Mystery Quilt

Going to a mystery quilt class - where we get the fabric according to some general description, cut it out and do some pre-sewing but we do not know what it is going to look like. I like these classes although I struggle a bit picking the fabric. Here is what I am using:

And here is what it turned out to be.

Now that I know the solution to the mystery, I might have gone about solving it a bit differently...but, as usual, it was fun. For those who are really good detectives, you will note that one corner is left undone...I only needed a 3 1/2 inch square and did not have it with me...fortunately, I did have enough at home.

Friday, at last

This seemed like a long week so Friday is welcome. Next week is Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas retail season...busy busy. Thinking of barbecued Turkey - did it once before and it was great...it also frees up the oven for all of the carbs that need cooking!

Have to get up at around 3:30am the day after Thanksgiving so I can visit stores that open at 5am - crazy!!!

Still at it with burpees - so far, no days missed. up to 56 in 9:09. Did not go to Crossfit on Wed - two reasons - work and my leg needed a rest as it was hurting from the deadlifts last week. Back at it tonight.

N and L demonstrated wall sits for R and me.

Politics at the local guild

So, foolish as it sounds, I allowed myself to be appointed VP of our Quilt Guild for next year. Already there is guild drama and I only got appointed two weeks ago AND my term does not start til January. Not sure if I can take it.

On a burpee note - up to 53 this morning - did it in 8:10 which is too long.

They should have paid us to do last night's WOD:

3 Rounds of:

25 Air Squats/15 Pull-ups
Then:
Run 800 meters
25 Box Jumps (30/24")
15 Swings (70/53)
Run 400 Meters
25 Squat-Thrust Burpees

I did it in 24:05

I did NOT do it Rx, however.

One cute pix of Nyia...

Sunday at the alumni game

which, as is only right, the alumni lost. I asked O to score 4 pts, which she did...one of which was a three pointer.

We asked Nyia to take our picture - see below ...it turned out a bit odd and dark but here we are. And, altho my hair can use some styling, that point at the top of my head is part of the background!

records and non records

Yesterday, I deadlifted 173 which is about 2 lbs less than my record. I think I could have lifted 10 more lbs but I felt a painful pull in the wrong area so stopped there.

today did 51 burpees at 7:31...2 more seconds than yesterday...mmmm

today weigh in broke the 156 barrier at 155 (I never count the stuff after the decimal point) - a record - at least for this go around!!!

Going to O's alumni game with my bro, Mike...gonna be fun.

And a shout out Happy Birthday to my sis.

..

50

took me 7:29.

You would think just 12 more would only take a minute but those 12 took at least 2 1/2.

Update

burpees - this morning did 38 in 4:48. So far, in this challenge, I have done at least 750 burpees and have not missed a day. I say, at least, because I started by doing 20 each day until my fellow co-challengers caught up and because we have had some WODs that included burpees.

Tomorrow fast forwarding to 50 so Jay can participate and so we can hit 100 when he is here.

What a mom won't do for her superhero son.

hey hey hey

I did a double under....in fact I did 30 of them!! Not in a row, mind you, but 30 nonetheless. In case you do not know what a double under is....if you think it looks easy, try it.

CrossFit

People ask me what CrossFit is - and I go on and on. I need a short, concise explanation for it so I grab their interest without scaring them off.



One description is:

Mixed Modal

High Intensity

Functional Movement

in a team oriented environment

with challenging, but caring, trainers.

Another is:

burpees today...36 in 5:01

Screwing with the time

I don't know about any of you,

but I am not a fan of changing the time -

particularly at this time of year.

I am not sure why daylight

is more important to save

during the summer than the winter

Or why Arizona

doesn't have to do it

and we do

I hate it when I work in the office

(with no windows)

and leave at a decent time

(5 or so)

and emerge into darkness.

It makes me feel like this...

To catch up a bit...

Wednesday, I had the chance to work out with some of the women from the SJ Police Department. They have their own gym and the woman who was instrumental in bringing it to the department gave a speech about CrossFit to a Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Conference that my company sponsored.

It was fun. The WOD was Tabata - squats, push ups and situps. Then they added burpees.

Friday - regular CRV warmup. Workout was:
For time:

• 30 backsquats - I lifted 85lbs
• 1 mile run

My time was 29 minutes even! Not bad, I thought.

Saturday -team workout - 50m death by running. That is so much harder than running straight! I did 12 rounds - best folks got to 16 rounds.

Babies spent the night - haven't had a sleepover with them for a while. Cutest grands in the world!

Today - did not run, but did 33 burpees in 4:21 and have not missed a burpee day yet. I am afraid to!!!

