PRs, RX, meal prep and time travel

Where on earth did the past 3 weeks go? So much for being more consistent with blogging, right? I was also posting a gratitude daily on Facebook, but that has also fallen to the side.  So just what have I been doing with my days?

I started a journal, but not one in the traditional sense. Every time I've tried in the past, I write a few pages and then nothing. My OCD tendencies demand a new book every time I try, so there's always a pile of partially completed journals lying around, and no real thoughts written down. So I was intrigued when I found this one.

The Five-Minute journal - write down 3 things you are grateful for first thing in the day, 3 things that will make the day great and a daily affirmation.  Then, before you go to bed, you jot down 3 amazing things that happened during the day, and one thing that maybe you would have liked to have gone better.  Grand total = 5 minutes.  So far, I've completed it every day...starting a good habit.

I've also been pretty consistent with the walking to/from work, only jumping in a car2go a couple of times. And same with crossfit. I've managing about 5 times a week right now, and even though I look at some of the workouts with dread, I go anyway. Well, unless it involves skipping...then I tend to be a bit more choosy.  My ankle hates me after all that jumping around, and I still can't do a double-under to save my life! I suppose if I practiced more...sigh...guess no more cherry-picking over those days, huh?

This was a great week, as I PRd twice (personal record), and RXd (completed as prescribed) another. The first PR was the snatch, a move I struggle with, so I was doubly proud of the 57.5#. Especially since I almost didn't go, as I really don't like this move. I pull too much and bend my arms too soon, but practice makes perfect, right? The other was a dead-lift, which is a move I actually enjoy. My ultimate goal is body weight, so the goal is to drop that, while raising the weights lifting and meet in the middle. In the meantime, I'll take the 165# - there was jumping around and ringing of PR bells! Lots of sweating as well, as the metcon (cardio) portions of the WODs have been killer.

After crossfit yesterday morning, I went to the grocery store and stocked up for my week. I may need to sell a kidney if I insist on eating cauliflower! But today has been spent prepping meals, and planning, laundry, washing dishes and getting ready for the week ahead. After a full day, I have salmon, chicken, roasted butternut squash, cauliflower rice, Asian chicken and beef "chili" and home-made almond butter. There are now 4 lunches, 6 evening meals, snacks and fruit ready for my week. My fridge looks very stocked and ready to roll.

Time to empty the dryer and clean up the dishes remaining in the sink. I'm going into this next week with clean sinks, counter-tops and clothes. That should leave the evenings for crossfit, catching up on some reading and early to bed. No muss, no fuss!

There isn't anything more to say...

With gratitude,
Carol

The first Monday of the new year, EVER

It's always interesting how busy everything gets, that first Monday of the new year. The office was crowded and loud, after a week of skeleton staff. The cafeteria line up was longer at the microwaves than it was at the grills and I even had company on my walk in at 6:30 this morning. The kicker was crossfit - it was PACKED. I had decided earlier today to commit myself to the full week, so I reserved my space at 5 pm every night. I'm guessing it'll be like this for the next few weeks.

I started this week ready to roll. Yesterday was spent in the kitchen, roasting a half a salmon, mixed vegetables (cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, zucchini and carrots) as well as making a pork stew in the slow cooker.  I have 4 containers ready, as well as two portions of the pork.  Tonight, the chicken I bought went in the oven, and is also ready for a quick grab and go meal.  I think that is the key...when I get home from working out, all hangry, the last thing I want to do is start cooking supper. Two minutes to heat up and I'm eating. That makes for a happy Carol.

