Back Among the Living!

Hey, Bacon fans!  My plan to get back to a new blog post each week was derailed by a super fun combo of the flu, sinus infection, and double ear infection ALL AT THE SAME TIME.  I don't think I have ever been that sick before.  I spent a couple days simply lying in bed crying because I felt so horrible.  I am so very thankful to be well!

So, back to the reality of my beautiful everyday life!  I don't want a thing to change!

I had the best time teaching Elements today at CFC.  I got to work with a man who is ready to see what CrossFit and CrossFit Champions can do to help him on his path to better health.  On his own he has lost over 100 pounds.  That is awesome!  We like awesome at CFC!!  Being part of people's lives and their quest for better health is something that I never thought I would be doing.  I was the short round child in elementary school.  I had a severe disdain for anything exercise related all through junior high and my teen years. Things started to change in my early 20's and then at 36 I found CrossFit!

I really don't have a point, as usual, but I had to share my love of my job!  When you find something that makes you happy AND you get paid for it - that's cool!  My Cereal Killers class is a blast - best group of athletes at the gym!  There are some many reasons why I love CFC: learning new things, getting stronger - mentally and physically, making friends, being part of this community, the list goes on and on.
Find a gym that is the right fit for you and you will be amazed at what you can achieve!

Amazing Morning at CrossFit Champions!

There are some days that things all fall in to place.

This morning my 6:00 a.m. crew was on fire!  Doubleunders were stringing together like never before, handstand push ups were looking great, dumbbell hang power cleans were beautiful!  I loved seeing all of this happen for my athletes!  It was such a great way to start my day, and theirs.

A new athlete joined our group this morning.  Rick did awesome for his first class - putting some pressure on the other guys.  This guy is a solid athlete!  I love it when friendly competition comes out and makes us do our very best.  Everyone wins!  Not in a Fun Fair Pretend Soccer kind of way, but in the way that we push ourselves to do more than we think we can.  Or to do the movements as they should be done - not skipping parts or getting lazy.  Or trying again something that we are not entirely sure that we can do - like handstands or heavier dumbbells.

On a totally different yet CrossFit related note I got to see my Great Aunt Dorothy at my cousin's wedding this weekend.  We were talking about the bone disease that runs in our family, osteoporosis, and things of that nature.  She is probably in her sixties, and is concerned about the state her bones are in and the idea of taking medication.  Of course I had to share with her my experience with my bone scans and how CrossFit and clean eating has improved the shape and strength of my bones.  Aunt Dorothy was VERY intrigued.  I cannot wait to share more in depth information with her.

And this is a picture that adequately describes my Mom's sister and 4 of her 5 brothers:

We are not your average family!

So, back to my original thought - my rockin' athletes!  I hope they had as much fun as I did this morning!  I love starting my day with the Cereal Killers.  Thank you for a great Monday morning.

No Resolutions

I am not a resolution maker.  I have enough daily challenges that keep me on my toes!  I am, however, learning how to set real goals.  This is difficult for me.

Setting goals requires thought about how you will go about achieving your goals.  What exact steps, and in what order, do I need to take to reach this goal? How will I deal with possible set backs?  What is the time frame to reach this goal?  Do I need others to help me?  The list can go on!

I am learning how to do this.  To make my goals real - not just something I wish would happen.  I am finding this to be a real challenge.

Like you have heard before, and I truly believe this, is that nothing worth while comes easy.

Becoming a better parent takes me looking in depth at how I respond and react to my children.  What type of example do I set for them?  How do I handle myself when dealing with nasty people?  For me to be the wife I want to be for my husband I must the very aware of how I interact with him.  Do I treat him with the same respect I want?  Do I support and uplift him as I want him to support me?

Same is true at work.  For me to be the coach I want to be for my athletes, I must learn from my coach.  I must continue to educate myself.  I must practice what I preach to my athletes.  Do I fuel my body as I suggest they do?  Do I put the same effort in to my WOD's as I expect them to?  Do I listen to my coach as closely as I expect them to listen to me?

Setting a goal can be hard.  It makes your wish real.  It requires work, effort, sacrifice, possibly asking for help.  Have the courage to make your wishes come true!

Christmas, Family, Food and Fun

Thanksgiving gluttony has passed.

And it will never be spoken of again.

Today Danny and I started a 10 day cleanse.  I don't want to lose total focus and end up at the end of the year feeling run down due to poor planning and letting my desire for better health slide to the back burner.

