The open, my loving crossfit family, and my girl crush!

Hi all!

So it’s been a while!  I have been busy with work/crossfit/social stuff/ watching all the episodes of Chrisley knows best, etc.  I’m back now and ready to get back to my regular blogging schedule!

The CrossFit open has come and gone. So many good things happened not only to me, but to a lot of people at RCFBC!  If you’re not sure what the Crossfit open is, here’s a quick synopsis: 

” The CrossFit Open is the first leg of the qualifying process to reach the “championship” competition, the CrossFit Games (a days-long event broadcast by ESPN last year).The Open is comprised of five workouts, performed over five weeks, for a score—generally either most reps completed in a set amount of time or a workout completed as fast as possible. At the end of the five weeks, the top 48 men and top 48 women advance to The Regionals. There is also a Team Competition with the top 30 teams advancing to the Regional competition. Every individual and every team in the world performs the same workout on a given week, and they all learn about it at the same time: 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday evening. Competitors have until the following Monday at 5 p.m. Pacific Time to complete the workout and submit their score.”

Basically it’s 5 weeks to see how you stack up against the other people that are in your division. If you competed last year, you can see how you’ve progressed, & you can also see what strengths and weaknesses you have.  For me, this year was mostly about weaknesses (as it usually is!!).   

Week 1:

The first workout included double unders. For someone who BARELY had single unders, I knew I was gonna be out- and we didn't even start yet. I felt so defeated when they announced that workout. But you know what,  it forced me to practice! I had a terrible bout of bronchitis and a wicked bad cold leading up to the first workout, so I was already down for the count. I went in to the gym on Sunday to practice- talk about waiting until the last minute! I got so many tips from Hill & Phil, The Monarchs, & Alex- things that would be playing in the back of my head while I was doing that wod on Monday....so I thought. When it came down to it, all I needed to get was one- in order for my score to count. Sharon was at the box that night- if it wasn't for her and her constant guidance, as well as the support of the entire 5:30pm class, I would have never got that double under! That was such an amazing day.

Week 2:

Overhead squats and pull ups. Are you kidding me? I've only done overhead squats one other time before this- and it was my one rep max @ 65lbs. I knew I wouldn't get to the pull ups/I can't do them yet, so  that was just a non-factor for me.  There's no way I was going to get 10 of them at 65lbs. But I knew I could get one.  I ended up doing this one on a Friday- thank goodness for Sam, Lenore, Michelle, Colleen, & Eats. I don't think I would've got through the 7 overhead squats if it wasn't for the motivation and impeccable dancing!

Week 3:

The one I had been dreading all along. Deadlift/Box jump ladder. Deadlifts- easy day- As Mike says, I have long arms, which helps with deadlifts. It was the box jumps- or step ups as far as I was concerned. In order for my score to count, I would have to get 15 step ups on a 20in box. My biggest fear. I breezed through the deadlifts, and I knew a majority of my time would be spent on the step ups. I was surrounded by so many amazing people- I can't even put into words the energy and support that was around me that day. Lauren, Kaylee, Lenore, Hillary, Christy, Elena- just the whole group of strong ladies was focused on me&  making sure I was being supported. Every single rep- even if I missed it, or had trouble- they were there- cheering me on. Thank goodness for Lauren's quick thinking- I had been practicing my step-ups with the box against the wall- sort of as a safety net...not like the wall is going to do anything if I fell off, but it still made me feel better! Lauren moved the box against one of the beams that's in the middle of the gym. That was the best thing that could've happened- she was on her game and it was the best idea! It gave me the feeling of that safety net, which was exactly what I needed. When time was called, I basically just fell into the arms of those ladies who cheered me on the entire time. I was crying (as usual) and a few other people were too. It was just a feeling of pure joy and relief that I actually was able to get it done.  I just can't even explain the feeling that surrounded me that day- all I can say is that it was amazing...just the feeling of love and support meant so much to me, and I hold the feeling of that day very near to my heart.

That friggin box and my amazing judge- Lenore! <3 

The amazing ladies that helped get me through this L-R: Kaylee, Elena, Lenore, Lauren- Love you ladies more than you know!! <3 xoxo

Week 4:

This was a fun one.  It started out with 60 calorie row- easy day. But the next thing was toes to bar, followed by wall balls, followed by cleans, and finally finished with muscle ups. Finish that in 14 minutes. I knew I had the row and the wall balls down. The rest of the stuff- I would have to scale, and the row would only count toward my score. But I wanted to get a decent workout in, so I decided to scale the other movements and just get after it!

