Becoming Super Woman

I love doing what most people don't do and the idea of being a woman with a LOT of upper body strength, is ridiculously appealing to me.  Especially, given my interest, in things like, gymnastics, pole dance and circus aerials, where you have to climb ropes and silks, repeatedly.

and support your body weight in a number of positions and tricks including the occasional one handed trick...

It teaches you very early on how little strength you actually have. To improve that, we typically end aerials classes with conditioning, that almost always includes 10 pull ups.  I'm still at a consecutive unassisted 3 pull ups, but occasionally I can get 4, on a good day.  On the upside, RR "recently" surprised me by bringing home a pull up bar.  I mounted it in my closet and try to max out every time I walk into my (overflowing) closet to stare at my surplus clothes, before deciding I have absolutely NOTHING to wear.  Which happens about 5 times, every morning.

Between that and crossfit, I should be a beast in no time flat!!  Now to start putting in serious work on my core strength, so I can start showing up these guys!!!



One day, Barstarzz, one day....
Candydiva04

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Gyms and Boxes

I know, I know its been a while.  In fairness, I wrote a few posts, and thought I set them to auto post but apparently did not.  The others will pop up at random in the coming months, but I'm not really sure what to do about one in particular from my Cinco de Mayo weekend.  Its a great post and I'd hate to deprive you of it. So try not to side eye me too much when it pops up in mid August.  :)

Meanwhile let me catch you up on what you've been missing.  I've retired my gym rat card.  I realized, that one of the main reasons I lose motivation, especially in the new gym is because its small which limits my choices down to the same handful of machines/exercises every week.  I don't do well with repetition and quite frankly, I was bored.  The gym ceased being fun, and instead became torturous.  It didn't help that every time I set foot out the door, the smell wafting from the local buffalo wild wings assaulted my willpower.  Fortunately, my willpower, at RR's persuasion always won.  So one day after driving RR nuts with my complete lack of motivation, he said to me "Why don't you just stop whining and just join a Crossfit gym, you won't be bored."

I'd been on the fence about joining a Crossfit gym, I like the idea that it challenges you to find your limits, then strive to exceed them, and is never repetitive.  But I also knew running is pretty big part of it, and I haaaate running.  However, I knew the gym was no longer working for me, and I wasn't making progress.  I was gaining fat and losing muscle, something had to be done.  So *WE* joined a crossfit gym and started crossfitting .  Obviously, knowing us it wasn't a simple process.  Similar to our gym search, we  went online to find all the crossfit affiliates in our area and toured most if not all of the boxes (It turns out Crossfit centers are called boxes, not gyms.  In general, they seem to frown on gyms and don't seem to want to be confused with the "Globo gyms").

So we eventually settled on Crossfit Equity, its a relatively new box and is probably the smallest in the area.  The smaller size allows RR and I to get really personalized training, which was important to me because I understand the importance of correct form.  I also realize that my form is often subpar, especially when I'm tired.  In some of the bigger boxes, we saw people doing things with bad form but because the classes were so large, no one noticed or corrected them.  That scared me.  The some of the other deciding factors were the Coaches.  They're a really awesome pair of brothers.  Who immediately struck us as great guys who are

enthusiastic about Crossfit and really love what they do, and their enthusiasm is infectious. You see that same enthusiasm in every member of the box. Well except maybe me... well at least, until I've finished the WOD (Workout of the Day), then I'm happy.  The sense of accomplishment you get from knowing that you finished the WOD is AMAZING.   You don't even mind that you're dripping in sweat and panting, you finished something that seemed borderline impossible, and that sense of accomplishment always feels great.


I've only been crossfitting for about 3 weeks now, so we haven't repeated any WOD's yet.  Which means I don't have previous times to use to assess my progress, but I can already tell I'm making improvements.  Initially, I think I spent more time gasping for air than anything else.  Now I pause for a couple of breaths, or a quick stretch and keep pushing.  About a year ago, I went on a very brief running kick and tried to run outside.  It was an epic failure, I got about 50ft before I had to stop and walk, I was miserable afterwards. I gave up on running not long after.  The other day, on a whim, I decided to jog back to my house from RR's house.  Its 0.35 miles(or ~550 meters), but I jogged all the way back without stopping, and was even able to chat with RR as he biked along beside me.  The next day, I pushed my luck a little more and ran around the neighborhood, I'm not sure how far it is yet but it was at least a mile.  The thing that impressed me most was that when I felt tired and wanted to walk, I just ran faster because I had decided, I was NOT quitting.

