A Random Mess Of Thoughts

9.6.15

Life

I've had a few life facts reaffirmed this week and learned a few new ones. In no particular order, here they are.

• Never go into Hucks without your phone camera. You WILL see the raddest mullet ever and you will immediately want to ask Joe Dirt for his autograph. You will also see free pizza samples sitting right out in the open at about butt level 3 feet away from the register and 6 feet away from the door. I'm not a germ-a-phobe, but something about that just looked unsanitary.
• Whoever prices things at Murray Goodwill is nuts. I have a project list of things that I am searching for so I routinely run through Goodwill and Angels Attic. I never find things at Goodwill. Scratch that, I never buy things at Goodwill. Wal-Mart is right across the road and is cheaper. 
• Don't try to mop when the dog is in the house. No explanation needed.

• You can use fish food as plant fertilizer? (not sure if this is a fact, thus the question mark) Sometimes my brain makes a lot of random leaps and connections and this one may be pushing it. I was looking at my sad little houseplants wondering how to make them happy. I was also thinking about lunch. Then I remembered that fish meal can be used as a plant fertilizer. Which made me think that I could pour my canned tuna water into the plant. Then I remembered the shrimp pellets I accidentally bought for my Beta fish. They don't float, so he won't eat them. Hmmmm...they make Miracle Grow pellets that you sprinkle on the soil. Why can't I sprinkle these pellets on the soil?? I did it. I'll let you know what happens. 
• When you decide to use fish food pellets as plant fertilizer, the dog thinks they are treats and digs the soil out to get to them. 

I got a Tupperware box yesterday! Here's the super exciting unboxing! Lol, really, don't get your hopes up. It's not that exciting. Ok, it's not exciting at all. But I'm in my jammies and look wretched so it might be worth watching just for the laugh value.

Training

Yesterday I got to compete in my first CrossFit Competition since February! Super City CrossFit hosted the second annual Battle of the Boxes Team event in Metropolis, Il. We won last year so we were hoping for a repeat and WE DID IT!

Yesterday was special because it we had so many athletes interested in competing we had to take two teams! 12 athletes represented CFM in a fun, hard day of competition and 3 of those had never competed before so we were excited for them to experience it! Each team had 3 guys and 3 girls.

The first event was 15 minutes to establish a max deadlift, a max bench press and a max clean. The girls on my team and I are all really close in abilities so we were able to execute this event according to our plan almost flawlessly! Shout out to Lindsey for her 140# bench!! The boys did amazing as well and our team won event 1!

The next event for us was 5 minute WOD where we had to push a weighted sled (115# I think) in 100 ft increments as a relay for distance. I pushed it 100 ft, then Meg  pushed it 100 ft back, then Lin, etc. This event about did me in. First, I don't have a lot of muscle endurance yet since I just started back to CrossFit. Second, it was 100 billion degrees in blazing sun and on asphalt and I don't sweat. I just get really hot and overheat. I survived it and we won that event, but it took me a good 30-40 minutes to get my head back on straight!

For our third event I have to give props to my partner, BJ. We had to do thrusters and bar muscle ups. He was a machine on that pull up bar! His hands ripped and he was hurting, but he kept going strong! This was the only event we didn't win yesterday and we lost it by ONE SECOND! I remember on my last muscle up staring at the bar convincing myself that I could do it. Dang. There was that second we needed!

The last event of the day was Triple 3. The boys competed as a unit and the girls competed as a unit. Each unit had to row 3000 meters, do 300 double unders and run one mile. Megan was worried about her double unders but she rocked them LIKE A BOSS!! And when those girls took off running, they were on fire! As for me.....

I am not a great runner. I enjoy sprints, but anything over 400 meters is just gross in my opinion! But, I've been working on it and was feeling fairly confident going into the 1 mile run. I had a plan and I had a playlist. As I took off out the door into the blazing heat, I was surprised when J came up running beside me. He was coaching, not competing, so I thought he was just running out to give me a few words of encouragement. But no. He ran the entire mile with me!

