The Power is Definitely On!

It's been a long time since I got a massage.  After seven months of Crossfit, a lower back strain that put me out for a week, a chronic knee problem, and now a wrist/hand issue that flares up at night (long story), I decided it was time.  Gotta love Groupon!  $40 dollar one hour massage at a wonderful spot in Noblesville, Indiana called Pathways to Wellness.  I've also added them to the Health Resources page.

I have never met nicer people.  I walked in and have rarely been greeted so genuinely.  The karma in that place is palpable.  While a yoga class was going on, I filled out the obligatory paperwork and was promptly on my way.

A counselor by trade, I'm somewhat sensitive to others' social graces.  Beth exceeded any expectations I may have had.  (I really had none).  She listen to me describe my aches and pains, and before I knew it, I was "in the zone" on the table, and she tended to them all.

I used to think of massages as that "treat yourself and feel good all over pampering" kind of thing.  I used to give anything for a deep tissue massage and gave not thought except to feeling relaxed.  Given my new "pathway" to fitness, I now see massage as beneficial to my fitness.  It helps flexibility, recovery, and performance.  While pricey in many places (sans Groupon of course), my knee, shoulders, and hands feel great.  I'm anxious to see how I feel come my next WOD.  My buddy and chiropractor Mike always says, "The power is on." after an adjustment.  While I tease him about that sometimes, he's right.  Man, do I feel like the power is on after that massage.  After Fight Gone Bad yesterday (posted a 292 for the first time), I'm amazed I had any power left.

Thanks Beth and Pathways to Wellness!  I will be back with a new outlook on massage and hope to take up a few yoga and flexibility classes as well.

The power is on!!

CSpin Thankful

It's been a bit since I have posted regularly.  Things have been going about the same for me.  Still Crossfitting.  Still eating well for the most part.  After my 30 day Paleo challenge, I find myself living 90 Paleo and 10 percent with things that I missed (beer, some grains, some bread, a bit of cheese here and there, and pizza once or twice).  However, I usually keep to one cheat meal or night per week and then it's back on the train.  Nonetheless, I've been thinking about what I am thankful for on this holiday week and after my family and friends, I've come up with the following:

1.  CrossfitCarmel:  Without a doubt in my mind, Crossfit has changed my life.  If you look at the My Progress tab, you can see what I mean.  Physically, I am a completely different person than I have ever been.  I am stronger than I've ever been, and I'm more confident about my endurance and abilities to work out than ever before.  The first day I went to Crossfit, as out of shape, soft, and lethargic as I was, I doubted if it was for me.  I had never been so sore in my life.  It was indeed, the hardest physical experience I had ever done.  Five months later, I say the same thing each time I come home.  Crossfit pushes my body and mind to the limit and beyond each night and instills a sense of accomplishment like none other.  What is equally as valuable is the network of friendships that have developed there.  The spirit of Crossfit is like none other.  Kudos to the coaches at CrossfitCarmel for have a great thing going.  I'm thankful for you bigtime!

2.  My Chiropractor:  I have been getting adjusted for several years now at Premier Sports Chiropractic.  Ok.....so Dr. Mike is one of my best friends, but besides that chiropractic care has made a huge difference in my life.  I rarely get sick.  I have more energy, and I do the things necessary between adjustments.  Some folks only get adjusted when they are in pain, but where I get adjusted it's more of a lifestyle approach.  So when I told Mike that I was bored of running, personal training, globo-gyms, etc, he was the one that said, "Dude....you need to try Crossfit."  My reply was, "What exactly is that?"  And the rest is history.  I'm thankful for our friendship Mike.

3.  My wife:  Ok....won't be sappy here, but I've made a huge discovery about getting healthy that has nothing to do with what you eat, how long your run or work out, or what supplement or vitamin you are taking.  It has to do with sacrifice and support and my dear wife Heather is the epitome of that.  She has never complained, commented, or vented about how much I attend Crossfit.  I drop my kids off to her at the end of her working evening every Monday night so I can attend the 7:30 p.m. WOD (Workout of the Day).  I sometimes stay on Saturday morning for two WOD (or two hours).  She never bats and eye and is a champ.  She's supportive, encouraging, and an amazing woman.  I could not be doing what I'm doing without her and I am more than thankful for her.  By the way, she has a cool blog called All Kinds of Goodies.  It's really good.

Being healthy is important to me and there is no one way that works for everyone.  However, I think I've found what works for me.  I hope you can find what works for you because I must say that after 38 years, it's finally fun.  Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm struggling today to accept that I need to take a week off from Crossfit.  I don't say this to prove how much I exercise or gloat.  Rather, I say this because I have never been that excited to work out day in and day out before I met Crossfit.  It's what I look forward to (albeit some days with anxiety depending on the WOD of course).  


After throwing my lower back out and seeing my chiropractor who just happens to be a personal friend and after listening to my coach at Crossfit Carmel, I am accepting that I need to take at least a week off.  


One of the best resources I've come across is from Robb Wolf, who wrote the book The Paleo Solution.  He talks about recovery being mandatory and how diet is a necessary part of recovery.  As I read articles in The Crossfit Journal, I like when he says, "recovery comes down to: Eat a Zone favorable or other hormonally intelligent diet with predominantly antioxidant rich "Paleo" foods. Sleep 8–10 hrs per day in a completely dark room. Go to bed as early as possible. Laugh. Avoid excessive stress." All great things to focus on in a time of letting my body heal.  


As I struggle to accept that I can not work out in a way that I FINALLY love doing, I look to credible folks like Robb Wolf, my chiropractor, and my certified Crossfit coaches, who know what they are talking about.