Today was a cheat eating day because we went to a brunch and then went to see baby Henry...so cute, although it is so hard to think of Elijah and Leslie as old enough to be parents!!

Piazza di burpee

Here is where I do my burpees and where I did 31 this morning:

Donation Quilts

This is two quilts - the front is mostly the same, the back fabric is different. Just thought the fabric was adorable. Donated them to Project Linus this past weekend.

Angie

Warmup was run 800m and then some stretches.

then Angie, the WOD:
100 pullups (with band)
100 pushups
100 situps
100 squats

did it in 29 min.

amazingly... I did look up the WOD earlier today and I still showed up!!!

also did 27 burpees this am in 4:05

Costumes, concert and results

Two beauties and a rock star in spandex!

There are a number of great things about the company I work for...one is that I get to go to conferences and meetings and see folks I wouldn't ordinarily see. And I get to see them up close and personal. Last week, I went to the CA Women's Conference - heard some awesome speakers including Katie Couric and Madeline Albright and heard Alicia Keys speak and sing. She is beautiful, got a great set of pipes, loves her mom, and does some admirable work with her Keep a Child Alive organization which provides AIDs medication to children in Africa.

finally - results...

weight is the same at 156..I would check out inches lost except I did not measure at the beginning. I do know I am down 3-4 sizes since I began CrossFit last year and this month solidly down a size (you know, there is down a size and there is REALLY down a size).

New goals/tactics (most are continuing) are:

1. Work on pullups every time - goal: 1 unassisted pull up by Christmas
2. Run 400 - 800 m every day - goal: run 400m in less than 2 minutes
3. Continue 100 day burpee challenge - do them all at once & time them - goal: do them faster than day before
4. Continue Paleo (altho today will be a cheat day) - goal: down 5 pounds by 12/1

Hey...this is the last day...

of the OC!!

That would make it October 31

and time for some good ol Halloween memories....

I have to say...

Jay - you were always a good sport about this holiday!!

burpee time...25 in 3:20

Thursday and up to 23 burpees a day

When I travel early in the week...it feels like it should be the weekend when I get back. bummer that it's not.

On the trip, I did my burpees each day and ran each morning.

Eating - was fairly ok, considering. I did cave in to a Doubletree Hotel cookie that they give you when you check in. It is warm and it is soft and it is chocolate chip. Since I did not refuse it when offered, it was too much to expect of myself not to eat it once in my hotel room. Ah well...at least it was great!

Monday

Going to be traveling for a few days - out today back Wed - so no posts...try to hang on.

Sunday - was a bit of a cheat day...ate some cinnamon bread, 2 slices, that was more like cake!!! Also had bean soup for dinner...not horribly bad but not on paleo nonetheless.

Did burpees - all at once, although had to rest a bit between 10's. Also ran about 3/4 of a mile... that is around a block close to home.

Made Lo's costume - a cat - black dress with white furry trim...will provide pix later this week. she was happy so that made me happy.

Sunday on the Scales

Well - there could be a few reasons why there is no downward or satisfying progress....still at 156.

• not really being honest about what I have eaten - no reason to lie... reject this one
• not doing the work ... reject even tho I missed a day
• not eating enough vegetables - I think this is true
• eating too many nuts - as they are easy snacks and available - true
• body is too damn old to respond to diet efforts like it used to - this might be true too

arggggghhhhh

not giving up, you understand, just a bit crapped out about it.

Yesterday's WOD was in teams of two...

10 rounds for time of...

1 snatch

3 hang power cleans

2 push press/push jerk

run 100 m

Did my burpees when I got home.

Also went to a competition in another CF gym for age 40 and older - called them a masters class. The first event was running...altho they did not tell them how far they were going to run. They just got to a point and were told to keep going - that happened about 3 times. Ended up to be about 3 miles. Second was power cleans and third was wall balls. I just heard about it the night before. If they ever hold one for 50 and older, I will enter.

Day 22 - Food Fitness and some Folly

Food

thought I probably ought to get back to logging my food -I know how exciting that is for my reader or two, but - getting close to the end of the month and need to make sure that I am getting the most out of these last challenge days....

B - coffee with creamer - had to run out the door

S - nuts and raisins

L - eggs, hot link, pineapple, cantaloupe

D - halibut, asparagus, broccoli

S - cantaloupe with a scoop of ice cream (needed it)

Fitness

ran 800 m - need to catch up for a few days ... still 800 m behind

CFV workout

WOD

AMRAP (as many reps as possible)

3 min shuttle run - running short distance touching ground at each end - did 19

1 min rest

3 min dead lift - 133lbs - did 17

1 min rest

3 min burpees - did 23 - so got mine in for the day...was disappointed it was only 23 in 3 min, then I remembered the other stuff I had done before it.