I need to get this printed on a shirt!

I've clearly been drinking the same Kool-aid, that I accused a friend (who's husband owns a Crossfit gym.. ahem box, in Ohio) of drinking, when she first suggested Crossfit to me.  So I had to chuckle when I told her that I'd joined a gym and she said "How's that kool-aid taste? Pretty damn good, right?"  Indeed, it does, but I'm still keeping my gym membership.  ;)

Pushing on,
Candydiva04

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What motivates your workouts?

Initially, I started l this process to get skinny but lost motivation once I started liking how I looked again.  It wasn't until I discovered aerials that my workouts, especially my lifting, became important me because it made me prioritize being strong over being thinner.  So I could have the strength to do things like climb the silks, or flip myself upside down.

All the way to the top!

I would still love to be thinner but I know that my efforts to get stronger will also burn fat and help me get thinner.  Now that I'm approximately 12 days from resuming my Aerials classes, I'm far more motivated in the gym.  I'm pushing myself more, lifting heavier and focusing on doing the movements very slowly to work on my muscle control, because the ability to control your tricks goes a long way to making your tricks look prettier and more graceful than when your arms are shaking and you're pausing to gasp for breath. 

So what motivates you?  If you aren't sure, might I recommend Aerials?  :)

 

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Are shrimp dumplings healthy if you make them yourself?

This probably shouldn't be on my list of recipes to try, but how freaking yummy does that look?!?!?  I might sub in ground chicken or turkey for the pork and give this a whirl! 

Shrimp Dumplings (adapted from Taste and Tell):

Recipe from: http://damndelicious.tumblr.com/post/43551512932/shrimp-dumplings

Yields 36 dumplings

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and diced
• 8 ounces ground pork
• 1 cup shredded green cabbage
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon mirin
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 36 gyoza/pot sticker wrappers
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Soy sauce, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine shrimp, pork, cabbage, green onions, ginger, sesame oil, mirin, salt and pepper, to taste.

To assemble the dumplings, place wrappers on a work surface. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the shrimp mixture into the center of each wrapper. Using your finger, rub the edges of the wrappers with water. Fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape, pinching the edges to seal.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the dumplings and cook until golden and crisp, about 4-5 minutes.

Serve immediately with soy sauce, if desired.

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Food For thought: Two Sketches

 In this video, women described themselves to a sketch artist that couldn't see them. He then drew them based on their descriptions and on OTHER people's descriptions.  This video below reminded me to be more cognizant of the fact that I like most people, especially women, are our biggest critics.  We often see flaws where there are none. Remember its easy to look at how far you have left to go in your fitness journey, when you should really be looking at how far you've come.

Moral of the story: You are more beautiful than you think. 



What would your two sketches look like?
Candydiva

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Love and Prayers for Boston

Surely by now you all have heard about the tragedy that happened at the Boston Marathon.  My heart and prayers go out to all the victims of this tragedy, especially those who previously endured the massacre at Sandy Hook elementary school.  I encourage you all to follow up your prayers donations to Red Cross.

http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations


and for any of you out there who are still unable to find or reach loved ones. The following link provides some great websites to aid you in your search.

http://mashable.com/2013/04/15/boston-marathon-person-finder/

Praying for a brighter tomorrow,
Candydiva04

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A Review: Ellie

Not too long ago, I discovered Ellie and wrote a really excited blog post about it (here!) So you can imagine how excited I was to be offered the opportunity to try two free items from their March Little Black collection! Can I just say how much I am loving the fact that their whole line is black!?!?!?

And lord knows my fat needs a funeral!! I'm also loving that the April collection which debuts soon will be mostly coral colored.

My new Ellie gear! 

After much debating, I finally settled on the Black to the Future sports bra and Dark Matter Leggings, I also now own the "Just Like Heaven" tee (shown) and the "My New Obsession" leggings (not shown). When I got the package, I ripped it open thinking I was just going to try them on, snap a few photos for this post, then continue lounging around being lazy until my afternoon workout with RR.  However, after trying on the sports bra and leggings (and doing a few jump tests to make sure my boobs were compatible with the sports bra, lol)  I couldn't wait to put them to a real test (and show them off) at the gym. I threw on a some sneakers, and hit the gym! 2 hours of Cardio and lifting later, I was a believer. The fit and materials are great! In my closet, I have a wide variety of brands of work out apparel, and these among my favorites.

