Did you mess up?

Success does not come without failure.

Mistakes will happen, sometimes more frequently than at other times.  The key is getting past it.  Take a few notes, get up and move on.  You are smarter now - learn the lesson and just keep trying.

BONES!

There is a bone disease that runs on my mother's side of the family -  Osteogenesis Imperfecta

I have it and Jenna has it.  My mom had it, her dad had it, two of her brothers have it, some of my cousins and their children have it.  Thankfully, Jenna and I have very mild complications compared to so many others.

I have talked about this in the past but when I was 30 I had my first bone density screening and the results showed osteoporosis.  I had another screening done when I was 35, this test showed further weakening of my bones.  This was also after I had my two kids, I have no clue if that affected things or not.

A few weeks ago I had another screening.  Results this time made me cry - with JOY!  Normal bone density for my age/sex/etc/etc.  Really - I don't know that I can adequately explain to you how important this news is to me.

I truly believe that the past three years of CrossFit training and changing my nutrition habits made this happen.  The weight lifting, jumping, pushing, pulling, squatting, pounding, lunging, throwing, running, rowing, you name the CF move has made me stronger and has turned the tide on my advanced bone loss!  My bones are probably stronger than they have ever been!  Yes, I still break things - but when you drop a dumbbell on your fingertip, it's probably going to do some damage no matter who you are.  I'm still a bit of a klutz!  BUT, that's not the point - the point is that I am doing what it takes to ensure that I can be as healthy as I can for as long as I can!

It takes hard work, sore muscles, cursing the much younger/stronger-than-me man that does the programming at CFC , sweating, crying, laughing, you name it!  But this stuff really works!

Add to this type of true exercise a way of fueling my body better than I ever have.  Really - better than I ever knew I could or even should.  Learning and living the benefits of clean nutrition is still a work in progress for me.  I'm not perfect.  I am a work in progress - but true progress is being made.

I have learned and told others that even if you can't see improvements, when you give your body proper, clean nutrition you will begin to get better on a cellular level.  IT'S TRUE!!!!  I am proof to myself that it is 100% true.

Another very cool thing - Shane convinced Jenna to try the CrossFit Kids class at CFC  and she loved it!  Coach Matt Regitz does such a great job with the kids!  If I can keep my kids active, in a CrossFit kind of way, I know they will forever be better for it.  Jenna has more at stake - I hope this is something she becomes passionate about and will soon understand just how important it is for her to stay active.  Shane is all in!  He counted the days until he was old enough to be in the kids program!  I will do all that I can as their mom to be the inspiration and be the 'Do As I Do' type of parent.

How cool will it be when they are stronger than me?!?!

OK, I am losing focus.  So - just know that I was a mess before I found CrossFit and now I am strong!  I love being strong!

Question - Are you proud of where you workout?  Do you workout with people that are sources of inspiration?  Do you want to be an inspiration to them?

I would not have ever thought this type of thing would apply to a gym.  I had my memberships to a few globo-gyms and I was just a face in the crowd. No one knew if I was there or not.

Things could not be more different at CrossFit Champions.  As an athlete and a as a coach at CFC the other members and coaches know if I am there, know if I am sticking to a consistent WOD schedule, know if I am improving or stagnating.  And - if I'm not holding up my end of the bargain, they call me out on it.  I am proud to be part of such a gym.

I have had some big ups and downs over the past couple months, personally and professionally.  Things have turned the corner and are improving - some faster than others - and I have had it made clear to me that it is time to stop putting myself and my WOD's last on the to do list.

When I do not take the time to care for myself, everything else goes downhill.  I can skate along for a little while and then it all hits a brick wall.  Time to get my act together.

Consider my s#!& pulled together.  Well, except for a clear line of thinking on this, and many, blog posts!

Now, for your viewing pleasure - Shane and Jenna's birthday cakes made by my cousin Kim - she is fantastic!  And a picture of my goofy pup, Ginger!

Jenna had this same design 2 years ago but she wanted it again!  Her favorite part of this cake is the tiny pearl at every intersection of the quilting pattern.  Beautiful!

The detail on Vader is lost on this picture.  I was amazed at how accurate he was. Shane almost peed his pants when he saw this cake!

Ginger - what can we say about Ginger? I love her cute little Boston Terrier frown and her mis-matched ears!