Hey There

So it's been a while.  Some shit went down, my activities slowed down, and now shit is mending and activities are back on the rise.




1)  FOOD FOOD FOOD
My Whole30-inspiried super-strict paleo-for-a-month went very well.  I actually did it for 6 weeks, because at the end of week two I had cake for a friends birthday so I started all over.  It did feel awesome, and it proved to me how drastically effected my mood and my skin are by sugar. No sugar = clear skin.  Guess I better cancel that Proactiv subscription :)

Then for two weeks I ate ALL THE THINGS.  Actually, I started off slowly, just incorporating chocolate and rice cake at the beginning, but the last weekend I ate every bad thing I could get my hands on (a quart of chocolate custard with brownies, caramel, and fudge, and a super-size bag of puffy cheetos.... it was kind of glorious, even if it did give me a headache).  The reason for my crazed eating of all the things was that my crossfit gym was starting an 8-week "Eat Clean Train Hard" challenge after those two weeks, so I knew I had a deadline.

We are now two weeks into the challenge, and I'm not being as strict as I was being during the Whole30, but I'm not going crazy either.  Rice cake in moderation, the occasional piece of dark chocolate, but no straight sugar or milk.  And normal paleo besides that.  But I am having to record everything in myfitnesspal.com (at least for the first 3 weeks), which means I'm keeping track of my calories, which is a good thing for me in small bursts.


2) INJURIES INJURIES INJURIES
So in the middle of the Whole 30, I got into a relatively serious/scary bike-car-car accident, and my foot got crushed by an SUV.

That's a "displaced fracture" in my pinky toe.  

Woo!  This is the exact same toe that I broke before.  But break #1 was just a tiny fracture that took less than 4 weeks to heal.  This is a legit crushing of a more interior bone, splitting it off in a different direction than the rest of my foot. So that meant for two weeks I basically sat on my ass and did nothing as walking was relatively difficult for a while.  Then I got back into the gym and started doing what I could, rowing when everyone else was walking, etc. Six weeks later, and I'm finally allowed to slowly incorporate running and jumping back into my workouts. But the true healing time could be 12 weeks, doctor says, so I'm trying to play it safe and really pay attention to how my foot feels.

That's the healing after 4 weeks.  Still broken, obviously, but at least lined up correctly.

3) MOVING ON, MOVING UP, STRAIGHTENING UP?
So now that I'm mostly mended, eating well, and am done with grad school for the year (THANK. GOD.), I have time to ramp up the training/physical stuff and get back on track. I'd still like to drop quite a bit of weight, but the more immediate goal is making sure I'm ready for Tough Mudder in September.  I'm really trying to get to CrossFit at least 4 times a week.

I had also purchased a hot yoga punchcard right before I broke my toe, so I'm trying to get back into that at least a couple times a week.  I really like hot yoga, but it's going to take some time before I'm able to finish a class and then not immediately want to take a nap.  But I love the heat and really sweating everything out.  It also ensures that I'm drinking enough water, because you're pretty much fucked if you go in there dehydrated.

The next step is trying to run a bit more and get cardio back into my life.  While this will certainly help with any weight-loss goals, I also need to step it up (as soon as my foot is up to it) and get back on track with my ToughMudder team - who've always been faster than me, but I would like to be able to keep up for at least short distances.  I've realized if I started running to CrossFit instead of biking a couple of times a week, that would be pretty perfect - it's a nice 2.5 mile run along the Burke Gilman Trail from my work.  Running back would be optional depending on how much that day's WOD killed me :)

The other aspect of running is that it is an extension of walking, which is becoming a TOTALLY NEW EXPERIENCE for me. ^_^  I've known for about the past 8 years that there is something wrong with the way I walk, the most obvious symptoms being that I used to get near shin-splints from walking quickly for 10 minutes, and it really shouldn't make me near-vomiting to run a mile in 9:30 minutes when I'm in the best shape of my life.  I knew there were big parts of my legs that I wasn't using, but I wasn't sure what they were or how to start getting them involved.  Luckily, my BFF Heidi recommended that I see the Exercise Anatomist she'd been going to, as she could probably help me fix my walk.

And 4 weeks later, wow.  Amber. Is. Magical.  So far she's really changed my posture and how I hold myself, and in doing so she's also caused me to gain about 1/2 an inch in height.  My walk is also getting much better, but it's not super-natural or as good as it could be yet.  And it still requires quite a bit of thought/concentration to make sure I'm doing it right.  But I'm really excited for the possibilities of how much better my body could work.  She also immediately pointed out that I don't use my hamstrings or glutes AT ALL when I walk (and probably run), which is why my quads are GINORMOUS and why I would be struggling so much when running - as I'm not using the main powerhouse muscles in my legs.



Anyway.  There's more that could be said here (I'm at least very close to one of my goals - my strict press is up to 65lbs and I'm making good progress on pull-ups, finally!), but it doesn't fall into the organizational schema I've set up, so I'll save them for another day.

