Serious Business

Saturday Team Workouts is my absolute FAVOURITE way to start the weekend - always a fun learning curve, always some new moves thrown in but most of all it's just a privilege to hang out with such an incredible (albeit slightly crazy ;-)) bunch of fitness fanatics:

Post Saturday workout recovery 'chats' and assessment of hand rippage

This is my Hermione 'so THAT's what my hair looks like from the back' moment

Typically I walk in a little late on Saturday (Saturday = extra 5 minutes in bed. It's the weekend afterall) but I'm excited to see everyone raring to go. Then the team workout goes up and my heart sinks a little, ok a lot. Saturday workouts are always a 'surprise' i.e. made up on the spot ;-) so there's no time to mentally prepare like I can Monday-Friday when the WOD is posted the night before. Today's workout reveal was typically heart sinking as we were asked to walk up walls 40 times and run 800m carrying a medicine ball, amongst other things.

If you're keen to find out what a wall climb is - check out this video
I can't watch the toes to bar demo - my pecs are still hurting from doing 20 of these on Thursday.

The girl dies at 2.40 - I know THAT feeling ;-))

But my partner and I were smoking hot today and despite neither of us ever doing wall climbs before we came in 2nd!! at c.26mins 35secs from memory.

But the most important thing you need to know is that WE BEAT THE CROSSFIT SEVEN GYM CHAMPION CURTIS - who is basically an ALLLLL muscle, fitter, stronger speed machine!! Just saying. **Happy happy dance** Of course I was totally cool AND modest and I didn't take mucho, MUCHO delight in pointing this out to him afterwards from halfway across the gym, high five everyone and then laugh a lot?!

This is what victory feels like ;-)) - such a nice change from last Saturday when I was joint last by eons. Just saying.

Crossfit is serious business! xx

Age is Immaterial

The last time I got mon Papa on the bike - took him days to recover xx

I am always bugging my Dad telling him that now's the time to get fit - it's never too late and there's no such thing as too old. My Dad on the other hand is in a permanent 'about to get fitter' holding pattern mainly in an attempt to fob me off. He is a classic sports voyeur preferring to observe the rugby, golf or motor racing from the comfort of his leather chair, preferably with a drink in hand and his Daisy-dog asleep at his feet, in his lap or snoozing near his shoulder. The act of buying a pair of trainers would probably be sufficient to give my Dad a heart attack.  I always find this so odd as he used to always get the bikes out, took us swimming most weekends, he could lift the heaviest things and he could walk forever especially if there was a beach, loch or mountain on the horizon. Indeed most of our holidays when I was a kid were spent traisping along the beach or the loch ALWAYS in the rain - but that's another story. But at some point, when I wasn't looking, something changed and my Dad's decided he's too just too old now to bother. I disagree. Heartily. He on the other hand is having the summer of his life without his PT (that's what he calls me!) around to bug him CONSTANTLY and force him to go on bike rides and walks etc!  

But I really wish my Dad had been at training this morning. A man of my Dad's age and build schooled me and moreover completely lapped me on this morning's Leanfit circuit. His time was around the 17 minute mark, my time was 26.15 mins.

I want to know his secret. My Dad on the other hand would be smiling away to himself and buying him a double malt finest.

Today's 3 rounds for time of:
20 Back extensions
35 Sit-ups
500m Row
400m Run

xx

Some Blog Housekeeping

I've been doing some housekeeping of my little blog today - something I've been meaning to do for the last nine months! What can I say, I need deadlines to get my butt into gear! Something exciting is happening to my blog very, very soon and so I wanted to get my act together and get my out of control label categories down to a slightly more manageable and hopefully coherent cluster. I can tell you're excited by this news but wait, it gets slightly more interesting: It's weird to admit this but I love reading my blog posts the day I write them and maybe read them four or five times (mostly to attempt to correct my grammar and appalling spelling) but once I've posted the next entry, I never go back and review what I wrote days, weeks or months later - that was, until today. I can't say I read them all today - but I read snippets of most of them and a couple things struck me.

Boy do I never manage to have any control over my eating habits!

I seem to be forever saying I'm getting my chocolate and sugar consumption under control and never do. But I never fail to bring up the exact same point days, weeks or months later as if the thought just occurred to me. A severe case of dieters amnesia if ever there was one!

