A Comp With My Baby

We had a little in-house comp on the weekend to raise funds for Beyond Blue.  It was a partner competition and I asked my girls if they wanted to partner me.  Moo wasn't overly keen but T jumped on board, especially when she heard that we were dressing up.  The idea was to wear something blue and after a bit of a think about it we found some blue unicorn onesies on Ebay which we couldn't pass up.

It was a fun day.  The onesies didn't last long as it was so hot.  The workouts had suggested weights and if you didn't RXd you couldn't get into the finals (basically your score didn't count).  There is no way Missy T could do RX'd and the whole idea of this was that we were doing it for fun.  Jardan scaled us to perfection so that the WODs were tough but doable and it was good to have little rests while T did her thing.  I did the first workout as prescribed and T had a 4 kg kettlebell, the second workout Jardan had set me up with a 25 kg bar and 4 kg wall ball while T had a volleyball and dumbbells as her scaling plus she skipped instead of doing double unders.  I don't know what our scores were nor do I really care.  To keep in the spirit of the competition I no-repped my wall balls that weren't up to par as my counter had to run from T to where I was at the wall and she missed them.  Overall it was a great day, I wish I was more competitive and did it RX'd (I don't mind that T had to scale) but at the same time I was glad that it was like another day at the gym with no pressure to do a certain weight.  I wish I pushed myself a little harder and got more reps out but, really, I did my best on the day AND it was just for fun!

The WODs

Team Unicorn

Jardan laying down the law

I hate lateral burpees

Miss Kafoops swinging a kettlebell

A2G Squats

The onesie got a bit much.

2 WODs completed and still smiling

The Unicorns

Super Saturday

I know I have said it multiple times but I love Saturdays.  I get to do a WOD with my 2 most favourite people in the world, if I can I do the Pilates class and then we finish it off with morning tea at a coffee shop.  Today's WOD was a good one:

In Partners

 -

100 Double Unders

 (each, working at the same time)

50 OH Walking Lunge Steps 20kg/15kg

10 Burpees

80 Double Unders

50 OH Walking Lunge Steps 20kg/15kg

20 Burpees

60 Double Unders

50 OH Walking Lunge Steps 20kg/15kg

30 Burpees

40 Double Unders

50 OH Walking Lunge Steps 20kg/15kg

40 Burpees

20 Double Unders

50 OH Walking Lunge Steps 20kg/15kg

50 Burpees

*Both partners working at the same time to complete there double unders. Both partners must each complete required amount. Only in double unders can both partners work together, everything else only one partner can work at a time and it is accumulating the required reps together.

We did it in a team of 3, the girls skipped instead of double unders, did unweighted lunges and burps.  I did everything as prescribed except for the weight where I did 10 kg instead of 15 kg.  In hindsight I could have done the 15 kg.

The warm up was loads of fun but really hard work where we had to do lateral burpees over a partner and then did a Simon says with different exercises.  The WOD itself was a fun workout and the girls and I chipped away at it completing it in 29.28.  The girls did really well and they did a few more reps than me for the burpees and lunges.  I'm so proud of them.

Welcome Back!

Saturday's WOD was a farewell to 2013 and welcome 2014.  It was:

In Partners or teams of 3

-

The 365 days of 2013

-

For Time:

31 Front Squats 62.5kg / 40kg

28 Sit Ups

31 Push Ups

30 Pull Ups

31 Thrusters 62.5kg / 40kg

30 Knee 2 Elbow

31 Ring Dips

31 C2B Pull Ups

30 Clusters 62.5kg / 40kg

31 Toes 2 Bar

30 Hand Stand Push Up

31 Burpee Pull Ups

-

Cash Out with – 365 Double Unders - because 2014 HERE WE COME

 

As Missy T was at a sleepover I originally thought to do this as a partner with Moo but decided to team up with my normal partner, Jo, as a team of 3 and was pretty glad we did.  This was a really good workout and the 3 of us worked well as a team.  I was really pleased that I did unassisted pull ups for my burpee pull ups and attempted unassisted ring dips.  My hands were pretty ripped up from Friday's WOD so I chose to do knee to chest instead of knee to elbow and toes 2 bar.

 

The best part of the day was having the hose sprayed on us after we finished, having a much earned Canego and sitting in the icebath.