This one was a wipe out!!!!!

Folly

thought I would add this to some of my posts - laughing at oneself is important.

Went to Starbucks drive through (I know I know - this was certainly not available in the Paleolithic era), was talking on the phone, ordered my drink, drove up to pay for it and drove off. Was making a significant point on the call and went to fortify myself with said coffee only to realize I drove off without it.

Folly part of it - this is not the first time.

Day 21 of the OC

Today - did 20 burpees. Worked too late to get to CF so tomorrow gonna have to run 4X400 to catch up.

The funnest part of today was walking with Ny-pie in her halloween parade.

Last Few Days (18-20)

Been busy with work - up early back late.
Been on Paleo all days - in fact, probably not eating enough - but certainly not eating too much. altho I have not given up the coffee/creamer fix yet despite my son's urging.

Monday -
Crossfit -
CFV warmup including my run and my 20 burpees
Overhead Squats
3-3-3-3-3 at 33 lbs
AMRAP in 12 minutes
7 OHSquats at 33 lbs
7 Pullups
I did nine rounds

Missed Tuesday burpees and run
Did not make it there on Wed - will try to go today to make it up
Did do 40 burpees on Wednesday
Have to run 3 X 4oom today to make up for the missed days

I was driving home too late last night to make CF thinking it is a drag that work gets in the way of fitness, especially when you are on a roll! I mean, it is hard enough to get on that roll!

Anyway, persevere... taking it one day at a time.

One anniversary - it was a year ago that I started at CF! J - it was when you were out here last October. It has been the longest I have ever stayed with a fitness program!!! thanks, kiddo.

OC Day 17 and Weigh In Sunday

Sorta told you about fitness day 17 with the 1 mile run...also did more burpees than required and the team WOD

food -

Reality is not far ....

b - eggs, hot link, peppers, zucchini, pineapple, mango

l - actually skipped it - at a volunteer event and they only had pizza

d - chicken and lamb, salad, oj

weigh in - same as last week - 156 - it IS a month long challenge - so hanging in there.

Painted Ladies

today

I ran a mile - more like trotted - but it was a mile and I did NOT walk it.

Day 15 of the OC on a muggy day

Muggy muggy muggy yuck.

If I wanted muggy, I would live in the south

or in Chicago in the summertime

or in a rain forest.

Instead, I live in northern California and it should NOT be muggy.

Anyway, I am half way, or so, there on the OC.

So far so good - weigh in is this Sunday.

Food for the last few days has been on program with the exception of an eggroll, a few wontons in my soup and a bit of sauce. Does sound like more than a few exceptions, but I was not truly bad. I would admit it.. really I would


Yesterday did not include a WOD, a burpee or a run. Had to get to work early and got home exhaustedly late. See, I admitted that.

Today, tho...

20 burpees mixed in with the usual CFV warmup;

front squats 2-2-2-2-2 last was pb at 75lb;

run 400m X 3 for time -one was a pb at 2:11.

still not below 2 but closer.

Food words to live by....

If you're not hungry enough to eat an apple,

you're not hungry.

heavy heavy on Day 13

To say it rained yesterday is a gross understatement. It dumped buckets! More than it has on that very day for the last 40 years, they say. Wreaked havoc everywhere but no matter, rain is glorious!

Yesterday's WOD has me hobbling - it's the lunges - my backside from my buttocks to my ankles ...pain pain pain. Didn't help this nagging left leg achilles issue either.

Enough whining -

Food facts - b - turkey, banana, grapes; L - nuts, beef jerkey; D - beef, squash, green.

Did burpees in the am - before the pain set in. Did not run - altho I did a lot of running in the rain.

Miss my Crystal - you having fun, girly girl?

Miss my Loli - hope to see her this weekend.

Miss reading about Jay - you still on the burpee challenge? I got my peers on a 100 day challenge - we will see how they do. Are you also on another month's food challenge? Post, my son, post!

Day 12 of the OC

This one was hard....

800m run.

20 Walking Lunge (50/30) - I did 20

15 Swings (52/35) - I did 18

600m run

20 Walking Lunge

15 Swings

400m run
20 Walking Lunge

15 Swings

200m run

20 Walking Lunge

15 Swings

I did it in 24.05 min - which was not the slowest person of the day - in fact, it was 4th from the slowest*. And I only walked about 100 m of the 800. So I clearly did my run for the day and also did my burpees.

