Still Doing CrossFit

Next month it will be one year since I attended my first CrossFit workout.

What is CrossFit?

CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program for many police academies and tactical operations teams, military special operations units, champion martial artists, and hundreds of other elite and professional athletes worldwide.

Our program delivers a fitness that is, by design, broad, general, and inclusive. Our specialty is not specializing. Combat, survival, many sports, and life reward this kind of fitness and, on average, punish the specialist.

The CrossFit program is designed for universal scalability making it the perfect application for any committed individual regardless of experience. We’ve used our same routines for elderly individuals with heart disease and cage fighters one month out from televised bouts. We scale load and intensity; we don’t change programs.

While in Balad it started as a way to augment my weight loss. Then it became a personal challenge to do a pull-up (which I did on 28 June). After coming home I tried to do it myself at the regular gym (following the daily workout on CrossFit.com) but sometimes there wasn't the right equipment, or no way to time it properly.

A month later I found CrossFitLasVegas with trainers that helped me learn proper lifting technique and scaled workouts for success, safety and effectiveness. I also found a supportive community.

All of our workouts can be tracked on BeyondTheWhiteboard so progress can be measured. Every week I find myself doing something a little faster, a little stronger, or even just a little easier. The first time I did "Murph" it took 1 hour 23 minutes (using a treadmill for the running and a blue band for the pull-ups). A couple of weeks ago we did this WOD at CFLV. New time to beat: 51:59 (pull-ups with the red band, running outside. Pushups were not regulation but they will be the next time).



While in Balad my max effort on Deadlift was 155#. In January this year I lifted 180# and last week I did 2 sets of 5 lifts at 135# with 1 set at 145#.

Oh, and the original goal of weight loss? Definately seeing the difference. I hadn't felt comfortable in a bikini in YEARS.

CrossFit WOD Turned into OUCH!

Back in August when I found CrossFit Las Vegas:
Had my baseline evaluation today with Mike. After watching me jump rope, row, airsquat, do crossfit situps & pushups and demonstrate a pullup, he had me to the baseline workout: 500m row, 40 airsquats, 30 situps, 20 pushups, 10 pullups (used the purple band) in 6:45.

This was the WOD today. I thought I was doing pretty well until I got to the last exercise. I could not get my foot into that damn blue band. It slipped off my foot (before I could get it into the proper position)! Picture what happens when you snap a rubber band. Yah, pretty much that, landing across my chest - with the initial slap direct on my right nipple. OUCH!!! Going to leave a bruise I'm sure.

So I was disappointed when I got unhooked and jumped down to stop my watch; to see my time of 7:35. I'm sure if there was a trainer looking over (with the usual encouraging words), helping to get into the band quickly (and safely), and stopping the timer at the end of the last pullup, I could have at least equaled my previous time. I'm sure I'll have a chance to do this again soon. My goal will be <6:30.

The CFLV blog TTOD (Trainers Topic of the Day) was about starting clean lifts from three positions. I watched instructional videos on the main site and realized I was not really getting under the bar properly. But now I'm much better. Did 1 lift in all three positions for 3 rounds, then went to 65# for the last round. I want to have a trainer watch my form before going heavier.