Hi Tori,

Wondering if FITbaby arrived yet… if not, I have a question for you since you’re the most hard core athlete I’m aware of.  Do you know much about CrossFit?  I went to a community WOD today, and it was pretty darn amazing.  I’m considering starting to go to the CrossFit gym, but it’s quite expensive.  The people who go really seem to love it and think it’s worth every penny.  I even have a friend who gave up cable to afford CrossFit.  What are your thoughts?

I’m seriously thinking CrossFit might be the BEST possible way for me to kick things up and really start taking my body more seriously.  I’ve lost 100 pounds through basic diet and exercise changes but seem to have some trouble lately really moving forward more… and that’s precisely what I need to do.

Yesterday’s workout was extremely difficult but left me feeling exhilarated and amazed at what I could do if I just keep going.

Michele @ Healthy Cultivations
www.healthycultivations.com

Michele blogged about her CrossFit experience here.  She has the best attitude about working out, working hard and life in general. I LOVE IT!!!!  We can all learn from her if we remember her words below!!!  Michele’s parting words on that post were……

My motto for the day was this: ”Though I can’t do everything, I can do everything I can.” And that’s a pretty good approach to life too.  We just can’t let fear hold us back…not from confronting physical, emotional, or intellectual obstacles.  —-Michele @ Healthy Cultivations

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SHORT ANSWER…..We love CrossFit! We are building a CrossFit gym in our new house! (I will be sure to tell you all about the equipment we get, from where, what you need and how to build your own CrossFit gym at the lowest cost…once we do it and I have some pics to share!) Check out Rogue Fitness if you’re building your own CrossFit gym before I get a chance to post on it!  We’re getting most [if not all] of our equipment from Rogue.

I have often said that I do not plan to compete in another physique competition, BUT I do believe in competitions to give people the drive to push through to their goals. I am not a runner. It doesn’t excite me. BUT FUNCTIONAL FITNESS totally does!!! I have often said the next competition you will see me enter will be a CrossFit Games. And, my FIThubby and I have talked about getting certified in CrossFIT as well.

April 14 2010 – FITori in the gym

What is CrossFit? Read about it here on CrossFit.com!!

I love CrossFit because it incorporates strength, endurance and flexibility. It is fun! It is exciting! It’s highly intense! It’s quick also! It’s straight and to the point! You go, work out hard, and you’re done. You rest. You work. You play. It’s fun. It’s not the same every day. Some days are really tough. Other days are easy. And your easy days may be my hard days, depending on our individual strengths and weaknesses but we do all the workouts!

Aren’t CrossFit workouts too hard for a beginner? Read Michele’s parting words on her blog post here [I pasted them above with her question.]  Do what you can! I believe this about programs like P90x also. People often say….”I can’t do P90x!” Well, neither can I then. I can’t do the hardest verions of all the exercises in P90x either!  Does that mean I shouldn’t even try??? NO!!! As with every workout….Do what you can. Do the best you can. Try the best you can. Work out the hardest you can.  And, next time…..you’ll get stronger and be able to do more!!! If you keep it up, you will get stronger!

Do I need to pay to join a CrossFit gym? It depends….on YOU! Some of our best friends own Cactus Crossfit in North Scottsdale.  [If you're in that area, check out Kevin's wife, Joy here at Scottsdale Mom's Blog.]  So, I totally believe in a GROUP fitness experience to push you to work harder. I work harder when someone else is there to watch and make sure I don’t give up. Also, a CrossFit gym can teach you technique and help you learn a LOT about fitness.  For example, you want to learn how to do a pullup? They can help! Many of us need others to motivate us. Others work well on their own. It just depends on you. If you know you will only get a GREAT workout if you GO to the CrossFit gym….do it! Join it! Pay it! Go! If you can build your own CrossFit gym in your garage or basement and invite friends over to join you or are motivated enough to CRANK up the music and do it yourself…do it! [Be sure you'll use it before you invest!]

**I personally believe that there are certain areas where it is WORTH your hard-earned money. In our house, we spend money without question on health, fitness, nutrition and education.** We believe that those things are worth the money. We spent a TON on my competition. We decided it was worth the money for my health and the long-term lessons I would learn. We were right. It was worth every penny. For the new house we’re building, we talked about adding a theater room or a gym…we could only choose one. To us, this decision was simple….we can build a room to make us fatter and lazier [no offense to those who have a theater room...we love movies, but we had to choose only one!!] OR we could build a room to make us healthier, fitter and happier and  show our daughter what our family truly values. And, how much fun is this for her?! CrossFit incorporates a lot of gymnastics so we’re going to add those elements for her to have some gymnastics equipment in her house! What fun on rainy days!!   So, does that same principle translate for you regarding canceling cable for CrossFit??!!

Beware if you try to CrossFit at your regular gym…..Many gyms are NOT supportive of CrossFit.  Think of the regular weight room. People wandering around. Chit-chatting. Easy listening music on in the background. If this is your gym, they will NOT be kind when you are running around the gym like a crazy person, trying to keep your intensity UP to get a GREAT workout! And, YOU won’t get as much out of your workouts because you’ll be self conscious about being weird. Some gyms have even banned it. Others have special CrossFit facilities and rooms to keep you crazy CrossFitters away from their calmer clientele! You have to decide what will work for you!!! But I believe CrossFit is worth a try! We love it!

