Tag Archives: crossfit women

A picture is worth a thousand words?

Posted by beautifullystrong in Jen's soap box and tagged with , , , ,

I posted a picture on Facebook a few days back of a woman, who in my opinion, is absolutely beautiful and inspiring. I was surprised, however, by the response it received. It was quite the little conversation starter, I must say. What I realized, is that A LOT of people have a lot of opinions on how other people should look…

Let me begin by saying why I DIDN’T post that picture…I didn’t post that picture to have anyone rip Andrea apart. That was in no way shape or form the intention behind that posting. This did upset me a little, for the reason that if I were to put up a picture of a woman who I felt was beautiful and inspiring, and she was by cultural standards “overweight”, how many comments of “she is disgusting/she is fat/she is a fat pig” do you think there would have been up there? If there were any (I would be surprised if there were), there would have been FAR fewer. Why then do we feel it’s okay to judge someone who is ”too fit’ for your liking?

Well then, why DID I post it?  I posted the picture because so often I hear women say they don’t want to get bulky doing Crossfit. I hear ya, neither do I! When I think of bulky, I think of female body builders. I am not saying that is not beautiful, it is what it is…those are women who are literally building their bodies for the sake of a competition…and I will go out on a limb here and say that those women are probably using some unnatural “supplementation” to get that way. So, when I think of bulky, THAT is what I think women are worried about becoming, not a lean, cut woman who is probably a size 4/6.  Let me also reiterate something that has probably been said 1000 times over…you will NOT become anything by ACCIDENT. If you WANT to look like a female bodybuilder for instance, you can…with A LOT of work…and probably “supplementation”… You will not, however, go to the gym 4-5 times a week, do the WOD of the day, eat a Paleo diet, and start looking like a female body builder…it just WILL NOT HAPPEN.  You probably won’t even be able to go to the gym 4-5 times a week, do the WOD of the day, eat a Paleo diet and start looking like Andrea Ager (the beautiful lady in the picture)! She didn’t get that way by accident either!

Now, before going into this further, I also need to cover my arse and say that Crossfit competitors are not necessarily HEALTHY. They are pushing their bodies to an unhealthy standard for the sake of competition. Their results are based on a LOT of hard work, a particular diet (not always Paleo…some of the competitors eat some pretty unhealthy things, and still kick ASS…like WIN…the Games…), and dedication to winning and becoming “The Fittest on the EARTH”; 99% of Crossfitters are not ever going to be at that level.

There were some pretty great, interesting comments on the Facebook thread, one of which was “I think there is a line between being body obsessed, chasing a cultural ideal of beauty or strength, and what is reasonable, balanced and healthy.” I couldnt’ agree with this more. The question here is…what IS ‘reasonable, balanced and healthy’? I think as women, we are a little confused on this… There is not a week (or even a day!) that goes by without some image of a woman being put on display in the public eye as “too fat’, “too skinny”…and now, “too fit”. There are poor women who have lost a bunch of weight after hearing over and over how “fat” they were by critics, only to be criticized for being “too skinny”. Luckily, most of us will never have to worry about being scrutinized publically this way, however, we are often victims of this in another way.

As far back as I can remember, I fantasized about being “skinny”. I literally would think, “oh man, if I were skinny my life would be so much better”. I had some pretty dark, negative thoughts about my body on a daily basis (some as horrible as “I wish I could cut off my legs!”, how terrible is THAT!?). I’m not saying any of this was right…I was younger, and “body obsessed” and had some pretty horrible self talk going on. I tried every diet under the sun, and literally never got “skinny” until I was basically starving myself (not on purpose…I was diagnosed with IBS and it was more out of necessity) and got down to a bony (for me) 140 lbs (which by the way, is still considered “heavy” to some people). It was literally not until I found Crossfit that my negative self talk stopped. I stopped thinking about calorie counting (completely!) and started actually eating MORE and ENJOYING food! I started exercising and not only starting changing my body, but changing my MIND! Exercise has done wonders for my moodiness…seriously, it’s amazing. The coolest part, however, has been the amount of RESPECT I have developed for my body. I no longer look at my body in the mirror and pick it apart (“my thighs are too fat, my boobs are too small” whatever it may be), I look at my body with complete respect and gratitude for everything it allows me to do. Thank you for my big, strong legs for helping me squat my BODY WEIGHT…Thank you for my bigger-than-it-used-to-be butt for allowing me to drop it like its hot 100 times over in a workout. I am GRATEFUL for my body now, and to me, there is NOTHING more “reasonable, balanced and healthy” than that. In my strongest opinion, this is all what Crossfit is REALLY about, isn’t it? In addition, I have been on this journey now for 3 years…and it is 100% SUSTAINABLE for me, I have much more balanced moods, and I feel the healthiest I have ever felt in my entire life…hell, physically AND mentally. As a bonus, I am SMALLER than I was at my “skinniest”…and not at all starved or deprived! Bonusssss!

