My CrossFit Journal (Year 1, week 27)

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year 1, week 27, day one

Behind Neck Split Jerk
4-4-4-4-4-4

(source)

We moved up in weight each time we did a set. I was on my last set of weights and it ended up being 85lbs. I dropped the weight behind my back as I was lowering it down on the first go. I decided to stop then and there, it got too heavy to bring down to my shoulders. My last successful behind neck split jerk was the 5th round at 75lbs.

Then it was time for the WOD:

“Annie”
50-40-30-20-10
Double-unders
Sit-ups

I got double unders for the first time!!! We were practicing them before the WOD and I got like 6 and 7 in a row for a few go’s. I tried to do it for the WOD but I couldn’t go fast enough and I kept tripping over myself. It was just faster and easier for me to do 3x the amount of single skips. I ended up getting down to the 30’s. We only had 10 mins for it. I surprised myself and pumped out all 50 sit ups without stopping on the first round. Boom! That’s how it’s done ;)

My elbows ended up bruising pretty badly as the skipping causes some whip marks on my arms, and sometimes my butt or ankles!

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year 1, week 27, day two

 The Seven – Modified

Five rounds for time of:

7 Handstand push-ups diver bombers
7 Thrusters; 135/95lbs I used 50lbs
7 Knees to elbows
7 Deadlifts; 135/95lbs I used 50lbs
7 Burpees
7 Kettlebell swings; 2 pood/1.5 pood I used 16kg
7 Pull-ups

It was a tough one. I was on my forth round and completed the 7 dive bombers and 7 thrusters and the timer went off. We had a 25min time limit. So nuts.

I shamelessly took before and after pictures… in the elevator. Like I said. No shame man! No probs. Full of sweat.

Before: Happy and pumped up!  After: Tired and hungry.

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year 1, week 27, day three

Hang Clean:
20 Minutes to Establish 1RM

We had twenty minutes to get to our one rep max. My 1 rep max hang clean ended up being 100lbs!! LOL omg. So awesome. Tried for 105lbx three times after, and failed. So – guess I found my 1 rep max, for sure! 100lbs impressed me. Holy cow.

Example of Hang Clean (source)

AMRAP 8: (as many rounds as possible in 8 minutes)
8 Ring Dip
8 Hollow Rocks I did V-Situps instead, because my abs killed from the Annie WOD.

I completed 5 full rounds in the 8 minutes. No extras anywhere. I hate ring dips, they’re really difficult for me lol.

I tweeted this image of my biceps, again in the elevator. Hey, it’s a long ride up to my floor, and there’s a mirror. What else am I to do? ;)

I don’t know if this was a shadow from the overhead light, or if my biceps look this big naturally. Either way, I like it.

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year 1, week 27, day four

We started out doing 40 minutes of Yoga at CrossFit before the Murphy Challenge:

1 mile run
100 pull ups
200 push ups
300 squats
1 mile runI was surprisingly not nervous for this workout until we were all sent outside to get a run-through of the WOD. That’s when my hands started shaking.

I completed my first mile in 7:40, which I was surprised about, I thought I was going slower. I teamed up with one of my CrossFit buddies and we did the 100 pull ups with the black band, together. Taking turns doing 10 each. We flew through it, and were one of the first 7-ish people to finish.

Now, the 200 push ups were what was the most brutal part of the workout. I don’t know how people flew through them. At one point I was laying down on my stomach with my forehead resting on my hands. One of the two CrossFit coaches came over to me and asked how many I had left. “70” I said. He then said quietly “mind over matter nancy, you can do this”. This is why I love CrossFit. Those simple words, I don’t know where the energy came from, but that moment right there is when I needed it. My other CrossFit coach was doing the Murphy challenge with us.

Finally getting into the 300 squats, and another CrossFit friend came over to me. He started CrossFit the same day I did, but he was one of the first guys to finish. Speedy lil’ thing. Anyway, he saw me struggling through the squats and asked how many I had left. I said “I’m at 181!” He too, said some encouraging words to me.

Finished my squats and bursted out of the CrossFit box (it’s like a warehouse) and tried to go into a full run. Most people were finished by this time, and I shouted “Oh F&C*” except I really swore ;) My legs felt like I had just done a brick-workout. Like folks when they’re racing in triathlons, and getting off the bike is difficult going back into running. My legs felt so heavy. I just shuffled along and pounded through it.

My final time ended up being 65:13. I was really proud of it, since I’ve never done the Murphy challenge before. I passed my year and a half at CrossFit last week, so it was due time that I did this. A few people said it was a “rite of passage” for CrossFit, to complete it.

I loved it, and I’d do it again soon. Does that make me sound crazy? ;)

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One of his favorites

In our household, we make a lot of chicken. I would like to emphasis a lot. I will never tire of it. Clearly, since I’ve been eating it mostly every day for years now.