 If you join the Fit Fashionista club, you get 2 items of your choice every month for $49.95. Which is pretty reasonable since most other brands of this quality charge more. If you haven't already, I STRONGLY encourage you to try Ellie! Oh and did I mention they gave me this 20% of coupon for me and all my friends? Enjoy!

Since I was taking photos, I figured it was also a good day to do a weigh in. Especially since this might help give you all a better idea on Ellie's fit and sizing. I ordered Mediums in everything, the shirt, the bra and leggings.  I'm a 34C, and all other measurements shown below.  And now for my (dreaded) weigh in...

Weight:                       147.2lbs   (Yikes! I have some work to do!)
Height:                        5'1"
Chest (in sports bra):   35"
Natural waist:              29.5"
Widest part of waist:    32"
Hips                            41"
Thighs
     Left                       25.25"
     Right                     25"

I guess its good that I'm down from 150 lbs but I'm sad that I've gained weight in the first place, and I clearly need to do a better job of balancing out my leg workouts. I've got some work to do!!  But at least I'll look cute while doing it. ;)

Styling and Profiling,
Candydiva04

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Lesson learned: Don't be a gym snob

As a female who lifts, I'm a bit of an oddity at the gym.  The guys initially don't know what to make of me, and the girls assume I'm a gym snob who's going to look down on them. (and I guess I do sometimes)  Having just switched gyms, I'm more conscious of this perception and generally try to be nice and speak to everyone at the gym.  

So I walked into the locker room and chatted up a woman who was there.  I've seen her around the gym, she's not in great shape but she's there on a regular basis giving it her all, which I respect, immensely.  We make the standard gym chit chat about how we'd rather be outside enjoying the weather instead of in the hot gym killing ourselves.  

Later, I'm doing lat pull downs while noticing that my guns are are fully loaded and on full display in my tank top. In between sets I'm inadvertantly getting a cardio workout because I'm too short to reach the bar so I have to hop up on the bench at the beginning and end of the set.  At the end of my 2nd set, the woman from the locker room walks over and tells me there's a way to lower the bar so I don't have to do box jumps, if I don't want to. And I don't, she then fixed it for me so that I don't have to keep jumping on the bench.

I was stunned. I'm over here thinking about how great and in shape I am, and I never expected this woman who isn't on my level fitness wise, to be able to help me improve my workout.  I had thought she coming over to ask me for help or tips.  My ego instantly deflated!!  I realized that while I probably know a lot, I don't know everything and that I should be a little more humble and grateful for the good manners my mama instilled in me.


Learning something new every day,
Candydiva04

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Good Eats!!

I've been lying to you all.  I've been saying I'm getting my life/diet together but I was not!  In the past 2 weeks I've had both the Cool Ranch and regular taco bell Doritos locos taco. Peanut butter chocolate chip bars, and muffins from the cafeteria at work, Chocolate chip and sugar cookies, Pizza, Ham, Mac and Cheese, french fries, ice cream sandwiches, and lots of alcohol.  Its been bad, and it took a friend asking why I hadn't been posting recently to really make me take a look at what I was doing and correct my behavior.

Thankfully that conversation led to me officially getting firmly back on the wagon! I know, I know, I've said it before, but this time I'm really here, up front and holding the reigns, and I have PROOF!!!  I've been continuing my workouts and FINALLY actually eating healthier.  I've been utilizing a blog my sister in law recommended to me.

So far I've tried about 3 of her recipes and 2 of the 3 were total wins!  The first recipe was the Cajun Chicken recipe I mentioned here.  Then I ate like crap for the next week, but started fresh this past Sunday, when I made this.

She calls it Chicken Rollatini with Spinach alla Parmigiana, but for me, in my house we call it "The Chicken Spinach Thingee".   I chose this recipe because it reminds me of the veggie lasagna RR's mom makes that is THE BOMB!! Thankfully this recipe was a win. While I'd definitely add a little more spice to the spinach filling next go round, these were a big hit and earned me a high five from RR.  Unfortunately, the only pictures I took are very un-glamourous shots of the piece I brought in for lunch, after I microwaved it a juuuuust a little to long.

