Pop and Drop

Strength WOD:

7 minutes to establish: 
2RM Clean (full squat) 

Conditioning WOD:

5 Rounds for time: 

200m Run
12 Med Ball Cleans (20#/14#)
7 Handstand Push-ups 
200m Row

Results

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Clean_Chris H

Run Row

Our next OnRamp begins Tuesday April 9th. We have a few spots open in case you know someone who is interested. Contact us for more details/schedule.

The Significance of the Open” – [video]

Week Four in the Books games.crossfit.com

Events (after the Open concludes):

Maltz Challenge is scheduled for 4/13. We will do this to honor all of our fallen hero service members including USAF and DEA agent Michael Maltz and three recently fallen Naval aviators that flew with our own Eric B. and his unit. Details to come.

If you want to register and see the workout you can do so here.

Memorial Day Murph registration is live. If you register you will get they annual t-shirt with proceeds going to help three charities that benefit our troops/families of fallen vets. We will run this for all classes (along with 1/2 Murph) on Monday 5/27.

James in a good set and finish position of the clean:

Set_James L Clean_James L

CrossFit Games Open 13.4

Complete as many reps as possible in 7 minutes of:

3 Clean and Jerks (135#/95#)
3 Toes-to-bar
6 Clean and Jerks 
6 Toes-to-bar
9 Clean and Jerks
9 Toes-to-bar
12 Clean and Jerks
12 Toes-to-bar
15 Clean and Jerks
15 Toes-to-bar
18 Clean and Jerks
18 Toes-to-bar…
This is a timed workout. If you complete the round of 18, go on to 21. If you complete 21, go on to 24, etc.

Results

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After Effects of CrossFit Games Open 13.4:

Post 13.4

RX Standards:
– C&J: Barbell begins on the ground. Touch and go is permitted. No bouncing.
– Bar must make contact with the shoulders (lift is in two distinct phases), the clean, and then the jerk. Snatching is not permitted.
– You may press, push press, split or push jerk off the shoulders. Elbows, shoulders, hips and knees are fully extended, and the bar finishes directly over the body with the feet in line. 
– If a jerk is missed but brought back to the front rack, you may re-attempt the jerk from there without taking the bar back to the floor.

Deb_13.4 CandJ

– T2B: full hang to having the toes touch the pull-up bar. Both feet must be in contact with the bar at the same time.
– The feet must stay inside the hands. (No T2b with narrow grip and feet outside)
– Arms and hips must be fully extended at the bottom and the feet must be brought back behind the bar and behind the body. 

Deb_13.4 T2B

Fun Open WOD today! Nothing like a ladder to test your endurance and technique. Get your scores in if you completed 13.4 today. Make-ups are 6:30pm Friday or Noon on Saturday. Plan accordingly!

Workout 13.4 Live Announcement at CrossFit TNT.

CrossFit Games Open 13.4 workout instructions – [video]

Sam Briggs Does 13.4 – 116 Reps

Poetry in motion. This slow motion video captures the power of snatching a barbell: “Chad Vaughn, 285 pound Snatch” – video [wmv] [mov] [HD mov]

A very disappointing development: Thorisdottir Sidelined by Back Injurygames.crossfit.com

Zoe leads Don through some mobility:

Zoe-Mobility

"12.4"

or CrossFit Games Open 13.3

Complete As Many Rounds and Reps As Possible in 12 minutes of:
150 Wall balls (20#/14# to 10’/9′)
90 Double-unders
30 Muscle-ups

Results

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 (Open 13.3 Results)

Rings

Lots of PR’s today! A bunch of you have PR’d with more wall balls, DU’s and MU’s than last year. For those who haven’t done 13.3 yet you have tomorrow at 6pm or Saturday at 11am.

In the heated SRCF Open battle between Jeremy and Josh (who were tied at 1 win apiece going into 13.3) it appears that Jeremy is now winning after today’s results. He really wanted to share this with everyone.

