Humidity sucks. Cars suck. EMBRACE THE SUCK.

Checked out Potomac CrossFit this morning and LOVED it. Tara was the kind of coach I like, but she's not there that often because she actually works in Manhattan during the week. Anyway, this was a big group for a Sunday morning free class, but I was pleasantly surprised that the coach noticed that I've done some WODs before. Now, I don't by any means call myself a CFer...but it was nice to have some experience under my belt.

Then I showed what it's done for me:

**WOD**
A) Warm-up
-- Run 400m
-- 25m butt-kicks, high knees, grapevine, shuffle, etc...alternating w/ 25m jog
B) 4 rounds, for time:
-- 200m run
-- 15 KB swings (35#)
-- 10 sit-ups
-- 10 box jumps (20")
Time: 12:48, rx

I'm pleased to announce that I am no longer completely petrified by box jumps, and I don't COMPLETELY suck at them anymore...so I guess everything comes in due time. 35# KB swings were apparently impressive for a girl (the CFer that WOD'd with us did 20, so maybe it is, or maybe she was exhausted from "Eva" yesterday)...and I was the fastest girl, not far behind a male CFer and two other guys.

So, why is all of this comparative info important, you ask?! Because it shows me that I'm doing something right. I can hold my own with female CFers and potential male CFers. I also did feel like I had "boundless energy" today, on day 7 of my personal paleo/Whole30 challenge. I assumed I'd just fall in line with all the other potential new CFers, but I didn't...I kicked this WOD's ass, despite crazy humidity and cars in the path of my 400m run. (You were starting to wonder where the title came from, weren't you?!)

Bottom line: I'm proud, and I need to check out District CrossFit, at Tara's recommendation, because I need to find a box that's convenient for me to attend all the time once I move. And that's that - decision made.

Also: Tara said "sometimes you have to EMBRACE THE SUCK," and if I could have signed on the dotted line right then, I would have. Just a thought for those at District. ;-)

**Note: No, Eric and Erich didn't finish. I think it was something about feeling dizzy...and the name thing was (probably) just a coincidence.

Ninja's CrossFit

If I could make a decision purely based on fitness/nutrition/physical wellbeing, I'd move home just to train with Nina. Dead serious. I like the variety and surprise of every day, and I definitely can't complain about the coaching skill, either.

Alas, I can't really take that route right now, so I will have to scope out the CrossFit situation in DC. Planning on checking out Potomac CrossFit next weekend when I'm back in town and then hoping to find something closer to my new apartment soon after moving mid-month.

Yesterday I got initiated into Ninja CrossFit (Yeah, I named it. Sorry, Ninz.) That WOD is something to the effect of:
-- 200m run (buy-in)
Then, 5 rounds of:
-- 50m OH lift (45#)
-- 5 tire flips
-- 50m sandbag run (15#)
-- 10 step-ups with sandbag (15#)
-- 5 tire flips
-- 100m run with vest (20#)
Time: 21:27
Was good times...cause I'd definitely been missing real CrossFit.

Today was another good one, with some technique work that I'll definitely be focusing on for the next little while. Since I felt good after yesterday, tried to be a little more aggressive today (...which didn't work out so well in one respect...). I've got the itch to go at it again tomorrow, but I'm going to watch the Cubbies get swept in the afternoon, so I'll have to fend for myself.

Anyway, here's today...

**WOD**
A) Strength & technique
-- Squat technique
-- HSPU (24" box), 3 sets to failure (15-21-17)
B) For time:
-- 10 pistols
-- 20 burpees
-- 100 jump rope
-- 50m sprint
-- 50 OH lunges (15#)
-- 50m sprint
-- 100 jump rope
-- 20 OH sit-ups (15#)
-- 10 pistols
Time: 8:37, w/ box pistols (N: 8:07, Rx)
C) Cool-down/strength
-- L-sits (stacked plates), 10 x 10sec
-- Ring PUs (knee), 3 x 10 reps (6-10-10)

Definitely LOTS to work on, but glad to be able to keep pace, at least. I've definitely got some new things to work on and goals in mind for the next time I'm back... Will be solidifying and getting those in print by the time I leave on Sunday.