Crossfit is MOST inspiring when a 70-year-old woman walks in and decides to start a fitness regime for the first time in her life; when a 15-year-old boy starts to build confidence; when a regular ole’ person like me, who has never been an athlete in his/her life starts Crossfit, it completely changes his/her life and he/she finds PASSION and ENTHUSIASM in something for the first time in his/her life.  Yes, Crossfitters can be a bit evangalistic…that is absolutely, 100% true…but why do you think that is?! People only rave and rant about something that has worked for them; that has changed their life in some way. I am no different there. Crossfit is for everyone, and can absolutely be life changing…if you WANT it to be; it does not HAVE to be, no one is pushing Crossfit on you here. This is my platform, to talk about how Crossfit has changed my life; just like there are platforms to talk about how triathlons, or marathons, or tattoos, or art, or heck, heroin, has changed people’s lives… I choose to be inspired by specifically Andrea Ager because it helps me set goals for myself. I am a person who is not self-motivated (which is why nothing else WORKED for me); I thrive off visual motivation, and community support. Boom, Crossfit! Looking at an image like I posted helps me create fitness goals for myself (I want to look like Andrea Ager to some degree, so, what does Andrea do? In order for me to look like Andrea, I need to do what Andrea does…).

I am grateful for all of the comments on the picture, it really helped me recognize all over again how passionate I am about health and fitness, and really what this whole blog is about; my project to become beautifully strong.Beautiful is different to every single person…to me, a woman with strong, healthy muscles, who works REALLY hard in the gym and isn’t afraid to get really sweaty, and grunt her way through a WOD…is beautiful. I do not, however, live to Crossfit…I Crossfit to live; to make my life easier, longer and happier. Thank you for your comments, and I will step off my soap box now :)

Have a most fantastic day!

How do YOU prepare?

Posted by beautifullystrong in Move Well and tagged with , , , , , ,

How do you prepare for a workout?

…Let’s say the workout is Fran…what’s going on in your head right before the 3, 2, 1…?

Nick said before a workout he figures out how many sets and reps he wants to do at a time to pace himself…this does not surprise me, Nick is extremely LOGICAL :)

I, before a workout, stare at my bar…with lots of butterflies and deep breathes…and whispers sweet “eff you’s” to the bar before the 3, 2, 1…this again does not surprise me…I’m am extremely emotional :-p

…some people yell, some people bounce in place, some people pound their own chest (I’m not sure MANY people do this, but it’s reasonable)…

…Let’s see what, elite athlete Katie Hogan does :) …

 

What do YOU do before a workout to psych yourself up?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by beautifullystrong in Crossfit Workouts, Move Well and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday was one of those days in the gym that, regardless of what “place” I came in, I won in my mind :) Yesterday’s WOD:

“The Chief”

5 rounds

3 min AMRAP

3 power cleans (135/95 – I used 75)

6 pushups

9 squats

1 min rest

 

Now, I went into this KNOWING that I may not have as many rounds as everyone else, because I presently struggle with pushups; HOWEVER, I COMMITTED myself to doing the whole workout on my toes for the pushups(and I don’t mean halfsie pushups, I’m talking kissing the freakin’ floor pushups), and by golly, I did just that!

13 total rounds + 1 power clean =

40 {75#} power cleans

78 (TOE) pushups!

117 squats

If that is not exciting enough, (I can TELL that you’re freaking out with excitement :-p) I reached a goal that I have had for a year and a half (at least a year and a half that lululemon’s goal tender had been reminding me that I hadn’t reached my goal anyway…)!!!…

…::to string together 10 UNASSISTED kipping pull-ups::…

I FINALLY did it!!! Not once, maybe twice or three times…to the point where Nick told me I need to rest for the day :-p Doesn’t he know that when you get a new toy alllll you want to do is it play with that new toy?! :)

I’ve come a long way since my first ever pull-up in CENTRAL PARK on January 6, 2011…and no, I don’t have any actually pictures to PROVE my first pull-up…but it did happen there, after all these failed attempts

 

::and look at me now, 10 unassisted, consecutive kippers!! :-D ::