My calves cramped up and my shins started hurting about 1/3 of a mile in. J was encouraging me, but I couldn't hear him because of my head phones. Apparently everybody else could hear us though!

J- Land on your heels! Stretch out your stride! You are doing fine!
A- I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

J- Don't let anybody else pass you! You are almost there!
A- I DON'T CARE!
J- MOVE YOUR ASS!!
A- (me hauling ass the last 300 meters)

Hahahahahaha! I'm not sure my time, but that was probably my best/worst mile. I had to walk a lot and I yelled at my husband (and he yelled at me) and I cried, but I made it in the door fourth. Even though I'm a terrible athlete mentally sometimes, I am proud that my husband is my coach and knows when to baby me and when to push me.

And even though I was writhing on the floor and making sounds reminiscent of a dying animal at the end of that event, our team won it as well! So close to a sweep!

If you've never been a part of a CrossFit competition, you should go sometime just to watch. The community and support that everybody brings is amazing! And my favorite is the women.

Nowhere else have I ever seen women come together and cheer each other on like they do at a CF comp. Even if they are on different teams, it doesn't matter. In CF, we love strong women. We love building each other up. We love seeing each other do things we didn't know we could do. If all women acted like CF women at a comp, a lot of cattiness and drama would go away.

Best Thing I've Came Across Lately

Teaching middle school for 14 years put me in a position to know and work with young people dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. Having a college aged daughter with friends suffering the same issues has shown me we have to look at new ways to help them. They suffer and think they are alone because they just can't see anything beyond the present situation. Those of us that are older and know that hard times pass just can't convey that to them because the concept of a future that is better is almost impossible for them to envision. I came across this article by Tim Ferriss and I think it is a profound piece on the subject. Please share it with anyone you know that is struggling.

Another ingenious thing about this article? The hyper link reads this

http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/05/06/how-to-commit-suicide/

Why does it say "how to commit suicide" at the end? So that if someone searches that phrase they will be presented with this article. And because it's Tim Ferriss, this will show up at the top of Google searches. Love it.

Talk back

What life facts have you learned lately?
Could you have your spouse as your coach?
What do you think about the Ferriss article?

Stay Strong Y'all!

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3 days out! Tips for sticking to your meal plan and having a life!

8.9.15

BW 52.1

Life

A historical event happened today. I met my parents at a restaurant for brunch and .....

I ordered, ate and completely enjoyed an omelette! 

What?! Who is this person? I don't know what is changing in my taste buds that is making me like eggs, but wow! 

I'm backing off the carbs and increasing my fat the next few days in preparation for weigh in. Carbs are amazing and I usually eat around 170-200 grams, but they do make you hold more water than other macros. So more fat for me for the next few days! Yum! 

A bacon, veggie, 2 egg omelette (no butter or grease, please) is delicious!! What has been my problem with eggs? 

I wanted to take a picture of the deliciousness, but didn't want to bust out my phone and be that weirdo, lol. Not that it has every stopped me before....

Instead, here's a picture of my spinach. 

Lol, my lake cooler is filled with Tupperware and that Tupperware is filled with spinach, cauliflower and tomatoes to keep my fiber up, but carbs low! I also have a Wavy Snack Bowl filled with peanut butter and chocolate chips, because you gotta have some fun, right?

Seriously though, I'm three days out from a big meet and I'm eating out at restaurants and hanging out at the lake. Normal life events do not have to mess up your nutrition plan! 

