Coaching is not over once the music gets turned up!

Oh sure we cheer our Crossfitters on. We push them with vocal motivation..but are we cheerleaders or are we coaches? The music is up, the sweat is on. You can feel the energy flowing through the room everyone is giving 110%.

How are people moving? Do you see through the excitement what's happening to our members? Where are there hips, their heels? Have they picked a weight they can't handle? Have I in this party of CrossFit output lost sight of my true focus, efficient and effective movements that are also functional? Do I have what it takes to put the breaks on some members and say hey man you need to drop weight or we need to fix up your movement on this before you continue? Or do I let it roll and deal with it later? Later after the member is sore, after they have just taught their body how to move incorrectly? Are they paying for a cheerleader only or a coach and a cheerleader?

Who are you?

Does it matter to know who you are? What makes you strong? Weak? Do you know? Can you say it out loud? Or does it live in some deep dark place that you can't go because you're scared? Are you waiting or are you living?

My answers to myself are I know who I am...no I'm not scared of my dark places or my weaknesses. I see them plan as day...some are a detriment and some aren't.

We can live in this knowledge about ourselves or we can let it be a deep dark cave that pulls us away from who we are.

At this point your asking what am I talking about? Has she lost it? Face the fact that there are some places in yourself that you don't know. You peer in and look through the steam but still can't see clearly what of you is in there...waiting for you to discover it be it strong or weak.

These are the hard things in life...these ocean deep things about ourselves.

Rest your body feed your body work your body make it strong.....

Adventures in IF'ing

It really stated almost a year ago. I just played at first, skipping a meal here or there. Then this fall it really took off for me. I upped it to skipping two meals. Although I was not eating as clean as I could have. Mostly at the hospital it was and issue. Lots of carbs and "fruit juice". My biggest nemesis was PB&J, I just could not stay away from them. In a perfect world I could live on PB&J, two maybe three a day. It's now been months since I've had one and I really don't miss them. Part of the reason I had them so often was that I can make them at work for free. I'm not much for saying I can never have something, but in my eating it has proved beneficial for me in some ways. Since giving them up at work I've realized when I wanted one it's not so much that I need it more that I want it. IF'ing has given me the new understanding of when I "need" to eat and when I'm just eating to eat. When I'm IF'ing I feel sharp, wired and have great WOD's. I've become much more sensitive to the effects food has on me. When I break a fast and eat there is a very clear change in how I feel. If I break a fast poorly I feel and immediate mood and physical change. The same if I break it well on high clean protein and some good fat I don't feel slow and sleepy. Today I had a bit to much sugar on the break of my fast and I got super hyper and then smash came off it!
The change in my body has been significant. I'm much leaner and yet not weak. I've lost some weight maybe six pounds but I'm smaller. My pants are smaller and my feet have shrunk..no not really just messing with you! I don't have a lot of photos of when I was much heavyer but I do have some from a while back and you can see the difference.
The above photo is from my brothers wedding two years ago after about six months of Cf'ing and only cutting portion sizes but still eating not so "Clean".
IF'ing has taught me what it means to be hungry and to feel hungry. There is a difference. Now when I'm hungry I eat mostly protein and greens then I don't "feel" this overwhelming desire to eat for a much longer time. For instance today I fasted until 1:30pm. I went to Whole Foods and got chicken and steamed broccoli for myself and Curtis. I ate about three pieces of chicken and about half a cup of broccoli then was really full. I knew about an hour ago I should eat another meal before it got to late and almost had to force myself to eat. Since it's Friday I'm having a beer and I had a banana which was very yellow.
This is a photo of one of my first dead lifts
I no longer wake up longing for a carb load. Which is how I've woke up for as long as I can remember. It started when I was a kid. My Grandparents always made me honey and peanut butter toast. I've been used to that sugar rush forever and it's taken about five months to get over that. Not long really, but hard for me to get through in my head and body. Here's a little list of things I've changed.
Stay away from:
Processed food
Sugar's
Carbs-white food.
Eat:
Meat/Fish
Greens
Nuts
Berries
It's a simple list but it will get you on your way. My friend EC said it very simply the other day. "If you fall off the wagon, have a bad day for whatever reason just get back on!" Simple. Don't freak, stressing is not going to help on this quest. She also said, "do it for quality of life".
The Science of Fat loss
Another good read

Video Deadlift, KB OHS, Jumping slamball!

JenC KettleBell Over Head Squat from Potomac Crossfit Raw on Vimeo.


JenC Jumping SlamBall from Potomac Crossfit Raw on Vimeo.


JenC DL and Med Ball Clean Round 2 from Potomac Crossfit Raw on Vimeo.

Stong while Fasting...not always!

My fast ran long today. I had planned on eating at 1pm but the day got away from me and it ended up I did not eat until 3:30pm today.

I had been all gun ho about my WOD. Once at the Box I was pressed for time and just wanted to put the hurt on fast.