But I’m pregnant….I’ll have to wait until after pregnancy…NO!! CrossFit MOM is amazing!!!!!  Check it out!!! I have to admit that I have not worked out NEARLY as much as I should have during this pregnancy. I was working two jobs and preparing for our future. This is the biggest year of our lives [I'll share more about this later.] But, when I did workout with FIThubby and on my own I most often used CrossFit MOM for my workouts! It is a modified version of the CrossFit workout and there are different levels and tips for each stage of pregnancy.  CHECK IT OUT! I’ll probably start there when I start lifting postpartum and work my way back up to regular CrossFit….we’ll see how I feel!

For Michele, I definitely think CrossFit is a GREAT way to kick it up a notch! You’ll have fun. It’ll keep you motivated. You’ll learn a LOT about your strengths and weaknesses. You’ll get stronger in many areas. You’ll be learning something new which will help distract from the menotony that often creeps up after months of the same old boring workout. If you like the group you worked out with at the CrossFit gym and you felt amped and pumped and excited after your workout…..I think you have your answer!!! Try it for a while!!! CrossFitters are often really supportive of each other. And, there are TONS of resources to help you learn how to be stronger and better at those exercises which will leave you feeling even more self confident!! And, Michele, you MUST report back!!!! I want to hear all about what you decided, why and how you feel about it!!!! I’m so excited for you to reach your next goals!!!!

So, what do you think about CrossFit? Have you tried it? Is it work the $$ to join a CrossFit gym?

I saw this question asked in a magazine recently and thought I’d ask all of you….

How do you avoid a wedgie at the gym?!

The question in the magazine was “How do you pick a wedgie discreetly at the gym?” Sorry, ladies, but I’m not so sure it’s possible, especially with all the cameras around at the gym!!!

I thought I’d share my “cheap” wedgie solution with you all. I love Target…and if you don’t have one (we didn’t for a while and it was a tough time!) you can order online with free shipping!!!

So, NO wedgies and NO panty lines!! Yay!!  A little tip…once you start to sweat (and you should be sweating at the gym or you’re wasting your time!!) they’ll “stick” in place so they won’t be riding/rolling up.

These boy shorts are only $5 each (they come in a 2 pack) so you can get a week or two worth and it’s not going to break the bank!!

Compare that to the Underarmour brand that are $19.99 each!!! Ouch!!!

I’m always looking for cheap workout clothes because I want at LEAST a week’s worth! And, when you ramp up your workouts for those times you’re trying to bust through a plateau you may need enough for 8-10 workouts in a week!!! This = a LOT of workout clothes for me!

Click on the pics to go right to the page to buy some!

If you hate the boy short or aren’t sure…Target has others that will work!!! They have some seamless thongs that are awesome!! Comfy and soft!!

What’s your wedgie solution? Or are you an offender?! Admit it!

]]> http://fitoriblog.com/avoid-a-wedgie-at-the-gym-boy-shorts/feed/ 7 http://fitoriblog.com/my-new-ride/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-new-ride http://fitoriblog.com/my-new-ride/#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:28:51 +0000 tori http://fitoriblog.com/?p=695 My new ride!!!! I got the Trek 7.2 FX and I LOVE IT!!! I’ve ridden for at least an hour a day since the day we brought it home.  I am enjoying my cardio… finally! Between my bike and some of the classes on base I’m having a blast with my cardio!!! Toby is loving it too b/c now instead of just rollerblading him I can take him on a bike ride too! He’s having a blast! I may get into road biking one day, but for now this is all I need. It’s comfortable. It’s smooth. It’s a GREAT time and GREAT way to get my cardio in (and my dog’s cardio). There are bike accessories I can get when I’m a mommy that [...]]]>

My new ride!!!!

I got the Trek 7.2 FX and I LOVE IT!!! I’ve ridden for at least an hour a day since the day we brought it home.  I am enjoying my cardio… finally! Between my bike and some of the classes on base I’m having a blast with my cardio!!!

Toby is loving it too b/c now instead of just rollerblading him I can take him on a bike ride too! He’s having a blast!

I may get into road biking one day, but for now this is all I need. It’s comfortable. It’s smooth. It’s a GREAT time and GREAT way to get my cardio in (and my dog’s cardio). There are bike accessories I can get when I’m a mommy that will work with this bike (and not with a road bike) like a “Baby Jogger” that also works as a trailer for this bike.  Always thinking ahead….finding ways to stay in great shape….for life!

Please keep in mind that (as my BFF says) this is his “I know I’m the shit” face….so true!  And, that he just got back from a long weekend of being TDY and had flown all day (he’s a pilot…so he actually flew).  He was so proud of the shirt he found and was so excited to show me as soon as he got home.  I HAVE THE BEST HUSBAND EVER!!!  As Jim said, this gift was “better than flowers” which I had to laugh at but also agree…I now call this shirt his “better than flowers shirt.” (I hate flowers by the way…I’ve asked him to NOT get me flowers…I hate the work, the bugs, the pollen, etc….a story for another day.)

