Preacher girl

Today has been a day of jumping from soapbox to soapbox for me. Poor Joshua-- I've been using him as my sounding board for all this preaching, too. Topics? Purpose in life; and the travesty of  how Christians behave toward homosexuals/homosexuality. Too much to delve into (again) right now, as I am very near my computer curfew for the evening... but maybe I'll enlighten you another time if you have a hankering to hear.

Day 52

Okay, I’ll be honest. Diet-wise I’m not doing so hot on my challenge. Since the “great recipe slump” and Joshua’s decision to get off the paleo diet (he wants to gain muscle mass and he just needs to eat more food—any food—to do so… the paleo diet was making him too lean), I have been struggling. Plus it’s Girl Scout cookie season. Can you feel my pain?

Overall, though, I feel good. Even though my diet hasn’t been “strictly paleo” it hasn’t been about overindulging, either. And our fridge is still stocked with fresh fruits and veggies, which I eat daily. Going out to eat has been the weakness. Still, I am sticking to my challenge. I’m not willing to give up this “you must eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, your skin is glowing!” complexion. And I’ve lost 10 lbs and have another 10 to go. So I’ll keep plugging away.

CFA this morn. It was SO hard to get out of bed… I literally almost crawled back under the covers while I was packing my gym bag. But, as always, the workout is worth it.

Strength/skill – Power clean and jerk. (Possibly my new favorite technique for getting weight overhead!) Worked up to a heavy single at 72#. The jerk was no problem at that weight, but the power clean was getting heavy and my elbows were getting slow.

Partner WOD! We had an uneven amount of people in our class this morning, so Joshua and I teamed up with a fellow named Jason. I worked while they rested, and they worked at the same time while I rested. I started again whenever the last one of them finished the round, but really they stayed neck and neck the whole time. It was fun to see synchronized box jumps going on.

15 minutes AMRAP:

12 kettlebell swings (18#)

8 box jumps (16#)

4 burpees

Switch off working/resting

We completed 13 rounds and 7 (or 8, depending on who’s score you want to use, Jason’s or Joshua’s) KB swings. Not bad! I finally figured out how to get the rhythm of box jumps down after watching Joshua through the first few rounds. That guy is smokin’ hot.

Also… as I have previously mentioned… I am walking the 3-Day in D.C. in September and today I met someone at CFA who has done the walk five times and is walking Chicago this year. She said that there is a great training group here in Asheville. Super excited to get hooked up with other people on the same journey!

Tuesday

Bad drivers are one of my greatest pet peeves in this life. Take, for instance, the goober in front of me on Biltmore Avenue today. We both got into the left-hand turn lane. The light turns green... in heavy traffic we both inch our way up to the intersection during those precious few moments when we have the green turn arrow lit in our direction. Goober gets to be first in line and decides he doesn't want to turn left after all. He wastes the entire green light by waiting for an opening to get back over into the right lane. Really? 

I am in the process of going through some photographs from a trip my family took to England five years ago. I was 20 and had just returned home from a month spent in poverty-ridden Nicaragua; I remember London being a bit of a shock. But I loved it. My Nana was from London and I remember her always talking with a wistful fondness about the parks there and how there was nothing like them in the States. We took this trip after she died, partly in memoriam. She must smile at me from heaven whenever she hears me say that England's parks stole my heart as well. London was a perfect mix of natural (albeit cultivated) beauty, urban metropolis, and anchored history. My kind of city indeed.

Joshua and Michelle have always shown an inordinate pride in their cultural heritage (Italian and Latin). I have always teased them about it, telling them that I am just as Italian and Hispanic as they are. (I am, although they inherited more genes from the "swarthy good looks" pool than I did.) But I think I am beginning to understand where they are coming from. I'm starting to feel a growing pride for my own British roots-- it feels good to share some of the characteristics of such a strong and stalwart people. 

History

When I was in college, I bounced between majors. I started off as a political science major because I had ambitions of becoming a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department. Those aspirations dwindled quickly when I took Intro to International Relations. I realized that I had zero idea about anything to do with politics and hightailed it out of there, managing to coax out a B average because I know how to write. Then I took American History with an amazing professor (props to you, Dr. Long-- who was short-- oxymoronic) and tapped into my fascination with the past, and decided to major in history. This was waylaid by my speech class, where I discovered Interpersonal Communication and switched majors yet again. It was a busy freshman year.

