Catherine Hart

So much to be Thankful for

2009-11-26T10:02:00.000-08:00

As some of you know, our house was robbed on Sunday and many of our valuables were taken. Our TV, both our computers, stereo, X-box, DVD player, & ALL my jewelry (including engagement ring and family heirlooms)...gone. They even stole my pillow case to use as a bag for the jewelry. yuck.

But you know what? It's okay. Because it really is just stuff.

And this is such a timely event because I've been spending a lot of time this past month reflecting on my attachment to stuff and the different roles "stuff" plays in my life. I set a goal to have our house purged of anything that does not add value to our lives by the start of the new year. I have two sides tugging at me as I attempt to move through each room in my house. On the one hand I want to go to the extreme end of purging...get down to the bare necessities. But on the other hand, I am a maker with a great appreciation for the energy of objects & their sentimental value. It has been an intense process to evaluate each object one-by-one, each piece of clothing, each piece of jewelry, every fork and spoon...everything. Questions arise like, "is the "possible future event" I am hanging on to this object for really worth it? Is it even going to happen? Do I need this now? Will I notice it's missing when it's gone? Does it currently add value?"

One question my Dad told me to ask myself in regards to my clothing was, "Do I feel good in this?" and if the answer was NO then get rid of it. That helped me purge about 50% of my clothing. You would be surprised at how many pieces of clothing I don't feel good in that I was hanging on to as some mental or emotional placeholder. But if you eliminate the objects that exist purely as emotional or mental placeholders, you are making room for more ideas and more growth. It feels awesome. But one area that I was particularly having trouble with was my jewelry. Jewelry does not take up that much space so it's easy to say, "ill just keep that" but some jewelry is deeply rooted in older phases of me. Sorting all that out was more emotionally taxing that I anticipated and I found myself procrastinating the jewelry. But I sleep right next to all my jewelry and I was starting to feel like the vibes of Catherine's past were seeping into my dreams and I knew I had to work on letting go of some of those pieces. I had to make more room for new Catherines to emerge. So you know what, the thieves made my decisions for me. They took it all. Every last piece of it. Even the black rubber bracelets from college that are of absolutely no value. And you know what, it feels awesome. There are pieces I am sad they took of course, but it's been nice to reflect on the memories those pieces held in the first place.

Actually, they did leave ONE thing in my jewelry bureau....my Dog Tags. Unbelievable. The universe had to have a hand in this one.

So on this Thanksgiving day, I have no sadness about losing my stuff. I feel that I only have things to be thankful for...possibly more now than ever. I am thankful for my family, my friends, my health, my freedom, the magic of art, food, & music, my staff for working so hard for me every day, the Sunday evening of reading next to my husband in silence since we didn't have a TV, and to all of you who take the time to read my blog. I appreciate absolutely everyone, large and small, in my life. And everything I just listed is something I could never lose in a robbery. So really my life is rich with blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Owning Your Own Situation

2009-11-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

One of the women I'm with on this trip is pregnant. She & her hubby were caught off guard by the pregnancy and, while ultimately very excited, she didn't have any time to mentally prepare for all the lifestyle changes she had to make. One thing she is particularly struggling with is not being able to have a beer or a glass of wine at the end of a long day. Well, last night was the epitome of the end to a very long day and boy did she wish she was having a beer with the rest of us. She was struggling on her side of the table and expressed about feeling jipped.

Well, on my side of the table, I was battling every factor that contributes to my overeating all at once. 1) I was totally exhausted 2) I was overly hungry and had run out of my healthy snack stash 3) Hadn't been able to have solid Catherine time in days & instead was flooded with social interaction after social interaction 4) I've been away from my husband so I haven't had a good hug in a while 5) I was half way done with my beer before the enormous basket of chips and queso was placed right in front of me. I was doomed. And when I'm tired like that and I already have alcohol in my system before I start eating, it's like I've flushed all will power down the toilet. So I went for it. I ate WAY past my full point and left the restaurant feeling very uncomfortable.

When I got back to my hotel room and tried to go to sleep I was smacked in the face with how miserable I felt. There was absolutely nothing I could do to get comfortable. Hit with a serious carb load that my body hardly ever gets, my heart was racing and I was so irritated in my own skin. I was miserable. My pregnant buddy, on the other hand, was sleeping peacefully. I kept thinking she was so lucky she didn't drink too many beers and had a perfectly proportioned chicken salad. What I had forgotten was she fell asleep feeling jipped out of the experience of the evening.

The point is, when you transition from eating foods that don't support your health to foods that do, you can have moments where you feel like your missing out. Coach Megan expressed it well, when she stated that many people focus on what they CAN'T eat as opposed to what they CAN (which turns out to be a much longer list!). Watching people eat what you used to eat can cause some jealousy. But that way of thinking is not worth it and a waste of your time. You can always join them, but your not for a reason. You are making healthy choices for yourself and instead of feeling jealous, focus on how much better you are treating your body and feel good about it. You never know, they could be totally inspired by your will power and it's what they needed the whole time. Sit in your own power, sit in your own choices, own it and feel good about it!

My pregnant buddy and I laughed this morning about our jealousy exchange. And she came out the winner because I still feel full and bloated and she is facing the day with great energy.

Here's to hoping that all my readers are facing the day with great energy and happiness.

Traveling WOD's

2009-11-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

Right now I'm in Dallas at a business conference & I was very pleased to find a newly remodeled fitness room in my hotel. Okay, no excuses...but you know I need my Crossfit Gym to help me push through a good workout. So, to ensure that I actually got out of bed after my wake-up call & went to that fitness center, I had to have a plan in place before I fell asleep. First, I needed to define my workout so that I didn't get to the gym and simply dabble. And second, I committed to myself that I would make a post about my WOD time so that I would have to complete it. So, my wonderful readers, while I'm on the road, you are my new Crossfit gym to keep me on track...because I can't lie to you!

Here goes: I first set out to do FRAN in honor of all my friends doing her majesty at Crossfit Central this Saturday. But there was no pull-up situation so I developed a modified FRAN. This was a great workout because I only had time for a "sprint" WOD.

This is what I had to work with:That's a 20lb med ball and 25lb dumbbells.
I named her FRANITA :)
3...2...1...GO!

21-15-9
Dumbbell Thrusters
Push-ups
Russian Twists (that's 42-30-18 touches total)

Time!
The last set of Thrusters I had to move down to 20lb dumbbells. And the last 5 seemed like they might be impossible. But I had a lot of lingering feelings from Veteran's Day and I thought about how many brave men and women have had to push through horrifying moments when they didn't want to. I thought about what it must be like to be faced with these moments & all the sudden pushing through those thrusters seemed like a piece of cake. A new energy flooded me. We all have the strength within for anything we want to accomplish...it's just a matter of believing it and drawing from it, but trust me it's there.

Time: 10 mins 7 secs

shower.
8am meeting.
good to go.