 

I noticed when the scores were put on the website that there were 3 mother/daughter teams doing this WOD.  How fantastic is that?  It's such an awesome feeling to be able to share these workouts with my kids and I'm sure the other mums feel much the same way.

 

Today's WOD was a strength day of thrusters and strict pull ups.  I was so happy that I managed to PB my thrusters with a 35 kg lift and got several strict pull ups.  We then finished with a Tabata squat head to head against Jo.  We finished with exactly the same number which was great as when I sped up she would do the same and vice versa.

12 Days of Christmas

This was our Saturday WOD:

The 12 Days of Christmas

CFG n CFCQ Team Style!”"

 -

Riding solo or Teams of 2 or 3

For Time:

120 Double Unders (Each)

110 Walking Lung Steps

100 AB Mat sit ups

90 Dead-Lifts 42.5kg/30kg

80 Box Jumps 24″”/20″”

70 KB Swings 24kg/16kg

600m Run (together)

50 Clusters 42.5kg/30kg

40 Pistols / Goblet Squat (with KB)

30 Pull Ups

20 Overhead Squats / Front Squat 42.5kg/30kg

10 Muscle Ups / Ring Dips

* If in Team of 2 or 3, Reps for total team (unless speficied) only 1 person moving at a time (unless speficied). Clock stops when both team members cross the line.”

The girls got home from visiting their grandparents on Friday night and I asked them both if they wished to join me.  Moo was keen but Missy T didn't feel up to it.  We had to go to the 6 am session as we had to drop my stepdad off to the train station on Saturday morning so I wasn't concerned that the little one didn't want to come and workout with me but I was pleased as punch that Moo wanted to tag along for this tough WOD.

I felt like I wanted to push myself to finish off a fantastic week in the gym but I also tried to be smart with my scaling.  As I find OHS hard at the best of times I chose to only go with a 15 kg bar for any barbell work as we could only have 1 weight for all 3 movements.  The deadlifts were super easy but as expected I found it hard to get depth in my overhead squats which meant it was the perfect decision.  Moo and I divvied up the work as evenly as we could but it was evident early on that I would be doing the majority of the work as she simply doesn't have the fitness for a big chipper workout like this one, more often than not I was doing 20 reps to her 10.  In saying that, she gave the workout everything she had and for that I am incredibly proud.

As I was doing lighter deadlifts, scaled the number of double unders and used a 12" box instead of a 16" I chose to push myself in other areas and decided to use a 16 kg kettlebell for the swings and goblet squats and do unassisted pull ups and ring dips. In hindsight, I should have attempted to do all double unders as I managed to string them together quite well yesterday.

We got the workout done in 35:50 which wasn't too bad as my girls tend to fluff around a little in transitions which can sometimes be a little frustrating.  They are often not ready when I have finished my set and dilly dally around a little but I try to take a breath and not be too concerned about the time clock when we are training together as I do really love spending this time with both of them.

I shouted Moo a Canego that the gym sell and she left the workout on a high, saying how great she felt from doing the WOD.  There were times when she complained and scaled mid workout (something the coaches don't like us doing but I don't have an issue with it if it means she gets the WOD done in a reasonable timeframe) but she kept going and found that inner-warrior.  So proud of my girl.

:-)

Yesterday the girls went to their first Crossfit Kids class (they usually come to an adults class with me).  They were the last to finish by a long way which they mentioned to me but the part I loved was that Moo asked if she can go again next week and Missy T was happy because she learnt how to do kipping pull ups with the band and got 10 unbroken reps out.

Love that attitude!

Sometimes It's Okay To Cry

Missy T has had to make a tough decision.  We learnt yesterday that her school camp will be held the same time as her tap and jazz exams so she has to choose between them and she has decided to do her dance exams because she doesn't want to be kept down a grade.  The unfortunate thing with living in regional areas is that examinors only come to town once so if you are unavailable too bad.

I picked her up from dancing and she was in tears.  She struggled with her dancing because her head wasn't in the right place and according to her didn't get a lot of sympathy from her teacher.  I understand where her teacher is coming from, she needs to come to terms with her decision and move forward but I also feel that we, as humans, bottle up our emotions way too much.

When we got in the car, I told her that it was okay to cry and be angry.  She has every right to feel disappointed but to try and not let it consume her.  By the time she finished dinner she was back to her normal bubbly self.  I think it was way better to let her cry it out then to tell her to harden up and get over it.