This shirt goes along w/ my info about support in the GetFIT write up I have at the top of my blog. He is SO supportive of my competing and always has been. He’s willing to spend anything on my education and on my fitness/health journey.  He is willing to spend money to support me in anything that is positive for me and for that I am truly grateful.  He is also supportive when it comes to my diet and exercise, not just in talking and allowing me to spend our money on this, but also in DOING! He is on my diet with me, supporting me every step of the way.  He eats healthy both at home and at work…most of the time at work, I think…what I don’t know won’t hurt me. He helps to keep me on track. He goes to the gym with me, lifts with me and takes fun cardio classes while pushing me along. He’s not there every minute or every time I go to the gym…he also has a job and a life, but when he can, he does.  We go to the track together on the weekends and he does lunges and stadiums with me (and we take our furry kid, Toby).  He runs the dog with me and we rollerblade him some days too.  It goes a long with with our relationship and building our friendship even stronger when we are doing all of these things together!

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I am so blessed and am so proud of my hubby!!!

Thanks for the great shirt!!!  I’m so proud to be his arm candy and glad he can be proud of me too and all the work I’ve done!!!

Shin splints….boo.

That’s what I get for upping my cardio drastically (not gradually) and wearing old shoes. I won’t even tell you how old my shoes are. They were still comfortable, but appears they were not doing the job. So, I got new shoes today (see pic below) and even though I think they’re ugly, BOY ARE THEY COMFY!!! They have a wide base so they help to stabilize my supination (maybe?) from my extremely high arch.  They are the Brooks Glycerin 8.

I usually wear Lynco L400 arch supports (and have some still) but decided (at the recommendation from the guy at Sports Spectrum) to wait and see if I like the shoes without rather than preemptivley buying $52 inserts if I don’t need them in these shoes. We’ll see….I think I’ll go back for a new pair!

I’m icing my shins after my workouts now. I’m going to try the fibula (maybe?) exerciser at the gym also.  We’ll see how I feel this time next week.

Oh, and I’m caving and taking my RX motrin that I was given for my wrist and my back. I hate taking meds but Nikki’s right…I need to take them so I am.  (They still hurt though, even with the meds…..I’m limping they hurt so bad.)

I stole this from one of my favorite bloggers….. Muscle and the City

All I have to say is….wow! If only it were that easy.

I thought I would introduce you all to Heather Frey and Smashfit if you are not already familiar. You can add her and her Smashfit group on Facebook. The reason I suggest this is that she sends GREAT Facebook messages. They are not about training and that if you do 25 crunches a day you’ll have abs of steel by June….instead they are mental and pscyhological messages about how to stay focused and keep on the right track, which is what we all need now and then, right?

http://www.smashfit.com/article.php?aid=7

She also has a new shirt that she’s selling once you’re fan of yours like I am….

Thanks, Heather for being an inspiration!

P.S. I tried to link you to her Facebook pages if you click on the links on my first sentence but I’m not sure if that worked!!! Also, check her out on Twitter!

I got the idea to blog about my vision board from Girl With No Name on her blog. Great idea!!! Thanks!

I put together my vision board when I redesigned my office last Spring. I did not know that this year I’d be working from home and staring at it every day. Back then, I was using it only in the evenings after my long days at work when I wrote my masters papers. I’m now in here all day for work and then to write my papers at night, so my board is really important.

I also blogged about my calender and you can see that blog post here to see how and why I made this calendar:

I change the pictures periodically. I have a pyrografie of me that was done on my trip to Germany last summer. I have some quotes:

I found this in Oprah’s Magazine in September 2008. Thought I’d share with you because it looks like a great thing to keep in the car. I’ve added it to my list to get one. At least one day a week I forget to wash my hands before I get in the car and think…EWWWW! This looks like a less messy way than the gels and foams.

I found this on Erik’s Blog on Lean Bodies Consulting, but it was originally written by Leigh Peele on her blog. I feel like I should give them both credit here for both writing it and for me finding it. I love love love it!! It’s fantastic!!!

I can’t hit my diet today because I didn’t get a chance to get to the store.
I can’t do my workout today because it is cold outside.
I can’t get up right now and do my stretching because my neck hurts.
I can’t stick to this diet plan because it just asks too much of me.
I can’t stick to my diet today because I just need to get the job done.
I can’t stick to my diet today because I am tired and stressed and just need a break.
I can’t do this because I just want to live my life.
I can’t go out because I am too fat for life.
I can’t not eat when I go out with friends, it’s rude.
I can’t tell my spouse that I wish they would stop tempting me with fast food they bring home.
I can’t say out loud that this is the 2nd 3rd 4th 5th year in a row that I made a diet resolution.
I can’t tell my family that I need their help this time.
I can’t tell my friends that this time I want it to be for real.
I can’t take off my shirt and not cringe.
I can’t get it out of my head how good my life would be if I could just do this.
I can’t figure out what it is I am doing wrong.

I can’t be the person that says can’t anymore.