Happy Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

Every morning when I wake up I see these dog tags hanging close to my bed. The 3 tags are: my father's tag from Vietnam, my grandfather's tag from Vietnam, Korea, and World War II, and my great-grandfather's tag from World War I (still equipped with the original red, white & blue ribbon). These tags are worn proudly around my neck every Verteran's Day and every Memorial Day & are one of my most cherished gifts my Dad has ever given me. There is an incredible power infused in these tags. These tags have been to war and they were worn by some of the most admirable and brave men I have ever known (I never had the chance to meet my great-grandfather but I hear that's where I get my artistic genes). I make sure that I look at these tags, hold them and feel them to recognize what they stand for. I try not to take for granted the enormous freedoms I enjoy and how that came to be. And most importantly, I hold them in my hands as a reminder to follow my dreams and to live life fully with passion and intention. Today, I thank my Father, my Grandfather, my Great-Grandfather, my cousin Scott, Coach Lance, and the thousands of others who have chosen to make the freedom of our country a priority in the most selfless manner. May I never take for granted the freedom you fought for and the blessings it has brought us. Thank You.

My first 5K

2009-11-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

I had been feeling under the weather, not sure if it was allergies, & worried I would be out of breath the whole time. Distance running has never been my thing because it's hard for me to focus my mind on positive thoughts. "Man I wish I could stop" is what my brain likes to chant anytime I run longer than 6 minutes. While I know 3 miles is not that long of a distance, especially for the fitness level I have reached, I still worried about my ability to get through it. My friend Erika gave me a great goal to work with: no negative thoughts while running. Don't worry about speed, don't worry about finishing, just focus on having NO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS. And guess what, it worked!

I had the pleasure and honor of running with my sister-in-law. We don't get to see each other nearly as much as we wish we could so the excitement of being with her made it impossible to have negative thoughts. We got so caught up in chatting with each other during the race, that I hardly even realized I was running. We decided to take a nice even pace. We ended up doing a steady 11 minute mile and finishing at 33 minutes. This is actually a slower pace than we are both capable of and afterward wondered what our time would have been if we really pushed it. But the truth is, even though I wish I could brag about a faster time, this experience has equipped me with some nuggets of knowledge that really make me excited:

1) I am much better at running that I think I am. During the race I knew when I was running slower than I could & I know that I could have kept running for a lot longer. I felt strong and I faced how much endurance I really have. The fact that I was able to jabber away the whole three miles means I don't huff and puff as much I think I do.

2) 3 miles is not a scary distance. That is simply in my mind. I'm used to the Crossfit way of running 400m and 800m & really blew up how long 3 miles was going to feel in my mind. It is actually quite short and I look forward to running 3 miles when I get home and really going for it. How fast can I really run it?

3) It's all in your head. My brother and I have a joke that throughout life you are simply learning things over and over again that you already know. Well I was just reminded of the power of our minds, once again. Thinking positively and feeling joy throughout this run made it painless. I had attempted 3 miles run many times throughout this last year. Sometimes I finished but felt like my brain drove me nuts during the whole thing and felt like I would never do it again. Other times I just stopped and walked. But I just let my mind rule. If I let my healthy, fit, and very capable body rule and make sure my brain is being nice to me, I actually really like running. Who knew?

So while I can't wait to run another one and report a much faster time, I feel so happy that I've had these discoveries about what I'm capable of. Phew. It feels like a relief to not be afraid of running. And I already have a date with my sister-in-law at the next Midnight Margarita Run in Austin. Can't wait! Plus how can you be in a bad mood when your little nephew gets excited to run with you? You simple can't. Life is good.

Frailure is NOT an option

2009-11-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

This fine Sunday morning I met my fellow Team Phoenix members at Austin High School's track for a run through of the benchmark workout Fran. In case you are not familiar with this nasty lady the workout goes a little something like this:

21 Thrusters
21 Pull-ups

15 Thrusters
15 Pull-ups

9 Thrusters
9 Pull-ups

Erika Jeanne, participating in the 5 week Fran Challenge, has declared FRAILURE is not an option. Sometimes the anticipation of a challenge can get you mentally psyched out. When this happens, sometimes the best thing you can do to stop over-thinking it is to just jump right in. So I showed up to cheer Anna and Erika on with a stop watch, some pull-ups bands, a barbell, and a "Frailure is not an option" attitude.

I'm proud of my Team Phoenix members for putting their ALL into this workout. Anna, who has only been crossfitting for 3 months rocked out all her pull-ups on the blue band (for those of you who don't know what the blue band is...let's just say it took me a year to get to the blue band...so it's bad-ass). And Erika rocked out her Fran at the Elite level, all pull-ups unassisted. Way to go ladies!One thing is for sure...both these ladies RIPPED IT UP.....literally!

The Language of Dieting

2009-10-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about how the words we use to describe how and what we eat can really affect how we view our choices. I think it's important to check in with the associated meanings of the words we use to describe a healthy lifestyle and make sure they are words that make us feel good. Many people have commented on the word diet itself. The word diet has developed some negative connotations over the years. People often associate it with denial, restriction, or a phase. When really the word diet is the Greek word for "way of life." So, in truth, it doesn't make sense to be "on a diet." Everyone is "on a diet," it's just a matter of what your diet consists of.

I recently started calling my "cheat day" my "looser day." To me, "cheating" makes me feel guilty, like I'm violating what I'm supposed to be doing. That doesn't make me feel good. I have built in a day where I can be a little less restrictive on purpose. I feel that I need it for balance and to keep my obsessiveness in check. Everyone is different, but if I am too strict with myself, I could be setting myself up for a detrimental "F*#$ this" binge. I call it a looser day or a looser meal, because I am loosening the parameters I usually follow. For me, allowing myself a looser day is a healthy and wise

Now that doesn't mean the word cheat doesn't have it's place. If I declare I am going 100% Paleo with no loose days for a full month and I eat sugar, well then I cheated on my diet. I violated the rules and regulations of my way of life. Right now I'm abstaining from alcohol while I train for my 5K. If I decide to have a glass of wine, that's not loose...that's a cheat.

What's fun about thinking about the language of dieting is that you can make up your own words & phrases if it's helpful. The incredible Melicious, who once fought going Paleo, renamed it Dino-Chow and took the plunge. Love it! When I realized I was going to have to stop eating nightshades to heal the tendinitis in my wrist, I was sad to let go of my salsa, Cholula, and bell peppers as they were a HUGE part of my diet. I had to re-name them wrist poison so I wasn't so sad. It worked! In this case, the negative connotation was necessary for me to feel like I wasn't missing out on anything and in fact I was bettering myself. Now that my wrist has healed I'm slowly reintroducing nightshades & everytime I eat some, I apologize for having to call them poison for a while. I think I'm forgiven.

