My first CrossFit WOD was "Karen":

150 Wall ball shots for time.

I had to scale with a 10# ball. My form was terrible. This was 23 AUG 2010.

Yup, toss another A into the pail.

I got my results from the CrossFit Level-1 Trainer certification course and, lo and behold, I passed! A 42/45 ain't too baaaad. So now I'm just waiting for that certificate in the mail. If only undergraduate classes were this quick to earn. You really only apply what you study when you get out there in the Real World.

Sleep. It's what's for dinner.

Apparently it went to the dogs for a little bit. The first day/week of classes has started for the fall semester and I am pooped. However, if these freebie Tues/Thurs afternoons continue to be as freebie as it was today, then my 3-hr lunch naps are gloriously necessary.

5 classes on a Monday is just....(makes face). I need to really get in my 8 hours of sleep and I don't care if that's average.

Clarification

So, I just got back from my first attendance of a CrossFit Level-1 trainer certification course and was informed that the movement from hanging on gymnastic rings to transitioning into a dip via a kipping motion was not a muscle-up, but in fact, a "get-up".

Sigh.

A muscle-up actually consists of a strict pull-up that transitions into a dip without any lower-body momentum. Bummer. Oh well, that just adds another point to my list of things to do before I'm 30. Let's do this.

Bucket List

I feel compelled to make a bucket list, or "30 things to do before I'm 30". I will include things I have already done because I think those deserve a mention. The following is in no particular order of importance:

1. Earn baccalaureate degrees in Athletic Training and Rehabilitative Sciences (bonus: graduate with Summa Cum Laude - 3.9+, as Maxima Cum Laude is out of the question) = ((DONE.  11MAY13. Whilte not Summa Cum Laude, it was a Magna Cum Laude.)
2. Participate in Beach to Bay Relay = (2010)
3. Go on an international trip solo = (New Zealand, 2006/2007)
4. Participate in the CrossFit Games = (Team Body Armor, Regionals, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
5. Commission = (ACCOMPLISHED. 11MAY13.)'
6. Complete a Level-1 CrossFit Trainer certification course (August 2011)
7. Perform a get-up = (8 August 2011)
8. Perform butterfly pull ups = (2013)
9. Go skydiving = (June 2012)
10. Complete Tough Mudder = (2011, at Paige, TX)
11. Pass the BOC and become an ATC = (AUG 2013)
12. Obtain my LAT in TX = (2013)
13. Participate in a half-marathon = (Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, SA-TX, December 2011)
14. Complete a CrossFit speciality course = (Mobility Certification, Jan 2011, 2013)
15. Score a 300+ on a record APFT = (April 2012: extended scale 331) (Update: Made an APFT score of 355, age 27 y/o, 100 PU, 86 SU, 15:38 2-mile).
16. Become a coach = (CrossFit instructor, Oct 2011)
17. Complete the "Amanda" workout, RX = (forgot my initial attempt; will have to find my journal entry; will try and re-post a date when I do it again)
18. Complete the "Murph" workout, RX'd = (28 May 2012, 1:2:34, c/20# vest)
19. Earn a Level-2 CrossFit Trainer Certification, formerly "Coaches' Prep Course" (DONE: 19 Jul 2015)
20. BW Snatch (~130-134 lbs) OR a 135 lb/62.5 kg Snatch. = (Done! PR'd at 64 kg (140 lbs), and repeated it on 2 Nov at 210 Last Chance Qualifier)
21. Find a group IOT become involved in Catholic Apologetics OR start an apologetics course (January 2015, New Saint Thomas Aquinas Institute)
22. Buy my first house (DONE: 21AUG15)
23. Earn a CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist). (DONE: 16JUL15)
24. COMPETE in the 2015 American Open in Olympic Weightlifting. (Update: I qualified for the AO at 58kg BW with a total of 156 kg [66 kg Sn, 90 kg CJ]! [Additional update: I increased my total to 168 kg (74-kg Sn, 94-kg CJ) at a later meet.  Then, I competed at the AO, totalling 167 (72-kg Sn, 95-kg CJ) at 57.00 kg bodyweight.  What's more is that I also qualified for the 2016 US Nationals Championships with that total which is the most-recent as of this posting.])
25. COMPETE in the 2016 USA National Championships (DONE: 6 MAY 2016, at 57.52 kg BW.  My new meet total is now 176). 
26. Breaking the 100-kg CJ (DONE: 6 MAY 2016 at USAW Nationals.  Lifting >102 kg CJ is close enough to taste...).
27. 300 lb back squat (Update: decided to measure my back squat instead of my deadlift; I'm almost there with a 1RM of 295 lbs).
28. String 5 "muscle-ups", aka get-ups, altogether (was able to but forgot first date of accomplishment; will post date when I actually do it and feel good about it)
29. Perform a strict muscle-up
30.  