Leaderboard

13.3 RX Standards:
– Wall ball: No butt balls, you must squat to depth. You must hit the line clearly (no grey; either green line for women or black for men). Any wall balls that miss touching the wall but go above the line are no reps. 
– Double-unders must be successful, snags and attempts do not count. 
– Muscle-ups must begin with a fully extended arm and finish with a fully extended arm locked out. 

Special tiebreak method:
Attention judges: For Open competitors only, at the end of each set of exercises, time should be marked. Specifically, as soon as the 150th Wall ball is complete, time should be marked. As soon as the 90th Double-under is complete, time should be marked.

For a downloadable PDF of the workout, click here.

Watch the Workout 13.3 Live Announcement on the CrossFit Games site.

CrossFit Games Open 13.3 workout instructions – [video]

Julie Foucher completes 256 reps on Workout 13.3 – [video]

Read and watch: An Inspiration: Cleuton Nunes on 13.2 

Attention: 

We intended to program the Maltz Challenge for tomorrow as the WOD but we will push this out to a sunny day next week due to a) cold, wet snowy conditions and b) destroyed quads from 13.3. Stay tuned! We WILL do this!

Anticipation

3 Rounds For Time:

400m Run
20 Deadlifts (185#/135#)
15 Lateral Over-the-Bar Burpee

Results

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DL_Hailly DL_Michelle Mums

I waited all day for this?! Simple, basic, and lightweight but nonetheless evil. Here is the 411 for tomorrow’s burner of a WOD. Please read and be prepared for Open WOD 13.2.

BTW I programmed moderate load deadlifts today thinking we would either see squatting or a power clean with some sort of overhead work and either box jump or double-unders. Go figure that the one I get wrong happens to be the deadlift.

General Open Guidelines:

  1. Each Thursday we will run the Open WOD for all classes.
  2. All registered and competing Open athletes will go first with a judge. Those not registered will be asked to help judge then after will go in the second wave to complete their WOD (without a judge).
  3. Please be on time to class (no different than usual) and ready to rock! The Open is a logistical challenge. The more people are prepared, helpful and attentive the smoother it will all go.
  4. Every Wednesday night I will post standards, rules and tips for the Thursday WOD.
  5. Friday make-up at 6pm and Saturday make-up at 11am for those who registered to compete in the Open but could not do it on Thursday. Please let us know in advance. If you have a special circumstance for a different day you must ask. We will do our best. No make-ups for non-competing people.
  6. Coaches will complete the Open at times where we can arrange judges. Please respect space and equipment if you come in and a coach is completing their Open WOD.

Open WOD 13.2 Guidelines:

  1. One bar and box per athlete. Judge required for competitors only. Two waves will be run per class.
  2. Scaling:  
    • STO: Start in front rack, clean from ground. A press, push press, push jerk or split jerk may be used, as long as the elbow, shoulder, hips and knees are fully extended, and the bar finishes directly over the body with the feet in line. No rack.
    • DL: Starting at the floor, the barbell is lifted until hips and knees reach full extension with the shoulders behind the bar. The arms must be straight throughout. No sumo DL.
    • BJ: The rep finishes with the hips and knees fully open while in control on top of the box. (No rebound off top!) You may jump or step up or down as long as both feet start on the ground and both feet end on the box in control.
  3. Have fun. Go hard. Cheer for each other. Make a sweat angel.

CrossFit Games Open 13.2

Complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 10 minutes of:
115 pound Shoulder to overhead, 5 reps
115 pound Deadlift, 10 reps
15 Box jumps, 24″ box

For a downloadable PDF of the workout, click here.

Post reps completed to comments and/or register and submit your results as part of the CrossFit Games Open.

Watch the Workout 13.2 Live Announcement on the CrossFit Games site

CrossFit Games Open 13.2 workout instructions – [video]

Julie Foucher completes 274 reps on Workout 13.2 – [video]

1st Muscle-Up!

