Friends in crossfit places...

All the way from California, I would like to introduce you to Kim.  A mom of 2, soccer player of 35 years and a fitness fanatic. Visiting our humble city for 2 weeks on business, I asked her to join me at crossfit.  She has listened to me brag about it for months, so she was definitely down to experience it for herself.  Needless to say, even for a girl who plays 3-4 soccer games a week, first day of crossfit wasn't exactly a walk in the park.  Her body is trained for soccer so her muscle memory made it so she could play in her sleep, no problem.  However, the introduction to crossfit was taking that muscle memory and turning it into an etch-a-sketch.

It was hard not to laugh when she pointed out where she was sore and to what extent, because I have been there.  Truth be told, months later I am still there. For instance, at the end of day 1 at work, she looked at me and plopped her arm on the desk then announced "My arm is dead". Day 2, a much needed glass of wine was self prescribed which quickly revived the "dead arm".  Day 3, feeling good after a night of stretches.  Day 4, walking proved to be a challenge as she somehow walked at an angle off the sidewalk and onto the pavement, laughing while she was trying to regain control over her buckling legs.  However, at the end of the WOD on day 5, the soreness was lifted leaving just a subtle hint of the workout but otherwise returning her to almost normal.  I promise, doing 5 days a week will lift that soreness that slows down the simplest tasks like sitting on a toilet. Even with all that, week 2, she was still bout it bout it.  I was so proud of her for keeping it up, even completing 10 WODs in 2 weeks!

Although she leaves for California today, she has purchased a groupon to continue her crossfit lifestyle back at home!  You go girl!  When I asked what she thought of crossfit, she responded "I like that it changes and is challenging.  And even if you are active and you think you are in shape, it still challenges you. It kicks your butt."  Well said my friend!

Here we are after her 5th WOD...

Even Sunday, we refused to rest and instead attacked a zipline course.  Climbing, suspending, balancing, etc.   It was a lot of fun and I have to admit that if I didn't have the training I received from crossfit, there was no way I would have been able to finish 3 courses.  It took a lot of arm strength, especially for someone with an extreme fear of heights like myself who did a constant full squat as I moved from one obstacle to the next.  

All in all, it has been a GREAT 2 weeks.  Weigh in today showed 199.2 lbs (still under 200 hundred....booya!).  That is a 1.7 gain since last week, but I realize that no matter what my weight will fluctuate like a roller coaster.  Try not to beat yourself and disect everything you did to try and isolate why you gained weight even though diet and exercise was on point.  The important factor is to NOT allow it to distract you from your goals.  

"Don't stop believin"

Anna Dubya

http://knockout-crossfit.com/

3 month progress report!

Today is the day folks!  I am so proud to share with you all my 3 crossfit month progress report!!!  Let's jump right into it...

Date	Chest	Waist	Hips	Right Thigh	Right Arm	Weight
July 20, 2012	47.5	46.5	51.5	29.5	13.5	223.2
August 31, 2012	46	42.75	50	29.3	14	209.3
Total Loss in 6 weeks	1.5 in	3.75 in	1.5 in	0.2 in	-0.5 in	13.9 lbs
October 19, 2012	45.5	39	49	29	14	197.5
Total Loss in 3 months	2 in	7.5 in	2.5 in	.5 in	-0.5 in	25.7 lbs

I am down 2 pants sizes, back into the jeans that sadly collected so much dust that I had to wash them again before wearing them.  Yup, I am on the forbidden side of the closet where the long lost "skinnier" clothes were hiding.  I quit smoking 3 months ago and no longer crave it, after smoking excessively for 3 years.  My stamina, energy and overall happiness is at an all time high.  This is all thanks to crossfit which has made me want to change my life and actually enjoy those changes. Ok, picture time!!!

I will admit that I am loving my overall progress, but I am soooo excited about my butt!  What was once a flat, scary looking shelf is now becoming a bubble.  My Roseanne is shaping into a nice J-Lo and I couldn't be more excited about it!  

I am also proud to announce that my crossfit pal has stuck it out and completed 5 WODs with me this week which is amazing!!!  In fact, she is going with me next week and I can't wait to share her story with everyone! I have met some amazing new people at crossfit this week.  If you are just starting and you are thinking "I don't know, 5 WODs is a lot.  I am so sore after just 3."  Well, I promise you if you do 5, the soreness will be much shorter and by the end of the 5th day, you will feel even better.  I too started at 3 WODs per week, but now that I am doing 5 I am amazed at how much better I feel.  

