Failures and Triumphs

Why do I love crossfit, besides my new found strength, growing muscles, and amazing community?

You aren't allowed to have an ego!  If you're anywhere near or around my level, where the games will always be something you watch on TV.  Christmas Abbot and Andrea Ager are your idols..you also are quite familiar with failure..A LOT!  That's why I love it.  The minute I get a little cocky because I nailed a body weight exercise WOD..I get out on my ass by a damn Oly (Olympic lifting) WOD because I can't get under the damn bar and SQUAT!

It's very similar to love I have for endurance events.  I love them because you won't always have a great run, you won't always PR at every race, and you might just have a shitty training season (like I am currently in).  But everyday you still get out there, you still put in the time, and you still follow your nutrition for race day to perfection.


Some of my friends consider this passion of mine an obsession or weird.  I smile and just walk away because I know in my mind that this all transfers to real life.  I never allow myself to get too cocky, but I never get too down on myself because I always remember that there will be a new day, another chance to try it again.

What is your biggest failures?  How do you overcome them? I try and follow up a bad workout the next day with a confidence boost lift.  Yesterday- I couldn't for the life of me get under the bar during cleans, so today I did squats and am almost back up to my max from before I got hurt! 


PS- next week is Valentine's Day..have you bought something sweet for your loved our for yourself? Want to give your body something sweet without the guilt?! Comment below and see how you can get a discount for EnergyBits!

Avocado on Avocado on Avocado **RECIPE**

Lately I've been having an avocado obsession, so here's a couple of recipes I came up with!!

Avocado and Kale Recipe:
Ingredients:
3 avocados (pit scooped out)
3 lemons, peeled (could use limes or mix them)
2 bags of Kale

1. pit and peel both the avocados and citrus and place in blender
2. mix to consistency you like (I like mine smooth)
3. massage avocado/citrus mixture onto kale leaves
4. ENJOY!

Here's my recipe from the Super Bowl.  My friend, Twyla, has asked me to bring a healthier, gluten free dip that she could enjoy without feeling guilty.

Avocado and Greek Yogurt Dip:
Ingredients:
3 avocados
1 lemon
1 lime
Organic salsa
2 large cans of chicken (in water, 98% fat free)
1 cup plain greek yogurt
spices you want

Layer 1:
Mix spices with greek yogurt, like chili powder or cayenne pepper, cilantro, etc.
Spread into bottom of dish

Layer 2:
Blend pitted avocados and peeled lemon and lime in a blender (leave some chunks)
Add in spices, like cayenne pepper or chili powder
Spread on top of Layer 1

Layer 3:
Open chicken and drain the water
Spread on top of Avocado layer

Layer 4:
Top it all off with that salsa!! and ENJOY


Today's Workout:
*45min of Spin

*18:31 of Lifting:
10 Pushups
15 Power Clean and Press (65#)
25 Bench Jumps
25 Overhand Inverted Row
25 Thrusters (20#)
25 Overhand Inverted Row
25 Bench Jumps
15 Power Clean and Press (65#)
10 Pushups

PS- HAPPY NATIONAL PANCAKE DAY!!  Have you had your pancakes today??  I didn't..would anyone be willing to share their favorite clean pancake recipe?!

Crossfit Competition Numero Tres

Today I got to compete (or participate might be a better word) in another crossfit competition with my box (Crossfit Hydro) and two other local gyms (Crossfit Artis and Crossfit 402).  

It was awesome and sucked all at the same time!! I love these competition between the three boxes because it's not just about winning.  No matter what gym people are from, everyone cheers for each other.  We especially cheer for those who look like they need an extra boost!

They also make me realize how far I've come since I started in July.  If you would have told me 6 months ago that I'd be 100% engrossed in this sport and thriving off the community feel, I probably would have laughed in your face....

..but here I am 100% engrossed and thriving...I think the pictures do it better justice.

WOD #1:

1Min at each station; continous

Double Unders

Deadlifts (95#)

KB Swings (35#)

Jumping Squats

Wall Walks

WOD #2:

5min AMRAP

Squat Snatch (65#)

**This was 5# away from my PR, so I was pretty happy when I did 13**

WOD #3:

10min AMRAP

1 clean (65#)

1 push press

1 burpee

2 clean

2 push press

2 burpee

(and keep going up until 10min)

YEAH..that one kicked my ass

AND here are some more pictures about the community..

Talking to one of the owner's of Fit Farm

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do...

I've been dealing with some issues in my own head this past few weeks I've been training for my half marathon.  I've been afraid to admit them because I'm supposed to be the girl that lives and breathes marathons...I think I'm no longer having fun running.

Thank god my sister-in-law (fellow marathoner and best friend) texted me this morning.  She made me feel less guilty which took a huge weight off my shoulders.  She texted me, "I don't think I like running anymore."  I smiled when I read it, not because she was disappointed because maybe I wasn't crazy or alone in thinking running may no longer be my "thing."

