Diagnosis

After quite a long time of suffering and not really knowing, waiting on referrals and just plain old waiting, period, I finally have a diagnosis for all the ails me.  Well, not "all"...didn't want to peek under every cover, now did we?!

After a very, very long time waiting (and I am a patient person), I phoned my GP to find out what the hold up was.  After all, I'm well aware of wait times, but at least should get a phone call with the appointment booked 6 months out.  Turns out that the clinic "occidentally" cancelled my request, rather than booking it.  So I became priority #1 when they found their error.  I was to go at the end of August, but they phone last week with a cancellation for yesterday.  SOLD!  It was a rather long appointment, but can't complain as they do warn you in the reams of paperwork you must complete.  And as always, despite completing everything online, and telling reception that I had trouble with the consent form and that I needed to sign one, she had no idea what I was talking about and then had me fill out all the forms...again.  Why waste my time with the online stuff?  Really?!  Anyway, finally made it to a room and met with the resident, Steve.  Went through my history, felt joints, discussed lifestyle (I was impressed that he didn't slam Crossfit, although he admitted he was not a fan of box jumps for anyone, ever) and built my case.  He initially decided that while yes, I had inflammation, it didn't present as anything more than regular arthritis, that is till he opened my blood work...told him I like to be unique and not do things the way everyone else does.  Much discussion with Dr. Martin (the Rheumatologist) and then he poked, prodded and pulled on my joints, sending me through to the ceiling when he played with my wrist, and again with my ankle.  Long and short...I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I got a shot in the butt last night (can't remember the name, but it's to help my body combat the inflammation) and I start Plaquinel today, to keep it from getting worse.  Can't cure it, but if we can keep it at bay, then all is good.

It's nice to have a name...something I can focus all my anger and frustration at.  Something that I can yell at when I'm feeling like I can't do what I love to any more.  What I also liked about both doctors is neither said "stop"...I can run if it feels okay to do so, and crossfit is fine, again, as long as I listen to my body and stick to my limits.  Moving is a good thing, as is building the muscles around the joints.  Although I am skipping tonight...it's currently +800,587,993 degrees Celsius right now, and I don't look forward to the 200m sprints or the over the bar burpees in that kind of heat.  I will cut some grass and pull some weeds, so will move somehow.

Spent the weekend screaming at my laptop, as I anxiously cheered for Coach Emily at the Games.  She did really well, even winning one heat (sled push).  I loved listening to the announcers, as they seemed surprised by her suddenly surging ahead, and said "here's Emily Abbott, the surprise winner of Canada West in the lead"...remember the name people, as she'll be back!  Finished 34th overall, I believe, just missing the final cut, but that's okay.  Now she knows what to expect and will be that much stronger next year.  Was extremely proud of fellow Canadian Camille Leblanc-Bazinet, as she won for the women.  At 5'2", she is a BEAST and cute as a button at that.  Awesome article in the National Post, which is outstanding...word is getting out about our little cult!  If you want to get inspired and be in awe, go to the Crossfit Games site and watch the archived footage.  Rich Froning is also my new hero...and he's not too hard on the eyes!

Friday nights WOD was part Hatch (back and front squat work) which I enjoyed.  Managed to get up to 80# of the back squat and 70# on the front.  Form is feeling better, but I could not do the front bar lunges in the second part.  Ended up doing goblet squats with an 18# kettlebell.  Hoping once the meds kick in, that I'll get some more flexibility in the joints and I can do silly things like a lunge. I mean really...how hard can they be??

I forgot a picture of Saturday's board, but it was a team event, a chipper of sorts.  We had 20 minutes, to complete as teams of two, 50 back squats, 40 pull ups, 50 front squats, 30 shoulder to overhead, 50 overhead squats (my nemesis), 20 pull ups and 20 STOH.  When you finished that before the 20 minutes were up, you ran a 200m sprint as a relay...SF and I managed to get through everything in just over 16 minutes, and then ran 3 sets of the 200m.  Not a bad way to start a Saturday.  Rest of the weekend was pretty quiet, except for my great nephew's 3rd birthday.  Such a cutie-patootie!

Now go lift something heavy!