Tips:

1. Think it through- I knew my nutrition goals would be challenged today if I wasn't careful, so I carefully thought through today's activities yesterday. When I said I went to brunch, I didn't go to some houttie-touttie brunch establishment. I went to a classic, southern, greasy spoon. The only reason I even get to use the fancy word brunch was because it was ten in the morning. Last night, I thought about what I would choose to eat that would be available there. I didn't wait until I was setting in the booth overwhelmed with off plan choices.
2. Talk to restaurant staff- I had decided I was going to go with either boiled eggs and bacon, an omelette or scrambled eggs with bacon. When I sat down I asked the waitress if they had boiled eggs and she said, "Yes". Plan A covered. Then I asked if I could get an omelette made with no butter or grease and she said, "Sure!" Boom! Plan B! Here's why she wasn't annoyed with me for asking. One, I smiled and asked nicely. Two, I had a plan and a back up plan and made a decision quickly. Had the answer to both of my questions been no, I would have went with just bacon and enjoyed company, coffee and bacon!
3. Pack your cooler full- Failing to plan is planning to fail. In my lake cooler I had pre-weighed and measured ham and bowls of raw veggies. I also had a can of almonds. No reason to be off plan if you pack foods you can eat.
4. Go for volume- No, spinach isn't sexy or exciting, but I could sit and read a magazine on the boat while nibbling on spinach. And it takes A LOT of spinach to get too many carbs!
5. Treat yourself- Plan a treat for yourself! Yes, you are going to be sitting around eating veggies, but it's very enjoyable if you know you have a treat stashed away! I love peanut butter and chocolate and that was my treat today. A tablespoon of peanut butter with some milk chocolate chips mixed in, heaven!

Lol, this was after I ate most of it and before I licked the bowl.

What situations challenge you when you are trying to eat according to your goals?

The building of the new bridge is so fascinating! It's just mind boggling how they can pour concrete in water!

Even Eleiko is impressed!

Speaking of Tupperware, this week's special is great! You get 3 bowls, a colander and tongs for only $49! Order here! 

Training

Last lifting day! I'm feeling so strong and confident! A few light snatches, power cleans and power jerks and front squats. 

Bonus points for you if you can figure out why I am so confused after the lift on the right. 

Best Thing I Came Across Today

From Rejection Proof, from Jia Jiang-

Some days I feel like I'm Alexander the Great. Every day I want to be like the gymnosophist. 

Stay strong y'all!

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17 days out

7.25.15

BW 53.1

6:30 AM
Up early today to go to the Murray Mom Expo! I'm meeting people and telling them about CrossFit Murray and Tupperware!

Super cute portable s&p shaker or....

Super cute portable shot glass?

2:00 PM
Just finished up and am really excited about the people I spoke with today! We had a great CrossFit Kids workout and I met some awesome kids and parents!

Now headed home to get my fingers twitching for Heart of America Affiliate Challenge Registration! This is a super elite CrossFit competition that is very limited in the amount of teams allowed to participate. It literally sells out in seconds! We have competed the last two years and had a blast! Fingers crossed as we are trying to get 2 teams in!

HOA7 Here comes CFM!

5:15 PM
BOOMSAUCE! We did it! Super fast fingers results in 2 teams registered! Lol, I thought I was going to chill and get fat after the Masters World Cup. Nope, I'm going to go straight into cardio hell to get ready for this comp!


6:15 PM
Rolling out again to see the Krider Performing Arts Children's Theater's presentation of Shrek. Brooke is the stage manager, costume designer and makeup artist. Can't wait to see her magic!

I do own real clothes and jewelry! Lol, who knew?!

Wait?! There's a gun show??

And I wasn't invited?! No fair! (No worries y'all, the car was parked!)

My amazing, creative, talented baby!

I think I've been there!

8:00 PM

Stopped at McDonald's for a planned hot fudge sundae and the guy loads it up with hot fudge! I'm like "Hell yeah! Thanks iifym gods!" (Because it doesn't count if it's a gift, lol) And as I'm driving away I realize he didn't get the lid on good and it's dumping out ALL OVER ME, MY CAR, all the things. I about cried. Not because of the mess, but because I lost those macros and that yummy fudge.

8:30 PM
Home and fixing to head to the shop to train.

Also got some black at Mcd because tired.

10:00 PM

Finally hitting my jerks I've been missing lately! Timing on cleans was a bit off, but I'm blaming that on the sloped shop floor. 

