Update Part 2: Training Progress

I have to talk about today before moving to overall training. Boils down to....RUNNING SUCKS. I hate it more than the USPS. Got a big DNF on today's WOD. Why? Cuz I gave up.






See that young lady in that weighlifting photo to the right? For those that don't know her, that is Samantha Wright and she is one of my coaches. Actually, currently she IS my coach. Today, this amazing and beautiful spirit (that is about half my age) took a few minutes with me after this failed WOD. As I'm bitching about a variety of things that impacted my lack of performance, she says to me:


Damn....nailed it. Only other thing she coulda said was "suck it up." So, moving forward with a plan. More conditioning. Conditioning SUCKS. I often spend time thinking, "Why am I doing this? I should just do Strongman stuff." Then I remember my strength is average, at best, weight loss requires some level of conditioning, and damn it...conditioning makes the heart stronger...so back to conditioning I go.

Over the past 7 weeks I have been working individually with Sam on balancing out my shoulders. I took the time to do a random critique of my snatch form from a competition in May and note my surprise at the complete lack of balance in my shoulders. What a damned mess. I mean LOOK at it (photo top). The right shoulder is taking all the work. The left isn't even locked out! She and I discussed it further and found my traps were completely uneven! So, her programming has been focusing on building that left shoulder up to even it out and building stability in the shoulder. Ultimately making me stronger. Photo bottom was taken last week (ignore the lifting face...I mean really...we all have one). Helllllllewwwwww balance! Ahhhhhh. Still needs a bit of work, but what a drastic improvement. Sam is the BEST!!! Thank you thank you!

At this point, I just wish I had 2 hours a day to devote to the gym. Each day needs to see some additional mobility work, accessory weight training, core work, and conditioning. Since I DON'T have 2 hours, I can at least work in 15 minutes each day post-workout to work conditioning, core, or accessory. Mobility NEEDS to be a priority at home. And we all know there needs to be a plan and I need to work the plan.

Monday - Rowing and Mobility
Tuesday - Accessory
Wednesday - Running and Mobility
Thursday - Accessory
Friday - Core and Mobility

This also means I can't really blog every day. So far this one post has taken an hour to compose. Don't get your hopes up bitches!

Tomorrow's post.....update on the Murder Board progress.

Updates Part One:

So, it's been awhile. I know. I have lots to tell, so that's good.

For today's post, let's start with just general progress in weight. I recently (like 2 months ago) decided to stop weighing myself. It's an exercise in mental futility. Moving forward, I'm basing my progress on pants sizes alone. Jeans can be a powerful motivator. Nothing makes me want to eat clean and drink lots of water like a pair of jeans that are just too tight.

Which brings me to this photo. One year ago, almost to the day, Ed dropped me off to the airport for my 18 hour plane ride to Australia. See those jeans? Those are 16's and tight as HELL! I was so disappointed in myself that morning, knowing that I had lost my recent progress and I was going to be horribly uncomfortable on that 3 week long trip. How I made it through that trip in those jeans is beyond me.

Upon return from that trip, I vacillated between that size 16 and barely fitting into my 14's. I kept riding the line. One week I was in the 14's, the next 16's. Finally, I can firmly attest that I have worn nothing but the 14's for the last 2 months. So, I have officially dropped a pants size over the last year. I don't think I look better than in this photo from last year, but whatever. The tag says 14 and they are the same brand and style, so they are 14's.

So, yesterday I stopped off to pick up my next goal jeans, the 12's. I should note, last time I wore a 12 was well before my oldest was born, 15 years ago. So getting into those will be quite an accomplishment. I decided I would pull them on to see how far I need to go.

Have you ever seen the movie Superbad? At the end of the movie is a scene at the mall where Jonah Hill is trying on jeans that are 1-2 sizes to small for his body. He at least buttoned them, but me and my 12's? Not so much. I couldn't even take a photo of it because there is no way I would ever post it publicly for any reason. Just know....I look like Jonah Hill in this scene. So, we have a ways to go to hit that goal. I even pulled them out this morning and laid them on top of my 14's just to see the difference between the 2. While on my body, it seemed impossible, on top of each other it comes down to a couple of inches. Totally doable!! I plan on trying them again in 4 weeks to check my progress. Ultimately, I want to be in those 12's by my 3 year CrossFit anniversary in October. WOW! 3 years?! Cray cray!

Tomorrow I'll fill you all in on training progress. LOTS to talk about there. SO much progress!!