I just want to say thank you to ALL of the instructors, my family and friends and my new crossfit family for helping me get this far!  There is no way I would be able to get as far as I am without the advice, encouragement, positive enforcements and laughs.  I live off of laughter and every morning when I am still rubbing the crust out of my eyes, my crossfit family says or does something that instantly makes me laugh and gives me a boost of energy. 

Love you all!  Looking forward to the next 3 months!
Anna Dubya

http://knockout-crossfit.com/

A week to remember...

As of last Friday I weighed in at 200.7 lbs!  So close to being under 200 lbs!  That is 22.5 lbs in 2 months 3 weeks.  Not bad, especially knowing the fat loss is so much greater.  How do I know that?  Well, I can fit in my old jeans again which are loose and now the "you are looking great!" comments are pouring in.  I am now reaching that level where the fat loss is very obvious.  Before, it was a subtle change in my face and neck.  Now it is obviously melting away and I am so excited about it!

I am also excited that a close friend of mine is joining me for my morning workouts this week.  She has been curious to find what crossfit is about and has a ton of fitness experience; playing soccer for 35 years, yoga (hot yoga too), etc.  So I am can't wait to hear her impressions of crossfit.  I will be sure to share her experiences, because as much as I love using this blog to tell my story I also LOVE to hear other peoples stories.

Her first day crossfitting was a good WOD; 5 rounds of box jumps, deadlifts and pull-ups.  I am sure they will get even better as the week wears on.  Today I was so proud of her as she didn't try to get all crazy with the weights but instead took her time and eased into it.  I always recommend easing into crossfit for first timers because form is so important.  

Crossfit to me is like relearning your body.  Oh, you think you know your body...but there is so much more to it then you realize.  Even today, I still questioned my bodies ability.  For deadlifts, I almost went a lot lighter but finally decided to push myself to 135 lbs.  Surprisingly, I was able to complete the WOD at 135 lbs, but now that I look back I feel I could have done the prescribed weight of 155 lbs so I am a bit disappointed that I didn't go all the way.  Gotta learn how to turn off that "you can't do that" way of thinking sometimes and just give it a shot!  I am still proud of what I completed today and my body is definitely feeling the effects of the workout. Never thought I would love being the slightest bit sore, but I do I do I do.

What a great way to start off the week!  Stay posted this week for my 3 month measurement/weigh-in/pictures progress update!
Anna Dubya

http://www.knockout-crossfit.com/

Breaking 20...

I am proud to announce that I have finally broken the 20 lb weight loss mark!  My weigh in today was 202! That is 21 lbs lost in 2 1/2 months.  Whoot whoot!  However, I know for a fact that there is a lot more fat loss then the numbers on the scale are showing me.  For instance, last week it appeared I gained a little more than a pound.  However, the pants that I was finally able to fit into again were loose to the point that I can almost take them off without unbuttoning them.  So I knew my progress was still on track.  

In a few weeks, I will have my final 3 month measurements done.  I am truly excited to see how far I have come in a matter of 3 months.  But even before I see the numbers, I am so proud of where I am today.  I have a new life, a new love of life, more energy and finally a desire to workout.  I completed 4 WODs this week so far, and even after getting 2 stitches in my head today, I totally pitched a fit thinking I might not be able to do my workout tomorrow. Yup, full on flaring my arms, whining "whyyyyyy?", then pouting.  Sometimes the inner child just breaks out without warning.  

Days I am proudest are those where I can do prescribed weights, even if I finish last.  When I get home and prepare for my shower, sometimes I hold up my shirt and think "awwww ya, look at that sweat!"  I am not much of a sweater, so when my shirt is soaked I get all happy because I feel like I really busted it out.  Sometimes even during my workout, I catch my reflection and admire my glistening arms and the muscles I can finally see at work as I lift, pull, press, etc.  It has been a long time since I have seen any type of toning in my body, so I can't help but admire the progress. Haha!

I continue to love my workouts.  Anytime anyone asks me about crossfit, I get super excited to tell them how much I love it and why.  It just means so much to me.  For the next two weeks, I have coworkers flying in for work.  They have expressed their interest in working out with me so I will be sure to share their stories with you all!  

Hitting the 20 lb bench mark and going strong,  
Anna Dubya

PS. I am still planning on working out tomorrow. Mwahahaha!

http://knockout-crossfit.com/