*For the WODs that are hard for me, my litmus test is to not be last..anything but last!!

Food - after my birthday cheat day... I was pretty good.

B - two eggs scrambled with hotlink, tomato, red pepper, banana, strawberry

S - nuts, raisins

L - salad with shrimp, veg

D - chicken (left over from that awesome dish that Olivia made), butternut squash

Foto - after the WOD on Saturday - which I got to pick :-).

I picked luck of the draw - deck of cards, an exercise is assigned to each suit (sit ups, push ups, box jumps, squats with 200m assigned to the joker), other team picks for you...if they pick 9 of hearts - our team has to do 9 pushups, etc. Down side is they picked both jokers for us :-(. It was fun anyway.

the perfect gift...

not bad for a....

59 year old...

ran the 400m in 2:17 this am - in addition to 3 other 400m runs

did 20 burpees

probably could not do that when I was 39 - which is what I told O who was kind enough to come out and run with me during which I took four paces to her two.

also down to 156 which is 4 lb loss...on pace for my 30 day goal of 10 lbs.

won't bore you with yesterday's results other than to tell you I did what I was supposed to

Most importantly, still havin fun with it!!!!

surprise!!!

Yesterday, I was in my office meeting with someone with my door closed and someone starts pounding on the door. I open it and it is my team at work yelling surprise with roses and balloons. They kidnapped me (only to take me to lunch at Benihanas) and when we went to the parking lot, this is what I found:

Day OC 9

First - my son, J, inspired me to start this journey.... going by his postings, seems he has taken a detour off the face of cyperspace???? know you were sick, know C is visiting, but, to quote C, wtf?

Fitness -
Ran 800 m (with a bit of a break in between) to make up for yesterday
Did 20 burpees - 10 in the am, 10 at CF
WOD
Shoulder Press 1-1-1-1-1 55-55-55-60-60
Push Press 3-3-3-3-3 55-55-55-60-60
Push Jerk 5-5-5-5-5 all 55 (getting tired)

Food -
B - turkey
L - edamame, chicken and veg stirfry (and just a tad of fried rice) at BeniHanas (my team surprised me at my office and took me to lunch - also tagged my car ... pix later)
D - lentil soup, 2 crackers, olives, kiwi, orange slices
not particularly great - as probably not enough but I survived.

Days 6, 7 and 8 of the OC - WARNING- boring post

Been on a business trip (bt) so am behind in posting for two days. here is the lowdown....
Day 6 - 10/6 Tues
fitness:
run 400m did it on the treadmill
20 burpees - did them

food:
b - turkey, apple
l - fruit
s - apple, banana
d - steak salad


Day 7 - 10/7 Wed
fitness:
run 400m - actually ran for more than that and I think I did because I took my stopwatch and ran for about 4 min
20 burpees - done
food:
b - eggs, bacon, fruit, coffee
l - chicken and salad
s - fruit
d - steak, greenbeans, corn

Day 8 - 10/8 Thursday
fitness:
20 burpees - done
did not run so have to make it up on Friday
food:
b - eggs, bacon, fruit, coffee
l - chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, corn
s - fruit
d - salmon, artichoke

All in all, except for no CrossFittin and missing one run, I did extremely well! Travel, especially business travel, is very hard on a routine, on a diet, on a fitness focus - but I prevailed!

OC Day 5 (just to change it up a bit)

Fitness:

run 400m - check

did 20 burpees - check

Warmup - 1 round of CFV WU, hang power cleans 3-3-3-3-3 ... got to 63lbs

WOD

4 rounds

12 Knees to Elbows - not near Rx but better each time

12 Pull ups (red/green bands)

did it in 4:35min

Food:

B - turkey breast, banana

L - carrots, nuts

Sn - apple

D - roast chicken, broccoli, roasted peppers and eggplant

Sn - watermelon, strawberries

Fotos:

most beautiful, and best tasting, latte ever!!!

Borough Market - a most amazing place...amazing food, bustling, colorful, fun. Bought nuts, a smoothy and ostrich burgers which we ate that night - highly recommended although do not look for an endorsement from R who could not bring himself to try one.

Day 4 of the OC

Fitness:
Ran 4X400m with 400m walk in between
Did 20 burpees

Food:
Coffee with creamer (just assume this - I won't continue to list)
B - eggs with hotlink/pepper/green chili and salsa with bacon and fruit/oj
L-fruit/nuts
D-salmon/artichoke/green beans/fav min water drink

Sunday weigh-in: 158...down 2 lbs