Also I seem to be perpetually tired and knackered in every post - today unfortunately is no exception. I feel like I've been hit by the Sandman's truck head on. Part of the reason I took four months off work was to give myself a rest and try to find a way to be and feel less tired before getting on with the next 40 plus years of work and life. That's another thing I've haven't cracked yet. Oops.

Plus how moany am I?! Well except for all the times that I AM CRAZY HYPER EXCITED!!!!! Good Lord. I thought I was quite well balanced mentally - honestly I really did and I also genuinely thought that over the last 18 months I'd got much more optimistic in my outlook - that was until I had to categorise most of my posts under the headers 'Crazy Ramblings' and 'Random Craziness'! This is probably another such one to add to that pile! Have to laugh - it recently struck me that I treat my blog like a virtual boyfriend - a space to recount my day and tell my story. Looking back at these posts made it a bit too obvious why I am 100% boyfriend repellent - this girl is just too too crazy up and down all the time!! Whoops a daisy. Something else to work on!

But the one thing that struck me the most was just how fortunate that I am - to have a great group of supportive and generous people around me and people who truly inspire my heart, not to mention so many nice things happening to me out of the blue - even despite moaning like crazy most of the time. While my memory of these generosities fades criminally quickly, my accounts of these treasures - however ineloquently recounted - remain to remind me of all the incredible gestures of friendship and support and inspiration that have come my way.

That's a really nice feeling especially in comparison to near vomiting this morning after today's crossfit workout session (haha lowered the tone - told you I'm ineloquent):

Lindsay from Seattle and I paired up today to do battle and 45 minutes later we were finally done. By the end I was completely convinced I had heat stroke as I can't recall feeling so sick. Fortunately 8 hours later the nausea has faded. But the one thing that will remain with me a while yet is cranking out 30 burpees around the 40 minute mark of being on the go in 100 degree heat - with everyone around me long since finished their own workouts - but having three ladies come and cheer me on. One particular lady sat down on the mat next to me as I was still cranking out burpees and said in a low voice - just loud enough for me to hear - 'honestly, you're a burpee goddess'

Not sure I've even been called a goddess before. Thank you so much from the bottom of my crazy and all-too-occasionally psychotic heart! xx

p.s. Han if you're reading this - Monday the exciting news will be revealed (to hopefully co-inside with other exciting developments). Swear on my life. So check back then xx

The day I got conned into 100 burpees

First I should admit that I'm usually not that easy to con especially where heinous burpees are involved but since I'd been awake since 4am this morning (my normal trick of youtubing a song three or four times to lullaby me back to sleep had to be abandoned when at 4.30am the song still hadn't loaded - my internet doesn't like to be disturbed that early!!) so anyway I am a bit slow mentally today. Well slower than my normal slow!

Fortunately or not, before I knew it, it was 6am and I was undertaking 5 squats, 5 burpees and 1 flying walenda every minute for 20 minutes. It sounded deceptively easy (walenda aside) and I was feeling tres smugaroo. Leanfit was going to be a walk down easy street compared to the alternative crossfit workout today WITHOUT A DOUBT - those poor crossfitters with their billion reps of everything under the sun!

For anyone who wasn't there this morning when Ryan kindly demonstrated what I'm calling a flying walenda and instantly rolled their eyes with sincere appreciation and understanding that this epic gymnastic feat was clearly going to be a breeze - it looks something like this:

Darn it, I was this close to putting on my lycra onesie today!!

Don't worry the triple flip out of the walenda was optional!

I forgot to tell you all that I am secretly an Olympic Gymnast right?!

Well so the concept of twenty flying walendas distracted me so much that I was seven minutes in before I realised I'd just undergone a gym mugging - and that I signed up to undertake 100 burpees. All I could think was 'just wait til I catch my breath cos I'm going to pummel someone'. i.e. NOT HAPPY!! 

N.B. For anyone who isn't an Olympic Gymnast who specialises on the rings and wishes to attempt a flying walenda you basically have to jump up and aim to go arse over tit (I tried to find a nicer way to say this - I really did but there isn't one - so sorry), hang onto the rings for dear life unless your goal is a head injury and then just embrace the fact that you are going to look ridunkulous flailing around in the air for a couple of milliseconds looking as far removed from an Olympic Gymnast as is humanly possible. Simple. The hard part is committing to the jump.