Week 5:

This was the workout that broke me- mentally and physically. It was 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 reps of thrusters @ 65lbs and burpees over the bar. The thrusters I had- I hate them, but I can do them at that weight! The burpees over the bar- another story. Mike set up a faux bar so that I could jump at the same height that was required, but without the risk of tripping over the bar- he knows me so well! We tested it out, and it just wasn't in the cards for me. But I would still be able to submit a score with the thrusters- and I would just do regular burpees. Sounds easy enough, right??? WRONG. I am so slow at burpees. It takes a lot of effort to get this body down and up off the ground one time, nevermind 85 times!  There was no time cap, so I had to finish the entire number of reps. Right around rep 6 out of the 21 thrusters- I started thinking  "I'm never gonna finsh" but I just kept going. I got to rep 4 of the 21 burpees and I started crying. Instead of focusing on the small number, I just kept thinking about how many more I had left to do in total. That was a bad decision. Nina, Elena, and myself were in the back room while the other class was doing the regular workout of the day. Elena & Nina, as well as the whole 9am class had finished and I was still there- just barely through the 15 thrusters.  Most of the entire class was next to me- cheering me on and pushing me further than I would've pushed myself. All I remember saying to Sharon was, I'm gonna quit- I'm never going to finish- I'm just gonna quit.  She wouldn't let me! Sharon, Kaylee, and Christy were right next to me- Christy doing each burpee with me- AFTER she had already worked out. It was so awesome. It took me 53:53 to finish. Almost a full hour of thrusters and burpees. I have never felt so defeated in my life. I just couldn't get over that it took me that long to do that. I was completely spent. I actually took the rest of the week of off CF to recover and get it together.  

Started from the bottom...Sarah and I! xo

So basically, I have a lot of stuff to work on for next year. As I expected. I'm glad it's over, but I sort of have a longing now for the weekly announcements. It was something I looked forward to, despite it being terrifying! We just celebrated the end of the open with a huge party at Sarah's house- that was a lot of fun! I love seeing everybody in real clothes and out of the gym- so much fun! Thanks again, Sarah for hosting- it was a blast! :)

Now, I'm working on some problems that I've been having with getting my diet on track. Kaylee has been instrumental with this. Speaking of Kaylee, I sort of have a girl crush on her. She's one of the coaches, is married to JD- a games athlete, and she's just awesome. She's a little peanut, but man is she strong! She's from the South, so she's automatically nice...haha. I just love her! She's been helping me with a meal plan- something realistic, that I can stick to - and has been great about responding to my endless emails and texts about stuff- I would've told me to pound sand by now! She is such an asset to the gym, and I can't imagine not having her, now that she's been there for a while. Like Mike, she is part of my safety net. If she's there, I automatically want to do better and she pushes me to be better.

We recently had the president of CustomFit Meals visit our gym. He was from the South- so automatically nice. His name is Mike, and he shared his personal account of how food has been a huge part of his life, and his story really resonated with me. If you get a chance, check out the website- https://www.customfitmeals.com/ and read about them. I don't get any kickbacks from them- I just really liked his story and the protein bars are pretty delicious! :)

I cannot say thank you enough times for the amount of support, cheers, love, tears, & laughter I have received from my crossfit family. Thank you just isn't enough. I am forever grateful for each and every one of you and am so incredibly happy to have you in my life! <3

P.S.- I know most of you see my almost constant facebook posts about crossfit this and crossfit that- I just want you to know that they won't stop- so if it bothers you, just block me- because this is a major part of my life now!

P.P.S-  I can't wait for the NorthEast Regionals! It's going to be amazing!!

XOXO

-A

Rich Froning's butt at the ECC- just in case you forgot how good it looks!! ;)

It's been awhile....

Hi!

It's been a while since I've written! Things have been absolutely crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. So big things- the 2014 CrossFit Open is coming up in a couple of weeks. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. Last year's open was so much fun, and it really helped get in touch with how strong I really am- mentally and physically. Sure, there were plenty of open workouts I could not do RX, but still being able to be at my box, throwing down with friends, is worth it. If you have been thinking about signing up for the open, and haven't yet- DO IT!! It's fun, and we are going to do the workouts anyway, so you might as well!

In other big news, I was able to step up on to a 20in box a few weeks ago! Mike told me I had to start getting comfortable with the step ups because of the open workouts- there's no way they won't be included in the programming. Naturally, I panicked- and then very quickly looked to some of my fellow crossfitters for help. That is where the Monarch's come in. I've written about them before- they are awesome. Elena and Mike- and their fabulous children have and continue to help me with many things- but stepping on that box was a major accomplishment. I reached out to Elena & Mike, because I knew they would some how be able to break through to me. I can't explain it- they are just good at helping people and talking to them, so that they understand. We met on a Sunday afternoon- the Monarch's, me, and that box. We started out slow- using the rig as a "railing" and then moved on to small boxes, etc. They were great with me- even when I started crying and freaking out. They knew all the right words to calm me down and get me past my fear. FINALLY, I got up there. It may have only happened once, but it happened. Here's the video- it's pretty amazing haha  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=656508286030&l=5074581151559000647. 
Now, I've been doing WODS with box jumps- using a 16in box + a 45lb plate to step up. I've been practicing my step-ups, and I'm hoping to be able to have them for when they show up in the open! Thanks again to the Monarchs- you've helped me in more ways than I can thank you for! <3

