CROSSFIT LEVEL 1 TRAINER! I HAZ IT!

Zumba, CrossFit and Kettlebells. I would be hard pressed to find 3 other words to describe what I do everyday. Being a Beachbody Coach have given me a lot of time to train in different areas. I get to teach Zumba classes at my own studio, Studio Azul, train at CrossFit NRG, and as part of my own training and our workouts at NRG, I get to use my beloved kettlebells.

I did not think that I would love CrossFit as much as I do. You see, when I teach Zumba, the energy is all about love, fun and acceptance. Those classes have lifted me out of difficult times by giving me this sense of belonging and oneness. For that, I am grateful to all the people who attend and dance their heart out with me.
When I train CrossFit style, I get to explore a different side of me: I am competitive, driven, stubborn and I have a tendency to throw my barbell in sheer bouts of frustration. This also has been a life saver. It has allowed to feel capable to fight. To fight hard. When I first began, I would look at the Workout Of the Day and think "there is NO WAY I can do this". In spite of that, I would get to work and (eventually) finish. This taught me that I did not really know what I was capable of. I did my first CrossFit workout and never stopped going.

After some consideration, I decided this year I would certify in both RKC and CrossFit. I know it sounds crazy. And it is a little bit!

Well, I accomplished one of those goals last weekend. I attended my Level 1 certification in Las Vegas. It was a long weekend. To CrossFit HQ's credit, their trainers were outstanding, all extremely well versed in their training method and the training was run like a well oiled machine. Every goal set was reached on time.

I gained a lot from this training. My understanding of the CrossFit methodology has grown tremendously,  I feel I have been outfitted with a new pair of eyes, able spot details I would not have caught before. I understand so much better functional movements and their ability to make us fitter, stronger human beings.

Fitness, as defined by CrossFit is increased work capacity across broad time and modal domains. What that means is being able to do well at whatever the task is presented and for however long it is going to last. This is accomplished by constantly varying our training, performing at high intensity and using functional movements. Read this again: constantly varying.
This kind of training keeps your body on its toes and yields tremendous results.

So, I want to hear what you do to keep yourself always engaged and allow your body to adjust to a lot of different challenges.

Do tell.

CROSSFIT OPEN WEEK 1

I just did my first CrossFit Open workout. This week, the workout is composed of 30 double unders and 15 Power snatches at 55 lbs for women. You go for 10 minutes, as many times as possible. Check out this video if everything I just said means nothing to you.
Yesterday, after teaching my morning Zumba class, I went to Crossfit NRG and, with major jitters, did my workout with a judge. I was vastly disappointed in my performance. I had set my expectation to being able to do 4 rounds. I must have underestimated the difficulty of snatching my 55 lbs when my lungs are busted from the double unders. I pushed myself really hard and still did not achieve what I thought I could. I did 3 rounds, 30 double unders and 3 snatches. Thank you to James, Anne and Jag for the encouragement and the helpful pointers. I was wasting a lot of my energy bringing my barbell down, and trust me, it makes a huge difference... in a bad way...

I really felt like I could do better. I was rather disgruntled with that score and decided that I would do the workout one more time. Worse case scenario would be a worse score.

Today, no Zumba class till later so I went to NRG between 2 group workouts and our beautiful and strong trainer Aubrey agreed to be my judge.
I had my mind set on finishing that 4th round. Call it determination, obsession, maybe a little of both. I was going to push myself harder. This time I barely took take time to catch my breath before moving from double unders to snatches. I did *my* best. And for a moment, it seemed I was going to achieve my goal. I was in my 4th round, doing my snatches as fast as I could, looking at the last 10 seconds of my time dropping by. I realized, 3 seconds before the end that I would not be able to finish my 4th round entirely. I had 2 snatches left. In a sheer moment of anger I dropped my barbell and walked away, just about ready to cry.

SO CLOSE!!!


Working out CrossFit style is flirting with your physical limitations, pushing past what you think is your best. It's accepting that you are only as good as your weakest link. It can get emotional.

Check out how I am doing at my first CrossFit Games participation. I need all the cheers I can use.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

It's been close to 8 months since I started training at CrossFit NRG. The whole experience has changed my conception of exercise and fitness as well as introduced me to amazing new tools.

The idea that resonates with me most is that of fitness being a way to be prepared for the unexpected.
And I am sure in the light of recent news events, we can all see that life dishes us things we were not necessarily planning on. Your life might be saved by your ability to lift a heavy and unstable object, to climb up a very high wall, to run for a long distance, to run for a short distance as fast as possible.... Think Armed Forces and Firemen here.

In that spirit, I have continued to train at my most favorite CrossFit facility as well as incorporate different Beachbody workouts in random ways. My favorites still are Insanity for cardio, P90X Plyometrics or Ab Rippers X and of course, Turbo Fire. It's all about keeping my body on its toes, never encountering the dreaded plateau. And believe me, it has worked!

I also wanted to talk about the CrossFit Games. Amazing world event you guys. While some things can be expected of the different workouts of these Games (things like gymnastic moves, Power Lifting and endurance drills) there is still that element of unexpected. Watch this video to see more.


I am signed up for Sectionals, which I know full well, I will never get passed. And I am so cool with that. Fitness is about challenge and being competitive... with YOURSELF first and foremost. Challenge yourself to do better than last time, challenge yourself to do a workout at all when you don't feel like it. Challenge yourself to try something you have never tried and learn something new. Compete with yourself.
Run your own race.