Crossfit + Paleo

Remember way back when, when I decided to aim for 12 hours of exercise a week??

I've been working on it consistently, averaging about 9-10 hours a week, so far. 

Nine days ago I drank the Crossfit kool-aid and I think I might be addicted. I'm counting each 60-90 minutes of crossfit as 2 hours, is that cheating?? LOL  This formula will put me at 11.5 hours for this week.

I'm sore every single day -- in places I didn't even realize I had muscles. 

I show up at Crossfit every day, except for Fridays. Right now as I sit here, my right shin is aching and I'm assuming its from the ridiculous attempts at achieving my first doubleunder. You know what thought went through my head as I limped into the house after the workout?  " I wonder If I shouldn't try to go workout tomorrow too?"

My arms? I guarantee they will be crying tomorrow after the 80+ wall balls. 

I'm just a beginner and I have huge strides to make, but I figure every day at the box is one day closer to someone I know I can become. 

So my crossfit box ( I still havn't figured out why they call it a box) is starting a Paleo Challenge on Monday. J originally said we'd be starting tomorrow, March 1st, so I've been psyching myself up this past week for just that. I'm not waiting till Monday, I'm starting tomorrow!! Why waste another day?

Honestly, the oddest thing happened today, I took a bite of my favorite lindor truffle chocolates, thinking "oh, this is the last time I'll have chocolate for the next 90 days". ( Did I mention I'm committing to 90 days instead of the 30??) 

All of a sudden, I was grossed out by the chocolate. All I could taste was sugar and God knows how many ingredients. It wasn't satisfying. How bizarre.  How amazing. I threw the rest of the truffle away without an ounce of hesitation. Blasphemy, I know. 

All the rambling above is really my announcement of Crossfit as a new phase of my life, and public accountability for my Paleo Challenge. IF  I get the results I'm hoping for, I'll post a before and after picture. 

The plan is to use this blog on a more regular basis to share my experiences, recipes, challenges, and accomplishments. 

Join me? Advise me? 

No pain, No gain

Today's workout

I'm going to be in pain tomorrow, aren't I?  But if we have to suffer pain in life, let it be the pain induced by self improvement.

Last week I decided its time to stop dreaming so much  ( but who are we kidding, I day dream all the time) and take a more realistic approach to life. 

Part of this new mindset is ramping up my workout regime. I'd already been working out 4-6 hours a week and I've seen some difference in physique, but no where near what I want for myself.  

I was about to tell you about the article I read " 4-8-12" which discusses the proportions of society which work out 4, 8,  and 12 hours a week respectively... and tell you how it motivated me to aim for 12 hours a week average for myself . Yes, I'm an overachiever at heart, there's no point in denying it. There's nothing that will motivate me more than telling me I can be in the top 10% of society. That said, I have no interest in being a part of the "infamous 1%" but thats a whole other blog post.

I googled " 4-8-12" to try to find that article again and wouldn't you know, a bunch of bible sections popped up. Interestingly, both of them relate to my present day life in their own way. Has that happened to you?

Ecclesiastes 4:8-12

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ There was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
    “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
    a miserable business!

⁹ Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

2 Corinthians 4:8-12

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.