Loughing, feet, and tiaras

Had one of those successful workouts today that proves its worth by making you cough every time you try to laugh for the 4 hours immediately following. Which I think should be appropriately called... uh, loughing?

Also I am very aware of just how freakishly sore my lower back is going to be tomorrow. Oh god, it will be bad.  Very, very bad.  I stepped to the next weight up for my kettlebell today (from 24lbs to 35 lbs), which is something for which it was definitely time.  But this was the workout (or rather, the version I did):

75 KettleBell swings
with 5 burpees every minute on the minute (till you finish the KB swings)
1000 meter row

(time: 13:35)

That's a lot of KB swings at a new weight.  And riding home (the ride is getting easier, yay!) my lower back started screaming in pain.  Tomorrow may suck lots.

And a foot update!  Because for no apparent reason I feel that all blog posts are better with photos.

My toe is broken!  Totes broken!  I got the x-rays to prove it (only because I've never actually broken a bone before and I wanted to be sure). So that means I get to keep on rowing/walking instead of running.  Which I don't mind, because I dislike running, but I'm pretty sure that will come back to bite me in the ass when it comes to catching back up to the TM team.  Here's a picture of my buddy-tape recovery method (pretty much the only method available for fixing a broken pinky-toe):

The other foot update is that I got a pair of wonderful new shoes on Saturday after our Discovery Park workout.  They are utterly adorable and the most comfortable things to ever grace my feet (and that's including all the very nice slippers I've worn over the years).  They are called Lemings (Stem is the old brand name, these are apparently a vintage model) and they're barefoot running/exercising shoes.  (FYI there's an entirely barefoot running store in Seattle, called Born to Run, and it is awesome.)  I can literally roll them up the sole is so flexible.  I wore them today at crossfit and they felt great. :D

And now, with my first weekday of spring break (and perhaps the only night I'll have to myself), I am off to do dishes, laundry, make myself some eggs, watch some k-dramas, and learn how to dance like T-ara (yes, pronounced "tiara"). Because holy-hell, I'm so excited for JKPop night in Seattle that I can hardly stand it, and this is the group dance they're encouraging us to learn ^_^

Calluses!!!

Woot!  Been a while since I posted.  Here's the summary:
- CrossFit is still awesome.
- I've been eating better/less, mostly*
- Running/hiking on the weekends is also awesome, except when it causes toe injuries!**

* I started counting my calories again, which is a good thing for me - especially as I devised the 12,000 calories a week system, which allows for great leniency on my part.  Weeks 1 and 2 went swimmingly.  Week 3 has been derailed by free donuts which led to an all day EAT-ALL-THE-CARBS binge.  Because if you haven't noticed, I'm kind of an all-or-nothing gal.  So I ate all the carbs, then went pretty strict paleo yesterday and back to normal today.  I've decided calorie counting is out for this week, and I have to pay the penance on Saturday by doing 100 burpees.  Awesome!  Calorie-counting will be back next week.  I like taking the break though, because then I listen a little more closely to what my body actually wants as opposed to what I think it should have, given the calories I have left in the day/week.

** We've been running trails on Saturdays in prep for tough mudder, which has been awesome (even if I'm still really slow).  And then last Sunday I went hiking with a friend to Rattlesnake Ledge, which was a great hike.  Uphill 1100 feet in 1.8 miles, and it was snowing for about the last third.  We were both in Vibrams, and I was in shorts.  Most of the other hikers we saw were decked out in rain/snow gear, and looked at me like I was crazy. I still approve of my hiking outfit - I would have been way too warm otherwise.  And I felt like we took it at a good pace.  Cody probably could have gone a bit faster, but I was really satisfied.  Going down we ran most of the way, which was INCREDIBLY fun.  Until that last bit when I smashed my toe on a rock....  pretty obvious hazard of vibrams+downward-running-on-rocky-trail.  I'm pretty sure it's just sprained and not broken, but I'm going to the doctor tomorrow a.m. just to be sure (and to get a prescription for massage therapy, as crossfit has impressed upon me how out of whack my right shoulder is). 

This is week 3 of (real) CrossFit, and I've managed to go 4 days a week each week.  I'd like to shoot for 5 next week, but I'm not going to berate myself if something comes up.  I feel like I'm there often enough that I'm seeing really quick improvement, and the coaches seem relatively impressed with my frequency, especially considering I'm so new.  Most importantly, I'M GETTING CALLUSES!  From weight-lifting.  It is awesome, and makes me feel a little like a bad-ass.  Even though practically speaking, I really need to be pushing myself more.  I did our WOD today with a 35 pound bar.