While searching for diet terms I ran into a great post that addresses this same topic. Stephanie from "Back in Skinny Jeans" uses the terms on the menu as in "that's not on my menu today" That seems less restrictive than "I can't eat that. Check out her post.

Because after all, eating well is about feeling good. Language is powerful, it should make us feel just as good as the foods we eat!
Any great terms you have come up with?

A great night sleep with a side of primal pizza

2009-10-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Remember when I declared sleep my new best friend? Well soon after I announced to sleep that we would be hanging out a lot more often, sleep got cold feet. Sleep felt like I was getting too serious and maybe a little too clingy & stopped showing up for many of our dates. And when sleep would show up, sleep seemed very distant and distracted...we had trouble connecting with each other. But all the sudden this past week or so, I've been sleeping like a baby. And the difference it makes the next day is enormous. I must reiterate how very important it is to sleep well and treat your bodies need for sleep with respect. I felt like I nearly tripled my productivity this week because I was actually well rested. Clear thinking followed by immediate execution. Whole new world.

So what's different?

1) I'm back in a good flow with my workouts. The extra sleep I get from switching to the 7am class has really helped & the clear goal of re-gaining my upper body strength keeps me motivated.

2) I have my first 5K coming up in a few weeks. Whenever I have an exciting event with a specific date attached to it, somehow my life seems more organized. Plus, this means I get to hang out with my family in LA and that makes everything feel right with the world.

3) Taking an break from alcohol means I've not been metabolizing any sugar while trying to sleep.

4) And this has made the biggest difference so far: I eliminated stressful thoughts from my mind. I zoomed in and identified what thought patterns I had that were making me feel anxious in any way. I then identified which were reflections of real external circumstances that I could work on changing and which were simply stressful thoughts. Turns out about 99% of my thoughts were from a stressed perspective and not from reality. This is something that you always kind of know happens, but it wasn't until I fully internalized that only my thoughts were causing me stress, NOT my situation, that I finally began sleeping again. I feel like this is a lesson we sort of learn over and over again in life. We just need to check in with ourselves every once in a while and make sure our thought patterns are not causing us unnecessary stress.

So sleep, thank you for returning to me. I had really been missing you!

And now, as I prepare to slip into bed for my nightly hang out with sleep, I feel FULL with Primal Pizza. I went overboard, but it was oh, so tasty!For anyone who is going gluten free, I highly recommend this particular recipe for pizza crust.

Taken from Mark's Daily Apple:

Ingredients:
Crust:
2 Cups Almond Meal/Flour
2 Eggs
2 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tsp salt

Instructions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. This should give you a ball of “dough”. If your dough is too “mushy” (like mine was), continue to add almond flour until you get a good consistency.
3. Make a pizza sheet or baking tray non-stick. This is VERY important if you want your pizza slices to come off in one piece.
4. Press your dough on the sheet nice and even about 1/4 inch in the middle and 1/2 inch at the edges.
5. Put crust in the oven for 15 minutes. It should look slightly golden brown when you take it out.

Then add whatever toppings you want. If you want a more traditional pizza & you eat dairy-go for pizza sauce and cheese. Or just load it up with pizza sauce and tons of veggies and/or a protein of your choice. You can even make your own pizza sauce by mixing 1 Can Tomato Paste, 1-2 Cups Water (To desired thickness), 1 Tsp Dried Oregano, & 1 Tsp Garlic. Just load it up and pop it back in the 350 degree over for another 15 minutes or so. Voila!

Here's the scoop: The thinner the crust, the better. It takes a while to get it thin and even. The almond flour is extremely filling and can overwhelm the toppings. And if you are following the zone diet, there are about 5 fat blocks per small piece, so be aware of that. But I love this recipe because it feels like a real crust to me and totally satisfies my craving for a bread/crust type item. There is a lot of crispy integrity...plus I super love almonds. However, I wonder if the fact that I don't eat very much bread anymore is why this tasted like the greatest meal in the world to me. Because my husband just said he feels like he has a pile of mud sitting in his gut. So maybe it's not for everyone :)
... I did say it was filling!

Why I need my Crossfit Gym

2009-10-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning I woke up inspired and ready for my homemade workout. I planned it as I was falling asleep the night before.

4 Rounds:
10 push-ups with a side plank between each one, rotating sides
20 Overhead Squats (35lbs)
30 Kettlebell Swings
40 box-jumps

3, 2, 1...GO!!

Well, my workout went a little more like this:
10 push-ups with side planks
10 OH Squats
5 Box jumps with a little dance on top of the box because I was listening to Jay-Z
10 KB swings

Another dance on my way to my water bottle

5 push-ups with side planks
10 KB clean and presses cuz they seemed more fun at the moment
10 OH squats
Dance on top of my box until my neighbor starting mowing his lawn and saw me

Breakfast!

Way to go me!
As I was running one of my 400m this morning, I was thinking about my Sunday workout attempt and how I really need the structure of the gym to keep me going. Crossfit workouts are hard. And they do not slowly build. When you hear 3, 2, 1, Go! you jump right in and at some point in that first 3 minutes you hit a moment where you say, "Oh F?%*! This requires my WHOLE and present self & it's too intense to be lazy about it." This is the moment that if you push through and keep going, you find a whole new place inside. One that is capable, one that is strong, and one where you have so much momentum you somehow are going for it. Your blood is pumping and your sweat is dripping and it's hard as shit but you are going....
This is also the moment that if you don't have your classmates next to you & if you don't have your coaches inspiring you, you can give in & stop. When you get to the "Oh F*%#!" moment and you don't have the spirit of the Crossfit Central crew around you, it's hard to remember that it actually feels good to push through to the other side. It becomes a moment where dancing on top of the jump box is much more appealing.

Thank You to my classmates, coaches, and all my Crossfit buddies for your continued dedication to waking up early and working your ass off. I couldn't do it without you.

Good Morning Chief

2009-10-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today I finally made the switch from the 6:15am class to the 7am class. At first I felt out of sorts, like I was late for something important. All the ladies I normally see trickle in while I'm mid work-out were now mid workout themselves...very discombobulating. I started the warm-up a little confused trying to focus my mind and remember I was not late for anything important. I was right on time. And then we met The Chief.

"The Chief"
As Many Rounds as Possible in 3 minutes:
3 Power Cleans
6 Push-ups
9 squats
Do that 5 Times.

I was able to complete 17 rounds. I really enjoyed this workout, one of my new favorites in fact. It was one of those times where I felt myself get stronger as I progressed rather than worn down. The sun started rising and the women's class cleared out. All the sudden the gym felt like it was mine. No more confused and discombobulated feelings. It was me and my power cleans, push-ups, squats, and the music. I felt present in my workout. Maybe that extra 45 minutes of sleep made all the difference. There really is a difference between waking up in the 5 o'clock hour vs. the 6 o'clock hour. And there is something great about the sun rising during a workout...it's like a reminder that I'm fueling myself up for the day to come.
Thanks Chief!