A Pair Of Unicorns and New Shoes

Matching Singlets

It was only Missy T and I on Saturday as Moo had gotten home from her school camp at 4 am on Saturday morning.  The workout was a bit of a doozy:

In Partners

-

30 min AMRAP

-

10 Deadlifts (125kg / 92.5kg)

20 Chest to Bar Pull ups

30 Power Cleans (82.5kg / 62.5kg)

40 Pull ups

50 Snatches (62.5kg / 42.5kg)

60 Toes to bar

(Courtesy of CrossFit Mayhem)

 

Missy T and I discussed tactics and she decided she wanted to try a band option for her pull ups as she normally does jumping pull ups on the rings.  She also decided to try knee to chest as her toes to bar option.  The last time she did a workout with toes to bar she did sit ups as she couldn't reach the bar.  We increased her weights to 2 kg dumbbells.

 

She has made such amazing progress in the last few weeks and did so well with her pull ups.  She was struggling with the chest to bar portion so I may have helped her a little to get that extra height.  The funniest part was when I was struggling to get 5 reps out and she told me she could do 10 reps easily.  I said to her that it was fine if she felt like she could do 10 and she replied, "challenge accepted!"  She managed to get the 10 out but I had to no-rep her a couple of times (I'm mean like that!)

 

She was so encouraging when I was starting to struggle and talked me through when I started to break my reps down even further.  She left the workout saying how much she enjoyed it ... but I think that was because there was no running.

Olys!!

A friend posted on FB that there was a sale at one of the sports stores on the weekend so I saw it as an opportunity to grab myself some Olympic lifting shoes.  I have been tossing up whether to get some as I have heard they can help with stability during lifts.

It must have been fate as I got the last ones in store and they were my size.  It was like it was meant to be.  I tried them out this morning and got a PB on my front squat!  So I won't be sending them back.  LOL!

Saturday Fun

The girls still come along with me for our Saturday WOD.  I don't think that I'm getting the best workout because they slow me down a little but that's okay because I really love training with my 2 favourite people.  Saturdays workout was a triplet of power cleans, wall balls over the pull up bar instead of against the wall and lateral burpees.  I was so impressed that Moo decided to try the 10 kg bar for her cleans although she needs to work on her deadlift form (she must get sick of me in her ear all the time) and she also wanted to use the 4 kg med ball but after a couple of failed attempts I talked her into going down in weight.  She wants to lift heavy (and I think she will be strong once she gets her form right) but I keep explaining to her that by going lighter she can work on technique and also get more reps out.  I love the fact that she wants to push herself ... but I want her to get through the workout. I know that I have to get talked down occasionally and have been grateful for it as I could waste a lot of time just trying to get the reps out which defeats the purpose of a metcon workout - we want that heart pumping.

Miss T, on the other hand, will tend to go fairly light when she could lift a bit heavier ... her excuse is that she has muppet arms.  However, she smashes the bodyweight stuff and has a lovely squat.  I think her dancing is coming in handy with her flexibility and turnout.  I do think that what she loves most about Crossfit is the fact that she gets to wear rainbow socks and she has just gotten some nice rainbow shoes to complete the ensemble.

I'm so proud of how they are attacking the workout and smiled to myself when we got to the last minute of Saturday's AMRAP and Moo just started smashing out as many burpees as she could in those final seconds.  She is normally so blase about it all ... it's nice to see she has a little bit of mongrel in her (in a good way, of course!)

More Pics

Here are some more pics from the comp ...

I was a bit worried when I saw a photographer at this event but, phew, I don't have a scary training face ;-)

I have really enjoyed the last few days of training.  My girls came along with me on Saturday and I was so incredibly proud of them.  The workout was a long, chipper WOD (one where you have to chip away at it until it's done) and both girls completed it well under the time cap.  I scaled the girls workout to suit them by shortening the run from 800m to 400m, bodyweight lunges, push ups instead of handstand push ups and Missy T did sit ups instead of toes to bar while Moo did knee raise.