Crossfit was fun, given my leg was still crabby from the New Years shenanigans. Didn't help that I have a blister from my walk to work this morning, so that was changing my gait and causing more aches and pain. But crossfit beckoned, so off I went. Power cleans - I am getting better at those, but I still pull too much with my arms and don't trust my hips enough. I did manage to lift 90#, but failed on the 92.5#. Next time!  The metcon (cardio) portion was fast and furious. In 8 minutes do as many rounds as possible, with each round consisting of 6 clean & jerks (weight from the floor to your shoulders, and then jerk it over head), 9 chest to bar pull-ups (yup, exactly as it sounds) and 12 box jumps. The prescribed weight was 95# for women, but since I just failed at less than that, it was time to modify. I tried 65# but decided to work on form, so dropped to 55#.  Ring rows replaced the C2B that I can't do (yet) and my "box" was 10" of stacked weight plates.  Managed 2 full rounds, and almost completed round 3...damn, 8 minutes is FAST.

Home, ate, cooked the chicken, did my plank challenge and attempted some pull-ups. Time to update here, and then wash my face, floss and to bed nice and early. Mr. Fitbit likes to remind me that I average 4.5 hours a night, so something else I need to work on. Trying to set some good habits, so the next 21 days are key.

Happy Monday, everyone.

With gratitude,
Carol

Hello Blog? It's me...Carol...long time, no type.

Where have I been for the past 17 months...SEVENTEEN MONTHS!!  I could say I was on an island counting endangered fish, or off in the far north living with wolves, but it would all be lies. Truth is I got in trouble for blogging at lunch (pushed the envelope a bit there, I suppose) and as a result, I reacted as I usually do, blow it completely out of proportion and ran away. Far away. Technically, I didn't actually leave, but I did drop a lot of my routine. Last year was the year of the struggle: I struggled with the fallout of Mom passing, the resulting family strife, settling into being a home-owner, usual weight BS and work that wasn't as easy as it used to be. It was not a good place to be and I needed to work my way out of it, on my own.

Fast forward a few months and suddenly I'm starting to feel like myself again. Work seems to be clicking again, home life is the usual but I like that. Sadly I lost one of my fur-babies over the summer, so it's just me, Maggie May and Simon.  Although I do keep looking at kijiji at cute little kittens...I want one of every colour and shape, which is dangerous.  Three is the Crazy Lady starter kit...more than that? Well, you know how that goes.

I still love Crossfit, although a bout of shingles in the spring (OMG, the commercials are right!  Get the shot!!!) and my other leg acting very arthritic for awhile has me kind of back at the beginning. Still can't do a lot of the moves, but I am determined to succeed. I have an amazing set of coaches, including Miss Emily Abbott (8th at the Games, on Team Canada at the Invitational), so I know one day I'll figure this all out. The weight loss journey has also been a little bumpy, but I am committed to that as well. I know that as long as I heft around the extra 60 pounds, the harder it will be for me to conquer a pull-up or handstand.

So, I thought it would be timely to revisit the blog. Get reacquainted with the blogs I followed before, and maybe find some ones to inspire me to continue to the light.  Post about my goats (crossfit goals), food and life again.  Get the jumble of words out of my brain and onto the page. "Better out than in, I always say" to quote Shrek!

It is the 3rd day of 2016, and to date I have committed to Whole30 for the month, posting a daily happening that I am grateful for, meditating and fitness. I've also started a 30 day squat, push-up, plank and pull-up challenge. Since the 1st, I've done 165 squats, 70 seconds of plank, 15 push-ups from the knees (goal is toes by the end of the month) and 5 jumping pull-ups with my freshly installed pull-up bar. I'm still a WW member, but I do need to sit down and really look at the new program and commit. I will say, I do like the Oprah ad, and feel quite inspired by her. This could will be my year.

Off to the kitchen to prep for the week...salmon in the oven, pork and sweet potato/butternut squash in the slow cooker, and a variety of vegetables chopped up and ready to roast. I purchased containers from Amazon, and find as long as I have dinner ready to grab and go (and that goes for breakfast and lunch), I make much better choices. And I throw out less, meaning less wasted food and money. This is also the year I get control of my finances.

My vision board:

So, hello to anyone reading. I hope we can reconnect and take this journey together.

With gratitude,
Carol