Fortunately at the 13 minute mark, just as Randy and I were just about to die (yes today I meet a real life Randy AND I kept a straight face - yay!) - Bon Jovi came and kicked our butts - whoooooooooaaaaaa, ooooooooooooo, your half way thereeeeeeeeeeee, whooooooaaaaa, ooooooooooooooo living on a prayer. EPIC power song - even made getting mugged at 6am almost worth it. Then Lady Gaga Bad Romanced us home to the finale. 

So Randy and I both got full marks. 20/20 and that's how I was conned into executing 100 burpees. Something I would never attempt normally. In hindsight, I'm now sure the alternate crossfit workout would have been wayyyyyyy easier! xx

Tyre Tipping

Since my strength is coming on in leaps and bounds now - I thought I'd best check my current upper strength's awesomeness - so VOILA:

Next it's Cow Tipping then pulling trucks down the street!

Second week in a row and 6 Crossfit sessions completed - did someone say bikini season?! ;-))

Wednesday's FUN!!

270 reps total!!! 

(48: 64: 88: 72)

THURSDAY'S JOY!!

Rowing Annie a wayyyyyy better option that 50 burpee pullups

Note to self: DO. NOT. EVEN. GO. THERE!! EVER

FRIDAY's FAVOURITE MADNESS!!

15 mins 39, everything shaking and dripping sweat

Actually managed ALL the box jumps for once!!

SATURDAY's INSANITY:

Fortunately my partner today was a SUPERstrong PULL UP SUPERstar

Otherwise I'd still be hanging there NOW!!

Together 100 thrusters, 20 tyre flips, 100 kettle bell swings, 50 pull ups and a 1000 m row took us 

26 mins 13 secs

Here's a taster of what's responsible for my current DOMSville:

• my abs - attempting to L-sit for 3 minutes and 150 sit ups and double jumping on the rope.


• my butt AND legs (80 walking lunges and 40 box jumps yesterday - I JUMPED every one - SOOO PROUD!!) 


• my arms - all manner of pull ups, push ups, L-sits, ring work, basically anything - Crossfit is very arm dependent.

Unfortunately as a result of all my recent dedication my hands are WRECKED and REALLY SORE. Apparently I need to shave the callouses off stat before they rip and mess up my hands totally - ummm I may passout/ gag. Help!!

You can still look bikini fit even despite construction hands?!

Anyway remedying my hands with the mother of all deluxe pedicures is a task for tomorrow. Today it's all about getting Wet and Wild and Kissing Brad Paisley - again ;-)) xx

The Rings :: My 1st official Crossfit Challenge

There are so many things I still have to fully master in Crossfit - more than 7-10 double unders on the rope, more than 5 pull ups in a row, basically anything with a bar, not drowning in sweat and whatever is listed as tomorrow's workout. {I cannot even fathom what any of the exercises are. Never a good sign. ;-)) }

Today however I was introduced to the rings. I recently saw the above image of Australian Pro Surfer Laura Enever and it's been loitering on my desktop - haunting/ inspiring me ever since. How amazing is she? Frankly could she be any cooler/hotter simultaneously?

Anywho, when Ryan (Crossfit 7 gym owner) realised I was prepared to attempt the rings today (i.e. secretly channel my inner Ms Enever) rather than scurry off to prep for the leanfit circuit and avoid anything that looks like a really heavy weight - he looked a little too happy for my liking. He definitely thinks he's nearly converted me. Hmmmm.

His enthusiasm was pretty short lived however ;-)) when he realised it wasn't just kipping on the rings that I had to master but just holding my body weight up, without doing arm splits on the rings in anything under a millisecond, was a BIG ask. It was not pretty. I basically need someone to hold the rings and someone else to hold me up and I'm sorted ;-))

Ms Enever makes it appear deceptively easy. AND graceful.

So well being the rational sane person I am, the only possible way to proceed was to coerce Ryan into agreeing the following challenge with me: In six weeks I will hold myself up on the rings for 60 seconds no less. Ryan was weighing himself down with a really heavy sandbag doing something, a stretch I think - I find it best not to ask too much - so I will post a photo tomorrow of someone who doesn't currently have the upper body strength of a gnat illustrating what I am required to do.

Then you can join in too! Yay!!!

Plus I'm determined to find some equally sane recruits here to join me in this ring challenge - there must be another crossfitter newbie who is almost as weak as I, so the hunt is on. Plus who can possibly resist when clearly in six weeks OF COURSE we will look like Ms Enever!

Roll on 31st August baby! xx

p.s. The week after the ring challenge concludes my Crossfit challenge will be to look like so - hair whip and everything!

