Softer Edge???

 

Overhead Squat 5×3 - 45lbs.

 

Then…

 

21-15-9

Box jumps - 16inch
Burpee Pull-Ups

 

Time: 14:58

 

Anyone want to guess how much I hate overhead squats?  I despise them.  They are one of the hardest things to do.  Holding that bar up over my head and trying to lock my arms and then squat is beyond me. 

 

The step ups for box jumps are getting better.  I just have to quit stepping away from the box before stepping back up again.  As the coach said it takes away my time.  And it probably takes away my keeping moving.

 

Those burpees are so freakin' hard.  It is so hard to get back up off the floor.  I know it's one of the better exercises for me and the movement will only help me.  I just want them to get easier. 

 

I don't know what was with that jumping to reach the wall was all about after the burpee.   I hate jumping and it took an overwhelming mental toll on this girlie tonight.  I know I am too self conscious and it's up to me to get over it but it's so hard. 

I'll have to admit seeing a scale come out on the floor and 2 people get on it shut me down mentally too.  Having it placed not too far from me had me looking for an exit.  I don't think I'll ever be that comfy with weighing in front of anyone.  In fact, I know I would just walk out of the gym and leave if ever asked to weigh in front of everyone.  I need to keep some things private and this is one of them.   

I knew during the first set of burpees I was mentally shutting down and I was trying to fight it.  I just never overcame it.  I know I have to work on this not happening.  Disappointment in myself is my biggest weakness and I have to quit focusing on the negative.  I see some interesting talks with G-d this week during my holidays. 

I have no problem finishing last but I really want to get to where I can keep up with the others and finish in a time somewhere near the rest of everyone. 

The coach really was trying to be supportive and encouraging tonight.  I'm actually used to getting fussed at a lot more than I did tonight.  Not sure what was with his softer edge tonight.  Not sure I want to admit I missed being yelled at either - LOL!  He fussed but just in a nicer way.   He did call me out when I put my hair over my face.  He knew I was having my own pity party and wasn't wanting me to stay in it.  I'll admit I deliberately tried to stay away from him but he called me over to chat for a second.  He was right in what all he said when he told me I just need to get over it and do it.  And then he tried to make me see my accomplishment of finishing within the time I allotted for myself.  Wish I had gotten his 12 minutes he thought it would take but I'll take my 14:58!

 

Random Thoughts

Disclaimer:  Anyone who might be reading this please remember this is where I work out my feelings, both positive and negative.  And if you're a coach (especially one of mine) you probably really don't want to read the last half of this post. Trust me on this.  But if you choose to do so please don't take any resentment about what I wrote out on me but rather just fess up you read it and ask me about it.  And please remember I need to vent sometimes just as you do! 

Finally think I have gotten the hang of this nutrition thing and eating right.  It's not as easy as it looks.  After being disappointed by not losing the 21lbs. I was really striving for in the month of August I had a choice that it could either defeat me (because I missed the goal I really wanted by 7lbs.) and fall off the wagon once again or I could choose to stay on track with the nutrition plan and work to get those 7lbs. off and then some for the month of September.  I stayed on the nutrition plan and believe I'm stronger with it than ever before.  I still weigh and measure all my food.  I know by now I should know how much 3 or 4 ounces is and how much a 1/2 cup or 1 cup is and I'm usually pretty close when I weigh and measure it out but I just really want to get this right to where I don't even have to think about it one day and it becomes a life style that I don't have to give a second thought to.  I haven't decided how much I want to lose for September or if I even want to put a number on it.  I may take this month off from putting a number to it and see how it goes and then reevaluate for October by looking at August and September.  I haven't asked the coach about it and I really don't think he wants to entertain the thought because I do get disappointed when I don't meet my goals and that irritates him.  I just wish somehow I could convince him I get disappointed in myself because it matters to me and I really want this for myself.  I hope one day he understands this. 