These are goals, and as such they should be S.M.A.R.T.: specific (see list), measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-based. I figure I have the next 5 years to come up with more SMART goals to achieve...so uh, procrastination and going with the flow, yeah!

THINGS TO DO AFTER 30.

1. Earn a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (class of 2016).  It will be a few months after I turn 30.
2. Complete Airborne school (May not get to as DPT school takes some time, but we will see if this is attainable/reasonable based on when I get a unit, where)
3. Complete Air Assault school (probably after DPT school, for the same reason above...)
4. Earn the Expert Field Medical Badge
5. Become a Special Forces Group Physical Therapist

[NOTE (8/22/2013): To think I started this when I was 25.  I'm now 27...  3 years left to do these things!  May have to adjust/change some goals as the triathlon may not happen in 3 years.  We shall see. I turn 30 on 28 May 2016.  It seems so close...

NOTE (11/2/14): Yep,  I will graduate DPT school by Aug 2016 so I won't get everything BEFORE I'm 30, but I can get things done while I am in the 3-0.  No worries.  I also definitely took out the triathlon idea.  The Olympic weightlifting idea is catching on more.

NOTE (6/1/15): Wow.  Less than one year to complete this list!  I may need to re-adjust some goals or replace a few just to make the 30-item list more doable.  What's more is that I made even more progress in some of the already-accomplished tasks, and I have updated them in a different color.  I have also started a list that will contain goals that I cannot feasibly complete within a year, which is called the "Things to Do After 30".

NOTE (12/27/15): I've reviewed some of my goals and decided to delete some and add different ones.  I've also continued to update completed ones, as it's really cool to note when I've made and exceeded certain achievements.

NOTE (5/8/16): 30 is approaching so quickly yet I feel as if I'm going to be delayed in my arrival of actually BEING 30 mentally.]

Note the Day

I GOT MY FIRST MUSCLE UP.

8 August 2011




Now, I need to string 5 in a row. And let the torn skin heal.

(grip, grip)
(huff, whoosaah)
(pull, Valsalva maneuver, strain)
(repeat 2 more times)
(release slowly)
(fall and pant horrendously)

I just want to be able to do body-weight exercises without feeling like I'm about to die.


GOAL: MUSCLE UPS, 5 IN A ROW, BY DECEMBER. A S.M.A.R.T. goal.

La noche oscura del alma

Found this really nice, local coffee shop called The Foundry. It's partly volunteer-run (ran? manned?) and so far the flavors are rather good. Had a bite of a panini from a friend's and have had their frappuccinos; so far delighted. It's a lovely atmosphere with live music (good so far as well) and big, comfy couches (huge plus). Decided to drop in on this hot day and work on some psych (or not...as is evident with my blogging here...).

It's been hard internally, spiritually, not as physically though things will ramp up here this weekend. CrossFit Games Regionals for the South Central area (TX, LA, MS) will welcome a number of athletes and teams, to include mine, and we'll see if we can tough it out for one of the top 3 spots. I noticed a number of top teams were helped with certain individuals who are now only competing as individuals, and not as team members, so I don't know what to expect. We have strong males on our team, but only one of us females can manage a muscle up...that's been the deciding factor in much of the competition. I pray I can eventually do a muscle up soon.

