The L1 class was phenomenal. I learned so much, felt like CrossFit did a great job of tying everything together, and got to meet some great new friends. Since then, I've been given the opportunity to start coaching under Darcy Giaquinto, a stellar local athlete with lots of years coaching and competing.
Coaching has opened my eyes to new things: individual need, motivation, nutrition, technique, and physical differences. The one thing I'd like to focus on, though, is the power of fellowship.
Darcy's gym is very well established in Rincon, GA with over a hundred members. From what I've heard, her beginner classes are bursting at the seams with a waiting list - so this is an exciting opportunity for me to step in and begin coaching, teaching, and mentoring starter athletes. However, those who have been around a while have formed a great bond - people of different backgrounds, abilities, ages, and fitness levels all seem to come together all the time and cheer one another on. Sure, I've seen this in other gyms, but not to the extent in this one. This gym has the small-town feel mixed with a taste of competitiveness, support, and pride.
But the true beauty of it is that these athletes have one another's backs. During the open, goals were set, with some people leaving the gym enraged, and others encouraged. Regardless, the goal board was up there with athletes figuring out what they needed to work on, and their fellow gym-goers supporting them, saying "yes you can," and cheering the whole way through.
I think the greatest thing about this is that it is making coaching a breeze so far. They are trying to help me and take me in as much as I am trying to help them and learn about them. It isn't a one-way street in this gym... I can't wait to join this team.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Raised Beds
A fruitful trip to Lowe's has left me with a pile of wood to begin the building of the raised bed vegetable garden.
The plan is to do 2 boxes: one with Tomatoes and another TBD vegetable (I'm closely watching my consumption to figure out what I think is most in-demand for me), and an herb garden. Those little viles of herbs are really expensive! May as well cut back on that... plus I have a new-found love for any type of mint drink (this started with Justin Stay's world-famous (ok, Mableton-famous) mojitos and has rapidly expanded) and will need to be growing my own mint. Plus, I bought him a mint plant and immediately became jealous. No need for that!
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I'll document this process knowing full-well that the vision in my mind is not likely to be reflected in the actual finished product - - but at the very least I'll learn something.
On another note, I'm getting my CrossFit L1 cert next weekend in Atlanta, so the bed building will need to be postponed for at least 2 weeks, but this is something I'm really excited about! Positive physical and mental movement in 2014. Gotta start somewhere!
The plan is to do 2 boxes: one with Tomatoes and another TBD vegetable (I'm closely watching my consumption to figure out what I think is most in-demand for me), and an herb garden. Those little viles of herbs are really expensive! May as well cut back on that... plus I have a new-found love for any type of mint drink (this started with Justin Stay's world-famous (ok, Mableton-famous) mojitos and has rapidly expanded) and will need to be growing my own mint. Plus, I bought him a mint plant and immediately became jealous. No need for that!
I'll document this process knowing full-well that the vision in my mind is not likely to be reflected in the actual finished product - - but at the very least I'll learn something.
On another note, I'm getting my CrossFit L1 cert next weekend in Atlanta, so the bed building will need to be postponed for at least 2 weeks, but this is something I'm really excited about! Positive physical and mental movement in 2014. Gotta start somewhere!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Competitive Fire
The older I get, the more introspective I become, and the better I know myself. It's time to face the facts: I'm just not that competitive - at least not with other people.
In an attempt to be real but not come off sounding totally arrogant, most things come pretty easily to me. Usually when I attempt to explain this, I get the tongue-in-cheek response of "Oh, I'm Lindsay, I'm just good at everything." That's not what I'm saying - all I am saying is that most activities that I attempt just seem to come pretty easily, from athletic endeavors to academic endeavors - - with the exception of basketball. I am terrible at basketball.
That being said, whenever I pick up something new, I have no interest in comparing myself to the best in the game, I have every interest in comparing myself to my Day 1 experience of that activity. Even while looking at other people, I don't look at a girl in the gym and say "I want to crush her," nor do I look at highly successful women at work and think "I want to be better respected, smarter, and higher than her." I generally look at it as a mentor/mentee relationship, or as someone to look up to and attempt to achieve as much as them... but with no intention of trying to "compete" with them. I want to be as good as I am capable of being, regardless of the arena. But my ability level is not necessarily correlated to someone else's ability level - and I understand that and appreciate it. Take what I have, mold it, work at it, think about it, strategize, set goals, and get to the next level - the next level FOR ME.
I don't get amped up for a workout by walking in, seeing one of my friends, and thinking "today I'm going to out-rep, out-run, and out-lift her." My workouts are good when I feel like I may throw up, when I am unable to get another rep due to fatigue, or when I set a new PR. I'm disappointed when I feel like maybe I could have pushed myself harder, or that it wasn't "enough" to make me feel like I'd left it all out there on the floor.
