Paleo

Before I started the Paleo challenge, I decided that I would approach it very strictly, with only one cheat day per week. This was a big deal for me because I was cutting out dairy/grains/sugar cold turkey, and didn't even realize how many things I eat involved these elements! From a small teaspoon of sugar in my coffee to a single slice of cheese on a bunless burger, I have excluded everything. Now, after a week of it, here's what I have to say...

Pros: I really like Paleo in the sense that I'm don't feel super constricted by measurements, and I essentially eat in Zone proportions anyway having done Zone for so long. Though I did feel hungry/low-energy at times, I could easily find something to fill me up and get my energy back. When I wanted something non-paleo, it was always out of craving rather than hunger (it was great to really analyze when my body is actually hungry and when it's just craving). And especially after my non-paleo day yesterday, I can tell how eating well affects me positively in terms of performance. I ate like junk yesterday, and I felt like junk as well.

Cons: Like I said earlier, I couldn't believe how many food items involve dairy/sugar/grains, and how even the smallest bit would be counted against me. I got super frustrated with how restricted I felt. But then I started to realize a pattern that I've developed...I will eat very well in terms of a challenge/for points, but then when the challenge is taken away, I feel like some sort of weight has been lifted off my shoulders and go right back to eating the way I would before. A lot of the junk yesterday was not from hunger, but just like feeling like I was free for a day, so why not take advantage of it? I'm not happy with this mentality.

I really admire people like Bill who naturally eat well, both in paleo and zone proportions, without any added system of rewards/punishment. It's just a healthy lifestyle to have, and I've been trying to consider how I can get myself closer to that point. I mean, even something like the word "cheat meal". What exactly am I cheating? Life? I want to get myself to the point where eating healthy is a dedicated, personal choice, for performance and for healthy living, rather than a strict regimen. I guess I'm sort of aiming for a 90/10 lifestyle, where 90% is eating well, and the other 10% is just for the random occasions or events, without feeling any feelings of guilt or shame.

So here's what I've decided for the rest of this Paleo challenge month: I really like Paleo, and want to continue to use it as a lifestyle for me well beyond the end of the month. I don't want to allow myself to think in terms of strict vs. cheat days. No more cheat days. That being said, I don't want to scold myself for having a little bit of milk/sugar in my coffee. To me, it's not very realistic, and if that's the worst thing in my diet, then I'm okay with that...and like I said, this may not be the same for everyone, it's just a personal choice. So for my personal 30 day challenge, I'm aiming to kick dairy/grains/sugar primarily out of my diet, but will allow for small quantities every now and then. My main goal: 90/10, and get to a healthier mindset.

On another note, after almost a month in school, I'm starting to get a little more in the groove, though I miss my family at CFV during the week. I'm only working out about 4 days a week, and I feel great!! Every day I feel like I can really push through the workout at 100%, and I think it's helping my fitness progress much faster. I want to start getting to work on some of those specific goals I had though.

Adjusting

I'm about 1 1/2 weeks into my program, and though I was just sort of annoyed before at my lack of free time, I can now actually start to feel some physical effects on my body. I felt HORRIBLE during this morning's workout, so much so that I actually wanted to quit after the first round. I didn't quit and kept going, and I think I would normally love the workout we did, but my body is adjusting to some serious changes. 

On average, I'll get about 6-7 hours of sleep a night, which isn't ideal but used to suit me alright. Now, though, with the stress and pure chaos of the program, my body is seriously craving extra R&R. Crazy thing is the past week is only actually half of what I will really be doing in this program beginning in a couple of weeks!

I still want to keep the fitness goals I had previous set, but I just have to assess the best way for me to approach it all without reaching burnout.

First & Goals

Had the first day of grad classes on Monday, and after the awesome crazy weekend of the Games it's taken me a couple of days to fully set out on my dialed-in routine. But, it has finally begun!

Starting tomorrow, diet will be completely set and in the Zone, and I will begin work on a series of goals and staples to my lifestyle.

-Multivitamins & Fish Oil
-PNF 2x Daily (post WOD & evening)
-CrossFit Endurance 3-4x per week in addition to WODs

Fitness Goals by Thanksgiving Break
-10 Ring Dips, 10 C2B Pull-ups (...working toward my muscle-up)
-3 HSPUs (no kip)
-sub 8:30 mile run
-30 sec L-Sit
-375 CrossFit Total
-sub 7:30 Fran
...etc.

Routine is the Enemy?

In regards to workouts and life in general, yes, absolutely. The element of constantly varied workouts is essential for improved fitness, and for myself, I will never choose a life where I am bound to a job/routine that leaves me unhappy and unsatisfied daily. BUT, as the start of my graduate education nears (my orientation is exactly a week from today--yikes!!), though I am intimidated by the huge decrease in my free time, I see a sort of light of opportunity from all of this. 

For the next year, my schedule is pretty strictly planned by the program I am in (which I post on the "What Am I Doing Today?" on the right-hand side of my blog). But the way I see it, I can either be annoyed by it--which I will be from time to time =) --or I can become extremely dialed into my diet and exercise! I was actually discussing with a fellow CrossFitter yesterday about how on rest days, without a workout and maybe even without work, we can turn to snacking out of sheer boredom. Now, since I literally have only small pockets of time for eating/exercise and I will be away from home for most of the day, every meal and every WOD can be planned accordingly.

