Forgetful me...

So I forgot to post yesterday's workout. Bummer too, because I really enjoyed it (or as much as you can enjoy a wod while it's going on). I felt that it was right up my alley.

Here's what was on the menu:

Yay for me! Short rowing distance, followed by strength skills. I live for these. They are not always kind to me though.

My goal was to be under 15:00 minutes. I figured that was reasonable considering it was five rounds, I definitely expected to be slowing down on the C&J and pushups by the last rounds.

The rows felt good. It was a good distance because I could keep good form and still feel like I was rowing with the pack. Usually for me to even kinda sorta keep up with everyone else and not feel like a total loser, I pretty much have to go buck wild on the thing. Not my style. Each of my row splits was about 1:01. Couldn't break the 1 min barrier but I tried.

The C&J went flying by, especially in the first round. I did 5 straight with one arm and then switched so I could avoid putting the kettlebell down unnesassarily. It worked out. I did slow a bit by round 3, but not too significantly.

The pushups went fine in the early stages and sucked a lot by the end. In the last round, I couldn't even do 5 unbroken. My arms would just not lock out at the top. Boo. Still...

My time: 11:00! Woo. Smoked my goal.

Now, fast forward to this morning and this moderately confusing thing.

Once explained it was simple enough. Do all the front squats each round, then do all the push press for that round. The goal is to not put the barbell down until you've completed all five rounds. Seemed not bad. For the first three rounds it wasn't. Then the fourth round started and it was like I hit a wall. After the front squats I had to drop the bar. I just couldn't seem to inch it forward enough to grip it for the push press. Down it went. I finished the 4 push press and the last round with another try.

Active rest was to jog a lap around the block and then get ready to start again when you were ready. Here we go... same result. I felt great through the third round, then just couldn't keep the bar up anymore. I mean, sure I could have stood there in the front rack position for a while, but that wasn't going to help my arms let the bar roll forward to press it any easier.

In the end, it turned out to be a much tougher wod than I anticipated. I guess that's my fault for underestimating those two lifts.

On a side note: Whole30 day 18 is almost over. Things are winding down, only a week left. I'll be ending after 25 days, instead of 30. My sister will be in town to visit and I would hate for her to miss out on some of the truly great San Diego and SoCal offerings because of me. This is only her second trip to SoCal ever in her life, so might as well get some In-n-Out and mexican in there. Oh and another trip to Disney, where this time, I will be indulging a bit.

Dinner last night. A new fave. Green chile chipotle taco meatballs. 

And a new PR!! I cleared the 30in box today!! Woo. Big things happenin'.

Oh the troubles...

No wod today. So sad. Unfortunately, my car spent the weekend at the shop so I couldn't make it to the box this morning. It will be there until tomorrow afternoon, so no wod tomorrow either. I feel so lost and unproductive without my workout!! Can't wait until Wednesday, when I can get back there. I hope nothing happens tomorrow that interferes with that. 

In good news, I made it through a record heat weekend at Disneyland and stayed Whole30 compliant!!! Granted, I may have a bit more than the recommended servings of fruit and nuts, but stayed away from all the other fatty, bad for you goodness while I was there. 

Trust me, it took every once of willpower that I had. Being as hot as it was (100+ deg) and watching everyone else walking around with ice cream cones and frozen lemonade... it was like torture! I did make it through though. Albeit with some weird looks from servers when I asked for a plain burger with extra veggies but no ketchup or mustard. 

I even learned something! That when it's really hot and I'm spending time outside, I crave coke. The real Coca-cola, not the drug! For some reason I just want a huge gulp of the sweet, fizzy goodness. Ugh. That was the worst craving I've had to manage these two weeks so far. 

As much as I hate to admit it either, I know that I was better off spending so much time walking and standing in the heat for not indulging in those sugar cravings. I even saw a teenager who passed out waiting in line from the heat. What did she have in her cup? Coke! I, instead, was guzzling water from my Camelbak all day. And I do mean, ALL DAY. 

There'll be another opportunity for Disney when my sister visits at the end of the month. You can bet that there will be some indulgences during that trip. Hopefully the weather cools off a bit by then!

During the 2-hour wait for Radiator Springs Racers. Worth it for the new ride.

Busy Wednesday

In case one workout wasn't enough... I decided to do two today.

Here's how I started the day off:

Well... almost. I decided to sub GHD sit-ups for the goblet squats. Still undecided whether that was a good idea or not.

The kettlebell swings were fine enough (I used 35lbs). The first round I managed unbroken. The second and third rounds I did 15/15.

The GHD sit-ups on the other hand... The most that I could do at one time was 5! Mostly because I got soooo dizzy going up and down. I tried closing my eyes, looking at only one spot, every time I still got dizzy. By the end, I was doing 1 or 2 at a time. Anyone got some tips?

Pushups were pushups. After killing my chest and shoulders on those though, the pull-ups were not just pull-ups. The most I ended up getting unbroken today was 7. That's not usually like me. Huh...

My time: 16:26 (my goal was under 15:00)

On to the next event.

I ran the POW/MIA 5K with a couple other girls in my office. It was a good time. A LOT of people showed up, almost 2000. However, that made for a slightly crowded run, an entertaining one though. Never once did I wonder how far we had to go, we just kept going.

I wish I could say that I felt great during the whole thing, but sadly no. After about mile 2, I was dragging a bit. Didn't help that due to the amount of people, you were always dodging people and the beginning was egregiously slow, even for me.