Ms Allyson Felix, Ladies and Gentlemen

Motivation Monday

For all the things I still don't get about Crossfit, one of the things I have quickly come to love is the 'let's talk about x' moment pre-session. It feels so old school; as adults we never huddle around another adult to get our instructions or to receive learning. We sit in meetings around a table or in chairs to converse as adults do. Large groups of adults just never huddle together, unless you play professional ball that is.

This morning we gathered to discuss and share what motivates us to workout. To be reminded why we are here. We heard some inspiring stories; we were reminded not to give up EVER - slow down if you have to but NEVER give up ;-)); we were reminded that we are capable of great things and that above all we should channel our inner competitive spirit. Admittedly it came out more like 'don't just beat the competition, CRUSSSSSSSSH the competition'. Testosterone = Powerful stuff. ;-))

Honestly what motivates me is the community feeling of everyone working their a$$es off to better themselves, the endorphin high I get from a workout and the fact that post-workout I'm a much nicer, calmer person and the world suddenly seems a whole lot less irritating. However hard the workout is, it's my favourite moment of the day. Guaranteed.

For the record I did 900 jumps with the rope this morning and attempted a lot of double unders as part of that. A LOT: I have the whip marks to prove it. I even got up to 10 double unders in a row. I am now officially a big deal!! Ideally I need to get to 100 in a row. INSANE. I'm currently battling my tendency to jump too early. The trick apparently is to jump at a slow, relaxed rhythm although your wrists are going double time. Unfortunately when my wrists speed up so do my legs ergo the arm whipping. This morning I worked hard for a motivating smile!

I also learnt to thrust this morning - not John Travolta style but weightlifting styleee.  I was all for using the plastic bar (weightless) but that was quickly replaced with a metal bar (weighed a tonne!) and a whole lot of complicated instructions. Thrusting is another art form to master. But today I was happy just to control the leg spasms after all that skipping and to not accidentally drop the bar! 

Onwards and upwards - now THAT'S MOTIVATION xx

Have to laugh

An hour ago I looked at my watch. Time was 1.30 and my stomach growled appreciatively. Lunch Time it is.

Yum Yum. Yummmmmmm.

Twenty minutes ago I checked my phone and the time said 11.57am - CONFUZZLED.

I checked my watch again, which was now saying 2.35

Hmmmm.

I then realised that my stopwatch was still running from this morning's Crossfit session and that I'd eaten lunch at the time I normally eat breakfast.

%*$*

So only 7 hours until I can legitimately think about Dinner.  It's going to be a looooong afternoon.

BUT

The mailman has just delivered me a coffee mug telling me 'I'm Rich, Happy and Hot'. OK. Slightly random and totally unexpected but hopefully it's a prophetic coffee mug so, I ACCEPT.

Coffee mug now has pride of place on my desk. And on that note I've decided to extend my tough love principles to my work/play life as well as my eating sooooo I somewhat rashly decided that I don't get to go see Harry Potter UNTIL I complete seven dastardly to dos that have been hanging half completed on my action list for an unacceptable amount of time.

So far I'm on number 2 (posting on my blog doesn't count ;-(( unfortunately) but I have an unexpected long afternoon stretching ahead of me and I am apparently Rich, Happy and Hot!! xx

p.s. The reason I was so ravernous at 10am is clearly due to all the energy I'm burning ;-)) This morning was another 'how many circuits can you complete in a set time' type of session. This time though we had partners with whom to alternate circuits with - hallelulia rest and recovery circuits.

Nancy - My partner-in-calorie-burning-muscle-pumping-crime this morning who incidentally was asking whether I blogged - mwahahahah xx

Guessing 'AMRAP' means something like 'as many repeats as possible'?? 

'Run' meant run to the sewer located behind SuperTarget and back - SEXY!!

Well Nancy and I rocked this morning. The boy duos completed in the region of 9 circuits total. We did just over 7 circuits. Not too shabby!!

Not a burpee in sight

Praying that Crossfit will never involve a flying burpee!

