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! 

 

oops....I almost forgot

It has been so long since my last post, I almost forgot I had a blog.  Pathetic.  I know.

So, since we last met Jenna broke her finger, school started, Jenna had surgery to put a pin in the finger, Shane turned 7, Jenna had the pin removed, Jenna turned 6, I missed two eye exam appointments, Danny did the 24 Day Challenge and went paleo (and he is doing a much better job than I am at staying 90-100% clean in his eating), I almost lost a relationship with a few people very dear to my heart, my brother, SIL and niece went half way around the world to see her brother get married, SIL's father passed away, my Dad and his girlfriend left on a Mediterranean cruise.  Pepper in several trips to the medical center, regular well check appointment's for the kids, a couple birthday parties, football practice, work, a few very far spread out WOD's, time with the husband, time with friends, time with family, stress, worry, love, joy and sorrow and you have.........life.

Holy Shit.

I have made a resolve with myself to get my crap together.  To be a better steward of my time and responsibilities.  Hopefully I can get it all squared away this week as hunting season is upon us and that means lots of time as a hunting widow.  Saturday morning will be proving grounds as I have two places to be at the same time.  This is not going to be pretty.  Wish me luck!

I need to get this Bacon journal to make a list for myself of things I need to do each day.  I love making lists. I love checking things off said list that I have accomplished!  

My Athletes!

As a coach at CrossFit Champions I have the pleasure of working with some awesome people - my athletes.
 
I have two classes - The Cereal Killers and The Bupree Social Club  

These athletes are up and at the gym ready to workout at 6:00 in the morning, ready to give it all they have.  I just wanted to post some pictures of have of them doing their thang!


Enjoy!

Rhonda

Tom

Mickey and Matt M.

Amy

Logan

Tommy

Noel

Shane

My Birthday 

Nancy

They get sad when their fellow athletes can't make it to class

Priscila

Shari

Tami

This is not everyone - but it's what I have for now!  I have so much fun with these people - plenty of jokes, smiles, smack talk, encouragement, support, prayers, you name it - we have it at 6:00am! 

My classes are cohesive units - each athlete working to become better in the gym and outside the gym.  I believe walking through the door at CrossFit Champions changes you - for the better.  When your body is strong, your mind is strong.  When you fuel yourself with quality nutrition, every cell in your being benefits, working from the inside to create a better you.  Does your gym offer a community of support?  Does your coach email you when you are missing classes?  Does the athlete next to you tell you that you are strong enough to finish your WOD?  Do they congratulate the one who finishes last equally as the one who finishes first?  If not - you need a new gym.  

School Lunch

Hey, bacon eaters!  Have you noticed that the school year is fast approaching?  A mere three weeks away here at our house. Yikes!

Packing lunch for my kids can be a challenge, especially as the year rolls on and they get tired of my limited ideas.  I am always looking for ideas of healthy school lunches to pack for my son and daughter. Feel free to send some my way!

I do have one handy kitchen helper, PLANET BOX!  Do you know Planet Box?  You should!  Planet Box is a stainless steel all in one lunchbox system.  I am not the most earth friendly person around, but I do love not having to buy plastic bags for lunches.  The lunch box has 4 compartments and one tiny square just big enoughfor a small piece of dark chocolate (or maybe a marshmallow :-)), an insulated carry case with an outside pocket the perfect size for a Thermos bottle and an interior pocket for a cold pack and straps for utensils.  You can customize your Planet Box with magnet sets, too!

This year I have even purchased cloth napkins so they have nothing to throw away - my son will really like that.

Since the kids get only 30 minutes for lunch, there is no time wasted opening packages or waiting for a helper to help them open something.  They simply unzip the carry case, open the hinged lid and eat!

My kids do eat sandwiches most days for lunch (I know, so NOT paleo/primal), so that is in one compartment, another gets veggie sticks, another gets some fruit, and on occasion some sort of treat/dessert in the 4th compartment.  Have the divided tray/lunch box also gives the kids a lunch that simply looks more appetizing than a lot of things in plastic bags.  When you can see a lunch full of fresh food, varying colors and textures - it just begs to be eaten!

Now, if only my little fashionista could be trusted to wear remotely matching clothes to Kinder this year, that would be great!

Coffee

Yesterday I did my weekly grocery shopping and decided to get some Heavy Whipping Cream (HWC) and treat myself to an old favorite - coffee with plenty of HWC.

It was.........horrible.  I was so looking forward to what once was my most favorite thing to eat or drink. It made my stomach hurt - bad.  So, now the nostalgia is gone, the desire is gone, any leftover feelings of deprivation are GONE!

I was honestly taken by surprise by this whole thing.  While making this cup of coffee, I knew it could send me back to where I used to be - drinking many, many cups of this each day.  Instead - I like my plain black coffee better than I thought I did.  I have one or two cups in the morning and once in a while a cup in the afternoon.  Down from what was an average of 5 cups a day with the HWC.

My sister-in-law asked me how I made this switch.  I told her I just decided to make the change.  It was about doing what I felt I needed to do - not what I wanted to do at the time.  I am still surprised I was able to stick with it.  Yay, Me!

Just one of those things that took me by surprise!  That's all I have for now!