I know there are parties coming up - some will be with like minded CFC  folks and others will be with those who do not share my mindset.   I will be the constant in all situations.  I will be responsible for how I choose to participate in the merriment.

Really- it's only as difficult as you make it.

Now, for a Paleo Service Announcement:

 

CrossFit Coaches Prep Seminar

Two weekends ago Nicole Stahl and I were fortunate enough to attend a CrossFit Head Quarters (CFHQ) Coaches Prep certification at Alamo CrossFit in San Antonio.

It was more than I expected it to be!

First, there were only 23 coaches and box owners there along with 3 CFHQ staff members - Jason Khalipa, Adrian Bozman and Nadia Shatila.  What an amazing group - coaches and staff!

The staff was beyond what I could have hoped for.  It was so clear that the only purpose they had was to provide us with the tools to be the best coach we could possibly be.  The information, corrections and critiques they gave was all for one purpose - to help us help our athletes.

Can you tell I liked it???

It was a little uncomfortable to be out of my comfort zone- CFC, my athletes, our coaches- but that soon passed.  The second day I relaxed and felt like my true coaching style was able to come out, and therefore things that I need to improve upon could also come out.  This was the place to make mistakes.  Make mistakes and then learn how to do and say things better, more accurate, simpler.  Turns out I'm too nice and talk too much.  Hear that Cereal Killers?  Time for me to get less nice!

I came away from the certification feeling better equipped to lead my athletes down their road to improved health and fitness. I now have a deeper understanding of how CrossFit and my coaching, together with hard work from my athletes, will bring about your ultimate fitness!

3...2...1...GO!

Moving Heavy Things

Busy week!  I feel like I could excel as a furniture mover.  In the process of getting our house ready to show we moved lots of furniture out and into storage.  Four truck loads of stuff!  Why do we need so much stuff?  Really?

Anyway - I think it is cool being strong enough to do this!  Today I noticed in my WOD that I had no steam left.  I did PR on my bench press - woo hoo!, but then Jerks about did me in.  As the shirt says, I love Jerks!  Today they were just hard.  Eh, that is life.   When one area is wearing you out, you are going to see it affect other areas as well.

I have been crazy sleepy.  This is a problem in general but with each day filled to the brim with things to move, pack, buy, return, houses to look at, etc., etc., etc., it really sucks.  I don't have to look very far to see one area where I have let things slide - nutrition.  It has not been horrible, but it has not been on par, either.  Irregular eating patterns.  Not enough water.  Too much eating out - even when I do make good choices it is not the same as preparing food at home where you know exactly what the ingredients are.  I am convinced that Pappasito's puts sugar on their fajita beef.  Jimmy Johns UnWhich is a good choice if eating out, but what all is in their cold cuts?  You get the point.

So, as of today the house is officially ready for showings.  The massive get ready is complete.  Football practice is over.  Hunting season is in full swing.  Life can now return to some sense of normalcy.

Speaking of hunting season - we are out of meat!  I failed to check that the freezer door was sealed shut.  It wasn't.  We had to throw everything, including the freezer, away.  So, hopefully Danny will get an Axis and we can start eating right again!  Do you think the processor will have a speed option?!

Deep breath in............and out..........

Change!

Wow!  Lots of stuff changing here this week!

Danny and I have lived in our current house for 7 years.  We don't like it.  It just does not work for our family.  We have changed a lot of things about this house - new floors, new patio, new furniture, new paint colors, new uses for rooms, etc., etc.  But, still just not the house for us.  So, the sign is in the front yard.  The massive purge of stuff is under way.  Paint is being touched up.  The wall of family pictures by the front door is now blank - very sad.  The new towels are on the towel rods and NOT TO BE TOUCHED!!! The typical "get ready to have strangers come in our home and fall in love with it" is happening here in the Roberts household.

And on the flip side is the search for the right house for our family.  This time we are looking for more breathing room outside instead of inside.  Smaller house, bigger land!  Easier said than done, but it will work out the way it is supposed to.  I have faith that it will.

I got and giant haircut.  Big change.  Actually, I got it cut last Thursday and then again today.  I like it this time.  The sweet little momma-to-be that cuts my hair is so good to me!  She deals with my complaints so well and I am always happy with the end result!  Thanks, Amy!

Changes happening at work as well.  There have been some staff changes at CFC.  It is hard to see good coaches go.  But, again, I have faith that things work out the way they are supposed to.

Through all the changes either initiated by you or delivered to you, remember to: