It has been awhile, this I know. Things have been rather hectic and busy, and as you may know from the past few blogs, injury, sickness, and winter set in pretty hard during the new year. Well, spring is on the way, and things are looking up, up, UP! My knee still has some complications, tightness, and who else knows. I went to the doctor and I had to pay $70 for them to tell me to “try aleve” despite being in IB Profin for 3 weeks prior. Waste of time and money.
Anyways, so for the last three months, I have been training at CrossFit Bangor to work on strength training. One of my goals for this year was to focus on weights 2x a week, and I am glad that I went with a PT for this because I am STILL working on perfecting form, something that I would not have been able to finess and talk through with someone had I just went to the gym on my own. We have been working primarily on 4 of the big lifts; deadlift, shoulder press, back squat, and bench press. Each week is a new PR (designed that way), so it is feeling pretty good. I’ve improved on a lot of other basis’ as well with pull-ups (the least to progress), pushups, situps. I can actually do a handstand pushup now – kicking to the handstand and not wall walking, which was one of the coolest accomplishments I have had in awhile! (Next I need to work on double unders and pistol squats). I can notice changes in my arms, my core, and it feels pretty awesome. Here are the stats thus far from start to mid to last cycle (just for lifts)
Squat : 135->165->185
Deadlift : 135->175->200
Press : 65->80->90
Bench : 90->110->125
(these are for 5 reps)
I’ve seen a lot of improvement, but still so much room for growth which is great. Just getting form down, movement. Mobility is a big factor right now, esp. with squats, but I think I had some squat and push breakthroughs this week, so just need to keep at it, get stronger, focus (although sometimes I think too much about it!). It also helps to have an awesome coach to work with. The guy I work with is pretty laid back and the right mix of supportive and pushing.
Other than that, I feel like I have really pulled out of that kind of dark and ominous feeling I had for awhile given sickness and injury. I can run outside again (some days), and have a few races coming up that I am excited about. This weekend, some CrossFitters and I are doing the Zimmerman Challenge on campus, which is a crazy run, circuit, run, weighted backpacks, obstacle course, sprint, type deal. It should be quite the challenge, but I am looking forward to it. Then the week after is my first 10k of the season, which I need to start running for a bit more (have only done up to 4 miles as of late, and that’s been winding me).
I am feeling good about my goals, I started using MyFitnessPal again just to keep myself in check. I did “Whole21” last month, but even though I was following the plan, I know I was consuming too much fat through nuts and sugar through raisins, so I just want to make sure I am balancing everything I need. Another April goal is to drink 8 cups of water a day (got 12 yesterday!), which I have done for the last 3 days – sometimes it is really hard, just need to have that bottle with you all the time. I have been consistently going back to CF as well, which has been nice to be part of that group once again – although the classes are giant, which has benefits and challenges.
Otherwise, life has been a bit stressful. I have been applying for jobs, my finals for classes are coming up, we are planning our summer program (with considerably less resources than desired) for Upward Bound, I may be moving to a new apt. soon, and I will be gone for an entire week in May (although it will be positive as I will be visiting my brother). Although busy, these things are good, and things are going very well, which helps me stay motivated to keep up my fitness journey.
A big fitness related goal that I will be embarking on at the end of May is the ACE Personal Trainer Certification. 12-weeks of learning to work with people 1 on 1 to better than lives in some of the ways that I have learned to better my own and really learning the technical aspects of what I have been doing these last two years. The goal is to do that on the side and have some clients. I would really like to have a Big Bear Little Bear group (the weight loss program on campus), as that was kind of what started me out on my own pathway to health. I also applied for a job as a health coach for a company that does wellness consulting. I may not have the specific certifications yet, but working on them, and given the research and experience I have had the last two years, I think it would be a fantastic job to aid others in their journey. Plus, workplace wellness is an important and prevalent issue right now. I won’t be going to fitness skate for 12 weeks, as it just happens to land on the same day and time, but this is something I think will benefit me and help others that I can work with.
So, there is a lot going on, but I would say mostly good stuff. The best stuff in this very moment is that Tegan and Sara are going to be in PORTLAND MAINE on July 27th. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. I can’t express how amazing this is to me, as I have been listening to them since I was 16, and I missed the chance to see them a few months ago (sold out in a matter of minutes) in NY. So, send me good luck waves that I end up with tickets 🙂
As mid-April fastly approaches my summer goals are on their way. We cannot forget my ultimate beach goal! I will be working hard to get where I want to be, even when that means pushing that the next pull-up and waking up at 5:30am to workout. Climbing Mt. Katahdin will happen June 1st with some of my roller derby peeps – something that I have felt compelled to do for a long time, but never had the energy to do it. The mountain is at the foot of my hometown, my backyard if you will, and I think it is an appropriate way to use my new life in a way that reflects a change from my old life. It should be challenging, yet exciting!
Well, I think that is all that I have for now for updates. I will try to be better about blogging about various things, my weight training, etc.
I have been doing a lot of thinking lately as summer will be my 2.5 years from starting my journey. There are so many statistics that talk about people who do not sustain their weight loss for more than 3 years, so my goal is to work so hard this summer that when the 3 years mark comes around (in gross winter nonetheless) that I will be prepared to face statistics, ONCE AGAIN!
Here’s to keeping up with our promises to ourselves in the face of great adversity, challenge, doubt, and fatigue. We are worth it, and we owe it to ourselves to live our lives in a way that transcends statistics, excuses, and predisposition.
Keep on keepin’ on.
ME FROM TODAY, 3 more months to keep pumping iron for the 1 year beachiversary.
ME FROM Beach July – the first time I ever wore a tank top in public (aside from the gym)
Let’s see where I am in July!