Sure I like to change it up a bit by having fish, burgers, pork or (rarely) ham. But for the most part it’s just chicken on the menu. I’ve become pretty creative when it comes to making our chicken suppers. I’m really terrible with coming up with recipes myself. Whenever I’m eating out, or my family cooks something for me, I grab their recipe. Usually it’s not measured. I also like finding recipes online especially a site that is just catered to chicken: http://Chicken.ca. Uh, heck yea.

I’ve decided to share with you another step-by-step recipe. One of my boyfriend’s favorites: Rich ‘n creamy white chicken spaghetti. Except I use spaghettini. Oh details.

My Mom made this for me when I was back home in Newfoundland during Christmas two years ago. It’s so simple. Look:

  • Milk
  • Cream Cheese
  • Chicken
  • Bell Peppers
  • Spaghetti noodles

That’s it.

I’ve started to play around with the recipe, adding in things like dill, or garlic to the mix. It basically tastes the same every time.  I don’t know why I bother making it more complicated.

Honestly I don’t measure, because I always have to add more of the original ingredient list, after the fact anyway. I’ll try my best ;)

Start heating up your frying pan, and set to medium heat.

Add in half of one tub of cream cheese. I use the light, just because the entire base is cream cheese and probably not the most healthiest meal you can eat. But it’s good. Can you believe I don’t like alfredo sauce, but I really love this? I don’t get it either. I try not to make too much sense of it.

At the same time, add in ¼ cup of milk. I use skim. You can use whatever you please.

While that’s simmering down to a sauce. Cut up some cooked chicken and bell peppers. Add in any other veggies you may want to incorporate into this recipe. Also while you’re waiting, put a pot of water on the boil, for your spaghetti noodles.

Cook it until the cream cheese melts into the milk and creates a nice sauce that looks a little like this, or until it gets bubbly. Stir occasionally, so the sauce doesn’t stick to the pan.

It may have lumps in it. I’m not a perfectionist in the kitchen. I leave them there, lol. Those black  specks are the lemon pepper seasoning I added. As I stated before, I don’t know why I try to make things more complicated because I honestly couldn’t tell the difference.

Now it’s time to add your bell peppers and chicken breast into the mix. I used one green pepper and two boneless skinless (cooked of course) chicken breasts.

Giv’er a good stir around, and put the top on your pan and let science do its thing.

Your water should be just about boiling for your spaghetti; boil spaghetti for 8-9 minutes.

The chicken and bell peppers suck up the moisture of the sauce. So now I like to go back in an add more milk, to make sure that the sauce is more creamy, instead of sticky and dry.

Ding ding ding! That’s the sound of the buzzer. It went off so now that the spaghetti is done it’s time to strain the noodles and serve your supper!

And there you have it my friends.

A #NoNakedChicken, creamy chicken spaghetti recipe. If you cook your chicken and chop your veg beforehand, your supper will be ready in 20 minutes tops. So easy, right?

Disclosure – I am participating in the Chicken Farmers of Canada program by http://ShesConnected.com.  I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

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My CrossFit Journal (Year 1, week 25)

Thanks to those who participated in my poll last week. I was questioning whether or not to do a post each time I work out, or save it all for Monday’s into one big ol’ collaboration.

The short:

  • CrossFit x 2
  • Running x 2

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year 1, week 25, day one

Ring Dip:
max-max-max  (so annoying, I’m so bad at this) My legs were even still on the ground

Back Squat:
20 Minutes to Establish 3RM

I ended up back squatting 95lbs (!!!). We had a few minutes left and I tried to go for 105 and did one. So that’s awesome right? lol I can almost back squat my own weight, that’s ridiculous.

“Mad Cindy”
AMRAP 10:
5 Pause Pullups
10 Clapping Push Ups
15 Jumping Squats

This WOD killed my arm pits, lol.

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year 1, week 25, day two

15 Thrusters; 135/95lbs 55lbs
Run 200 meters
20 Thrusters; 95/65lbs 45lbs
Run 400 meters
30 Thursters; 65/45lbs 35lbs
Run 800 meters

This one was pretty tough. We just had an 18 minute time limit and I was on my last 800m run, and I think the buzzer went off just as I was coming back, finishing up my run. Not bad!


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year 1, week 25, day three

Didn’t go to CrossFit but ran 6k with my co-worker. PROOF!

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year 1, week 25, day four

Hilarious story. I was pigging out on junk food because my Boyfriend was away, and I decided to watch the documentary SUPER SIZE ME. Silly mistake. I was feeling already full and feeling like the dude was describing me as one of the folks he was talking about in the film. I had to pause the movie half way through and ended up going for a speedy 4.23km in 24:03! That’s clippin’ er. Mainly because it was almost 9pm at night, and in a sketch area of town and any random dude I passed, I pretended I had fresh legs and was feelin’ no pain. Though, I was feeling quite ill due to the popcorn and pizza sloshin’ around in my belly. It would’ve made for a “better” story had I have puked on the run. lol But thankfully I did not.

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