Countdown to my First 5K

2009-10-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

On November 8th I'm flying out to Los Angeles to join my amazing sister-in-law for my first 5K. I've never run one before and I'm really looking forward to it. I have to say I'm not that great at running. I've gotten better than I've been in the past, but longer distances are still very hard for me. I love that Crossfit changes up the moves so frequently during a workout that it re-jiggers my mind set. Running long distances, on the other hand, gives my mind time to ponder how much I feel like stopping. BUT, the adrenaline of a crowd and knowing that my sister-in-law is running too may change all of that.

So it's time to bring out my Crossfit Endurance workbook and step up my training. I will be adding 2 endurance workouts a week for the next 3 weeks. I'm also not going to drink any alcohol in the next 3 weeks. I am doing this not because I am worried about the occasional glass of wine or beer, but because once I have a drink in me I make poor food choices. In the past couple of weeks I've let in so many bad food choices because of this. I don't regret the choices I've made...I've been to art openings, had a wonderful visit with an old friend, a send off celebration for a new friend, birthday parties, you name it! All these events have involved bottles of wine or fancy drinks to cheers with. But, I've started gaining back some body fat that I worked so hard to lose which means it's time to dial back in. It's starting to add up & I always see it first in those darn love handles.

And now is when I need to learn a new kind of balanced discipline. When I started my journey to lose weight, I found it surprising easy to make great food choices. I was so ready to shed the weight and so ready to feel better that with every great choice I made I was one step closer. And when I started to see the results I only got more motivated because I knew the great choices were making a difference. But now that I've lost the weight I have to learn the right mindset for maintenance. I eat so well most of the time, that I feel comfortable with letting in some "here and theres" to treat myself and feel like I have a balanced life. But I can really feel the difference in my body and wellness when those "here & theres" start occurring too frequently.

So rather than get depressed that I woke up this morning with a sugar headache and noticeable jiggling in my belly and love handles, I will embrace where I am and realize I'm at a new point in my journey. After all, this really is a journey in wellness and now I have to learn maintenance. I have finally learned to let go of an all or nothing way of thinking. And that is the first major lesson of maintenance. I don't need to feel like I ruined my hard work by gaining a little body fat & feel like I can never have a glass of wine again. But I can certainly acknowledge that the weight gain makes me uncomfortable, take note of what got me here, and make the proper adjustments.

I also plan on posting more frequently in the next 3 weeks about how I dial in and train for this 5K. That is both a commitment to myself and to all you lovely folks who take the time to read this.

Looking the Pig in the eye

2009-09-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed this blog post from Farmhouse Delivery, a local service that:

"brings the farm to your door, offering local produce, meat, dairy, eggs, and local artisanal products to customers in Austin. We sell produce grown exclusively on local farms and even grow some of it ourselves! Meat and dairy products are sourced from farms within a 200 mile foodshed, and artisanal products are sustainably produced here in Austin. Weekly, bi-monthly, or one-time delivery is available with no delivery fee."

Pretty awesome!

Next Month, Farmhouse delivery is hosting a pig roast & this post is an eloquent response addressing some vegetarians that were quite upset about the event. I mostly appreciate the idea of connecting to the food you eat and the commitment Farmhouse Delivery has made to this concept.

I have many close friends that are vegetarians, and while I do not agree that a diet free of animal products is a healthier choice, I can at least empathize with the decision when it's due to the terrible situation of our meat industry. For me, instead of not eating meat, I cast my vote for supporting businesses like these (and I do! I've signed up for monthly deliveries). Plus I really love bacon.

I had a date with Angie...but I stood her up

2009-09-29T17:52:00.000-07:00

Oh boy. I missed Angie. And I really have no great excuse, other than I couldn't get momentum towards the gym. In all fairness to myself Monday was my first day off with no obligations in a very long time. And part of me just wanted to do absolutely nothing and soak in the freedom of not having to be anywhere at any particular time. Especially because I still had to do so much while being sick that I felt I got cheated out of a full-on face to the pillow kind of day. But man, the guilt factor is terrible. Because I know that I would have felt awesome afterward. And because I love Angie. And because the night before, I thought about my goal to not miss a single class this session. See the thing is, a few things have changed at my job which requires a ton of myself. It's been very rewarding, but it's a new level of multi-tasking and responsibility. Which means the days when I feel sluggish are rough. So I'm working on how to optimize my energy by both getting a ton of sleep as well as not missing any crossfit classes. I really only miss classes if I'm out of town or really need to sleep. And I have a feeling that I will be feeling the need for rest and rejuvenation quite a bit in the upcoming weeks, but I don't want that to mean missing training. I might switch to a later class, or re-arrange other aspects of how I organize my time. This month, being all Ladies and Heroes and a wrist that is really showing signs of healing, I don't want to miss this opportunity to get in the gym and be STRONG...it makes everything else in my life better and easier. So I post this to first, apologize to Angie...you have always been one of my favorites and I'm sorry I acted so selfishly on Monday. And second, to ask Angie out on a date at the end of the month...just you and me in my backyard. On October 31st, I'm posting my Angie score...until then, I'm going to hang with some cool ladies and heroes*

*a bunch of killer workouts named after women and fallen soldiers. Like Angie: 100 pull-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats!

Fight Gone not so Bad

2009-09-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

I wasn't sure how this was going to go. My goal last year was to get a 280 at the Elite level. But my training had to take a slow down in 2009 because of my wrist tendonitis, and I did not do the Elite level this year. I would have been okay on the sumo deadlift highpull, I would have been semi-okay on the push press (although I know that round 3 would have been a real struggle) but catching that 14 lb medball just hurts my wrist too much. Well, am I ever glad that I signed up for intermediate level instead because prior to Saturday morning I had not worked out in almost 2 weeks due to being sick. I had no idea if I would hold up during one of the most intense workouts, but I made sure to get as much rest as possible before hand. I told myself to take it slow and realize that this was fun and for a good cause. I gave myself permission to let go of having a high score. Last year I got 257 and this year I got a 273. I feel pretty good about that actually, considering how I had been feeling only 2 days prior. I'll take it!

What I love is to see how the pain grows in my face as each round passes. The smile on my face in the picture above is clearly the smle of someone who hasn't started the workout yet.

One round down, first rest station:

Two rounds down, second rest station:

Three rounds down, & done:

I also learned that I stick my tongue out a lot when I workout...I don't think I knew I did that. There were pictures from every station that looked like this:
And I make the infamous Hart family Squint Face!And I promised my sweet husband, who worked very hard on taking lots of pics, that I would include his "art shots":Matt would like you to note the in focus foreground vs. out of focus superstar! Very artsy of him!

But what makes this day so fun is that fact that we all endure this pain together. And I don't think I could have kept the momentum if it weren't for the excitement and support of everyone in this amazing community.See what I mean? I'm clearly about to puke but how could I not keep going with the always kick-ass Melicious cheering for me?