Anyway, this week Joshua and I went to see The King's Speech (with Colin Firth, one of my favorites). Perhaps it's my British blood, but I love any movie having to do with the Royal Family. This has again sparked my fascination with all things ancient and old, and I'm off on another history tangent. If I could go back to college tomorrow and major in history, just for fun, I'd be all over it. I will always love learning and I think I will always be intrigued with people in the past. Choices, motivations, consequences... it is a beautiful tapestry that is at sometimes glorious and other times tragic.

About two years ago I had a desire to start at the beginning of world history and work my way up to the present. I think I might challenge myself with that again. Although I am going to skip the whole Sumerian alphabet chapter because I find it a bit boring, sorry. Let's move on to the Egyptians and ancient Greeks and Rome and the Middle Ages and Robert the Bruce and WWI and II. We'll see. I'll keep you apprised. 

Saturday

Today was a day for haircuts and tax filing.
Both turned out better than expected. :) 

Day 47

Testing Day

Phase 1

Work up to new 1RM for backsquat @ 30X1 tempo

1RM goal – 120# (last 5RM was 102#)

50% estimated max – 5 x 30X1 tempo (58#)

75% estimated max – 3 x 30X1 tempo (88#)

85% estimated max – 1 x 30X1 tempo (98#)

90% estimated max – 1 x 30X1 tempo (103# - miscalculated the weights and thought I was doing 108#)

Tried for 118# for new 1RM but had to bail.

Phase 2

Load up bar to 85% of max weight (88#) and complete max reps = 10 with chest up

Phase 3

Max calorie burn for all-out 1 min row = 14 cal (lame… but getting the rowing movement down correctly is difficult for me)

How it felt: I was disappointed about the 1RM, since it only ended up being 1# more than my previous 5RM in January. But completing max reps at 88# was difficult to do with proper form, so I am being patient with myself and allowing my body to catch up with my mental goals. It’ll happen! I love CFA and the community of people who cheer you on when you feel like you literally can’t stand up under the weight. Today was my first time having to bail… it was kind of fun to send the bar bouncing to the floor. Can’t wait until I can backsquat my own BW! Joshua was up over 200# today… he’s a beast. :)

Day 46

Weighed myself tonight at Grammy's-- I've lost 10 lbs. so far during the Challenge. I also think that I might have an iron deficiency, because my (expensive) gold rings are making my skin turn black... even when I rub them across my face. In my mind this is impossible, because my diet is rich in iron from meat and poultry and in vitamin C (which enhances iron uptake) with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. It would explain the chronic fatigue I've been battling, though. I think I might go to the doctor and see what the deal is. 

Day 45

It's the half-way mark today for me on this 90-Day Challenge. There has been some cheating, I'll be honest. Eating at other people's homes, and a couple of times just going out to eat and getting what I wanted (read: pizza)... but overall I have done a stand-up job, if I do say so myself. I'd like to do the next half without the cheating, though. Most of the time, the cheating really isn't worth it in the "Ohmygosh this tastes divine" sense; it's just convenient. Paleo requires a lot of food prep and time in the kitchen. That has been enjoyable and at the same time frustrating for Joshua and I, especially when our experimental dishes go awry. But we have discovered some incredible recipes (stuffed peppers, anyone?) and alternatives (I love you, Coconut Bliss) that make some of what I used to eat seem excessive. When this is over, I am sure I will go back to bread and butter, two of the secrets to happiness in life. But why would I go back to regular ice cream when I have a delicious, healthier alternative? Why would I add sugar back in when I have learned to use honey, and when my taste buds have gotten used to not eating fake, saccharine food from a box?

Today was CFA.

Strength/Skill - Clean, work up to a heavy set of 2. I'd only done this one time before and ended at 28#... today I worked up to 48#. Hate that my butt still sticks out when I get low in a squat. Core strength...

WOD - AMRAP in 3 minutes:
6 push-ups (supposed to be ring p/u but can't do those yet... just stuck to the regular)
9 box jumps (18")
3 rounds, 1 minute rest between rounds
Completed 7 rounds + 6 p/u and 8 freaking box jumps. So close! I should've just finished the round after Shanna called the time.

Consolidation

So I've decided to consolidate my two blogs, because I find myself neglecting one or the other. So for those of you (any of you?) who read this one here, you will find yourself occasionally inundated with CrossFit WODs and more paleo-speak.