The Monarchy and I!! <3

On that dumb box!! haha

Some more fantastically amazing news- I MET RICH FRONING!!!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me???? The Kill Cliff East Coast Championships were in town a couple of weeks ago. I tried getting tickets, but they were sold out before I could buy them. I even offered my first unborn child for a ticket to that championship. Rich Froning in my home and I won't get to see him? How sad is that? I was on the hunt- I even put out a craigslist ad! But then an angel with blonde hair named Sharon came from heaven...or Mount Sunapee...haha. Sharon said that Chris has tickets for both of them, but she wasn't sure she wanted to go, so she offered her ticket to me. I was literally speechless and so excited. I was going to be so close to Rich and so many other awesome athletes. I was also going with Chris, so the probability that I would actually meet Rich was significantly higher. Chris is a pretty sassy guy, and he knows a lot of people, so I was happy to be his plus one at this event! I was posted up right on the gates for most of the heats- JD and Spencer Hendel were SO close to me- I couldn't even handle it. I was completely in awe of all of the athletes there- not just the "famous" ones. Everyone was incredible. CrossFit girls are pretty legit- like they could totally take any guy I know in a fight. Anyway, it was time for Rich's heat to come up- he was teamed up with Stacie Tovar, Elizabeth Akinwale, and Chris Spealler. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Some of the best athletes in the whole world, and they were aptly named, "The Dream Team." I had some inside info about what lane the dream team was going to be in, so I started to make my way over. Of course it was completely crowded, but Chris F. told me just to muscle my way through and get as close as possible. And boy, was I close. I could have touched Rich....but security was around, so I had to get it together!! I took no less than 100 pictures of him and the rest of the dream team. This is the closest I was going to get to ever seeing him compete in real life, so it was pretty freaking awesome. Then I got a text from Chris- "Do you want to meet Rich?" Like, my response would ever be anything other than a resounding YESSSSSSS! I was so excited. I couldn't handle it. I got to go into the Athlete's area and got to meet some of the most elite athletes in the world. Along with Mrs. Froning- who of course is the sweetest, prettiest human I've met! Chris warmed me up by having me meet Spencer Hendel. I've loved him since Regionals last year, so this was pretty awesome- When I first met him, he told me I had really pretty jewelry, obviously I blushed- because that is awesome. Then I met Chris Spealler- who is one of the CrossFit originals- he is so little, but so incredibly strong and nice. Then it was time. Time to meet the man- Rich Froning Jr. Fittest Man on Earth- 3 years in a row. I was absolutely shaking. I didn't even know what to do or say. He was right there- like a regular person! Luckily, Chris took control of the camera, because I was shaking like a leaf. He was so nice and incredibly handsome in person! I still can't believe  I got to meet him- me- just a regular person from RCFBC got to meet him. So cool! I can't thank Sharon and Chris enough for giving me such an awesome opportunity. You guys seriously have no clue how much that meant to me- It was one of the best experiences of my life. And wouldn't you know it, I had a PR the very next day- must have been the remnants of Rich on me!! Chris and Sharon- I think the world of you guys and can't express how much you guys mean to me. You've been instrumental in helping to save my life. From the very bottom of my heart, thank you. <3

My best friend, Rich and I! haha

Rich, Spencer, Chris, & JD!

So right now, life is pretty good. I'm just getting over a nasty GI bug- so I lost a few days of CF, but obviously my body needed a break. I'm looking forward to the open and I pretty much look forward to every new week of CrossFit. I never thought I would be saying something like that, but it's true. No matter how much flack I get from my family about how crossfit "isn't for big people like you" I just push their negativity aside, and keep on going. I'm not doing this for them- I'm doing this for me, and even though it's tough, and I hurt, and I'm achy, it's worth it. I'm not quitting- not now, not ever. This is my new life, and if my actual family can't accept it, I know I'll always have the love and support of my CrossFit family. Enjoy the rest of the weekend- see you guys at the box! <3 xoxo

Rich on a box...those abs though....

Hurdle jumps- I was right on that fence!!!!

My amazing, silly, supportive, awesome RCFBC family. <3 XOXO

One. Year.

One. Year.

I can't believe it's been a whole, entire year since I first stepped through the doors of Reebok Crossfit Bare Cove & changed my entire life. I remember that day so vividly. We were in the old space- the tiny area had to accommodate 26 of us! I made my best friend, Kiely come with me- because naturally I couldn't do it alone! My first impression was basically- holy shit. Am I going to be able to do this? All of the people in this class are already so skinny and fit. But I made a promise to myself that I would try the class and do the two week OnRamp. Even if I didn't sign up after that, at least I gave it a try.

Sharon & Chris were the first people I met. Mike wasn't at the first day of OnRamp, because Alabama had just won the championship & he was out celebrating. First impressions of Sharon were pretty mean at the time- I just thought- look at this skinny blonde- I bet she doesn't even eat anything, and is a bitch. I was 5000% wrong. Sharon is the NICEST person. And a great cook. Hahaha. First impressions of Chris were weird- I thought to myself- look at this tan, hot dad, with those sort of angry eyebrows. I wonder if he's married to someone here. Then I found out that him and Sharon were married and they had two kids. Literally a crossfit power couple. They have both helped me through so much, and I'll never forget the first time I met them- even though my assumptions about them were completely wrong (well, maybe not about Chris, but definitely Sharon)!