 I made more of the Cajun chicken pasta, Thursday night, which is still a personal favorite of mine!!  Last night I was having a cookie craving and decided to give these healthy 3 ingredient cookies a whirl and was underwhelmed. In fairness, I omitted the walnuts and subbed in peanut butter because, peanut butter and banana is NEVER wrong! 

Except when it is, as it was here. :(

healthy cookies.. no such thing

The flavors didn't blend well.  All i tasted was warm banana, and hints of burnt oatmeal and a top note of peanutbutter.  I tried ot salvage one by adding a few semi sweet chocolate chips in it while it was still warm.. it was better but the flavors still didn't blend.  These are officially a no-go for me!

On the upside, I had another crazy idea that I don't know the source of.  I thought I got the idea from skinny taste but it turns out I did not, so I'm starting to wonder if I dreamed it up.  Overnight oats (no i'm not taking credit for overnight oats), I'm taking credit thinking to add half a bottle of Bolthouse Vanilla Chai tea, (and Chia seeds) to my oats.  I love the Bolthouse Chai tea, but I do not love oatmeal.  The texture is such a turn off to me.  The combo is good enough that it allows me to overlook the texture... mostly.  I am wondering if it might work with Cream of Wheat.  I'll be getting back to you on that one.

chai tea overnight oats

Chicken Rollatini with Spinach alla Parmigiana (BKA Chicken Spinach thingees)

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/chicken-rollatini-with-spinach-alla.html

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes 
Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 stuffed breast • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 5 pts
Calories: 194.7 • Fat: 7 g • Protein: 24.2 g • Carb: 7.2 g • Fiber: 1.5 g

• 8 thin chicken cutlets, 3 oz each
• 1/2 cup whole wheat Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
• 6 tablespoons egg whites or egg beaters
• 5 oz frozen spinach, squeezed dry of any liquid
• 6 tbsp part skim ricotta cheese
• 6 oz part skim mozzarella (I used Polly-O)
• olive oil non-stick spray (I use my Misto)
• 1 cup pomodoro sauce or your favorite marinara sauce
• salt and pepper to taste

Wash and dry cutlets, season with salt and pepper.  Preheat oven to 450°. Lightlyspray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Combine breadcrumbs and 2 tbsp grated cheese in one bowl and 1/4 cup egg beaters or egg whites in another.

Shred or finely chop 1.5 oz of mozzarella cheese and combine with remaining grated cheese, spinach (make sure you squeeze it dry), 2 tbsp egg beaters, and ricotta cheese.

Lay chicken cutlets down on a working surface and spread 2 tbsp of spinach-cheese mixture on each cutlet. Loosely roll each one and keep seam side down.

Dip chicken in egg mixture, then in breadcrumbs and place seam side down in a baking dish (no toothpicks needed). Repeat with the remaining chicken. When finished, lightly spray with olive oil.

Bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven, top with sauce then cheese.Bake until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 3 more minutes. Serve with additional sauce on the side and grated cheese.

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My "ultimate" challenge

Last week, I mentioned a few of my personal challenges but neglected to mention that the pull up part of my challenge its a part of a larger challenge of mine to be able to a muscle up.  Just because the former gymnast in me (Don't be impressed, I wasn't Gabby Douglas or anything, I think I took gymnastics for about a year or 2 when I was about 5) but nevertheless I feel like I should be able to do one.  Yep, I am aware thats kind of an illogical assessment, but it doesn't change my thoughts on the matter.  I'm positive that I can and will be able to do one, chalk it up to positive thinking. :)  So I've been perusing you tube and stumbled across a lot of great videos but I like the exercises and advice he suggests to practice.  I'm also fascinated by the fact he appears to have those rings set up in the garage in his house... hmmmm....

Plotting and scheming,

Candydiva04

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Healthy cooking ideas

So what you may or may not know about me is that I love to cook, but typcially I like recipes with lots of fat, butter, sugar, etc.  Recently, I've come to terms with my new healthy lifestyle and the fact that I need to start finding healthier ways to cook my favorite foods.


On Thursday RR had a bunch of teeth pulled which means he's due for a long few days of apple sauce, jello, and soup.  So on wednesday night I decide to make him a last meal that's a little more memorable than our standard baked chicken and broccoli.   So I perused a website my Sister in law recommended and decided the Cajun Chicken recipe would be an appropriately yummy "last meal".  I gotta say I didn't love all the chopping, but would DEFINITELY make this again.

