I'm a BAD Mutha....Shhh...SHUT YO MOUTH!

For the first time since joining CrossFit, I experienced my first PR (Personal Record) TONIGHT!  For the first time, I completed the WOD (Workout of the Day) using the Rx (Prescribed Weight)...75#!

You wanna talk numbers?

When conversing about CrossFit, the following questions either lead or dominate the conversation:

"How much weight have you lost?" OR "How much weight do you want to lose?" 

Puhleeze stop asking me how much weight I want to lose! If I learned one thing at CrossFit, I learned to look at more than just the numbers on the scale. Instead of focusing on the scale, I tend to focus more on increasing my strength, endurance, agility, speed, etc. 

So, you wanna talk numbers? Instead of asking me how much weight I want to lose or lost, ask me the following:

• How much can you back squat? Answer: 100# 1oo may not seem like much, but it's 100 more than I thought I could back squat! 

What's a back squat you ask? 

• Ask me how much can I deadlift. Answer: 160# and probably more. 

What's a deadlift you ask? 

• Try asking me how many inches I whittled from my hips. The answer to that question my friends: 4!! Yes, 4 inches!!

• Ask me how many push-ups can I do. And I ain't talking about girl push-ups. Answer: 7 

I must confess, my CrossFit experience, changed the way I look at the scale and sometime in the near future I plan to quit Weight Watchers:-(

 During the CrossFit challenge I killed myself, by going above and beyond.  Each week I weighed in at WW and each week I walked out disappointed. And after one breakdown to many, I decided to part ways with WW. 

So, you wanna talk numbers?  Leave me some of your impressive numbers, but leave the scale out of it. 

PSYCH! You Think It's Pasta, But It's Not!

At the onset of my CrossFit journey, I chose to switch to a Paleo Diet (well a variation of the diet). Click here to be directed to a website containing more information of the Paleo Lifestyle. 


Without getting into detail, the Paleo Lifestyle restricts grains (bread, pasta, etc.), excess sugar, and vegetable oils. With the absence of bread and pasta (my kryptonite), yours truly had to become pretty creative with my meals. I never realized how much bread and pasta played a role in my diet!


Okay, getting to the crux of the post...


As a single mom balling on a budget, spaghetti pops up into my meal planning rotation quite often. In my opinion, you get the bang for your buck with spaghetti, and you can make it S-T-R-E-T-C-H! So the last time spaghetti night rolled around, I prepared whole wheat pasta for my boys. And for myself, I decided to try my hand at preparing spaghetti squash.

Many times, I read  posts about other bloggers cooking spaghetti squash. And you know what, I turned up my nose in disgust at the thought of replacing pasta with SQUASH! EWW! But with the CrossFit challenge in full swing, I had no choice but to try the squash.

Before preparing the squash I went to YouTube to find a video. You can learn how to do any and everything on YouTube! Here's the video I found.

Without further adieu, my foray into the world of winter squash... 

Have you ever cooked spaghetti squash before?

I cried in the car...

I started typing this several weeks ago...so let's pretend this happened last Saturday. Thanks for your cooperation:-)


What an emotional day last Saturday...I tend to lean towards the dramatic side sometimes...and last Saturday  seemed to be  no exception. 


So as most of you know, 4 weeks ago I entered the arduous world of CrossFit.  Folks, no words exist to explain the trials and tribulations of my CrossFit undertaking! But allow me to say this...I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!!!

So, getting back to my emotional breakdown...

Okay, so it all started when I walked into CrossFit for the Team Challenge. As I always do, I looked to the whiteboard for the WOD (Workout of the Day). When I spied the WOD, I nearly crapped my pants! See for yourself! 

Fresh Start...

Saturday Morning I congregated with a few bloggy friends for our first meet-up EVER! 

A couple of them reprimanded me a few times for my lack of presence on Blogger. So, I had no choice but to come home and blog. Okay ladies, I hear you loud and clear. Look...I am blogging...lol.


I tried to explain, that my need to blog pretty much reflects the state of my weight loss efforts:

No blog post = no progress.

Long story short, I veered off path and got lost. But never fear my friends...


Last Saturday, November 12th, 2011 at 7:13 AM, I forgave myself for my recent weight loss transgressions and indiscretions. AND, I gave myself a FRESH START!


A fresh start in the form of a challenge...

"The I Am CrossFit Challenge"

Not familiar with CrossFit...click here.  Law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and military branches utilize CrossFit  as a form of training. Be afraid...be very afraid.

A coworker sent out an email informing the staff of the challenge. Being the competitive person that I am, I took the challenge as an opportunity to beat engage in a little friendly competition with my fellow colleagues.

If you know me, you know me + competition does not equal friendly. And I am a sore loser!

Initially, I considered the CrossFit Challenge as a competition between my coworkers and me. But after Day 2 of CrossFit, I now know that the challenge exist between Me, Myself, & I.

Day 1 of CrossFit put me to the test and pushed me to my limits. Yes, Day 1!

On the 1st day of the challenge I arrived at the facility bubbling with excitement. My excitement soon faded as the coaches explained the WOD (Workout of the Day) The WOD consisted of the exercises listed below using the following rep format 21/15/9:

• squat thrust while pushing weights up as you ascend,
• sumo squats
• 7 burpees
• run 200 meters

In short, the participants completed one rep of 21 (each squat), 7 burpees, and ran 200 meters.  We repeated the same pattern for a rep of 15, and 9.  By the end of the last rep my legs felt like J-E-L-L-O! And I did my absolute best to keep the vomit rising in my throat at bay.

O wait, did I mentioned that we executed dead-lifts prior to the WOD? And did I mention that I lifted 83 lbs? 

So, the Day 1 WOD also served as the challenge test. At the end the 8 week challenge the participants will perform the Day 1 WOD again to determine if our strength, flexibility, agility, endurance, speed, power, etc. increases.

Needless to say, I survived Day 1 and lived to blog about it...barely. Sitting, standing, and walking seemed like a painful chore.  I must admit, the handicap bar in the bathroom received quite a workout today. If it weren't for the handicap bar in the bathroom, I would still be sitting there...

in the bathroom...just sitting and waiting for help...

From now on, I should probably take my cell into the bathroom in case of an emergency. I can send out a distress SOS text.

If you need a a fresh start and welcome a new CHALLENGE in your life, try CrossFit...

Wait until you hear about Day 2!