Climbing

Easter Update

“Dedication and commitment are what transfer dreams into realities.”

First off, Happy Easter everyone!!!! I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend!  

I started my Easter Morning right- by getting back on track with Insanity!  It was bugging my knee and shoulder a little bit, but didn’t cause any pain.  In fact, I was able to stay pretty comfortable (at least from an injury standpoint) by taking it a little easy and resting when I needed it.  Plus, all the stretching felt GREAT!  I used the foam roller for some added insurance, and it hurt like hell just as I expected.  Almost 12 hrs later, I’m feeling pretty darn good.  Score 1 for me- Nagging injuries 0 (fingers crossed this trend continues…).

I am SO HAPPY to be “easing” back into my typical (rigorous) exercise. 😉  I am EVEN MORE HAPPY to get started on training for the Ultra Beast, which will be my biggest physical challenge to date!  I am incredibly grateful to have so much training support going into this race.  In addition to boot camp, I now have the added benefit of  a training buddy, and have already felt a huge boost from having that relationship of pushing and supporting each other.

So far I have been limiting myself to only one workout a day, and I’ve been trying to go light on any lifting involving my shoulder.  Friday I did some weight training with the boys and was able to get a new PR on dead lift of 155 lbs and seated row of 90 lbs.  My shoulder didn’t act up much, which was a HUGE relief.  (Of course I still babied it the whole time!)   I even got in an easy 2 mile run around the parking lot.  IT FELT SO GOOD!!!!  For me, running is truly the ultimate expression of freedom.  I can’t think of anything that feels better than hitting the trails and leaving every care and worry behind!

Yesterday I pushed it a little and went to the climbing gym.  I was definitely favoring my shouldering, but managed some of my toughest climbs yet.  Normally I avoid the walls that lean enough that you need to clip in to rest, but I did a couple really challenging ones and made it WAY further up than I thought I would (and showed up the boys- bum shoulder and all…not that anyone is keeping track).  I think I was primarily motivated by the intense fear of swinging way out if I fell. lol

The funny thing about me and climbing is I am actually TERRIFIED of heights- as in if there was a way to just climb over the top and not have to look or come down I would totally find it.  I also hate swinging on the rope- so much so, I will choose a harder route straight up in line with the rope to avoid it at all costs. Case-in-point: I didn’t even use the anchors to rest on the first route because I was so afraid to stop or let go. I made it all the way to the top of the lean (only a few feet from the ceiling) with spasming forearms and failing muscles (I literally couldn’t reach for the next hold) before I was willing to let go- proving that fear is sometimes an excellent motivator. 🙂

That’s all for now! Looking forward to some climbing again tomorrow, and maybe some boot camp…

Have a great night!

Boot Campers Gone Bad

“Hard work, given time, will defeat talent.”

Ever wonder what happens when a group of boot campers go rogue? Twelve scoops of ice cream topped over 2 chocolate lava cakes with m&m’s, gummy worms, and who-knows-what-else turns into a sad empty plate… THAT’S WHAT!

From this...

In our defense, it was a special occasion (Kelly’s Birthday/St. Patrick’s Day) AND it took 4 of us to eat it… Alright, one person may have carried the team a little, but she has a six pack and manly biceps so that makes it ok, right?

Despite any slight pings of guilt any of us may have felt, it was a great time! We even got to torture Adam’s best friend about the endless reasons why he needs to join boot camp.  Ultimately, he continues to refuse, so we just told him we would bring a boot camp flash mob to his house. 🙂  He’s so funny thinking won’t wouldn’t actually do it!

Aside from pigging out on St. Patrick’s Day weekend (including yummy S’mores Sunday night!) I have actually been eating very healthy recent (very healthy for me anyway).  The thing that sucks about eating food that is actually digestible- I feel like I have a tape worm again and need to eat every 2 hours or I get light headed.  This is especially fun when you work in a profession where you don’t even get a real lunch break.  The fact that I also have been working out like nobody’s business and getting my butt kicked by month 2 of Insanity probably isn’t helping.

To this...ok there was a banana left, but not much else

That extra 10-15 minutes of intervals has been killing me!- no lie.  (Of course that may be in part from me over-doing it on a regular basis.)  I know it may seem a bit intense to some people that I pull so many doubles and triples. However, the truth is on the days I work it is very difficult for me to get a good workout in; so although I may be getting in 2 or three workouts on my days off, it’s still only (haha “only” I know what you’re thinking!) 7 or 8 (alright, sometimes more) sessions for the week.  Plus, I don’t really count going for a casual run or afternoon at the climbing gym a “workout” – even if it actually is one. 😉 To me, it’s just fun.  Like going to a movie, but without all the junk food.