I digress from earlier, saying that "things" have been hard. I've had dips into the low-lows, for various reasons. Summer is upon us and life really hasn't been hard for me at all; I think I've just been spoiled rotten. Perhaps life hasn't been hard enough for me to really be justified in feeling depressed. I need to get over it. I've had to cut communication toward people whom I find are similar to security blankets. That's probably not fair. I don't find much trust in many people at all. I know I should trust God more and have hope. Well, I hope I'm climbing over the hill with more grace. Ah, I should be praying for increased grace; not just expect it.

After the episode where I felt like I was in some psychological/spiritual hole, all of a sudden little things like taking a break with hanging out with university acquaintances and finding comedic moments pop up at me. Either I didn't see them before or they just became available "in time"...or that is divine intervention. Regardless, I thank God for what is and what has come, and what is to come. I only hope (pray) I have a better guard against my emotions in expressing them appropriately, not just carelessly. And I need to remember to offer those trifle sufferings up. St. Therese, gotta help me out here, please.

"Humble"

There's this roommate of mine that causes me to feel a bit awkward, shifting from place to place and then hovers precariously over my head (and no where else!). For instance, I'll be at my bed or at my desk, look up, and THERE SHE IS. Oh my gosh. Seriously. The spider needs to skedaddle. I think I'll call her Charlotte.

After my shower, "imma bout to have me some" chocolate hazelnut butter. Out of this 190 calorie packet, at least the "organic evaporated cane juice" is second on the ingredients list and not first. Yeah, I'm taking a mini-detour on my paleo journey here...

CrossFit and Catholicism

Beginning tomorrow, it will be t-minus 10 days until the commencement of South Central Region's competition qualifiers toward the 2011 CrossFit Games Finals.

Yet another turn on the Road. Quite an exciting one, too. This will be the first time in a long time that I've been in a competitive state that is bigger than the last. It's a great opportunity for me to work toward something other than school, nay, a degree toward an eventual medical career. It's been my dream since I first heard and researched CrossFit to compete in the Games. I don't want to disappoint the team. My coach says I should consider competing as an individual. We'll see. I'd rather focus on this than the activities at school. I'd love to make it a career in and of itself, to compliment the one I'm destined for right now.

CrossFit is pretty much a lifestyle for some folks. I may be included, but I don't want to readily categorize unfairly. I do want to give credit to where it is due, though. The gym ("box" as it's endearingly called in the "Xfit" world) probably makes a big difference. I like the atmosphere there, and it's apparent since I've been with them for over a year (going on two).

This lifestyle is very similar to my Catholic Faith. There are truths which are constantly sought; truths about nutrition, about how we are "made" to operate as healthy human beings, truths about how we should handle our lives, basically. In my Faith, there too are Truths of how we should live our lives, of how we should manage a healthy well being spiritual and physically, and Truths which are constantly being sought (and which are bestowed upon on in various ways, both ordinarily and extra-ordinarily). There is a sense of discipline in both areas, yet a discipline that although seems constrictive to the average eye, is liberating. That's the difficult thing for most people to grasp, unfortunately. CrossFit isn't elitist; neither is Catholicism. Both want the best for the welfare of the community; CrossFit is more physically inclined, and Catholicism is more spiritually inclined. To me, that is an awesome complement! I do thank God for clearly answering that prayer I first asked of Him before I started my first week of CrossFit classes at Body Armor CrossFit: that I should be protected from deeply negative influences and that people there will just accept me as I am. No place is perfect on this earth, in a gym or in a church, but it is definitely providential to find a place on earth in which one can be happy.

I still pray that I will continue to be led into places where, although of narrow paths, will all still guide me toward pleasing the Lord for His sake, ad Christo per Mariam.

That Eric Church is playing on Pandora (Love Your Love the Most, "Carolina").

1 Peter 3:15

Always be prepared
to make a defense
to anyone who calls you
to account for the hope that is in you.

Miss Marple, the Spinster Sleuth says...

"That's...quite perverse...It's not even music!" (The Secret of Chimneys)

I'm a bit afraid of the world.