Worked up to about 90%. 

10:21 PM
Time for a bit of accessory work.

10:50
Done!

Not too bad of a day! 

Best thing I heard today, from Charles Poliquin

Ask yourself these three questions at the end of each day.



What did you do nice for someone else today?

What did someone do that was nice to you?

What did you learn today?

Stay strong y'all!


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The Joys of Rejection

I love listening to podcasts because it it an easy way to learn and gain more knowledge. I listen while cleaning the house, driving to work and during my warm up before I work out. 

I also love to read blogs and have a list of favorites in Safari that I check 3-5 times per week. 

It's always interesting to me how themes come up in what I'm listening to/reading and how fitting they are to what is going on with my life. 

Lately, the theme of accepting and expecting rejection has been recurring. Instead of worrying about and fearing rejection, the authors have been encouraging me (and you) to seek out, embrace and enjoy rejection! Crazy right?

The idea speaks to me because many of us fear rejection. We go through life afraid to do things, afraid to ask for things because we are afraid of the dreaded word, "No."

But what if you set out with the goal of getting a no? What if you set out to get 5 "No"s in a week? You would be happy when someone said no, right? Because it meant you were closer to your goal, you would be happy about that rejection!

But think about if someone said, "Yes!". Well, that is pretty darn good, too! It's a win-win!

Here's an example. Many of you know I've started selling Tupperware. I love their products for food storage and I love the convenience their products offer for transporting my foods around. With this new venture, I've embraced a "Go for No" attitude! Each week, I have set a goal to get two "No"s. I could get those in the following ways. 

• Ask a friend to host a party
• Ask a group if they would like to use Tupperware for a fundraiser
• Ask someone if they would to like start selling Tupperware
• Ask someone if they would like to order an item from the sale flier

Hey, here's a perfect "Go for No!" moment! Would you, reader, like to look at my online sales page? 

On a more personal level, you could use this in a variety of ways!

 Maybe you could ask someone you admire for some one-on-one brain picking time by inviting them to coffee.

Maybe you have been thinking about applying to the local college to get a degree. Go for it! What's the worst that could happen?

Maybe you can sing, but are nervous about singing in public. Ask the music director at church if you could sing a special. If he/she says no, then no worries, you met your goal. But if they say yes! Look at the window of opportunity you have opened for yourself!

Personal and professional growth is all about getting over the fear of rejection. It IS going to happen. Once you accept that and embrace it, there is nowhere to go but up! If someone says, "No", then it's ok because I am meeting my goal. If someone says, "Yes" then WOOO HOOO!

I am also using this in other areas as well such as my personal nutrition coaching business and CrossFit Murray. When you embrace and expect people to reject you, only good things can happen! Sure, at first the sting is still there, but the pain is numbed. Growing pains, right?

Here are some current resources and inspirations to get you ready for the "No." 

I haven't read this yet, but it's on my list. I've listened to the author give interviews and it has piqued my curiosity. Rejection Proof by Jia Jiang

"Go for No"  by Richard Fenton

Stay Strong Y'all!

Super happy to say this post is linked up at 




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My Tupperware Lady Unboxing!

A few weeks ago I decided to become a Tupperware Lady!

Yes, I know that term is outdated and not PC, but I like it and I'm a lady so I'm using it!

I love to decant things into pretty, organized containers and I'm constantly hauling food around so I thought Tupperware would be a perfect fit. 

My box of supplies came in last Tuesday, but I wanted to do an unboxing video and I wanted my daughter to take part so I waited until last night.

And this folks, is why you should buy your Tupperware from me!

Alternate Title: "Fittest Tupperware Lady" 

Disclaimer: all bad jokes and silliness are all my own. Tupperware, in no shape or form, advocates any of my antics. I, nor Tupperware, advocate using the large spice containers to slowly poison someone. I do not know if the "Butter of the Month" club exists, but it probably shouldn't.