So excited at the prospect of tomorrow's Leanfit workout - it sounds FUN, crucially different and most of all it doesn't involve multiple repetitions of heinous burpees. OR any burpees at all.  *Happy, happy dance*

I did 75 burpees today. Seventy Five. That's probably a first. Plus it's a definite improvement from the 8 I managed on Saturday! I have never sweated so much in my life. I know I keep saying this but I'm convinced I reached a squelchier level of sweat today: Sweat was actually running off my face onto the mat creating a pool. That's definitely a first. I am now a yucky sweaty gym bunny but ironically I kinda like it.  (I appreciate more fully why people like Bikram Yoga so much). Sweating that much may not win me any friends but I feel like I'm working really hard ;-)) Plus the sweating didn't go unnoticed, it was impossibe not too, I looked a wreck and I departed the gym to cries of 'drink lots of water ALL DAY'.

So rehydrated, it's off to bed I go, UBER eager for tomorrow's sweat session:

Aim: Complete as many rounds of the following in 15 mins:

10 Kettlebell deadlifts
10 Kettlebell swings
10 Box jumps
10 Pull-ups
20 Sit-ups
200m Run

No idea yet what a 'kettlebell deadlift' is but I aiming for 2.5, ideally 3 rounds of the above circuit in 15 mins.

Any bets on what I'll actually manage? xx

Wayward Annie

This morning's workout was 'Annie' - I'm so intrigued as to the stories behind all the workouts but unfortunately my wiser and fitter Crossfit buddy/ chauffeur is practising her modelling walk and poses for her photo shoot next week. That is, in between painting every piece of furniture she owns multiple colours and feeding and convincing babies to sleep/ keep their nappies on yadda, yadda, yadda ;-)) Basically she is a busy busssssssssssssssyyyyy bee so anyways I am going crossfit solo this week.

I am a big girl. I am not that scared!

Well this morning I discovered that Annie was 50-40-30-20-10 reps of double unders and sit ups. 'Double unders' is how Americans refer to double jumps on a skipping rope. Now you know. If you can't do these to perfection or can't do more than two at a time -  MOI!! - you factor by 4 to get the number of single jumps you need to do as a replacement.  Plus as I was doing the Leanfit version of this workout I did 750m rows as book ends to this Annie workout.

Comprende? Not really. Well let me detail the exact Leanfit Annie workout I did this morning:

750m row, 200 jumps on the rope, 50 sit ups, 160 jumps on the rope, 40 sit ups, 120 jumps on the rope, 30 sit ups, 80 jumps on the rope, 20 sit ups, 40 jumps on the rope, 10 sit ups, 750m row.
*Reminder I don't count great when I am in the various states of oxygen deprivation so it probably wasn't completely perfect but I think I was close.

Anyway 25 mins and 7 seconds BABY!!! This is probably not all that great but it's still a PB for me!! Haha!! On the final row all I kept thinking was buff arms - think bikini - buff arms - think bikini and it worked. I didn't fall off the rower.

Plus like little orphan Annie, I proved that I am also a little wayward today: My model crossfitter friend decided that pizza as a final blowout meal before we both go strict Paleo was a must.  Since she said the magic word 'Pizza' - I haven't had PIZZA since I've been in the US - crazy and so wrong - well I was soooooo in and that wrong was righted tonight. Yummilicious. Shhh don't tell anyone.

Post dinner I made Z.E.R.O. trips to the fridge - SCORE. I just had a glass of juice and then water. I am a reformed character. Weelllllllll I was actually pinned to the sofa by the MOST DEMANDING cat in the entire United States. No lie:

This is the feline equivalent of little orphan Annie

 You'd think this baby was actually an orphan from the amount of noise this fluffball makes.

 - DON'T GET SUCKED IN - IT'S A TRICK TO PIN YOU DOWN AND WHACK YOU WITH IT'S TAIL NON-STOP. 

I know feline Annie is reading this right now. This cat is one smarty pants ;-)) xx

p.s. FYI: Models paint their furniture in their bikinis!! I know she will kill me/ deport me for posting this but I couldn't resist ;-)) This lady is completely unique in everything she does.  Who else do you know paints furniture in their bikini? If only I could get away with this........ well stay tuned. In six weeks that could well be me...FOR REAL!!

Saturday Workout :: Harder than the Army!!

It's been a long time since I did a Saturday training session but as I actually had to go buy a calendar yesterday as I am losing track of the days (sad but true), I think it's way overdue for me to instil a little bit of discipline into US life. Actually I can't think of a better way of starting off the weekend than this: ;-))

That says 150 wall balls, push ups, burpees, lunges (with the ball); no-stopping allowed

That is......unless you want a 5 burpee penalty added to your total

Errrr....no thanks

Plus for 40 meters of each of the 400m runs we had to carry a person

OMG!!