The next day of OnRamp, I met Mike. My first impressions of him were pretty funny. He's not from here, because he's too nice; he has way too much energy; I wonder if he's going to be able to help a person like me. I was right- he's from Louisiana, so he doesn't have that Massachusetts bitterness that I thought I was going to get. His energy is still to this day- beyond belief crazy. I wish I could siphon it from him some days! He helped me from the very first day to today. He's been with me through injuries, PRs, failures, and everything in between. I have more respect and love for him than he'll ever know. He has completely changed my life and made me a better person. He has such a passion for crossfit and general wellness- and I know he has a soft spot for pretty much everyone at our box. He remembers everything- he knows how to scale everyone & he is never out of that energy. Even if he's having a bad day, or is tired- you would never know.

Soon after meeting Mike, Lauren came around. I had pretty much the same impression of her, as I did of Sharon. But once again, I was completely wrong! She is so spunky  and incredibly nice and thoughtful. When a WOD is tough, she knows just the right amount of energy to yell at you, so you keep going. Also, she has incredibly style and taste- and she loves kitchen gadgets almost as much as me! haha

Once OnRamp was in full swing, I started thinking- ok these people are sort of in the same boat as me. They don't really know what's going on. It made me feel good to know that I wasn't the only person who was clueless. Even now, I still sometimes feel completely lost in class. I think back to when I first started, and I remember every modification that I had to make just to do a push up & I'm thankful that I stuck with it.

There are a lot of things that I can't do yet. Even after being a "crossfitter" for an entire year. Basic things, like a pull up, real push up, box jump, and the list goes on and on. But for everything that I can't do, there are so many things that I CAN do, that I never thought I would do. The list of PRs is constant, and the feeling I get after each accomplishment is indescribable.  I've had setbacks. I've had a lot of setbacks- some physical (that pesky broken wrist), and some mental (stupid box jumps); but those setbacks make the accomplishments feel so much better. Breaking my wrist made me realize how much

I actually took my mobility for granted. Thanks to my incredibly awesome, hilarious and handsome physical therapist, Travis- my wrist is pretty much back to where it was, prior to the fall!

You would never think doing 25 consecutive single unders would be an accomplishment, but coming from not even being able to bring my feet off the ground- it's incredible.

I wouldn't  have any accomplishments if it weren't for the love and acceptance of my crossfit family. These people who were complete strangers; accepted me, helped me, cheered for me, laughed with me, and gave me a shoulder to cry on when I needed it. The community aspect is one of the main reasons I stuck with crossfit. The diversity is amazing & everyone is accepting and friendly. I've never had anything like that in my life. Complete strangers becoming good friends, and people you can't imagine your life without. There are so many people that I want to name and say thank you to, but there are too many. So consider this a blanket thank you and expression of love to everyone at RCFBC. Seriously. You guys are the best. I most definitely would have quit, if it weren't for the amazing community that we have built.

There has been drama, there have been tears, there has been blood & broken bones, but most importantly, I have been happy. Truly happy. The happiest I've ever been in my entire life. The confidence I've gained due to crossfit and my new found lifestyle is nothing short of amazing. I may not have a boyfriend, my own house, or be debt free, but I'm happy. I'm happy that I decided to take charge of my life, that I made a whole new set of friends, that I found something that I actually love to do, and don't find it to be a chore. I'm happy that I have people in my life that like me just for me- and aren't using me for anything. I'm happy that I'm finding out what truly matters to me, and how I can make myself feel better.

It's been a year, and while I may look the same physically, mentally I'm totally different. I am not the same person I was a year ago. I never want to see that person again. I love my new life. I love being able to do things that people don't even dream of doing. I love being part of the crowd for once. I love having friends that love me for me. I love standing up for myself. I love everything about my new life.

So in closing, here's a list of things that I can do now, that I wasn't able to do one year ago:

1000m Row: 4:28m

5K: 58:42m

1RM Back squat: 145lbs

1RM Clean: 90lbs

1RM Clean & Jerk: 90lbs

1RM Deadlift: 165lbs

1RM Front Squat: 110lbs

1RM Split jerk: 100lbs

1RM Squat Clean: 75lbs

1RM Strict Press: 75lbs

Double touch and go clean: 90lbs

Scaled push ups

More than 20 unbroken single unders

Ab Mat situps

"Grace"                              "Murph"

"JT"                                    "2007"

"Adam Brown"                   "Linda"

"Annie"                               "Fight Gone Bad"

"Filthy Fifty"                        "Crossfit Total"

"Fran"                                 "Linda"

"Diane"                                "Roy"

"Karen"                              Competed in my first ever Crossfit Open!

