Monday, December 29, 2008


Since I've been training at PCF (http://www.potomaccrossfit.com/) I've come up with a few new motivational sayings and a few other funny outbursts. Some have been inspired by trainees and I've adapted them to my arsenal.

Grabbing Santa's Sack....365 days a year!
I've got 99 problems but my squat ain't one of them, well maybe I have a little butt wink;)
Women need to lift heavy shit!
Get violent on that bar!
Push that mother fucker overhead...
Burning rubber Bro you're burning rubber!
Now this workouts getting really fun!
Make your body do what you want it to do!
That's one effing beautiful pull up!
Talk to your ass and make it listen!
You know you want this to be over, go again!
Just because your trainers nose is bleeding does not mean you stop!
Your form sucked, do it over!
If that counted I'm Eva T!
It's 5:30am, whats the issue? Warm up and get on that WOD
I'm the trainer you warm up how I want you to!
Brother/Sister your killing this WOD, so stop acting like your dying!
Skip like a man, and sing!
I'm so proud of you, now go wash the blood off your hands.
Make this WOD your own, Own it don't let it own you.
I love you guys, work harder.
Your wife just kicked your ass.
Keep the Kettlebell close to your balls.
"Jen, I can't get it up"...well dude I so can't help you with that!
"Jen, I hear your voice in my head when I'm out of town and it's kinda spooky"



Ok, Pamela is a strong women who moves heavy shit! Today I'll be working the KB skills. Sotts press, band swings and overhead step ups. My hamstrings are yelling at me today so I'm hoping the sotts will work my lower back a little and them I'll move into the windmill for some deep hamstring work.

I've been having ART done to my shoulder and have an appointment today. It does help, but it is painful to have ART done. It's one of those cases where it's true about no pain no gain.

Also starting a late fast today it may be short just the morning hours. Interesting fact I learned about fasting for me. It's way harder for me to fast from 1pm to 6pm then it is to fast from 6pm to 1pm. So of course I will set a day where I eat breakfast and then I wont eat all day, I know this is going to be a struggle. I think my body and mind get over come more easily by the desire for food once it's gotten a taste.

Videos that get me back in the game:http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/Gillian_CrossFit_Games_2008.wmv

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFitAgainFaster_ManGrace.wmv

Sunday, December 28, 2008


Calling all women...Can you hear me? Calling all women...pick up something heavy and move it through space.
I don't care if it's your husband or your kids or a Rock. Moving heavy shit is going to make you strong and fit! You will not get bulky nor will you grow a mustache!
Need I say more? Ask away...

My WOD:
Press(going lite here)
5x35 bar
5x55
5x65
Front Sqaut:
Warm up:
Bar X 10
65X 10
75x10
Work: 95X2
102X2, 110X2, 130X2,135X2,140X39(just had to) My butt wink drives me nuts!!!

Thursday, December 25, 2008


Natural beauty! Padma of Top Chef is a natural beauty.
My WOD from yesterday was simple and naturally beautiful.
Deadlifts at 185# Five reps/Five reps of 15# Med-ball cleans, Five rounds. No time limits just lift strong and clean well.
Personal Cues, Drive the floor apart and down via the heels.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008



Ho, Ho, HO!



Yesterday I worked on the back squat and my fear of crashing in the hole.


95#,115,135,155,165 three reps with 5 second holds in the bottom.


Rested a few hours and then hit


“Elizabeth”21-15-9 reps of:135/95 lbs Clean/Ring dips


I used 75# and a blue band for dips. My time was about 9:50



Friday, December 19, 2008

IF Intermittent Fasting.

As of an hour ago I've started one of my longest fasts to date. I'm going for 19 hours. Water and lemon juice will be my hydration for the day. I'm also allowing for 2 cups of coffee without milk.

You may not get the whole IF fasting, which is fine. My reasons are both physical and spiritual. With so much going on in my life I'm hoping for some mood changes and clarity.

There are stages in fasting. The first stage that is the hardest for me is when I feel what most people would call "starved". When it's passed I'm good to go and somewhat hyper. It's the sugar that makes my body unhappy with me. Sugar is my strong hold addiction. I love sweets and they love my ass!

Update mid day Saturday.