{source}

Jealousy

Yes it's gloomy and spitting rain outside, but that's really not the reason I'd rather be in California right now.  It's the Crossfit Games for 2014 have started, and our very own Coach Emily is down there competing along with 40 of the world's fittest women.  She's currently in 28th place after 3 events.  But if anything thinks that not a good placing, let me first tell you what the events were.  After I throw up a bit in my mouth!
1) The Beach:  swim (in open ocean) 250m, 50 24# kettlebell thrusters (so that would be 48#, as they had one in each hand) and 30 burpees in the sand, return to said ocean and swim 500m, return to said sand and do 30 burpees, followed by 50 thrusters, and return to the ocean for yet another 250m swim.  Time cap of 45 minutes...she did really well here, finishing 21st.
2) Maximum effort overhead squat: as I type this I am in awe, since I can't seem to get this move down with weights higher than 15#.  I have my work cut out for me, as Coach Em managed 210#, for a 28th place finish.  The winner for the women...250#.  She does not weigh 250 lbs!
3) The Triple: row 3000 m, jump off the rower and grab your rope and do 300 double-unders (the rope passes under your feet twice, each jump - I can do singles till the cows come home, cannot double to save my life!), followed by a nice 3 mile run.  Yes, row 3k, jump for what seems to be forever and then run 5k...in the California heat!!!  Em managed to finish this in 19th, with a time of just over 40 minutes.

This is only the 3rd event (#4 goes this afternoon - sled sprint), and there's still two days left of competition.  Once again, about 30 from our Box family went to cheer Emily on, and I just know they're having fun without me!!  Oh well...someone has to stick around here and do the workouts, right?

Last Friday's WOD was reminiscent of the Crossfit Open, as coach decided we should all try 14.4.  It was definitely more fun judging than doing, as I barely made it into the wallballs before the 14 minutes were up.  And my snatches need work.  You can tell a Crossfitter, by the way, when they can say or type something that sounds dirty without giggling.  

Ran 7.2km on Saturday for the 3rd of the 5Peaks series.  This one went much better than Canmore, as I managed to finish in just under 90 minutes.  Still hard, and I still haven't found my running mojo, but I'll push on.

Spent all day Sunday helping out with the Affiliate's championship, judging and whatever, and am proud to say Crossfit Currie Barracks represented, coming in first for the teams, and Top 2 for the men, and a strong showing for the women.

Monday's workout saw improvement on my clean & jerks, but also had two of my nemesis...running and burpees.  But I showed up and put up.  Managed 2 rounds, but I was shy 2 burpees.

Wednesday was more C&J work, which I do enjoy...managed 70# which is just shy of my PR, which I hope to hit tonight.  Working my way back.  But then I came crashing back to earth with the DUs and lunges.   Stupid skipping.  And again, because I do singles, it means 160 skips per round, so barely got through 2 in the 20 minutes.  My ankles throbbed all day yesterday.   Good news is thanks to a cancellation, I will see an arthritis specialist on Monday...hoping for some solid answers and plans of attack.  And hoping the Dr likes patients that refuse to quit moving!

I leave you with this, for your Friday giggles.  Maggie May and the Laser pointer.  

Now go lift something heavy!!!

Circle of life and the DTs

Not sure how many more times I can get kicked down this year, before I just decide to stay on the ground, but for now...I pick myself up, I dust myself off and I step forward.

Because I like to start things happy, may I introduce the latest member to join my crazy little family, Maggie May.  She's a poly, like her Uncle George (but on her front feet only), a tortoiseshell and a Manx - no tail.  She is also a Ninja!!  She loves nothing more than to leap out of a hiding spot and "hi-ya!" on one of the unsuspecting boys!!  She loves Myle's tail (envious, perhaps?) and is getting into the usual kitten trouble.  I forgot how small they start out as, especially since it's been 18 years since I last had a kitten in my house.  And with the mooses I have now, it's also hard to believe they were ever this tiny!!

But as life is a circle, an 2014 continues to suck a$$, I came home from work on Monday to find my beloved George in medical distress.  He was unable to stand, or even move and lay on the bed wailing.  No, this is not a picture from Monday!  Anyway, I gathered him up and rushed to the 24-hr emergency vet clinic, where we came to the conclusion that he either had a stroke or some sort of seizure.  He did come around and was up walking, but it just wasn't with the same life as before.  I always vowed that I would never put any of them through anything, just so I could have them in my life a little longer, so after much tears (many, many, many tears) and hugs, we said goodbye.  He slipped away quietly in my arms.  Needless to say, I am devastated.   But since then both Simon and Myles have been extra cuddly, and Maggie does her best to make me smile.  They know.

Spent Sunday down at the Grounds, since it was the last day of Stampede 2014.  Went down early, thinking to beat the heat and the crowds, but forgot (and I'm a 3rd generation Calgarian...I should know this) that the gates don't even open till 11am.  Boo-urns.  Found a Starbucks, had a coffee and then wandered back...between walking to the train from my house (3.2km), Starbucks, the grounds searching for crocodile sliders (couldn't find them, settled for a bbq pork burger), mini donuts (my fave!), red velvet mini donuts (m-eh) and deep-fried cookie dough (m-eh, until I had a piece straight out of the freezer last night - got 3 in a serving, so threw two in the freezer when I got home - and O.M.G!!!), viewing the latest and greatest in the Round-up Centre, and the train home, I walked over 16k and felt every step Sunday and Monday night! I did make a purchase that paid for itself instantly though.  Personal massager that you can move around, so my feet, calves, hamstrings, butt, lower back and shoulders have all been very happy since Sunday!  Best $200 I ever spent...next to Maggie, that is.