Moo was a little bit slower than Missy T who had finished well in front of us so I hung around to do the final run with her.  It meant that my time was not that great but I loved finishing the WOD with my daughter.  Missy T took some joy in getting hi-5'd by one of the coaches when she was done and someone turned around in disbelief that she completed a tough workout like that.  They are both really taking to CrossFit and are always keen to hear what the Saturday WOD will be.  Moo is always hoping for kettlebell swings and Missy T loves it when box jumps come up.  I love seeing them so excited about exercise.

Saturdays are Our Fun Day

The girls came along for our Saturday WOD.  This week we had a fundraiser for Relay For Life which was an 80s theme.  We had loads of fun getting dressed up for this workout:

Saturday Fun

Let's Get Physical



The WOD

It was a big workout but luckily I was put in a group of 6, myself and my girls and some less experienced Crossfitters.  We had to scale right back but luckily I could set up a separate bar and I ran the 1 km track so I still got a pretty good workout.  I'm still battling this cold so I was grateful for the extra rests I got due to having the extra team members.  In saying that though, I was really happy with my runs and for once they felt fairly easy.  I'm not sure if I can put that down to the 3 days off I had or the fact that I had a good feed of oats before my workout.

It was a great day and again I love the fact that I can share my love of fitness with my daughters.

Super Saturday

I'm actually working really hard in this pic

Have I mentioned it before how much I love Saturdays?  It is my most favourite day of the week.  Today the girls and I did a team WOD at CrossFit.  They have been doing one-on-ones with Jardan but J took a much deserved day off.  The workout was a good one with a lot of bodyweight moves so I didn't have a drama with them joining me.

The girls did really well and Missy T was delighted in the fact that she nailed the up and over box jumps.  Moo kept on going despite being knackered and also overcame her fear of the box by trying the 12" box after she did her round of up and overs.  I love sharing this time with them and I think they enjoy coming along.  We were last to finish today but I'm proud that we didn't scale numbers and did all the required reps.

Our box has started up Pilates after the final workout and I have been going along when I can.  After my back issues I think it is important for me to strengthen my core plus we get in a bit of stretching at the end.  It's great to do something that isn't so full on but is equally as tough and considering that I'm back to lifting what I was prior to my injury I think it is helping in that regard too.

I am, however, getting a little frustrated with the olympic lifting side of CF as I have hit a plateau and I know a large part of it is in my head.  Last night I failed my clean at 37.5 kg (I have been stuck at 35 kg for awhile now).  I went back to 35 kg and muscle cleaned the weight up (a muscle clean is when you don't jump as you clean it up and therefore don't get the power and weightlessness from the jump).  If I can do that at 35 kg then 37.5 kg should be a breeze if I do it properly.  I get incredibly cranky with my brain at times because I tend to overthink things too much.  I reckon if someone had stacked the weight for me and I had no idea that I was lifting 37.5 kg I would have been able to do it.  Nevermind, I'll keep on plodding away and I'll crack it eventually.  I know I was like that at 30 kg as well and then I had a period of smashing it PBs left, right and centre ... maybe my body just needs to get used to lifting this weight correctly before I move up to the next level.

Goals and Other Stuff

We were give a task at Crossfit this week.  It was to set some goals and to work towards them.  I already have some in the pipeline but I tend to lose focus and I have to admit I'm taking a long time to achieve them.  I have picked 5 but, honestly, I have many of them and I find I goal set everytime I walk into the box whether it be to lift a certain weight, or try and improve on a time or to simply not stop running.  Here is what I have come up with:

I don't think there is anything terribly surprising there.  I could add so many more but I don't want to overwhelm myself.  So here's the run down:

• Box jumps - my old nemesis.  I would be happy to jump on any box ... I'm not fussy.  I'll crack open a bottle of bubbly the day I jump with 2 feet simultaneously onto the 12" box.
• 5 kipping pullups - I have to admit that I haven't been practising these at all and when I went to have a go at these last week I just couldn't get the kipping motion at all, I always go into strict.  I find it hard to unlearn things.
• Handstands - I have never, ever been able to do a handstand.  I can't seem to kick up into it.  Maybe it's part of that whole explosive movement thing that I seem to struggle with.  I've started working on this at home by doing wall walks and also headstands but am not consistent enough.
• 10 unbroken double unders.  Yep, I'm still a bit of a numpty at these.
• 500 m row in less than 2 minutes.  I'm hovering around the 2 min mark but always die in the arse at around 300 - 400 m.