Great day in the gym followed by a great date night with my love…which will be followed by a GREAT weekend…

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**::Weekend Ketchup::**

I know that I haven’t talked much about the wedding in the last, ohhhh, year and a half since we’ve been engaged, but with the practice, the move, making buddies and trying to feel like I LIVE here, it hasn’t been the forefront of our world. Now that it is two months away (as of a week from today) things are definitely starting to pick up! This weekend alone we:

  • BOOKED OUR HONEYMOON!!!!…TOOOOO MEXICO!!!!!!  I am BEYOND excited to be on vacation for a whole week, in the hot Mexican air, in an all inclusive resort where we won’t need to think about anything, besides, “do we want to lay on the beach or snorkel??” Trust me, I’m counting down the days :-p
  • I had my first DRESS FITTING/ALTERATIONS!!!! I was sooooo lucky to have some of my SB ladies there with me, you all made me feel like the most beautiful person on the planet!! I love you ladies!!!!
  • Finalized our CATERING MENU!!!! I am sooooooooooooo excited to eat that food again at the wedding :) hahaha.
  • My bridesmaid’s have their dresses!!
  • I am ALMOST finished addressing all 200 invites :-p

Great productive weekend with a little game of ‘Nick chases Jen up a mountain for ¾ of a mile’ to top it off (no joke, it was intense, I thought my lungs were bleeding when I got to the top) :-p We have fun ‘round here :-p

 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Much love,

 

Jen

EXHAUSTO!

Posted by beautifullystrong in Crossfit Workouts, Move Well and tagged with , , , ,

The last few weeks I have been CONSISTENTLY working out 5 days a week, and HARD! Based on the title of this post, I’m sure you can figure out where this going…

Since upping my workouts, I have been….EXHAUSTED!!! I mean…EXHAAAAUUUUUSSSTTTEDDDD!! Going to bed at 8:30, taking naps in the middle of the day, incapable of waking up for ANYTHING in the morning…exhausted. Poor Nick has had to deal with me saying “Why am I so tired?!?!” pretty much every hour of the day for the last few weeks…he doesn’t seem to understand why I’m STILL asking this after he has already answered me about 50 times.

"I'm just going to lay here for one little second..."

While I am definitely noticing some differences in my strength, AND my body compisition…I’m super excited that I have a rest day today, to be perfectly honest with you. I’ve posted the last two days of my workouts…

Tuesday’s WOD

max pullups (15 kipped with orange band…I think I could have done more on a day when my hand was completely healed from the LAST time we did a lot of pull-ups :-p)

5k run (24:32) it was more like 3 miles, rather than 3.2 but I SCHOOLED my last 5k even still! :) (my 5k time was 30 minutes and some change the last time I did it :-p)

There was a lot of realization of growth in this one for me. While  I was no where near first done, which I didn’t expect anyway, I was able to run the entire 3 miles without stopping AND my time was significantly lower than any other time I’ve run 3 miles. To refresh you all on where I USED to be with running, essentially if I saw 200m on the board I would a) feel like crying, b) actually cry, or c) get SUPER grumpy and feel like leaving… So, I think it goes without saying that being able to run the whole time is definitely a spurt of growth, actually ENFORCING that we DO the 5k (because I don’t think anyone else wanted to do it either…) is a whole other level of growth in itself! :) Oh, and thank you to Andrew for running the last half of it with me :) Best brother-in-law-to-be ever :)

Wednesday’s WOD

6 min amrap:

10 deadlifts (#95)

15 pushups (knees)

20 sit-ups 

3 full rounds + 1 dead lift

I’m taking my rest day today and running with it :) I’m going to soak up every little morsel of my lunch break and fill it to the brim with food, sunshine and naps :)

 

Mucho love-o :)

Jen

 

Learning to suck it up….

Posted by beautifullystrong in Crossfit Workouts, Move Well, Think Well and tagged with , ,

Even still, every now and then I have a super down-on-me day. Yesterday (Friday) we did a huge group workout, and the workout of the day was:

“Kelly”

5 round

400 m run

30 box jumps (20”/24”)

30 wall balls (16/20)

When I was writing the workout on the board, beneath the WOD I wrote “do your best, listen to your body, and the only person you should be comparing yourself to is your former self.” I wrote this for everyone, including myself. I presently struggle with comparison to others; usually in everyone else’s favor.