Main Class:

Teams of 2 Complete As Many Rounds As Possible in 18 Minutes of:
5 Deadlifts (225#/155#)
7 Box Jumps (24″/20″) 
100m Sprint

Partner up and go “head to head” at power cleans to complete the most reps after 3 rounds. Run fast so you can out-do your partner.

* Only one person working at a time, alternate after the sprint. (wait for your partner to return from the run to deadlift)

Advanced RX Class:

Skills WOD:

Muscle-up Practice for 10 minutes “or”
Max Reps MU in 4 minutes

Conditioning WOD:

5 Rounds for time:

400m Run
7 Deadlifts (275#/185#)
7 Box Jumps (30″/24″)

Results 

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13.1 Results 


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13.1 Burpees 13.1 Greg_PS

The 1st week of the Open comes to a close tomorrow and the anticipation will instantly begin for 13.2. While waiting for the next Open WOD announcement most CF’ers will start leaderboarding to see who is ranked where while combing the Facebooks and Interwebs for any poorly filmed iPhone clip of someone doing snatches and burpees to an insanely high number. 

While you are doing that don’t forget to SUBMIT your score to the Games site no later than 5pm Sunday. Do NOT wait! Get your score in so you are not eliminated.

More importantly Saturday saw Debra get her first muscle-up to a ton of cheers! The practice and hard work paid off. The pictures speak for themselves. Now it’s time to get those dialed in and added to your arsenal.

1st Muscle Up_1

1st Muscle Up_2

1st Muscle Up_SMILE

CrossFit Games Behind the Scenes: Saturday and Sunday” CrossFit Journal video [wmv] [mov] [HD mov]

CrossFit Games Open 13.1

CrossFit Games Open 13.1

Proceed through the sequence below completing as many reps as possible (AMRAP) in 17 minutes of:
40 Burpees
30 Snatch (75#/45#)
30 Burpees
30 Snatch (135#/75#)
20 Burpees
30 Snatch (165#/100#)
10 burpees
Max Reps Snatch (210#/120#)

Results

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13.1 Jeremy Split

The 2013 CrossFit Games Open is underway! Great job EVERYONE who came in and laid it all out there in a very difficult WOD! Don’t forget to submit your scores if you are competing. Deadline is this Sunday.

A word on the Open:

For the next 5 weeks (until Apr. 7) we will host the Open and program the workout each Thursday after it is announced on Wednesday evenings. Figuring out what workouts we will run daily each week knowing that something completely unknown will appear for one of those days is nerve-wracking. Playing that guessing game and not getting it wrong is a little stressful to program for (especially when I don’t get to officially “play”). Please read below and be prepared when you come in each time as this will be a very long test of my sanity to organize, program and plan for. Help a coach out!

Rob W_Split

General Guidelines:

  1. Each Thursday we will run the Open WOD for all classes.
  2. All registered and competing Open athletes will go first with a judge. Those not registered will be asked to help judge then after will go in the second wave to complete their WOD (without a judge).
  3. Please be on time to class (no different than usual) and ready to rock! The Open is a logistical challenge. The more people are prepared, helpful and attentive the smoother it will all go.
  4. Every Wednesday night I will post standards, rules and tips for the Thursday WOD.
  5. Saturday make-up at 11am for those who registered to compete in the Open but could not do it on Thursday. If you have a special circumstance for a different day please let me know. We will do our best. No make-ups for non-competing people.
  6. Coaches will complete the Open at times where we can arrange judges. Please respect space and equipment if you come in and a coach is completing their Open WOD.

Watch the Archived Workout 13.1 Announcement on the CrossFit Games site.