So, that's exactly what I'm doing! WODs and extra running (I'll be pretty sedentary during classes, so I'm adding in a little light running during the week in addition to the WODs) are scheduled out, and my diet during weekdays will look a little something like this:

Breakfast:

2 Eggs

1 oz. Ham

Low-Carb Tortilla

Avocado

2C, 3P, 3F

Lunch/Mid-Afternoon Meals:

2 oz. Beef/Beef/Turkey

Fruit or Greens or Slice of Bread (Sandwich)

Almonds

2C, 2P, 1F

Post-WOD Snack: 

1/2 Balance Bar

Fruit

2C, 1P, 2F

Dinner/Late Snack:

Varies, but will be total of 4C, 4P, 4F

So though it will be a complete turn-around, excited for a new change in pace =)

Kelly...

...my least favorite WOD of all CrossFit WODs, but perhaps also the most symbolic of my passion for CrossFit.

For any of you who saw me work out that day, the second part of that sentence probably comes as a surprise. The only thing I looked passionate about that day was wanting to quit, and wanted to quit I did. Though I never said it out loud, my body was screaming for a tap out. But a few things happened at the end of the workout that I will always carry with me, that only fuel my addiction for the sport of fitness and that keep me coming back for more...

I remember that near the end of the 4th round of Kelly, the music playlist was transitioning between songs, and all I could hear was the heaviness of my own breath and my own mind telling me to quit. Then, I looked up and saw about 10 of my fellow Crossfitters. Though most of them had finished their own workout, they didn't pack up their things and head to their next errand or stick to their own routine in the corner of the room. They circled my box, cheering me on and urging me to do just five more box jumps, five more wall balls...I started the 400m run of the last round and I couldn't believe that I was still moving, even at the snail's pace it was =)

I walked out the door and started a very slow jog, but I wasn't alone. Mase, Alex, Kevin, and Chris were there, every step of the way...

"C'mon Faith, you're doing great...Just keep going, you gotta dig deep...Start to pick up that pace...You're always there for us, and we're there for you!" I had no energy to even respond at the time, but there is nothing like the feeling of having nothing left and having such an amazing crew of people stand behind you (literally!) till the end.

When we reached the gym the whole CFV team was there to push me through those last reps. My body was sending me some new signals as chills ran up and down my arms. I didn't know what it meant but I just kept going.  When I was finished with the workout I must have gone through two bottles of water and still ended up with a very gummy cotton mouth (FYI: hydrate before your workouts!!).

So the message behind Kelly for me? There is no workout too hard to accomplish, no matter how daunting. Chills and scars let me know I'm alive. And no matter how much you may degrade yourself, you have an entire community of people who will never let you fail.

Yay Zone!

Been doing Zone for the past two weeks with only one cheat meal a week, and it's been going great! I feel better, more energized, cravings are severely diminished...Now what I have to start focusing on is the quality of the foods I eat. Though I've been eating in Zone proportions, a lot of my carbs have been coming from unfavorable sources, so I just need to start dialing it in a little more.

The Affiliate Cup Qualifiers are this weekend, and even though I won't be able to make it to the actual competition day because of school, I'm excited to do the WODs. I've never done double CrossFit-WODs in one day, so it should be an awesome experience.

Thoughts

So I realize I just posted about an hour ago, but as I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep I had a lot running through my mind, and I figured what better place to rant than my blog =)

Today was a crazy day--being so nervous about the mile run, running the hardest I ever have, never feeling so disappointed in myself after such a big PR...lots and lots of energy spent. After the run was done and I could finally start to regather my balance and my legs, I really only had one thought running through mind..."I was so close, just 5 seconds and everything else I have to do is a breeze!"

This train of thought continued to occupy me until just a little while ago, as I was staring up at the ceiling and realized a few things:

1) Running is my ULTIMATE goat. BUT, it doesn't matter how much or how well I can do of any other exercise. If I only focused on those things I do well, then I'd be missing one of the real beauties of CrossFit in its ability to expose our weakness and train us to be fit all-around. Even though I feel like I perform generally well during WODs, it's no doubt that if there's running in a workout I'm seriously lagging in my numbers.

In past workouts involving running, it's almost as if I would give in and accept that I would do crappy during the WOD. It's the complete opposite of my other goats that I tend to give a lot more determination and training to, but since it was always a big goat, I allowed myself to create that mental outlook.

2) I have an amazing month of training up ahead of me!! When I really start to think about the PR I had today after not running for so long, it gets me so excited to think about how with continuous training this month, I could seriously knock that 9-minute standard out of the water at the next testing date. I have posted about my troubles with running time and time again in the past, and I feel like today was the major kickstart I needed to start ironing out my weakness instead of hiding from it. 

There have only been a few times where I've been seriously down on myself in the gym, and every time that happens it only takes me that day to realize that it's the exact opposite of who I am, how I want to be, and what this whole process was meant to be. Even though I can forget this from time to time, I truly believe in the power of personal progress rather than comparative progress. As only Bill and Colin and a couple of other CrossFit friends could know, my fitness now versus nine month ago is seriously night and day. I am so excited for every PR someone hits in the gym, no matter how big or small, and it's an appreciation I should probably start to offer myself every once in a while =)

3) Last, but absolutely not least, our CFV crew is AMAZING!! I was so thankful to have your support and encouragement today. Not to sound too cheesy, but you all are an incredible blessing. You push me so hard to do things I never thought I could ever do, and I am so grateful to have you in my life.

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Hamstring Notes: Crazy thing about today was that my hamstring tightened up on the warmup run, even though after the actual mile was done it was fine. That could be because of adrenaline or the fact that my glutes and legs were burning like crazy all around (just touching them was painful!), but interesting still since I sprinted that last 400m so hard.