New Year, New Beginnings

Before I start in on training reflections for 2104, I think it's important to mention personal reflections. This past year was perhaps one of the hardest of my life that culminated into one of the best. Funny how life throws that at you, even if you are kicking and screaming. This is especially true for me, the women who has it all under control. Or so I thought. 

At the very beginning of 2014 my partner of 10 years left our marriage suddenly and my world was instantly turned upside down. This quickly threw me into survival mode and my first and main concern was the welfare of my precious daughter, Stele, and the destruction of the family I had so perfectly created in my mind. I was convinced I had it all figured out, and despite our flawed relationship, I was intent on not becoming a statistic. The universe, it turns out, had other plans. 

Several months later, kicking and screaming still, I met someone very special who has since shown me how to truly nurture another human. 

Through this time I discovered many things about myself, some of which I knew and some that honestly surprised me. 

• I can survive anything and being a single mom is not the worst fate a child can face. A dear friend made me keenly aware of this by sharing the wisdom that it is better to come from a broken home than to live in a broken home. Truth.
• Moderation, moderation, moderation. I had spent so much time trying to be perfect that I had forgotten to live a little. Eat some chocolate now and then. Have a drink. Enough said.
• Centering your life on your children is the best way to conceal a broken relationship. Duh.
• Centering your life on your children is the best way to neglect yourself. Damn, there is a lot of pressure to LOVE being with your kids all the time. Well guess what- I need time away from mine. It helps me appreciate our time together. Don't make excuses for this. There is nothing wrong with taking care of you. This leads me into number 5...
• Nurture your relationship with your significant other. Always.
• Have lots and lots and lots of sex with someone you love (that can be you, you know). This is a game changer.
• Prioritize eating well and training hard. Guess what people, ten years will pass regardless of if you have done anything, so put in the work now and you will reap the benefits. 

Start today. Right now. Get up and go for a walk, do some air squats in your living room, park far away from the grocery store entrance. Everyone starts somewhere- everyone. Consistency is the key. Do something everyday. We all work, we all have children, we are all busy. Your health depends on your priorities. Find one hour everyday to train. 

• Eat real food- almost all of the time. When you do this, the chocolate you had suddenly isn't a big deal.  Eat real food prepared simply. That is my number one piece of diet advice. If it has an ingredient list you didn't create in y our kitchen, don't eat it. I am going to quote the Whole 30 on this one:

It is not hard. Don't you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking yoru coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You've done harder things than this, and you have no excuses.

• Smile. Have fun and enjoy life. Happiness is a choice. Period.

Now, for my training from the past year. I began with a focus on increasing my overall strength and working on correcting some structural imbalances.  I was making great progress, but realized during this time that increasing my overall strength wasn't necessarily making me better at CrossFit, the sport that I love. So, approaching masters age (40 is around the corner) I decided to hop back on OPEX Being but quickly noticed a large priority on upper body pushing (of which I am really strong). This irritated my right arm and I began to notice night tingling that was becoming increasing painful. I then switched to Competitors Training and focused on prioritizing my weaknesses while still maintaining volume. So far this has worked well and my arm is doing fine. 

Over the course of this year I have realized the following with my training:

• Getting faster and stronger is great- but don't loose sight of what you love. This is vital for long term consistency and success.
• Listen to your body. It really does know best. 
• Don't go 100% all the time.
• Don't go 80% al the time. 
• Fuel to perform. Carbs are not the devil. I swear sweet potatoes are a miracle food.
• Train with someone better, faster, stronger, etc. than you. 
• Squat more. It gives you a nice ass. 
• Heavy weight= more muscle= look good naked- yes, even for girls.

Now for the good stuff- some training from this week. 

Thursday January 1, 2015

• Clean Jerk Technique- EMOMx9: 2 Squat Clean and Jerk at 85%

Couldn't maintain 2 reps every minute, so did 1 at 130#

• Squat 3×3 Front Squat, across

Used 135#

• Conditioning

“CFC II "

In the order of your choice complete max reps in two minutes of:

Double unders

Deadlifts (Use approximately 60% of a multi-rep max not to exceed 225/155lbs)

Kettlebell swings (24/16 kgs)

Box jumps (24/20)

One minute rest between each two minute period.

349 reps

Friday January 2, 2015

1. Jerk

work up to a heavy single- 135#

2. “Luke”

400m Run

15 CJ, 155/105

400m Run

30 TTB

400m Run

45 Wall Balls, 20/14

400m Run

45 KBS, 1.5-pood/1-pood

400m Run

30 Ring Dips

400m Run

15 Lunges, 155/105

400m Run

30:00- did with Mark and about 85%

Saturday January 3, 2015

For time:

21 power snatches 95/65

21 burpees

21 pullups

15 OHS 95/65

15 burpees

15 pull ups

9 squat snatch 95/65

9 burpees

9 pullups

8:53

+ 

Tabata mash up

V holds

Supermans