I don't want any part in the lot of it because I know I can't. And if I attempt to, I fear that I will lose myself. Even if I try to "accept" or "tolerate", how can I if all I get back is "intolerance" or "unacceptance" in return? Because that's the truth, isn't it? Perhaps if "the world" saw this or had any idea that this goes through my head, I wonder if "the world" would even care. Perhaps I am just a statistic; a small probability that a person like me exists and that, based on this statistic, "the world" has little reason to even worry.

The evening is wonderful at the moment. I've opened the window and a warm breeze is coming through. After submitting to ennui, and finding that the internet in the dormitory is working so well, well enough for streaming videos, Masterpiece Theatre so kindly entertains me with an Agatha Christie-inspired movie about the detective, Hercule Poirot. I'm watching "Murder on the Orient Express". Now I want to ride on a luxurious train... Can it be done before I'm 30? Maybe not but that would be a nice trip eventually.

Physics homework needs to be done eventually as well. Before midnight.

I noticed I get along with people when situations involve feats of physical prowess, or something of the like. Conversations ensue. You know, general interests in others all around. Given a situation where psychology in speech or visual examination (i.e. staring at people or shifting one's gaze to or from others) is the key medium of communication, I generally stay silent. I'm thinking that if I met the same people in the first example (e.g. physical environment) during the second (e.g. academic setting), I don't think I'd get on with them in the same way. Just thought that was interesting.

After not having television (with cable) for months on end, I decided to check the tube while doing some laundry. The result: incessant flipping through channels with only a hint of interest in National Geographic (when NetGeo doesn't have something outrageously stupid stated as "probable truth"). Yup. There really is no point, and never has been, to watching TV these days. I think I like my blissful ignorance of what media provides.

Blowing dust from the surfaces

Well, here I am again.

It's been ages since I last set foot within these walls of the boundary-lacking blogosphere. Well, actually, less than a year- though it feels longer. Currently Summer 2011. I am sitting here with coffee, I have no classes to attend (but still doing the school thing throughout the conventionally known non-academic season for others, who are not me- we got three freebie days from Physics), and with a slight bit of ennui, decided to check up on the mental musings of my past. I can still see things as early as 2006...which is kind of neat because I do laugh at the stuff I've written, some lame and some pretty cheeky, and it doesn't actually bring about any sadness that may come with reminiscing. I think a little update would be nice. A little then-and-now, so to speak.

Still "CrossFitting". Since August 2009, I've made considerable improvements. After referencing this post and this post:

Shoulder press: TBD

Back squat: 275 lbs

Deadlift: +250 lbs

Clean: 165 lbs

2-mile: haven't checked but running still sucks.

Calluses torn: lost count

Weight: really haven't checked

Ok, so I'm not very good at keeping these records organized but they're researchable to some extent. Hey, it's summer, and while I'm still a student, I don't want to think right now.

On the academic side, I am a double major towards baccalaureate degrees in Athletic Training and Rehabilitative Science. Not exactly pre-med degrees or degree tracks but some say I should highly consider it. At this point in life, I'd like to finally be free of traditional schooling and head into the "Real World"; join the work force and whatnot. Make a difference, really. I'll consider those food chemistry, kinesiology, and orthopedic surgery endeavors later on. Still, it's such a irritating waiting game. People my age these days (I think) have gone on to bigger and better things; earned their graduate degrees, dabbing into the professional world, having families, living life... I sometimes think I'm too old for where I am and that I am missing out on the experiences I could gather now for the future. It's like I'm re-living my early 20's...granted I only turned 25 not too long ago, but I ain't getting any younger! I'm such a lost, little soul. Must refocus.

On the health side, the CrossFit deal has been helping, as is manifested in strength gains. As with physical appearance, I still agnoize over what flubber I have left over. It shouldn't be a matter of aesthetics...but it is! Ugh. Lord, please increase my level of humility; help me to overcome this wasteful vanity. Actually, I think everyday increases my humility levels...probably should be careful for what I pray for but what can't hurt me can only make me stronger right?

Alright. By now I'm only falling into pits of rubbish thinking. With all this effort on writing a blog I should be diverting it into the prolific works of finishing social psychology assignments. Yes. Onward to productivity.