 Didn't make it back to Crossfit till Wednesday, but it was a really good one, so I actually enjoyed it.  Well, after the first 15 minutes of overhead squat hell.  I can rack the weight, I can back squat and front squat the weight, but lift that bar overhead and try to squat and my entire body collapses in on itself.  My max weight for this is 15#.  I will add it to my long list of crossfit moves to conquer.  I can only go up from here.  The rest of the class was a hero WOD, DT.  

I stayed with a 55# bar, because the real test is what you could lift from the shoulders to overhead portion.  You could choose to jerk, press or push-press, as long as it got over your head.  I went with push-press, as it's a move I can actually do and comes smoothly for me.  The deadlifts at 55# were fast and easy, but I noticed the weight cleaning it from the knees to the shoulders.  Oddly enough, the push press felt the best.  I managed to finish in 13:29, well before the 15 minute cut-off.  That felt best of all!  First time I finished a WOD before the time cap!

Still feeling DT today, especially in the shoulders, but I'll head over for another sweat-fest after work.  At least it's not as hot today (hit 35C on Wednesday, but felt 10 degrees warmer in our little old Box) and even the smoke from the area forest fires seems to be lifting.  The rain last night seems to have helped with both.  Tonight's workout is the 14.4 WOD from the Open earlier this year, which I didn't do, but judged.  This time the time-cap will win, as it's many moves I have not mastered yet.  But I'll go do my modified best!  And tomorrow morning is race #3 of the 5Peaks series.  I missed #1 due to a cold, and came in last at #2, so we'll see if there's any improvement this go round.  It's just outside Calgary, and I've run there before, so it will be challenging but "only" 7.2km.  Pfft, I can run 7.2km.

Now go lift something heavy!

Oh Babs...

Barbara...how could a WOD named after my lovely mother be so unkind to me??  Did this killer on Wednesday, when it was about +867,254 degrees Celsius inside the Box.  The massive industrial fans did not help...not one little bit.

But back to Barbara:

5 rounds, for time, with a 40 minute time-cap, forced 3 minute rest in between each round, so, really, you now have 28 minutes to complete the WOD.  I am still in modification mode, so my pull-ups became ring-rows.  I was actually surprised by how many others at that class were rowing, and not pulling.  Normally I'm the only odd person out, but I to fight for rings!  While I've been doing push-ups from the knees, Coach B showed another alternative that I thought might be easier on the wrist, doing the push-ups off a box.  Elevates your upper body, taking some of the weight/pressure off the arms, so you can work on both strength and form, before moving back to the knees, and then ultimately toes.  I had to flip mine to the 30" side, to ensure my body was touching the box - chest to the deck, no cheaters here - but found that the wrist held out well.  Sit-ups are no problem for me, although the larger belly does get in the way these days.  And I really concentrated on breaking plane with my squats, ensuring my hip crease went below my knees.  They felt good, and Coach B didn't correct me, so they must have been right.  Despite...or should that be "in spite" of all that, I managed 3 full rounds in the 40 minutes.  Gasping for air at the end, it was all I could do to hold the camera above my face and not drop it!  Yes, I am laying down for this shot.

Cleaned up as best I could, as it was the usual Wednesday run club (aka beer night)...this is "cleaned" up.

CAN'T.STOP.SWEATING!!!

The +35C temps were not helping at all.  I honestly admitted that I prefer that temp with the little minus sign in front.  I can always bundle up...I would get arrested if I stripped down!!!

It is Stampede week, and I have to say the move out of the downtown core has been HEAVEN.  Yes, it's for my own home, which is awesome in it's own right, but this is the first time in 18 years that I can sleep with a window open (too close to many bars/pubs where I used to live), that I haven't set my timer to the bang/kabang of fireworks (although I did faintly hear them on Tuesday - wind must have been blowing the right direction) and don't have to worry about cleaning up clothes and trash and unmentionable stuff left all around my building.  I know it's a 10-day party...I am a 3rd generation born and bred Calgarian, but come on people...we were all raised better than that.  Not even sure if I'll make it down to the grounds this year, but am debating Sunday morning.  I like to wander around, but I don't do the rides.  And I want to try some of the newest eats...the deep-fried cookie dough is getting rave reviews, as are the deep-fried pop-tarts.  I thought there was deep-fried (sensing a theme here...) PB cups, but it's actually the sticks.  Not nearly as good.  And there's red velvet mini donuts.  So many temptations, so a good day of walking will be in order either way.  

We had a Stampede breakfast here at work, with the VPs cooking up a storm for us...bacon, turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes and hash-browns.  Live country band, and much visiting among the staff.  It was fun.  But I just don't do the whole dress-up thing any more.