Talking to the girls at the end - we were in complete agreement that the threat of someone having to lift and carry you is the BEST weight loss incentive on the PLANET. Now you know!!

Fortunately we got to team up for this workout and share the load - so Crossfit newbies Shelly, Monica and I teamed up and ROCKED this workout. As hard as it was, working as a team and cheering each other on made it 1000% more bearable and dare I say it enjoyable. Plus we had a drill captain on our team so keeping count was NOT an issue for once ;-))

Personally my hardest exercise was the press ups - I just do not have any upper body strength. YET!! Plus I'm convinced that we did 30 more burpees than we needed - they lasted FOREVER. But the bit that surprised me most were that the runs were OK, even in my monkey shoes and YES even in the heat. I managed to keep cheering the girls on throughout our runs and normally running and talking is a big NO NO. On our last run, I had to ask our Drill Captain if army life was easier than this.  The reply, a resounding YES!!

Newbie Crossfit 7 Survivors!!

36 minutes and 17 seconds later (we weren't quite last to finish!!) - we were all done, more than a little sweaty and SOOOOO high on endorphins!! Although we substituted the rope climbs for 30 killer pull ups at the end I am PSYCHED for more team CF workouts! 

Happy Saturday!! xx

A sweaty compliment

Today's Crossfit workout was as follows:

• 10 x burpees


• 10 x box jumps (onto a tyre - it was lower than the meter high box and guaranteed a softer landing ;-)))


• 100 skipping jumps or 25 double unders


• 200m run

Repeat 5 times in 100 degree heat to ensure you feel like you've been properly spanked.

I have to confess that I don't think I will ever be a perfect Crossfitter for one simple reason: Crossfitters need to be focused and methodical BUT I have the mind of a goldfish. Once I've counted past number five, at some unspecified moment I am guaranteed to forget what number I'm at, and so I feel obliged to factor where I think I might be at by 10. It certainly helps the time go faster ;-)) Sometimes doing an exercise for a minute in more traditional circuits feels less complicated. Plus since I do about 4 burpees/minute that would be a way easier workout for me!!

The memory of today's workout faded almost immediately when Ryan, the Crossfit 7 Gym owner, came over post workout to ensure I was JUST imitating a corpse and kindly commented that I reminded him of that actress, whom he couldn't remember the name of, in that film, he couldn't recall the name of, opposite Cameron Diaz. My dear friend Sheridan suggested he might mean 'Predator' - haha thanks.  But we eventually settled on Kate Winslet in The Holiday.

Being told I remind someone of this:

Gotta LOVE a lady who stands up against AirBrushing!!!

Even despite feeling and looking like so:

Is guaranteed to have this effect on me:

Not a bad day's work!! xx

Footnote: My vanity is pretending any likeness between myself and a certain A-list Starlet is not just limited to the accent!

Crossfit: The gift that keeps on giving

Well it's two days since I did my first Crossfit session and I'm still really feeling it. After my first attempt with the kettle bell and 5 whole pull ups ;-)) my arms are finally on the road to recovery thank goodness.

Proof: I managed to hold the phone for a whole Happy Father's Day Call to mon papa. I am a genius!

Plus great news from home: I have a new adopted sister -  Joly (a Father's Day pressie from my younger sis to my Dad). Slightly worryingly my father is convinced that Joly and I are long lost identical twins.

On the basis of full disclosure here's a pic of my new adopted sister Joly and me:

Hmmm ;-)) It's true we are both just too adorable and we clearly frequent the same hairdresser ;-)

Thanks Dad. I still love you. Just.

Whilst my arms are recovering my legs however are another matter entirely. After just 80 air squats on Friday my legs are still completely dead; in fact they've taken on a life of their own. I am used to DOMS and having trouble sitting down or crossing my legs after a really full on leg workout, but last night whilst sleeping I was just stretching out my legs and my left leg went into full on crazy spasm. The only thing I can relate it to is REALLY painful cramp - and I thankfully never get cramp - thanks pistachio nuts. As painful as it was, I was determined to stay asleep while convulsing. Yes I am a genius. Today not walking bow legged is an issue which has slightly hindered my plans to go for a jog today. My steps per day have dropped to about 2,000-7,000 compared to 22,000-27,000 plus in just a fortnight so things are getting critical (along with my complete inability to do anything half decent with my hair)

Maybe I will just attempt a very gentle stroll or a crawl if it comes to that. It all counts right?! xx

Crossfit 101

Crossfitters don't mess around.