We crossed in 31 something. There was a clock but so many people that I couldn't see it. Oh well. The point of the race, was to honor the POWs and MIAs. And that, we did.

My shirt from the run that I made. Commemorating my grandfather who spent over 3 years as a POW in Korea. My hero.

Friday Fun and Cravings!!!

For the third (count it THIRD) time this week I woke up to see overhead squats. I guess someone knows how much we all dread these and yet how badly we need to work on them.

Here's what we had:

Shoulder killer.

Like yesterday, I decided to do this wod at 65lbs. Even though most of the guys were using 75lbs. Can't get stronger if you don't push yourself right? I figure if I could do Fran at 65lbs, then I should be able to do this. My goal was 15 minutes.

I didn't expect do finish any of the sets unbroken. I didn't. The most OHS I did unbroken were 10. After that it was all mostly by 5 and 6. A couple times I didn't make the lift and had to ditch. Once a got a rhythm going I could usually get to at least 5. Hint... OHS is much easier if you go down all the way. Don't short change yourself and just go part way, you're not benefitting from the lift and it will be harder.

After holding that bar up for all those reps, HSPU were not the easiest. I can usually do about 10 at a time. Ha! Today, I was averaging 5 and even that was tough. 

Unfortunately, I didn't make my goal of 15 minutes... sad face.

My time: 16:23

Oh well. Good effort.

In a Whole30 update, I am having the worst cravings today!! Every time that I pass some fast food joint, kitchen, farmers market I get a whiff of all the smells and it's driving me nuts!! Nothing specific, but just everything smells good all over the place. It's going to be a long rest of the month. 

Anyways, here's some of my food for the day.

Post-wod fuel of chicken and butternut squash.

Breakfast was a mexican quiche that I cooked last night.

Lunch from Urban Chicken. Free range roasted chicken with organic grilled veggies and salad.

Dinner was chicken stir fry that I made up off the top of my head. Tasty!

p.s. I got my bushwoman brows taken care of today by Brenda of Browtastik. If anyone is the SD area needs a recommendation let me know. She is awesome!!

Kickin' it in the Kitchen

My kitchen is taking over my life.

But first today's wod.

Don't mind the numbers 1 and 2. We had to split things up a little different because it was a big class. So my rounds went push press - burpees - k2e. No biggie.

I did this at 65lbs. I thought that maybe I could get the first round unbroken. Nope. Had to take a breath at 15 presses. I tried, just couldn't. Burpees didn't happen either. On the k2e, I made 10, then 5, then the last 6. By the last round I was sucking some major wind. This wod was just killer on my shoulders. The hardest part of the burpees was lifting your chest off the ground. 

My time: 9:48

Squeezed it in under 10 minutes. I'll take that.

Now... about that kitchen stuff.

Since starting the Whole30, I've spent most of my hours off of work either at the grocery store or in the kitchen.

Not to say that I didn't prepare. I just didn't prepare enough. Then plans changed and things happen. Tonight I finally got a good handle on things. The key is prep early. Even if not cooking until a later time, at least cut the veggies, marinate the meat early. Then when it's time, you just have to throw it all in the pot.

Last night, I was so exhausted cooking. Tonight I felt efficient. I cut the butternut squash during lunch, then just had to throw it in the oven later. While the pork chops were marinating, I cut the veggies I needed for the quiche I was cooking also. Then after dinner, I browned the hamburger and finished the quiche. Only an extra half hour in the kitchen tonight.

Win!!!


My plate tonight: Mediterranean pork chops with garlic roasted butternut squash and cucumber.

Whole30

So my friend Lea has me acting as a sort of guinea pig in doing the Whole30 program. She wants to see what the results are and possibly do this as the next challenge for her box. Yay me. 

Here are the basics on the program. I won't go into too much detail. You can read for yourself or ask me questions.

The big tenets are:

1. No sugar. That includes honey, agave, the sugar that's in store bought bacon (bet you didn't know that!)

2. No alcohol. Not even for cooking.

3. No grains whatsoever.

4. No legumes.

5. No dairy. The exception is clarified butter or ghee (which is damn near impossible to find unless you order online and pay an arm and a leg for shipping.)

6. No MSG.

7. No white potatoes.

And no paleo-fying desserts or junk food choices. So long chocolate zucchini bread. 

Right now, I'm just about to finish the second day. It hasn't been too bad. The things that I miss the most are my post-wod protein shake, which has now been replaced by a post-wod meal of salmon/chicken with sweet potato. Also, my coconut milk creamer. Today, I drank my coffee black, not horrible. Tomorrow, I'm going to try it with some refrigerated pure coconut milk and see how that goes.

Only 28 more days to go!

Some shots from the weekend.

This was our crazy Labor Day wod. Yeah...

My team (missing Carlos)

I bought a 8'0 fun board from Carissa Moore. If you don't know who she is then we can't be friends.

So jealous my dad got to meet her to pick it up.

Whole30 lunch. Ultimate tuna salad.

Someone wishes she was just a little taller.

The pit of black coffee.

Just a quick note...

This is how I spent my morning...

It was necessary after the wods this week. I feel much better now.

And on Monday (yes, the holiday) I'm going to be starting the Whole30 challenge. My friend Lea suggested it. Mostly, I'm going to be a guinea pig along with her and her bf. We're going to see if this will be a good option for her box's next nutrition challenge. It's gonna be a long month!

Happy Saturday!