Julie Foucher completes 195 reps on Workout 13.1 – [video]

Open Photo Bomb

Let the Games Begin

Strength WOD:

10 Rounds for Load of:
1 Snatch Grip Deadlift + 1 Hang Snatch (Squat)

* Rest 60 seconds between sets

Conditioning WOD:

3 Rounds for time:

500m Row
25 Air Squats
3 Wall Climbs 
25 Air Squats
3 Wall Climbs

Results 

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Bill_Hang Snatch - 1 Bill_Hang Snatch - 2

It’s finally here. The 2013 CrossFit Games Open. A year has gone by and now the season begins! Are you ready to test your fitness? Even if you didn’t register to compete you will still participate by doing the Open as the workout of the day. Here is the scoop for tomorrow’s WOD. Please read and be prepared as this will be a weekly thing for the next five weeks.

General Guidelines:

  1. Each Thursday we will run the Open WOD for all classes.
  2. All registered and competing Open athletes will go first with a judge. Those not registered will be asked to help judge then after will go in the second wave to complete their WOD (without a judge).
  3. Please be on time to class (no different than usual) and ready to rock! The Open is a logistical challenge. The more people are prepared, helpful and attentive the smoother it will all go.
  4. Every Wednesday night I will post standards, rules and tips for the Thursday WOD.
  5. Saturday make-up at 11am for those who registered to compete in the Open but could not do it on Thursday. If you have a special circumstance for a different day please let me know. We will do our best. No make-ups for non-competing people.
  6. Coaches will complete the Open at times where we can arrange judges. Please respect space and equipment if you come in and a coach is completing their Open WOD.

Open WOD 13.1 Guidelines:

  1. We are not allowing general scaling tomorrow. Either you stay at the snatch weight you get stuck at or you will just use the same bar each round of snatches for the AMRAP. 
    • Example: You can do 30 reps of 75#/45# snatches but not 135#/75#. You complete the next round of Burpees and keep snatching the first bar at 75#/45# and go back to Burpees. Continue this for 17 minutes. If you cannot snatch 75#/45# then you will start with a lighter bar but must use that bar and load for the entire WOD.
  2. All judges must be aware of the tiebreaker rule. After each Set of 30 snatches you must have their time recorded on the scorecard. This breaks ties for people who get through a set of snatches faster than another. 
  3. Women’s bar with metal 5# plates must go below the knee for the first 30 snatches, then with bumpers at 75# must return to touch the floor. NO 1# plates are required on a women’s bar for the Open. Women’s 15kg bar is considered 35# for the Open only. This is per the Rulebook. (I personally hate this rule. It’s BS. They should just publish the actual weight as the required load).
  4. ROM: 
    • Burpee is chest to deck, touch target with both hands to a target 6″ over top of full arm extension
    • Snatch can be power, full, split but cannot stop at shoulders or be a C&J
    • Stand all the way up each rep, feet together on snatch
  5. Tips:
    • Keep moving through the burpees at a methodical and rhythmic pace. Do not sprint.
    • Break first round of snatches into sets, take minimal rest. 
    • Use all weight changes as active rest. Don’t sit there breathing when you should be moving and loading the bar while resting. 
    • Second round of snatches do not try to cycle too many reps together unless you can snatch like Froning. Consider fast singles with a drop and re-grip. 
    • For burpees focus on chest up first then hips/butt while looking back between the knees as you jump your feet up. This will be the cue you should hear in your head “chest up, butt up, stand up” when getting off the floor. 
    • Keep your feet slightly wide in the burpee (hip width, not too wide).
  6. Have fun. You will get your ass kicked. That’s the beauty of CrossFit. One day fitter!

CrossFit Games Open 13.1

Proceed through the sequence below completing as many reps as possible in 17 minutes of:
40 Burpees
75#/45# Snatch, 30 reps
30 Burpees
135#/75# Snatch, 30 reps
20 Burpees
165#/100# Snatch, 30 reps
10 burpees
210#/120# Snatch, as many reps as possible

For a downloadable PDF of the workout, click here.

Watch the Workout 13.1 Live Announcement on the CrossFit Games site.