And so many more! I can't wait to see what this year has for me. Big things I'm sure. The open is coming up, and I can't wait to see what this year brings. We are doing this thing "JumpStart January" a way to get back on track for the new year. So I decided to share mine with you- just so it becomes real & I'm held accountable for my actions. So here it goes:

Amanda's Jump Start January Plan
Goal	Lose 15lbs & get consecutive 20in box step ups before the start of the Crossfit Open
How will you measure your goal?	* Track all of my meals on Loseit.com *Meal prep every Sunday and Wednesday- clean eating; only one cheat meal per week-minimal alcohol consumption *Practice stepping up on smaller boxes until I can get on to the big box- use rig as support until I get enough confidence to do it without "railings" *Mentally prepare myself for stepping on a high box
Why is the goal important?	I'm getting back to basics. Remembering why I started and making the weight loss permanent. I need to get over my box jump fear. It's crippling me and holding me back.
Change 1	Cut out all junk and trigger foods-get back to clean foods	1/6-1/31
Change 2	Practice step ups after every class and track progression	1/13-1/31
Change 3	Cut out take out food- make sure everything is planned ahead of time	1/20-1/31
Change 4	Practice single unders everyday before or after (or both) class	1/27-1/31

So to everyone who has followed me on this journey, given words of encouragement, or even just smiled- Thank you. Thank you for everything. This has been an amazing year and I wouldn't change a minute of it. I've realized that I'm stronger than I think and I can do whatever I put my mind to, as cliché as it sounds. I may not be the picture of the ideal crossfitter, but I am one, and I'm damn proud of it. Here's to another year of PRs, fun, failures, friends, scrapes, bruises, blood, and happiness. Love you all more than words can express! XOXOXO

Super tan but way less happy than I appear! 

Serious Burgner Business. 

One year ago...in the old space! 

death by burpees

one of my favorites. Struggle fest!

Love her! 

Guy who changed my life!

Gun show!

Monarchs & Sarah! 

Me and the Monarchy!! 

Sharon and I! 

SECOND internal competition and other things!

Hi everyone!

So this past weekend was RCFBC's second internal competition- The Ghoul Duel! It was an absolute blast. It wasn't nearly as intense as the last competition, but we still got a pretty decent workout in. And of course, we were all in costume! How fun is that? But before we get into that competition, some other cool stuff happened this past week as well. For one, it was the end of the paleo/zone challenge (thank you, sweet baby Jesus)! I love paleo- but paleo zone is a pain in the rear end. It's a lot of preparation and thinking, and it was starting to get annoying. However, I did see some pretty decent results from the challenge- while my weight and body fat percentage stayed the same (I don't trust that machine, p.s.) I did lose about 8 inches overall. I lost 4 inches just from my thighs! Must be all those squats! Although, it's less than what I wanted to see gone from this challenge, I'm still happy. All of my lifts went up significantly, and I feel better, and that's really all that matters. Before I did my measurements, Mike said that he came across a picture of me from when I first started this journey. He showed it to me, and I was speechless. I can remember the exact day that picture was taken and I remember how I was feeling. It was move into the new building day- After we moved all the equipment into the new space, Mike had us do a wod with a bunch of burpees. We all know I absolutely HATE burpees, but I was still new there, so I had to just do it. I was the last one still going during that wod, and the ladies that were there got down and did every last burpee with me. It was the exact moment that solidified by decision to stay with crossfit. You can't find the camaraderie that we have at RCFBC anywhere (I think!). We are a unique box- we are not as competitive, and hard core like some boxes, rather, we care about each and everyone & want to see everyone succeed at whatever they are trying to accomplish. That is a true testament to the coaches and members. You will always have those few intense athletes, but for the most part, we are all there just trying to get healthier and stronger.
I've had so many people in the last few weeks come up to me and say stuff like "you are such an inspiration" "you made me finish that wod- I thought if you can do it, so can I."  "You are such a strong person, to keep coming here day in and day out." This kind of stuff makes me feel so overwhelmed. I don't feel like I'm anything special- or someone for others to look up to during wods. I go there- push my hardest, and go home. I'm not doing anything different than any of the other people there, but for some reason, people find me as a source of inspiration. I appreciate everyone's kind words, but sometimes, I have to look back and make sure they are actually talking to me- since I don't feel like I should be inspiring people. Maybe one day it'll all click, and I'll actually notice my accomplishments. But for now, I'm going to just keep doing what I'm doing & not give up.

Hillary & I from after finishing all those burpees on the fateful Saturday! 

Now onto the fun stuff: The Ghoul Duel! Mike asked me to do the decorations for the Halloween themed competition, so naturally, I obliged! My partner for this competition was Mike West. He was a champ. We went as Operation (the game). He let me make his costume out of a latex suit and wore it throughout the whole competition. Although we didn't place in the top 10 (I don't think- I didn't even look), we had so much fun! The first workout was pretty manageable- one partner did a 20 calorie row, while the other partner did as many hang power snatches as possible- all for the entire length of the song "Thriller."  That song is a lot longer than I thought. Once that was over- the song was restarted and we immediately went into one partner doing 20 KB swings, while the other partner did as many burpees plate jumps as possible. Once the partner got to 20 cal row/ 20 KB swings- partners switched. I've been doing plate jumps instead of box jumps, and for some reason I thought I couldn't do them on Saturday. Thank goodness for our judges, Sarah O & Jeff B. They kept me going and kept reassuring me that I was doing great. It was only 5:57 minutes, but it seemed like 20 minutes. I looked at Sarah at one point, and told her I couldn't jump on the plate. She just looked me in the eyes and said- "You can- you just did it- and you can do it again. You've got this Amanda- just don't think about it."  And I did just that- and went for it.