Welp. I finished dead last in the workout; down on all fours on the gym floor, head in my hands. Complete and utter exhaustion was upon me. Once I could compose myself enough to walk over to the filing cabinet to grab my journal, I headed straight for the outdoors. As soon as I sat down, tears started to spill. Before I continue, in my defense, I think I tend to handle the release of stress/emotions through exercise; I have had many a good cries on the side of the road mid-run, let me tell you. So, I started to get emotional, feeling frustrated that STILL after 2 years of doing Crossfit, I feel like I’m still always finishing last. I moved to California, started talking about Crossfit with the Innate Crew, and they start doing it, and somehow I’m still always last. Yeah, yeah, someone has to be last…but I guess I just don’t want it to be me EVERY SINGLE TIME. Plus, I feel with the upcoming Crossfit cert, everyone is so focused on getting Innate up to speed on the movements that I’m no longer getting any pointers, when I OBVIOUSLY need them, since I’m taking the longest to get the work done…or at least this is how I was seeing it :-p

So, in the past, I may have just continued to sit there feeling pity and utter discouragement for myself (this is a blog of honesty people… haha), but suddenly, as if an angel appeared, I hear the sweet voice of Jim Rohn pop into my thoughts:

“Don’t ask for less problems…ask for more skills!”

That is EXACTLY what I decided to do! I went back into the gym and asked Nick to help me (I would be lying if I said there were no emotional words that came out of me first, I am ME after all…). After a grueling workout, I found myself doing box jump after box jump, correcting my form (with Nick’s help, thank you love). I, against my ego’s will, had to go down to the smaller box to learn how to correctly link my jumps without my knees turning in like a little girl that has to pee (do you get that visual? :-p).

I’m not proud of the fact that I still have these days…at all. When I’m being logical, I recognize that everyone I’m working out with has been working out their entire life, and I’ve been doing this for two years; so, everyone else is a little further along in the game than me.

I’ll tell you what though, it’s at the end of a workout, when everyone else is done and journaling, and I’m still box-jumping that I feel it the most. I NEVER thought I would say this is a million years, but I actually miss people being in my face cheering me on. I realized yesterday how much I miss that, and need that.

So, if you see me working hard, and I look like I’m about to keel over…do NOT be afraid to get in my face and yell/cheer/coach me through it…and I promise, I PROMISE,  I’ll do the same for you.

 

Friday’s workout: “Kelly”

5 round

400 m run

30 box jumps (20”/24”)18” box, we don’t yet have a 20”

30 wall balls (16/20) 16 pounder

Finished in 30:12

 

Saturday’s WOD

10 rounds for time

15 deadlifts (rx’d for men was 135#, probably 95# for women…I used 75#)

15 pushups (did first round on toes, and part of second…rest on knees)

20:50

It blew me away that a woman (an elite Crossfitter) finished this in 13 minutes, WITH rx’d weight!

…I’d PAY to see that!

 

With love and gratitude,

Jen

Are you SERIOUS?!

Posted by beautifullystrong in Crossfit Workouts, Move Well and tagged with , , , , , , ,

I learned a very valuable lesson today…

It is important (at least to me) to keep a workout journal…and make sure you record everything about the workout…

…especially your time.

Today’s workout was Karnie, which I had the pleasure of doing a little over a year ago in Beverly, MA. So immediately following the workout, feeling completely exhausted, and near puking… I was excited to crawl over to my computer, plop myself down, and look up this post to compare my results from last year.

Notice something?…

Always…record…your…time.

Todays Karnie time:

50,40,30,20,10

Double Unders

Situps

Walls Balls

20:21

WOD WEAR

Posted by beautifullystrong in Crossfit Workouts and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Just came upon this awesome site for inspiring, strong women workout wear (on the days you feel like maybe giving your lulu a rest), http://store.lovefitnation.com

So, given the name of my blog, the Beautifully Strong Project, how perfect do you think THIS (http://store.lovefitnation.com/product-p/sib-tank.htm) shirt would be for me?? Think I need to buy it?? :)

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Today’s Workout:

KAREN

150 wallballs for time

time- 11:32

RIP Annie

Posted by beautifullystrong in Move Well and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Wait…who is “Annie”?

“Annie” was the first workout in Crossfit that I was able to do RX’d…so there is a deep soft spot for her in my heart.

Annie

50,40,30,20,10

Double-unders

sit-ups

The last time I did this workout my time was JUST over 13 minutes. Double-unders were a little bit of a struggle for me. Now, if you remember, recently I shared with you that I got 30 double-unders in a row for the first time…so naturally you can imagine that I was über curious to see how much I could take off my “Annie” time. So, last night, we put my new unders to the test!