I'm struggling with the new coach still.  I'm trying to get along with her and I think I'm doing pretty good.  But she always seems to do or say something that rubs me the wrong way.  I just don't think she stops to think and be realistic sometimes.  She was off the schedule for a few weeks and I thought I understood someone to say she was too busy but that wasn't the case as she showed back up on schedule.  She's just too rushed and seems to have too much going on to coach.  I was good at telling her I want to increase my intensity and she's learning I do speak my mind.  What I won't ever do again is the ridiculous warm up she had us do by doing burpees in the middle of the road where traffic travels at the 100 meter mark.  I didn't sign up for this to get run over.  How does she expect someone to be able to move with an oncoming vehicle if we're in the middle of a burpee???  I didn't even do all of them that day.  The grass is covered with gravel.  Not to mention my knee still hasn't healed.  I can only imagine what the people at the WH thought as they watched.  I would've been saying those idiots are going to get run over.  I'll be glad to go back in the gym and do the burpees or even take a mat outside the gym and do them behind our own vehicles where there is no oncoming traffic traveling but never again in the middle of the road where people are coming and going.  We've done warm ups and even WOD's outside but they're always done where we park and no oncoming traffic is travelling and if someone drives up it is a CF member and they know to watch out.  This has always worked out just fine.  But these other idiots on the road don't know we're there and will come flying through.  She knew it pissed me off and I told her.  Her budget may call for being able to buy knee pads and such but this girlie lives on a budget and has to plan accordingly to her paychecks when she can go shopping for things which in turn means sometimes I have to wait several weeks if not months if I want something until I can save the money.  Nothing is worth getting run over not even losing weight.  I'll give this coach another try this week.  Wish the main coach would post time limit WOD's on the night's she teaches since she's always in a hurry to leave.  That would solve one problem since I'm so slow.  That way she wouldn't have to wait on me to get done. 

Chipper Hell

Saturday Chipper

For time: 30:44
 
10 ring row
15 Burpees
20 Box Jumps 24/20
25 KB Swings 26lb. American
400m Run
30 Sit-Ups
35 Double Unders (35 Singles)
30 Sit-Ups
400m Run
25 KB Swings 26lb. American
20 Box Jumps 24/20
15 Burpees
10 ring rows

All I know is this WOD was as bad as it looks!!!  I haven't wanted to quit so many times during a WOD in a long time.

The warm up sucked too.  I hate anything that involves jumping.  The sports bra doesn't keep things in place like I think they should especially during jumping jacks from hell!

Ring rows are okay.  I don't grasp why they're a good exercise but I don't need to.

Burpees just suck!!!  It is so hard to get back up off the floor.  First round was hard enough but the second time around I just wanted to lay on the floor and not move. 

Stepping onto the 4 45lb. weights has gotten easier.  I feel like I either need to start learning to jump down or jump onto to 2 weights.  Not sure I want to entertain that discussion with the coaches right now.  But it's on my mind.  

Kettle Bell swings are okay.  I think I need to push myself harder and up the weight to 35lbs.  

That 400 meter run was okay the first time.  But that second time was horrible.  I think that's where all the thoughts of wanting to stop started.  If I hadn't had one of the coach's daughter's with me I would've walked it a lot more than I did.  But having her there did keep me motivated and moving. 

Sit ups aren't bad but for some reason it seems like I'll never get the first 10 done.

Jump Ropes really suck.  I can't seem to get both feet off the floor at the same time.  And then I lean forward so that makes me move forward.  I don't understand why I can't stay in the same place. 

Now for that figuring out time for WOD's thing.  I have been so far off the mark for all of them this week.  I've been figuring them based on what I have been doing and how long it takes me but today I was off by 20 minutes.  Yesterday I was off by over 10 minutes.  How do the coaches just know how long it will take me?  What do they know that I don't?  After all I'm the one doing the WOD's shouldn't I know?  I was looking forward to having something I could figure out before walking thru the door and know as the WOD started and not have to ask and just be able to do it.  That's evidently not going to happen. 

Pushing for Intensity

“Helen“
Three rounds for time: 17:39

Run 400 meters
21 Kettlebell swings 26lbs
12 Pull-ups

I set out with a goal of doing this WOD in 25 - 30 minutes.  I beat that goal by a little over 7 minutes. 

I set off to run the 400 meters as fast as I could and I did the first round in 3:55 which is 32 seconds faster than the last time I ran it.  I don't know how fast I ran the other 2 rounds but I pushed myself.  The first round was okay but I dropped to a power walk at the top of the hill.  Once I saw one of the coaches on my way back it made me pick it up and keep going.  That 2nd round was so hard.  I didn't think I was going to make it up the hill.  By the time the 3rd round rolled around I just wanted to get it done. 

I debated about using the 35lb. kettle bell because I wanted to keep my intensity up and keep moving so I used the 26lb.  I surprised myself and averaged 21 kettle bell swings around a minute.

Jumping pull ups weren't that bad.  They're actually kind of boring. 