CrossFit Games Open 13.1 workout instructions and demo – video [ipod] [mov] [HD mov


"Weighing in on Weighing"

Strength WOD:

3-2-1-1-1
Snatch

* 20 Minutes total

Conditioning WOD:

12-9-6-3 reps each of:

Power Snatch (95#/65#)
Burpees

Results 

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Set_Michelle

2012 Games flashback:

Froning Snatch

Quote of the day: “What we’re trying to do is get things fixed, not allow them to stay broke.” ~ Mark Rippetoe

If you are new you probably notice that we sometimes put goal times or additional instructions on the whiteboard for a workout.  This is in addition to the normal coaching we give everyone every day. Instructions include what movement to scale to if you are new, or what % or max load to lift. This forces correct scaling of weight or range of motion as well as ensures that the effect of the WOD is consistent across the board. Today the guidance on the checkout was to stay unbroken on the power snatches. It was designed to be a sprint and not a power snatch slog. Looking at the times it was just right. 

Oly Lift Technique

Schedule: 

STARTING TODAY on MONDAYS and WEDNESDAYS we have added….a 4:00 pm class!

We are testing out this time slot through March to see if people can make it.  
If you want to keep it, you better show up regularly.  

(CF Teens class is Tues/Thurs at 4:00 so we won’t be adding it then.)

Nutrition:

Teri participated in the Stop the Slop Nutrition challenge and got results in her body composition, PR’s in several WOD’s, and has stuck with many of her nutritional changes since the challenge ended. She also came to grips around her relationship with the scale. Making it a lifestyle is the whole point of our challenge and seeing the paleo approach continue well into February for her is a huge accomplishment!

Here’s her essay:

Weighing in on Weighing by Teri R.

            How much do you weigh? 
Are you 170 pounds of lean muscle or a saggy 135?  Do you weigh 150 in the dark on a full
moon?  What about 127 after having the
stomach flu?  Do you aspire to be a buck
o five?  This question used to consume
me.  While losing 60+ “baby” pounds back
in 2007-2008, I weighed constantly.    I loved saying I was down a pound.  I hated saying I was up a pound.  I have never enjoyed saying that horrible 3
digit number we call weight.  I don’t
even love saying it when it is what the world considers a “small” number.  One year ago at SnoRidge CrossFit, Tom programmed a WOD that required me to acknowledge my weight and then dead lift
it.  I hyperventilated.  I hid in the corner.  I cried. 
Tom talked me off the ledge and I ended up doing the WOD.  Although I didn’t like my weight written on
the white board for all to see, I was proud of myself because it wasn’t about
everyone looking to see what I weighed.  I
am certain no one else cared.  It was about
me working hard and getting stronger.  A
couple of days later, Tom posted an article that inspired me to throw out my
bathroom scale.  Yep, I did that.  Today I have no idea what I weigh.  Even though my family has since bought a new
scale, I do not step on it, ever.  I have
Tom to thank for that.  I am perfectly okay
with not knowing my weight.  I even turn
around so I can’t see the scale when I am being weighed in at the doctor’s
office.  For the purposes of this
January’s challenge, I chose NOT to weigh in.  Weighing in does not give real or valuable
information.  It leads to ridiculous,
obsessive behavior.  Weighing in isn’t
the only measure of progress and ultimately my goal isn’t to see a certain number
on the scale but to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.

                  First I would like to tell
you, weighing in makes me a crazy maniac. 
I begin immediately to base my self-worth on that number.  If I wake up and weigh two pounds more than
yesterday suddenly I consider myself “fat” or my personal favorite name to call
myself, “lard of the earth”.  If I wake
up three pounds less than last week, I am Olivia Wild and dang…you can’t touch
this.  These manic feelings begin to
drive me.  I begin to say things to
myself like–today stinks because I am lard of the earth, or wow, I can fulfill
any dream because today… I AM Olivia Wild. 
I begin to place too much importance on a number.  Reality says I am not lard of the earth or
Olivia Wild.  Really people, let’s get
this straight, the number on the scale does not correlate to my physical
appearance.  I have seen women who weigh 155
pounds that look “125”. Recently a woman I thought looked thin told me she
weighed in at 180.  The appearance of
these women didn’t change once I knew their weight.   These women are strong and beautiful.  Not weighing in has prevented me from turning
into obsessed Teri.  It also protected me
from my ridiculous “scale” behavior and reminded me that I am not a number.