They certainly don't do gossip!! ;-((

Well this crazy girl was given a gruelling workout courtesy of Crossfit and the 101 degree Texan heat but as a result I am feeling much more chilled.  Que Sera Sera. Panic over - that and my dear friend reassured me the panic button I found isn't remotely linked to the SWAT team and they won't come bursting in in the early hours when I am just trying to ascertain what time it is and whether it is worth going back to sleep - PHEW.

My first experience of Crossfit had me a little nervous as literally everything sports related does. Especially anything sports related where people don't actually appreciate yet just how lame I am at physical exertion. Everyone present bar one person and moi was tres toned, taut and resembling extras from a modelling shoot i.e only hotties need apply. Plus this might be the only gym in the planet that doesn't do air con and yet is probably one of the ones that would really benefit from a little chillage. Did I mention the temp. You sweat just standing still. This actually works to my advantage as it appears that I am working my a$$ off and sweating buckets when actually I am just crossing the room to get a drink. :-)) Today was an 'easy' workout: 400m sprint (the man in charge and I quickly agreed that 400m sprint outside in 101 degree heat with no shade was not going to happen (thanks British accent) so a just beyond a jog pace compromise was reached). Then each run interval was to be followed by 50 air squats and the run squat combo repeated four times total. Doesn't sound too bad. But wait got to do the warm up first including some new moves - kettle belling - eek, pull ups on a bar like 7 feet off the ground - OMG, and some wall thingamagigs (official name)

Some essential crossfit terminology explained for crossfit newbies - i.e. Meeeeeeee!!

1. An 'air squat' is not letting one rip as you are squatting - now, now ;-)) and it's not a jump squat - hallelulia instead you squat literally to ankle height so inches off the ground before standing. Ouchy. Fortunately we agreed 20 air squats ie 80 total might be a good place for me to start rather than 200 if I want to walk tomorrow and they even gave me a squishy medicine ball to sit on when I got to the bottom of the squat to ensure I went low enough. So kind.

2. The evil burpee is done differently here too - much like brazilian and hollywood waxes - DON'T ASK! So where as I have always done a burpee by getting down into press up position before jumping up and repeating, these guys go right down to floor level before getting up. Dignified is apparently not the name of the game - thanks SF for that reassurance xx

3. Kettle belling is also not about swinging a weight around as I previously thought. It actually requires moving the kettle bell with your legs and hips NOT your arms. It's probably easier to move the kettle bell with my mind at this stage!! Those babies are heavy and the neurone pathway from hip to brain to arm is currently non-existant. Fortunately practise makes perfect and I have some great teachers.

4. 'Argh - my feet are on fire'. This is what happens when you are a Crossfit newbie so still weak willed and still acclimatising to running in insane Texan heat along a non shady route in your monkey shoes.  My feet were literally steaming. That's never happened before. I am a little scared to take my shoes off and check out the burn. I am sticking to running in trainers in future. Regardless running slowly here is clearly not an option (SF calls it multitasking: tanning whilst jogging. LOVE it) Plus as an extra incentive the first two people back get to workout in front of the two GIANT fans before setting off for the next run - I WILL be hog-the-fan-lady one day.

5. Pull ups and learning to kip. My model friend/crossfit master/ all-round SUPERhero SF can do 92 pull-ups using a band but then again she can hold both her 4 month year old and 23 month old in her arms simultaneously - told you SUPERhero. I can hold one or other of her bundle of cuteness - both at the same time is NEVER going to happen ;-)) FYI: The band doesn't make pull ups easier it just makes them possible if you're female and if you are not a professional weight lifter. Kipping is an art form and a way of using the band and keeping great form as you do your pull up. Purely so SF can check I did my homework - my abysmal performance won't be because I don't know what to do just that I haven't yet mastered it ;-)) - check here as to what I need to learn to do:

Except wait I can't resist this gem. This is almost exactly what SF's Crossfit gym, where my Crossfit initiation occurred, looks like. Plus it explains what Crossfit is all about way better than I ever could. Truly the men are this ripped and they want me to focus on swinging a kettle bell! *Distracted* ;-))

Don't worry you will all hear when it's tractor tyre tipping day - just read my obit and weep!!