Now, the warm up was hard too.  I hate rowing.  I know it's good for you but I just don't like it.  And jump ropes were trying to get the best of me.  I finally got 50 singles.  I was told not to lean forward so much but it's not that easy.  But I'll keep working on them.

I just have to figure out what is a good time to strive for with each WOD. 

Intensity

For time: 9:49

 95 pound Thruster, 100 reps

Pushing my intensity level and keeping myself moving is hard.  So I was trying for 8 minutes but when I saw everyone from the earlier classes and their time that was pretty much over.  But I talked with the coach and we discussed weight and keeping me moving and decided on 35lbs.  Problem came when I did a few before the WOD started and I felt like it was too light of weight.  Even though I knew after the first 20 or 30 it was going to get heavy I added 10lbs.  That 45lbs. lasted all of 20 thrusters and I was back at 35lbs.  No regrets though about trying the 45lbs.  Now, I know I can do it but in order to keep my intensity level up I'm not quite there yet.  But I will be one day!  I did at least 10 at a time and didn't stop for more than 10 seconds between each set. 

I'm struggling when it comes to pushing my intensity level I feel like I'm slacking off in form.  I didn't touch my butt to the ball half the time and I could feel my feet coming off the ground instead of my heels digging into the ground to keep me in the right position for a squat.  I need to find a balance between pushing my intensity level and doing the movement correctly and still keep myself moving. 

Keep moving forward

5×3 Deadlift - 140lbs.

 

Then..

 

Three rounds for time of: 16:09

15 Jumping pull-ups
20 Burpees
15 Sumo-deadlift high-pull (65#)

 

I didn't realize I was leaning backwards when doing jumping pull ups until the coach told me.  From then on when I concentrated on my jumping I could tell a difference when jumping straight up.  Definitely something to work on. 

 

Burpees suck!!!  I still can't figure out how to squat down on the floor with my hands in the right place.  I know I've done it but it's been so long ago.  It's so hard to get back up off the floor. 

 

Me and those sumo-deadlift high pulls didn't get along.  I kept forgetting to bring my arms and elbows up high enough.  And of course that whole using my hips got the best of me.  I'm determined I'm going to figure these lifts out and using my hips and legs to power it up. 

 

I really like having the time limit goals.  The coach said the WOD had to be done within 18 minutes and I decided to shoot for 16 minutes.  I was close.  I told the coach tonight in an email about my time limit goals.  I just need to keep this up and keep moving forward with progressing. 

 

 

 

Time for some Motivation ;-)

“Manion“
Seven rounds for time of:
Run 200 meters
35 pound Back squat, 29 reps

Time 33:52

This was one of the hardest WOD's I've encountered in a few weeks.  But it was also one of the best WOD's I've done.  I went in with the attitude that I was going to push myself and start building up my intensity.  One of the coaches said something to me about it a few weeks ago but I've been a little slack in that department.  I told the coach I was trying to come up with a time to do the 7 rounds in and told him why.  So we figured out a time we could agree on that I could strive for.  He was honest and told me to up the number of back squats per minute.  So we came up with 35 minutes.  Basically, giving me 2 minutes to run 200 meters so we rounded it to 15 minutes.  And 20 minutes for the back squats bringing it to 10 every minute. 

The times went as follows:

200 meters                                                        29 Back Squats
Time Ended    Time it Took                             Time Ended           Time it Took   
2:00                  2:00                                              4:20                             2:20
7:00                  2:40                                              9:20                             2:20
12:00                2:40                                            14:10                            2:10
17:00                2:50                                            18:50                            1:50
21:45                2:55                                            24:00                            2:15
27:00                3:00                                            29:00                            2:00
31:30                2:30                                            33:52                            2:22

The coach and I talked after the WOD about my times and we found out the biggest time lost is when I'm going from one movement to the next.  It would take me about 30 seconds to go from to the next.  I kept moving and pushing myself harder not to stop during the entire WOD.  I haven't pushed myself this hard in a WOD in a long time.  I have to work on moving faster between movements as that is extra time that could come off my final time. 

I know I didn't touch my butt to the wall ball every time but I know I sure as heck tried and did touch it some.  I just have to keep on working on this and I will get it.  That one day will happen. 

But I'm happy with the time I got tonight.  I need to do this every night as it motivates me to have a goal to strive for.  This is the only way I'm going to get faster and improve.  So glad the coach was on board with this.  I just hope the other 2 coaches are as well.  I feel like had I not set this goal I would've taken more breaks.