Screw it.

No, really. Screw this. This is stupid.

I'm not going to force myself to eat crap that, in turn, makes me feel like crap...just because I spent money how many months ago. Really, that makes no sense! In the words of my economics professor (who knew I actually learned something in that class?!), it's a "sunk cost." I spent the money. It's gone either way. I can't make up for it now. So I should move on and make the best choice for myself now, without regard for that. So that's what I'm doing.

The fridge and pantry are getting cleaned out this weekend, sans guilt. I feel just as guilty eating the crap as I do throwing it away, so out it goes. I'm having trouble finding a place to donate the stuff, so if I can find one by weekend's end, it'll go there...otherwise, it's hitting the trash bin. (It's a shame, really, with all the homelessness in DC, but I don't know what else to do...) Sayonara, brown rice!!

PS -- Did I also mention that I bought this shirt as a reward?
Why? Well...for finally being sensible!

**WOD**
-- TBD...gotta actually get some school stuff done for once.

Decision Time.

Alright, so I'm bad at making decisions. I'm into my second year of grad school and pretty much figure that when I get done, I will have another degree I'm not sure what I want to do with. It takes me over an hour to grocery shop, every time...even when I have an explicit list organized by department. And I can't book a flight without calling my mom first. But I digress...

I've decided I want to go paleo, full-time. I've been thinking about it for a while, and I'm in love with the idea. I can even do it for a couple weeks at a time, but I can't seem to just throw out the non-paleo food and go for it. I just feel like cleaning out the pantry and throwing stuff out is so...wasteful! I could donate it and all, and I probably will do that with some things, but I just can't see throwing out a shitton (yes, it's a word...ask my WI friends) of food that I bought with my hard-earned (and scarce!) money. I just can't.

Soooooooooo... I'm deciding now that I am going to bite the bullet for like the next two weeks (max) and eat that food, then donate what is left. I know I'll feel less-than-ideal, but I bought it with the intention of eating healthy, and I lost over 75 lbs eating it, so clearly it's not toooooo terrible...there are just better (paleo) things I'd rather eat now. So that's that. I'll be working out with some two-a-days to try and "offset" the effects of the "crap food," and then I'm going to do a Whole30 starting August 1 (coincidentally the day I get back from a vacation, 1st of the month, a Monday, and first day of my 3rd summer class, a "week-long intensive, M-F 9:30-5:30") and eat "rough paleo" for the forseeable future. (More about what I consider "rough paleo" to come...basically it includes rare dairy (just cheese) and whole grain, so I don't feel deprived and can stick with it long-term.

So that's the decision and the plan... Hoping to stand by it (and book a flight tomorrow, when Mom calls me back, lol)!

Activity, 7/11:
1) Walking from Ballston to VA Square for errands, then around Clarendon, Court House
2) Insanity Cardio Recovery (With my legs still sore, I'm not sure why I chose this today...thanks, Keith.)

Blog: Reinvented.

So, I decided I want to start blogging again but chose to rework my old one instead of starting anew. I'm not sure why, but I think I wanted to focus on my life now...only, my life isn't brand new, just different from what it used to be. I want this blog to reflect the change in my life, so maybe continuing on the old blog will show the change I'm proud to have made.

I still very much love and care about the things I did before - humanitarian issues, charity, friends, doing good - but I also love and care about myself more now than ever before. I want to get and stay healthy - for my family, my future, and mySELF. Hopefully this blog will be a reflection of those things in my reinvented life that either I think are important enough to share with others or that I just need to get out. I'm taking a hint from Paleo Project Jenna and sharing whatever the eff I want...and not sharing what I don't want to share. Also taking inspiration from my true friend (and role model), Nina, at LiveLegit.

All that said: Stories, rants, recipes, and workouts are all fair game. Prepare thyself.