Monday's Motivation

As the month rounds third and heads for home, I'm struggling.  I've not done anything remotely close to exercising since last Sunday.  At the ripe age of 38, I joined an indoor soccer team made up of members from Crossfit Carmel.  We have not been too successful in the win category, however we all enjoy playing and competing.  When I was a teenager, I ate, drank, and slept soccer.  So......down by several goals, last Sunday I decided to drill a shot from 30 plus yards out.  

It was in this position....

As I felt my groin tear like a head of lettuce on both sides, I spent some time like this....

It's a week and a day later, and there is no way I'm able to exercise how I would like.  So I figure I have choices: 

1.  Fall of the wagon and continue creeping things into my diet that don't belong.

2.  Focus more on my diet than ever before.

3.  Start stretching every day.

4.  Get going with some Yoga b/c I've been saying I want to do that for awhile now.

The correct answers....

2, 3, and 4.

Number 2

I'm not GOING on a diet, rather I'm going BACK to my strict dietary lifestyle for the structure I need.    I've let some foods creep back in very small moderation.  i.e. a couple of Girl Scout Cookies (by the way...the Samoa should be THE ONLY Girl Scout Cookie), bread and cheese on a sandwich, beer, and oatmeal.  The oatmeal does not sit very well in me in the morning.  It never has.  Perhaps it's also the almond butter I put in it.  I like dark, heavy beer, and I have had a couple the past two weekends, and both times, I was full quickly.  Not a bad thing at all, but I had a distended, bloating feeling like I've never had before with beer.  Strict Paleo for me for the next week.  100%.

Number 3

I must stretch!!!  MUST, MUST, MUST!!! I'm not sure I'll end up like this guy, but ya' gotta start somewhere.  Stretching is very difficult for me.  It's boring.  It hurts, and I'm less than a beginner.  However, I know if I want to keep working out at the level I've been, this is non-negotiable, and I am the only one standing in my way.  Stay tune for more on this including resources, I hope.

Number 4

I'm going to start yoga.  It's better on the body.  It helps with multiple issues:  flexibility, stress, mobility, endurance, and strength.  My wife has taken to hot yoga, but I sweat so much they may not let me back in the place.  I think I'm going to save a buck and start here.  Stay tuned as I will report back. 

So.....several months back I told myself I wanted to train for a half marathon and get below 2 hours.  I hope this injury has come along as a wake up call, as I'm going to let it heal while still finding ways to keep fit and maintain the path that I've been on.  I'm doing all I can do look at things this way.......

Stay tuned........

Quick Reactions....Just the Beginning

I'm back from Chicago where I attending The Whole 9 Foundations of Nutrition Workshop at Crossfit Tri Cities.  Damn, Chicago is colder than cold!  Stay tuned for posts this week, but I wanted to share the quick and dirty of it all.  Again, I'll elaborate much more this week.

1.  I need to eat more.  Pre workout and post workout snacks are bonus meals and a must for nutrition.  Sound good to you?  Sounds like more planning to me.

2.  I eat too much meat.  Not a fault of the Paleo philosophy, rather I think I graze too much thinking, "Well....I'm doing what they say."  Bottom line is personally I need to cut back.  MUCH MUCH more on this later.

3.  Time to RAMP UP the veggies.  This is an absolute must!

4.  Almonds:  Not the best choice.  Macadamia Nuts:  BEST.  

$ Cha Ching! $ :(

5.  I finally understand the Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio. 

6.  You are what your food eats.

7.  Boy, is alcohol bad!

8.  Food should not come in nice, geometric shapes!

9.  Scientifically, I now get why a lack of grains and legumes can lead to healthier living.  

10.  An alkaline diet is the place to be.

These are MY reactions to their message.  I have my own fitness and health goals, and I'll share that.  Having said that, I'll take the next several posts to elaborate on my list.  Above it all, yesterday was enlightening, energizing, and eye opening.  What I appreciated the most was their underlying message of, "We are not saying this is the only way to go.  We just thing you can do it better."  I'm looking forward to doing it better.

Sometimes Ya Gotta Say..........

........what the F*&K!

Remember this scene from Risky Business?!?!

This came to mind today after my workout.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've had a setback with a knee injury and stayed away from any exercise aside from some sit ups and pushups for about 10 days.  I returned to Crossfit this past Monday and went last night as well.  Today, squatting was part of the Workout of the Day.  So I decided to do my own workout at home.  I chose a Hero WOD, Annie, which I've posted about before.  Annie is

50-40-30-20-10 reps of double unders and sit ups.  

My previous times have been.....

My time today:  12:41

My time back in July:  12: 51

My time from back in November:  11:25

My first reaction was disappointment.  However, I struggled to think if I should take a day off and workout tomorrow given the fact that I was just feeling sluggish today and a bit sore from two straight heavy workouts after almost 10 days away from working out.  My thought to myself was......

What the F_ _ K!

For some reason, this great 80's classic movie came to mind.  But the clip says it all for me today.....who cares.  I got a workout in.  I burned some calories, and I'm done for the day.  It's not always about the time.  It's not always about the speed.  It can just be about getting a good workout....often a misconception about Crossfit.  Naysayer's scoff it for it being too many reps, too consumed with time, etc.  I'm proud to say that is just not true at Crossfit Carmel.  In fact, just Monday, our coach Scott stated specifically, "This is a workout you want to consider scrapping time and focusing on form and being safe."  


"What the F_ _ K brings freedom!"

By the way, here's my Day 5 Paleo Food Journal for the day. 

Day 3.....Back to Life. Back to Reality

Click Here to See My Day 3 Paleo Challenge Journal

I will sometimes update a partial day just because it's easier for me to journal that way.  So keep checking back for a complete day's worth.  I'll also post recipes as I can or at least link you to them.  After all, most of my best recipes are other peoples' recipes!

So it's back to work today after a two week winter break.  I work in a school bound by bells, structure, and time.  However, I work in the office, home to sweets and carbs lurking just down the hall.  Luckily, my colleagues understand not even to ask when they are going out to eat because I always decline.  


Also, going back to Crossfit tonight after a 9 day layoff due to a knee injury.  We'll see how that goes.  You can view the WOD (workout of the day) here.  

Either way, it's back to life, back to reality...

(Did you think you'd hear Soul II Soul today??!!?!!)