Today has been a good, albeit injurious, day. Started early at CrossFit Asheville, which is one of my favorite ways to start the day. I never-- NEVER-- want to get out of bed in order to get there, though. This morning Joshua was trying to coax me out from underneath the warm, snuggly blankets and he said that I sat up and gave him the meanest scowl ever. Not a morning person, what can I say? But somewhere between calisthenics and the WOD, I zoom into consciousness and by the time I have finished the hour, my face cherry red and my mouth all saliva-y, I feel alive. Wonderfully, wonderfully alive.

Work then... where I managed to kick the corner of an open drawer with my shin (beautiful purple knot to show for it) and get my wrist caught in the window Joshua was rolling up when I met him for our lunch break. Injurious, I told you. After work we came home and changed and headed out to the Mountains to the Sea trail on the BRP to go for a run... where I managed to catch my foot on a root and fall. Perfect ending to the day. It wasn't so bad though-- the forest floor is soft and doesn't scrape your hands up like asphalt does. I love running through the woods.

Joshua and I registered for a 5K in May, and I registered for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk in September (in D.C.! love!). So there will be a lot of running and walking to come. I will become a runner, dangit! I plan on running as many races this year as I can... there are so many good ones up here in the mountains, too. Races are fun and make the training worth it, you know?

I'm going to consolidate my blogs and then get ready for bed. It's not even 8:00, you say? I'd argue that my circadian rhythm is back in place and I'll see you at sunrise. 

Coming together

It could be that the 90-day challenge is starting to cause some breakthroughs, it could be that the timing is right, or it could be an Isaiah 43 thing... but lots of things in my life seeming to be converging at the moment in a series of empowering, life-giving epiphanies. I am all about it.

The thing is, I've been feeling stuck for a very long time. It had recently gotten very bad, and I continually prayed, telling the Lord that I just felt stuck and didn't know what to do about it. It was becoming a daily conversation between Him and I... mainly one-sided. Or so I thought. Then Joshua and I went and had dinner with some friends from Highland. These people are warriors on the spiritual realm. I don't think you really know what fighting is until you battle in the spiritual plane. Anyways, at the end of the evening they asked if they could pray for us before we went home. Of course. So in the middle of this Holy Spirit-inducing-mad-goosebumps prayer Amy looks at me and says, "Stuck. I'm just getting the word 'stuck.'" It was my tenderhearted moment with God, when He spoke through a human vessel to say, "I hear you." Amy prayed for movement in our lives. And since then... change has begun. Thank you, Jesus.

I am having realizations, and epiphanies, and hope, and truth spring to life inside me again, like brilliant springtime buds bursting forth after a frigid and harsh winter. There is a literal feeling inside my chest, and an uplifting in my mind. I am excited again. Oh, how long has it been since I truly felt excitement about life? Too long. It reminds me of Narnia and how everyone had just gotten used to the land existing in a state of perpetual winter while the White Witch reigned. Then Aslan breathed new life onto the landscape.

"See, I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland..."

You do make beautiful things out of dust. 

Epic failure

Well, in case you were wondering, the "spaghetti and meatballs" dinner AND the butternut squash soup were both EPIC failures. After three hours in the kitchen, Joshua and I went to bed hungry and frustrated. We'll have to find another way to cook the bison-- anyone have a good recipe for bison burgers?

Last night Joshua and I went and saw stand-up comic Etta May at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Tickets were free compliments of being an employee at Biltmore Estate, and the show was great. It was really fun to just go to a show and laugh.

Today Joshua and I worked with Misty Miller at her giant bi-annual consignment sale, Munchkin Market. One of the reasons I enjoy working the sale is because I have never seen so many pregnant women in one place at one time. And seeing them line up outside before we open and then rush in at 8:00 when we open the doors in one thundering stampede is a sight to behold. I met several ladies today who are expecting twins. I told God that I wouldn't mind having twins, not at all. I think my clock just made its first tick. 

Tonight's dinner experiment

Dinner has become somewhat of an experiment for me and Joshua.

Recently at CrossFit someone passed around a sign-up to buy in for a side of bison meat. Joshua has wanted to try bison for a long time, so we joined in the purchase. Tonight we have attempted to make spaghetti and meatballs-- paleo-style.

Spaghetti, easy. Remember spaghetti squash? The hardest part of that is slicing the darn thing in half.

Spaghetti sauce from Earth Fare-- all-natural and yummy.

Bison balls.

Well...

How would you make meatballs when you cannot include breadcrumbs or milk?

We decided to substitute coconut milk for the regular milk, easy enough. Breadcrumbs are kind of an essential part of meatball making, though. They help hold everything together, you know? We figured that we would use the pulp from our juicer that is just going to waste. So tonight we juiced some kale, pineapple, pear, blueberries, mango, and apple (delightfully delicious GREEN juice!) and salvaged the pulp to put in the meatball mix.