AND I happened to be wearing the COOLEST shirt ever, made by the bad-ass Anna Krachey, who also ripped it up at Fight Gone Bad. Watch out for this one, her dedication is serious and she is a real athlete.
Congratulations to everyone that participated. A special shout out to Erika Jeanne and Mel for stepping it up to the Elite Level this year. Way to RIP IT UP ladies, I'm so proud of you!! Next year I will join you there!A trip down memory lane, remembering last years Fight Gone Bad experience.

But I just can't resist it!

2009-09-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

We all know the pull of the foods that make us feel bad. We all know that cleaning up our diets, eating more veggies, cutting out sugar & processed crap makes us feel awesome. But no matter how good we know clean eating makes our bodies feel and how bad sugar and overly processed non-food makes us feel, we still crave the bad stuff! And I don't know about you guys, but not only do I crave it, but sometimes I binge on it. I get the taste for it and I can't stop. In fact, that happens to me with all food. I have a tendency to overeat no matter what I'm eating. I can ignore the full signals like no bodies business because the "I want more" team is cheering much louder than those full signals. This is one of the reasons I gained a lot of weight in the first place. In order to get my weight under control I, of course, had to start exercising and eating healthy food but I also needed to develop techniques to curb my overeating habits. This is still a daily challenge for me, but some of techniques I've developed have really helped me and I thought I would share them. I know that no matter how disciplined you are, our coaches included, we all fall victim to the almighty carb binge resulting in a horrible hangover the next day and a declaration of reigning in our clean eating from now until....
And we have to remember that when we look to the diet of our paleolithic ancestors to understand what our genes are designed to eat, we are looking to a world that did not have a corner store with snickers bars and a world that did not have office parties with pizza and chocolate cake in the break room. We can learn about diet and lifestyle quite a bit when we look back, but we certainly can't learn about the "tools of resistance" from our ancestors because...well...they had nothing to resist!

1) Smaller plates, and smaller pieces!
Trick your brain to see more volume. I know that the overeating indulgent side of my brain can look at a meal & calculate how many bites I get to enjoy. And of course, I want to have as many bites as possible. Sure, I could cut tiny pieces with my fork, but once I get the taste, I just want to ravage through it. So chop up your portions before you cook.
Take this sausage for example:I could eat this puppy in 4 big bites.
But now look at this same sausage on a slightly smaller plate all chopped up. I see many delicious bites in my future. This is Applegate Farms Chicken & Apple Sausage by the way (totally awesome) and is 2 blocks of protein.

2) Serve yourself 1/2 and go back for seconds!
This has been very effective for me when I cook dinner at home. I know before hand the portions of my entire meal (usually 3 blocks) and I only put 1/2 on my plate to start. I try and eat it slowly and convince myself this is my whole dinner (and if I've used my volume trick sometimes that seems reasonable to my pesky overeating brain). Then I take a few deep breaths and get super excited that I get to go back for seconds-guilt free! I know it seems silly, but it's not my body that wants to keep eating...my body is getting all the fuel it needs. It's my chatty overeating brain that talks me into it. Sometimes it just wants the feeling of getting to go back for seconds. This pleases the overeating cheerleaders and they are usually very satisfied by this fake feeling of going in for more!

3) Just wait!
Sometimes I eat past my full point because I love to eat and I don't want the eating experience to be over. But now that I have built in snacks and eat 5 times a day, I don't have to wait very long in between eating. One very effective tool is to tell myself, "Stop, you will get to eat again very soon. If you wait to eat this, you will enjoy it twice as much because you won't feel guilty." And all the sudden 2 hours go by so fast and I get to eat again & not having the guilt factor is so worth it!! The regret ways us down. We don't have time for it. I know it seems too simple, but it really calms the overeating cheerleaders. It's like saying, "hold on guys...let me just get some things done in the next 2 hours and we can totally eat again when I'm done." It's great because the cheerleaders wait patiently on the bench as long as they know there is a game in their near future.

4) Change your situation immediately.
I have some built in rituals to change my situation for those moments when I start heading toward the fridge for a totally unnecessary munching session. Because it really is just those pesky cheerleaders who want you to overeat and not your body, give your cheerleaders some new scenery for a bit. My favorite ritual that always works is a walk to the corner store to buy myself a Lime Topo Chico (Mineral water with a twist of Lime for all you Non-Texans). It is the perfect distraction. It's a 400m walk...just long enough to switch up my brain waves, get some fresh air, and still treat myself to something. And I always feel great afterward. I'm happy I didn't indulge unnecessarily, I'm happy from moving my body and taking in fresh air, and I'm happy to have a refreshing bottle of deliciousness! Love it! My other favorite ritual is to paint my nails (sorry gentlemen...this may not be a great tip for you...although who knows...:). Works every time. I start getting excited about the new color and the new personality I can wear with the new color. AND with wet nails, no fridge rummaging will be happening. And when I'm in a plain nail phase...go for clear!

5) If you're gonna go crazy, at least go clean!
There is no better thing you can do to stop sugary indulgences than to not have any of that stuff in your house. Just don't buy it ever. So, when you do go to the fridge to pick when your not actually hungry, at least you are picking at the good stuff. I learned how true this was on Friday night when my awesome girlfriend Erika Jeanne brought me some homemade, all natural chicken soup. I have been sick since Wednesday (thus my MIA from Crossfit world) and Erika made me some almighty healing soup. She said, "Eat as much as you can and then SLEEP" Well, I took her up on the eating as much as I could...and then some. I ate 3 large bowls of her chicken soup, 1/2 yam, 1 apple with a bunch zucchini hummus, & 2 tbs almond butter. I'm sure 1 bowl alone was a 3 block meal...but I just wanted more. Let me tell you, I woke up the next morning with a flat stomach...not the "possibly 3 months pregnant" bulge I wake up with when I binge on sugar. It was a totally different story the next day. So, if you are going to eat beyond your blocks cuz you can't help it...stick to clean indulging and you won't regret it! Another tip: Frozen Grapes: a childhood favorite. When they are frozen, you eat less and they seem more like dessert.

If I think of more I will post them.
What are your tools for resistance?

Meet Team Phoenix

2009-09-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Anna, Catherine, & Erika.

There is so much I could say about this day but the main word that comes to mind is PROUD.

I am proud to be a part of a phenomenal group of women who inspire me & push me to new heights on a daily basis.
I am proud of myself for getting through these workouts and actually being able to say that, despite the pain, they were really fun.
I am proud of my team members Erika and Anna.
I am proud of them individually and I am proud of how we worked together.