However, when I get thrown in with the rest of the human population, many of whom are extremely competitive, they don't understand where I am coming from, and more often than not, I become extremely frustrated with my perception of their competitiveness.I have opted not to compete, recently. I just don't have the fire, and I really have no desire to square off against other people who just so happen to participate in the same activities as I do. It makes it not-so-fun for me. But let's get this straight: I am not happy with being mediocre. I am not happy with plateaus or stagnation. None of that is acceptable - it is not acceptable to be lazy, to be unmotivated, to be content with "good enough." But my competition is not standing next to me at a pull up rig, nor sitting at the desk next to me. My competition is staring at me in the mirror every day. Am I better than I was yesterday? If the answer is no, I will consider my day a waste, and plot my next few moves to ensure that doesn't happen again.
In an attempt to be real but not come off sounding totally arrogant, most things come pretty easily to me. Usually when I attempt to explain this, I get the tongue-in-cheek response of "Oh, I'm Lindsay, I'm just good at everything." That's not what I'm saying - all I am saying is that most activities that I attempt just seem to come pretty easily, from athletic endeavors to academic endeavors - - with the exception of basketball. I am terrible at basketball.
That being said, whenever I pick up something new, I have no interest in comparing myself to the best in the game, I have every interest in comparing myself to my Day 1 experience of that activity. Even while looking at other people, I don't look at a girl in the gym and say "I want to crush her," nor do I look at highly successful women at work and think "I want to be better respected, smarter, and higher than her." I generally look at it as a mentor/mentee relationship, or as someone to look up to and attempt to achieve as much as them... but with no intention of trying to "compete" with them. I want to be as good as I am capable of being, regardless of the arena. But my ability level is not necessarily correlated to someone else's ability level - and I understand that and appreciate it. Take what I have, mold it, work at it, think about it, strategize, set goals, and get to the next level - the next level FOR ME.
I don't get amped up for a workout by walking in, seeing one of my friends, and thinking "today I'm going to out-rep, out-run, and out-lift her." My workouts are good when I feel like I may throw up, when I am unable to get another rep due to fatigue, or when I set a new PR. I'm disappointed when I feel like maybe I could have pushed myself harder, or that it wasn't "enough" to make me feel like I'd left it all out there on the floor.
However, when I get thrown in with the rest of the human population, many of whom are extremely competitive, they don't understand where I am coming from, and more often than not, I become extremely frustrated with my perception of their competitiveness.I have opted not to compete, recently. I just don't have the fire, and I really have no desire to square off against other people who just so happen to participate in the same activities as I do. It makes it not-so-fun for me. But let's get this straight: I am not happy with being mediocre. I am not happy with plateaus or stagnation. None of that is acceptable - it is not acceptable to be lazy, to be unmotivated, to be content with "good enough." But my competition is not standing next to me at a pull up rig, nor sitting at the desk next to me. My competition is staring at me in the mirror every day. Am I better than I was yesterday? If the answer is no, I will consider my day a waste, and plot my next few moves to ensure that doesn't happen again.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Movement
Moving, in any direction, changes everything.
I'm not sure why I am so inspired tonight, but I've been doing a lot of thinking. In the past 11 months, my life has changed considerably. Although a physical change in location was involved this past year, every single change can be described with "move." All of these moves resulted in a change - - big changes - - physiologically, spiritually, physically, mentally; all of which were welcome and needed.
That being said, I've finally decided what 2014's theme will be for me. Movement.
Some Movement:
Walking to the grocery store for small items - all the time.
Walking to CrossFit on Saturdays
Riding multiple centuries (maybe even RAGBRAI or BRAG)
Hiking in at least 5 different states
Kayaking
More Movement:
Starting my MBA (already paid for - check that box)
Reading at least 20 books
Learning to sew
Starting a vegetable garden
Improving my marriage
Anti-gravity movement will include:
165# back squat (did 155# today)
Bar and Ring Muscle ups
100# snatch
130# clean
230# DL
2014 - I'm going to move .
I'm not sure why I am so inspired tonight, but I've been doing a lot of thinking. In the past 11 months, my life has changed considerably. Although a physical change in location was involved this past year, every single change can be described with "move." All of these moves resulted in a change - - big changes - - physiologically, spiritually, physically, mentally; all of which were welcome and needed.
That being said, I've finally decided what 2014's theme will be for me. Movement.
Some Movement:
Walking to the grocery store for small items - all the time.
