three months later

I couldn't remember when I last wrote on my blog, it's been a busy summer.  Three months since the last post.  Three months of Crossfit, most weeks, three times a week.  So, something happened to my body, it changed.  I realize that is not a surprise, but the way it feels is a surprise to me.  I was probably strong when I was young, heck, even when I was completely out of shape, I was still strong.  But now, I have muscles, everywhere.  Every move I make I can feel them, and they are strong.  If I touch my arm, I can feel that strong muscle, just under the skin.  I haven't lost many pounds at all, but the "jiggle" test tells the true story.  The fat is slowly disappearing, it is still being replaced by muscle.  Well no kidding, last week I dead lifted 115 lbs.  If you asked me what I thought I could lift it would have been around 50 lbs.  I can lift 70 lbs over my head.  I can do many many many many more sit ups than one would dream possible, I can run, I can skip and I can jump on a higher box, many many many times.  And it is still hard, my heart is pounding, my chest is heaving, my face is red, and a workout takes "sweating" to a new level.  And I love it, want to go, am always glad I went and I talk about it a lot; to the great annoyance of others.  Crossfit is the best thing that has happened to me in a very long time.  Sweet.

the impossible becomes possible

I knew when I started CrossFit that I would keep going.  Not that I've never quit anything, (I am a notorious quitter), but this felt different.  And I have kept going.  Last night was workout #6.  It was pretty darn hard.  But I did it.  So we have been going for 3 weeks now, and are on the 3x a week schedule.  Now that we are doing weightlifting (with weights), I have some sore muscles on my back and arms, but nothing, I repeat nothing like that first pain.  It's actually pretty minor on the "pain" scale, I hardly notice, unless I move a certain way.  I have lost around 3 or 4 pounds.  I haven't measured myself, but I think I lost some inches, I suspect I lost fat but gained muscle, and that is a good thing.  CrossFit is hard.  Challenging.  Craig is a great coach, he teaches you how to do the moves with infinite patience, and he wants you to succeed.  He keeps it hard, and only gives you a break in rep's or weight when he knows you can't do it.  Weirdly, that is rare, because what I've found out is that I can do it.  Skipping, push up's, sit up's, and finally,  I figured out the squat.  Burpee's and all the variations (long jump burpee, and last night box jump burpee) are the hardest.  Just need to keep pushing, I know these will someday be better.  I don't think they are ever easy, but better.  Then you do more. Faster.  hahahahaha.  Everyone at the workout is sweating like crazy and red in the face at the end, and completely drained.  It's pretty awesome.  klow WOW indeed :)

The beginning

Who knows why we reach a tipping point, so many little events, thoughts creeping in, contemplating the options, and then one day, you change.  I had heard about CrossFit, liked the idea, but didn't know much about it.  What I read was that the workouts were based on real movements, not on machines.  So  when I saw the $100 off a Crossfit membership at the Diva Day silent auction, I bid on it.  NO ONE else did...LOL.  So for $35 I had $100 off.  I told David I was going to try it.  He said he wanted to try it too.  Double tipping point.  Of course it took a week or two to get there, but we both went for the first intro session.  I had no idea.  I had no idea I could do 40 squats, 30 sit ups, 20 push ups and 10 chin ups.  Neither did my body.  For some reason, I felt like I should keep going although after the first 15 squats I was certain I would never never get to 40.  At the end, my legs were jello, my lungs were hurting.  When I got home I had to lie down.  For the next 5 days I felt absolutely fine, as long as I didn't move... Upper body wasn't too bad, certain movements that engaged my ab's were a reminder that there were indeed muscles hiding in there, and my quads.  Well let's just say that walking was OK.  Sitting for more than a minute and then getting up to walk was painful.  Stairs were hell.  I did laundry two days after this first session and had to go down the stairs sideways holding on to the wall.  I was sure I was going to fall down the stairs.  But, of course, time heals all wounds, and I was fine a week later.  I was to go to my first work out on Monday, but I slept poorly, woke with anxiety and heartburn, and was tired, foggy and depressed all day.  David went without me and I felt guilty as hell.  I committed to Friday, and this time I knew I would go.  I was actually scared, but just pushed it out of my mind.  The workout was hard, those last 21 jumping squats were brutal, but I did it. I didn't feel as bad, in fact.... wait for it... when we got home, I started to make dinner and felt absolutely awesome.  I wasn't actually hungry, but I just felt energized. It was a heck of a nice feeling.  The pain (delayed muscle soreness) came later, and wasn't as bad.  More like day 3 of the first experience.  Tonight we go back.  My quads are sore, but OK.  My shoulders are also a little sore, as are my ab's but nothing major.  Looking forward to tonight!  It also inspires me to leave wheat and sugar out of my diet, two other things make me feel better when they are not in me.