This is what my kick-ass team and I accomplished together on one rainy Saturday morning:

A 2 mile run with that could not be started until 150 Burpees were completed.
There were 2 stations that we stopped at during the our run to complete:
200 Kettlebell swings
200 med ball passes
Then back to the gym to complete the following:
50 barbell power snatch (45#)
200 box jumps
175 ab mat sit ups
100 pull ups
125 duo dead lifts @ 95#s (oh yeah, did I mention Team Phoenix did 105lbs by accident?)
150 jumping ring dips
100 duo shoulder press (55#)
Run 400m

Some memorable highlights for me were:

1) When Erika decided who was boss when it came to the 16kg Kettlebell. I was struggling with the weight and my wrist was weak when it came to stabilizing it overhead. I couldn't do as many reps as I wanted to in order to spare my team mates. But when Erika grabbed that Kettlebell, she let out an almighty grunt with every swing that said, "Guess whose boos MotherF&%$er!!" and swung that baby with all her might.

2) Anna and her never ending endurance makes me want to get off my ass and get going! While Anna has been an athlete most of her life, she has only being Crossfitting for about 2 months. She is new to many of the movements and new to the weight & intensity. But you would seriously never know it. She brings a "CAN DO" attitude to everything that she does and she was the first to cross the finish line amongst the 3 of us in both workouts. Totally inspiring.

3) I am pretty sure that Erika did the fasted sit-ups I have ever seen in my life. If I could get anywhere close to that speed I could shave a good 3 minutes off my "Angie" time. BAD ASS.

4) So, turns out Anna has never done a snatch with anything heavier than a PVP pipe. Remember that "CAN DO" attitude I was talking about? Well, we had to do 50 snatches with a 45lb bar (how much is a PVC pipe...1/2 lb?) and she ROCKED it with no fear. I watched her figure out the movement as she never stopped with grace, style, and determination. So awesome!

5) The cheers of all the ladies as everyone crossed the finish line made me feel a little choked up. Yeah, it was a competition...but it was so satisfying to watch everyone finish the race even if they totally beat us!

6) That run was so beautiful that I forgot that I don't like running as much as I wish to. The rain and the water made me forget the miserable Burpees and made me feel, well...special. I felt like a runner and I understood why I loved to do it.

See what I mean?
And the amazing meal we indulged in afterward was well worth the hard work: STEAK, FRENCH FRIES, and CHOCOLATE PIE = BLISS. Mel says it best with the pictures she took. Check them out!

Until Next time....
Team Phoenix will be in the 5 next year...watch out!!!

I'm pissed that you're pissed!

2009-09-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Okay...so I have tons to blog about this morning after a day of relaxation and recovery...an awesome art opening...an amazing women's challenge....

But before I get to any of that...my blood is boiling and I've got to post about it. I briefly mentioned in a previous post that I didn't understand why any citizen of Austin would be pissed that we can now enjoy a new Natural Grocery store in Hyde park just because it's somewhat close to Wheatsville. Last night, as I searched for some new recipes & where I might find some ingredients I need locally, I ran into a few reviews that got me pissed all over again. While most smart people are thrilled that more and more Natural Grocery Stores are joining the community...there are a few sour apples that simply piss me off. There is a trail of chatter on Yelp that begins with excitement for the addition of the Natural Grocers on 39th and Guadalupe and quickly spirals downward to a pissy rant about how Californians are ruining Austin with all this expansion...

For example:

"We like Wheatsville...which is why we'll keep supporting that almost completely local, community-owned and -loving emporium while wondering why a Colorado chain would set up shop just up the street from our most beloved and unique natural foods store..."

Before I tell you what really gets under my skin about this attitude...let me tell you a few quick notes about this "Colorado chain".

They have the freshest and MOST yummy almond butter I have ever tasted for only $4.99/tub. This is about 1/3 of the cost I have seen in other places.They also carry my favorite Turkey Jerky which is the only brand I have ever found locally to be both gluten free and sugar free. This stuff is a perfect portable protein and I can't get it anywhere else.Not to mention the fact that they sell Kombucha Tea for only $1.99 where the same brand is sold for $3.59 everywhere else in town.I personally believe that whether the owners of this chain are from Colorado or not, they have added a valuable resource for our community. And to be honest, I love Wheatsville and I do shop there quite a bit...but they are not quite as local as we want to believe.

But here is why I feel my blood circulating with great fervor when I read pissy rants about how unfortunate it is that the niche market of healthy eating is expanding:

HEALTHY EATING SHOULD NOT BE A NICHE MARKET!!!!

I'm sorry that you eat organic food, not because it's better for you, but because you need it to fuel your alternative identity. I'm sorry that you are so selfishly obsessed with your identity crisis that you don't want everyone to have access to good food. How dare you. How could another health food store (which is a full 10 blocks away on a major thoroughfare) be the downfall of Austin? F?%K You!! You don't get to own healthy food. You don't get to treat healthy food like your beloved underground band that sold out to the mainstream. It's people like you that make me afraid to be an outspoken healthy eater. There are "convenience stores" every other block that sell 90% crap filled with processed shit and tons of sugar. Well I want my organic apple to exist every other block too!! You are complaining about 10 blocks?!?!

Organic/healthy food should be as popular as Ferris Bueller. To quote Grace, it should be enjoyed by, "The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads" alike!

This is so much bigger than your alternative identity. Our country is in a health crisis. Get over yourself.

Happy eating my lovely people!!!

9 is the new 8

2009-09-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Sleep. It's like breakfast: too many of us skimp on it and yet it will determine the quality of your day. Reality: I need at least 10 hours of sleep a night or NO LESS than 8 really deep/quality hours. But this almost never happens. It is so easy to slip into 7 is good enough. And 7 hours often feels like it was good enough because I was capable of multi-tasking & high levels of functioning throughout the day. But if 7 is basically getting a full-night sleep, then 6 1/2 is too...in fact sometimes I just have to settle for 6. I might be a little fog-headed when I first wake up...but the coffee will kick me into gear (sometimes).

But all it takes is the experience of a truly good night sleep that was long enough and quality enough for your body to restore itself to know that 7 doesn't cut it. It's actually unbelievable when you experience a freshness behind your eyes when you really get the sleep your body needs. I rarely experience this, but when I do I realize I am jipping myself. And when I perform amazingly in a workout where I have clarity of mind and fresh strength to keep going...it almost ALWAYS has to do with how well I slept the night before. I can examine my food journals all I want....but the answer usually comes from my sleep quality.

Adding healthy food and exercise to my life has brought me to new energy levels for sure. I would not be able to pull-off having a full-time job and an art career if I didn't crossfit and eat well. But I still find myself having those lulls....feeling like I want to crawl into my bed and just sleep...recharge. So I am joining the ever-fabulous Melicious on her journey of increasing energy by increasing veggie intake and GETTING MORE SLEEP!

The first step I am taking is to declare 9 hours the new 8 hours. I will strive for 9hours every night and will say that 8 (rather than 7) is the new good enough. This will be hard to do....when I get busy, good sleep is one of the first things to be sacrificed. But I also know that when I get more sleep, I get more out of my awake time because I am fresher. I went to bed at 9:30 last night and woke up at 7am....and I have to say there is a pep in my step today.