Cajun Chicken

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/02/cajun-chicken-pasta-on-lighter-side.html

Cajun Chicken Pasta on the Lighter Side
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 5 • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups • Old Points: 6 pts • Points+: 8 pts
Calories: 323.8 • Fat: 6.2 g • Protein: 25.9 g • Carb: 44.1 g • Fiber: 6.3 g • Sugar:3.2 g
Sodium: 126.5 mg (without salt)  


Ingredients:

• 8 ounces uncooked linguine (I used Barilla Whole Wheat Penne)
• 1 pound chicken breast strips
• 1-2 tsp Cajun seasoning (or to taste) (I used creole seasoning, and added some crushed red pepper, perhaps a bit too much because it is SPICY!!)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 red onion, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup fat free low sodium chicken broth
• 1/3 cup skim milk
• 1 tbsp flour
• 3 tbsp light cream cheese
• fresh cracked pepper
• 2 scallions, chopped
• salt to taste
• Smart Balance cooking spray 

Directions:

• Prep all your vegetables. In a small blender make a slurry by combining milk, flour and cream cheese. Set aside. 
• Season chicken generously with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder and salt.
• Prepare pasta in salted water according to package directions.
• Heat a large heavy nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; spray with cooking spray and add half of the chicken. Sauté 5 to 6 minutes or until done, set aside on a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken. Set aside.  
• Add olive oil to the skillet and reduce to medium; add bell peppers, onions, and garlic to skillet, sauté 3-4 minutes.
• Add mushrooms and tomatoes and sauté 3-4 more minutes or until vegetables are tender. Season with 1/4 tsp salt, garlic powder and fresh cracked pepper to taste.
• Reduce heat to medium-low; add chicken broth and pour in slurry stirring about 2 minutes.
• Return chicken to skillet; adjust salt and Cajun seasoning to taste, cook another minute or two until hot, then add linguine; toss well to coat. Top with chopped scallions and enjoy!

Makes 7 1/2 cups.

I'm also currently toying with an idea for a healthier eggs benedict after seeing a (full fat) Martha Stewart Recipe for  Steamed artichokes and smoked salmon.  I mean how pretty is that?!?!  I'm not big on smoked salmon, but I bet it'd be equally yummy with some lean ham and a lighter hollandaise sauce.  But I'll have to wait until RR can eat solid foods again. :-/

Happy Friday,

Candydiva04

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Whats your Somatype?

Until about a year ago, I had always thought the different body types were apple, hourglass and pear shapes.  Fortunately, I was enlightened by a gym friend and former body builder that there are different body types that deal more with our muscle mass and less with where we happen to carry our fat.

Ectomorph            Mesomorph             Endomorph

I think the above picture is a pretty fair representation of the three somatypes, but its not etched in stone. Its important to remember that everyone is different and there is middle ground. I'd say I'm more on the endomorph end of the spectrum (which explains why me and running don't mix very well), although I think I'd like to be somewhere between an endomorph and an mesomorph...  (stupid genetics! Well I do have a slightly boxy head... LOL)  If you're not really sure where you fall from looking at these pictures maybe this lovely explanation from brianmac.co.uk will help.

Endomorph

A pear shaped body (check!) A rounded head Wide hips and shoulders (check!) Wider front to back rather than side to side. (ummm... yea i guess so..) A lot of fat on the body, upper arms and thighs (check, check and check!)

An endomorphic individual typically has short arms and legs (check!) and a large amount of mass on their frame. Their mass hampers their ability to compete in sports requiring high levels of agility (noooo!!!) or speed and perform sustained weight bearing aerobic activities such as running. Sports of pure strength, like power lifting, are perfect for an endomorph. They can gain weight easily and lose condition quickly if training stops.

Sports Benefits

• Size benefits sports where bulk is useful, provided it can be moved powerfully
• Tend to have large lung capacity which can make them suited to sports such as rowing (bleh!)
• They can increase muscle mass much more easily than ectomorphs

Mesomorph

A wedge shaped body (I think my wedge goes the other way) A cubical head (kinda) Wide broad shoulders (not really) Muscled arms and legs (i wish) Narrow hips (uh no) Narrow from front to back rather than side to side. (i wish) A minimum amount of fat (i wish)

A mesomorphic individual excels in strength, agility, and speed. (jealous!) Their medium structure and height, along with their tendency to gain muscle and strength easily makes them a strong candidate for a top athlete in any sport. They can sustain low body fat levels and find it easy to lose and gain weight.