Warm up:

Tabata squats with 17# weight vest on-score 12

Four weighted pull-ups with 15# DB

WOD:

All done with 95#

10 Back squats (all with BB in BS raked position)

5 walking lunges

4 step ups with

Three rounds.

Skill Work:

Handstands on the wall and on the parallets.

New cues

Tighten your ass. Push weight into fingers.

It was a long fast and no I did not feel strong. Not weak or anything like that but not crazy strong. Almost like I had been out to late and was just a little fatigued. While under the bar it took more mental consecration to keep moving and to push my body up against the bar. Generally though I felt fine, awake and "normal". Having just eaten I now feel sleepy and slower.
Tomorrow being an ER day my eating will be as normal. Which means eat as clean as I can while I'm there. Stay away from sugar, which is really, really hard!

mini WOD's that hurt!

Mini WOD #1;

Two 25# DB's Five push presses followed by Farmers carry full length of gym which is about 25 steps.

Five laps starting and ending with five push presses.

Reason for this mini WOD is to continue to work on my OH strength in Left shoulder. This way it's taxing by not killer.

Mini WOD #2:

Warm up: Skin the cats on the rings. Four sets of five.

WOD:

Five145#DL's

15 GHD sit ups

Six rounds for time: 5:41

While at the Box: GTG Ring L-sits and Box jumps @ 38"

Kettlebell Workshop at Potomac Crossfit

I'll be doing another Kettlebell workshop called "Beyond the Swing". Which takes you beyond the KB swing into the more complex movements of both one handed and two-handed complexes. You will learn how to strength train with the KB so that you can keep your workouts exciting. This workshop is for intermediate kettlebellers, we will work on the snatch, jerk, clean & jerk, side bent press to name a few. Time will also be spent on program design.

When: January 25th, 12:00 pm – 3 pm
Where: Potomac CrossFit 1039 N Highland St Arlington, VA
Cost: Potomac CrossFit Members/Foundations Athletes - $40
Non-members - $60
Register here
I am the head trainer of Potomac CrossFit. I'm also Kettlebell Athletics certified, CrossFit Gymnastics Certified and a Level 1 Crossfit trainer.

Please visit my friends Pam and Jason who have worked with me in person and via the Internet to improve my kettlebell training and ability to train others at Kettlebell Athletics

Box Jumps...Still wanting more of that 40"!

I thought I had the 40" Box Jump in me but my Feet were not fully on the box so Lis Darsh called a no count!

Jen's Box Jumps from crossfit watertown on Vimeo.
It's not important but I want 40" or greater on this and will soon.

A playdate with Karen and Grace

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."-- Calvin Coolidge

Crossfit Watertown had EC of Crossfit Boston come in and give a talk about nutrition. After the talk we did a WOD. "Playdate with Karen and Grace" It was fun for sure and it was painful....all the things I love in a WOD!

Karen and Grace's Playdate at CrossFit Watertown from crossfit watertown on Vimeo.This Video is courtesy of Lis Darsh owner of CFW

EC's WOD from Hell!

WOD's over the last few days:

Day one:
Back squats 5x3
Only up to 135lbs

Five rounds for time
5 Deadlifts
15 KB swings@ 20k
4:21


Day two:
EC's
"Karen and Graces play date" 10 rounds for time or max rounds in 15 mins
3 Clean and Jerks @ 83lbs
15 Wall balls @ 10lbs
Eight rounds
MaD CrossFit video
Day Three:
Bench Rows @ 95
Deadlift shrugs@ 95
Windshield wipers 4 with 75lbs on bar

95lb BB walking lunges five steps
4 step ups onto box two each leg
Five more lunges
Four rounds

Don't tell me how bad this picture is...I know. Working weakness. It made my shoulder hurt for a week, not in a I've injured it kinda way. In a way that pushed the limit of what I can do with it. It takes almost two weeks after a shoulder intense WOD to feel I can work it again. It has to be worked if I ever want to get back to "Normal". It's a game, of how much and when.

What's your injury or weak place that you have to treat with TL&TLC?

It's hard to say "I can't do that today" in front of our CF'ing peers.

It has to be done if you want to be CrossFitting in 10 years.

What's your future with CrossFit?

10:32 seconds, 9:23 seconds, 3:19 seconds......Done! Jen Done! OK, I got it! Your time was???(feverishly subtracting in my head the time that it took me to look down at the stop clock, while doing this three more people are yelling DONE! WTF!)

In CrossFit time matters. It counts, it gives us an idea of your fitness gains. It's important....or is it? Or how important is it?

Sure time matters, it gives us a baseline, or a reference point. Let's be honest the majority of us are not going to the CrossFit Games. Our games are our fitness gains. Which are in reality far more important. I have huge amounts of respect for our CrossFit Athletes, fast-slow and all that fall in between. The fast and strong give me perspective on what's possible. The slow and determined I have deep respect for, they have mental determination that's worth its weight in gold. We all bleed CrossFit blood. We all want the same thing...be stronger, fitter, faster! Whatever that is for you.