I have been reading "Lights Out: Sugar, Sleep, and Survival" by T.S. Wiley. This book, of course, points out how detrimental it is that humans do not sleep enough. In fact, in a very detailed and convincing 205 pages, the book basically states that lack of sufficient sleep is really the major problem behind most of our contemporary health issues. This problem happens before the overconsumption of sugar...lack of sleep increases our craving for sugar. One statement in this book that really spoke to me and I must share is:

"Understanding human physiological dysfunction is akin to repairing a broken vase. You start with the big pieces and, finally, all that's left is the impact point. Those tiny shards will go together in the end, but you never could have started there.

Those tiny shards are the only news the public gets. That's why the newspapers and news magazine shows are rife with "cutting-edge discoveries" that ostensibly will change your world, but, in real time, never provide one single cure."

This statement provided me with a sense of relaxation and understanding. It put words to something that I always felt was true. Because sometimes I feel like saying, how could this possibliy be so complicated? Why does one set of things cause cancer on one day and another set cause cancer the next day. Why does basically everything cause cancer? Why is the yoke of an egg the worst part of the egg one day and the most nutricious the next? One could simply go mad if you tried to keep up with all this mess. I am going to call these "shards" from now on. I can't go crazy over the shards...I want the big pices of glass...in fact, show me what the vase looked like before it was broken!

Speaking of sleep...check out these other cool beds!

A New Tool for the Kitchen

2009-08-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

This book just arrived from Amazon and it's a wonderful resource. Now that I have narrowed down my cooking ingredients to meats, vegetables, and healthy fats- my next step has been learning how to keep it interesting. I first realized the simple power of spicing things up when I dove into Indian Spices. But my understanding of adding spice combinations hasn't really expanded since then and I am ready to learn more. I am finally understanding the pleasure of cooking and more importantly the art of cooking. I need to follow the exact recipe over and over before I feel I intuitively understand it and can start improvising. And when I do get to that point where I am comfortably improvising beyond the basic recipe, it is a feeling a great empowerment...especially when it's delicious!

Well, this book is absolutely a great empowerment tool for my kitchen and I'm sure I will make many upcoming posts on my discoveries.

Here is what I have learned so far:

Flavor = Taste + Mouthfeel + Aroma + "The X Factor"

Taste = What is perceived by the taste buds
Mouthfeel = What is perceived by the rest of the mouth
Aroma = What is perceived by the nose
"The X Factor" = What is perceived by the other senses - plus the heart, mind, and spirit.

The book is essentially a large index that allows you to look up any ingredient and it gives you a list of other ingredients that magically compliment it and takes into account the 4 elements of flavor. I can already see that this book will introduce food combinations I would have never thought of...and this is a book years in the making with thousands of interviews with chefs all around the country. Lots of exciting flavor bursts await....
I will post my first recipe I experiment with this week.

My Morning Skies

2009-08-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed my workout this morning.
Very simple.
Felt Great.

3 Rounds:
50 squats
400m Run
20 Push Press

I used 20lb dumbells instead of 30lbs because I am still trying to be kind to my healing wrist. But I did not feel like I sold myself short...I made sure to keep those presses going at a fast pace.

Time: 14:42

Best part about the workout this morning was that I wasn't mentally struggling through the 400m runs. All the sudden I was back in the gym headed toward my dumbells and I realized, "Oh my gosh...I'm in the middle of a workout" Somehow my mind was drifting to fun places as I ran. What I love is how the sky changes on each run.

On the warmup up, the constellation of Orien is always perfectly placed in the sky. I looked at it and thought about how every single time I see Orien I remember when my dad taught me how to find it and I rember him telling me that was how his dad taught him how to find it. I don't think I have EVER looked at Orien and not thought about that story...and I will continue to do so everytime I see it.

By the final run of the workout the sky looks more like this:Second best part of the morning?
After I got home and ate my awesome breakfast I woke my husband up and had him do the exact same workout.
As I left for work he was returning from his 2nd 400m run.
And on his run the sky looked a little more like this:Happy Friday!

The Sniff Test no more!

2009-08-23T20:54:00.000-07:00

We used to joke about the sniff test when I was growing up. You know what I'm talking about...when you really aren't sure if the food from your fridge is still good. Well, as the fridge in our house becomes more and more full of fresh ingredients I find myself performing the sniff test quite a bit. Fresh food usually doesn't come with an expiration date. Plus, I'm new to cooking...so I really don't know how long food can last. And I'm also new to gauging how much food can yield. For example, who knew a spaghetti squash could make so much food! So...how long can I milk that thing?

I found the perfect resource: www.stilltasty.com

You can enter thousands of foods into the search engine and it will tell you how long it remains fresh. It also offers great tips on how to keep your food the freshest. I'm book-marking this baby.

Sprouts

2009-08-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the pleasure of attending another Goal Setting meeting at Crossfit Central. I attended my first one 3 months ago & we all set 3 month goals. We set goals for all aspects of our lives including our careers, family life, etc. After writing out what we want our life to look like in 10 years (which means I'll be 40...WOW!!), we set 1 year goals and 3 months goals as stepping stones for that life. I was pleased to see that 3 months later, I had accomplished all but one goal on my entire list. It never ceases to amaze me what starts to happen in your life when you set an intention. The simple act of writing goals means they are starting to get accomplished. When you really intend something and your whole being means it (and we have to really listen to ourselves because I have definitely set goals for things that I didn't actually want...I only thought I wanted it...but it didn't ultimately fit with who I am) the universe starts to open up opportunities all around you. Maybe these whispers of opportunities are always all around us...but when you clearly state your intentions to yourself and you truly align yourself with your goals and dreams...all the sudden these whispers turn into clear voices...and if you can let go of whatever it is that holds you back...you can walk the path of your dreams.

But what about those things that hold us back? In last nights meeting we got to address what the road blocks are between us and the life we want. What derails your plan? What delays your plan? What are the things we have control over and what are the things that we don't. Is it money? It is fear? When there are road blocks beyond our control, what attitude do we pick and how do we re-write our plan?
These are invaluable exercises to have some uninterrupted time to put some real thought into.

One of my favorite things from last nights meeting was some helpful tips on how to stay positive when life throws you some unexpected curve balls. What happens when you feel defeated? Carey introduced us to the idea of Sprouts. Whenever you feel down, just make a list of your sprouts! What are sprouts? Sprouts are the little tiny things that can happen in your day that make all stress seem silly. Little moments that you experience that remind you of why life is so good. I love calling these sprouts! Because when you experience them, I feel love sprouting in my heart.
I recommend writing down a list of sprouts even when you feel happy. I did it last night and it filled me up with such joy it made me giggle.