Sports Benefits

• Respond well to cardiovascular and resistance training
• Can sustain low body fat levels
• All muscle groups can be used to derive positive training adoption
• Dependent on the sports' needs they can easily gain or lose weight

Ectomorph

A high forehead Receding chin Narrow shoulders and hips A narrow chest and abdomen Thin arms and legs Little muscle and fat

A predominantly ectomorphic individual is long, slender and thin, and therefore power and strength sports are perhaps not suitable as their slight build leaves them susceptible to injuries. While they can easily get lean and hard, their lack of musculature severely limits their chances in sports requiring mass. Ectomorphs dominate endurance sports and gymnastics. They can archive low levels of body fat which can be detrimental to health and for females in endurance sports it can result in a cessation of periods and iron deficiency.

Sports Benefits

• Light frame makes them suited for aerobic activity like gymnastics
• Smaller body surface area also enhances their suitability for endurance activity
• Their body is better at thermo regulation, important in endurance based sports

So whats your Somatype? And how accurately does it describe you?

Live and learn,

Candydiva04

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Upperbody Strength: My Circus Obession

Hola fit friends,

I think I've said it before but I am obsessed with all things Circus related. I had planned to re-enroll in circus aerials by now, however I'm waiting until April for my friend, Mary, to catch up to my level. So I'm in a little bit of circus withdrawal.  Fortunately, April is JUST around the corner and I'm gearing up to get in shape for Aerials.  Which means, that I need to stop slacking on upper body days.  Last time I talked about upper body strength, I focused primarily on biceps.  But obviously, you need more than strong arms to balance yourself on someone's forehead. You know... if you're into that sort of thing! ;)

Admittedly this is hand balancing and not aerials, but its still requires a level of strength, balance and grace that I don't have... YET!  Not to mention, I would love to one day take a photo like this.  Although, I know for a fact, that RR will not let me even attempt to balance myself on his forehead, ever.  Yes, I know this because I asked him, LOL.  Fortunately, balancing on one of his shoulders isn't currently out of the question! So in preparation, I'm working on my handstands.  A few months back RR found the picture on the left, and sent it to me as a challenge. His exact words may or may not have been betcha can't do this! After a quick test to see whether or not I could do it, I dragged RR into one of the empty rooms at the gym and made him snap the picture on the right.

I then posted this photo on my facebook page with the caption, "The Challenge and The Victory" (or something cheesy like that).  The very next day the Alvin Ailey facebook page posted the picture below, which I've decided to take as a personal challenge from Alvin Ailey to me. LOL.

I'm clearly not ready yet, but I'm working on it.  If I can do this, I can probably strike this same pose on RR's shoulder, provided he stays VERY still.  So in preparation, I'm working on my splits and flexibility, but more importantly working on my core, shoulders, lats and back muscles in addition to the standard bicep and tricep work. But first things first, I can't hold a handstand (without a wall for support) for more than 3-4 seconds.  I need more control! To help me get ready to accept my Alvin Ailey Challenge, I'm currently working on these.

Yep, I can do these! :)

 I did about 3 of these yesterday.  One to make sure I could do it without falling on my face, the one RR recorded for me (above), and then one at the end of ballet class, because my ballet, circus and boot camp buddy, Mary, simply couldn't envision my verbal explanation.  I'm rather proud of myself for being able to do 3 of them, after a full shoulder and laterals workout last night.  I think I'm going to try my hardest to do 10 of these a day.  I think it'll also help with my pull up goal. I want to be able to do 5 pull ups in a row by the end of April, I can currently do 3.5.  (feel free to hold me accountable fit friends!)

 I stumbled across this video, its occasionally a little awkward, but overall I think its got a lot of good pointers for learning how to do a handstand.




Also as a bonus, and to further emphasize my love of all things circus, here's the video I forgot to post about my flying trapeze experience!  I think this was my 1st run, I don't know if my SIL or Brother have video of my 2nd run which I think/hope was a little better. (hint, hint Ms. Jackson! You should share all of your videos and photos from this trip!)  I don't really like the way I flop around when I bring my legs back down.  Dah well. Enjoy!