The highlight of my weekend was surprisingly not the junk food, but rather lifting with Adam and his best friend.  I really like hitting the weights with them, because 1) lifting heaving things makes me feel like a total badass, and 2) Adam’s friend makes it a point to push me really hard.  (Plus, he is like a super man with the weights!  I am always super impressed by the amount he is able to lift.)  I even made it a point to wear my bad ass boot camp gear so I could feel even more like a badass!  (and I thought Adam’s friend would appreciate the badass socks)

We ended up doing back, shoulders, and abs.  In true awesome form, Adam’s friend was doing rows with more than my body weight!!!! He was also trying to teach me how to do a dragon flag, but my back was shot after the rows and completely uncooperative.  Apparently, it is something near impossible to do on your first try, but I gave it my best effort! Something to add to the goal list for sure!  I did have one great accomplishment for the day, however. I completely SMOKED the boys at back extensions.  Initially, they told me to do them until I got tired, but when I was over 60 in, they decided it was too easy and gave me a weight.  When that still didn’t wear me out, they (picked their jaws off the floor, and then) handed me a 25 lb plate and I knocked out about 25 more.

Adam tried to say it was because I wasn’t bending far enough over, but his friend totally backed me up that I was doing them correctly (secretly, I think he was impressed but his manly pride wouldn’t let him admit it 😉 ).  I think it probably worked in my favor that I’m so short and compact, but I’m also totally sure it had to do with the fact THAT I WORK HARDER THAN BOTH OF THEM PUT TOGETHER- especially Adam who tends to rely on his natural athletic ability (who could fault him, really?).   I get that it probably sucks for him when his athletically challenged girlfriend kicks his butt at something physical, but the reality is HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT DOESN’T WORK HARD!  I may be tiny, but I have a lot of heart and I’m willing to bust my ass– which is EXACTLY what I do.

In other news, I am STILL working on the pull ups (and chin ups).  I’ve made some progress at lifting with my back but still can’t get my arms to bend.  The important thing, though, is I am closer than I was yesterday!!! I have also been nominated for a few more blog awards- which I need to get on posting pronto!

I hope everyone is having an AWESOME day!!!

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Life Without Boot Camp…

“I found every single successful person I’ve ever spoken to had a turning point.

The turning point was when they made a clear, specific unequivocal decision that they were not going to live like this anymore; they were going to achieve success.

Some people make that decision at 15 and some people make it at 50, and most people never make it at all.”

Brian Tracy

haha you know it's true!

In case anyone is wondering (or worried) I am continuing to survive my time without boot camp (just barely 😉 ).  Only one more day to go, and it will take nothing short of an act of God to keep me from class tomorrow night!!!!!  I have been continuing to use my Jackie Extreme Timesaver Workout DVD and adding additional exercise reps to keep myself from completely withdrawing.  Meanwhile, I continue to wait for my Insanity DVDs to arrive (it’s taking FOREVER!!!- or maybe it just feels like it and I’m being dramatic…).

As an added workout, Adam and I hit the climbing gym today.  It was the first time I had been there in a long time, and I was surprised that my harness was really loose when I pulled it on. (I’d say Woohoo for boot camp weight loss, but I have actually gained (stupid muscle weighing more than fat!)…so instead I’ll says Woohoo for inches lost in all the right places!)  Luckily, it still fit once I synched it down.  I was a little nervous about my arms being fatigued after all the upper body work I did in my morning workout; however, once we began climbing I was excited to find that my endurance was dramatically improved.  Unfortunately, my technique was totally off- apparently rock climbing is not like riding a bicycle.  Shocking, I know!

Prior to boot camp, I had to rely primarily on maneuvering my body efficiently to get up to the top.  Now that I have significantly more strength, my initial impulse was just to power up using my new and improved muscles.  Of course, this was not nearly as effective.  Looks like I’ll be needing to brush up on my skills.

Overall, it was still lots of fun. I would definitely recommend rock climbing to anyone looking for a fun, challenging total body workout.  This is definitely the most sore I’ve been in a long time!  Hopefully I can still move tomorrow!

Finally, in case anyone needs a laugh or a little inspiration, I wanted to share a couple links.  The first is a blog called “My Time is Now”  (also now located in my blogroll) which is written by a friend and fellow boot camper.  She is truly a thriver in my book –in addition to being one of the most inspiring, driven, caring, and compassionate people I’ve ever met. She’s risen above circumstances that would have caused others to crumble, and actually has a second blog I’d recommend that chronciles her mother’s battle with stage IV lung cancer.

Then- to help you clear up the tears– all my runner friends out there should check out this post by the Tortoise Runs for a good laugh.

One more funny thing for good measure:

Oh, I would also like to point out that I have added my trainer/boot camp instructor’s blog to my blogroll as well.  He was jealous insulted that I had added Kelly’s first, in spite of the fact that I regularly rave about how awesome he and boot camp are and frequently link to his page in my posts… (You knew I would call you out, right? ;-p I know, extra burpees tomorrow. Bring it on! lol)  Seriously though, his blog has some great advice and recipes.

  That’s all for tonight folks!  I hope you all are enjoying what’s left of your weekend!!!!

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