edibart’s BodyBlog

OK, I know this a BB website but I’m sure there are plenty of people out there like me that are doing CrossFit and might like the opportunity to be able to log their WOD’s on here.  I’ve been getting better at writing them down in my journal but I still miss days here and there.  If I were able to log them in here I would probably be more consistent.  The problem is, unless I do BB Bench press or incline press or cable flyes…You get the point right?  Maybe it should allow us to enter our own exercise on a blank form or something…..Thoughts?  Am I missing something??

Whether it’s in the gym or at work, do you try to constantly challenge yourself, or do you stick to what’s comfortable?  Do you go outside the box or stay within the area you feel safest?  I used to tend to stick to my comfort zone, never really trying to challenge myself.  Mainely I believe like most people I was afraid to fail.  I was happy being the big fish in a little pond.  Then I found CrossFit.  In order to be successful with CrossFit you have to dig deep, find new ways to tackle the challenges head on.  I remember when I did my first full clean and almost fell over backwards I was pretty embarrassed.  I thought “there’s no way I’m going to get this move down!!” But I just decided that I was going to keep working at it until I got it right.  I wasn’t concerned with adding weight I was only concerned with doing it right.  The same thing happened when I started doing pull-ups.  I grabbed the bar and pulled myself up 4 times then thought my arms were going to fall off.  Was it embarrassing?  You bet your ass it was!! Then I thought about it….I’ve been coming to this gym for 2 years now and never see ANYONE attempting pull-ups so why should I be embarrassed?? I kept plugging away and now I can crank out 25 dead hang pull ups and upwards of 40 kipping pull ups.  Then I was introduced the muscle up…..It was a movement that just looked impossible to me!  I watched as my buddy demonstrated it for me then asked me to try it.  It was a laughable attempt!  I barely could raise myself up high enough to transition to the dip!  What the hell?? !!  I can do all these pull ups and dips but I can’t do ONE muscle up!!??  Well yes, that was the case.  So I kept at it and kept practicing and finally about a week ago I set up the rings with the intention of doing 5 but ended up surprising myself and getting 10!  A few days later I went back and knocked out 17!  Today I am doing a WOD that I created to help me work on two of my trouble areas, muscle ups and double unders.  It’s going to be As Many Rounds As Possible (AMRAP) in 20 minutes of 5 muscle ups/20 double unders.  I’ll keep you posted on how that goes.  The point I am trying to make here is no matter what your routine is, always look for new ways of challenging yourself.  If you’re weak at Dead Lifting, then add it to your next routine and learn the movement.  If Squats are your kryptonite then grab a bar (no smith machine) and start squatting!!  Remember, leave your ego at the door, attack a new challenge and you’ll see the progress, I guarantee it!!

I’ve been doing CrossFit since Jan 28th 2008.  I remember the exact date because when you do these types of workouts they have a tendancy to kick your ass so thoroughly that you just dont forget them.  The first WOD I did was "Cindy" as many rounds in 20 minutes of 5 Pull ups, 10 Push ups (chest to floor) 15 air squats.  I got 11 rounds that day.  May not sound tough but believe me unless you’ve done this WOD keep quite.  Anyway, no matter what the WOD may be, it could be Cindy, or maybe Elizabeth (21-15-9 Reps of 135lb clean, Ring Dips), could be Fran (21-15-9 Reps of 98lb thruster, pull-ups).  It doesnt matter what the WOD is we get the same WTF looks from the Globo Gym people doing their ab crunches on the machine and triceps pressdown at the cable station.  I still love watching people squating 315 or more on the Smith Machine, not going into a full squat at the bottom, then look around the gym like their a badass.  Take that same weight and put it on a BB with no machine, no pussy pad and squat it, I mean hips slightly below parallel….Then we can talk, until then spare us.  Anyway, I just love the looks we get when we kick up into a handstand pushup or go from sprinting a 1/4 right into pull ups, or box jumps, or 20lb wall ball shots.  My answer to your question that you dont ask is this:  What we’re doing in 15-20 minutes is more than you will get done in the hour you’re using these machines or laying on a bench.  What we’re doing is functional movements that will better prepare us for the physical demands of everyday life.  So the next time you see someone at your gym running around like a chicken with their head cut off banging out countless reps don’t be shy….Come talk to us….(After we finish our WOD….NEVER EVER EVER interrupt a WOD) then get in on the action..3-2-1 GO!!