Here's the pull up with band demo - Mel's DOM band has a new rival ;-)):

This video and the awesome lady featured reassures me that a pull up might be possible

This last vid is totally for fun but evokes the dilemma going on in my head about conventional gym fitness and Crossfit. It kinda crosses the line with some unnecessary naughty/for Adults only lingo but some of the fitness sentiments did make me smile at the same time.

In summary Crossfit is scary, I am wayyyyyyy out of my comfort zone and it is an intense learning curve for my mind, body, my miniscule muscles and below par fitness, but at the same time I really want to climb the gym rope they have hanging from the ceiling like I NEVER did at school and master the pull ups, the kettle bells and running in the heat without burning my feet on the road and so much more all in just under 15 mins a session. It's official - becoming fluent in Crossfit has been added to my summer goal list, along with actually wearing a bikini on the beach (Hannah's fourth challenge to me in the skydiving bet - EVIL but not forgotten Han ;-))), driving a car in the US and not driving on the wrong side of the road - Cali roadtrip!!!, completing a 5km run and a half marathon plus a few other top secret goals.

I like a challenge. I am Girl on a Mission xx

CircuitFit vs SuperChicks

I was really intrigued by Sheridan's post and her testimony of CrossFit is the only cardio necessary. After talking to friends, who like me, were also intrigued but had been put off by hardcore looking workouts and pictures of super heavy weights on the CrossFit websites, I wanted to do a follow up piece.

I'm from the school of thought that any cardio is good cardio, even if its just crossing the room to turn off the television; so I really want to encourage everyone to just do something - you can really start anywhere, anytime, with almost any activity, no matter how small. 

Lots of people are put off by the gym, one of my friends has a very funny blog on the subject - check out: DC Confidential - Zoo Gym.  But there are lots of other options out there too.

Personally I LOVE SUPERCHICKS, and CROSSFIT works for Sheridan - but how do these heart pumping activities really measure up?

Let the battle commence.

In the right corner is CROSSFIT packing lightning speed and an awesome punch. As patiently explained to me by SuperTrainer Cat, CROSSFIT training is essentially weight training but will get the body working its muscles so hard via pushups, pull ups, squats etc that it is the equivalent of pure cardio training. Clearly it is effective as these lustworthy male specimisms on this CrossFit link are anything to go by!  However as a rule I tend to abstain from activities which require bodyarmour (apparently recommended for a more intense workout!) Although I wouldn't mind indulging Mr Titan above!

CrossFit WILL make you buff and weight-training is great for bone density, posture and speeding up your metabolism as muscles use up lots of energy.  However CrossFit won't make you particularly lean as although the muscles will bulk up, the fat will still be there sitting on top of the muscles.  Clearly you will lose some fat tissue as these are strenuous workouts but perhaps not as effectively as you would hope.

I must also add that Sheridan was disappointed that some of the clubs - particularly the London ones I checked out were so offputting as the lack of accessibility and heart-attack inducing nature of the example workouts are not in keeping with true CrossFit. For a more girl-friendly option, there are beginner or women only courses available and the "box" that Sheridan attends, I must admit, looks a delight.

In the left corner is SUPERCHICK, a lean, glam, hair tossing, fighting machine. SuperChick ethos is "cardio and cocktails" i.e. a girl friendly approach to cardio and weights that incorporates the notion that life's for living too. Check out http://www.iamsuperchick.com/ The website itself is a marvel - I defy anyone not to have their interest in exercise piqued.

In some ways, SuperChicks follows the same principles and exercises as CrossFit but also allows you to top up on your Vitamin D as the classes are all outside in leafy parks and so incorporate nearby benches, pillars and posts into your workout. These group workouts are longer but last no more than an hour and comprise of a series of different activities: running, planks, burpees, squats, lunges, crunches etc . If you're not based in London - you can still join in as there is a multitude of training programmes with video demonstrations all on the website that you can access for your own SuperChick home training workout. 

SuperChicks works for me as it is affordable and fun. There are a host of different trainers - all fab - and the workouts vary everyday so I can never lose interest.  That plus the GOSSIP and the uplifting experience of just being outside make this my firm favourite.

Who wins? You decide.  Better still - go try them out for yourself and report back. x

p.s. I should mention that my little sister has even joined in - personally I believe she's scared that I'll beat her and manage to pull off looking bikinilicious by the summer but even so very proud that she's joining in too.  So off she trotted to her first British Militiary Fitness Class in Manchester on Saturday AND by all accounts even made it home again!