In case you don't know already in the past year I've completed multi-sport endurance races, like a Tri.  Also, in July I started crossfit and in December I hit my one year mark for teaching spin and now teach 4x a week.  I just can't find the same joy I used to find in running that I now find in these other ventures.

I'm a little sad/mad/disappointed to see this passion of mine be put on the back burner, but for my sanity I think it will have to sit there..at least for the time being.

This is me post-Chicago Marathon.  I was crazy happy and flying in cloud 9!

Have you tried anything new? How do you feel about running?

Oh Sweet Smoothie Goodness!

So I realized that my vegetable intake has seriously been lacking.....
I also realized that my schedule this semester is going to OWN me....example- I left home yesterday at 430am to teach spin (#PoweredByBits of course) and did not get home until 830pm! Today I left at 8am and will maybe get home around 10pm...yikes!

I decided that adding a smoothie to my day would help with both of my issues- I can put massive amounts of veggies in it and it takes about 5min to make (including clean up).

Here's my first recipe: (Sorry for lack of pictures- I drank it too fast!)

Spinach Goodness
Serves 1

Add the ingredients in this order
4 cups spinach (I also tried 2c spinach and 2c kale..yummy)
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
Blend
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (I used Blue Diamond)
1 banana cut
Blend
ENJOY!

I told you it's super easy! I'll be keeping you updated on other creations I make!

I'm off to Les Mis tonight...has anyone seen it yet?!?
Do you have a smoothie recipe with veggies you'd be willing to share?

2012 Look back and even more to look forward to in 2013

As the New Year approaches I tend to look back and think back on what I did and what I can't wait to do in the coming year.  There were SO many great things that happened in 2012, but the biggest thing also led me to my number one plan (I don't like resolutions because I nail down things that don't have an end date).  After being chosen to be a ENERGYBits Brand Ambassador, I was able to connect with some pretty amazing people!  One, in particular, was Sloane Pitman.  A bright young, fit freak like myself. After reading her story, I realized we had more in common than just fitness.  We both battle with our relationship with food.

(FYI- THIS IS WHERE I GET A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS..Skip these next paragraphs if you don't like serious talk and feelings..)

Ever since I can remember I've always had a little "extra."  I've never been overweight or anything, but I've never had a flat stomach or felt 100% comfortable in a bikini.  So starting at a young age I would try and run extra or cut back on food.  Other times I would have a bad day or stressful week, so I'd binge and feel like even more crap.  I'd always tell myself that I'm going to stop and just eat healthy, then the "fluff" would definitely come off and I'd look like all the girls in the fitness magazines I read.  Well, strange thing happened...it never really happened.  I'd eat healthy, but then I'd indulge a little around birthdays or holidays, enjoy a cocktail or two, and I'd be right back at it..trying to analyze everything that went into my body, counting every calorie, measuring EVERYTHING.

It wasn't until after I read about Sloane's "freEDom" (freedom from eating disorders or disordered eating) and I was thinking really deeply, this past week, about what I really wanted to change in myself.  The number one thing that coming back was I wanted to eat and feel good, eat a piece of pie at Thanksgiving and not regret it, or have a margarita and not secretly hate myself for it because I knew exactly where it was going.  So this year instead of a weight loss or fitness related goal for 2013, I'm going to NOT diet.  Does this mean I'm going to stuff my face with whatever I want?  No, it just means I will eat what I know my body needs to complete what I demand of it and not worry if I indulge a time or two.  I want to get back to being able to go out with my friends and enjoy myself, instead of stressing so much and staying home to avoid temptation.

Okay..feelings and seriousness is over, so here's my main highlights from 2012 in pictures :)

My first duathlon

My 5th Full Marathon

I started CrossFit

My first Warrior Dash

I lost my best friend

My first vacation since I can remember that didn't involve a race..or any agenda

My first triathlon

My first Ragnar! RagnarGR

My first CrossFit Competition

Sub 25min 5K with my amazing cheerleaders

My boyfriend got to come for the first time to one of my races!  (he was a collegiate baseball player)

Being chosen as an ENERGYBits Ambassador

Being chosen as a Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador

While that's great and all; I CAN'T wait for what fate has in store for me in 2013...Here's a few things I have on my schedule and I'll see what life decides to throw in between..

3rd Half Marathon (February)

2nd Duathlon (April)

GRADUATION (May)

CAMPING post-graduation in Colorado (May)

4th Half Marathon (June)

2nd Triathlon (August)

Ragnar Las Vegas?! (October)

What're your highlights from 2012? What's on your goal list?  Do you have any plans for 2013? 

Almost Human again...**GIVEAWAY WINNER ANNOUNCED**

SORRY it has taken me so long to announce the EnergyBits winner.  After finishing my finals on Friday I came down with a pretty nasty cold.  I was pretty much in bed every day/all day until yesterday!  But I'm feeling almost back to normal, so without waiting any longer...

THE WINNER IS....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ANDI M.  Please send me an email to: maureen.mccarville@gmail.com, so I can send you your goodies :)  And you too can be #PoweredByBits

Don't forget even if you didn't win, use my discount code GONEBEAST on EnergyBits website to take a little off :)