I haven't set time limits to these as I'm not sure how often I can practice these moves - darn work gets in the way! And I also need to spend a bit of time at the gym and at home working on my mobility so there is a definite time issue there.

The girls had another session on Saturday, this time with Jardan and they loved it as much as their first time.  We got there early and there were some boxes set up so Missy T decided to have a go at box jumps.  She lined herself up in front of the 16" box and just jumped ... there was no thought, no indecision, she just jumped ... and then proceeded to rub it in for the rest of the weekend.  Oh, to be fearless like a kid!  Moo, on the other hand, is similar to me and thinks about consequences and baulked at the box.  I know that she will be able to do it once she gets her confidence up.  Both girls loved getting on the rowers and spent some time while they were waiting for me to finish the Pilates class.  Moo rowed over 2 km ... just for something to do.  Crazy kid!

Mothers Day yesterday was a quiet day at home.  The girls gave me some homemade gifts (my favourite kind of present) and a couple of PT sessions with Jardan (my family know me so well!)  Missy T made me this cute card ... she cracks me up, that kid.

Although there is no escaping the usual Sunday chores, we found time to watch 'The Life of Pi' and have a bit of downtime.  All in all a pretty good day :-)

Saturday Morning Fun

The girls had their first CrossFit session today and absolutely loved it.  I booked them in with Nick, one of the coaches, for a one-on-one session (I guess because there are 2 of them it should be two-on-one, shouldn't it?)  I was a little worried how Moo was going to go but I was so proud of how she didn't give up.

I had my workout first but because it was a long one today the girls had started before I had finished.  They worked on some technique before getting into the workout.  It was a simple workout of running, skipping, sit ups and lunges.  Neither of my girls are fans of running (much like their mother) so I went with them just to show them the turnaround point and talk them through it.  Moo had to walk a few times but she would always start back running after catching her breath and I am so proud of her for doing that.  Missy T was on a mission which surprised me a little because she's the kid who walks the 100 m sprint at the school sports carnival.  Both girls had a blast and are keen to go again next week.  I think once netball is done they will want to join the Kids Crossfit classes for the social aspect.

I know I really enjoyed spending my Saturday morning with them doing something that we can do together for years to come.

The Next Generation

We went away with friends on the weekend.  Often when we go camping there are no kids Moo's age so she was excited that we were going with another 12 year old girl who is only 2 days older than her.  They got on fabulously and our friends had another daughter around the same age as Missy T so there was no third wheel.  The 12 yo was tall and lean and was able to wear clothes that are very fashionable and I wasn't surprised when I got hit with talk of going on a diet from Moo when we got home.  We have had this discussion on and off over the last few years and this conversation was no different; I don't want her to 'go on a diet' but have a balanced approach to food.

It made me think again how much I have changed my focus toward physical goals rather than being x kg or a certain body type and I wish that for both my daughters.  Crossfit has helped me so much with regard to body image and I thought it may help Moo so I had a chat with the coaches regarding both girls joining me in some CF classes.  Lo and behold this was already in the pipeline:

It's perfect as it will give them the basics as well as work on their technique.  The coaches will be awesome as they are positive and encouraging which would be fantastic for my girls as Moo, in particular, is much like me with regards to her lack of self confidence when it comes to physical activity.  I also think it would help both girls with their dancing and Moo with her netball.  Unfortunately, the times are at the same time as netball and dancing :-(

Instead I hope they will be able to do some sessions with Jardan and maybe take up the kids program once netball season is finished.  The girls are really keen and are looking forward to doing what I do.  I hope they enjoy it as much as I do.

Bragging Time

Yesterday was the girl's school 'Love of Learning' Awards ceremony.  There are 3 awards presented; Excellence in Learning, Outstanding Citzenship and Champion of the Environment.  It is also when the school leaders and student council members are announced for the next year's Grade 7.

Missy T's teacher had given me the heads up that she was getting an award and I had an inkling that it would be the Learning award (she's a pretty clever little chook).

I had no idea that Moo was getting an award and was so excited for her that she got the Outstanding Citzenship Award for her class.  This is her first award in the 6 years she has been at primary school.

 Moo was also nominated for School Captain but unfortunately wasn't elected.  She was very disappointed but I was proud of her delivering her speech to the school as part of the election process.  The whole thing is quite nerve-wracking but she got through it and I'm sure she is pretty proud of herself as well.