Remember, my last time was just over 13 mins.

As soon as the clock began counting, I busted out 30 double-unders right off the bat…”oh this is going to cut down some time..”

Final sit-up…8:55

That’s over 4 minutes shaved off my time!!!!! Slaaaaaayyyed it!

Oh heeyyyyy double-unders!

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Now, on a personal note, I need some advice. As most of you know, Nick and I got engaged back in October. I haven’t done much of anything in the way of wedding planning since we’ve been pretty freakin’ busy getting the office up and running…but it’s getting to the point now (7 months away) where it’s getting a little silly to keep saying, ‘I don’t have a caterer’…

Catering.

Not always super “paleo-friendly”…

Now, I know this is a silly, exaggerated example of a catering photo…but it seems that there is pasta, or bread, or gluten around every corner of a catering menu…

So, for those of you who have either a)planned a wedding and kept a paleo-friendly menu, or b) just one of those super knowledgable people who would know what to do in this situation…how should I go about doing this? What are some of the best foods to have? What about dessert?? PS, all of this on a budget!

We’re setting up some appointments for this next week to get this ball rolling, and I would like to have some ideas in mind before meeting with anyone.

So, with that, I hope you have a beautiful day everyone! Till next time! :)

Love,

Jen

Meet Cindy…

Posted by beautifullystrong in Crossfit Workouts and tagged with , , , , , , , ,

No, not this Cindy…

…not this one either…

I feel there comes a point in a Crossfitters life when you hear the name Cindy, Annie, Fran or Grace, and all you can think about is how badly they kicked your butt the last time you saw them.

Say WHAT?!

Cindy the WORKOUT of course!

Cindy

5 pull-ups

10 push-ups

15 air squats

{AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) for 20 minutes}

Yesterday, during our lunch-time workout at Innate Fitness, we introduced ourselves to this pleasant little gal. I decided before the workout, still riding my post-Crossfit Games high, that I was going to do the entire workout prescribed (as in, un-assisted pull-ups, push-ups on my toes, etc) and no matter how difficult it got, sticking to that decision…even if it meant less rounds.

I am proud to announce that I finished my first ever PRESCRIBED (I will say rx’d from here on out…) CINDY!

My results?

9 rounds and 5 pull-ups, and 3 push-ups into my 10th round.

Freakin’ RIGHT!

On top of that?! I strung three kipping pull-ups together…AND….

after the workout was all said and done…I PR’D (personal record) on the most consecutive double unders that I could do…

…30 consecutive double unders!!!!!!!

I can say that yesterday was the best fitness day that I’ve had in a long while…I woke up this morning feeling like I definitely used my muscles…which means to me that they’re getting stronger and that I’m one day closer to looking like those strong women I posted about yesterday.

On the note of sharing my personal success’ with you…

Somedays I feel like I meet people who have been doing Crossfit for a year and they’re already stringing 10 kipping pull-ups together, or they’re deadlifting 200 lbs…and then I stand there thinking, “I’ve been doing this for a year and a half, and I JUST got my pull-ups for peets sake!!”…

…but I have my own path in this. I have little break throughs here and there, and with everyday that I work at it, I get better than the day before…

If it takes me three years to string 10 kipping pullups together, it takes me three years…because I have the rest of my life to become a better, stronger, faster athlete!

Don’t believe me?

Crossfit is a life-long sport :)

So just remember that this is a competition against no one but yourself. This is a competition against the you of yesterday…the previous year you… Next year, you want to be able to say that you could CRUSH today’s you :) So…let’s get on that :)

Let’s get growing!

Jen

Crank It UP!

Posted by beautifullystrong in Crossfit Workouts and tagged with , , ,

It’s that time…

 

I’ve decided its time to get serious…about STRENGTH!

I have been doing Crossfit for a year now, and while I have had some SERIOUSLY incredible results, I think its time for me to stop being so afraid of getting STRONG…and start throwing around some heavier WEIGHT!

I’m ready for the defined arms

I’m ready for the 6-pack

I’m ready for a bigger butt

I’m ready for that line that goes down your chest defining your pecs, ahaha, yes, I’m ready for that!

 

I’ve definitely heard some protest when I’ve mentioned my deeply rooted desire to gain a bit more muscle…well, to those who have protested, I ask you…

 

Are youuuu surrrrre??…

 

Here’s what I’m thinking…

 

Strong is the NEW Skinny!!

Muscle UP! :-D (pun intended :-p)

 

Love,

Jen