                  Critics might ask me how I can
document my progress with-out weighing in on the scale.  There are plenty of ways.  I believe the best way to track progress is
to see how I feel each day.  Is my energy
improved?  How am I sleeping?  Where is my self-esteem?  Is my strength and flexibility (don’t laugh,
yes I am considering flexibility) improving? 
What about my complexion?  Am I
noticing improved cardio vascular health? 
It really didn’t take long for me to see all these areas improve.  Waking up and feeling great, ready to go with
lots of energy…extra energy to do all the burpees Deb McCracken invited us to
do with her… that’s progress.  Finally
after being in CrossFit a year and a half I was able to crab walk myself across
the floor, twice!  That is progress.  Walking into a work out and feeling strong
and fast (even if you come in last place) is progress.  Noticing less teenager-like acne is
progress.  Feeling great on your long run
is progress.  Another tangible way to
notice progress is through clothing fit. 
At the beginning of this 30 day challenge, I would put my jeans on and
oh boy, were they tight.  I would do
10-15 quick air squats and pray I wasn’t going to split them.  Now, when I put my jeans on, no squats are
needed and they are even a bit loose by midday. 
Loose jeans and baggy t-shirts are progress.  I can also measure my progress with
pictures.  Before the challenge, I
honestly hated the sight of myself in pictures. 
Now, I can see the progress I have made and I feel proud.  Other people are noticing a change in me too.  Many are complimenting me and saying that
they can tell I have worked hard.  That
is progress.  My husband has remarked
about my skin being less dry and a bit softer. 
People are asking me my secret. 
That is progress.  There is no
need to weigh in order to track these successes. 

                  Ultimately, I do not need to weigh
because my final goal was not to see a number on a scale.  My goal in the challenge was to make lasting
changes and gain a healthier perspective. 
The goal included giving the Paleo lifestyle a real, fair chance.  I am thrilled to say I have created new
healthier habits.  I am meal planning and
have become better about food prep.  I
even adapted some of my favorite recipes to be Paleo.  I know lasting changes take time and these 30+
days have helped me create a habit of being organized and prepared with the
right types of foods.  I am learning to
do Paleo all the way, with-out picking and choosing which “rules” to follow.  I have taken the full Paleo plunge, healthy
fats and all.  I have eaten a truck load
of vegetables cooked a billion and one ways. 
I have met my goal because I am living Paleo.  Having and reaching this goal of creating
healthier habits is far more rewarding than saying, “HEY….everyone, I weigh 110
pounds.”  I did not weigh in because a
number on the scale can’t tell me if I reached my goals.

                   At the end of this challenge, I am healthier,
happier and stronger.  I am not a
number.  I am a little less “saggy”.  I am a 40 year old woman living a Paleo
lifestyle.  Even though I know I am not
Olivia Wild, I feel amazing and have a desire to continue with this change
knowing that there will be ups and downs. 
I’ve learned how to clean up my diet. I know that when I fall, I can get
back up and I am not lard of the earth.  My
success is evident to me and that is more rewarding than a number on the scale.  Wouldn’t it be funny if I weighed exactly the
same as when the challenge began?  Would
I feel the same triumphal success if I didn’t even lose an ounce?  No one will ever know.

"JT"

Skills WOD:

7 minutes Handstand Push-up / Ring Dip practice

Hero WOD:

21-15-9 Reps of each for time:

Handstand Push-Ups
Ring Dips
Push-Ups

Results

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JT

In honor of US Navy SEAL Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Taylor, 30, of Little Creek, VA, who was killed in Afghanistan in June 2005. RIP.