The next wod literally almost made me pass out. I've never seen stars like that before in my life. I don't even remember what the whole rep scheme/wod was, but all I know is that it started out with 100 shoulder to overhead with a pumpkin (yes- a legit pumpkin), 90 ab mat sit-ups, 80 squat clean thruster partner throws (SICK), 70 double unders, 60 over-head walking lunges w/same pumpkin, 50 pull ups- and that's all I remember- there was a bunch of other stuff too. The work was split up however you and your partner chose to do so. Mike did a bunch of the SOH, and I did some too. I think we split the ab-mat sit ups, but I'm not even sure- that's where the stars began. The 80 pumpkin squat clean thruster partner tosses are what got me. Oh my lord. Hands down, one of the toughest things I've done. I would take burpees over that any day. Around number 20, I really started to fade. Thank goodness for the Monarchs, Mike & Trang, and my partner Mike. They pushed me when I really needed it- and let me rest when I needed also. My partner was so patient with me. I literally could not have asked for a better partner- he was so understanding, even when we were done, he said- I probably pushed you too hard- sorry for that. How adorable and understanding? That's what I love about our gym- about crossfit in general. At about number 40- I felt like I was going to actually pass out. Mike M. gave me his water that had something in it- I'm pretty sure it was a pre-workout supplement mixed in- honestly, he could have told me he put cyanide in it, and I probably would have still drank it. LOL. After a minute or 2, we finished and my partner, being the best person that he is, told me to rest, and he did all of the double unders. Thankful doesn't even begin to express how I felt at that moment. We almost finished the pull-ups in the 25min time cap. I was really proud of us. I wish I could've pushed harder, but I'm glad we at least got to that portion.

Some other fun that we had was throwing baby pumpkins into baskets- skee ball style. That was fun & I actually got one in! The final wod of the day for everyone was the best I think. Using your big pumpkin from the crazy wod, one partner ran a certain distance in the parking lot to the other partner, then that partner just all out smashed it on the ground. Mike said to me- "That last wod killed you- you should smash the pumpkin." How adorable is he? I can't even stand it. So he ran me the pumpkin, and I smashed the crap out of it. It felt amazing.
Overall, it was an amazing day with the great people that I'm proud to call my friends. I cannot say it enough- there is nothing like the bonds you make with people that are a part of your crossfit community. It's such a strong part of my life- and it's hard for me to think back to when I didn't have these amazing people in my life. To Mike, Sharon, Chris, Lauren, & each and every one of the bare cove members- you are completely amazing. You have changed my life in so many ways- I am forever grateful. There are no words that I can say (or type) that will express the amount of respect and gratitude I have for you all. <3

On another note, I just want to throw it out there that the three time fittest man on earth, Rich Froning, & I are on a first name basis:

Chris F, the best person EVER made this happen. Chris was in Berlin for the Crossfit Invitational, and asked Rich if he would take this for me. ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? RICH.FRONING. I woke up to a message from Sharon with this attached, and my heart skipped a beat. It is the background to every electronic device I own, and it is also printed out and hanging at work. This is seriously the coolest thing. CF- you made my entire life with this- the only way this could be topped, would be to actually meet Rich (So if you wanna work on that, Chris....just sayin'). 

Left- 8 months ago; Right- last week- returning Rich a message- and actually seeing some changes in myself! 

Our amazing community of members at the Ghoul Duel! <3 

Damn Straight. 

Benchmark Week- PR CITY!!

This week has been absolutely incredible. I don't think I've ever felt stronger than I have this week! It was benchmark week again.  That means that we did a bunch of hard, crossfit benchmark workouts and recorded our times/weights/etc. and saw if we have progressed at all since July. These are the workouts we did in consecutive order (M-F): ***If you don't know what these things mean, just Google them- you'll find them!***

Monday:  "Karen"- 150 Wall Balls (14lb med-ball throw at 9′ target) For time.