If your in the NYC area please check out Keith Wittenstein. Ya just gotta love this guy blending yoga and Crossfit...keep it up bro!
http://crossfitvirtuosity.com/


I'm at hour 16 and feeling "Good" I felt great an hour ago. I lead 3 classes and worked on my form in the Clean on and off before and after classes. No real WOD today due to the fact that I just came off a 12 hour shift and I'm heading in for a Princess shift only to return for another 12 hour shift. So I just don't want to crash at work due to muscle soreness and general fatigue. I will hit the WOD's again on Monday.
This fast will end today at 3:30pm.
After the holidays I'm going to go for a 24 hour or 36 hour fast. I have one taker on joining me. If your interested let me know so when I set the date we can do it together.

http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2008/03/04/my-intermittent-fasting-success-story/

http://www.theiflife.com/2008/02/27/intermittent-fasting-101-how-to-start-part-i/

Monday, December 15, 2008

The people I learn from.
Eva Claire of Crossfit Boston has a extraordinary presents in a group. Yes, she can move that Barbell around like a champ. Which you may find intimidating. Yet step into her group at a Crossfit Cert and not only will your skills be sharpened...your going to hear some wise shit about how and when to move the bar. EC will talk about breathing, focus and power.

I've been to two certs with EC, she's what I would call a wise trainer. She seems to have her head around intense yet wise training. This is something that I find interesting. EC is strong as shit! Yet, if you listen to what she says about knowing when to hit it hard and when to TRAIN your body you're going to learn it's not about going fucking fast and hard all the time. Eight ounces of PVC can be as effective if not more so then 200lbs! What I was hearing her say was to find weights that are good for training your form and hit them over and over.

How hard do you go and how often? Do you do some of your WOD's and leave a little in the tank? Or do you tank out each and every time? Do you tank out on movements that are a struggle for you? Or do you do WODs at in between speeds and weight in order to make form and focus priority? Tossing it down every time is not always effective training, IMO. I'm not saying puss out, or take it easy. Just allow time for gains. In between speeds and weights at certain training times prepare us for making bigger gains.

Training is a art....what corner are you painting yourself into? More this week on WISE CrossFit Training. Photo by Keith Wittenstein

Friday, December 12, 2008


If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

-Larry McMurtry


Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Today my Crossfit Total was 500#. Not to bad, not to great.
At times in my life I think to much and at other times I don't think enough. THINK....


But most of the time I just like to be silly and enjoy people around me.


One thing I enjoy about myself is being strong.
Getting strong has freed my mind and opened doors.


One of the most satisfying things for me this week was working on my handstands and Ring work. I have to focus so much when I do these two things that my mind sees more clearly....why does it free me?
What frees you?

(all photo credit goes to Diane Pappafotis)

Sunday, December 07, 2008

One last post on the BUTT wink. I find myself saying to others contract your core and pull down into the squat. After some reading it seems that it's pulling down via the hip flexers that allows the squatter to fight the BUTT wink.

1. Be tight and pull down into the squat so that every muscle in your body is working.

2. Use a ball to stop from going into the butt wink. Yet, don't get addicted to the ball. You can also ask someone to watch you and tell you when to stop descending and power up.

3. Wall squats

4. Superman's

5. Windmills or movements that work your hamstrings without making your lower back overly flexible.

I've not talked about it but I do see a connection between forward lean in the squat and butt wink. People that have one or the other most of the time have them both.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

BUTT WINK

How to make it go away....

Get lifting shoes! Yes this helps because of the lift it gives you. Yet it's not really practical for air squats.

Oh, before I forget. Why is butt wink bad? Am I making a big deal about something that's not a huge deficit?

Simply put you lose your lumbar curve in the bottom of the squat. Also it shows inflexibility. My desire is to be able to go into a squat as up right as possible. Any pull under movement in my spine is a lose of control and I don't like that and it's also going to be a weak link in my squat.

After reading many threads on Butt wink the cue that's given over and over is to pull yourself into your squat. To work this slow, to not drop into the squat. This would be something that you work on outside of your WOD's.
Any input on this would be great...hows your butt wink?

Side note: This has nothing to do with Butt wink but lets think Crossfit Kids

Wednesday, December 03, 2008


Sorry for the long time in between post. I have a subject and I'm just trying to collect some information on it. It's the famous butt wink in the bottom of the squat. In the bottom of my squat I have butt wink, there are periods of time when I can get it to be less then I fall off the wagon and it's back to the butt wink.
I coach other people who also deal with this issue. I've asked them can you feel it? For the most part they say no, I also can not feel it.
Butt wink...the squat..the Conner stone of CrossFit! More later......