The Only Way Is Up

I have to say that last week was a pretty shitty week all round.  I spent the first half of the week with a head cold, Thursday I got a skin cancer cut out which I didn't think looked too big but they I ended up with a 10 cm excision and Missy T broke her arm on Thursday as well.  Add to that, she has a rash on her stomach and back.  At least Mal and Moo are healthy!

Poor Missy T!  She was playing Bullrush at school on Thursday when she was knocked over by one of the bigger boys in her class.  It was just before school finished for the day so her friends ran over to get Mal.  When they got home he gave her some panadol and put an icepack on it and thought it was just a sprain as she still had movement.  She proceeded to get ready for dancing and went to her lesson (she just didn't do her arms).  Another dose of pain killers before she went to bed and she slept all night.  When she got up the next day it was still hurting so I rang the doctors with the earliest appointment at 1200.  She didn't want to miss school so off she went.  The x-rays confirmed that her arm was indeed broken, greenstick fractures in both bones of her forearm.  Needless to say, both Mal and I felt so bad but, in our defense, she barely complained.

Anyway, here's hoping next week is better!

The little brat

This is Missy T's homework for this week.  This is up there with the time when she was in Grade 1 and her teacher told her she needed to write more in her diary.  She then proceeded to write several lines of "blah blah blah blah" I don't know how she gets away with it ... good thing she's cute!

Doncha Just Love It

Last night I had another Skype session with Lisa.  I settled down to the computer a few minutes before to ensure everything was working okay and to make sure I wasn't late.  We had invited my parent's over for a quick takeaway dinner prior as they have been looking after the kids over the school holidays.  So as I set myself up for my session, my girls went for a shower and as per last week they decided to have a fight, Hubby was yelling at them to be quiet and my mother picked that time clean out the fridge.  I'm not really sure why she did this but she had the fridge door open and it was beeping as a warning.  She was also putting things on our cooktop so it was beeping too. FFS!!!  Luckily it had all settled down by the time the session started.

Anyway, I had sorted out my sound issues that I had the previous week and I was happy with the session I had.  I'm looking forward to getting to the gym next week and giving it all a whirl.

Yet Another Crazy Weekend

It was yet another busy weekend in our household and there is a part of me that is looking forward to the kids school holidays coming up.  I won't be able to take time off but at least it doesn't seem quite as hectic as normal. 

Saturday was hectic but I love it that way.  It kicks off with 7 am Crossfit and I was introduced to wall balls in this WOD.  I can safely say that they are up there with some of my most disliked exercises.  Halfway through the WOD I felt like I was going to cry - particularly when quite a few wall balls were discounted as I didn't reach the mark - but I was pleased that I got through the whole session.  I have discovered that often my coping mechanism when I feel like I've had enough is to laugh and make jokes which I guess doesn't help with the whole 'need to breathe' thing but I think whatever gets me through the workout.

After my training, I got home and had a feed of oats and then it was out again to take Missy T to the library.  That kid churns through books so quickly, I swear the librarians will know us by name soon.  It is great to hear her giggling in the back of the car as she reads one of the Andy Griffiths books. 

After a bit of shopping we headed home for lunch and I managed to get a nanna nap in before we had to go out again for Mal's touch footy finals.  Unfortunately they weren't winners this year but it was a pretty tight game against much younger opponents.  I decided it was best to let him enjoy a few drinks with his mates and came home and snuggled up in bed with my book.

The girls have been having extra dance lessons to prepare them for their upcoming exams so Sundays have become dancing days.  I have a little look through the 2-way mirror to their class and I have to say that I'm often impressed with how well all the girls in the class dance.  The girls in the class have been dancing together for several years and they really have gone from being babies to looking like dancers.

Overall, a busy but rather enjoyable weekend.

More Random Thoughts

Last night I had a crying child. She was upset because there is a sticker chart at dancing and her sister got a sticker and Moo hasn't gotten one yet. She tries so hard to do the right thing but somehow doesn't get noticed. She is the same at school. I realised just how much like me she is. How can I teach her that she doesn't need a sticker to feel special when I have felt exactly the same way with the 12wbt? Can I say to her that her time will come ... what if it doesn't? How can I prove to her that she is exceptional even though nobody notices?