Tuesday: "Diane" 21-15-9 Deadlift (165lbs-rx); Handstand Push Ups

Wednesday: A. 1RM Back Squat
                        Rest 5 minutes
                   B. 400m Run for time
                       Rest 5 minutes
                  C. 2 Rounds:
                  L Sit for time
                    Rest 1 minute
                  D. 1min. AMRAP T2B

Thursday: "Fran"  21-15-9- Thrusters, Pull Ups

Friday: "The Filthy Fifty" 35:00m time cap
50 Box jump (24/20)
50 Jumping pull-ups
50 Kettlebell swings(35/26)
Walking Lunge, 50 steps
50 Knees to elbows
50 Push press (45/35)
50 Back extensions
50 Wall ball shots (20@10′/14@9′)
50 Burpees
50 Double unders

KAREN sucks. That's all. She is by far my least favorite of the girls. I wanted to beat my time from July, and I  was determined. I told Chris F. that I was going to keep going, even after the time cap, because I wanted to finish. His son, Nate was my judge and biggest cheerleader. My time was 24:05 last time, and I knew I was going to beat it. Last time, I went into it with no plan- just get as many wall-balls at a time that I could. This time, I listened to my girl, Sarah O. who told me to figure out a good breakdown- so I went with sets of 6 or 8, I can't really remember- I sort of blacked out. At one point, I was doing sets of 5. Thank goodness for Nate. He's the best. He counted for me & even gave me rest countdowns, and pushed me to get back on the ball. Since there was only a 12min time cap, I was the only one still going when time was called. Everyone who was at the 9am WOD was at the wall with me- cheering me on- counting down, making sure I finished and didn't give up. I have never felt so much love and support in my life. It was amazing. Even people who I didn't even know were cheering me on. I can't even explain the level of thankfulness and love I have for the people at RCFBC. It's immeasurable. I finished Karen at 21: 14; Almost a full 3 minutes off of my time. AMAZING!! I would've never finished if it wasn't for my bare cove family. Seriously.

Diane isn't so bad. I have long deadlift arms (according to Mike-haha) so it was okay. It took me slightly longer to finish than last time, but I increased my deadlift weight by 30 pounds, and went from using a 20in box for HSPU, to a 24in box. So that's a win.

I skipped Wednesday- I've been having really bad sinus pressure and headaches- and it was really bad on Wednesday; so I made up my 1RM back-squat & 400m run on Thursday. Probably wasn't the best idea, knowing that Fran was on tap for Thurs, but whatever- gotta do what you gotta do.

Thursday. Fran. One of the most dreaded crossfit workouts. I got to the box early because I wanted to do my 1RM back-squat. I wasn't sure I would be able to get more than 135lbs, since I had to dial it back a bit during hatch. So I started out light, and put more weight on as I went on. I was there during the kids class, so Mike sent Sharon over to "watch my butt." BAHAHAHHAHA he is nuts, but hilarious. So anyway, Sharon gave me some good tips about improving my back-squat. She told me squeeze my butt before I squatted, so that my hips were already being pushed forward. It actually worked! I finally got up to 135lbs. Mike was surprised that I was at 135- he said my form looked a little better- still needed some work, but looked better and the strength was there. He told me to put 10 more pounds on, and then shut it down. So, I got 145lbs on my 1RM back-squat. Pretty amazing. Then came the 400m run. I HATE running. But I wanted to see if I improved, so of course I did it. I only improved by a few seconds, but a PR is a PR! Then came Fran. After wall-balls, thrusters seemed like a bad idea- actually, thrusters are always a bad idea. haha. Last time we did Fran, I used a 26lb KB with one arm and did ring rows. This time, I used a 45lb bar, and did jumping pull-ups. Once again, it took me more time, but I used more weight, so I took it as a win.

Then to end this hell week, we had the Filthy Fifty on Friday. AWESOME. Last time we did it, I only got through 10 burpees in the time cap, and I had a bunch of other scaling options because my wrist was still not 100%. This time around, I still used the 16in box for step ups (still completely terrified of box jumps), jumping pull-ups (rx), KB swings (rx), walking lunge (Amanda rx- haha), Instead of knees to elbow, I did candle sticks, Push press (rx), Instead of back extensions, I did supermans, Wall-balls (rx), and I got through 20 burpees in the time cap! I couldn't believe how much better I did than last time! I am so thankful for Mike Eats for pushing me through those last few burpees!

Here's a quick list of the other PRs I got this week as well:
Clean: 1RM 90lbs from 75lbs in August!
Clean & Jerk: 1RM 90lbs from 80lbs in September
Front Squat: 1RM 110lbs from 85lbs in July
Split Jerk: 1RM (from rig) 95lbs from 75lbs in July

I can't even handle it. I would never have got through any of these wods, if it wasn't for the love and support of my RCFBC family. I can't wait for the next benchmark week to see where I stand!

Last week, I stupidly broke my pact with Mike M (We gave up alcohol until Nov.2nd- the end of the nutrition challenge). I went away with my girlfriends for the weekend, and I broke down and had a drink. I've never felt so guilty in my life. I had to tell him right away. Even though I could tell he was disappointed, he told me to forget it and press on. We all make mistakes, and I need to learn that I'm not perfect and things will come up- it's how I deal with them that matters. I'm only in competition with myself- and when I mess up- I only hurt myself.
I can't wait to see what's on tap for this week- I can't believe I would ever find myself looking forward to working out. It's crazy how much things can change.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend, and have a great week! Until next time...
<3 A

My PRs from the "MY WOD" App- July vs. October! So excited! 

