One thing I'm finding really fun about crossfit is the bits of gymnastics thrown in the mix. Mostly things like ring dips and handstand pushups. I forgot how much I used to love doing handstands and it almost makes me want to start cartwheeling everywhere again (yes, I was that obnoxious 4th grader. At least I didn't go through a horse phase.)
I haven't started with the cartwheels, but I have been doing handstands at home throughout the day. I still have to use a wall: I can't hold the handstand for long without it. I saw this picture on pinterest and thought "well gee, that looks like it would be easier to balance- you can work up to it, use both forearms..."
I did it all right. I got to the straight up position and flipped right over, flat on my back. So now I use the wall for that idea too.
My goal of doing a pull-up is getting closer. I'm not there yet, but I get a little better each time. It may take the rest of the year, or maybe my entire life, but I will get there!
Right now, as things are getting easier, I'm trying to figure out how much more difficult to make the WOD's for myself. Do I add a lot more weight and go much slower? Make it a bit harder and go just a little slower? I wont realize I've made things too easy until I'm in the middle of the WOD and blowing through it way too quickly. It is really difficult to stop myself in the middle and get a lighter band or add more weight. It might not sound like a problem at all unless you do crossfit and know how it feels to watch the clock tick away, music blasting, while you fiddle with changing bands. Yesterday I realized it was too easy and thought "eh, I'll go harder next time."
I finally graduated from this baby box jump to a big girl box (big girl box to the left), which is an exciting accomplishment. I was mostly using the baby box out of fear, not inability (have you tried it? Tell me you aren't thinking about cracking your head open or slicing your shins...)
No big deal for this guy.
We have 6 more days left of our paleo challenge. Its like paleo on crack.
Here are the rules:
1. Eat real food – meat, eggs, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruit, oils (like EVOO or coconut). Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re fresh and natural.
2. Do not eat dairy. This includes butter, cheese (hard and soft), yogurt (even Greek) and milk (including cream in your coffee).
3. Do not eat grains. This includes bread, rice, pasta, corn (I count corn as a grain), oatmeal, and all of those gluten-free pseudo-grains. That’s not real food, right?
4. Do not eat legumes. This includes beans of all kinds, lentils, and peanuts. (No peanut butter, kids.)
5. Do not eat sugars of any kind, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, Splenda, Truvia, Stevia, etc.
6. Do not eat processed foods. This includes protein shakes, processed bars (like Zone bars), dairy-free creamers, etc.
7. Do not drink alcohol, in any form. (I know, I know)
*AND- you have to deduct points for the following things. Please note the bacon, dried fruit and salt!!!*
Deducting Points
-1 point off for every serving of: deli meats, bacon, sausage, beans, hummus, peanuts, agave, honey, salt, peas, dried fruit, most salad dressings, red wine
-2 points off for every serving of: dairy (milk, yogurt, cheese, butter), soy products, quinoa
-3 points off for every serving of: cereal, grains, wheat, oats, corn, tortilla chips, bread, rice, pasta, noodles, hot dogs
-4 points for every serving of: soda, juice, sports drinks, potatoes, fried food, chicken wings, most restaurant appetizers, pizza, cookies, baked goods, ice cream, frozen yogurt, sweets, pancakes, ketchup, processed marinades, BBQ sauce, sugar-added dried fruit, beer, and ALL alcoholic drinks (besides red wine).
Its fine. Its been a good lesson on how much I actually do stray in "real life." Like with salad dressing, for instance, or cream in my coffee and cheese on my salads. Oh, and wine... and dark chocolate.
But- I thought since I've been playing by the rules and not cheating (okay, I've cheated with red wine a few times...) that I should see some significant slimming down. I'm watching all my fellow challengers whittle away each week- while I have only lost one measly pound. There is no whittling happening here and I'm getting really frustrated.
I'm not wholly unhappy with my progress with paleo, (I actually love eating this way) just my progress with this stupid challenge. It is way too much effort not to have a significant payoff. I feel good and strong, which is great, but I wanted my clothes to fit better- or have to go shopping for new clothes entirely, and for sure to lose the 5 lbs I gained for no good reason a few months ago (hint, its not a muscle gain). No such luck.
This is why I hate diets. Because they make me mad and crazy.
Oh, and ps, on this challenge, Evan has had onion rings only about once a week and only a handful of beers a week and he is whittling away. Men.
Maybe I should do the challenge plus onion rings...
Read more...