The guy arranging the bison purchase recommended that we not overcook the bison meat. He says that it has a tendency to dry out easily. Since our meatballs are rather soupy anyway, we're disregarding his advice in this instance.

I'll let you know how it turns out tomorrow. I'm off to make some paleo butternut bisque soup. 

Writing

So the mystery appointment mentioned in yesterday's post was my first of eight intrinsic health coaching sessions. Sounds fancy, doesn't it?

Really, it is about discovering what you want and getting there. Hence the homework of a vision board... basically a collage of all you envision for your life.

I have loved making collages since I was a little girl. I would spend hours cutting up magazines, carefully choosing pictures that I loved. I think that it is what drew me to photography in the first place. I am eager to get back to that place in my heart and peer out through that lens-- I think that it will be a deep breath of "at home" that I have been looking for for awhile. 

Today's thoughts

Today was a blustery cold morning, and I decided to walk to my 8:00 a.m. appointment across the hospital campus to rack up some mileage on my pedometer. My employer is awesome in that there is a health program where certain activities equal points, and enough points equals cash. Yep, cash. One of the easiest ways to earn points is to purchase and wear a pedometer. Walk enough during the quarter and you're well on your way to easy cash money.

Anyways.

I decided to walk. I almost immediately regretted my decision, because I was trying to multi-task by eating my breakfast (a.k.a. banana) and my hand pretty much turned into a solid block of ice after the first two minutes. I ended up in a building I'd never been in before, lost, and late.

But I got there.

I'm going to leave you hanging about where I was headed. I'll just tantalize you by saying that I will be making a vision board, and I will take photographs and post them for you once it is complete. If I can overcome my perfectionist tendencies and call it complete, that is. 

Ancient computer

I wanted to post a funny video that I saw on Facebook, but I am relegated to blogging on the household's most ancient computer tonight, and YouTube refuses to show its face. Joshua is sick and laid up in bed and is currently occupying our PC with a movie. I'm sitting here with my apron tied around my waist and saying hello to the blogosphere in the midst of cooking Paula Deen's "Old-Time Beef Stew" and stealing spoonfuls of Coconut Bliss. Praise the LORD for Coconut Bliss!

Today in the mail arrived three books of poetry, sent by my dear friend, K-Smeltz. It's on my new 101 in 1001 to read a book of poetry. Plus, this season of fasting has been a melancholy one, and so some Emily Dickenson should come in right handy. K-Smeltz sent me her own personal copy complete with sticky tabs on her favorites.

Better go check on Hubs. 

Home again, home again

We are home from Myrtle Beach. Michelle found the *perfect* wedding dress and I am so glad that we made the trip with her to be a part of the process. I wish I could post pictures, but on the off-chance that Christian happens to read my blog, that would spoil everything completely and I might never be forgiven. :)

The sun only appeared this morning as we were getting ready to leave my in-laws' house. I stood in the kitchen for a moment, soaking up the warmth as the sunlight shone through the window and I wished-- like seriously longed for-- a beach vacation. We did go out to the pier on Saturday, but it was cold and damp and so foggy that you couldn't see where the ocean and sky kiss on the horizon. It was romantic in it's own morose fashion. Joshua and I stood wistfully on the pier, listening to the waves beating the sandy shore below and spoke to each other about our craving to live on the water. I asked Joshua if he would rather live at the beach than at the mountains. I was surprised when he said yes.

I took the beach for granted as a Floridian, and I miss it something fierce now. Even on cold, clammy days like yesterday, there is an unrivaled, mysterious beauty about the sea.

I am thankful for the rainy weather, though. We spent a lot of quality time with my in-laws, whom we don't see enough of these days. Goal to visit more often. 

Off to Myrtle Beach!

Off for a whirlwind trip to Myrtle Beach to get Shelly's wedding dress fitted!!! I'm going to love it even if it is raining the whole TIME!

I must blog

Internet was down again last night... the router has a mind of its own. Not that I minded too much-- more time to cuddle up with a book on a rainy winter evening. Definitely my style.

Tomorrow Joshua, Michelle, and I are headed on a road trip down to Myrtle Beach to go get her wedding dress fitting done.  Should be good times... I can't wait to step out onto the beach (rain or shine) and let my soul melt into the sound of waves lapping on the sandy shore. I am also excited to see my sister-in-love wrapped in a confection of white, and to spend time with my in-laws. 

Here's to three day weekends.