Walking to CrossFit on Saturdays
Riding multiple centuries (maybe even RAGBRAI or BRAG)
Hiking in at least 5 different states
Kayaking
More Movement:
Starting my MBA (already paid for - check that box)
Reading at least 20 books
Learning to sew
Starting a vegetable garden
Improving my marriage
Anti-gravity movement will include:
165# back squat (did 155# today)
Bar and Ring Muscle ups
100# snatch
130# clean
230# DL
2014 - I'm going to move .
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Your Butt and Your Brain
I should just avoid reading things that I know will anger me, but I do it anyway.
All this stuff I have been reading on the internet is destroying people's enjoyment of fitness and giving them false impressions about their body, fitness regime, results, and next steps. I have decided that I am disappointed by a lot of this and I'm going to start calling out articles that I see as completely ridiculous and point the finger of blame to say that "YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM."
Here is my first call out. I have to -- not only did this article make me sad, it made me second-guess myself - and any article that does that to a member of their own community... well.... it'd be the same as my husband singing "Brown Eyed Girl" to me.
"A Big Butt Is A Healthy Butt: Women with Big Butts are Smarter and Healthier."
http://elitedaily.com/news/world/big-butt-healthy-butt-study-says-women-big-butts-healthier/
Do I really really need to go into detail about why this is a problem? The two things I will actually give to this argument is that women with strong glutes, hamstrings, and thighs tend to be stronger and develop explosiveness and speed more quickly than those without. Additionally, it made a good point to say that women who tend to gain weight in their stomachs and upper bodies are more likely to develop heart issues than women who gain weight in their thighs and legs. That is true - very true - and very unfortunate. Fighting our genetic predispositions is one of the many drivers of committing to a healthy lifestyle. However, aren't we going a little far with saying your giant ass is just a reflection of your giant brain?
But let's get down to the real reason I have an issue with this: we are constantly looking at body types and saying that body type X is better than body type Y because of some random reason that could be linked to something else. (Hannah showed me a good headline the other day: 97% of Terminal Cancer Patients had a Root Canal----sigh). Isn't there enough scrutiny on our bodies? Why do we have to go one step further and make anyone who doesn't have a big ass (I'm raising my hand here) wonder for one second if they are not only less physically appealing from the rear than those with the ever-praised badonkadonk, but also less intelligent? Stop. Just stop. My tiny little butt can ride a bicycle over 100 miles and squat 155 pounds - and my tiny little brain ( clearly a result of my tiny little butt) fulfills my role as an engineer perfectly satisfactorily.
Ladies, let's just all be on the same team. Whether your body is thin and lean, or thick and strong, or whatever it may be - celebrate the fact that we're active, we're working to be better than we currently are, and that we're headed in the right direction. In my book, if you're doing that, you ARE smarter regardless of dimensions.
All this stuff I have been reading on the internet is destroying people's enjoyment of fitness and giving them false impressions about their body, fitness regime, results, and next steps. I have decided that I am disappointed by a lot of this and I'm going to start calling out articles that I see as completely ridiculous and point the finger of blame to say that "YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM."
Here is my first call out. I have to -- not only did this article make me sad, it made me second-guess myself - and any article that does that to a member of their own community... well.... it'd be the same as my husband singing "Brown Eyed Girl" to me.
"A Big Butt Is A Healthy Butt: Women with Big Butts are Smarter and Healthier."
http://elitedaily.com/news/world/big-butt-healthy-butt-study-says-women-big-butts-healthier/
Do I really really need to go into detail about why this is a problem? The two things I will actually give to this argument is that women with strong glutes, hamstrings, and thighs tend to be stronger and develop explosiveness and speed more quickly than those without. Additionally, it made a good point to say that women who tend to gain weight in their stomachs and upper bodies are more likely to develop heart issues than women who gain weight in their thighs and legs. That is true - very true - and very unfortunate. Fighting our genetic predispositions is one of the many drivers of committing to a healthy lifestyle. However, aren't we going a little far with saying your giant ass is just a reflection of your giant brain?
But let's get down to the real reason I have an issue with this: we are constantly looking at body types and saying that body type X is better than body type Y because of some random reason that could be linked to something else. (Hannah showed me a good headline the other day: 97% of Terminal Cancer Patients had a Root Canal----sigh). Isn't there enough scrutiny on our bodies? Why do we have to go one step further and make anyone who doesn't have a big ass (I'm raising my hand here) wonder for one second if they are not only less physically appealing from the rear than those with the ever-praised badonkadonk, but also less intelligent? Stop. Just stop. My tiny little butt can ride a bicycle over 100 miles and squat 155 pounds - and my tiny little brain ( clearly a result of my tiny little butt) fulfills my role as an engineer perfectly satisfactorily.