WOD 3/14/12:
5 rounds of:
10 hang cleans
10 front squats
10 bent-over rows
1 minute rest in-between rounds

But I didn't have too much trouble finishing it though, so I probably should have had 40-45 lbs.  I'm learning. The thing I really love most about Stoneway Crossfit is that in EVERY class I've had, there has been at least one coach taking the class - this not only makes me feel like I'm doing something that's actually worthwhile/challenging, but it means that I have someone besides the person leading class to look to for good form and to ask questions of, etc. They're usually great about motivating people, too, as a lot of times we break in to small teams and you'll have a coach on your team who helps get the most out of you. Anyhow, it's awesome.

And today was especially awesome. I'm not exactly sure why, I think it's mostly a combination of things. I finished my last final of the quarter yesterday (YES OMIGOD YES), but the joy/relief didn't really seem to set in till today - that may be most of it. But I just felt really great after the workout - and then I caught the bus back to U-District, and made an impulse decision to get Korean food (instead of walking up to 50th to get an overpriced vegetable juice like I maybe should have).

I couldn't find what I wanted on the english menu, so I told the guy I wanted ddukbokki*** and I apparently didn't fuck up the pronunciation too bad, because he went, "Oh, okay!" Then I sat and looked at my Ancora music (I was headed to rehearsal after eating), and mouthed words/rhythms to the christian rock that was playing on the stereo (this would normally drive me insane, but it didn't bother me today). They brought my food out, sans side-dishes (probably because then saw I was american and so probably wouldn't eat them, which is mostly true, although I usually take a couple of stabs at them). I ate my ddukbokki, and not JUST the rice-cake/fish-cake! I made a very concerted effort to eat the vegetables in the sauce as well (mostly carrots and onions), and I definitely put more away than usual. I'm training myself to eat onions now, and it's going well so far (as long as the pieces don't get too big). Also I had some of the house tea - which is mostly flavored by rice?!?  Seems odd, but I really like it.

*** Ddukbokki is DELICIOUS.  There's very little to it, and it's usually sold as a street food in Korea.  I saw it in a lot of K-dramas, and always thought it looked intriguing.  I was really happy when I found out it's pretty common in korean restaurants in america.  All it is is sliced rice cake (so rice that's been mashed up and formed into things like solid pasta tubes), fishcake, and vegetables (carrots, onions, and spring onions for the most part) in this really spicy sauce.  I like it so much I went out and bought the ingredients to make it, based on the recipe below (although I still haven't found dried anchovies, and the fish cake I found isn't the right kind, and isn't as good).  It probably doesn't taste authentic, but it does taste HOT, and I'm pretty sure that's the main point.

Anyway. Dinner was delicious.  And afterwards I was still kind of high-as-a-kite, climbing on the scaffolding while waiting for my bus and such. And then my choir rehearsal was really fun, although I'm sure most of the other girls thought I was on crack because I was literally BOUNCING for most of the rehearsal.  It's been an awesome day over-all, and especially from 4:30 on.  And hopefully the awesome will continue.  I'm off to take a shower before bed, so I can get up and go to a morning crossfit class so that I have more time in the afternoon to come home and clean my apartment because I'm having a PARTY tomorrow night!  Hurrah!  and Huzzah!  and Hurray!

<3

And the CrossFit casualty of the day is...

My eyes???

Yeah. Got home today after my 5pm class and did a double-take in the mirror. Had I smudged my makeup all over my face? (It's happened before.) Nope. That shading was all blood-red. And only around my eyes.

Luckily, I did not freak the fuck out. This has happened before. My eyes are apparently unable to go upside-down without proper preparation. It happened the first time I ever did wall-stands in yoga. And then it would happen after that if I hadn't actually warmed up and just felt like showin' off my awesome (not really) upside-down skillz (often just to myself).

My WOD today was (mine was a modified (less reps) version):

8 chest-ups (like a pull up, but higher, and in my case with double resistance bands)

20 walking lunges

3 wall climbs

A wall climb:

Again, mine look NOTHING like that. I maybe get to a 45 degree angle. I think.

But that is apparently enough to make all the membranes of my blood-vessels give up in defeat:

Also, if you look carefully you can see my Rodney-Dangerfield-Pupils of disparity!

Also, I promise I've wiped off most of my makeup, I just don't fight that last bit of eyeliner since it comes off so much easier in the shower, and then I don't fear getting toner in my eye.

The ladies understand me, I'm sure.

Anyway, faux black-eyes aside (and they'll probably be mostly gone by morning), the WOD went pretty well. I did 3+21 rounds in 12? minutes (I really need to check how much time they put on the clock). I also learned that my 1 rep max back squat weight is 110lbs, which makes me feel awesome. I think I could probably have gone to 115, actually, but I kind of felt like I was holding up my teammates at that point.

In caloric news, the weekend was easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy. Today has been more difficult-difficult-lemon-difficult and I'm not sure why. I was just hungrier all day, but I'm not sure if it was actually hunger or general boredom-hunger caused by my job.

And now, to homework! O.O

(le sigh.)