Keeping life challenging,
Candydiva04

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My Crossfit Experience

The crossfit gym, or the sanctuary as they call it

Thanks to groupon, I have 10 crossfit classes at the "local" crossfit gym. I use the word local, very loosely because its about 30 min from my house, assuming there's no traffic on 95.  But I live in Delaware, so that's actually relatively close. (sigh!)  Anywho, I did my first class on Saturday morning, it was a Crossfit bootcamp they call RivFit.

My initial impression is that I love it, and will probably be sad when my 10 classes are up!!  As a gym rat, one of my weaknesses is my lack of stamina.  I do maybe 20 min of cardio every time I'm in the gym and generally take longer breaks than I need to between reps. So the cool part about Crossfit  was I got all the strength training, my workouts usually include, with a VERY healthy dose of cardio from the fact that we never stopped moving. Okay there was a 3 min break between the AMRAP's (can some crossfitter explain what that stands for, I forgot to ask).

So I got the class, (late.. shh! I got lost!) And joined the group on the green astro-turf you see in the background of the photo above.  We started off with a warm-up which consisted of a 400m run. Then some squats, burpees (the first of MANY), lunges, scorpions, and some other things I've forgotten.  We then partnered off and did a 15 min AMRAP of more burpees, and some exercises with a medicine balls. We had a 3 minute break (which I spent cursing myself for forgetting my water and stretching out my sore shoulders) before launching into a 10 min AMRAP with 25lb plates and more burpees.  At the end of this workout my shoulders and lats were BURNING!  I was positive I was going to want to cut my arms off by now, especially since I didn't have time to stretch!!  Crossfit ended at 11:15, and I was supposed to be showered, dressed and in DC for a baby shower by 1:00pm... Did I mention the Cross-fit gym is 30 min from my house? Okay, needless to say I was late, but I had a really cool gift (or so I like to think!).  I found this website earlier in the week and gifted the happy couple one of my own.

I had a busy weekend filled with lots of St. Patty's fun and foolishness courtesy of a friend's 30th birthday party. But good lord and am paying for it!!! 36 hours later and I'm still not 100%.  My quest for health and fitness means I don't drink like I used to, so my tolerance has gone WAAAAY down.... The sacrifices you make for your health, eh?  Ah well, work hard, play hard!! Right?

So, all in all, I really like crossfit, and might even join when my Groupon deal is over. I am a little sad, that I'm not sore, but that means 2 things.
1. that I'm more fit than I thought,
and
2. I have to push myself even harder this Sunday!

 So have you tried Cross-fit?  If so, how did you like it?

Signing up for more Cross-fit classes,
Candydiva04

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Confessions

I have a confession, "My name is Candydiva04 and I'm a French Fry-aholic!" According to every TV show I've watched this is where you all say "Hi Candydiva" ;)

As a french fry addict I just had to share this photo when I saw it on Google +, because its something I would have done (in my fatter days), but only dream of doing now, lol. So imagine my surprise when a friend explained that  McDonald's is offering a deal in Japan where you can order any size fry for ¥150.  That's approximately $1.60 US dollars.  So kids are buying lots large and extra large fries and taking pictures with them.  Which is whats going on in this photo.  Its like the unhealthy version of planking or the "Harlem Shake".

Before any of you french fry lovers start booking plane tickets to Japan, might I suggest you try this healthier alternative first?

Crunchy Green Beans with Curry and Toasted Coconut

Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/12/crunchy-green-beans-with-curry-toasted-coconut#ixzz2Mh1EoQNu

Recipe & image source here

Ingredients

• 1 pound green beans, trimmed
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 cup toasted unsweetened flaked organic coconut

• ingredient info

  Unsweetened flaked organic coconut is available at natural foods stores and specialty foods stores. (I got mine at the local baking supply store)

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place green beans on a rimmed baking sheet; drizzle with oil and sprinkle with curry, cumin, and coriander. Season with salt and toss to coat. Spread out in a single layer and roast until beans are crisp and beginning to shrivel, 30–35 minutes. Toss beans with coconut and serve.

Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/12/crunchy-green-beans-with-curry-toasted-coconut#ixzz2Mh153hz4


Whew, that felt good, I might have to make a confession more often!! I plan to try this recipe tonight, maybe with some black bean burgers.  I'll let you know how it works out!

Admitting it is the first step,
Candydiva04

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