Ladies, let's just all be on the same team. Whether your body is thin and lean, or thick and strong, or whatever it may be - celebrate the fact that we're active, we're working to be better than we currently are, and that we're headed in the right direction. In my book, if you're doing that, you ARE smarter regardless of dimensions.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Om
Alright, don't get me wrong.... I love yoga and all but I CANNOT take "om"-ing. The spiritual connection is part of it, as is the meditation, the inner sense of self, and the "just be" stuff. I actually do buy into it and I do feel it - I meditate in the beginning and closing parts of yoga - I picture myself on top of a mountain that overlooks a beach and the ocean at sunrise, and I just sort of pretend I'm there and think about nothing but the peace of it. I am not opposed to trying some of the methodology to see if it works, and I do believe that parts of it do work for my own relaxation.
However, last night I tried out a class of Jivamukti at a studio in my new town and I was beside myself. The lecture about the yogi's natural inclination to vegetarianism and loving animals WHILE we were holding a head stand (for 5 minutes, mind you) was just too much for me. At a certain point, when the attempt at creating peace and relaxation for someone does the exact opposite, I think it has gone too far.
As a side note, not only did I go to Kroger immediately after class to pick up some fresh cut meat, but I'd also be willing to bet that I was the strongest person in that class. I'd like to thank all of the animals I've eaten for that.
I am used a very mainstream kind of power flow yoga (taught by a wonderful woman in Atlanta named Karen) with a touch of getting into the spiritual part/meditation. I am NOT used to a mini-sermon about the connection to the divine throughout the yoga class. I am sure that works for some people, but I was so uncomfortable. Secondly, the yoga positions were called out in their real names. We didn't go through "warrior 1," "warrior 2," "triangle pose," we went through "utthita trikonosana," etc. Yes, I had to look that up. I was two steps behind everyone because I didn't know what the heck I was supposed to do next whether or not I was capable of doing it.
In my opinion, there is a huge group of people who could be brought into the benefits and health of yoga if it wasn't always so granola. I certainly am one of them. Do I want to go back to that class? Yes and no. I loved it because I love yoga, but I don't want to go because I was uncomfortable. My husband FOR SURE would never make it through that class because we'd be kicked out the second he started laughing at the singing/om-ing with the accordion at the beginning of class. However, my husband DESPERATELY needs to improve his flexibility and stability, and I think yoga could be a solution for him... which brings me back to my point that there needs to be some type of middle-ground.
Are there classes out there for people who are not beginners, have probably intermediate-to-advanced level strength and flexibility, and who just don't want to sit there and listen to the mini-sermon about the divine while singing the "Jivamukti song" (as I'm calling it since I have no idea what was going on right then)?
However, last night I tried out a class of Jivamukti at a studio in my new town and I was beside myself. The lecture about the yogi's natural inclination to vegetarianism and loving animals WHILE we were holding a head stand (for 5 minutes, mind you) was just too much for me. At a certain point, when the attempt at creating peace and relaxation for someone does the exact opposite, I think it has gone too far.
As a side note, not only did I go to Kroger immediately after class to pick up some fresh cut meat, but I'd also be willing to bet that I was the strongest person in that class. I'd like to thank all of the animals I've eaten for that.
I am used a very mainstream kind of power flow yoga (taught by a wonderful woman in Atlanta named Karen) with a touch of getting into the spiritual part/meditation. I am NOT used to a mini-sermon about the connection to the divine throughout the yoga class. I am sure that works for some people, but I was so uncomfortable. Secondly, the yoga positions were called out in their real names. We didn't go through "warrior 1," "warrior 2," "triangle pose," we went through "utthita trikonosana," etc. Yes, I had to look that up. I was two steps behind everyone because I didn't know what the heck I was supposed to do next whether or not I was capable of doing it.
In my opinion, there is a huge group of people who could be brought into the benefits and health of yoga if it wasn't always so granola. I certainly am one of them. Do I want to go back to that class? Yes and no. I loved it because I love yoga, but I don't want to go because I was uncomfortable. My husband FOR SURE would never make it through that class because we'd be kicked out the second he started laughing at the singing/om-ing with the accordion at the beginning of class. However, my husband DESPERATELY needs to improve his flexibility and stability, and I think yoga could be a solution for him... which brings me back to my point that there needs to be some type of middle-ground.
Are there classes out there for people who are not beginners, have probably intermediate-to-advanced level strength and flexibility, and who just don't want to sit there and listen to the mini-sermon about the divine while singing the "Jivamukti song" (as I'm calling it since I have no idea what was going on right then)?
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