GOAL CRUSHER!!!

After an e-mail from the gym went out about only being allowed to attend one Strength and Conditioning class per day, I inquired with our Endurance coach as to why.  The take away from the discussion in my own words was this: "If you feel like you need another workout, you're doing it wrong.  Your body needs the rest, especially if you're keeping with the mentality and following through with the work load of go big or go home."

That really lit the fire under my ass.  I didn't realize I was basically sabotaging my success.  Not this week.

Thursday's WOD consisted of 3 rounds of 20 (10 each arm) single arm kettlebell swings (KBS), 20 (10 each arm) shoulder to over head (STOH) KBS, and then 20 goblet squats.  Instead of taking the easy road and using a 20# kettlebell, I decided to grab the 25 and go with it.  There were some STOHs that I thought, "there's no way this is getting above your ear".  But I pushed through and even though I was the last one done, I still finished the WOD strong and tired.

Friday turned a new page in the workout log.  We worked on 3x6 Romanian deadlifts (RDL), and 3x4 deadlifts (DLs).  My RDL ended with 123#s and my DLs ended with 143#!  That was 16lbs over my body weight...FOUR TIMES!  And then we had death by 10Ms.  The last time I did DB10Ms I only made it to 12 before getting caught by the clock back on 9.6.2012.  Friday I made it to 13 and got caught right at the end.

As if Friday and Thursday weren't enough, Saturday just put the ghee on my sweet potato!  Jan 1, 2013 I decided to embark on the Whole30 challenge.  Stricter than Paleo for 30 days.  Granted I made it to Thursday 1.31.2013 and had Yo My Goodness (ick) and then again until Saturday 2.9.2013 where I had Orange Leaf (much better!) and trashed Sunday's diet (41 days) had cake batter, vanilla wafers and peanut butter, and then the following day a piece of cake and my No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter bars.  BUT 2.16 became the game changer, weigh in and retest.

Here are the before and after measurements from the very organized Stephanie Teague, CrossFit Endurance extraordinaire who encouraged me and others to join her in this journey.

73# push press just wasn't happening, so I stripped the 10s and added the 5s and knocked it out with some encouragement from my Whole30 buddy Laura.  I initially tried 143# on the back squat but had to dump it for the first time ever.  That was a fun experience.  Then I tried 133# and almost stopped.

"You wanna add the 2.5s?" - Laura
"You're not done till you dump it?" - Me.

So we threw on the 2.5s and knocked out the 138.  Body weight + 13. Goal.Crushed.

And the Fight Gone Bad test and retest results:


I went big and then home today!  I did it right, left everything on the gym floor. A huge thank you to CrossFit Valley Park for providing an awesome facility with a positive and encouraging atmosphere! I owe a lot of my success to all the coaches who have pushed me to be my best.

To my Whole30 buddy Laura who was just so demanding throughout the FBG workout, pushing me to increase my FBG Score by 66 points (do one more..just one more!).  She was incredible throughout this entire journey!  I am so proud of her and thankful for her encouragement this year!  Everyone needs a Laura in their life.

It's amazing what one month, goals and a lot of encouragement will get you.  As for Whole30, I found it wasn't that horrible to follow; however, I will become a human experiment over the next few weeks as I try to add back protein powder, honey and the occasional Paleo desert.  I will definitely stick with Paleo though, it's not nearly as challenging as I initially thought it would be.

 Make a goal and go for it. Today!