The Clock doesn't lie the trainer does. Yup the secrets out stop the fucking presses! There are times when I hear the primal yell..DONE and I'm writing the last time on the board or I was cuing someone and seconds fly by. Which puts me into guesstimating mode. OK, so I'll drop 3 seconds off that time or 2, whatever.

Is this the sin of a CrossFit trainer? No, I think not.



If I had Eva T and Nicole going head to head for the first time in years by doing"Grace" I would make damn sure I was on top of my watch....unless of course I had turned to stone, due to being awe struck. In which case I would exit stage left and run for my life. Oh wait, I can't run I've been turned to stone! Shit I'm screwed!



Bottom line folks time is important, it defines our gains. It's what makes CrossFit stand alone in the fitness world. Do you hear a but on the tip of my tongue? Yes, you do. But keep it in fucking perspective. Words of wisdom from Jen! That's what I got for ya! I care about each and every CrossFit Athlete I train. Their gains are part of my success, your gains insure your continued devotion to fitness. Which is my heart and soul goal.

Don't live a lie, your trainer is a few seconds behind. You'll live I swear, you'll live! Next time just make sure you go three seconds faster to make up for your trainers slow reflexes. Laugh with your trainer and live to CrossFit another day! We do our best, slow as we are, we do our best.

3-2-1 GOooooooo!


Looking forward to doing this WOD. Not sure when but it's on the list! http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_JaxDLBoxRDWOD.wmv
One more side note. It's nice when people thank you http://www.mightykat.net/thankyou.html

My WOD's this past few days have been:

3 Rounds:

Walking OH pony Keg lunges #50's

10 GHD sit-ups

Walking OH pony keg lunges

Double 12# Med ball run full gym

15 squat 15# Med ball toss up and back gym

10 Ball slams.

Forgot to start the watch!!!

Yesterday with Capital Barbell club.

Lite Snatches for form, only up to #65. It's amazing how having a coach give you three cues can change everything about your form and make such a huge difference.

Thank you Bull and Rick!

Cleans for form. I have no idea the weights this was purely for form.

Snatch cues:

Start lower, Pull shoulder blades together and flex my lats, drive through the heels..Drive through the heels!!! Start second pull at Two one thousand..push drive through heels. This keeps my ass down and stops me from "turtleling" in my lower back.

Clean Cues...same as the snatch cues! If I can drive through my heels I should be able to move a lot more weight then I have in the passed. The bar was hitting me in the trough. With Bull putting me in the set up I realize that I've been starting way to high and forward.

Today I'm sore and tired, I feel the muscles in my ass and they're tired. I will lift today, but only as much as my body can handle. I will push today but only as much as I can. I will get under the bar, I will Crossfit, I will press forward and rest another day. Today I'm hungry for growth so I wont put down the fork. I've got to get stronger but I wont sacrifice form. I want to be better but I wont push to far. I'll speak to my body and ask it to give me a little more today. I will feed it well and have it adjusted...just today let me lift I want to feel a weight on my shoulders. I'm going to move it with each part of my body working as a unit...going to move the bar....

On some rather dark cold mornings I get to our box here in Arlington Va, sit at the desk and look out over the gym. Turn the music on and just sit there...looking at a dream of four people. When the journey began it was just Brian and I sitting in a Starbucks talking about the possibilities. Funny thing is at that point I had no idea who Dan (Brian's best friend) was. Brian, Dan and I had no idea who Curtis was. Now the four of us are here in Arlington with people flooding in our doors. All the faces, the different goals the different needs. Each of us brings something very unique to the box. Each of us reach a different group or the same groups within our PCF community from different angles.

I'll be honest it's not always easy for all of us to agree on all the decisions we have to make. We all pick our battles with each new thing that arises. I've spent time talking to other affiliate owners and issues come about with partners,It's unavoidable. Do we handle them with honor and respect for each other or do we slap each other around unnecessarily?

I've got a brother who I could not be more different from, Jake and I are at different ends of the world. That being said there is nothing I would not do for him or my sister Casey. Differences make things work...all the same parts will never fit into place.

But I digress..

The Box is cold and quite on these early mornings. Some days I workout other days I sit and collect myself, charging up in an attempt to start our members days out on a positive note. Getting to know who needs what and how to hold the groups attention and give them the energy they need to get through any given WOD(workout of the Day)

They come in, they put out and I charge them up as much as I can. Teaching and coaching, pushing and cuddling some.....They leave.

I swear my body feels like it does after a WOD. I immediately get lethargic and sleepy. I've given and received a dream. It takes as much as it gives. You can think if you want that I'm being overly dramatic, that's fine. This is the way I feel it's my job and it's a joy. They keep coming in the door and I keep learning a new way to train a new person as a part of a group. It's an exercise in flexibility and adaptation.

Potomac Crossfit is a school yard and we Brian, Dan, Curtis and I are the school kids. We play and we learn.