :O Yeah, I said it. Haha! Anyway, I am happy that this affiliate turned out being so awesome, but I still miss CFDC and look forward to returning. I'll definitely hit up Rogue, though, when I'm home again for x-mas.

Sandy's report on her surgery experience has me both excited and a bit apprehensive. Her description of the discomfort made me nervous! I believe I will accept the Valium when I get my procedure done. I'm rather sensitive to smells, as well, so hopefully the drug will dull my senses as well as my anxiety. I have no doubt that Dr. Beebe is an expert, and I trust him completely, but I still would like my experience to be as stress-free and comfortable as possible. I'm glad Sandy has noticed a big difference already and is happy with the results. Can't wait to see her at the gym next week with perfect vision and glasses-free!!!! :D

Two a day

This morning, I worked out with the roosters. Erica got me going because really, when my alarm went off at 5:30, I remember thinking, what the hell am I doing awake this freaking early?!!! Then I remembered, oh yeah, Erica's going to kick my ass if I'm not at the 6 a.m. class today. That got me moving. :) Once I got to the gym, I didn't feel too bad. It's the initial, do I really want to get up yet? mentality that can make early morning workouts tough. When I was in college, I would meet my best friend at the local fairgrounds to run almost everyday at 5:30 or 6 a.m. We'd meet so early because it was the coolest (not that Ohio truly gets that hot, haha), plus I worked from noon until 10 p.m. If I didn't have my friend waiting for me at the grounds, I would have easily ignored my alarm and resumed sleeping. It really helps to have someone to motivate you and help you stay on track.

Today's WOD was 10 rounds of AMRAP of burpees for 20 seconds and mountain climbers for 20 seconds, with 20 seconds of rest between each set. I started out a bit too strong for the long haul, but I remained consistent after the initial hump, averaging at 6 burpees and 10 mountain climbers. This WOD was purely mental. It was tough sticking it out for ten rounds!! But then I returned in the evening and did the same WOD with pushups and flutter-kicks. I averaged 10 pushups and 20-something flutter-kicks. It was a well-rounded workout day. Didn't have time for my usual CD of 3 rounds 15 GHD situps/back extensions since I had to go to work, but I will try to get them in tomorrow. I have a feeling tomorrow will involve lifting, meaning the workout will take longer and I won't be done at 7. It's okay, though--tomorrow's my last day of work until July, and I'm going to Ohio in the evening. I'm a bit worried about my kittens and how well they will handle being away from home/me for four days. They should be fine, but they have been very needy since Kason left for Basic. Can't do much about that, though! I'm sure they won't let me out of their sight when I return. It's nice to feel loved. :)

Had my LASIK consultation today, and it went beautifully. The technicians and coordinators are all so professional, friendly, and knowledgeable at Cornea Associates of Texas. Dr. Beebe was just the same, although he's very matter-of-fact, but I like that in a doctor. My old family doctor liked to shoot the breeze a bit too much for my taste, and then it seemed like he never truly and thorougly checked us out. It was exhilirating to schedule my surgery!!! Shelly was fantastic, encouraging, and definitely supportive. She is a wonderful asset to the practice. She told me she'd had LASIK when they still used knives but hasn't had a problem. That would freak me out too much!! I'm so glad I waited and that the technology is so advanced and precise. I'm looking forward to July 14. Will be thinking of Sandy tomorrow at 2 when she gets her LASIK done. Have a great time in NY!

It's going to be okay.

I absolutely LOVE CrossFit. If CF was a man, I'd marry it. I am so elated! Went to the doctor today and had blood work and annual exam done. My resting heart rate is 55--it's usually in the 60s. My blood pressure was a bit higher than the normal 110/70, but I suppose that'd due to the intense workouts I've been doing these past two months. I'm getting a liver panel done to make sure it's functioning well and all's okay with it, but after reading the blog today, I'm a bit worried. I tried to explain CF to my doc, but she seemed quite clueless. We'll see. I'm anxious to see how my cholesterol levels are, if they've improved. I have a propensity for high HDLs, and even though my LDLs are low, the HDLs usually make my total number higher than it's supposed to be (over 200). Last time I had it done, my cholesterol was 173, my HDLs were 82, and my LDLs were 64 (ick). My glucose was 85. I'm very interested to see how my numbers turn out this time around! I've lost six pounds since starting CF, and I love how the doctor told me I'm looking good. :) I'd complained to her last year at my last exam how I wanted to lose weight and stuff, and she tried to tell me my options. If only she had said, "CrossFit." LOL Anyway, that made my day. However, my car needs a new timing belt, so low blow to my wallet. Argh! But my future mother-in-law (I kid!) is paying for us to fly out to see Kason graduate from Army Basic Training next month. I cannot WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

I called Dr. Beebe's office to see if I should postpone my LASIK consultation appt., and Shelly told me to come in anyway because the doctor can still determine whether I'm a candidate or not. She also said that I can still use the coupon toward my procedure when I get it done, so I'm excited about that! I love this practice already. The coordinators have been professional, organized, and actually remember me after just a few phone conversations! I can't wait to meet Dr. Beebe and see what he says about my eyes and whether or not I can schedule the surgery. There's a chance that I might have to wait longer since the past infections have caused pressure that has changed the shape of my cornea, but I'm optimistic. If this turns out to be the case, no big deal. I will have LASIK one day soon!

Stoked to finally indulge my Kozy fix and see Food, Inc. tonight.

Discouragement

Went to the ophthalmologist today, and he poked my eye to excise the abscess. Ow. The technician put numbing drops in my eye beforehand, but it still hurt quite a bit. He gave me an antibiotic I have to take for two weeks, and he wants to see me again for a follow-up. Then I have to take a preventative antibiotic for three months. Hopefully I don't get another episode for a long, long time after this. Also, I will most likely have to postpone my LASIK consultation because the pressure from my eyelid has changed the shape of my cornea, according to the ophthalmologist. He used to perform LASIK, so I'm presuming he knows what he's talking about. I won't look back fondly on this month, except for the fact that I got a new PR on deadlift and back squat. Other than that, not so much.

I hope everyone else had a great day and had fun on the WOD. I would like to make this one up as soon as I can return to the gym. Doc said I should take a few days off, as well as avoid being near those fans. I might go in on Saturday and row for a half hour or so. Just something or I'll go crazy. I'm looking forward to going to Kozy and seeing Food, Inc. tomorrow! Should be a fun evening.