Derek N. demonstrates a solid push-up:

Derek_Pushup

CrossFit Games:

The dates are announced! July 26-28. Home Depot Center, Carson, CA.

“Andy’s Muscle-up” with Dave Castro – video [wmv] [mov] [HD mov]

Day 50

Strength WOD:

5/5/3/3/1/1/1
Front Squat 

* 25 Minutes total

Conditioning WOD:

For time:

500m Row
150 Double Unders
50 Burpees

Results 

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Chest up and knees out:

James_FS

Day 50 of the Burpee Challenge today. This is the one WOD that they counted. Yay Burpees! Thanks to Debra for inspiring so many to do this challenge with her and props to all of you that completed it!

The Open starts in March. That means it’s time for the annoyingly excessive but midly entertaining return of Exercise Center: “CrossFit Games Update: February 19, 2013” – [video]

Front rack_Rob W

Christa participated in the Stop the Slop Nutrition challenge and saw significant progress in her body composition (weight loss/muscle gain) and PR’s in several WOD’s over the past month plus. High fives and keep it up!

Here’s her essay:

“Stop the Slop” by Christa F.

            Over the
last month, I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked, “Christa, you
look great… Have you lost weight?”  I
have actually lost count of the number of people who have commented (I tried at
first).  It’s only been 30 days.  I had no idea that my co-workers, friends,
and family members would notice such a drastic change in me over such a short
time.  I started wondering exactly how
much weight I have lost…. 5lbs, 10lbs, 15lbs…more?  I had no idea and I didn’t dare weigh myself
and break the contest rules.  I did know
that my work slacks were getting loose and shirts that used to be too tight
were fitting nicely.  What is most
amazing to me is that these changes happened during one of the busiest and most
stressful months of my life.

            This month,
I have worked an average of 30 hours per week on a new project (with free lunch
3 days a week that I did not eat).  I
have had school commitments 15-20 hours a week and then had to study at least 15
hours per week.  This totals over 60
hours plus an hour drive each way to Seattle almost every day.  I managed to get to a CrossFit workout at
least four times a week with a few workouts at home as well.  Usually, this high level of commitments and
pressure would have put me over the edge with stress and anxiety.  However, I have found that these fitness and
nutrition changes have kept me calm, organized and the stress level is much
lower than times with less activity.  I
know that the only reason I am doing so well right now is that I did make these
positive changes in my life.  I am not
relying on food, alcohol, and sugar to “make myself feel better”.  I now believe that they were making me feel
much worse, with drastic consequences.

            The
nutrition and fitness changes that I made were small, but the changes worked
synergistically.  My workouts felt great
and I was pushing myself to go faster and lift heavier with less resistance
from my body.  My strict food choices
were keeping my cravings low while also helping my workouts.  My workouts made my body want and feel good
about clean food. I have gotten to the point where I have stopped wanting and
even looking at the same things that I would previously love to eat on a daily
basis.  I made it a priority to get to
the gym as much as possible and was successful.

            Today, one
day after the challenge has ended, I looked at a cookie a lunch.  I thought to myself and laughed, “I could
have one if I want”.  And then I knew that
I really did not want it.  I want to be
healthy, get fit, and feel good about myself. 
I want my progress to continue. 
Even though I lost, “Just 7lbs”, I still feel like I succeeded.  In the fitness challenge, I was able to
decrease my time by a minute and a half when I felt like there was no way I
could go any faster the first time around. 
This whole experience has made me realize that little changes over an
extended period of time can make a huge difference.  If I can make positive lasting changes during
one of the most stressful times in my life, then I can certainly make this a
lifelong change that will continue to benefit me in the future.  My challenge is not over; it is just
beginning.  Thank you for the
challenge.  

SNORIDGE CROSSFIT