I didn't even bother trying on my blue jeans, despite finding them in among my piles of stuff left to unpack (finally put the dresser together, so I really should sort and unpack) as I have managed to find an extra 30 pounds this July over last.  THIRTY!!  WTF?!?!  Even my boots didn't fit, as I couldn't get my freaking foot in them.  Gah.

I took a selfie, and almost deleted it, but here it is, in all my glory.  

It makes me sad.  And extremely disappointed in myself.  I know a lot has to do with the butt-kicking 2014 has handed me this year, and dealing with the injury/arthritis/whatever the heck it is, but still.  THIRTY!!!  And it all appears to be hanging off my face.  Can't go to the boobs...nooooo...

I'd like to say the buck stops here, and the silliness is over.  I'd like to say that, but I am also a realist.  So, my goal is one day.  I just have to get through today without crashing and burning and that's it.  No plans for tomorrow, no lofty goals for hundreds of pounds gone.  Just today.  Survive today without inhaling a fridge, and getting off my butt for a good sweatfest, and I will be happy.  Write down what I ate, how I felt and what I did TODAY and that is all.  I will get back to you on the progress.

Now on to happier things!

Squeeeee!!!

Now go lift something heavy.

So very sleepy

Yes, it was a two-fister kind of morning...

6 shots followed by a Pike.  And yes, I drank both.  And no, my heart is not racing out of my chest, but at least I don't feel quite as draggy as first thing this morning.  Honestly, I felt drunk, that's how tired I am.  Deets to follow.

First...the Queen/Adam Lambert concert was PHENOMENAL!!!!

If you have the opportunity to go, do it.  Adam didn't spend the 2+ hours impersonating Freddie Mercury, but was true to his own self and talent.  Maybe couldn't hit a couple of Freddie's notes, but all in all was a great showman and looked to be having a blast.  And the "old guys", Roger Taylor and Brian May proved that they still had it.  Brian's 20 minute guitar solo was mind-blowing, and I'm certain there are some 20-year-olds out there trying to figure out how he did that!

Friday's WOD was one I actually looked forward to, and for the most part, did just fine.  Granted, I'm not a fan of snatches, so kept the weight low so I could concentrate on form (40#) but I did manage a 90# deadlift...45 times, as a matter of fact!  Even my "from the knees" push-ups are feeling stronger, day by day.  Baby steps.

Saturday morning was a fun class too, although in place of running the mile, I rowed 2k.  Again, save for the double-unders, which are my nemesis, I could do the kettlebells (18#) and wallballs (8#) with ease.  Okay, maybe not "ease" but I didn't hurt myself, and managed to get through one full round, and back to the wallballs before the 20 minutes was up.  Went to donate blood looking like the above.  Hehehehe

 Spent the weekend trying to tackle the jungle that is my yard - oy - still have so much to pull and go through.  I am beginning to feel that the previous owners were not garden people.  I'll get it cleaned up this year, and focus on an actual garden plan for next year.  Want to put in tiered boxes and plant vegetables and some raspberry bushes, etc, to make this MY yard.  Just not sure which corner to even start in!

Also spent all of holiday Tuesday putting my bed together.  See the boxes in the above photo...that's the bed before.  Over 3 hours and many, many f-bombs later, I finally had a bed.  The bed people need to warn you though that with the box spring, you'll have something that you need to vault into each night.  I'm tall, and I am debating getting myself a step stool for it.  And my poor old kitty, George.  He's just baffled by how tall this thing is.  Off looking for those pet steps, even as I type.

I decided to try the 21-day Beachbody plan, as a friend is a coach and others seem to have found success with it.  Granted, I haven't really dived in full force, but the before pictures should be enough to scare the living bejesus out of me!!!  I do not like what I see, but I am the only one who can do anything about it.  I was on a panel at Weight Watchers this week, discussing how and why I've fallen off the plan, why I've stuck with it and how I plan on getting back on track.  It was a great discussion, and I really like the input and feedback from the whole group.  Like everyone else, it just seems to be a switch that we somehow shut off, and now need to turn back on.  All I know is that I am challenging myself to journal every day.  That's it...no other lofty goals this week.  Just finish each day with a completed journal and then look to the next day.  Once a week I'll add another goal, such as water or exercise, but nothing to out of reach.  Tired of setting myself up for failure.

That's the week in a nutshell.  I am so tired from achy bones putting the bed together (dragging a queen sized box spring and mattress out of a dining room and into a bedroom takes a lot out a gal - thank goodness for crossfit!) combined with a new room and the recent heat spell Calgary is experiencing.  I feel like I've had 6 hours sleep over the last three nights.  No crossfit for me tonight, as I'm more likely to drop something on my head, but I plan on preparing my room, mind and body for a good nights sleep.

Now go lift something heavy!