CAVEMANiac

Maybe it was due to front squats sneaking in during a week that destroyed my hammies, but I just never put up that much weight during a front squat. I would normally max out around 115# in a WOD and never really tried to push past.

Today, I decided to take some time and go for a PR. I started at 115# and kept adding 10 until I got up to 175#. I think I could even do better and probably go over 200#, but I will take a 60# PR today and go from there.

It has been a couple of weeks of PRs for me. I can feel my core getting much more developed and stable and I think that is helping me across the board. Exciting times.

So I wanted to shed a little light into the notion of food logs, from my perspective, and the 90 Day Challenge. I was keeping a food log, buy since it was not completely aligned with my goals, I discontinued it. My goal was not to lose a ton of weight. I was not obese or really overweight in the social context of the term anyway. I have, though, lost over 10 pounds and am not sitting pretty at 180lbs. I have kept up on my goal of eating much healthier. I think for me, a cheat log may be more inline with my future recording. I did have a couple of Oreos last night, but I didn’t enjoy them at all and that was probably one of the last indulgences in my love affair with the little racially balanced treats.
One nice note of progress is the fact that I was able to string together 15 strict ring dips over 10 minutes the other day. I had never been able to even complete one. Murph was just as amazed as I was. I am also able to churn out about 10 strict chin ups in a row, too. I am getting closer to kipping pull-ups, but I still have a ways to go in hat category.
Overall, I am getting much stronger and notice I finish WODS in the top or middle of the pack. No longer the end of WOD charity clapping case (not that there was anything wrong with that, I think this just shows the natural progression I am making).
The challenge continues and so does this journey into health and fitness I am taking. Even when the 90 days is over, I will still have just begun.

It has been a couple of weeks since I bought my Reeboks during an insomnia-fueled online shopping binge and I have now worn them through about 10 WODS. I have lifted, box jumped, and done most of the common Crossfit movements. Well, I really love these shoes. They fit my feet a little better than my Inov8 195s (in the toe box and length) and feel more like a shoe, in the fact that I know they are there. They have provided great stability, yet that have really nice flexibility (especially for box jumps and pushups). I feel secure to the ground during lifting and have not felt like I am going to fall forward at all.

They also seem to be holding up well. I know my fair share about athletic footwear (having sold sneakers throughout high school) and feel these are better made than the Inov8s. That is just my opinion, but I feel Inov8 has good design ideas, but their materials are not the best quality. The Reeboks probably win the quality debate between the two. Also, the Reeboks look cool and have some standout colors available (I bought red, but also really like the yellow ones, too). They also held up very well during some rope climbs and just seem to be a great trainer that is close to barefoot, but still gives the proper platform I am looking for in a trainer.

One cool thing was the UForm technology that gives the shoes a “custom” fit. You shoot some heat into the shoes with a blow-dryer until the little UForm label on the shoes turn red. Next you step in and lace them up and then sit down for 10 minutes. At this point the material on the sides sort of forms to your foot shape a little better than out of the box. Maybe this is just a gimmick, but I did feel a slight difference post-UForming it up. I must have looked crazy performing this procedure since i also ordered a Crossfit beanie with my new sneaks and wore that in the bathroom while I was blow-drying the shoes. I think I was sweating, but didn’t want to take my new hat off. You can perform this amazing feat of science as many times as you wish over the life of your Reeboks. Fun stuff.

To sum up  my review, I think the Reebok Crossfit Nanos are a great entry into the Crossfit-specific footwear market and I highly recommend them. Maybe more companies will take notice that Crossfitters are very dedicated to their sport and are willing to shell out the extra dollars for items specific to our trade. I have heard some people bash Reebok as of late, but I commend them for taking a vested interest in Crossfit and for building an actual line of footwear and apparel catering to the sport. 

So I jumped in 100% to Paleo and after trying to maintain that diet, I have decided that ultimately, Paleo is not completely for me. Not that I am just turning my back, but I am modifying Paleo / Primal to fit my needs. I guess you can call it the Sasquatch / Bigfoot / Harry & The Henderson’s Diet (I am probably not the first to coin this diet name). Really anything Harry could eat is fair game (pets are off limits, though). I am still trying to adhere to as close to Primal specifics as possible, but am making some modern day changes that still work for me. 

I really excluded most non-Paleo items from my diet in the first few weeks and have slowly re-introduced items back one at a time to gauge effects on my system. Yes, I had 100 times more energy and feel amazing since changing my diet, but I also attribute those energy levels to the increase in exercise and the reduced stress levels I have tried to create in my life. So far, all white starches are out for good, as are most grains (I am eating some rice here and there). I have also brought back some beans to my diet, since they seem not to have any real negative effects on me and are a good source of protein from a non-meat perspective. I was just eating way too much meat and that can not be healthy for me in the long run. Sweets and sugars are still used very sparingly, if at all. I am also much more aware of any processed / preservative-filled foods I am consuming.

So, overall, I have transformed from a fast food fueled, dead-end diet to one that is very healthy and easy for me to maintain going forward. Trying to go full-Paleo was a great catalyst for me to get where I am today.

On another note, I have lost at least 10 pounds to date (mostly in my stomach area) and have gained a good amount of muscle. My strength and stamina has increased dramatically and my blood pressure is maintained at a very healthy level. I have seen huge gains in my workouts and my overall outlook on life. My mood is much elevated and I am killing it at work (since I am in software sales). I owe so much of the “new me” to my Crossfit coaches and family. Specifically Murph and Caleb for constantly pushing me past limits I thought I could not exceed and the guys and girls I train with on a daily basis for challenging me, as well.

The challenge is really only 1/3 over, but I am seeing such tremendous changes in my life and health already.