BAHAHAHAHHAHAHA. True though..haha

Had to include my love, Rich! <3

Is that paleo? Or zone? How many blocks is that?

UGH. These past two weeks have been ROUGH. Not only crossfit wise, but work wise, and just life wise. As most of you know, the RCFBC nutrition challenge started two weeks ago. You get points for each day you eat paleo, zone your meals, go to crossfit, or do some other activity. We are in teams of 4 (My team is the best, obviously!) When I first started at RCFBC, they did the first paleo challenge, and I was just thrown in there. I know how to eat paleo, and have adopted it as a new lifestyle. Now my friend Mike adds in this twist of "Zoning" your paleo meals. Just google the zone diet, and you'll figure it out- it's a lot of math and figuring out your blocks and equal numbers of carbs, fats, and proteins.  Basically, just a boat load of planning and preparation. It is definitely a much different challenge than the first one. My team is awesome though! Rose & Pete are amazing. They have 4 kids all under the age of 10, and our absolute rock-stars at paleo-zone. I'm just a single lady, and am having a hard time- I don't know how they do it with those kids (who are absolutely ADORABLE!). Our other teammate is Jess. I had never met her before, and didn't know what to expect. Well, she's awesome. And super nice. And amazing at paleo-zoning and cross-fitting! So glad to have all of these people at our box! We are rocking this- the only thing is that we need a team name!
Last week,  a few of our members were in a competition up in Rye, NH to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I was there as a judge. I was absolutely humbled by the whole thing- the athletes, the cause, the community- everything. The ride up to NH was absolutely hysterical. I drove, and had Colleen, Gareth, & Marvin in my car. Needless to say, it was amazing. We belted out DMX the whole way up & had a lot of laughs. It was beautiful up in Rye- we were right on the water, it was a little cool and windy, but overall a gorgeous day. We had two teams- scaled and Rx. On the scaled team was Kevin, Brian, Alex, Colleen, Melissa, & Nanette. The RX team consisted of Marvin, Gareth, Mike Monarch, Lauren, Kyla, & Kaylee. Mike L. & I were both judges (obvi not for our own team, hehe). Before the competition started, the guy who started it gave a speech. If you know me at all, you know that I obviously cried (and tried to play it off like it was the wind). He just told everyone there his story about how his son was diagnosed with CF & how he was in the hospital this time last year. Then they introduced his family- and a few young adults who are living with CF. It was just so amazing to see how much money was raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation just through this crossfit competition. There was even a team there from Georgia! Our RCFBC teams were amazing, but it was so awesome to see teams from all over and how they represent their box. It was an honor to be a part of the crossfit community not only that day, but everyday.
What was so amazing to me was how welcoming and friendly everyone was. It truly shows the spirit of the crossfit community, and the main reason why I love it.
That night ended in a lot of alcohol, and shenanigans (which I will keep to myself), and subsequently my pact with Mike Monarch to give up alcohol until the end of the nutrition challenge. So far, I'm week without alcohol- I feel great, but I do miss my tequila, soda, limes! We only have to go until November 2nd, and I think we'll be able to do it.
Crossfit wise, these two weeks have been awesome. I HATE running- hate it. One of the past weeks' wods included 5 rounds of an 800m run, toes to bar, and burpees. 800m is 4 laps around the building. Usually, I have to stop a bunch of times to walk and catch my breath. I made it the first round, the whole 800m WITHOUT stopping. Granted, I wasn't going fast - but I didn't stop, and I couldn't believe it. I felt pretty jazzy that day. Another PR I got was on my clean and jerk. I've had a few setbacks with these movements because of my wrist mobility, but I was able to clean & jerk 80lbs from the ground twice. I cannot thank Zoe and Hilary enough for their encouragement and motivation while I was trying to get that up. I tried for 85lb, but it wasn't happening. A few days later, we did bench press. We hardly ever do them, so it was awesome. The last time we did them, I got 65lbs. This time, I got 85lbs. It was amazing. Colleen was with me & she is CRAZY strong! At the competition last week, she carried Kevin on her back for a long time- nuts!!!  I think she got all the way up to 115lbs!  That's nuts! I love PRs. They make you feel so amazing, and give you the confidence to go into wods.
The only thing I'm not so crazy about is Hatch. My back-squat has been looking rough. I always look like I'm going to tip forward, and then my back starts to hurt. Because of that, I've had to really cut the weight down on my back-squat, and really work on my form. As much as I hate it, I know that Mike is looking out for me, and having good form will ultimately help me in the long run.
There has also been a ton of burpees this week- I HATE burpees too. I wish I was more efficient at them- maybe one day. I just looked at the wod for tomorrow- Hatch, followed by burpees, and box jumps- AWESOME. hahahahaha.

I have the day off tomorrow, so I'll get to go to the 9am class and see people I never get to see! I can't wait! Now, for the rest of the Patriots game...Enjoy the rest of the weekend!!
-A <3

Our amazingly awesome RCFBC team!! <3

TRUTH.

Question of the day, everyday.