My Sprouts:
1) Any picture I receive of my nephew via email or text. Seeing a picture of him pretty much makes all stress irrelevant.
2) There is a certain look and a specific meow that my cat will give me that says, "Hey Buddy...you doing okay?" and it's almost always followed by a little nose nuzzle.
3) Anytime my husband reaches out for my hand while he is really concentrating on a task (like drawing or writing).
4) Anytime one of my employees does something really great and I get to tell them how appreciative I am for their work.
5) Anytime I get a text from one of my most favorite people in New York that simply says, "Thanks" and there is nothing specific attached to that thank you.
6) Hearing my sister-in-law sing.
7) Thinking about my breakfast on a drive home from my work out.
8) Any time my husband or any family member tells me they are proud of me.

Oh my goodness...and there are so many more. I feel very grateful for my life and my loved ones. Thanks Carey for giving me the gift of sprout lists. I can already tell I am going to have a great day after writing this list!

What are your sprouts?

Blog Overhaul

2009-08-21T09:52:00.001-07:00

Okay...I finally did it! I now have 2 blogs: one for my art adventures and the other for my journey in wellness. In so many ways these two areas of my life are one, as there is only one me & both areas are always informing the other. But the truth is, I kind of want to be a nerdy blogger. I am afraid to post too many nerdy healthy thoughts on a blog that I am pointing many art folks towards in hopes to build my art career. I also don't want to post too many nerdy creative process posts because I don't want my favorite crossfitters getting bored of my ramblings. So sometimes I sit here, with thoughts and ideas overflowing...but I don't post much of anything. I want the freedom to make an entire post on how cutting zuchini into matchsticks makes it taste better and I also want to post nuanced art thoughts about line quality. And of course, I certainly want all of my favorite people to enjoy both! You know, this blogosphere is a powerful place where a lot of networking can happen. I want my art to weasle its way into people's hearts and homes and I need an all out art blog to do so. But don't be surprised if art inspired posts still show up here as I'm sure some Crossfit posts will make there way onto my art blog. Can't wait to see how it goes. Check out: Catherine Hart Art

Multitasking: Maintaining A Good Flow

2009-08-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

I have been ridiculously busy. My husband has been ridiculously busy. So much so, that I keep finding myself worn out and needing to sleep a LONG time to recover. Last night for example: 8:30pm-8:30am...yep, slept right through my Crossfit class and woke up just barely in time to get to work. Long story short: I am balancing a lot of stuff. And I am not complaining...I actually kind of like it. But it means that the very carefully crafted flow I had going is starting to get fuzzy. While I consider myself a spontanious, easy going, go with-the flow kind of person, I still thrive off a strict schedule. I go to the grocery store the same time every week and follow the same path with my cart. My morning routine is always done in the same order at the same time or my day feels a little funky. I do the laundry ever Friday morning, etc, etc. But lately I have added way more to my to-do list. I am putting in extra hours at work, getting there earlier and coming home later, then I go right into being a maker & work steadily until I need to sleep...and sometimes way past when I need to go to sleep. I am determined and focused and I will get it done...but then my routine starts to slowly slip. I didn't get to the laundry on Friday. I missed class on Monday because I stayed up late finishing a drawing for my show (totally worth it) and had to sleep, which meant I didn't get to the grocery store like I'm used to...which meant I didn't have coffee to make this morning...which meant the laundry pile is spilling over...and once that happens why bother making the bed since the room feels messy....
So, I need to focus on a new routine that accomodes an even bsuier scheudle. Meeting my career goals with the job I currently have and my art goals at the same time is possible...but if it means I don't eat well, stay organized, and get to the gym that gives me so much eneregy and clarity, I need to rearrange something. I don't have kids right now so I have just enough time. But it requires focus. It require staying on track...and it requires knowing the "that can wait until tomorrow" thought is sometimes the right thing and sometimes the wrong thing. I need to focus on knowing the difference.
Thank goodness for the women's challenge to make sure that I stay on track...I can't let my teammates down. And right now, I have a fully loaded fruidge, laundry tumbling, my alarm set with a workout planned for my husband and I at 7:30am. And I even have the coffee prepped to brew so it's ready for us right when we are done with our workout! I am pressing my re-set button right now.
P.S. Thank God I have a husband who is in charge of all things trash and dishes...I'm bad at those things even when I am not busy!

Lots of Motion

2009-08-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Things are getting a move on all around. I always feel the buzz around this time of year when school is about to begin. Because my husband teaches and my store's business mirrors the school schedule, this always feels like the true start of the new year for me. And now that I am no longer in school, this is one of my favorite times of year (not to mention knowing it's going to cool down in the fall).
The All Austin All Handmade Bash was a huge success for me. While I didn't sell very many pieces, it was a wonderful networking event and I really got the ball rolling on making my jewelry business the real deal. Best Part: I will be selling my jewelry in a local store called Downstairs Apparel on South Lamar. Totally psyched. AND, as many of you know, I long to blow glass, one of the greatest loves of my life. Well, I met someone who is building a glass studio in East Austin and I almost cried when I found out. I'm almost afraid to write bout it because it seems to good to be true. Glass dreams are a movin'....

I was truly moved on Saturday at the premiere of The Movement.I cried twice during this film and cried again watching it on my own computer. I cried because there were so many people in that room and it was only a year and a half ago that the new gym didn't exist and there were only 5 people in my glass. I feel so blessed to have been present for this unbelievable ripple affect. I cried because I know that when Jeremy and Carey say that they love every single person they work with, they actually mean it. I cried because this is not about lifting weights or being better than anyone else, this is about being the Best You. It's about believing you deserve to feel good and empowering you with the tools to do so. I have a tattoo on my back that says "Make it Epic" and that tattoo isn't just about doing it, it's about MEANING it. Otherwise it's just fluff. I was touched to be in the presence of a family who truly has made it EPIC. The family and friends that put their hearts and souls into starting Crossfit Central knew that their passion was worth something beyond themselves. I want to take this moment to thank the Crossfit Central Family for spreading love and helping a community learn to love and take care of themselves from the inside out. What it has taught me is invaluable. And to get to be around so many people that are also empowering themselves to feel good is a privilege and motivating beyond measure. Thank you to my Crossfit family.

The Movement: worth watching.
Love and wellness is a movin'...

And my poor little wrist is a movin'....finally!
It still hurts, but I am starting to use it.
Day 18 no nightshades.
I know it takes about 6 weeks to really know if your body is reacting, but I feel like this is working. Maybe it is just the placebo affect and I just believe in it...but I think it's helping.
So, I am back on that pull-up bar.
Only, I forgot that I was away for so long and I attacked that bar like I had the strength and it was ROUGH.
I also forgot that my callouses were no longer there for protection and now i get to be one of those crossfitters that post a nasty picture of their hands:And, after even more pull-ups at Run-Tex on Saturday, my biceps swelled up and....well....now my arms aren't a movin'....
So there are a few rest days in store before I get back up and do it all again.
And the announcement of the Women's Challenge was just what I wanted! I'm sure there will be lots of posts on that soon to come.